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North Woods University #1
The Bet
“He was my best friend…” I say more to myself than her.
“Yeah, so was I but you seem to have forgotten that part of your life.”
The bet was simple.
You draw a name from the hat.
That’s the girl you have to seduce.
The girl you have to make fall head over heels in love with you.
It wasn’t hard for me to do, in fact, it was something I did all the time. I was known for breaking hearts. Sex was just that, sex. And it didn’t take me very long to get a woman on her back.
And then I drew her name: Jules Peterson.
My former best friend. My first kiss. My first love. She shattered my heart into a million pieces three years ago. She left me right when I needed her most.
And as fate who have it, she had entered my life once again, at almost the perfect time.
She was a transfer, fresh meat, and she had just put a target on her back. It was my turn to make her pay. It was my turn to break her heart.
Holding onto that hate, that anger, that f*cking heartbreak. It does something to you. It breaks you, and it broke me, it tainted me, just like I would do to Jules.
She used to be my everything, but now she was nothing but The Bet.
**The Bet is book one in the North Woods University series. It is a full length, standalone, novel. It contains adult themes, and content not suitable for all readers. It is NOT a young adult novel.**
Dear Reader,
We're so happy that you are thinking about reading our newest book The Bet. We hope you enjoy it to your fullest and we cannot wait to read your reviews on it. However, we wanted to leave a little note to warn readers with sensitivity to dubious content, sexual themes, and verbal abuse. For those readers, this book may not be a good read for them.
We also would like to say that while the book is entirely fiction we know that abuse, sexual, physical, and verbal is a very real thing in our world and that we do NOT condone any behavior of that nature nor do we think that it's okay to treat someone that way. Just like the makers of gory horror movies dont actually want people to be brutally murdered, we do not want anyone to be bullied or abused in any way.
Again, this is fiction and while we don't always agree with the things our fictional characters do, sometimes it works for a story line. As writers, it is our job to draw out real emotions. Sometimes we will make you fall in love with a character and other times we might have you yelling at the book.
With love,
J.L. Beck & C. Hallman
“Yeah, so was I but you seem to have forgotten that part of your life.”
The bet was simple.
You draw a name from the hat.
That’s the girl you have to seduce.
The girl you have to make fall head over heels in love with you.
It wasn’t hard for me to do, in fact, it was something I did all the time. I was known for breaking hearts. Sex was just that, sex. And it didn’t take me very long to get a woman on her back.
And then I drew her name: Jules Peterson.
My former best friend. My first kiss. My first love. She shattered my heart into a million pieces three years ago. She left me right when I needed her most.
And as fate who have it, she had entered my life once again, at almost the perfect time.
She was a transfer, fresh meat, and she had just put a target on her back. It was my turn to make her pay. It was my turn to break her heart.
Holding onto that hate, that anger, that f*cking heartbreak. It does something to you. It breaks you, and it broke me, it tainted me, just like I would do to Jules.
She used to be my everything, but now she was nothing but The Bet.
**The Bet is book one in the North Woods University series. It is a full length, standalone, novel. It contains adult themes, and content not suitable for all readers. It is NOT a young adult novel.**
Dear Reader,
We're so happy that you are thinking about reading our newest book The Bet. We hope you enjoy it to your fullest and we cannot wait to read your reviews on it. However, we wanted to leave a little note to warn readers with sensitivity to dubious content, sexual themes, and verbal abuse. For those readers, this book may not be a good read for them.
We also would like to say that while the book is entirely fiction we know that abuse, sexual, physical, and verbal is a very real thing in our world and that we do NOT condone any behavior of that nature nor do we think that it's okay to treat someone that way. Just like the makers of gory horror movies dont actually want people to be brutally murdered, we do not want anyone to be bullied or abused in any way.
Again, this is fiction and while we don't always agree with the things our fictional characters do, sometimes it works for a story line. As writers, it is our job to draw out real emotions. Sometimes we will make you fall in love with a character and other times we might have you yelling at the book.
With love,
J.L. Beck & C. Hallman
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2019
4316 people are currently reading
7606 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Beck
235 books7,188 followersJ.L. Beck is the USA Today Best Selling author of unapologetic romance. She lives in WI with her husband, two kids, and four dogs. She enjoys writing and recently starting a literary agency to help represent authors in the industry.
To learn more about her books or interact with her go here: https://linktr.ee/jlbeckbooks
J.L. Beck xoxoxo
To learn more about her books or interact with her go here: https://linktr.ee/jlbeckbooks
J.L. Beck xoxoxo
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June 29, 2019Oh dear God, what the very f*ck did I just read?! How do I erase it?
I haven't been this offended by a book in a long time.
And yes, it is a fictional story and as such is considered 'entertainment.'
But the thing is, anyone, of any age, can get their hands on this. As it's NA, it's geared towards the youngers - the more impressionable are going to go for this.
And what this book advocates is a very clear message that sexual assault is okay. That treating someone who did nothing to warrant it like a filthy, stray dog is all good and gets those involved the HEA. That it's fine for someone to shove you onto your face, rip your clothes off as you struggle - all the while threatening to take you anally and take your virginity. But hey, it's all good because while they forcibly bring you to a climax you humiliate yourself - BY. LIKING. IT.
That isn't sexy. That isn't love. That is sick - on the both parties parts.
As a sexual assault survivor I can tell you uncategorically that caring for someone does NOT make your body respond to being taken by force with arousal. Being insulted with filthy words and names while you are pinned down by someone stronger as they violate you is NOT a turn-on and it is. Not. Okay.
It's agony to have that done to you no matter hiw, but you experience the worst kind of desolation when it's someone you love. But if you've never been with anyone before and that is how your first time goes down, make no mistake, the damage is deep and wide - and permanent. It will follow you to some degree throughout your life.
And no matter how well you think you've healed, no matter how much time goes by, you never quite get past it. You are never the same. You never look at life or anyone in it the same, not ever again. And you sure as hell don't go on blindly loving and giving chances to the person who hurt you. You don't allow them to remain in your life with that potential to hurt you again.
This book glorifies bullying, revenge, sexual assault, date rape via drugging the victim and some of the worst, most despicable male behaviours I've had the misfortune to read about. It also implies that being molested is no big deal if you liked it, and that it's just FINE that you liked it. That whole thing about the body reacting with arousal despite the circumstances is utter bollocks.
No way in hell is any of this 'fine,' nor should it be in this genre, fictional entertainment be damned. The current climate in the US being what it is, with #metoo and the government trying to strip women of our rights to our bodies, how careless to publish something so demeaning to women.
Books that make heroes out of monsters like Remmy and pimp a plot as ugly and wrong as this into a romance with a happy ending are an abomination. Creating a spineless washrag like Jules as a heroine shows disloyalty and perhaps even dislike towards women.
I'm not a feminist, neither am I political, religious or a prude. What I am is a strong-ass woman. The single mother of a son. And a survivor who had her innocence and idealism stripped in the worst possible way. I can let a lot of things go, but when I see something this toxic that is so close to home being praised and lauded as 'beautiful' and 'romantic' or when I see the POS hero being defended, I'm not keeping quiet.
People need to think before they decide that it's a good idea to develop and publish certain plot ideas. Writers have a responsibility, whether integrity appears to be in fashion or not. Our ability to consider what we put out into the universe is one of the few things that separate us from the goddamned animals. It's not always a great idea to put something controversial or incendiary out there just because you want to.
