Defiant: Dryden High Series

by Randi Rigby

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2026

About the author

Randi Rigby is a lifelong lover of good books, a snuggly blanket, and a place to curl up and disappear for a few hours.

Writing is something she's always done. As a kid, if you lied you got in trouble. If you stretched it out and wrote it down, suddenly people loved it.

She believes the right shoe can quite possibly change your life and that kindness is contagious. Also. Chocolate? Absolutely divine.

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous coming of age book is an incredible addition to this series. Randi Rigby’s writing of witty, comedic banter between Raven and Jesse had me laughing out loud.

These two California trust-fund teens are just trying to survive high school while their families loom in the background with their own ideas of who their children should or should not be groomed to be.

This is Raven Gaspari’s first year of attending traditional high school. Blinded in an accident that took her sight, and her brother’s life, Raven is determined to fit in the best she can and make the most of her last year of high school. With her trusty guide dog, Bella, she quickly finds her niche when she is assigned with Dryden High’s golden boy, Jesse Evans, to be student ambassadors for the annual Invitational. Now, if her parents just believed in her ability to be anything more than a wall flower. Thankfully, with Jesse’s help, she’s about to prove to her parents that her worth is so much greater.

Dryden Bay royalty Jesse Evans is dealing with a controlling father who is attempting to get a court order for permanent custody. But Jesse’s attention quickly shifts when he finds himself taken with Dryden High’s newest student. When they keep getting partnered up in class, and then for the annual Invitational, he begins to find Raven’s captivating banter and incredible intellect enthralling. Being her backup when people treat her inappropriately is a position he’s more than willing to take on. Especially when her own parents treat her like she’s only capable of performing the very basic of tasks.

I received an ARC and freely offer this review.

[Olivia Bevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the author did a good job keeping Jesse the same as we met him in the first book and tackling a subject like blindness very well. I still feel like this book had the same issue of them just all of the sudden being in love. I liked the plot in this one, it felt appropriately paced. I do think Nico was a weird character and I didn’t like how jealous he was. Fun quick read.

Series Review- overall 3.5 Stars.
I liked how clean these books were with still feeling like the chapters had chemistry and were in an actual relationship. I liked the series kept going but some of the stories felt pretty similar. You can only fall in love with the new kid so many times. I wish that the characters took longer to fall in love instead of all of the sudden being so madly in love because we were told they were. I liked the actual writing in this book. The author had some awesome comeback lines and so unique metaphors which I loved. I think she needs to write another book about Olivia since she was so present in all of the books!! I also think that the titles didn’t really match the books. A fun YA read.

[Sydney Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elite couple, I knew I would love Jesse’s book because I could tell that he’s a natural leader but also truly cares. Watching him care for Raven. I love how he protected her when needed but also let her shine because he knew what she was capable of despite her disability. Their story was also really well paced. Nico was a very weird character, I feel like that was thrown in there strangely and awkwardly. I loved being along for the ride of these two standing up for themselves to each other and their parents.