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Bloom

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She’s just lost her job.
Her parents are acting like idiots.
And now she’s the focus of a national media scandal.
The summer has gotten off to a bad start for Elle Grayson, leaving only one option: a summer spent hiding out at the beach with her best friend – and her best friend’s older brother James.

James Campbell, the focus of every childhood daydream, now grown up and gorgeous and … unpredictable. Fiercely protective one minute and belligerent the next.

Determined to keep Elle safe, from himself most of all.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2014

33 people are currently reading
915 people want to read

About the author

Elizabeth O'Roark

31 books7,533 followers
Elizabeth O’Roark lives in Washington, DC with her 3 children. After many years spent writing scintillating brochures about amniocentesis and heart surgery, she is thrilled to have found a job that allows her to just make s*** up.

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5 stars
170 (26%)
4 stars
226 (34%)
3 stars
166 (25%)
2 stars
56 (8%)
1 star
32 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for Anne E ♡ emo + OTT Hs.
224 reviews205 followers
February 18, 2023
Why was this book even revised in 2018?!

The revision (renamed No One But Us (NOBUs)) was unnecessary and made things worse, including a less clear Sexual History than in this book (SPOILERS below).

Compared to NOBUs, this book:

1. had better characterization and more likable characters
This H and h were nicer and more relatable than NOBUs version. It made the H&h of NOBUs sound like shallow jerks. This h was more awkward and more reserved in general and wasn’t so looks-conscious as the NOBUs h. This H was more a mix of quiet confidence with some insecurities and avoidance tendencies yet kinder and more emotional vulnerable later than the more arrogant and colder H in NOBUs. They also behaved more like college-aged people, with their uncertainty and insecurities and avoidant behaviors. While in NOBUs, H and h's insecurities were very much tied to their looks and fear of not being financed by their wealthy parents.

Even their parents were better written here. Versus the two-dimensional villainous characters they were in NOBUs. This book showed their parents somewhat improving towards the end instead of staying materialistic and shallow in NOBUs.

2. had better dialogue and story transition
Gave more details/description that helped explains the timeline of H’s breakup with his ex-GF and h’s breakup with her ex-BF and why than in NOBUs.

3. was more romance-based and more emotional depth

4. was less repetitive re: H thinking h is so much younger than him and h's sexy looks


Sexual History:
19yo college sophomore h was with her rocker college-student ex-BF for less than 1 year from the start of her freshman year until the next summer since he couldn’t promise to be faithful while on his summer tour. Doesn’t sound like her ex-BF was her first lover but he did teach her some sexual tricks including giving good BJs . h was celibate for about 6 weeks when she started hooking up with H.

It took them a couple weeks or so before H finally smexxed h coz:

#1.) he was “embarrassed” re: their 6-yr age difference since she’s still not regarded as an adult at age 19
#2.) he didn’t want her to miss out on her college experience during the 3 years she still had left in college
#3.) he wasn’t sure if a long-distance relationship will work between them so:
@60% H&h now secretly dating and making out (hand-holding, boobs, oral) but H still won’t smex h coz still still thinks h is too young/not an adult yet

@72% they finally smex after h’s ex-BF serenaded her at his concert to get her back but h rejected him


25yo law student H broke up with his GF of 1 year(?) about 1 month before seeing h again. He was adamant about not reuniting with his ex-GF and realized that he only dated her to please his family. No info of H's past lovers/GF and if he dated/smexxed anyone else since his breakup with his ex. He did say that he was celibate since seeing h again.
Profile Image for Jacqueline J.
3,565 reviews371 followers
February 7, 2017
My second try by this author and while I enjoyed it, I didn't like it as much as I liked this other one. Probably because the heroine was not such a stand out as in Waking Olivia. Also the hero didn't have as good a reason to stay away from her as in that one. I think he should have gotten over the age difference a little quicker. It wasn't that big and she was more than legal age. Still pretty readable.
Profile Image for Jaime.
671 reviews20 followers
June 16, 2016
I have mixed reactions on this book. On one had it was good, on the other hand it was a little annoying. I loved Elle as an h; she was never the problem. James seemed like a super hot and fun guy, but he got SO OBNOXIOUS about this age difference. My husband and I are 6 years apart and honestly, it's not that big of a deal. 19-25, while yes, there is definitely a maturity difference, is not scandalous. 12-18 is scandalous, 19-25 is not.

