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Maddison High #1

Hate Struck

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She's the girl he doesn't want but has to have
Fear is just an emotion that I know I cannot shake

Sarah Danes was the new girl at Maddison High School and was was running from her past. The scars she carried constantly reminded her of what she'd suffered, but she was determined to move on. If only the boy who ruled the school corridors didn't hate her so much.

I played, I taunted, and I went in for the kill

Adam Hudson was the Captain of the school football team and the boy that every girl in the school wanted. He was also the one they feared, but now Sarah Danes was in his sights. Now she was the girl he wanted to break - before she broke him.

Girl meets boy

Girl hates boy

Boy hates girl

And we all know what happens next…Hate Struck a story of secrets, lies and fear

This book is based in a British high school and ends on a cliffhanger and may contain triggers with mentions of suicide, rape and violence. There are also some scenes of bullying

ebook

First published February 1, 2020

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489 people want to read

About the author

Nikki Ashton

51 books400 followers
I live in Cheshire with my husband, two dogs and mum in law and write romantic humour and contemporary romance. My first two books, Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? and No Bra Required both stayed at number 1 on the Amazon Humour list for 3 & 4 weeks respectively. My ambitions of becoming a writer started at the age of 10 when I started writing poetry at school, and was given the honour of reading one out to the rest of my year group (an horrific experience that I will never forget). Thankfully I have a wide variety of strange and wonderful people in my life, otherwise I'd be stuck on what to write about! I am currently talking to family and friends, finding out their innermost secrets in readiness for my next book.

My books are romances that come with a little more than vanilla sexy times, sometimes a few tears, lots of hot men and feisty women, but ultimately they'll make you smile.

You can follow me on Twitter on @NikkerAsh or on Facebook at Nikki Ashton Books

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Nerdy Dirty & Flirty.
3,985 reviews361 followers
February 8, 2020
-Sara, ☆☆☆☆☆

That cliff hanger had my mouth drop... well done!!! I kept thinking wouldn’t that be something if they were connected that way and BOOM it happened, so shocked! The blurb to this book had me instantly hooked I have become a big fan of the bully to lovers read and this one has jumped to my number one.

Sarah has been to hell and back to say the least with the death of her father and the tragedy that happened after. My heart hurt for her but she is so strong she just keeps her head up. So when she encounters Adam and his minions she won’t let them break her down but eventually Adam starts to only to make her hate him again. They are brought together by a horrific situation and they both realize there is no point in hiding their feelings any more.

Adam hasn’t lived the best life with his dad out of the picture and his mom and her in and out boyfriends. He has had a difficult childhood and that is what made him the prick he is today. Then he meets Sarah and he is intrigued by her so that can only mean one thing he has to ruin her. But the more he tries the more he sees she is not like the rest to crumble at the sight of him. After a night of terror he comes clean with his feelings and starts to become a better person for her. Now only if their friends can get on board with their new relationship things would be pretty great......... Until they walk outside 🤯🤯
10 reviews
August 10, 2020
OMG where to start. This book was a disaster. I DNF at 47%. Could not read more. First of all the book did have potential but the Hero ruined it for me. I mean he was an asshole who treated girls like sexual objects and were not human themselves. He ruined so many girls lives but still everyone was so in love with him because of his looks. Sorry but no thank you don’t need this toxic guy in my life. Like we get it dude you have a shit life ( tho it isn’t that shitty) but you don’t need to be a jerk. The complete disregard for the feelings of other girls was just 🙄🙄. Like no dude they aren’t all just sluts and whores and good for one night stands because you don’t like them. I mean this whole book made me want to barf. And the heroine don’t get me started on her. I was expecting her to be human and real and a nice girl who is sensible but god she was just on a new level. I mean the starting 44% of the book was I’m trying to love myself again and realise it wasn’t my fault and I don’t want to focus on any guy just myself and then bam omg he’s so hot I just have to have sex with him that too in public like whattt???? Are you okay. And I will say this the Hero was sexist, rude and just a terrible person who ruined so many girls lives but ofc nobody remembers about that and let’s just all forgive him. And all of these people giving this book 5 stars please I BEG YOU TO WAKE UP AND SEE THIS KIND OF TOXIC BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OKAY. I mean seriously please just stop promoting and publishing these kinds of books. It’s not okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jan .
2,156 reviews45 followers
February 23, 2020
4.5 I did not see that coming stars 😯

Nikki took the plunge and wrote something different to her usual Rom-com and it paid off. I love the fact that Nikki Ashton who is a British author keeps it British, the people, the places, the mannerisms, the vocabulary.

