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Bend Him Break Him
Colton has always walked the line of golden boy meets bad boy. It helped catapult his popularity as the starting pitcher in his first year of college and during the scandalous exposé when he came out as bi. But Colton struggles with the accolades he receives, balancing who he is versus who he was versus who he’s expected to be. Because before Colton was a queer icon for star athletes, he was a closeted bully who made one guy’s life completely miserable.
Isaac hates Colton. But to be fair, Isaac hates everyone—maintaining an icy distance from even his closest friends. Mostly, Isaac wants to shove Colton off the pedestal he’s been placed upon. Just because he came out publicly doesn’t mean he’s some sort of hero. It doesn’t help that Isaac once fawned over the closeted jock in high school. He cared deeply for Colton and did everything he could to please the star athlete, even keeping their private rendezvous a secret. Which meant Isaac paid the price of utter humiliation, taunting, and bullying as the weirdo loner gay guy with a creepy crush.
When Isaac catches Colton cheating on an exam, he plans to ruin his enemy by destroying his academic standing and costing Colton his baseball scholarship. Isaac wants nothing more than to see Colton kicked out of campus. But when the jock offers to do anything to keep this a secret, Isaac decides to test the lengths Colton is willing to go to make things right between them. Isaac’s over secrets, but this is an opportunity unlike any other. He presents an ultimatum that’ll push Colton to the edge of his limits. In this sordid hate-fueled lust, all Isaac wants is revenge and all Colton wants is redemption.
Isaac hates Colton. But to be fair, Isaac hates everyone—maintaining an icy distance from even his closest friends. Mostly, Isaac wants to shove Colton off the pedestal he’s been placed upon. Just because he came out publicly doesn’t mean he’s some sort of hero. It doesn’t help that Isaac once fawned over the closeted jock in high school. He cared deeply for Colton and did everything he could to please the star athlete, even keeping their private rendezvous a secret. Which meant Isaac paid the price of utter humiliation, taunting, and bullying as the weirdo loner gay guy with a creepy crush.
When Isaac catches Colton cheating on an exam, he plans to ruin his enemy by destroying his academic standing and costing Colton his baseball scholarship. Isaac wants nothing more than to see Colton kicked out of campus. But when the jock offers to do anything to keep this a secret, Isaac decides to test the lengths Colton is willing to go to make things right between them. Isaac’s over secrets, but this is an opportunity unlike any other. He presents an ultimatum that’ll push Colton to the edge of his limits. In this sordid hate-fueled lust, all Isaac wants is revenge and all Colton wants is redemption.
297 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2025
888 people are currently reading
5881 people want to read
About the author
M.N. Bennet
11 books382 followersMN Bennet is a high school teacher, writer, and reader. He lives in the Midwest, still adjusting to the cold after being born and raised in the South.
He enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy stories with huge worlds (sometimes too big), loveable romances (with so much angst and banter), and Happily Ever Afters (once he’s dragged his characters through some emotional turmoil).
When he’s not balancing classes, writing, or reading, he can be found binge watching anime or replaying Baldur's Gate 3 for the millionth time.
He enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy stories with huge worlds (sometimes too big), loveable romances (with so much angst and banter), and Happily Ever Afters (once he’s dragged his characters through some emotional turmoil).
When he’s not balancing classes, writing, or reading, he can be found binge watching anime or replaying Baldur's Gate 3 for the millionth time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews
June 22, 2025
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️
TROPES:
✖️Bully romance
✖️Enemies to lovers
✖️Grumpy/sunshine
✖️Golden boy vs bad boy
Isaac has the opportunity to get some revenge on his high school bully, but Colton might break his walls down instead.
A spicy hate-to-love romance. I love a good redemption arc, and seeing both these boys let go of past mistakes and embrace a new future was everything I was expecting from Bend Him Break Him.
Grumpy emo twunk dominating the golden boy jock was unexpected, but very very hot. The spice was maybe a bit rough (where’s the prep, guys?), but it did get better the more Colton and Isaac fell for each other.
And while I enjoyed the tension and the sexiness, I didn’t really feel the romance. I kind of wanted more of everything (I’m greedy, what can I say?) — more banter, more cute dates where we see Isaac opening up, more balance in their relationship.
I also wasn’t a huge fan of the drama.
Still, this was an addicting read, and despite its flaws I still had lots of fun.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Bullying & blackmail
- Homophobia
- Toxic masculinity
- Exhibitionism/semi-public sex
- MC w/ tattoos & piercings
- Humiliation
- Violence/fighting
- Forced outing
- Non-consensual drugging (not between MCs)
- Anxiety & depression
- Mentions of past self harm
- Attempted SA & Physical assault (on page)
- Family abandonment
- Hate fucking
- Mostly top/bottom (one switch scene, epilogue)
- Coming hands-free
- D/s dynamic
- Dub-con
- Face-fucking
- Grinding
- Praise/degradation
- Spanking
- Toy play
- Rimming
- Cum play
“Besides ruining me, what do you want?” “Want? I want to see you broken.” Isaac grinned. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
TROPES:
✖️Bully romance
✖️Enemies to lovers
✖️Grumpy/sunshine
✖️Golden boy vs bad boy
Isaac has the opportunity to get some revenge on his high school bully, but Colton might break his walls down instead.
A spicy hate-to-love romance. I love a good redemption arc, and seeing both these boys let go of past mistakes and embrace a new future was everything I was expecting from Bend Him Break Him.
“Just sit there and look pretty while I wreck you.”
Grumpy emo twunk dominating the golden boy jock was unexpected, but very very hot. The spice was maybe a bit rough (where’s the prep, guys?), but it did get better the more Colton and Isaac fell for each other.
“Let’s explore what we never had the chance to before.”
And while I enjoyed the tension and the sexiness, I didn’t really feel the romance. I kind of wanted more of everything (I’m greedy, what can I say?) — more banter, more cute dates where we see Isaac opening up, more balance in their relationship.
I also wasn’t a huge fan of the drama.
Still, this was an addicting read, and despite its flaws I still had lots of fun.
If only Isaac would tell him what he wanted, Colton would do it.
He’d make it happen, offer Isaac the world.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Bullying & blackmail
- Homophobia
- Toxic masculinity
- Exhibitionism/semi-public sex
- MC w/ tattoos & piercings
- Humiliation
- Violence/fighting
- Forced outing
- Non-consensual drugging (not between MCs)
- Anxiety & depression
- Mentions of past self harm
- Attempted SA & Physical assault (on page)
- Family abandonment
- Hate fucking
- Mostly top/bottom (one switch scene, epilogue)
- Coming hands-free
- D/s dynamic
- Dub-con
- Face-fucking
- Grinding
- Praise/degradation
- Spanking
- Toy play
- Rimming
- Cum play
October 20, 2025
I’m so happy that so many of my most anticipated books of this month actually turned out to be WINNERS ✨ because YES. make it worth the wait 💅💅
When I read the title, I KNEW I was going to read it the day it came out. It was inevitable, a second chance bully romance??? Nerdxjock???? a certain proposition???;). I also loved the under currents of a domsub relationship throughout the book because it was a delightful surprise ✨💅
I thought it would be dark because it’s basically a bully romance but the bullying between the two characters were NOT the darkest parts so please read the trigger warnings before you get into this. The two main characters had a tragic incident in the past, which basically makes us HATE one of our mmc’s; so we’re learning to love the character along with our mmc.
Colton and Issac go through a lot together, not just figuring out what their current feelings mean, but also getting over and moving on from their past. Issac did not want an apology, he wanted to understand why the events occurred, but obviously was not ready to revisit that chapter of his life, so while the sexual aspect of the book begins pretty early on, the emotional relationship was slow and well paced.
The second was done BEAUTIFULLY. so toxic and demanding. Yummy. And we also had a supportive friend group. I’ll be rereading this soon for sure ✨🥀💕💗
When I read the title, I KNEW I was going to read it the day it came out. It was inevitable, a second chance bully romance??? Nerdxjock???? a certain proposition???;). I also loved the under currents of a domsub relationship throughout the book because it was a delightful surprise ✨💅
I thought it would be dark because it’s basically a bully romance but the bullying between the two characters were NOT the darkest parts so please read the trigger warnings before you get into this. The two main characters had a tragic incident in the past, which basically makes us HATE one of our mmc’s; so we’re learning to love the character along with our mmc.
Colton and Issac go through a lot together, not just figuring out what their current feelings mean, but also getting over and moving on from their past. Issac did not want an apology, he wanted to understand why the events occurred, but obviously was not ready to revisit that chapter of his life, so while the sexual aspect of the book begins pretty early on, the emotional relationship was slow and well paced.
The second was done BEAUTIFULLY. so toxic and demanding. Yummy. And we also had a supportive friend group. I’ll be rereading this soon for sure ✨🥀💕💗
July 14, 2025
Rating: 4
⭐️
ARC review.
•~ 𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✨️
With a title like Bend Him Break Him, I already knew this story would be a success, and I wasn’t wrong. It was funny, sexy as hell, and so entertaining, I wasn’t bored at all.
Let's be honest, the situation the main characters found themselves in was pretty questionable, and kind of morally wrong. Colton Lennox, famous baseball pitcher and bi-icon in Clinton Lloyd Institute of Technology, copied an essay from his cousin to achieve his English class.