I had a real big issue with the way Ginny

I liked James as a H, but I couldn't stand his jealousy. It was WAY over the top. I'm honestly not sure how Elle was able to stand it, it is such a huge turn off. Some jealousy I'm fine with but yikes, homie needs some anger management, pronto.

Ryan was fun. I liked him. And so was Max. I liked how he was constantly trying to get Elle and James to admit to their attraction for each other.

I wish there was more regarding Edward because that as an intriguing storyline. Elle was annoyingly naive when it came to the situation, but I liked how she finally handled it.

Elle and James' attraction was perfect. It wasn't insta-love and it was fun and flirty. I loved how they I started to feel their frustration and wanted to bang my head on the wall for them!

Overall, this was a cute, fun read and I recommend it if you're looking for a beach book. It's not going to change your life, but you will like it.
Profile Image for Bookphenomena (Micky) .
2,926 reviews545 followers
April 28, 2020
4.5 stars.

This book was provided by the author in return for an honest review.

Nineteen year old Elle is interning at a TV broadcasting company. As the daughter of a well-known anchor man, she is taken under the wing of her father's friend Edward. She is naive, thinking the help from Edward is good natured and before she knows it, there is a media circus around her supposed affair with him. Elle takes herself off to her friend's beach house to escape the media and finds herself house sharing with her childhood crush, James. James is 25 and sees Elle as a child. This story was a great, angsty read. I found myself loving, hating (the best friend), frustrated but enjoying this read!
Profile Image for bee..
300 reviews3 followers
January 10, 2018
This book was kind of ridiculous. For starters, Elle was annoying. She was written as a naive, bratty kind of personality that desperately wants to be a grown up. Considering she works in news broadcasting it's actually quite comical that she can't remember a simple drink order.

James is a grade A douche. He treats Elle like shit under the guise of trying to resist her. He acts like she's a child and that their age difference (6 years) is some huge scandal.

I was expecting the Edward build up to at least amount to something.

Wasn't impressed with this read. I had high expectations because I loved Drowning Erin.
Profile Image for BG.
509 reviews145 followers
November 23, 2021

It was strenuous to read this. Gosh the push and pull became so annoying and repetitive. I loved the author's A deal with the devil and it is in my top fav bks but damn this was tedious.
Only stuck for Max❤️ I loved that guy. Despite being a side character he shone and carried the the whole book
Profile Image for Stellame25.
201 reviews13 followers
October 23, 2014
I really struggle reading this one, there were times I was skimming through it. The whole dilemma with the age difference was really annoying it was only 6 yrs and she was over 18 yrs old (get over it...like, hello legal!!) It was totally obvious that Elle's friend Ginny was mad at her because she was in love with Max, and I didn't understand how she could be so oblivious as to why he friend was upset with her. The love scenes seem to be force and unimaginative and the characters didn't have much depth too. This was just blub or meh to me.
Profile Image for Vicky.
30 reviews
October 10, 2016
I'm not sure what's to blame, but I didn't like any of the characters. I must admit that, after reading Waking Olivia, I started this book with great expectations. But the book failed to deliver. At least, that's how it was for me.
Profile Image for Karen.
5,385 reviews74 followers
January 4, 2023
I loved this book. James at times (all summer) an idiot but Elle was GREAT.
Profile Image for Piseog.
1,681 reviews7 followers
October 30, 2016
3.5 stars

I loved one of Elizabeth O'Roarks's other books, Waking Olivia, so I was hoping this book would be just as good. Unfortunately it wasn't. Overall it was fine, and it kept me interested, but I did have some issues with it. Namely, that almost all the characters were unlikable except for the protagonist Elle, and Max was alright. Elle's parents were awful people and her so-called "friend" Ginny was so horrible. But James was probably the worst.

First of all, he made the hugest deal out of the age difference between him and Elle; he was 25 and she was 19. They were both adults and it was blown way out of proportion IMO. Then he becomes so intense and jealous literally seconds after seeing Elle for the first time in 5 years. That was a bit too much too soon. But fine, I guess attraction can be instantaneous. And a bit of jealousy can be really fun to read about and make a couple really endearing. However, James brought it to a whole new level. He was an asshole to Elle for most of the book and treated her terribly, but the worst thing was he always got her to forgive him by explaining it way with stupid excuses, mostly by putting the blame on her. I hate this "blame-culture" with a passion, so this really infuriated me. Just because Elle was so good-looking he couldn't control himself around her and turned into a controlling caveman. How could he not be angry with her when she decides to wear a bikini. How dare she? It's all her fault that guys hit on her because she chose to wear a short dress. And James' speech on her being naive was so annoying. His angry, domineering and condescending behaviour was just far from the qualities I want in a book love interest.