Writers who are mothers have a particular responsibility. I wonder how they would feel about their own sons or daughters behaving the way their characters do? Would they encourage their sons to be like Remmy? Would they be proud of their daughters for choosing a selfish, cruel and vengeful guy to spend her life with, knowing that he could destroy her all over again at the slightest provocation? Because here's the thing - Remmy's reasons for his actions were entirely unjustified, which makes him even more despicable. You don't do that to people you love.
This book should not be out there for anyone under 21 to read, but that's not the way it works and I am cynical enough to know that what I say won't make a damn difference at all.
So, I don't give a shit if anyone has a problem with what I've said.
Come at me and bring it. Whether it matters or it doesn't, the thing that gives me the goddamned right to speak out about this book and any other like it is that I LIVED IT. And making sport of it or turning it into a love story is careless and cold. It's wrong. I know precisely what I'm talking about and will not rescind a word.
And if anyone thinks it's harmless or acceptable, because it's only fiction or for any other reason, needs to look in a bloody mirror and put themselves in the shoes of we who are victims and survivors. If you still can't see the truth, then God help you.
And God help the kids you raise.
I haven't been this offended by a book in a long time.
And yes, it is a fictional story and as such is considered 'entertainment.'
But the thing is, anyone, of any age, can get their hands on this. As it's NA, it's geared towards the youngers - the more impressionable are going to go for this.
And what this book advocates is a very clear message that sexual assault is okay. That treating someone who did nothing to warrant it like a filthy, stray dog is all good and gets those involved the HEA. That it's fine for someone to shove you onto your face, rip your clothes off as you struggle - all the while threatening to take you anally and take your virginity. But hey, it's all good because while they forcibly bring you to a climax you humiliate yourself - BY. LIKING. IT.
That isn't sexy. That isn't love. That is sick - on the both parties parts.
As a sexual assault survivor I can tell you uncategorically that caring for someone does NOT make your body respond to being taken by force with arousal. Being insulted with filthy words and names while you are pinned down by someone stronger as they violate you is NOT a turn-on and it is. Not. Okay.
It's agony to have that done to you no matter hiw, but you experience the worst kind of desolation when it's someone you love. But if you've never been with anyone before and that is how your first time goes down, make no mistake, the damage is deep and wide - and permanent. It will follow you to some degree throughout your life.
And no matter how well you think you've healed, no matter how much time goes by, you never quite get past it. You are never the same. You never look at life or anyone in it the same, not ever again. And you sure as hell don't go on blindly loving and giving chances to the person who hurt you. You don't allow them to remain in your life with that potential to hurt you again.
This book glorifies bullying, revenge, sexual assault, date rape via drugging the victim and some of the worst, most despicable male behaviours I've had the misfortune to read about. It also implies that being molested is no big deal if you liked it, and that it's just FINE that you liked it. That whole thing about the body reacting with arousal despite the circumstances is utter bollocks.
No way in hell is any of this 'fine,' nor should it be in this genre, fictional entertainment be damned. The current climate in the US being what it is, with #metoo and the government trying to strip women of our rights to our bodies, how careless to publish something so demeaning to women.
Books that make heroes out of monsters like Remmy and pimp a plot as ugly and wrong as this into a romance with a happy ending are an abomination. Creating a spineless washrag like Jules as a heroine shows disloyalty and perhaps even dislike towards women.
I'm not a feminist, neither am I political, religious or a prude. What I am is a strong-ass woman. The single mother of a son. And a survivor who had her innocence and idealism stripped in the worst possible way. I can let a lot of things go, but when I see something this toxic that is so close to home being praised and lauded as 'beautiful' and 'romantic' or when I see the POS hero being defended, I'm not keeping quiet.
People need to think before they decide that it's a good idea to develop and publish certain plot ideas. Writers have a responsibility, whether integrity appears to be in fashion or not. Our ability to consider what we put out into the universe is one of the few things that separate us from the goddamned animals. It's not always a great idea to put something controversial or incendiary out there just because you want to.
Writers who are mothers have a particular responsibility. I wonder how they would feel about their own sons or daughters behaving the way their characters do? Would they encourage their sons to be like Remmy? Would they be proud of their daughters for choosing a selfish, cruel and vengeful guy to spend her life with, knowing that he could destroy her all over again at the slightest provocation? Because here's the thing - Remmy's reasons for his actions were entirely unjustified, which makes him even more despicable. You don't do that to people you love.
This book should not be out there for anyone under 21 to read, but that's not the way it works and I am cynical enough to know that what I say won't make a damn difference at all.
So, I don't give a shit if anyone has a problem with what I've said.
Come at me and bring it. Whether it matters or it doesn't, the thing that gives me the goddamned right to speak out about this book and any other like it is that I LIVED IT. And making sport of it or turning it into a love story is careless and cold. It's wrong. I know precisely what I'm talking about and will not rescind a word.
And if anyone thinks it's harmless or acceptable, because it's only fiction or for any other reason, needs to look in a bloody mirror and put themselves in the shoes of we who are victims and survivors. If you still can't see the truth, then God help you.
And God help the kids you raise.
March 13, 2020
IF YOU HAVE ANY PLANS ON READING THIS BOOK AND DON'T WANT TO READ ANY SPOILERS THEN DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO GO OFF ON IT!
Before I get to the book itself, let me first say one thing. I veer a lot towards Dark and Taboo books. Although several trigger warnings should firmly apply to me, I have no problem reading a book as something fictitious and making my own mind up about the story and how the author chose to tell it. I have read pretty much every trope: stepbrother/stepsister, sex slaves, human trafficking, dubious consent, non-con, incest, hell even rape and paedophila and more that I can't even think of right now.. In the last two categories listed, I can usually live with the rapes because they are already at the hands of terrible villains and my biggest payoff is knowing that Karma is going to come back ten fold on those vicious animals and that I live for. As for paedophilia - that would be relegated to one book - Sick Fux and I only read that after one reviewer made very clear the storyline and what would come after. And so I gutted my way through the several chapters that thankfully were not too explicit because I really, really wanted to see the sick motherfuckers be the prey and watch the victims paint the rooms red with their blood. Outside of that one book, yeah, I wouldn't go there. There's just no godly reason for that to become a popular trope.
Why do I say all this? Because I have never before been as offended and put off as I was this book. And there is a full plethora of reasons. So here goes my rant.
Firstly, this is the intro the authors give to their book:
We’re so happy that you picked up our newest book, The Bet. We hope you enjoy it to your fullest and we cannot wait to read your reviews on it. However, we wanted to leave a little note at the start of the book to warn readers with sensitivity to dubious content, dark sexual themes, and verbal abuse that this book may not be a good read for them. We also would like to say that while the book is entirely fiction we know that abuse, sexual, physical, and verbal is a very real thing in our world and that we do NOT condone any behavior of that nature, nor do we think that it’s okay to treat someone that way. Just like people who make gory horror movies don't want anyone to actually get killed and tortured, we do not want people to be bullied or abused in any way. Again, this is fiction and while we don’t always agree with the things our characters do, sometimes it makes sense for a story.
Great trigger warning and statement of where the authors stand, right? Well, for me? Wrong.
If you don't condone the above and let's not forget the the word 'rape' was left out of this warning or 'sexual assault' then you sure as hell failed with this book! Why may you ask? Well for one thing, this book was misogynistic as hell. For the other, both of the terms I just added were first and foremost.
Basically, we have a New Adult book taking place in college and a bunch of frat house boys that constantly play a game with each other where winner has bragging rights after selecting a girl's name out of a hat, if he can fool her, think there's something between them to lead to the endgame for winning, which is to fuck her and then tell her to her face she was a bet. Guess that's where the title comes from. But you don't just go screw with a girl and make her feel like a used piece of shit, no, you come back with evidence, so all your buddies can gain an inside look and pat you on the back for your glorious achievement. But this little diddy is really just tip of the iceberg....
