Caught

Caught By The Bad Boys #1

by Raathi Chota

I’m the school geek. The teenage girl with glasses. The girl who boys avoid because her dad just so happens to be the Sheriff.

All I’m interested in is getting into Yale so I can leave this town and everyone in it behind. Until four of the most popular boys in school suddenly show an interest in me…

Why? I’m not sure. But when they make me a bet I can’t refuse, I shed the good girl skin I’m in just to prove to them I’m not as innocent as they think I am.

Only, things start to go wrong. Really wrong.

As I stare down at the grave in front of me, I know my life will never be the same again—not while I’m caught up in this web of lies, deceit…and murder.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

509 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2019

About the author

Raathi Chota is the hit writer of Caught by the Bad Boys on Wattpad. Ever since she started it in 2016, it accumulated over 11 million views. Raathi always knew she had a creative mind and worked it into publishing the book into a series in 2019.

When she isn't writing, we can see Raathi reading books to support other authors where she reviews them on her blog. Out of the book industry, she's either baking, playing video games or plotting out a new story.

Reviews

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Entertainment wise I liked this one a lot, but unfortunately, it also had a few issues that caused me to lower my rating a bit. However, let's start with the positives. The plot of this book was very entertaining. Maybe a bit far fetched for a bunch of high school students but entertaining nonetheless. It was full of teenage drama. A bit of a love triangle, and I am just going to say I am #TeamBenny all the way. Blake had his chance, but as soon as he started dating (sleeping with?) Kelly, he lost me. (lol) There was bullying. There was a murder. There were drugs. There wasn't any sex (YA). It had a fantastic cast of characters. I love their interactions and how protective they were of each other (most of the time). There were some twist and turns, and it ends with a cliffhanger and a whole lot of loose ends.



That brings me to the main issue I had with this one. Honestly, this book was WAY too long, especially considering it ends on a cliffhanger. There was so much unnecessary stuff. Repetitive dialogue. Multiple POVs etc. The plot really could have used a proper tightening up. That said, I enjoyed it enough, and I am super curious to see where this story is going. I am dying to find out more about Levi, as well as Axel. So yea, it wasn't perfect, but it was still pretty damn enjoyable.

SIDE NOTE: These characters really had this crazy over the top reaction to the heroine smoking cigarettes. Like they were a gateway to hard drugs or something. (lol) I get smoking is terrible for you and all that, but the way they would react to it was bizarre and like she was half a step from needing to go to rehab!

[AℳY♔Queen of Fat cats♔Ain't no lie Baby Byebyebye]

Guuuuyyys! Has anyone read this one? IT'S FREE TODAY!!!!!!!! Get your copy, read and tell me how it is.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/22/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
I’m the school geek. The teenage girl with glasses. The girl who boys avoid because her dad just so happens to be the Sheriff.

All I’m interested in is getting into Yale so I can leave this town and everyone in it behind. Until four of the most popular boys in school suddenly show an interest in me…
Why? I’m not sure. But when they make me a bet I can’t refuse, I shed the good girl skin I’m in just to prove to them I’m not as innocent as they think I am.

Only, things start to go wrong. Really wrong.

As I stare down at the grave in front of me, I know my life will never be the same again—not while I’m caught up in this web of lies, deceit…and murder.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I have to say that this is one of those books you love to hate but can't because it draws you in and gives you just enough to keep you reading. I started the book off and I wasn't sure I was going to read it but then I kept reading and I was hooked because I had to know what was going to happen. Plus it was in different POV's and that was confusing at first but then I got the hang of it and I was off and running. There was also the issues that is near and dear to me and that is bullying. I HATE BULLYING so much! I just don't get why people feel the need to bully others. Leave them the eff alone because they haven't done anything to you so leave them be.

This story is about a girl who happens to be the sheriff's daughter and a nerd. She minds her business and just wants to get good grades to go to Yale and get out of town. Then one day four of the most popular boys dare her to do something and she decides she will she shed her nerdiness and take this bet head on. Only things start to go wrong and they are all caught up into something they can't get out of. The story ended with a cliffhanger and I need book two because I need to know what happened. I need to know why someone died and what the boys and girl have to do with it. So many unanswered questions I need it like yesterday!

[Ashleigh Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few parts of this story that I really loved but there were so many things I had issues with that it made this read hard to get through.

The idea of the bad boys never fails to reel me in. These "bad boys" do not disappoint... mostly. I dislike the love triangle trope and there was a lot of confusion in the romance area. I don't know if Lana wanted to be with Benny or Blake. The writing of the different POVs is hard to follow at first but it ended up being one of my favorite parts by the end of the book.