Of course, his arch-nemesis, Isaac Parker, found out, and of course, the later used this information to exact revenge on the boy who destroyed his life in high school.
Because, see, Colton used to bully Isaac in high school. They also used to have a sort of 'friends with benefits' relationship at this time. I won’t go into details, there’s too much to unpack. Let's just say, it didn't end well for Isaac. Actually, I found myself being genuinely shocked and disgusted by what happened to him. It's truly horrifying.
At the beginning, my opinion about Colton wasn’t the best. In fact, I did enjoy the 'blackmail' part, and wanted Colton to be knocked down a peg. However, the more I read about him, the more I fell for him.
To be honest, Colton was so adorable; he wasn’t at all like his previous self. He did grow, and seemed to regret what happened to Isaac a lot, which was why Colton willingly submitted to Isaac in exchange for Isaac to keep quiet about the plagiarized essay. Not only to save himself, but to make amends in some kind of way.
Thus, began a sexy and hot affair. The dynamic between Colton and Isaac was very good, and I think M.N. Bennet wrote the intimate scenes between them very well. Although, I wished more preparation happened in the beginning.
As expected, feelings resurfaced. Even though Isaac resented Colton, he simply couldn’t get too hurtful either. In fact, Isaac was so considerate and protective of Colton, it was really wholesome (of course, with a touch of possessiveness).
Nonetheless, the development of their relationship happened too quickly. It's my only big complaint. I wanted more scenes about them as an established couple, more confused feelings, and more angst. Colton should have worked harder to gain Isaac's trust, and his second chance. Isaac was too nice (there, I said it). At the same time, I'm also conflicted because I appreciated Isaac's thoughtfulness, and how he couldn’t truly act on his revenge. And that's why I liked Isaac, liked to witness his walls crumbling down. Both needed to grow up, and together, they did.
The author broached sensitive topics, such as homophobia, bullying, forced outing and maybe sextortion and/or revenge porn? (I don’t know if it's the right term but a sex-tape of a MC was recorded without his consent, and a side-character was the reason said MC outed himself, feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong! ). With everything going on, I thought I was watching a crazy T.V. show!
Colton wasn’t lucky at all. He had to deal with shitty people, like his teammate Leon who loved to degrade him because of his sexuality. I'm glad Colton and Isaac were surrounded by trustworthy people, mainly the GSA club. For example, the way they supported Colton during his games. Actually, that was really cute.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable story. I simply wished the author focused more on the development of Colton and Isaac's conflicted feelings, and the progress of their relationship. The reversal in the dynamic (👀) was another guilty pleasure of mine, if I'm honest. I really recommend this story.
•~ 𝓢𝓪𝓯𝓮𝓽𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓼 ✨️
💚 OMD/OWD:
> Colton and Isaac had been intimate with each other in high school. The beginning of the story starts three years after high school's events. Both were with other people during these three years.
> No other people after they hooked-up in college. Isaac asked for exclusivity early on their arrangement. And they weren't interested in anyone else;
> There's an instance in which Isaac found Colton jerking off alone after a girl openly flirted with him. Isaac thought he was fantasizing about her, and to annoy/make Isaac jealous, Colton didn’t deny it. In my opinion, and since it wasn't really cleared, I don't think that's what happened. To me, it seemed Colton wanted Isaac to be jealous, especially since Colton wanted to make their relationship official. It didn't really bothered me;
> An ex hook-up of both Colton and Isaac, William, caused drama but not for the couple. He was just a problematic prick.
💚 Separation:
Yes, for a month. It wasn’t a break-up, but Colton needed time alone. No other partner for both of them were mentioned during that time.
ARC review.
“I don’t wish to share you. I don’t wish for you to even playfully pursue others.”
“I won’t.” Colton quaked, his dick throbbing. “You’re all I want. Need.”
Fuck, how he needed Isaac more and more each day. Like the breath he took, Isaac brought Colton to life in the simplest and most extraordinary ways.
“Then you are mine?”
“Yes.” Colton let out a breathy groan.
“And I am yours,” Isaac whispered; his words ran along Colton’s skin like silk. “Yes,” Colton said with a whimper.
“We are exclusive.” Isaac worked his hand on the tip of Colton’s cock, massaging the head. “Our bodies, our desires, our feelings, are reserved only for each other.”
•~ 𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✨️
With a title like Bend Him Break Him, I already knew this story would be a success, and I wasn’t wrong. It was funny, sexy as hell, and so entertaining, I wasn’t bored at all.
Let's be honest, the situation the main characters found themselves in was pretty questionable, and kind of morally wrong. Colton Lennox, famous baseball pitcher and bi-icon in Clinton Lloyd Institute of Technology, copied an essay from his cousin to achieve his English class.
Of course, his arch-nemesis, Isaac Parker, found out, and of course, the later used this information to exact revenge on the boy who destroyed his life in high school.
Because, see, Colton used to bully Isaac in high school. They also used to have a sort of 'friends with benefits' relationship at this time. I won’t go into details, there’s too much to unpack. Let's just say, it didn't end well for Isaac. Actually, I found myself being genuinely shocked and disgusted by what happened to him. It's truly horrifying.
At the beginning, my opinion about Colton wasn’t the best. In fact, I did enjoy the 'blackmail' part, and wanted Colton to be knocked down a peg. However, the more I read about him, the more I fell for him.
To be honest, Colton was so adorable; he wasn’t at all like his previous self. He did grow, and seemed to regret what happened to Isaac a lot, which was why Colton willingly submitted to Isaac in exchange for Isaac to keep quiet about the plagiarized essay. Not only to save himself, but to make amends in some kind of way.
Thus, began a sexy and hot affair. The dynamic between Colton and Isaac was very good, and I think M.N. Bennet wrote the intimate scenes between them very well. Although, I wished more preparation happened in the beginning.
As expected, feelings resurfaced. Even though Isaac resented Colton, he simply couldn’t get too hurtful either. In fact, Isaac was so considerate and protective of Colton, it was really wholesome (of course, with a touch of possessiveness).
Nonetheless, the development of their relationship happened too quickly. It's my only big complaint. I wanted more scenes about them as an established couple, more confused feelings, and more angst. Colton should have worked harder to gain Isaac's trust, and his second chance. Isaac was too nice (there, I said it). At the same time, I'm also conflicted because I appreciated Isaac's thoughtfulness, and how he couldn’t truly act on his revenge. And that's why I liked Isaac, liked to witness his walls crumbling down. Both needed to grow up, and together, they did.
The author broached sensitive topics, such as homophobia, bullying, forced outing and maybe sextortion and/or revenge porn? (I don’t know if it's the right term but a sex-tape of a MC was recorded without his consent, and a side-character was the reason said MC outed himself, feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong! ). With everything going on, I thought I was watching a crazy T.V. show!
Colton wasn’t lucky at all. He had to deal with shitty people, like his teammate Leon who loved to degrade him because of his sexuality. I'm glad Colton and Isaac were surrounded by trustworthy people, mainly the GSA club. For example, the way they supported Colton during his games. Actually, that was really cute.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable story. I simply wished the author focused more on the development of Colton and Isaac's conflicted feelings, and the progress of their relationship. The reversal in the dynamic (👀) was another guilty pleasure of mine, if I'm honest. I really recommend this story.
•~ 𝓢𝓪𝓯𝓮𝓽𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓼 ✨️
💚 OMD/OWD:
> Colton and Isaac had been intimate with each other in high school. The beginning of the story starts three years after high school's events. Both were with other people during these three years.
> No other people after they hooked-up in college. Isaac asked for exclusivity early on their arrangement. And they weren't interested in anyone else;
> There's an instance in which Isaac found Colton jerking off alone after a girl openly flirted with him. Isaac thought he was fantasizing about her, and to annoy/make Isaac jealous, Colton didn’t deny it. In my opinion, and since it wasn't really cleared, I don't think that's what happened. To me, it seemed Colton wanted Isaac to be jealous, especially since Colton wanted to make their relationship official. It didn't really bothered me;
> An ex hook-up of both Colton and Isaac, William, caused drama but not for the couple. He was just a problematic prick.
💚 Separation:
Yes, for a month. It wasn’t a break-up, but Colton needed time alone. No other partner for both of them were mentioned during that time.
December 29, 2025
2.5⭐️ (🤷🏻♀️)
October 3, 2025
3.8 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
i really enjoyed many aspects of this book. the revenge plot was really strong and believable. i was kind of immediately drawn to isaac even though he was so prickly and closed off. i just really related to him a lot. while i think it was harder for me to connect with colton, i definitely got there eventually.
the spice? ah, oh my god. insane. the relationship started with sex and it was a huge portion of the book, but getting more and more sweet scenes was really what did it for me. i loved watching them get closer and break down all the bs eventually.
i do wish we saw more groveling from colton. groveling outside of being submissive in the bedroom. and the whole story of their high school years just felt unresolved. we didn’t really touch on what isaac did after the attack, and i wish it was addressed more. it felt like there was no closure there.
i also struggled with the third person pov in this book, and i usually don’t care about pov either way. but reading “the jock” and “the goth” over and over felt a little too much.
overall though i really loved colton and isaac together. i enjoyed the role reversal and seeing them building something out of the ashes of their high school selves.