Remington, our Hero (NOT) is the bully in question to a girl that he knew since kindergarten and was his best friend and childhood love who at 15, had to leave town after her parents divorced and she went with her sibling and father especially given that her mother cared more about her career than having kids or even being in town. For this grave, grave injury of leaving, Remington sees that Jules has transferred to their college and his complete hatred for her has him immediately in 'destroy her in anyway possible'. Oh, and the reason he's so angry? His mom left his family years ago, even though he has two loving siblings, a sweetheart of a dad and no turmoil at home. But Remington has his mummy issues and they all get transferred to Jules. This is such an absolutely flimsy set up for the amount of damage and reprehensible actions he takes.
And here's where it gets good folks: By 14% in, he has already, besides the verbal abuse, mocking and threats, dragged her unwillingly out of a frat party to a corner where nobody can see them, manhandled her, forced her to her knees (noting how very scared she is) and ordered her to suck his dick. She manages to pull one over on him and punch him the nuts and runs for her life. So we never really get to know how far Remington was going to go with that one. But now he's pissed. So, surprise, surprise, he shows up at the house she shares with two other roommates, and she immediately feels the adrenaline kick in and the fear and scrambles for her bedroom. But Remington manages to force his way in there, shove her face first onto a bed, rip her undergarments off, invade her body and then ask her whether she'd like to get fucked in the ass or the pussy first. Once again, it is noted as she fights to close her door on him that she is scared. Yep, this is the hero - and it's all alright because hey, she started this all by moving and he hates her. I'm not even going to get into her character or how there is some confusion in her when he forcibly makes her come. The only thing that makes me not tear that apart is the 10 year thick as thieves friendship and love they had for each other and the fact that I'll allow myself to chalk it up to her remembering him as her Remmy and being very confused as to the act itself and her emotions. Flimsy? Maybe. But I'll let that go because she's not really the problem.
So at this point in the book, I was ready to throw it down, DNF it, and leave a choice comment but I really wanted to see how the author would let this play out.
Well, I'll be damned. How does Remmy suddenly become the better guy? By realising his frat brother, Cole, has drugged her drink, taken her upstairs and is just on his way to raping her while she very druggedly tries to fight him off and says the word NO more than once. Remington beats the other guy to a bloody pulp outraged that he would take advantage of a girl in this way. And this is where I knew how frigging hypocritical this book was. You're going to have a guy that's twice sexually assaulted the heroine be outraged that someone else was going to take advantage of her and all because she was drugged? Sorry Mr. Not Hero, but how much is there of a difference of what you did to her against her will and another asshole upping the ante? And you're going to get all self-righteous all of a sudden?
Then there's the best itself. Remington is now on better terms with Jules. He inwardly professes how much he wants her but yet, he still goes to the frat house and proceeds to play an audio tape that he let's all the guys listen to asking her if she wants it in the ass or the pussy first. So yeah, not only did he bombard into her room and shove her down on a bed but he had the forethought to record the whole damn thing. Oh, and he feels sick about playing the tape and claiming he's already nailed her but that doesn't stop him from making sure he looks like 'the man' and sharing this sick shit with his friends who hoop and holla and insure he wins 'the bet'.
Still no apologies, not enough regret to broach the subject with Jules.
And then what do we have? Oh yes, the tape gets leaked, making Jules the outcast of the whole school. At this point Remington is already a couple with her and not only does he break her heart, cheapen her but he makes her the brunt of public shaming. But hey, it's not he who leaked it, it's the bad guy Cole seeking revenge so poor Remington.....
I could go on and on, but besides from everything listed above, here's why I listed the author's statement and also the pathetic last line about story: I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Remington to address what he'd done in the beginning to Jules physically, to man up, take account, apologise, get on his knees for god's sake and address the issue with her. To acknowledge that just because full penetration doesn't always take place when you force yourself onto or into a woman's body - you have seriously crossed a NO GO line. And to the very, very end of this book that NEVER happened. And believe me, I highlighted the crap out of this because I was going quote it to the high heavens. It never happens.
To me, this is a dangerous book. College rapes all too often come up in the news and it always seems to be a group of privileged boys standing down one girl. I am quite sure that for every one girl that comes forward that there are 20 who do not. They live in silent agony and fear where the one girl that does come forward usually goes through public shame, quite often outcast and often seems to be the one one on trial. Rape is a serious epidemic - it is now the number one tool used in war. And I come from a place where I know what I speak. My cousin is the Snr Policy advisor to the world's largest NGO and has taken more than half a dozen field trips to the DRC amongst other places and I know the stories firsthand. And if you think it's just relegated to 'women' you'd be wrong. The youngest case he dealt with was a 2 MONTH OLD BABY GIRL! Like I said, rape in itself is an atrocity, but it is also an epidemic that is only growing in world politics and as a weapon of war.
But I digress. The last and final note on this book, is that this is actually a NA book all guised under the classic school bully trope. I find this just as damaging and irresponsible of these authors. Because undoubtedly the book is going to obviously attract a new adult crowd and the shit that goes on in here is very likely happening on a campus right now. Not okay!
And to the authors: NO, the end of your statement is completely untrue!
Again, this is fiction and while we don’t always agree with the things our characters do, sometimes it makes sense for a story
There is no sense in leading people down this path, making your 'hero' seemed redeemed when he never once addresses, apologises, nor seems to recognise all the way to the 'HEA' that he himself has committed sexual assault! It's almost as if Cole, the fallout rapist is there to give them a way out and make Remington look like child's play.
You set a dangerous precedent and you did it with flimsy stakes, so congratulations to this book, it's the first time I've ever torn one apart.
**** Disclaimer - I am a survivor of more than one rape, incest, molestation and some other rather nasty stuff. As I mentioned, I veer towards the dark, let my suspension of disbelief take place and rarely judge. So this was not a trigger for me as I've read many stories to do with this. This is me saying that if you write a damn book where you broach these issues, you better be willing to make yourselves accountable for your characters actions and actually acknowledge them within the work!
Rant over and for those who do read this, sorry if it's not neatly written. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do anything but say what I think.
Before I get to the book itself, let me first say one thing. I veer a lot towards Dark and Taboo books. Although several trigger warnings should firmly apply to me, I have no problem reading a book as something fictitious and making my own mind up about the story and how the author chose to tell it. I have read pretty much every trope: stepbrother/stepsister, sex slaves, human trafficking, dubious consent, non-con, incest, hell even rape and paedophila and more that I can't even think of right now.. In the last two categories listed, I can usually live with the rapes because they are already at the hands of terrible villains and my biggest payoff is knowing that Karma is going to come back ten fold on those vicious animals and that I live for. As for paedophilia - that would be relegated to one book - Sick Fux and I only read that after one reviewer made very clear the storyline and what would come after. And so I gutted my way through the several chapters that thankfully were not too explicit because I really, really wanted to see the sick motherfuckers be the prey and watch the victims paint the rooms red with their blood. Outside of that one book, yeah, I wouldn't go there. There's just no godly reason for that to become a popular trope.
Why do I say all this? Because I have never before been as offended and put off as I was this book. And there is a full plethora of reasons. So here goes my rant.