The premise and the twists are really interesting. However, the execution of the story is choppy and lacks the depth needed to really attached to any of the characters more than anything that is surface deep. The constant use of "bites the inside of her cheek" gets old really quickly.

I personally feel that Lana is trying to be too much as a character and doesn't do any of them very successfully. She gives free passes to everyone but Blake which seems rather short sighted and childish. I don't see myself reading the rest of the series even though the cliffhanger at the end is kind of intense.

Thank you Netgalley for the ecopy in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very different story and at first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. But as I continued to read I found my self becoming absorbed into the tale. The main character is Lana, a young teenage girl classed as plain and geeky because of her glasses and her smart intellect at school, she’s also truly a good girl and unfortunately bullied regularly, Yale is something she’s aiming for. Intrigue with 4 “charismatic” young popular boys comes about when they offer her a deal she can’t refuse. Her true side will be exposed they say, but things become heavier than she ever expected.
An interesting read, the idea was very good, but I felt the story needed more development. The characters were friends but they didn’t seem to click, there also seemed to be a lot of repeating in the storyline, at one point Lana bit inside her cheek - which was cute - but after doing it repeatedly over and over, it got kind of boring.
Not a bad book, just not great.

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but I have to be honest. I really wasn't all that interested in it. I found myself skimming through some pages to get through the book. Some of the writing just didn't work well for me. I'm willing to try other books by this author, but this wasn't it for me. sorry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read but a bit confusing at the beginning trying to keep up with the characters, the narrative was similar so you couldn’t tell at first. They could also do with a bit more work they were likeable enough but seemed to lack something, I enjoyed it, but needs a little work

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and hated this book! I got sucked into the story and really liked the main character Lana. The others took some time to like. The trouble these teenagers get into is unbelievable and a bit far fetched but it made a great story. I hate the fact it is a total cliff hanger!

[Kokom1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this book was surprisingly good. The first half felt a bit average. Somehow the dialogue felt a bit oversimplified and then something changed and it all ramped up a notch. In the end I was totally sucked in and immediately downloading book 2. Not RH but has some dark themes and some great characters.

[Bookiechick Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed

I fell in love with this book on wattpad and can i just say wow! The mystery and intrigue have you hooked from the get go. The twists and turns of the plot have u guessing the whole way through. There is nothing predictable about this book. Once you start you need more. Very compelling, real and relatable. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery. You will not be disappointed.

[SSBSMS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

Initially, I was annoyed by the cliche characters and their lines, however, the storyline built up and I was curious to know what would happen. I was at the edge of my seat and did not expect such an abrupt cliffhanger and now, I’m anxious for more!

[Itara ~*My Midnight Fantasies*~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very excited when I started reading this book because I connected with the story and the author's style of writing was wonderful. I felt like I was right there in the middle of the story. I was immediately sucked into the story and I was interested to read more. Unfortunately I was disappointed by this book. I stopped reading at 45% and I was thinking of DNF-ing even before that. Up until that point the plot had changed a few times and I didn't see the story going anywhere that the synopsis described.

What I liked: I felt bad for the main character Lana as she was bullied and teased for a long time. I was captivated by her story and I liked that she was working toward her future and getting into Yale. The chemistry between her and all of the boys was great, they did get along once they stopped teasing her. The characters weren't childish which I appreciated. And the cover got my attention and I was curious.

What I didn't like: The plot changed three times and when I stopped reading was when the plot in the blurb was actually happening. I think that almost mid way through a book should not be when a plot should start. I think if the author would have picked on plot it would have benefited the story more. I don't like that Lana started smoking when she started to hang out with the guys.

Overall this book had a lot of potential with the author's enthralling writing style but it wasn't enough for me to continue with the story and I feel like this book wasn't for me.

Spoiler Section:

Plot point one was the bet that the boys made with Lana, which was to shed her good girl image. She would dress and act differently from how she was. Second plot was when the boys were dealing drugs. Third was when Lana saw the dead body in front of her. Fourth was Lana's friend was supposed to visit, she had a past with him but he wasn't mentioned anymore up until the point where I stopped reading. Those are way too many different story lines for my liking and I stopped reading so there could have been more.

[Jeraca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I really, really, really wanted to like this. I truly did. I love the cover, I love the synopsis, I love the beginning. But this book just wasn't for me, I don't think. First, the characters. There are so many boys, first of all, and all of them are bullies. And not true bullies, because they will be mean one moment and then nice the next. They are bi-polar bullies. And there are 2 different group of guys that are bullying Lana, and she basically goes from one group to the next without blinking an eye. Plus there is another character that I bet has a significant role to play, at least by reading the synopsis for the second book, that I didn't even get to before I gave up on this book.