*i received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
i really enjoyed many aspects of this book. the revenge plot was really strong and believable. i was kind of immediately drawn to isaac even though he was so prickly and closed off. i just really related to him a lot. while i think it was harder for me to connect with colton, i definitely got there eventually.
the spice? ah, oh my god. insane. the relationship started with sex and it was a huge portion of the book, but getting more and more sweet scenes was really what did it for me. i loved watching them get closer and break down all the bs eventually.
i do wish we saw more groveling from colton. groveling outside of being submissive in the bedroom. and the whole story of their high school years just felt unresolved. we didn’t really touch on what isaac did after the attack, and i wish it was addressed more. it felt like there was no closure there.
i also struggled with the third person pov in this book, and i usually don’t care about pov either way. but reading “the jock” and “the goth” over and over felt a little too much.
overall though i really loved colton and isaac together. i enjoyed the role reversal and seeing them building something out of the ashes of their high school selves.
*i received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
December 23, 2025
I’ll never trust TikTok recs ever again. Characters are dry, there is no story line. They hate each other but also like each other? I was irritated and bored.
August 23, 2025
thank you to the author for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
was this book anything i typically gravitate towards? no! did this book exceed all my expectations? hell yeah it did!!!
i truly do not tend to enjoy or even consider reading bully romances. mostly, i don’t particularly love that sort of power imbalance and especially in queer stories. because i feel like there can be some… concerning relationship dynamics and even more questionable interactions between the characters (since bully romances are usually taking place with a present tense bullying). BUT when i saw this book’s cover and synopsis i knew i had to give this one a shot. something truly called to me, and i’m so glad i answered the phone.
now i KNOW this will not be the book for most people. hell, i didn’t even know if it’d be for me. it’s essentially a mid-level dark romance in the sense that there is a lot of trauma and a lot shitty people attempting even shittier acts. it gets dark and these characters suffer through a lot. but the growth from isaac and colton, in their relationship, in overcoming their past trauma and bullying/harassment situations, i really grew to loved these two and this story. they gave me such neil and andrew vibes (from the foxhole court, iykyk). reading about them, i felt almost this sense of nostalgia as i linked these two couples together. and i’m truly not one to do any sort of direct comparison between books (only after as recommendations for similar narratives). but isaac and colton’s story planted a seed in my brain about the similar vibes of these couples, if not that these two are a bit more openly soft with each other. i adored it.
isaac fell perfectly into the hard-shell but extremely soft inside he tries to hide archetype (the epitome of acting like he isn’t interested but he very much so does). and, for that, he was my light through this story. i felt so deeply for his past life and the events that occurred before the book takes place. and i felt like a proud parent seeing how he overcame those battles to become a loud and proud human. he’s described constantly as grumpy but he always always made sure he cared for and supported his friends and community. that’s what made his pairing with colton truly wonderful. he was so scared to open up his feelings but we see him slowly break his barriers down to build a trusting and loving relationship. of course he’s still grumpy to others but he is a softie for colton. so i especially loved his story.
colton’s story, while he pissed me off (so much) in the beginning, i soon learned to understand why he acted the way he did, specifically in the past as a bully to isaac. he wasn’t excused for his past actions per-se, but he did show his growth in those three years apart. and he explained why what happened between them did. i think that was one of the best ways to have resolved their conflicts. he owned up to his actions and went about making amends in his own way with isaac. and so i do think having his story somewhat mirror isaac’s story from high school was so intentional and well crafted. it showed the different paths someone will go down when they have no support system (isaac) or a mostly loving, helping one (colton). don’t even get me started on the college’s response because. i will fume!!
okay, one more quick note from me and then i’m done. there is one thing i wish we had more closure on and it was with the consequences for the actions of those involved in colton’s outing/harassment. i know the main perpetrator was punished. i just wish we had more information about the other two involved, past a brief statement from his mom stating she was forcing police to look into it. i wanted to hear if they had similar outcomes to the main abuser.
okay, that’s all. this ended up being WAY longer than i anticipated, so if that tells you something, it’s that (my) ridiculously long reviews always mean i will probably not shut up about this one for the foreseeable future!
was this book anything i typically gravitate towards? no! did this book exceed all my expectations? hell yeah it did!!!
i truly do not tend to enjoy or even consider reading bully romances. mostly, i don’t particularly love that sort of power imbalance and especially in queer stories. because i feel like there can be some… concerning relationship dynamics and even more questionable interactions between the characters (since bully romances are usually taking place with a present tense bullying). BUT when i saw this book’s cover and synopsis i knew i had to give this one a shot. something truly called to me, and i’m so glad i answered the phone.
now i KNOW this will not be the book for most people. hell, i didn’t even know if it’d be for me. it’s essentially a mid-level dark romance in the sense that there is a lot of trauma and a lot shitty people attempting even shittier acts. it gets dark and these characters suffer through a lot. but the growth from isaac and colton, in their relationship, in overcoming their past trauma and bullying/harassment situations, i really grew to loved these two and this story. they gave me such neil and andrew vibes (from the foxhole court, iykyk). reading about them, i felt almost this sense of nostalgia as i linked these two couples together. and i’m truly not one to do any sort of direct comparison between books (only after as recommendations for similar narratives). but isaac and colton’s story planted a seed in my brain about the similar vibes of these couples, if not that these two are a bit more openly soft with each other. i adored it.
isaac fell perfectly into the hard-shell but extremely soft inside he tries to hide archetype (the epitome of acting like he isn’t interested but he very much so does). and, for that, he was my light through this story. i felt so deeply for his past life and the events that occurred before the book takes place. and i felt like a proud parent seeing how he overcame those battles to become a loud and proud human. he’s described constantly as grumpy but he always always made sure he cared for and supported his friends and community. that’s what made his pairing with colton truly wonderful. he was so scared to open up his feelings but we see him slowly break his barriers down to build a trusting and loving relationship. of course he’s still grumpy to others but he is a softie for colton. so i especially loved his story.
colton’s story, while he pissed me off (so much) in the beginning, i soon learned to understand why he acted the way he did, specifically in the past as a bully to isaac. he wasn’t excused for his past actions per-se, but he did show his growth in those three years apart. and he explained why what happened between them did. i think that was one of the best ways to have resolved their conflicts. he owned up to his actions and went about making amends in his own way with isaac. and so i do think having his story somewhat mirror isaac’s story from high school was so intentional and well crafted. it showed the different paths someone will go down when they have no support system (isaac) or a mostly loving, helping one (colton). don’t even get me started on the college’s response because. i will fume!!
okay, one more quick note from me and then i’m done. there is one thing i wish we had more closure on and it was with the consequences for the actions of those involved in colton’s outing/harassment. i know the main perpetrator was punished. i just wish we had more information about the other two involved, past a brief statement from his mom stating she was forcing police to look into it. i wanted to hear if they had similar outcomes to the main abuser.
okay, that’s all. this ended up being WAY longer than i anticipated, so if that tells you something, it’s that (my) ridiculously long reviews always mean i will probably not shut up about this one for the foreseeable future!
September 13, 2025
It really pains me to be giving 2 stars. I was very excited about the premise and looking forward so much to read this book, but I suppose I hyped myself for and expected something else than this book was.
From the beginning we are shown how much Isaac hates Colton because of a nasty thing Colton did in high school. Now Isaac is the TA in a class Colton is attending and he takes every mistake Colton makes as a reason to scold him down. So when he finds out Colton has plagiarized his final essay for the class, it's his golden opportunity to get revenge by getting Colton kicked out of college. But Colton offers to do anything for Isaac to turn a blind eye on this and so they strike a different deal.
I've expected the guys to work through their hate and regret and feelings through plenty of sessions of hate fucking, but Isaac's hate poofs into thin air quite early on and then they just awkwardly bumble around. All the other issues also feel like they're touched upon only on a surface level instead of a deeper dive and everything moves along so quickly instead of taking a pause and letting the emotions properly sink in. Probably because of that I just couldn't connect with the characters and at some point it became quite the struggle to get through the rest of book.
Honestly, I'm envious of all the people having a blast with this book, because I really wish I had too, but I just didn't.
Huge thanks to the author for providing an ARC.
From the beginning we are shown how much Isaac hates Colton because of a nasty thing Colton did in high school. Now Isaac is the TA in a class Colton is attending and he takes every mistake Colton makes as a reason to scold him down. So when he finds out Colton has plagiarized his final essay for the class, it's his golden opportunity to get revenge by getting Colton kicked out of college. But Colton offers to do anything for Isaac to turn a blind eye on this and so they strike a different deal.
I've expected the guys to work through their hate and regret and feelings through plenty of sessions of hate fucking, but Isaac's hate poofs into thin air quite early on and then they just awkwardly bumble around. All the other issues also feel like they're touched upon only on a surface level instead of a deeper dive and everything moves along so quickly instead of taking a pause and letting the emotions properly sink in. Probably because of that I just couldn't connect with the characters and at some point it became quite the struggle to get through the rest of book.
Honestly, I'm envious of all the people having a blast with this book, because I really wish I had too, but I just didn't.
Huge thanks to the author for providing an ARC.