Hate Struck is a bully romance, the characters, the High school are based in the North of England.



Straight away even in the prologue you are thrust into the darkness that parts of this book contains when Sarah's mother discovers her daughter after she had tried to commit suicide, then the nightmare of discovering her daughter had also been sexually abused by a school teacher.

I thought this part of the book although gripping would have been more effective told in first person from her mother, her thoughts and feelings, the anguish, from her point of view, however it was told in third person so it felt more like a story and didn't pull you in as much with the character.

The rest of the book is told in Sarah or Adam's pov.

Both characters have a backstory of abuse, Adam was the victim of physical abuse by one of her mother's boyfriends from the age of nine which continued until he was old enough to defend himself. Adam is an angry teen with a huge chip on his shoulder, his mother's failings to protect him are still a sore point and he continues to hold a grudge and can't let go from what he endured in his childhood.

The bullied evolves into a bully.
This is Adams story and although his actions are at times vulgar especially with girls, he's also the kind of character you grow to like as he begins to change as the story develops and his relationship with Sarah changes to one of kindred spirits, to understanding, to more.

There's a twist of fate in Hate Struck, it's sweet then it suddenly turns bitter and the cliffhanger is one I definitely didn't see coming.

I will be eagerly awaiting the conclusion to Adam and Sarah's story.

Available now! 👉 mybook.to/HateStruck
Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,662 reviews340 followers
February 24, 2020
You know how some books just leave you going WOW and they sit in the back of your mind, as they end up being more powerful than you thought. That for me was Hate Struck by Nikki Ashton. We start with our main character Sarah Danes going through a hard time and this may trigger for readers as she goes through rape and suicidal actions. The book then jumps to her starting a new school away from those who saw what she went through as rumors and others believing she was asking for it. Sarah then starts at a new school and captures the attention of Adam Hudson who is the hottest guy in school but also a jerk. When Sarah rejects Adam, he decides to make her his target but Sarah won't let herself be broken by a guy once again and so her dirty laundry gets shared around the school and rumors, but when the pair share a night at the grocery store held up by a shooter - things start to change and the pair start to share their feelings and it seems that Sarah has managed to break through Adam's ice and soften his jerkiness. What happens though at the end really blew me away and is a cliffhanger of the century. I was like OMFG no way and couldn't believe the ending that on the rarest of occasions - I read the last page twice as the cliffhanger was so crazy. Once finished, I then went on Facebook and told all my friends that they had to read this book, so I could share it with them and we could talk about the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I now cannot wait for Book #2 to hurry up as would love to see what Nikki does next with Sarah and Adam and whether this is one obstacle, they are strong enough to overcome together or is it the ultimatum moment.
Profile Image for Beyond The Covers Blog.
2,518 reviews91 followers
February 5, 2020
Emotions just pour off the pages of the newest release by Nikki Ashton.  Hate Struck, the first book in the Maddison High School series is just one big ‘ol bundle of emotions that will sucker punch you right in the chest.  Teenage angst, heartbreak, death, and a few action-packed punches fill the pages of this book and it is one that you won’t be able to put down.  I finished it in one day and loved every page.  Its setting is in England and the writing and spelling reflects this.  The only thing I did not like was that the book ends on a cliffhanger and the second book, Love Struck, isn’t available yet…. because I need that next book to see what happens, like NOW!  5 stars for Hate Struck by Nikki Ashton.
Sarah Danes has one tragic event after another happen to her.  Her life is in turmoil and sometimes it feels like it is just too hard to continue, but Sarah pulls through and finds the strength.  Starting over at a new school halfway through her senior year is hard enough but with the secrets that Sarah keeps hidden makes it even harder.  The first day in and Sarah already has a target on her back by the four boys that rule the school.  Adam Hudson is their fearless leader, and everyone just falls in line behind what he says.  Adam is determined to break Sarah no matter how many times she walks away with her head held high, even though he secretly wants to worship the ground she walks on.  Adam lets Sarah think he hates her and torments her every chance he gets, but when circumstances push the two together Adam might not be able to keep his feelings hidden any longer.  Can Sarah see past the hate and see the real Adam or is he just another man that wants to manipulate and control her?
 
Profile Image for Dania.
426 reviews
January 27, 2022
No tengo mucho que decir, el libro no es malo pero tampoco me encantó, para mi fue bastante cliché y creo que habían bastantes actitudes y comentarios machistas, como el que todas las mujeres anteriores con las que estuvo Adam eran fáciles.