Also, Lana. Gah, she is supposed to be a nerdy girl, a good girl, a Yale girl, but she interchanges herself so much that she goes from a good girl to a rebel in literally a second. It depends on who she is around, which honestly makes her two-faced and changes herself depending on who she's next to, which really annoys me to no end.

I know this book says 361 pages on the goodreads page, but I seriously think the one I got is way more pages, because I only got 54% through this book, and it took forever.

One other thing that got too much? There were so many plot twists and such terrible things that happened that the reader would assume that the book was finished with a cliffhanger and ready for the next book in the series. Instead, one bad thing after another kept happening to Lana. What made this really unrealistic was that Lana had a normal life before the 4 got intertwined with her, and now everything that can go wrong is going wrong... It was just a lot to deal with.

I'm bummed that I didn't like this book as well as I wanted to, and I really wanted to see what happened to these characters, but it was just TOO much for me. I'm sure there are readers out there who would enjoy this novel, though! I'm glad I got a chance to read this.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm very interesting. Caught really caught my attention. I really liked certain aspects, but also felt the story fell short in other ways. This book seems to be part of a series, but is the first book in the series. This book has mystery, action, and romance. Fair warning. There is bullying in this book.

I liked the plot overall, but felt the author over did it a bit. I liked the premise of the book. It was very interesting and kept me hooked until the end. However, I felt there were mixed messages in this book. The overall theme was a bit jaded.

I liked the characters well enough. The boys were unique. I liked that they were protective. Lana is an interesting character as well. I liked her most of the time, but sometimes I found her annoying.

The heat in this book is good. There is this weird dynamic between all the characters to the point that you arent really sure which one you are rooting for more. I liked the flirting back and forth.

The writing style is where I had the most issues with this book. I liked that the pace was steady. The story is told from multiple points of views I liked the story building. There were phrases repeated over and over, which bothered me. While I liked the multiple point of views, it confused me at times as to who I was reading from. I also felt the story went on far too long. I kept thinking oh this is the end only to realize I was only half way through the book.

Overall, this was a decent story. I didn't give up on it. This is not a quick read by no means. While it was enjoyable, I am not really sure I would recommend to others.

Ratings:
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Heat: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Overall 3/5

*Reviewed for Seraphim Book Reviews*

[Ga Books LoverX · Rating 4 out of 5]

TALK ABOUT FREAKING INTENSE!

Bear with me guys because after reading this book, my mind is a bit of a mess! First of all, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. There is so much that happens and it seems pretty long, but not once did I loose interest in the story because I DEFINITELY wanted to know what happened next.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, in this book is what it seems like in the beginning. We are introduced to Lana who is described as a huge nerd. She is studious and a good girl since her father is the sheriff and her goal is to get into Yale. She is also very roughly bullied by some pretty awful people. This bothered me a bit because it was not just hateful words (which is still not ok) but there was more to it than that.

Then we are introduced to this elite group of 4 guys that basically rule the school. They usually leave her alone most of the time, but a dare is challenged and Lana might be a good girl, but she does not back down.

This is where the entire story begins. The author weaves this intricate web that leaves your mind numb and craving more. I have already read the second book in this series and STILL want more!! There are a few situations that I do not approve of, but it is more so that I do not approve of the characters actions, not necessarily of what the author included. There is definitely some steamy moments as well!

I give this book a 4 out of 5, if you are looking for a slightly twisted roller coaster ride-- you should read this!

PS: I received this book for free but am voluntarily reviewing.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of the plot, but the story fell short in others way. I felt like the execution of it wasn't very realistic but if you are looking for a wattpad-like book, then you will like this. The story is definitely really cliche at parts but it gives you just enough that you want to keep reading.

The characters were kind of crazy but still loveable at the same time. I liked Lana for most of the book but at other times she was a bit much. The different points of views were interesting and gave you a better insight into the different characters but sometimes it was a bit hard to determine who was narrating. I felt like the book would have been better if the author had developed each of the characters more rather than focusing on the plot.

Overall, I think that the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more because the story is pretty cliche at certain times, but as you read, the storyline builds up and it's definitely an interesting read if you have the patience to get into it.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC!

[Eline Martens · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ☆
There was so much going on in this book, and most of it did not make sense lmao. We were hopping from place to place, which made for some weird timelines and plotholes.
It's giving angsty, alt, teenage, 'I'm not like other girls' girl vibes who makes the most horrible choices in boys and in life just generally.
All of the characters were just kind of 1 dimensional and their relationships did not seem real, like these people would not be friends in real life.
The parents were so weird, they did not act like adults, they did not even act like childish-adults, they were just not real people.
The writing was fine, I guess, Idk, this entire book felt like a fever dream. The writing style is simplistic, more like spoken language. This book could really use the advice 'show, don't tell', use some metaphors and similes instead of saying someone is angry. Describe someones personality instead of the clothes they're wearing, we don't have to know everyone's shoe choice ya know.
But I mean I will read the other two books and I was entertained so that's good, lol.