June 13, 2025
arc review
When I saw this was a bully romance with a second-chance twist, I was immediately interested. Also the cover is sTUNNING!
I’m a big fan of redemption arcs, and I was really hoping to see Colton work hard to win Isaac back after everything he put him through during their teenage years. Unfortunately, that part felt a bit rushed and overlooked. That said, I still really enjoyed their dynamic by the end — I just wish Isaac had made Colton work a little harder for it.
It was my first book from MN Bennet and I'm excited to read more of his work!
When I saw this was a bully romance with a second-chance twist, I was immediately interested. Also the cover is sTUNNING!
I’m a big fan of redemption arcs, and I was really hoping to see Colton work hard to win Isaac back after everything he put him through during their teenage years. Unfortunately, that part felt a bit rushed and overlooked. That said, I still really enjoyed their dynamic by the end — I just wish Isaac had made Colton work a little harder for it.
It was my first book from MN Bennet and I'm excited to read more of his work!
October 7, 2025
Okay, let me preface it like this:
If you're in it for the grovelling and the hate-fucking, then this isn't going to be the book for you!
And while I did expect there to be some semblance of grovelling involved, I'm kind of glad that there wasn't? Take that from someone who usually loves grovelling. I just think that it wouldn't really have made much sense to include it? Not because the things Isaac had to go through weren't worthy of a frankly ungodly amount of grovelling, but because of Isaac's personality.
I know that a lot of people might think differently, though- so fair warning: This is a bully romance (and I personally think there aren't enough of those), but the past doesn't really play a huge role. So? No grovelling.
I don't really have anything to complain about for once, but if I had to pick one thing, it would be exactly that: that past happenings still felt a bit unexplored by the end. We did find out what happened between the characters back when they were in high school, but the book heavily focuses on their current selves.
I don't know how to put it, but it's actually quite nice to see how Isaac's grown into his own person? Even if he does sometimes feel like he's broken or that his love's like a time bomb- he doesn't let it destroy his chances at a better future for himself. Do I still think Colton's a little piece of shit for what he's done? Yes, I do. But strangely enough, he's somewhat grown on me. At least he's honest and owns up to his mistakes. That doesn't mean I don't want to kick him. I'll leave the punishment up to Isaac, though.
Speaking of, I haven't talked about the hate-fucking, have I? That's because there's close to none. I'm not sure if you could classify the first (very long, by the way) sex scene as that...?
It didn't really bother me because I'd been a little afraid that constant hate-fucking could've ended up boring me. But was that character development in my sex scenes?? I think so! That's what made them pretty much impossible to skip. The book was generally quite spicy, but it didn't feel too gratuitous to me.
In conclusion- many bully romances end up feeling a bit samey, so I really liked that this one went in a bit of a different direction! But do I think this'll be for everyone? Not really. It probably hinges on whether or not you can warm up to the characters.
If you're in it for the grovelling and the hate-fucking, then this isn't going to be the book for you!
And while I did expect there to be some semblance of grovelling involved, I'm kind of glad that there wasn't? Take that from someone who usually loves grovelling. I just think that it wouldn't really have made much sense to include it? Not because the things Isaac had to go through weren't worthy of a frankly ungodly amount of grovelling, but because of Isaac's personality.
I know that a lot of people might think differently, though- so fair warning: This is a bully romance (and I personally think there aren't enough of those), but the past doesn't really play a huge role. So? No grovelling.
I don't really have anything to complain about for once, but if I had to pick one thing, it would be exactly that: that past happenings still felt a bit unexplored by the end. We did find out what happened between the characters back when they were in high school, but the book heavily focuses on their current selves.
I don't know how to put it, but it's actually quite nice to see how Isaac's grown into his own person? Even if he does sometimes feel like he's broken or that his love's like a time bomb- he doesn't let it destroy his chances at a better future for himself. Do I still think Colton's a little piece of shit for what he's done? Yes, I do. But strangely enough, he's somewhat grown on me. At least he's honest and owns up to his mistakes. That doesn't mean I don't want to kick him. I'll leave the punishment up to Isaac, though.
Speaking of, I haven't talked about the hate-fucking, have I? That's because there's close to none. I'm not sure if you could classify the first (very long, by the way) sex scene as that...?
It didn't really bother me because I'd been a little afraid that constant hate-fucking could've ended up boring me. But was that character development in my sex scenes?? I think so! That's what made them pretty much impossible to skip. The book was generally quite spicy, but it didn't feel too gratuitous to me.
In conclusion- many bully romances end up feeling a bit samey, so I really liked that this one went in a bit of a different direction! But do I think this'll be for everyone? Not really. It probably hinges on whether or not you can warm up to the characters.
Want to read
June 15, 2025I saw the cover in passing and thought that was Astarion...
June 8, 2025
FIRST THING. LOOK AT THIS COVER. IT'S STUNNING.
Okay, onto the review...
I walked into this book not knowing what to expect. I hadn't read the author before, and sometimes bully romances can be a little gross if the bullying is still continuing or if they've done something that's completely unforgivable.
This author not only surprised me from the first page, but continued to do so. I love how Colton (the ex-bully) isn't completely excusable from what he did, but as you continue reading you learn to understand him a lot more and know that he had changed.
And Isaac? Can someone get me a man like that? He was bullied, survived the trauma, and now absolutely dominates every room he's in. We love a goth boy!
What I enjoyed the most, was that Isaac, the victim of bullying, has not only become such a tough, no-nonsense, smart man, but he's also the one who takes the more dominant position in the relationship. Because he's so forward about his sexuality, people assume so much about him, only for him to really surprise us as we go.
As I was reading, I was wishing that Colton would grow a pair and really stand up for himself, but as I continued, I realised that what he really needed was someone to stand up for him and believe in him. And that person was Isaac, and he delivered perfectly.
The grumpy/sunshine pairing was perfect, and I loved that so much was flipped on its head for this book. I also love that a character like Isaac can be so dominating to his partner, and yet he can get dressed up for Rocky Horror and lean into his femininity. Femininity doesn't equal submission or softness, and this author really understood this.
Also, the sex between the characters was really well done. I loved how Isaac's roughness wasn't always what Colton needed or wanted, and he was honest when he couldn't finish in their sexual interactions. It was nice to see a book where the characters don't automatically take on the kinks of their partner.
Easily one of my best reads for 2025.
I am so glad to have found this author and I'm now zooming off to read their backlist on Kindle!
Okay, onto the review...
I walked into this book not knowing what to expect. I hadn't read the author before, and sometimes bully romances can be a little gross if the bullying is still continuing or if they've done something that's completely unforgivable.
This author not only surprised me from the first page, but continued to do so. I love how Colton (the ex-bully) isn't completely excusable from what he did, but as you continue reading you learn to understand him a lot more and know that he had changed.
And Isaac? Can someone get me a man like that? He was bullied, survived the trauma, and now absolutely dominates every room he's in. We love a goth boy!
What I enjoyed the most, was that Isaac, the victim of bullying, has not only become such a tough, no-nonsense, smart man, but he's also the one who takes the more dominant position in the relationship. Because he's so forward about his sexuality, people assume so much about him, only for him to really surprise us as we go.
As I was reading, I was wishing that Colton would grow a pair and really stand up for himself, but as I continued, I realised that what he really needed was someone to stand up for him and believe in him. And that person was Isaac, and he delivered perfectly.
The grumpy/sunshine pairing was perfect, and I loved that so much was flipped on its head for this book. I also love that a character like Isaac can be so dominating to his partner, and yet he can get dressed up for Rocky Horror and lean into his femininity. Femininity doesn't equal submission or softness, and this author really understood this.
Also, the sex between the characters was really well done. I loved how Isaac's roughness wasn't always what Colton needed or wanted, and he was honest when he couldn't finish in their sexual interactions. It was nice to see a book where the characters don't automatically take on the kinks of their partner.
Easily one of my best reads for 2025.
I am so glad to have found this author and I'm now zooming off to read their backlist on Kindle!
February 5, 2026
I must be a deranged, toxic babe bc I love how unhinged and toxic these two were. Well mostly Issac. He was completely justified in all his mean goth boi actions. Honestly? I think he could’ve been meaner 🤷🏾♀️ That’s not to say I didn’t like Colton. Weirdly I found him to be adorable? Like babe, I can’t believe you did that but also, I can respect the groveling you did as a greedy, insatiable bottom. Well done, kid. I need to get into more toxic bully romances in which I totally support the characters and their terrible behavior. New kink unlocked. Thank you author. 🫡
August 23, 2025
First of all: that cover. Absolutely stunning. I would’ve picked this up for the aesthetics alone, no questions asked.
Now, I may have sworn off bully romance a while back (because the magic wasn’t really working for me anymore), but this book proved me wrong in the best way. Turns out there are still some gems hiding in this trope, and Colton and Isaac delivered enough drama to keep me turning the pages like my life depended on it.
This story runs hot, like, very hot. And while that made for some entertaining reading, I did find myself wishing Colton had spent a little more time groveling. Sometimes the spice took the spotlight when I really wanted more of the emotional payoff. That missing depth made it a bit harder for me to fully root for their relationship.