El bully romance pensé que iba ser un poco más, no es que me queje, en verdad agradezco que haya sido leve ya que odio el bullying y más si después la protagonista se enamora de su agresor.

La vida de Sarah había sido completamente normal, hasta que luego de la muerte de su padre el cual fue asesinado, ella y su madre se encuentran en un estado frágil, la madre se refugiaba en el trabajo, apenas estaba en casa junto a Sarah, por lo que ella se sentía bastante sola. Por el mismo estado en el que se encontraba, sola, frágil y sufriendo, su profesor de artes, Joshua, se aprovecha de ella, violandola. Sarah se muda a una nueva ciudad junto con su madre luego de que nadie le creyera, perdió el juicio contra él y luego todos en las escuela le hicieron bullying por aquello.

El final... uff, que suspenso, quedo perfecto.
Profile Image for Karen Wood.
747 reviews3 followers
February 19, 2020
WOW! I didn't know what to expect from this book, but it exceeded all expectations, is there no end to Nikki's talent, this book is totally different from what she normally writes, it is beautifully written, tackling hard subjects with compassion simply exceptional. This book is a must-read it left me speechless (in a good way).

Two broken people that survive life in two totally different ways, you can feel their connection from the start even if they don't know it, they need each other to change and be better, everyone around them doesn't understand how the shy new girl and the school bully could be so compatible but when you share your darkest secret with someone the bond just gets stronger.

Sarah is the new girl at Maddison High School, she was starting a new life running from her past, from the heartbreak and terror. She needed to move on and rebuild her life.

Adam is the school football captain and the school bully that all the girls love but also fear, he can crush them instantly. His home life hasn't been good so he needs to hit out first every time. He needed to change but doesn't know-how.

The last sentence and cliff-hanger is simply brilliant, well done Nikki one of the easiest 5 stars I have given and would give more if I could, looking forward to book 2.
Profile Image for Sissy's Romance Book Review .
8,992 reviews16 followers
February 16, 2020
Hate Struck by Nikki Ashton is the First book in the Maddison High School Series. This is the story of Sarah Danes and Adam Hudson. Adam is the Captain of the football team at Maddison High School and the most popular guy where everyone follows him and he rules the school with a harsh fist. But his home life isn't so good which just enforces him to be so dominate and mean in school for his release and power. Sarah is in the middle of her High School year when she if forced to start a new school which of course is Maddison High School. Sarah life has been nothing but awful too and her plan is to just lay low and not be noticed at this new school. Which doesn't last because she catches Adam's eye. Adam knows from the first site of Sarah that she is dangerous to him with the feelings she brings out, so he must take her down. This of course leads to him and his gang being mean and awful to her but Sarah stands strong and won't go down easy.
This book does end with a cliffhanger to carry over into the next installment of this series.

Profile Image for Tai Nelson-Barnes.
2,833 reviews75 followers
February 20, 2020
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* First time reading this author

So Hate Struck is a bully story that is in a high school genre. It has a tragic beginning and some major issues during the whole story. Nikki doesn't hold back with major issues like rape, female issues, and how teenage boys harass girls. At some points during this book, I wanted to go through it and smack the crap out of Adam.

Sarah is an emotional scared girl that has just started at the school Adam's rules' and all she wants to do is finish school and move on. When Sarah catches the eyes of Adam she finds that there is nothing she can do to get out of his crosshairs.

This book did a number on my emotions. Adam is a little brat and does some horrible things to girls that should never be tolerated. And for the one girl (Sarah) to forgive him kind of blew my mind. But at the same time, he didn't do them to her so she is taking a back seat to his past. So I guess we will see how the next book goes. I am happy to have read this book.
Profile Image for Nikki.
1,841 reviews19 followers
February 18, 2020
Holy moly Nikki Ashton has blown me away with this book... for someone who hasnt written bully romance before she has utterly smashed it with this book!
I was hooked within the first few pages and I was left devastated when it ended... I NEED more words asap!!
Sarah and Adam are both broken but are both dealing with it in completely different ways... Adam refuses to let people in and is beyond nasty to anyone ..
Sarah just wants it to all end and is struggling to move forward in life.
But when these guys meet it's like instant fireworks going off and they are both unsure of what's going on and why.
Didnt want to move once I had started reading I was that invested with the story.
I would recommend this book to everyone!!!!
Profile Image for K.M. Lowe.
Author 40 books609 followers
May 30, 2020
YA Romance

This is the first book I've read by this author. It's a YA bully, bad boy romance. It has a good storyline behind it, I certainly never saw that ending coming. It throws a huge spanner in the works. I look forward to reading book 2.
Profile Image for Trish Kitty Taylor  ***narniaandbeyond***.
571 reviews46 followers
February 28, 2020
Totally different type of style for Nikki Ashton, & I gotta say I really enjoyed the new angles, the angst & the way the story between Adam & Sarah unfolded.