Firstly, this is the intro the authors give to their book:
We’re so happy that you picked up our newest book, The Bet. We hope you enjoy it to your fullest and we cannot wait to read your reviews on it. However, we wanted to leave a little note at the start of the book to warn readers with sensitivity to dubious content, dark sexual themes, and verbal abuse that this book may not be a good read for them. We also would like to say that while the book is entirely fiction we know that abuse, sexual, physical, and verbal is a very real thing in our world and that we do NOT condone any behavior of that nature, nor do we think that it’s okay to treat someone that way. Just like people who make gory horror movies don't want anyone to actually get killed and tortured, we do not want people to be bullied or abused in any way. Again, this is fiction and while we don’t always agree with the things our characters do, sometimes it makes sense for a story.
Great trigger warning and statement of where the authors stand, right? Well, for me? Wrong.
If you don't condone the above and let's not forget the the word 'rape' was left out of this warning or 'sexual assault' then you sure as hell failed with this book! Why may you ask? Well for one thing, this book was misogynistic as hell. For the other, both of the terms I just added were first and foremost.
Basically, we have a New Adult book taking place in college and a bunch of frat house boys that constantly play a game with each other where winner has bragging rights after selecting a girl's name out of a hat, if he can fool her, think there's something between them to lead to the endgame for winning, which is to fuck her and then tell her to her face she was a bet. Guess that's where the title comes from. But you don't just go screw with a girl and make her feel like a used piece of shit, no, you come back with evidence, so all your buddies can gain an inside look and pat you on the back for your glorious achievement. But this little diddy is really just tip of the iceberg....
Remington, our Hero (NOT) is the bully in question to a girl that he knew since kindergarten and was his best friend and childhood love who at 15, had to leave town after her parents divorced and she went with her sibling and father especially given that her mother cared more about her career than having kids or even being in town. For this grave, grave injury of leaving, Remington sees that Jules has transferred to their college and his complete hatred for her has him immediately in 'destroy her in anyway possible'. Oh, and the reason he's so angry? His mom left his family years ago, even though he has two loving siblings, a sweetheart of a dad and no turmoil at home. But Remington has his mummy issues and they all get transferred to Jules. This is such an absolutely flimsy set up for the amount of damage and reprehensible actions he takes.
And here's where it gets good folks: By 14% in, he has already, besides the verbal abuse, mocking and threats, dragged her unwillingly out of a frat party to a corner where nobody can see them, manhandled her, forced her to her knees (noting how very scared she is) and ordered her to suck his dick. She manages to pull one over on him and punch him the nuts and runs for her life. So we never really get to know how far Remington was going to go with that one. But now he's pissed. So, surprise, surprise, he shows up at the house she shares with two other roommates, and she immediately feels the adrenaline kick in and the fear and scrambles for her bedroom. But Remington manages to force his way in there, shove her face first onto a bed, rip her undergarments off, invade her body and then ask her whether she'd like to get fucked in the ass or the pussy first. Once again, it is noted as she fights to close her door on him that she is scared. Yep, this is the hero - and it's all alright because hey, she started this all by moving and he hates her. I'm not even going to get into her character or how there is some confusion in her when he forcibly makes her come. The only thing that makes me not tear that apart is the 10 year thick as thieves friendship and love they had for each other and the fact that I'll allow myself to chalk it up to her remembering him as her Remmy and being very confused as to the act itself and her emotions. Flimsy? Maybe. But I'll let that go because she's not really the problem.
So at this point in the book, I was ready to throw it down, DNF it, and leave a choice comment but I really wanted to see how the author would let this play out.
Well, I'll be damned. How does Remmy suddenly become the better guy? By realising his frat brother, Cole, has drugged her drink, taken her upstairs and is just on his way to raping her while she very druggedly tries to fight him off and says the word NO more than once. Remington beats the other guy to a bloody pulp outraged that he would take advantage of a girl in this way. And this is where I knew how frigging hypocritical this book was. You're going to have a guy that's twice sexually assaulted the heroine be outraged that someone else was going to take advantage of her and all because she was drugged? Sorry Mr. Not Hero, but how much is there of a difference of what you did to her against her will and another asshole upping the ante? And you're going to get all self-righteous all of a sudden?
Then there's the best itself. Remington is now on better terms with Jules. He inwardly professes how much he wants her but yet, he still goes to the frat house and proceeds to play an audio tape that he let's all the guys listen to asking her if she wants it in the ass or the pussy first. So yeah, not only did he bombard into her room and shove her down on a bed but he had the forethought to record the whole damn thing. Oh, and he feels sick about playing the tape and claiming he's already nailed her but that doesn't stop him from making sure he looks like 'the man' and sharing this sick shit with his friends who hoop and holla and insure he wins 'the bet'.
Still no apologies, not enough regret to broach the subject with Jules.
And then what do we have? Oh yes, the tape gets leaked, making Jules the outcast of the whole school. At this point Remington is already a couple with her and not only does he break her heart, cheapen her but he makes her the brunt of public shaming. But hey, it's not he who leaked it, it's the bad guy Cole seeking revenge so poor Remington.....
I could go on and on, but besides from everything listed above, here's why I listed the author's statement and also the pathetic last line about story: I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Remington to address what he'd done in the beginning to Jules physically, to man up, take account, apologise, get on his knees for god's sake and address the issue with her. To acknowledge that just because full penetration doesn't always take place when you force yourself onto or into a woman's body - you have seriously crossed a NO GO line. And to the very, very end of this book that NEVER happened. And believe me, I highlighted the crap out of this because I was going quote it to the high heavens. It never happens.
To me, this is a dangerous book. College rapes all too often come up in the news and it always seems to be a group of privileged boys standing down one girl. I am quite sure that for every one girl that comes forward that there are 20 who do not. They live in silent agony and fear where the one girl that does come forward usually goes through public shame, quite often outcast and often seems to be the one one on trial. Rape is a serious epidemic - it is now the number one tool used in war. And I come from a place where I know what I speak. My cousin is the Snr Policy advisor to the world's largest NGO and has taken more than half a dozen field trips to the DRC amongst other places and I know the stories firsthand. And if you think it's just relegated to 'women' you'd be wrong. The youngest case he dealt with was a 2 MONTH OLD BABY GIRL! Like I said, rape in itself is an atrocity, but it is also an epidemic that is only growing in world politics and as a weapon of war.
But I digress. The last and final note on this book, is that this is actually a NA book all guised under the classic school bully trope. I find this just as damaging and irresponsible of these authors. Because undoubtedly the book is going to obviously attract a new adult crowd and the shit that goes on in here is very likely happening on a campus right now. Not okay!
And to the authors: NO, the end of your statement is completely untrue!
Again, this is fiction and while we don’t always agree with the things our characters do, sometimes it makes sense for a story
There is no sense in leading people down this path, making your 'hero' seemed redeemed when he never once addresses, apologises, nor seems to recognise all the way to the 'HEA' that he himself has committed sexual assault! It's almost as if Cole, the fallout rapist is there to give them a way out and make Remington look like child's play.
You set a dangerous precedent and you did it with flimsy stakes, so congratulations to this book, it's the first time I've ever torn one apart.
**** Disclaimer - I am a survivor of more than one rape, incest, molestation and some other rather nasty stuff. As I mentioned, I veer towards the dark, let my suspension of disbelief take place and rarely judge. So this was not a trigger for me as I've read many stories to do with this. This is me saying that if you write a damn book where you broach these issues, you better be willing to make yourselves accountable for your characters actions and actually acknowledge them within the work!
Rant over and for those who do read this, sorry if it's not neatly written. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do anything but say what I think.
no-way-jose
May 27, 2019A female author wrote this book for female readers...