That said, it was still a fun ride, and the kind of book that makes me say: “Okay, maybe I’m not completely done with bully romances after all.”
tropes:
Bully romance
Opposites attract
golden boy x bad boy
college romance
D/s vibes
spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Info:
Characters: Isaac and Colton
Nickname: little pitcher
Pov: dual, third person
Now, I may have sworn off bully romance a while back (because the magic wasn’t really working for me anymore), but this book proved me wrong in the best way. Turns out there are still some gems hiding in this trope, and Colton and Isaac delivered enough drama to keep me turning the pages like my life depended on it.
This story runs hot, like, very hot. And while that made for some entertaining reading, I did find myself wishing Colton had spent a little more time groveling. Sometimes the spice took the spotlight when I really wanted more of the emotional payoff. That missing depth made it a bit harder for me to fully root for their relationship.
That said, it was still a fun ride, and the kind of book that makes me say: “Okay, maybe I’m not completely done with bully romances after all.”
tropes:
Bully romance
Opposites attract
golden boy x bad boy
college romance
D/s vibes
spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Info:
Characters: Isaac and Colton
Nickname: little pitcher
Pov: dual, third person
January 4, 2026
Uh! Not my cup of tea like at all!
August 16, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ The tension and hate between Isaac and Colton had me on edge, and I had a really hard time putting this book down. When Isaac catches Colton trying to cheat on his assessment, he finds his perfect opportunity to get his long awaited revenge on the baseball player. But Isaac and Colton find themselfs in a situationship none of them expected.
I find myself really enjoying MN Bennet's books, and Bend Him, Break Him was no exception. Just like From Best To Bested, this is a darker story, enemies to lovers, with themes that could be difficult for some readers. But if you are okey with the trigger warnings for Isaac and Colton's story, I highly believe you'll really like this story! I'm really looking forward to what's next to come from MN Bennet, who is proving to become one of my new favorite authors!
If you love enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort, revenge, first times, opposite attracts and pining, this is a must read for you! A big thank you to the author for providing me with an arc of this great story!
I find myself really enjoying MN Bennet's books, and Bend Him, Break Him was no exception. Just like From Best To Bested, this is a darker story, enemies to lovers, with themes that could be difficult for some readers. But if you are okey with the trigger warnings for Isaac and Colton's story, I highly believe you'll really like this story! I'm really looking forward to what's next to come from MN Bennet, who is proving to become one of my new favorite authors!
If you love enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort, revenge, first times, opposite attracts and pining, this is a must read for you! A big thank you to the author for providing me with an arc of this great story!
October 2, 2025
20% plot 80% smut 100% mid
November 11, 2025
disgusted with myself...but props...the world we live in shines a light on so many situations. this one here i have found in a many of webcomic. can't list them on Goodreads ever since new management made changes
September 18, 2025
3.5 Stars
August 20, 2025
Colton Lennox and Isaac Parker have a long and dangerous history since they were at High school in the small town of Straight Arrow, a very ironic name. Later, when the two of them unknowingly end up at the very weirdly named University, the animosity and hatred flare up as if it just happened yesterday.
I received an ARC copy via the author and I’m voluntarily leaving my unbiased review of ‘Bend Him, Break Him’.
Colton is struggling to maintain his position as lead Pitcher for the Baseball Team. His tunnel vision excludes his study time and now he is in trouble for failing his classes. Isaac, as a TA for one of Colton’s professors, discovers Colton’s attempt to achieve a pass his excitement knows no bounds.
REVENGE 👿. This the background to what happened next, when Colton had no choice but to submit to Isaac’s conditions, but neither of them could have imagined what their arrangement would lead to.
Both of them were very lucky with their friends groups, Colton had a few friends on his team but Leon, the substitute Pitcher was some nasty bit of animal dung, Oh how I detested him. I wished that Colton paid more attention to what was going on around him, plus his studies.
Isaac, he just crept into my heart as did his lovely friends in the GSA support group at Uni, Mina and Jazz in particular. Of course their was a snake in the grass in that group too. I loved that it was Isaac who never seemed to doubt or give up, who stood up against it all.
This wasn’t a comfortable read at times, especially some of the physical attacks, but the author M.N.Bennett did such a great job with the writing itself and the handling of some of the tougher confrontations here. He has built a wonderful, varied group of supportive side characters, that added some brighter sparks of humour to what was otherwise a very serious book, handling awful situations that I hope remains more fiction than real life experiences for anyone.
There is plenty of angst, gritty moments, and intense intimacy within this story to meet most people’s taste. I didn’t notice any TW’s, but there was an incident where someone’s drink was interfered with at a party which might be triggering for some from a past experience. There is also a lot of homophobic slurs among the students themselves.
I received an ARC copy via the author and I’m voluntarily leaving my unbiased review of ‘Bend Him, Break Him’.
Colton is struggling to maintain his position as lead Pitcher for the Baseball Team. His tunnel vision excludes his study time and now he is in trouble for failing his classes. Isaac, as a TA for one of Colton’s professors, discovers Colton’s attempt to achieve a pass his excitement knows no bounds.
REVENGE 👿. This the background to what happened next, when Colton had no choice but to submit to Isaac’s conditions, but neither of them could have imagined what their arrangement would lead to.
Both of them were very lucky with their friends groups, Colton had a few friends on his team but Leon, the substitute Pitcher was some nasty bit of animal dung, Oh how I detested him. I wished that Colton paid more attention to what was going on around him, plus his studies.
Isaac, he just crept into my heart as did his lovely friends in the GSA support group at Uni, Mina and Jazz in particular. Of course their was a snake in the grass in that group too. I loved that it was Isaac who never seemed to doubt or give up, who stood up against it all.
This wasn’t a comfortable read at times, especially some of the physical attacks, but the author M.N.Bennett did such a great job with the writing itself and the handling of some of the tougher confrontations here. He has built a wonderful, varied group of supportive side characters, that added some brighter sparks of humour to what was otherwise a very serious book, handling awful situations that I hope remains more fiction than real life experiences for anyone.
There is plenty of angst, gritty moments, and intense intimacy within this story to meet most people’s taste. I didn’t notice any TW’s, but there was an incident where someone’s drink was interfered with at a party which might be triggering for some from a past experience. There is also a lot of homophobic slurs among the students themselves.
June 5, 2025
4.5⭐️
This book packed a punch! It’s a dark enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of content warnings at the beginning. It explores various issues and plays with your emotions, questioning how much empathy you can give when someone’s trying to right a wrong in the wrong way.
At first, I was on Isaac’s side, being led down that road with gentle reminders of what he had to endure. Then, I was made to question my own morals and decide what’s too far, too much.
So many jock/nerd type books have the jock apologising lamely, and then all is forgiven and love prevails. This book takes a darker stance on that theme, with Isaac seeking revenge for the things Colton did to him. It’s deliberately uncomfortable, complex, and a little taboo. The pacing is great; nothing feels rushed, and the world-building and other characters all add to the overall experience.
It was both difficult and intriguing to read; another book where I couldn’t put it down.
——————————————
I received an ARC of this from booksiren, and this is my honest review.
This book packed a punch! It’s a dark enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of content warnings at the beginning. It explores various issues and plays with your emotions, questioning how much empathy you can give when someone’s trying to right a wrong in the wrong way.
At first, I was on Isaac’s side, being led down that road with gentle reminders of what he had to endure. Then, I was made to question my own morals and decide what’s too far, too much.
So many jock/nerd type books have the jock apologising lamely, and then all is forgiven and love prevails. This book takes a darker stance on that theme, with Isaac seeking revenge for the things Colton did to him. It’s deliberately uncomfortable, complex, and a little taboo. The pacing is great; nothing feels rushed, and the world-building and other characters all add to the overall experience.
It was both difficult and intriguing to read; another book where I couldn’t put it down.
——————————————
I received an ARC of this from booksiren, and this is my honest review.
Read
October 4, 2025I had a hard time getting into this one. The relationship just seemed off and I didn’t necessarily like either of the main characters. Their first time being intimate I found more uncomfortable/awkward than anything. The plot line felt rushed and surface level. It just wasn’t for me.
June 10, 2025
True to one of its main characters' affinity for dominance, "Bend Him Break Him" by M.N. Bennet pinned me down against the mattress until late enough at night that it bordered on very early in the morning and took over my thoughts to the point that I couldn't think about anything else. What an explosive, steamy and completely unhinged read!
Long story short, "Bend Him Break Him" is a hatefuck buddies to lovers romance between two young men whose past together left them both reeling with deep emotional wounds that never quite stopped bleeding. Not so long ago, Isaac would've done anything for Colton, but after their furtive encounters led to Isaac being publicly humiliated and beaten up on camera, he had enough. So when Colton turns out to be enrolled in the same college as Isaac, who's a Teaching Assistant, Isaac doesn't hesitate to get back at him in every way he can. Meanwhile, star pitcher Colton is not doing well. Outed to the entire school by a leaked video of him and another man being intimate, he's currently on academic probation, and he cannot afford another misstep if he wants to avoid being expelled. Being openly bisexual against his wishes has caused quite the ruckus among his baseball teammates, prompting relentless harrassment from those who'd love to get rid of him and take over his spot as the star pitcher, and he really doesn't appreciate the fact that Isaac is using his TA position to keep him on the edge of failing to stay above the average his probation demands.