I don’t usually do high school, so I was a bit pulled in the first couple of chapters. I mean, I loved Sarah, how could you not after that opening, but Adam,man I wanted to punch him so hard in the face. He really did grate on my last nerve lol.

But, somehow, both of them yanked me in further, harder & while the chapters kept rolling on, I found my ice heart had suddenly thawed for this troubled boy & his troubled soul.

Sarah is strong & brave, even when she doesn’t feel it, I loved her journey & the way she faced her darkness. Adam, even though he was a shit, he just needed a Sarah in his life & in his heart to show him the way.

Finally... the ending, OMG. Like talk about a WTF moment, seriously can not wait for book 2.

Profile Image for Margarita.
520 reviews2 followers
July 26, 2020
Bully

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I liked it. It has a lot of teenage drama, and you feel for the characters. Be prepared for a he'll of a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Crystal Wilke.
1,598 reviews3 followers
May 15, 2020
HOT dang Nikki. You blew me away with this book. I couldn’t put it down. My new favorite book of yours. The raw emotion, angst and surprises could be felt. It was like you are living through the characters. That ending though!!! It was a jaw dropping moment and I can't wait to dive into Love Struck.
Profile Image for Jennifer Ali.
312 reviews
October 19, 2020
Weirdly this was actually good. A bit young adult, Mf which is usually not my go to, and a little bit unrealistic in events in my opinion but overall really enjoyable!
Not going on to book 2, but satisfied from book 1!
Profile Image for Christina  Thomas.
249 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2020
This was the first book I read by this author, And it was an emotional roller coaster for me. Despite the warning I choose to read it despite my personal traumatic past. At first it was hard to get through the first few chapters due to what the character went through. But to see her strength and will power to keep surviving and to over come what she went through is amazing. Sarah went through multiply horrible ordeals. Adam acts like a bully because its the only way he knows how to protect himself. He went through a horrible ordeal as well when he was 9. Now he feels like no one is in his corner or would protect him. Then fate would have it Sarah and Adam would meet at her new school. At first Adam is a bully to Sarah. He see's through her and see's that shes acting tough & brave even though you can see her shaking from fear. They end up going through this horrific situation and he ends up saving her. You see their relationship, not only change but it develops and they actually end up helping each other as well as let each other in on their secrets after this horrible ordeal. If you are the faint of heart or been through Abuse/Rape I would not necessarily recommend reading this book Unless you have coped with what you went through because this book could possible bring up or trigger you're own past. The way this author ended the book was an absolute cliff hanger and I am DYING to know What the HECK is going to happen in the next book! The way this book is ended you will be absolute stunned and sitting here going WTF just happened, haha but really a good read and I really need the next book yo come out so I can find out what in the world sarah and adam are going to do after this huge bomb was dropped on the very last page of book 1. Overall recommend this book and would read it again.
Profile Image for Alexandra.
157 reviews4 followers
March 2, 2022
Desde que Adam dijo que su papá se fue supe que iba a ser el mismo que violo a Sarah 🤦🏻‍♀️ Fue muy obvio al menos para mi 🤷🏻‍♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for The Smutbrarians.
2,239 reviews1,747 followers
February 12, 2020
Feels 3
Steam 2
Storyline 3.5
Overall Rating 3.5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie

“Grief had swallowed them both whole and then spat them out as broken pieces of heartache, misery and pain.”

Sarah Danes has had an unimaginable year filled with tragedy and betrayal and things only get worse when she and her Mom are basically forced to move. She has to start at a new school midway through her senior year and it was definitely not how she pictured her last year in high school. Yet here she is in a new town with a new plan. Keep her head down and avoid everyone who is anyone. Unfortunately for her she catches the eye of Adam the king of all assholes and his loyal trio of idiotic lackeys. They rule the school and plan on breaking the new girl and making her understand her place at the bottom of their crazy chain of followers. Thing is Adam wants Sarah in his arms just as much as he wants to see her groveling at his feet.

“I knew I was going to hate her, and I knew I was going to want her more than anything I’d ever wanted before.”