Do you enjoy abuse???... Do you find it ok?
Elli's review
Yep? Happy blocking me then!
Do you enjoy abuse???... Do you find it ok?
Elli's review
Yep? Happy blocking me then!
never-no-way
July 12, 2019It glorifies bullying and rape and I believe this kind of books are an insult to all victims of abuse and rape in real life.
My friend Ellie has written a fantastic review about it and there is nothing more to say...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My friend Ellie has written a fantastic review about it and there is nothing more to say...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 26, 2021
Big Bully, Big Romance!
This book starts out with some bullying that is over the top, so I would count this as a dark romance. Like books where the heroine is taken hostage and then the Hero uses his strength and power and the fact that the heroine is attracted to him in order to overcome her objection to being touched intimately, this bully does the same.
The bet itself is a move of a lot of jerks we have seen in books and movies have made. They do something similar in the After series and I think I have seen others with worse bets, like getting with as many girls as possible and rating them, or whomever can deflower the most virgins, etc. However, it is not long before this Hero Remington (a.k.a Remmy) realizes what a horrible person he has been and truly regrets his actions.
Remmy actually turns into quite a likable character and though he still has some anger issues, he doesn’t turn them against anyone who doesn’t deserve it after he comes to the realization of what a douche he was being. Though he remains quite a self-assured and cocky guy throughout the book.
One thing I didn’t like was his reasons for being so angry at the heroine Jules. They had been best friends since kindergarten and at fifteen, they were moving towards something more than friends when she left town to go live with her Father and brother after her parents divorced. He made it sound like it was her choice to leave him and he claims it was when he needed her most because he had recently been abandoned by his alcoholic mother.
However Jules didn’t really have a choice. Her mother placed work above all else and was never home. So she pretty much had to stay with her family (father and brother). It doesn’t really say if her parents would have allowed her to choose, but either way, you can’t really blame her. Though Remington does and he turns into a different person, filled with anger and using sex as a method to deal with his pain and anger.
Once Remmy realizes that his anger was internal and not really about Jules, he tells her and hopes to go right back to where they were but it isn’t as easy as that. He had done some terrible things to her and she wouldn’t just forget. I really liked the book overall, but not the things he did to her. As a New Adult bully romance, it was pretty good in my opinion. A lot of the things that happen I. The book, I think probably do happen in real life. I love the bully romance sub-genre and this is a good example. It is definitely hot and steamy 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I also thought the ending was pretty sweet!
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Amazon|Twitter|BookBub
This book starts out with some bullying that is over the top, so I would count this as a dark romance. Like books where the heroine is taken hostage and then the Hero uses his strength and power and the fact that the heroine is attracted to him in order to overcome her objection to being touched intimately, this bully does the same.
The bet itself is a move of a lot of jerks we have seen in books and movies have made. They do something similar in the After series and I think I have seen others with worse bets, like getting with as many girls as possible and rating them, or whomever can deflower the most virgins, etc. However, it is not long before this Hero Remington (a.k.a Remmy) realizes what a horrible person he has been and truly regrets his actions.
Remmy actually turns into quite a likable character and though he still has some anger issues, he doesn’t turn them against anyone who doesn’t deserve it after he comes to the realization of what a douche he was being. Though he remains quite a self-assured and cocky guy throughout the book.
One thing I didn’t like was his reasons for being so angry at the heroine Jules. They had been best friends since kindergarten and at fifteen, they were moving towards something more than friends when she left town to go live with her Father and brother after her parents divorced. He made it sound like it was her choice to leave him and he claims it was when he needed her most because he had recently been abandoned by his alcoholic mother.
However Jules didn’t really have a choice. Her mother placed work above all else and was never home. So she pretty much had to stay with her family (father and brother). It doesn’t really say if her parents would have allowed her to choose, but either way, you can’t really blame her. Though Remington does and he turns into a different person, filled with anger and using sex as a method to deal with his pain and anger.
Once Remmy realizes that his anger was internal and not really about Jules, he tells her and hopes to go right back to where they were but it isn’t as easy as that. He had done some terrible things to her and she wouldn’t just forget. I really liked the book overall, but not the things he did to her. As a New Adult bully romance, it was pretty good in my opinion. A lot of the things that happen I. The book, I think probably do happen in real life. I love the bully romance sub-genre and this is a good example. It is definitely hot and steamy 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I also thought the ending was pretty sweet!
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Amazon|Twitter|BookBub
June 5, 2019
DNF To the authors: It was sexual assault when Remy held her and insisted she suck his dick. It was sexual assault when he accosted her in her room. She doesn't scream or report him. It makes it look like it's ok because she thinks "the nice" Remy is still inside of him. Author says she even got turned on. Still rapey.
Remy needs therapy and/or time in jail. Not much better or worse than Cole.
This book just got me really mad because she DID nothing wrong...when you are 15 and your family moves, you have to move with them. Didn't his father or brother's see his anger?
So don't let those five star reviews sell you.
I kept reading thinking I was wrong when those reviewers were the ones wrong.
Remy needs therapy and/or time in jail. Not much better or worse than Cole.
This book just got me really mad because she DID nothing wrong...when you are 15 and your family moves, you have to move with them. Didn't his father or brother's see his anger?
So don't let those five star reviews sell you.
I kept reading thinking I was wrong when those reviewers were the ones wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
no-way-jose
June 30, 2019This should go straight to the garbage. It’s rape apology. And women wrote this... what a shame
Read Ellie’s review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read Ellie’s review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 1, 2019
I stupidly thought The Bet would be something like Bully.
This book is disgusting! I feel like I need to take a shower after reading this crap!
You have the heroine who's not like other (party, irresponsible, rowdy) girls- in her own words. Not only is she a cliche shy girl, she also gets turned on by abuse. And the love interest who's hurt because the heroine moved away with her family when they were younger? What type of psycho blames a child for the actions of parents? This spoiled, rich guy who's the king of his university-in his own words. Since he's hurt he figures the only way to get back at her is by sexually assaulting her. Yes, you've read that right.
How not one but two authors decided this was a sane, acceptable love interest to write about just blows my mind.
This book is disgusting! I feel like I need to take a shower after reading this crap!
You have the heroine who's not like other (party, irresponsible, rowdy) girls- in her own words. Not only is she a cliche shy girl, she also gets turned on by abuse. And the love interest who's hurt because the heroine moved away with her family when they were younger? What type of psycho blames a child for the actions of parents? This spoiled, rich guy who's the king of his university-in his own words. Since he's hurt he figures the only way to get back at her is by sexually assaulting her. Yes, you've read that right.
How not one but two authors decided this was a sane, acceptable love interest to write about just blows my mind.
May 24, 2019
I rarely don’t finish a book, and I honestly do not write reviews for books that I rate poorly, but after about five/six chapters in, I just couldn’t see this one through. Yes, it is a Bully romance. Yes, the authors stated in the beginning note that they do not condone forced sex acts. I understand and appreciate that. But, what the MC does to the H at the beginning of the book is unjustifiable. I found nothing about Remington to be redeemable enough for me to continue reading their story. He literally says that he is such a king of the campus that he can get any girl he wants and never has to force anyone...right after he forces himself on Jules. Oh but he hates himself and doesn’t want to hurt her...but then blames her for everything. I get he has mommy/abandonment issues, and maybe it was just the way it was written, but he seemed whiny and self-absorbed. I was screaming at my kindle for him to get a life/grow up/maybe try listening to someone every once in a while...?
Again, I know it’s a bully romance, a genre that I actually enjoy when done well, but I really think this one completely missed the mark.