After Colton hands in an essay that Isaac could very well get him kicked out for, the baseball player is desperate enough to offer Isaac a golden opportunity he has dreamt of for years: if Isaac agrees to let the essay issue slide, Colton is willing to let him use his body in any way he deems fit. Revenge is too tempting for Isaac to ignore, and before Colton can think things through he's become Isaac's submissive sexual partner. It doesn't take long for Colton to realise that, for all he's always despised the idea of bottoming, he actually quite enjoys the way Isaac takes over and bosses him around. Meanwhile Isaac is struggling with the growing awareness that, despite his best efforts, he never really got over his feelings for Colton. The longer this arrangement goes on, the more they are pulled into each other's orbit, and when their shared past and current circumstances collide in a dangerous trainwreck that threatens to end both of their careers, Isaac and Colton will have to face a choice they never thought they'd be forced into.
Something I haven't been able to stop thinking about in regards to this book is the punch it packs. Even if you've read similar stories in the past, ie. dark romances set in college or university that fit into the bully romance category, this book won't feel like something that's already been done before. There were many little details about both Isaac and Colton that made them stand out as complex characters with very well-defined personalities, plus the author played around with conventional clichés and tropes in a way that was really engaging. Despite how difficult it can be to navigate any stories involving an ex-bully and their victim without falling into toxic dynamics or downright romanticising bullying, MN Bennet did an extraordinary job with Colton and Isaac, and wrote them in a way that made complete sense for two people with such a shared history who find themselves falling in love.
Regarding Isaac, who used to be targeted for being visibly queer and a "freak" in high school, I was really satisfied with Bennet's character development choices. Although he does soften as he falls in love with Colton, Isaac never lets go of his snarky attitude or ruthless demeanour, both of which are his coping mechanisms as a survivor of atrocious violence from peers and family alike. Tempting though it may be to strip those away from him in a "love cures all wounds" sort of way, survivors of abuse in real life don't often find themselves able to afford letting go off all the defense mechanisms that have kept them alive. For this reason, it was really empowering to have a character who made himself stronger after going through really severe trauma and was not robbed of the ways in which he built himself back up as he developed feelings for someone else.
At the same time, Colton never demanded that Isaac get over what happened during their high school years. Neither did he invalidate Isaac's rage, or question Isaac's difficulties to feel his feelings or get vulnerable. Instead he allowed Isaac to be angry and messy and rightfully hurt, but at the same time showed consistency in his affection that helped Isaac come to terms with the blossoming feelings between them. Overall he was quite an incredible character, far from the himbo stereotypes that might come to mind when you hear the word "jock", and I ended up loving him the way I'd love my own child. (If I had one, that is)
Even though the blurb makes it clear enough, I'd like to highlight that sex is a prominent part of this story that takes up a lot of space. If you aren't comfortable with open-door spice, or dislike the idea of reading about BDSM practices or dubious consent scenarious, you might want to skip this one for your own sake. Since I personally do not mind either as long as they are handled properly, I found the plot to be quite addictive! The way MN Bennet handled the overarching plot by including bits and pieces here and there, and introducing the different characters and events involved at a very well-paced rhythm, was incredibly engaging and had me turning the pages fast enough to fan myself while at it.
Before I finish this review, I need to highlight what was perhaps the most powerful element of this story for me, which was the social commentary that ran beneath the surface. Throughout the novel there are different scenes that bring up issues faced nowadays by LGBTQIA+ folks that are not a part of mainstream discourses just yet. Topics such as biphobia, internalised femmephobia, stigmatised views on bottoming as an emasculating role or (my hill to die on) the victim blaming undertone to the idea that people who proactively harm LGBTQIA+ folks are closeted queers themselves are touched upon. Opening up the possibility of having a conversation about such nuanced topics is an incredibly important service to the queer community, since it allows for discussions that need to take place if we want to have a more inclusive society.
All in all this book was exquisite, mouthwatering, devilishly sensual and darkly addictive, and I for one cannot wait to read more of Bennet's works!
Long story short, "Bend Him Break Him" is a hatefuck buddies to lovers romance between two young men whose past together left them both reeling with deep emotional wounds that never quite stopped bleeding. Not so long ago, Isaac would've done anything for Colton, but after their furtive encounters led to Isaac being publicly humiliated and beaten up on camera, he had enough. So when Colton turns out to be enrolled in the same college as Isaac, who's a Teaching Assistant, Isaac doesn't hesitate to get back at him in every way he can. Meanwhile, star pitcher Colton is not doing well. Outed to the entire school by a leaked video of him and another man being intimate, he's currently on academic probation, and he cannot afford another misstep if he wants to avoid being expelled. Being openly bisexual against his wishes has caused quite the ruckus among his baseball teammates, prompting relentless harrassment from those who'd love to get rid of him and take over his spot as the star pitcher, and he really doesn't appreciate the fact that Isaac is using his TA position to keep him on the edge of failing to stay above the average his probation demands.
After Colton hands in an essay that Isaac could very well get him kicked out for, the baseball player is desperate enough to offer Isaac a golden opportunity he has dreamt of for years: if Isaac agrees to let the essay issue slide, Colton is willing to let him use his body in any way he deems fit. Revenge is too tempting for Isaac to ignore, and before Colton can think things through he's become Isaac's submissive sexual partner. It doesn't take long for Colton to realise that, for all he's always despised the idea of bottoming, he actually quite enjoys the way Isaac takes over and bosses him around. Meanwhile Isaac is struggling with the growing awareness that, despite his best efforts, he never really got over his feelings for Colton. The longer this arrangement goes on, the more they are pulled into each other's orbit, and when their shared past and current circumstances collide in a dangerous trainwreck that threatens to end both of their careers, Isaac and Colton will have to face a choice they never thought they'd be forced into.
Something I haven't been able to stop thinking about in regards to this book is the punch it packs. Even if you've read similar stories in the past, ie. dark romances set in college or university that fit into the bully romance category, this book won't feel like something that's already been done before. There were many little details about both Isaac and Colton that made them stand out as complex characters with very well-defined personalities, plus the author played around with conventional clichés and tropes in a way that was really engaging. Despite how difficult it can be to navigate any stories involving an ex-bully and their victim without falling into toxic dynamics or downright romanticising bullying, MN Bennet did an extraordinary job with Colton and Isaac, and wrote them in a way that made complete sense for two people with such a shared history who find themselves falling in love.
Regarding Isaac, who used to be targeted for being visibly queer and a "freak" in high school, I was really satisfied with Bennet's character development choices. Although he does soften as he falls in love with Colton, Isaac never lets go of his snarky attitude or ruthless demeanour, both of which are his coping mechanisms as a survivor of atrocious violence from peers and family alike. Tempting though it may be to strip those away from him in a "love cures all wounds" sort of way, survivors of abuse in real life don't often find themselves able to afford letting go off all the defense mechanisms that have kept them alive. For this reason, it was really empowering to have a character who made himself stronger after going through really severe trauma and was not robbed of the ways in which he built himself back up as he developed feelings for someone else.
At the same time, Colton never demanded that Isaac get over what happened during their high school years. Neither did he invalidate Isaac's rage, or question Isaac's difficulties to feel his feelings or get vulnerable. Instead he allowed Isaac to be angry and messy and rightfully hurt, but at the same time showed consistency in his affection that helped Isaac come to terms with the blossoming feelings between them. Overall he was quite an incredible character, far from the himbo stereotypes that might come to mind when you hear the word "jock", and I ended up loving him the way I'd love my own child. (If I had one, that is)
Even though the blurb makes it clear enough, I'd like to highlight that sex is a prominent part of this story that takes up a lot of space. If you aren't comfortable with open-door spice, or dislike the idea of reading about BDSM practices or dubious consent scenarious, you might want to skip this one for your own sake. Since I personally do not mind either as long as they are handled properly, I found the plot to be quite addictive! The way MN Bennet handled the overarching plot by including bits and pieces here and there, and introducing the different characters and events involved at a very well-paced rhythm, was incredibly engaging and had me turning the pages fast enough to fan myself while at it.
Before I finish this review, I need to highlight what was perhaps the most powerful element of this story for me, which was the social commentary that ran beneath the surface. Throughout the novel there are different scenes that bring up issues faced nowadays by LGBTQIA+ folks that are not a part of mainstream discourses just yet. Topics such as biphobia, internalised femmephobia, stigmatised views on bottoming as an emasculating role or (my hill to die on) the victim blaming undertone to the idea that people who proactively harm LGBTQIA+ folks are closeted queers themselves are touched upon. Opening up the possibility of having a conversation about such nuanced topics is an incredibly important service to the queer community, since it allows for discussions that need to take place if we want to have a more inclusive society.
All in all this book was exquisite, mouthwatering, devilishly sensual and darkly addictive, and I for one cannot wait to read more of Bennet's works!
August 22, 2025
I first off want to thank MN Bennet for the opportunity of getting an ARC of this book.
I liked the story. MN is not an author who adds a bunch of fluff to his stories and descriptions. He is very straight forward with his words and you get a great sense of who the characters are right from the start and it allows you to understand their actions throughout the story well. I enjoyed the character development. Though the MCs were very reminiscent of the moods/personalities of Dorian and Milo from the Branches of Past and Future, I still fell in love with them. The story line was good, though the way that the arrangement between the two MCs starts out did seem a bit weird and cringey, it developed much better as you got into the book. I found myself relating to both of the MCs and rooting for them throughout the pages. As with all the books I have read by MN, I enjoyed the background characters as well.