Sarah quickly learns that surviving Madison High is not for the faint of heart but after the hell she’s been through over the past year, she’s up for the challenge. She’s not going to let Adam Hudson, captain of the football team who rules the halls with fear and intimidation, shake her resolve. No matter how hot he just so happens to be or the fact that she just can’t seem to stay away from him.

“I should have wanted to stay away from him, but I was a moth to a light bulb. I knew it was going to burn like hell, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting it, because the pain and suffering were deserved.”

I love bully romances and Adam and Sarah’s story was more or less your typical bully romance...a whole lot of hate and a whole lot of want. He was horrible to her and everyone at the school but we start to learn that he hasn’t really had an easy time either. They both have secrets they want to hide and pasts they don’t want anyone to know about. As much as they try to stay away from each other, they are thrown together on one horrible night that changes everything. While they struggle with the aftermath of that night and the secrets of their pasts they try to figure out how to handle their feelings toward each other. Adam wants things to be different and Sarah doesn’t want to be just another girl on her knees for him. With all they’ve been through do these two even stand a chance?

“All the hatred I used to push me through each day, the blackness that helped to focus my brain, faded away when she was around. It came like waves. High and dangerous until they hit the shore then ebbed away slowly. Sarah Danes was my shoreline.”

While I enjoyed this book I had a hard time connecting with Adam and Sarah. I thought they’d grow on me but sadly neither did. I love bully books and this one did have a lot of the elements I have grown to love and expect from your typical one but it just fell short in some areas. I loved to hate some of the secondary characters and the second half of the book worked a lot better for me. It wasn’t a bad read by any means...it just wasn’t up there with some other bully books I have read. I think it’s that I had a hard time with both main characters but the author did go and hit us with that crazy ass cliffhanger that I totally did not see coming. I really thought it would be wrapping up all pretty with a bow and all the sudden the author was like nah, we aren’t going out like that and decided to shock the hell out of us. I’m not always a fan of cliffhangers but this one has me needing the next book now!! So while I wasn’t a huge fan of this one I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book.
Profile Image for Lozz’s Random Reads  McKenzie - Lee.
938 reviews18 followers
June 23, 2020
High School romance between a Damaged Girl and a Angry Bully

Nikki Ashton’s High School bully romance between the damaged, emotionally withdrawn Sarah, and angry, issue riddled Adam. Is pretty much hitting all the bully romance bullet points.

They both share a tragic backstory (abate, Sarah’s is far more horrific & traumatising)
Both are dealing with absent fathers: Sarah’s through her Policemen dad being tragically killed during a bungled jewellery robbery. Adam’s through the breakdown of his parents relationship when he was five which left him with 4 ‘stepdicks’

Both choose to deal with the drama that has happened in their lives in different ways.
Sarah retreats into her self, becoming more and more introverted, and Adam becomes the Maddison High School bully/man whore/football star mistakingly believing this is helping him cope with his past.
It’s not long before Adam can’t stay away from the quite, terrified new girl. Tormenting her before (eventually) they can’t keep their hands off each other. Towards the end of the book it’s all a sex marathon’s, rainbows and unicorns as the loved up couple enjoy their new relationship status, until!....Someone shows up at the end and sends them spiraling.

I always find it fascinating when writers write a bully romance when they start to navigate the the couple together and how they Work out how they going to get close.
In this case, Nikki has used Sara’s love of street dance as an intro, to her teaching Adams younger sister(Lori) as a plot device.
This allowed Adam to use little sis, as a bit of a go between with Sara. (I swear, when we were first getting to know of Sara in the beginning ,there was no mention of the street dancing or choreography)
Then there’s the unexpected run in’s
The Diner.
The Gym
The car ride home. (resulting in their first sexual experiences..Yeah, could see THAT ONE coming)
But the best one was the unexpected meeting at Tesco’s...During a robbery no less, so Adam could play you the hero, thus redeeming himself for all his past discretions in Sara’s eyes.
It also made her feel better about wanting to jump his bones (constantly) every time she saw him. I mean she couldn’t justify wanting to feel him inside her, touching her, before this. That would mean she was just as bad as all the other girls in the ‘c#$k sucker club’ (yeah, you go girl slut shaming those other girls).
Look I like Sarah...mostly...but she’s a little self righteous, at times. Dishing out her words of wisdom, she has a few therapy sessions gets laid, and she’s all seeing, all knowing all of a sudden. Like a guru.
Adam, on the other hand, is on a huge redemption kick. He’s is on his ten step douchbag program, making up for his past a$&hole-ery. He gets closer to Sara and now he wants to be the good guy, he wants to make something of himself. All because off Sarah’s magical p**sy
Well it’s going to be interesting to see how these two navigate their way through the massive bombshell dropped at the end.
I hope it’s not a happy ending, because not all love stories end with a wedding and a baby. Or, going off to Uni, together. Sometimes, in life everything goes to s$&t no matter how much you love someone.
Profile Image for Victoria Weston.
1,013 reviews54 followers
March 9, 2020
Oh my ! Oh wow!
This book was an absolute fantastic read. This book deserves every single one of its stars. I've read books by this author before and i can't recommend her enough, what a brilliant author. Her writing is so good that as soon as you pick up one of her books you just cant put it down. I was hooked immediately from the first chapter of this book. This story line of this book was something you could get your teeth into and it was fantastic. This is book one in a new series.