Towards the end he did have some sweet moments and I could see them being a really great couple, but his horrible alpha ways always peeked through. I also wanted the "stalker" storyline to end in a more dramatic fashion, to make the plot more than just two people falling for each over a summer at a beach house. Anyway, this wasn't a bad book, but my disliking for the male love interest couldn't let me give it a higher rating.
Profile Image for Kristy.
1,427 reviews181 followers
April 4, 2016
After thoroughly enjoying Waking Olivia, I eagerly snatched up another one of her books. Unfortunately, Bloom does a lot I don't like with NA novels.

Elle annoyed me to no end. All at once her life is turned upside down and instead of focusing on the recent turmoil, she just obsesses over a boy she hasn't even seen in 5 or 6 years. When she arrives at his house where she'll be staying over the summer, the only thing she does is lament that her childhood crush (and older guy) doesn't love her back. There are so many scenes where she thinks "my internship is over and people think I slept with my boss; said ex-boss is now semi stalking me; my parents are divorcing and my dad is marrying someone young enough to be my sister; I may not have money to go to school next year; but the worst thing is James doesn't like me." There are so many worse things than a boy not returning your affections. Especially since you only "loved" him as a child, there is no real connection when 19 year old her sees him. She just instantly resumes her lovefest and contemplates leaving right away when he doesn't immediately show interest because it's "too hard" and he's the only reason she went to stay there.

Of course, he eventually falls for her too, but it seems too physical (he could not have had feelings for her previously because there is a 6 year age gap, and liking her when she was 14 and you were 20 would have been gross).

I did like Max, the roommate, friend, genius slacker. He was good comic relief and I enjoyed his laid back personality, but I can't say I enjoyed the rest of the secondary characters.

Because I liked Waking Olivia so much, I am definitely willing to read another book by O'Roark. Both books were well written and I think Waking Olivia is the newest release, which to me shows growth as a writer and leaves me excited.
Profile Image for Jan .
2,156 reviews45 followers
January 15, 2015
lOVED IT 4.5 HAPPY STARS

Firstly I don't think the synopsis does this book justice.

Elle has loved her best friends brother since she was a young girl, every fantasy has been James, now older and staying in a beach house for the summer escaping media attention the attraction between Elle & James has become mutual. James who is 6 years older thinks he is too old for Elle and he tries everything to resist her but at the same time doesn't want anyone to have her.

Sometimes I guess some things are just meant to be and the heart wants what the heart wants.

The pages draw you in you begin to feel sorry for Elle, the Media scandal, unsupported selfish parents a so called best friend you would tell Elle kick her to her kerb but throughout all this Elle remains strong does not feel sorry for herself and comes across as a character you just want everything to go right for.

It made me opinionated always a good sign of good writing

Looking forward to reading more from this author :-)







Profile Image for Jennie.
303 reviews3 followers
May 11, 2015
I can't believe I finished it

This whole story was so lame. 1.5 stars I think the only reason I don't give it 1 star is because I actually finished the book.
Profile Image for Preet.
3,382 reviews233 followers
February 11, 2018
4.5 stars!

Elizabeth O'Roark continues to impress me with her impressive writing and story telling skills. Each of her books is a stand alone, but instead of reading them in the order that they were published, I've been reading them out of order. This is the second title published and I really enjoyed it!

I loved the chemistry between Elle and James, and I really, really loved the themes of the story. You may think this a typical romance with the heroine crushing on her best friend's older brother, but it's not. I have to say for a 19 year old, Elle is really mature and put together. I admired her gumption in sticking to her guns and trying to do the right thing.