Again, I overall did enjoy this book! If you are looking for something spicy with a good story line, I would definitely recommend this book!
I liked the story. MN is not an author who adds a bunch of fluff to his stories and descriptions. He is very straight forward with his words and you get a great sense of who the characters are right from the start and it allows you to understand their actions throughout the story well. I enjoyed the character development. Though the MCs were very reminiscent of the moods/personalities of Dorian and Milo from the Branches of Past and Future, I still fell in love with them. The story line was good, though the way that the arrangement between the two MCs starts out did seem a bit weird and cringey, it developed much better as you got into the book. I found myself relating to both of the MCs and rooting for them throughout the pages. As with all the books I have read by MN, I enjoyed the background characters as well.
Again, I overall did enjoy this book! If you are looking for something spicy with a good story line, I would definitely recommend this book!
September 24, 2025
Disclaimer: focus on the “bend him, break him” part. The middle delivers exactly what the title promises. But if you let yourself get emotionally invested in the plot of the first 25% or the last 25%, this book will leave you hanging. That’s what happened to me, and here’s why (contains spoilers!)
This book frustrated me in a way that very few do. Not because the writing is bad…it isn’t. The sentences flow, the setup is promising. What frustrated me is that it dangled the possibility of something meaningful, something emotionally raw, and then refused to follow through.
The beginning was heavy in the best way. Isaac’s trauma, the scars of bullying, the mental health strain, it all felt visceral and real. It pulled me in, made me brace myself for a story about reckoning and repair, about what happens when pain and attraction collide. The premise was bold: flip the power dynamic, don’t victimise Isaac, make him strong, petty, resilient, and hand him control. On paper, I loved that choice. I loved Losers by Harley Laroux, and this felt like a similar idea. It should have worked.
But here’s the crack: when you show suffering that vividly, when you build up those consequences so clearly, you can’t just sidestep the emotional fallout. And that’s precisely what this book did. The middle became a blur of repetitive smut, a carousel of sex scenes that tried to carry weight but never did. It worked for a while, cause hate-sex can pack a punch. But soon the lack of reflection became perplexing. Every page reminded me of what was missing: no apology, no real confrontation, no reckoning until the very end. And even then, it was shallow.
And this hollowed Colton out entirely. He never once really seemed to grasp that actions ripple outward, that they wound beyond his own ego (he says he does, but even then it's it made him stronger, he did not seem to want an apology blah). Again and again. Even when both were caught in the same fallout, Colton only thought about how it touched him. It made him read like cardboard, a love interest stripped of integrity.
Meanwhile, Isaac carried everything. He gave and gave: gestures, support, space, room to develop, acceptance, guidance. He was the one building, holding, steadying. Colton just took. And without genuine reciprocity (beyond lust and attraction), the romance crumbled. Attraction alone isn’t enough. Dick is not therapy. A relationship without emotional honesty is just a hollow shell.
The worst betrayal, though, was how the book trivialised what it started with. Bullying and its scars were introduced with gravity, but by the end, they were treated like background noise. As if Isaac’s resilience alone erased the trauma. But resilience doesn’t mean someone isn’t owed repair, care, recognition. Resilience doesn’t erase the need for introspection. By refusing to go there, the book betrayed Isaac, and it betrayed the emotional connection it made with the reader.
So when the twists came, they rang hollow. Noise layered over an empty core. And the smut, which should at least carry some curiosity, just numbed me. I wasn’t intrigued, I was detached. Which is a shame, cause technically, the smut was really good.
Because it could have been so much more. The potential was sitting right there. With real emotional follow-through, this would have been a 5-star read easily. Instead, it cut corners, silenced its own weight, and collapsed under the promise it refused to honour.
Isaac deserved better. Not just from Colton, but from this story.
Also, the audiobook is really not delivering. Batman with a sore throat, and a far too young sounding Colton.
2.75⭐️ rounded up (cause Isaac and his found family were great).
This book frustrated me in a way that very few do. Not because the writing is bad…it isn’t. The sentences flow, the setup is promising. What frustrated me is that it dangled the possibility of something meaningful, something emotionally raw, and then refused to follow through.
The beginning was heavy in the best way. Isaac’s trauma, the scars of bullying, the mental health strain, it all felt visceral and real. It pulled me in, made me brace myself for a story about reckoning and repair, about what happens when pain and attraction collide. The premise was bold: flip the power dynamic, don’t victimise Isaac, make him strong, petty, resilient, and hand him control. On paper, I loved that choice. I loved Losers by Harley Laroux, and this felt like a similar idea. It should have worked.
But here’s the crack: when you show suffering that vividly, when you build up those consequences so clearly, you can’t just sidestep the emotional fallout. And that’s precisely what this book did. The middle became a blur of repetitive smut, a carousel of sex scenes that tried to carry weight but never did. It worked for a while, cause hate-sex can pack a punch. But soon the lack of reflection became perplexing. Every page reminded me of what was missing: no apology, no real confrontation, no reckoning until the very end. And even then, it was shallow.
And this hollowed Colton out entirely. He never once really seemed to grasp that actions ripple outward, that they wound beyond his own ego (he says he does, but even then it's it made him stronger, he did not seem to want an apology blah). Again and again. Even when both were caught in the same fallout, Colton only thought about how it touched him. It made him read like cardboard, a love interest stripped of integrity.
Meanwhile, Isaac carried everything. He gave and gave: gestures, support, space, room to develop, acceptance, guidance. He was the one building, holding, steadying. Colton just took. And without genuine reciprocity (beyond lust and attraction), the romance crumbled. Attraction alone isn’t enough. Dick is not therapy. A relationship without emotional honesty is just a hollow shell.
The worst betrayal, though, was how the book trivialised what it started with. Bullying and its scars were introduced with gravity, but by the end, they were treated like background noise. As if Isaac’s resilience alone erased the trauma. But resilience doesn’t mean someone isn’t owed repair, care, recognition. Resilience doesn’t erase the need for introspection. By refusing to go there, the book betrayed Isaac, and it betrayed the emotional connection it made with the reader.
So when the twists came, they rang hollow. Noise layered over an empty core. And the smut, which should at least carry some curiosity, just numbed me. I wasn’t intrigued, I was detached. Which is a shame, cause technically, the smut was really good.
Because it could have been so much more. The potential was sitting right there. With real emotional follow-through, this would have been a 5-star read easily. Instead, it cut corners, silenced its own weight, and collapsed under the promise it refused to honour.
Isaac deserved better. Not just from Colton, but from this story.
Also, the audiobook is really not delivering. Batman with a sore throat, and a far too young sounding Colton.
2.75⭐️ rounded up (cause Isaac and his found family were great).
June 21, 2025
My first book from this author. Saw the cover and it lured me in. Read the blurb. Lots of big ticks for me there, so I had to read it.
I thought I had it figured what I was reading, I was wrong. It was better than my imagination.
We have Colton and Isaac. They went to the same high school together. Colton was the jock and Isaac the weirdo nerd dude. They were hooking up on the DL until Colton gives into peer pressure and does something truly shit to Isaac. Naughty Naughty Colton. Dude had a lot of make up for.
The story starts a few years after that, both boys are at the same university, pursuing different subjects. Isaac LOATHES (rightfully so) Colton and is the TA in one of Colton's lectures. Colton, seemingly hasn't learnt a whole lot since high school and tries to cheat on his final paper. When Isaac goes to grade it he is immediately onto Colton and calls him out with plans of letting the academic admin know and getting Colton kicked out of college. Revenge is sweet. I was here for it.
Except.... Colton does his best to persuade Isaac otherwise. He will give himself to Isaac, body, mind etc, as long as Isaac doesn't turn him in. This is a very interesting prospect for Isaac since back in high school their 'relationship' was entirely one sided, Isaac doing all the heavy lifting so to speak and Colton reaping the rewards. Now it's Isaac's chance for sweet sweet revenge, just maybe not how he anticipated it.
I was fully on board with the revenge plot. I'm very much an eye for an eye kind of person and Colton had a lot to make up for. Plus he agreed to Isaac terms - albeit reluctantly. But this is where it went in another direction that I wasn't expecting and ended up respecting a lot more. Isaac has as realization that changes things for both of them, ultimately for the better. Both characters had a lot of growing to do in this book and it turns out they are kind of the perfect people to make one another better. Isaac gives Colton the motivation he needs in all areas and Colton helped Isaac break down some barriers and feel things. And Isaac had a LOT of barriers for Colton to break down.
There were some amazing side characters and some rather shitty ones as well, who we don't like at all. The main drama for these two comes from some of these side characters and their shitty choices. The last 30% or so had me absolutely hooked and I couldn't put the book down even though it was approaching midnight and I have a two year old that's up at sparrows fart.
There are a lot of triggers in this book. You should definitely check them out before reading and make sure they aren't going to be a deal breaker for you. If you find anything there that you don't like, don't read, but if you are all good strap yourself in and enjoy.
I thought I had it figured what I was reading, I was wrong. It was better than my imagination.