Maddison High School Hate Struck book #1

Sarah and her mum have been through so much together, they have been through one hell of a traumatic experience. Sarah lost her father after he was gunned down at work. Sarah took this extremely hard and was feeling very vulnerable at school.That is until one day her teacher saw her vulnerability and totally took advantage of this in the worst way possible.

Adam is so cocky, he's king cock of the school. Everyone does exactly as he says. He is also hiding a side to him that he keeps hidden. He loves his sister Lori, but all other women he makes there life a misery. That is until one day he sees her, shes's the new girl in school and somehow he feels such a connection to her that he wants to protect completely.
( NO SPOILERS )

This book will completely captivate your mind right until the very end and you will not be able to put it down.

The characters in this book were written brilliantly, this author has written them so good that you really feel for them both in there own right. Sarah did something to Adam on an emotionally level and he felt it very intense and so does the reader. His deep soul need to protect her completely overtakes his mind.
After Sarah changed schools she was on his radar immediately and this is where a Love/Hate relationship begins.
This book has it all love, hate, drama, suspense, hopes and dreams and really hold your attention until the very end and leaves you desperate for more.
This book is out now and is a must read for everyone.
I Need Book 2 now !!!
Oh wow, what a total cliffhanger and now i'm so desperate for Love Struck book #2 in this series. Nowww!!!!



450 reviews64 followers
March 17, 2020
I have no words!!!
Hate Struck sucked me in and then spat me out completely gobsmacked!
When I started reading, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book as some of it seemed a little immature... but then I remembered that they are 17 year olds here. Not every bully book has to be dark and twisted with teens acting like they are mature adults. Although in saying that, from chapter 1 Hate Struck starts off pretty heavy!! The amount of emotion you feel while reading - the tears were definitely there. The more I read, the more I started to enjoy it and I ended up being so engrossed that I stayed up until 2am reading as I could not put it down.
The main characters were so well written and I loved the storyline and plot. THAT ENDING!!!!! Warning: CLIFFHANGER!!! And what a cliffhanger to end with. It is just plain mean to leave us like that! But if I am 100% honest, as I was reading through the book, I actually had a few "what ifs" running through my mind and kind of predicted that it may happen BUT even if the ending is slightly predictable (maybe not to everyone), it was still a huge SHOCK! I still nearly shouted "NOOOOOOOO" as I read the last line.
Sarah is a phenomenal girl. The trauma that she has experienced and the fact that she is still able to go about every day life and hold her head up high, was inspiring. She is such a strong, brave and a true survivor. Being the new girl at her school, she captures the attention of Adam. He is the most popular boy in school, captain of the football team, complete a$$hole, the hottest guy in school (of course) and can girl he wants. He uses girls and treats them like toys. But as put together as he is, he is wearing a mask and his actions are because of his own personal traumas.
Hate Struck is an enjoyable, emotional, binge worthy read with steam and angst or tied together in a not so pretty bow. I cannot wait to read the next book as I am dying to find out what happens with Sarah and Adam after an ending that will leave you completely speechless!!

Profile Image for Opal Costello.
34 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2020
What a pleasant surprise! I am always incredibly wary of bully romances, usually because they tend to not understand the difference between a bully and a r*pist/creep. I've loved a story but then the hero will take it too far and due to my experiences I am unable to forgive him. The hero needs to have redeeming qualities and I found that in Adam. Particularly his relationship with his sister and his response to Sarah's past.

Sarah is struggling to overcome sexual trauma and her father's death. When Adam and Sarah meet there is instant chemistry, this scares Adam as he doesn't let anyone in due to his own abuse at the hands of an old stepfather. Throughout the book, the two push each other but ultimately we see a relationship build. This was really well done. I enjoyed reading them get to know one another.