Again, I know it’s a bully romance, a genre that I actually enjoy when done well, but I really think this one completely missed the mark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 25, 2019I have to say that I'm disappointed by the way this theme is delivered at the very start of the story...
This is again the case of poorely portraying the dubious subject and since I know that there are very good books with the 'bully turned romance' theme out there that actually pulled the whole thing off with the way of 'softening' the blow...it's just the matter of finesse...again
And here...I simply don't see any...
I actually don't dig 'the issue' or 'the reason' that could explain the lack of finesse...and without it, these characters don't work on their own and even less together...😬😒
DNF at 15%
I think that says it all...and says nothing further about the actual problem since I didnt finish it thus I won't rate it either...
My bad...
This is again the case of poorely portraying the dubious subject and since I know that there are very good books with the 'bully turned romance' theme out there that actually pulled the whole thing off with the way of 'softening' the blow...it's just the matter of finesse...again
And here...I simply don't see any...
I actually don't dig 'the issue' or 'the reason' that could explain the lack of finesse...and without it, these characters don't work on their own and even less together...😬😒
DNF at 15%
I think that says it all...and says nothing further about the actual problem since I didnt finish it thus I won't rate it either...
My bad...
August 11, 2021
This book reminded me of why I can’t deal with bully romances. It’s hard to find a good one where there’s a somewhat legitimate reason for the bullying from the hero, the heroine isn’t weak, and the hero tries to make up for it. This book…. Didn’t have any of that. What we do have is a dumb hero who thinks the heroine leaving him at 15 because her parents divorced is her fault, sexual assault (he forces her to blow him but she manages to escape), public humiliation (her dad and brother died and he calls her out for lying about it), and just all around abuse to a sweet heroine who’s lost so much. I will say the second half is a lot better but the hero is still complete trash who only wakes up after the heroine was drugged and almost raped by a classmate at a party.
Read
May 28, 2019DNF- 43%, no rating since I’m not finishing. It’s the same old song and dance, and I’m sort of bored. Sorry.
If you’re new to bully romance with iffy consent, then you may like this. If you read it often, then this isn’t anything new or different.
If you’re new to bully romance with iffy consent, then you may like this. If you read it often, then this isn’t anything new or different.
June 23, 2019
1 ⭐- Ugh! Didn't like it or triggers or pet peeve!
===================================
Sorry!
I did not like the Zero and our Zeroine is an idiot.
Triggers or pet peeve:
==>bullying -check
==>revenge -check
==>Humiliation -check
==>sexual assault -check
==>date rape via drugging the victim -check
In my point of view it was sexual assault and non-consensual the scene between the two.
I was shocked and did not get over it.
===================================
Sorry!
I did not like the Zero and our Zeroine is an idiot.
Triggers or pet peeve:
==>bullying -check
==>revenge -check
==>Humiliation -check
==>sexual assault -check
==>date rape via drugging the victim -check
In my point of view it was sexual assault and non-consensual the scene between the two.
I was shocked and did not get over it.
August 14, 2021
“He wanted you, even then...It was always you, Jules, and it will forever be you. The heart wants what the heart wants, and Remmy wants you.”
I like bully romance stories.. but, unfortunately this book was too boring; I couldn't even finish it. and didn't care enough to know how it ended.
I like bully romance stories.. but, unfortunately this book was too boring; I couldn't even finish it. and didn't care enough to know how it ended.
hell-fucking-no
June 2, 2019Can’t believe women actually wrote this garbage. And you wonder why young girls blame themselves when they’re sexually assaulted. If they’re reading garbage like this that tells them that when someone is forcing themselves on you and you get aroused then you must have liked it. That it’s okay for a man to treat you like a dog and force himself on you and he’ll still be rewarded with a HEA.
Don’t touch this rape apologist garbage. Silence is not consent, you asshole.
Don’t touch this rape apologist garbage. Silence is not consent, you asshole.
May 24, 2019
This is bullshit he fucking forced her at the beggining, I couldn't continue after that and I don't know how It can has so many good reviews. It's disgusting!!!
May 26, 2021
Aw man after reading his gift from the same authors I was so excited to dive into more stories from them but this one completely got destroyed in the reviews. And for good reasons. There's definitely trigger warnings for sexual assault, drug usage, and rape. It's a big YIKES. Our hero is also a fucked up piece of shit that doesn't redeem himself in the end.
Read
May 26, 2019I really wanted to like this book.
DNF at 33%
I just couldn’t get passed the ridiculous reason for him to “bully” her. She moved. That’s it..she moved.
Secondly.., forcing a woman to perform sexual acts isn’t bullying its assault or rape.
DNF at 33%
I just couldn’t get passed the ridiculous reason for him to “bully” her. She moved. That’s it..she moved.
Secondly.., forcing a woman to perform sexual acts isn’t bullying its assault or rape.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2019
worst book ever. very amateur-ish. hate the hero. what a dickhead, douchebag, every curse word that is n the dictionary. did not finish. its a struggle to even read it halfway. what kind of hero who torments others and blames others when in fact the problem is him, himself. the hero is a delusional sick fuck. he has a making of a psychopath. the synopsis is quite interesting, however the story its self is worst. I don't really have a deep hatred toward any book, but this is the only exception.
save your energy. DO NOT READ THE BOOK. ABORT THE MISSION.
what a waste of time and energy
my rating is 0
save your energy. DO NOT READ THE BOOK. ABORT THE MISSION.
what a waste of time and energy
my rating is 0
Read
May 26, 2019No rating because I didn’t make it past the third chapter.
As much as I love the bully romance trope, I’m finding that we are being inundated with books of this style, and they aren’t always done well. Now I’m not saying this one hasn’t been done well, but i just felt like it’s no different to all the other BR books that are already out there. I understand that authors want to jump on the bandwagon and write what the readers are loving at that moment in time, but do something different!!! *sighs*
As much as I love the bully romance trope, I’m finding that we are being inundated with books of this style, and they aren’t always done well. Now I’m not saying this one hasn’t been done well, but i just felt like it’s no different to all the other BR books that are already out there. I understand that authors want to jump on the bandwagon and write what the readers are loving at that moment in time, but do something different!!! *sighs*
June 6, 2020
NOPE!!
DNF!!
DNF!!
June 21, 2019
SPOILERS BELOW :
I liked the idea of this book, but I felt it was a bit...lacking. Remmy was so “heartbroken” over Jules...so I’m thinking she must have f*cked him over right? But all she did was move. She was 15 bro she has no control over the fact that her dad made her move with him. Like you’re so angry all over that? Then he finds out her brother and dad died...and we never find out HOW they died, and he never says he’s sorry for her loss...nothing. He makes it about him! I also do not condone or enjoy reading things where the H forces the h to do something sexual. Remington was so angry, one of the first things he does is command her to suck his dick? He was definitely going to force her until she punched him. Then he fingers her without her permission? Oh hell no. Idc if the author wrote that Jules liked it...the fact is she said NO and she was scared and he assaulted her. So all the guilt and the “oh I love her so much” after really didn’t do it for me because that isht isn’t okay. Yeah he made up for being terrible near the end...but nothing in my mind makes up for forced sexual play. Not onless it’s like a fantasy with safe words. I just felt the storyline was warped and his anger was misplaced and didn’t make sense at all. Then he just changes into a better person halfway through? No. I liked the supporting characters in his family, but I just didn’t like Remington. I usually don’t leave a review if I don’t enjoy a book but the forced sexual nature of this book really gets to me as well as the unrealistic events and storyline that takes place.