We have Colton and Isaac. They went to the same high school together. Colton was the jock and Isaac the weirdo nerd dude. They were hooking up on the DL until Colton gives into peer pressure and does something truly shit to Isaac. Naughty Naughty Colton. Dude had a lot of make up for.
The story starts a few years after that, both boys are at the same university, pursuing different subjects. Isaac LOATHES (rightfully so) Colton and is the TA in one of Colton's lectures. Colton, seemingly hasn't learnt a whole lot since high school and tries to cheat on his final paper. When Isaac goes to grade it he is immediately onto Colton and calls him out with plans of letting the academic admin know and getting Colton kicked out of college. Revenge is sweet. I was here for it.
Except.... Colton does his best to persuade Isaac otherwise. He will give himself to Isaac, body, mind etc, as long as Isaac doesn't turn him in. This is a very interesting prospect for Isaac since back in high school their 'relationship' was entirely one sided, Isaac doing all the heavy lifting so to speak and Colton reaping the rewards. Now it's Isaac's chance for sweet sweet revenge, just maybe not how he anticipated it.
I was fully on board with the revenge plot. I'm very much an eye for an eye kind of person and Colton had a lot to make up for. Plus he agreed to Isaac terms - albeit reluctantly. But this is where it went in another direction that I wasn't expecting and ended up respecting a lot more. Isaac has as realization that changes things for both of them, ultimately for the better. Both characters had a lot of growing to do in this book and it turns out they are kind of the perfect people to make one another better. Isaac gives Colton the motivation he needs in all areas and Colton helped Isaac break down some barriers and feel things. And Isaac had a LOT of barriers for Colton to break down.
There were some amazing side characters and some rather shitty ones as well, who we don't like at all. The main drama for these two comes from some of these side characters and their shitty choices. The last 30% or so had me absolutely hooked and I couldn't put the book down even though it was approaching midnight and I have a two year old that's up at sparrows fart.
There are a lot of triggers in this book. You should definitely check them out before reading and make sure they aren't going to be a deal breaker for you. If you find anything there that you don't like, don't read, but if you are all good strap yourself in and enjoy.
![Profile Image for Sasha [latenightswithabook].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1757963681i%2F30708755._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 9, 2025
⚾️ Dark bully romance
⚾️ Goth top/jock bottom
⚾️ Grumpy/sunshine
⚾️ Enemies to lovers
Colton is attractive, popular and a star member of his baseball team. He was always popular in high school and nothing has changed now that he’s in college. He’s also become something of an unwitting bi-icon due to the scandalous exposé that outed him as being queer. This part of his identity is something that Colton struggles with because he has a secret - before he was a queer icon he was a closeted bully.
Isaac was on the receiving end of Colton’s bullying when they were in high school. The way that Colton treated Isaac was horrific and Isaac despises Colton for it. When Isaac’s job as TA unexpectedly puts him position to get Colton expelled from college, he doesn’t hesitate to use it. What he doesn’t count on though is Colton agreeing to do anything Isaac wants to stop him using the blackmail. It’s a proposal that Isaac just can’t refuse.
*This is a dark romance so read the TW’s*
I really liked the dynamic in this one. The characters were so interesting, I particularly loved Colton’s mom (unexpectedly) and all the supportive side characters. The plot was medium speed and the feelings felt realistic and valid. I appreciated that Colton always completely understood why Isaac hated him - he was genuinely sorry for what happened and ready to atone for it. Isaac spends a lot of time punishing Colton but Colton never complains or resents him for it. What Colton did to Isaac when they were children was truly horrific but I really felt like Colton had earned Isaac’s forgiveness by the end and their feelings for each other made sense.
I also liked that Isaac and Colton were so aware of each other even before their arrangement. Despite the dark bits of their history they seemed inexplicably drawn to each other. The spice in this was very hot but it was also integral to the plot - the sex scenes are where we really see their feelings for each other start to develop and change for the better.
I would definitely recommend this.
⭐ 5/5
🌶️ 3/5
⚾️ Goth top/jock bottom
⚾️ Grumpy/sunshine
⚾️ Enemies to lovers
Colton is attractive, popular and a star member of his baseball team. He was always popular in high school and nothing has changed now that he’s in college. He’s also become something of an unwitting bi-icon due to the scandalous exposé that outed him as being queer. This part of his identity is something that Colton struggles with because he has a secret - before he was a queer icon he was a closeted bully.
Isaac was on the receiving end of Colton’s bullying when they were in high school. The way that Colton treated Isaac was horrific and Isaac despises Colton for it. When Isaac’s job as TA unexpectedly puts him position to get Colton expelled from college, he doesn’t hesitate to use it. What he doesn’t count on though is Colton agreeing to do anything Isaac wants to stop him using the blackmail. It’s a proposal that Isaac just can’t refuse.
*This is a dark romance so read the TW’s*
I really liked the dynamic in this one. The characters were so interesting, I particularly loved Colton’s mom (unexpectedly) and all the supportive side characters. The plot was medium speed and the feelings felt realistic and valid. I appreciated that Colton always completely understood why Isaac hated him - he was genuinely sorry for what happened and ready to atone for it. Isaac spends a lot of time punishing Colton but Colton never complains or resents him for it. What Colton did to Isaac when they were children was truly horrific but I really felt like Colton had earned Isaac’s forgiveness by the end and their feelings for each other made sense.
I also liked that Isaac and Colton were so aware of each other even before their arrangement. Despite the dark bits of their history they seemed inexplicably drawn to each other. The spice in this was very hot but it was also integral to the plot - the sex scenes are where we really see their feelings for each other start to develop and change for the better.
I would definitely recommend this.
⭐ 5/5
🌶️ 3/5
November 3, 2025
“If they suggested it, is it even revenge?” Mina smacked her lips as she sipped Isaac’s abandoned milkshake.
“Depends on what they suggested,” Jazz clarified. “Is it revenge or atonement?”
ok, this was cute as heck.
i don't have a lot of things to say about this book, just that it had a couple of really fucked up situations, while simultaniously not going as dark as it could have. or angsty. it was actually pretty light on the angst considering the dark romance and it's overall premise. i guess that it to be expected when you're used to reading (and loving) gregory ashe.
couple of little of particular nitpicks kept me from a 5 star rating, but still a very solid and entertaining read and am glad i heard about this before the release even and finally remembered to check it now that's it's out. also a new author to keep track of, which i always love.
would recommend this to anyone that is ok with the heavier themes discussed, as despite them the angst is not that bad.
“Depends on what they suggested,” Jazz clarified. “Is it revenge or atonement?”
ok, this was cute as heck.
i don't have a lot of things to say about this book, just that it had a couple of really fucked up situations, while simultaniously not going as dark as it could have. or angsty. it was actually pretty light on the angst considering the dark romance and it's overall premise. i guess that it to be expected when you're used to reading (and loving) gregory ashe.
couple of little of particular nitpicks kept me from a 5 star rating, but still a very solid and entertaining read and am glad i heard about this before the release even and finally remembered to check it now that's it's out. also a new author to keep track of, which i always love.
would recommend this to anyone that is ok with the heavier themes discussed, as despite them the angst is not that bad.
June 23, 2025
ARC Review
4.5 Stars
This was my first M.N. Bennet book and consider me surprised with the amount of heart this book had contrary to its title.
Tropes:
- Bully Romance
- Second Chance
- Hurt/Comfort
- dom/sub "ish"
- I'll never stop hating you but also im kinda in love with you
- STEAMY
The books MC's Colton and Isaac were a dynamic I was not expecting to enjoy as much as I did. To have this review completely spoiler free, Colton hurt Isaac in a way that can and did damage a soul. In this pain is where our other MC Isaac seeks his revenge.
When first finding out what Colton did, I did not want him to have his redemption, I feel that some characters just don't deserve it. Now like most books, we learn that not everything is black and white and Colton begins his redemption arc. One quip that I did have about this book was the redemption arc. It felt a bit rushed and little too easy to move past considering the amount of hate and anger Isaac held which was very valid.
All in all Bend Him Break Him is a solid book that has fun side characters, side characters you will absolutely despise, a "Tim", realising your mistakes is just the start, and most importantly Rocky Horror Picture Show.
4.5 Stars
This was my first M.N. Bennet book and consider me surprised with the amount of heart this book had contrary to its title.
Tropes:
- Bully Romance
- Second Chance
- Hurt/Comfort
- dom/sub "ish"
- I'll never stop hating you but also im kinda in love with you
- STEAMY
The books MC's Colton and Isaac were a dynamic I was not expecting to enjoy as much as I did. To have this review completely spoiler free, Colton hurt Isaac in a way that can and did damage a soul. In this pain is where our other MC Isaac seeks his revenge.
When first finding out what Colton did, I did not want him to have his redemption, I feel that some characters just don't deserve it. Now like most books, we learn that not everything is black and white and Colton begins his redemption arc. One quip that I did have about this book was the redemption arc. It felt a bit rushed and little too easy to move past considering the amount of hate and anger Isaac held which was very valid.
All in all Bend Him Break Him is a solid book that has fun side characters, side characters you will absolutely despise, a "Tim", realising your mistakes is just the start, and most importantly Rocky Horror Picture Show.
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