The sex scenes are great, on that balance of not too much or too little. My only issue is that Sarah doesn't experience any flashbacks or issues being touched by Adam. Obviously everyone experiences trauma differently but this was so different from mine it came across unrealistic. I wanted Sarah to struggle with intimacy like I did, selfish but it would have been nice to relate to. This hang up is specific to me however.

I truly hope we get to see Adam apologise more for what he did to the women at his school. Alannah and Amber shook when he walked past them, he was their abuser. I really hope in the next book he reflects on this and truly apologises.

I predicted that his dad was somewhat related to Sarah. Either he was the driver of the car in the robbery that resulted in her father's death or Joshua, but a good twist nonetheless!

Overall a great book, I fully recommend this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
February 21, 2020
I don't know why I keep reading bully romance, as I stay enraged for at LEAST half of the story, but I just can't stay away from them no matter what. And Nikki Ashton penned a very addictive one, all the while leaving me hanging off the side of the cliff in the wind, so I love & hate her at this moment. When I say cliffy, I don't just mean one that will have you emotional at first then you deal, I mean that kind that makes the reader want to stalk the author in order to make threats about getting that next part IMMEDIATELY. But let me give a small description. Sarah has had a hellish existence in her young life, which only got worse when her father died with such tragedy following it up that it was hard to breathe while reading. She's the new girl at Maddison High School, and Adam with his sycophants following have added to the hell which is her life. I think what made it easier for me was the strength she displayed at all times though I don't know how anyone could do it to be honest with everything she's already been through. Adam hasn't had the easiest life either, well, at home actually, because at the school he ruled, and Sarah was in his sights to destroy. There comes a point where the hate turned to something more, but I'm not about to reveal any of it. Just hit that one click button to learn more, like what happened, what's happening leading up to being pushed off that cliff! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for Sassy Southern Book Blog.
5,380 reviews272 followers
February 23, 2020
Woah what a book!!! From the prologue to that hanging of an ending!!! I was absolutely hooked on every single word. I was absolutely destroyed by what all happened to Sarah. And for her not to realize exactly how strong she was just broke my heart. And they way everything played out for her just made me so mad I wanted to go through the book and hurt some people. The fact that I know in a different capacity hit me harder than I think it will most because it took me a while to stop the tears from flowing. And then her being the one to move away from her life was so wrong. Just for her to start off being bullied all over again. So yes when I first met Adam I wanted to do nothing but beat his butt. But once we really got to know and understand him. And he started showing his true self. All because he met Sarah and she made him want to be a better person for her. And he was trying to be and was doing well. And everything he did made us fall in love with him. Then that ending just came in and smacked me right in face like that!!!! I was not expecting it at all. It totally through me for a loop. Now I'm hanging here dying for the next book so I can know what happens and I need it NOW!!!!! This is definitely a one click book!!!! It is so engaging and so real you will be totally swept away by this book!!! -By Tina
Profile Image for Sarah Dale.
3,164 reviews76 followers
February 16, 2020
OMFG!! Soo good! 5 Phenomenal stars!!!

Nikki has seriously knocked it out of the park with this one!! I absolutely loved it!! This is different from her usual reads but its my favourite of hers to date which says a lot as I love her romcoms.

Once I started this I was completely hooked from the very hard beginning right through to the absolutely phenomenal cliffhanger that left my jaw on the floor!!!

I have to be honest I wasn't sure what to expect with this one but this was a gamble that seriously paid off!

Sarah has been through absolute hell! my heart was literally ripped apart for her but she is much stronger then she thinks.

Adam, well I didn't want to like him and tbh I didn't at the beginning but about half way through you get to see a different side to him and well my heart really broke when you find out why he is on the offensive all the time, why his walls are sky high until Sarah comes in and gradually without meaning to knocks them down brick by brick.

24 hours I am still feeling half in love and half in rage with Nikki over that cliffhanger but its worth the rage and I seriously cannot wait for the next book!!

Well done Nikki 5 phenomenal stars for you!!

ARC received in exchange for an honest review from the Author
Profile Image for Bree.
20 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2020
Holy Cliff HANGER my mouth is still wide open....

Sarah has been through in a sense hell and back. The death with her father and having to deal with what she went through, it brought back so many memories. My heart just lept for her and i wish i could reach out and hug her and tell her its going to be ok!
When she accounters Adam and his "minions" she is then standing strong and goes hey i won't allow you to put me down. They are brought together by a horrific inncident both realizing there is no point to hide how they fell about one another.
Adam hasn't had the best life. His dad not in the picture and his mom In and out he had a difficult child hood. Thats what made him be a not very nice person (to put in lightly).
He then meets Sarah and is so intrigued by her. Is he going to ruin her? THe more he tries to see her the more it crumbles in front of him because he needs her in a way he doesn't quite understand yet.