I can't help but wish there might be a story about Max and Ginny, because there was some unresolved attraction there. Hehe.
Profile Image for Gloria.
298 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2017
Bloom

Bloom is a great read. I love the whole dynamic of Max, Ginny, James and Ellie. Absolutely loved Max from the beginning his the funny best friend. James the sexy, possessive older brother. Ginny, now I got to admit I really disliked her in the beginning. Obviously because she would always get between James and Ellie. But of course it makes sense no one would want their older brother dating their best Friend. And Ellie she's the down to earth kind of girl. Loved James and Ellie's love story! Oh can't wait for Ginny's and Max's!🙈😁
Profile Image for Peach.
789 reviews2 followers
January 28, 2018
The author writes well. Though the book was published in 2015, the topic of sexual harassment in the Media industry seemed to resonate with what has been in the news these days. Nineteen year old Elle went into hiding as she was accused of having an affair with a famous anchor who was old enough to be her father. She went to hang out at the beach with her best friend and her bestie’s brother, James. Elle had always been in love with James and the story was essentially about how she pined for him while he behaved hot/cold towards her.
Profile Image for Sangria.
583 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2017
Well, I liked it. Im not a big fan of new adult, but this had a good taboo element the author wrote in, even though I think a six year age difference is nada. I did however get into the unrequited love aspect for it. Lots of people loved Waking Olivia & funny, I liked this one way better so you never know. Good beach book. I would love to know what happened with Ginny though.
9 reviews
January 4, 2023
Every character was so shitty to the female main character that this was kind of miserable to read. The Hero is too and pretends to be honorable and want the best for her but also doesn't really follow through on that with his actions. Kind of a sickening read.
Profile Image for robin  Loy.
27 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2017
Good book

This book was not whAt I expected. It was a good book. I liked the fact it did not leave an open ending like many do.
503 reviews4 followers
February 14, 2018
⭐️4.5⭐️

This is my second novel by this author, and I’ve loved them both. Though Waking Olivia edges Bloom out by a millimeter.
Profile Image for Teele K.
67 reviews6 followers
February 3, 2023
Hero sucked so much 🙈 otherwise the book had its highs, i still like the way the author writes, but damn the hero sucked 😬
128 reviews11 followers
August 24, 2023
No storyline as such, just a few tame jealous scenes. Nice quick read!
Profile Image for Dawn West.
538 reviews43 followers
July 22, 2016


I needed a few days to decompress after this one. As you probably know, I am a pretty big fan of the forbidden-type love stories, like this one. You know, the boss/worker, coach/player, teacher/student (where age is appropriate), etc. Those stories where fraternization is frowned upon for whatever reason.



Bloom is a guy-falls-for-sister's-friend story. Sure, it's not inconceivable of a situation, but it does pose several issues.

Our older brother, James, is already going through a major shift in his life when he decides to share a family beach house with his friends and younger sister, Ginny, for the summer. He has decided to quit a career enhancing internship, dumped his stale girlfriend, and wants to take his life in a new direction.

On the other hand, we have Elle. If you think James' life is in turmoil, you haven't seen anything yet. Elle has somehow let herself become the star of a dirty scandal, even though the only thing she is guilty of is being young and naive. Her entire world is tossed upside down and at the invitation of Ginny, Elle escapes her disaster and heads to the beach to lay low.

From the first moment that James and Elle come together, there is tension in the air. James is unaware of the fact that Elle has had a crush on him for her entire childhood. But he is definitely aware of how much Elle has grown over the years they have been apart. He suddenly realizes that the girl he knew has become a woman. A woman he can't help but be drawn to.

But then James begins to annoy me. He spends too much time focusing on the six-year age difference between him and Elle, yet he can't help but want to be near her. He becomes possessive and overprotective, to the point where it's alarming. And his behavior toward Elle is confusing to her (and to me!). He wants her, yet he has convinced himself that he can't have her. It's a hot-and-cold relationship if there ever was one.



Elle doesn't handle the situation any better, however. It could be due to immaturity or inexperience, but Elle is unable to just outright confront James. It is frustrating to me, as a reader, because while the push and pull between them is entertaining for a while, it eventually runs its course and hinders the story progression. It takes way too long for the couple to come to their senses.

In closing...
Perhaps, if this story had been shorter, I would have enjoyed it more. Overall, it was a good read and I am still a fan of Elizabeth O'Roark! 3.5 suns!

Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-bloom-by-elizabeth-oroark.html
209 reviews
September 6, 2022
James & Elle - I don’t know what it was about this book but something was missing. The constant drama about the age difference also got repetitive real fast.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews

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