I liked the idea of this book, but I felt it was a bit...lacking. Remmy was so “heartbroken” over Jules...so I’m thinking she must have f*cked him over right? But all she did was move. She was 15 bro she has no control over the fact that her dad made her move with him. Like you’re so angry all over that? Then he finds out her brother and dad died...and we never find out HOW they died, and he never says he’s sorry for her loss...nothing. He makes it about him! I also do not condone or enjoy reading things where the H forces the h to do something sexual. Remington was so angry, one of the first things he does is command her to suck his dick? He was definitely going to force her until she punched him. Then he fingers her without her permission? Oh hell no. Idc if the author wrote that Jules liked it...the fact is she said NO and she was scared and he assaulted her. So all the guilt and the “oh I love her so much” after really didn’t do it for me because that isht isn’t okay. Yeah he made up for being terrible near the end...but nothing in my mind makes up for forced sexual play. Not onless it’s like a fantasy with safe words. I just felt the storyline was warped and his anger was misplaced and didn’t make sense at all. Then he just changes into a better person halfway through? No. I liked the supporting characters in his family, but I just didn’t like Remington. I usually don’t leave a review if I don’t enjoy a book but the forced sexual nature of this book really gets to me as well as the unrealistic events and storyline that takes place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2019
4,5 ❤️🖤❤️❤️🥊⚡️🔥🌟🌟🌟🌟s❣️❣️❣️❣️
I loved it!!!!
I kept reading page after page and I was really hooked!
Jules had to leave Remington and he never forgave her for abandoning him. Now that she has returned, Remmington all he cares about is his revenge.
“Hurt her. Break her. The words bounce off my skull inside my mind.” Remmington
All characters were amazing, the writing was awesome, the storyline fast paced, intriguing and exciting.
I can’t wait for Vance’s story in July!!!
I loved it!!!!
I kept reading page after page and I was really hooked!
Jules had to leave Remington and he never forgave her for abandoning him. Now that she has returned, Remmington all he cares about is his revenge.
“Hurt her. Break her. The words bounce off my skull inside my mind.” Remmington
All characters were amazing, the writing was awesome, the storyline fast paced, intriguing and exciting.
I can’t wait for Vance’s story in July!!!
March 5, 2020
Can I have my time back? I’m not please at all with this book. A bully romance - are you for real? No romance, it’s beyond bullying, the bet is stupid and the story is insulting and offensive. The lack of discernment in storytelling to justify any of the actions going on and the narrative sweeping it under the rug is kinda despicable. You will understand shortly. This is a dumb title, even dumber plot, and just disgusting situations. Detailed spoilers are coming...stop now if you don’t want to know.
The volume of hate and rage the H has for the h is ridiculous and no where near deserving of the intensity and volatility of his behavior towards her. This story got dark real quick. I’m not sure why there is so much anger by the boys towards Jules - they took this to a level that was not rational compared to the issue.
The first physical encounter between Jules and Remmy was the most uncomfortable scenes of the book because this was really rape and assault and they just glossed over it, justified it and this narrative continued throughout the book. Just no! I just didn’t understand this. What a prick. What a stupid reaction. Just 13% in this started, leading me to DNF because it sucked stinky balls. Sigh, gave it a rest and calmed down. Like a sick puppy I had to proceed and see how this shit show ended. Then yup, just a while later 25% our Jules encounters more assault, different guy, similar setup. Does she have a sign on her forehead that says, yes open to rape? Please assault me? What is this story? But then wait, Remmy has the gall to call Cole a rapist? Umm are we reading the same story? It’s sinking fast at this point. Why is everyone a rapist in this story? And why is no one screaming from the rooftops to acknowledge there’s an issue? The side characters are useless. We proceed some more. Yup at 50% I’m disturbed with what’s happening between Jules and Remmy again. As if nothing happened the first 50% and all is hunky dory, all fine just moving along. She chooses fingers. As if the last day or weeks never happened. This is stupid. At this point I just can’t stop with the eye rolls. She continues to come back for more, now wrists hurts, head hurts, body hurts, heart hurts. There so much talk about killing - him, them, her, self, and more spewing of violence and hurting people - from all characters - this book is just so damn angry. And yes, there seems to be lots of death that affects everyone. Death and killing and violence seems to be everyone’s answer. And yes they are new college students. Go figure.
This started because Jules moved away when her parents divorced as a teenager. It’s been 3 years and Remmy is still very angry and bitter and hostile towards her. Not like this isn’t common occurrence in life if you move away when your dad has to move for work. I found it very difficult liking any part of this book or the characters. All of it sucked. Zero romance. Zero groveling. Zero problem solving. Zero reasons that made sense of this clusterfuck.
I still don’t know how this ended like it did. We finally deal with the elephant in the room and all the thoughts going through my head are raised but again all is good, we acknowledged it and moving along now. Nothing is addressed and dealt with in a meaningful way. Then chapter 25 captions: Two week’s later “Life is back to normal”. Yeah right. All wrapped up in a nice pretty bow. I would have said f-you all. The end.
The volume of hate and rage the H has for the h is ridiculous and no where near deserving of the intensity and volatility of his behavior towards her. This story got dark real quick. I’m not sure why there is so much anger by the boys towards Jules - they took this to a level that was not rational compared to the issue.
The first physical encounter between Jules and Remmy was the most uncomfortable scenes of the book because this was really rape and assault and they just glossed over it, justified it and this narrative continued throughout the book. Just no! I just didn’t understand this. What a prick. What a stupid reaction. Just 13% in this started, leading me to DNF because it sucked stinky balls. Sigh, gave it a rest and calmed down. Like a sick puppy I had to proceed and see how this shit show ended. Then yup, just a while later 25% our Jules encounters more assault, different guy, similar setup. Does she have a sign on her forehead that says, yes open to rape? Please assault me? What is this story? But then wait, Remmy has the gall to call Cole a rapist? Umm are we reading the same story? It’s sinking fast at this point. Why is everyone a rapist in this story? And why is no one screaming from the rooftops to acknowledge there’s an issue? The side characters are useless. We proceed some more. Yup at 50% I’m disturbed with what’s happening between Jules and Remmy again. As if nothing happened the first 50% and all is hunky dory, all fine just moving along. She chooses fingers. As if the last day or weeks never happened. This is stupid. At this point I just can’t stop with the eye rolls. She continues to come back for more, now wrists hurts, head hurts, body hurts, heart hurts. There so much talk about killing - him, them, her, self, and more spewing of violence and hurting people - from all characters - this book is just so damn angry. And yes, there seems to be lots of death that affects everyone. Death and killing and violence seems to be everyone’s answer. And yes they are new college students. Go figure.
This started because Jules moved away when her parents divorced as a teenager. It’s been 3 years and Remmy is still very angry and bitter and hostile towards her. Not like this isn’t common occurrence in life if you move away when your dad has to move for work. I found it very difficult liking any part of this book or the characters. All of it sucked. Zero romance. Zero groveling. Zero problem solving. Zero reasons that made sense of this clusterfuck.
I still don’t know how this ended like it did. We finally deal with the elephant in the room and all the thoughts going through my head are raised but again all is good, we acknowledged it and moving along now. Nothing is addressed and dealt with in a meaningful way. Then chapter 25 captions: Two week’s later “Life is back to normal”. Yeah right. All wrapped up in a nice pretty bow. I would have said f-you all. The end.