After the night of a horrific things he comes clean with his feelings and starts to become a better person If is friends could back off maybe things could change and theyd be happy with the choice they have made for there realationship.....

Until they go outside....
202 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2020
Wow - can't wait for the next one

Ok, a totally different direction for Nikki on this one. And being honest, it's sat on my Kindle for a long time. As someone who was bullied by a boy at High school for years, he still lives in my area, and still gives me that snide look and snearing grin when he sees me , and tries to run me of the road if he meets me on it. Let's just say after 30+ years the hell that he put me through and the lies his delightful witches of sisters told about me mean the term "Hate Struck" for me means something entirely different. It unsettled me as to where this story would go, and I have to say it surprised me, but in a good way. Took the bull by the horns this morning after 7am, and couldn't actually put it down. I stopped, fed the hubby and kids and started again. Breakfast stuff still all over the kitchen and me in the pj's. Great story of 2 damaged characters and learning about their pain and what caused it and what actually brought them together. By the end you are rooting for them to overcome a couple of people who seem intent on trying to destroy what they find in each other. You are so busy thinking that at the end that you don't see the punchline until it hits you between your eyes. Well played Nikki, ending on that cliff-hanger, now I'm gagging for Love Struck, but need a shower right now, just a wee bit more. 😊 Roll on the next chapter in this series, can't wait.
Profile Image for Amanda McCalip.
654 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2020
All I can say is WOW, what in the world just happened to me?!!! That cliffhanger was crazy! It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once I got through the first few chapters I was literally hooked. Sarah and Adam were both driving me a little nuts in the beginning, but I quickly fell in love with these characters and I really believe you will too.

Sarah has been through so much and it was hard for me to read about, but the journey she takes with Adam is one I really think is going to be worth it for her. Adam has also been through a lot and has his own demons. He always strikes people first because he is scared of being hurt and that doesn't mean physically. He hurts people with words before they can hurt him and that's just how it is. These two are always trying to one up one another during this book, him because he actually likes her. She battles back because she refuses to show weakness. You really think these two are never going to get along until things just suddenly change between them due to being put into a terrible situation. I'm not one for spoilers so I won't give them to you, but holy moly grab this now!!

This book was so good!!
Profile Image for Hendrik.
95 reviews6 followers
February 12, 2020
I was hooked from the first chapter until the end of the book.

Sarah Danes lost her father in a terrible event and after that an unnecessary tragedy happened to her. Nobody believed her about the tragedy.

She is now the new girl at Maddison High where no one knows anything about her past.

The moment Adam Hudson laid his eyes on Sarah he wanted to break her and make her life miserable. He and his gang did everything to find her deepest darkest secrets. He is the most popular guy, with the girls, and has the ability to manipulate people in doing anything he wants. Sarah is stronger than what Adam expected. He doesn’t have a real reason for being nasty to Sarah.

A dreadful incident brought Sarah and Adam together. Little did they know, that they will help each other to cope with their past. Sarah is busy changing his whole idea about life and the way he has been treating others.

The story ended with an unexpected twist.

I NEED Love Struck (book 2).

You can’t break something that is already broken, but you can try to fix it.

Please take note of the sensitivity warning in the blurb.
Profile Image for Kirsty Adams - Kindle Freak Book Blog.
918 reviews26 followers
February 17, 2020
It’s not often that a book completely take over my entire thoughts, and characters stay with you even when not reading. Hate Struck is one of those stories.

It starts with a powerful opener, one that certainly grabbed my attention. Sarah is a survivor; a gutsy character who is so likeable. Horrific past events has shaped who she is now and she is certainly not going to put up with the antics of mean boy, Adam who plagues her life from the moment she steps into her new school.

Adam is a character who will divide opinion. My feelings towards him, yo-yoed from hating him, for feeling sorry for him, to wanting to throttle him and then wanting him to magically appear in front of me so I could lick him all over! He is a character with so many levels to explore and whilst as a reader I felt I understood Sarah quite quickly, I loved the peeling back of Adam’s layers and discovering the real him and god, did I love him!

With her smooth writing style, and creative prowess, Ms Ashton has produced a captivating story, that had me gripped, had me experiencing so many emotions and then left me...speechless!
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