[Marcy Barth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent but...

As much as I hate that this ended in a cliffhanger, I knew long ago that I was going to buy the rest of the books and read them. My only other complaint is that at times, it was a little drug out with weird descriptions of characters clothes that I felt was unnecessary. It was weird and rather random.

I do love the story though. I’m still confused as to why the sheriff’s daughter went along with Benny’s actions after the dance....

I’m not sure who I’m wanting Lana to end up with. I’m torn as to who I think she should be with and kinda don’t like that she keeps flipping between the two. Hopefully she will make a decision soon.

There’s so many characters in this books that it’s hard at times to keep them all apart. You’re introduced to so many and they come and go so frequently that I started to get confused and had to go back. Hopefully book 2 and 3 are a little better written and it’ll be easier to follow who is who.

[Everything Bookish Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly woven story that sucks you in from the start. The primary and secondary characters are full of depth. Having multiple POVs gives us a greater sense of their motivations and shows us just how intricately the story is told. It’s grounded in Lana’s POV giving the foundation to branch off of when new perspectives can tell us so much more and heightens our emotions that threaten to spiral out of control. The characters feel real and I easily connected to them which made the stor yank me in all sorts of directions and I never wanted it to end. The story is intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat. Every turn kept me guessing and I couldn’t put it down. The story is gripping and emotional and I loved every second if it. This is the first book in a series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

**ARC provided for an honest review**

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting story filled with characters that pushed some boundaries and were kind of crazy but lovable at the same time. I liked Lana for 3/4 of the book haha the other 1/4 she was a bit much. The multiple POV was great for understanding more about each character but sometimes it was hard to determine who was telling the story at that given moment. A little bit more organization would go a long way here. Overall it was a fun read and I look forward to what’s next!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.

[BeautyandaBookBlog · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book sound pretty good and I love a good bully romance so I am pretty disappointed that I couldn't make myself finish it. It definitely feels unedited. I can't read a book that breaks the show don't tell rule and this book breaks it from the very beginning. I'd give it a second try if the author had it edited.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[marvellousmarmite · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe too much to make the plot run smoothly and be easy to follow. And it took me a while to separate out the different characters' personalities. I felt the book concentrated most on listing out what was happening next, rather than showing us who each of the characters were through their actions. A bit muddled then, maybe better with an edit to slow the book down and fill out the characters?

I was gifted a free copy of this book by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[marvellousmarmite · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe too much to make the plot run smoothly and be easy to follow. And it took me a while to separate out the different characters' personalities. I felt the book concentrated most on listing out what was happening next, rather than showing us who each of the characters were through their actions. A bit muddled then, maybe better with an edit to slow the book down and fill out the characters?

I was gifted a free copy of this book by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Autumn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read about the nerdy sheriff's daughter who is the good girl, but ends up taking a bet from the bad boys in school. This leads her to finding herself, and also throws her head first into a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal. It was an awesome read and I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Ludos · Rating 2 out of 5]

it’s definitely the type of “book” that i don’t like anymore. it’s not about the story, but about how it’s written. it’s a fan fiction, and even if for a long time of my adolescence i was obsessed with ff, right now i can’t stand them anymore. I’m used to completely different books.
it’s not what i like but my 14/15 years old me would totally have loved it.
Thanks Netgalley for the book!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review.

This was not the typical high school romance book that I kind of expected it to turn out to be. There were so many characters and relationships to follow but it wasn't too hard to keep up. It was a heck of a lot longer than I expected though, that's for sure. I will be reading the next book in the series to see how things continue.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cliffhanger ending

This book has some good plot points but suffers from clunky writing & inconsistencies that makes it a bit slower to read.

The crime plot line that creates the cliffhanger ending feels forced into a teenage romance story. Will not be getting book 2 unless I see this one has had a re-write

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the book, story was interesting and the characters were interesting. Lana being a geek ended up having someone all of a sudden, Lana wanted everyone to think she was not a good girl like everyone seems to think.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very similar to the typical cliche however the aspect of murder adds an interesting plot. I would describe the ending of this book as an attempt at a cliff hanger but in the end it seems as though it is just the end of a chapter not a book, not too much of a complaint as it is a trilogy so its not the final ending. The ending is preventing this book from having a higher rating.