June 1, 2019
I really don’t know where to start with this book. I love the enemies to lovers and bullying trope so when I read the synopsis I was excited. That was my first down fall. The story involves a bet but don’t expect anything like the movie ‘She’s all That.’ This is DARK. Now I can read dark stories, but what I find disturbing is when the H uses sexual assault (yes don’t try to justify it was ok to hold her down and finger her just because her body responded to it and she ended up enjoying it) as a bullying tactic. This all happened in the first 16%. I wanted to stop reading but quite frankly it was like looking at a car wreck. You know you should look away but you can’t. I also found it laughable that H got angry when he found out one of his mates was a rapist and said he would never go that far like him. Ummm excuse me moron but your previous action proves otherwise. You’re both still cut from the same cloth. Bloody hypocrite. Another issue I had with this book was the actual reason why he hated her. It was the most childish and pathetic reason ever. Seriously H would have to be the biggest cry baby, selfish, douche bag ive ever read. The only character I liked in this story was H’s brother and he wasn’t in it much until the end. I didn’t even like the h too much, which is not good when you’re dealing with this trope. This book was a massive disappointment.
November 3, 2020
Cruzó los límites de un romance bully oscuro de la peor forma
The bet de C. Hallman y J.L. Beck
Mí humilde opinión:
La apuesta era simple.
Extraes un nombre del sombrero.
Esa es la chica que tienes que seducir.
No era difícil para mi hacer, de hecho fue algo que hice todo el tiempo.
Era conocido por romper corazones. El sexo solo fue eso, sexo. Y no me tomó
demasiado para tener a una mujer sobre su espalda.
Y entonces, extraje su nombre: Jules Peterson.
Mi antigua mejor amiga. Mi primer beso. Ella rompió mi corazón en un millón de pedazos hace tres años. Ella precisamente me dejó cuando más
la necesité.
Y como quien fuera cosa del destino, ella entró a mi vida una vez más,
casi en el momento perfecto.
Ella era un traslado, carne fresca y puso un objetivo en su espalda.
Era mi turno hacerle pagar. Era mi turno para romper su corazón.
Sostener ese odio, ese furor, ese maldito corazón roto, hace algo en ti. Te rompe y me rompió, me corrompió, como lo hice con Jules.
Ella solía ser mi todo, pero ahora no es más que La Apuesta.
The bet es una historia sobre amigos a amantes, hay mucho odio involucrado por un matón y una apuesta en medio de todo.
La apuesta de en este libro es repugnante, la odié en la sinopsis pero aún así me gusta ver a los chicos malos redimirse y le di una oportunidad al libro de la cual me arrepentí...
Antes que nada, hacer audios, videos o tomar videos de chicas sin su consentimiento está mal, es horrible y se tiene que denunciar.
Aquí sucede eso sin consecuencias para el protagonista.
Remington lamentó mostrar el audio a sus amigos pero no tuvo su justo castigo, Jules se lo perdona como también le perdonó las veces que la agredió sexualmente; la agarró bruscamente, la puso de rodillas y le pidió que lo chupara, en otra escena la desnuda de la cintura para abajo colocándola boca abajo y se restriega contra ella desnudo de la misma forma, me pareció asqueroso. Y abuso verbal también y muchos momentos cuando la agarra de mala manera o la empuja por ahí. Esto cuando supuestamente él dijo que no la maltrataria físicamente o violaría.
Esto no era acoso sino agresión sexual o violación.
Como si fuera poco el maltrato de Remington, a Jules casi la viola el amigo de este antes de drogarla pero Remington la salva. No podía creer que no denunciaran lo que pasó!!! Esto no da el mejor mensaje, no se debe callar algo así, hay que denunciarlo!
Porque podría pasarle a alguien más, en la misma historia sucede, Cole termina más adelante violando a otra chica.
Todo eso estaba terriblemente mal, no me importa que sea ficción, las autoras debieron tratar con más tacto este tema y transmitir un mejor mensaje para las chicas.
Segundo, la razón por la que Remington, el protagonista odiara tanto a Jules, era para alucinar!
Traicionó algún vergonzoso secreto y se lo contó a todo el mundo? se besó con alguien más? Asesinó a su mascota? Lo peor que imagines? No! Ella... SE MUDÓ CUANDO TENÍA 15 AÑOS Y LA CULPÓ DESDE ENTONCES POR DEJARLO. Tuve que ponerlo en mayúsculas porque lo estaba gritando en mí mente. Cómo por algo que estuvo fuera de su poder, la pobre chica debe ser destruida en cuánto la ve años después en su escuela porque quiere castigarla por eso?! Es simplemente ridículo.
Remington es un loco idiota sádico de la peor clase! Después de leer todo sobre él y sus inquietantes pensamientos, supe que ante mis ojos este tipo no iba a redimirse aunque la autora lo haya hecho en esta historia.
Jules a pesar de que intentó defenderse, porque lucha un poco pero termina siendo un felpudo, no podía creer cómo perdonaba tan fácilmente a Remmy! Nunca debió aceptar su mierda, no importa cuántos lindos recuerdos de la niñez tuvieran!
No pude con los protagonistas y su enferma historia de amor. Sí me gustó Seb, el hermano y el padre.
En resumen fue una lectura difícil.
Me obligué a seguir leyendo pensando que iba a mejorar, que se iban a castigar las malas acciones pero solo vi que se justifica la violación.
Realmente malo este libro.
May 3, 2019
COMING IN MAY!!!
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not-for-me
November 6, 2019Reminder:
Ellie's review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ellie's review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 13, 2019
This was probably the most difficult book for me to write. So many emotions, so much angst, and heartache.
Jules is trying to piece her life back together after her brother and father died. Instead of finding her old friend back home, she finds someone she doesn't recognize.
Remington is a bad place psychologically. He is angry with the world, he blames everybody but himself, he lashes out and makes horrible decisions.
The question is, can their relationship be salvaged? Can the love they once had for each other shine through and pull them from the darkness?
Jules is trying to piece her life back together after her brother and father died. Instead of finding her old friend back home, she finds someone she doesn't recognize.
Remington is a bad place psychologically. He is angry with the world, he blames everybody but himself, he lashes out and makes horrible decisions.
The question is, can their relationship be salvaged? Can the love they once had for each other shine through and pull them from the darkness?
July 9, 2020
This book was underwhelming.
It lacked depth of characters and so I couldn’t connect to them deeply.
The story is a good storyline - has some of my favourite tropes with an alpha male, love and a bet. But things happen so quick in the beginning that you’re kind of like ... it should’ve built up to these situations.
I wish their history was explored more - the H’s anger was explained more so that we FEEL justification to his anger towards the h.
When this stuff isn’t explored, you end up hating the H cause not one part of you understands his anger or hatred so you can’t relate at all.
He also has 0 reasons to be angry at her. It wasn’t her fault. But he’s used to people leaving and blames her anyways - this should’ve been explained more. Since it wasn’t I couldn’t understand why the hero was so angry ... it was like bro calm down.
It lacked depth of characters and so I couldn’t connect to them deeply.
The story is a good storyline - has some of my favourite tropes with an alpha male, love and a bet. But things happen so quick in the beginning that you’re kind of like ... it should’ve built up to these situations.
I wish their history was explored more - the H’s anger was explained more so that we FEEL justification to his anger towards the h.
When this stuff isn’t explored, you end up hating the H cause not one part of you understands his anger or hatred so you can’t relate at all.
He also has 0 reasons to be angry at her. It wasn’t her fault. But he’s used to people leaving and blames her anyways - this should’ve been explained more. Since it wasn’t I couldn’t understand why the hero was so angry ... it was like bro calm down.
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