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Cherry Grove #1
Tragic
Elliot
My eighteenth birthday was more than just a milestone—it was an awakening. All my life I’ve been surrounded by praise and attention, and I convinced myself that I was happy.
Until I did something I shouldn’t have and now I can’t stop.
I fell for someone who is forbidden to me and that makes me want him even more.
I’m addicted to everything about him and that’s not the worst part.
He wants me too.
And it changes everything.
Hunter
I prided myself in becoming a better person. Despite all of the demons I struggled with, I always tried to do the right thing.
Until I couldn’t anymore.
All it took was one little taste to convince me to break every rule I ever created.
Now I can’t imagine my life without her and that’s not the worst part.
She feels it too.
And I don’t ever want it to stop.
My eighteenth birthday was more than just a milestone—it was an awakening. All my life I’ve been surrounded by praise and attention, and I convinced myself that I was happy.
Until I did something I shouldn’t have and now I can’t stop.
I fell for someone who is forbidden to me and that makes me want him even more.
I’m addicted to everything about him and that’s not the worst part.
He wants me too.
And it changes everything.
Hunter
I prided myself in becoming a better person. Despite all of the demons I struggled with, I always tried to do the right thing.
Until I couldn’t anymore.
All it took was one little taste to convince me to break every rule I ever created.
Now I can’t imagine my life without her and that’s not the worst part.
She feels it too.
And I don’t ever want it to stop.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2019
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January 29, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/29/2020)! 🎁
October 26, 2019
"These are the kind of games I’d rather play with her."
3.5 Seriously Tragic Stars!
This was another unknown author to me with a pretty cover that instantly grabbed my attention.... seriously authors, good covers are SO important as are good titles but carrying on....the little quote on the cover is what sealed the deal, before I ever read the blurb.
"The journey they took wasn't always pretty, but in the end, it was beautiful."
Serious swooning....
But I've been fooled by a pretty exterior before, discovering the inner contents to be way to boring to be represented by such covers. Would this be another one of those disappointments? Or would I prove "don't judge a book by its cover" to be inaccurate once again? This wasn't a fav of mine, but it wasn't a total waste either. The quote featured on the cover truly describes this book from start to finish, and I'm still not sure if I hated it or not. All I know for sure is I am 100% jumping on Oliver's story in January!
Book Facts: Told in dual POV, this is book 1 in the Cherry Grove series. Described as a brother's best friend romance with a twist, it tells the story of Elliot & Hunter...the reigning queen of the halls who wears the perfect mask, the older guy who could lose everything....A war of two hearts, a forbidden love that will be tested at every corner. But what would you be willing to give up to get your HEA? Will they risk it all? Or have an ending as tragic as the journey itself? Well, the HEA is awarded BUT the path is one that they will have to fight harder than they ever have before to get to.
Timeline of Feelings:
Starting: I spy a playlist....I LOVE playlists.
10%: I'm too impatient....and this slow burn is killing me.
15%: Why do I feel like she is going to completely destroy him and not the other way around?
16%: I know, too soon but feelings and all ---I'm not sure Elle will be a fav of mine.
18%: She isn't serious right now?
25%: I desperately need something redeemable to happen soon for this story to get above the 3 star rating its currently sitting at.
27%: I am seriously so close to very aggressively throwing this in the DNF pile....WTF is the point in this? Its not even entertaining.
33%: And now we are reaching the point of missing text & noticeable grammar mistakes....why am I still reading? Its like I have a point to prove to myself.
35%: She is a special kind of stupid. I feel like the author is basing a story off one too many teen dramas while trying to mix one too many sub-genres resulting in a barely-there "love story" that has such obnoxious (& unneccessary) drama used as extreme filler.
43%: It took almost HALF of the book, but its FINALLY getting to an enjoyable read but I have one serious question..... where TF are her parents? I mean I "know" where they are, but seriously not one interaction so far?
54%: Poor poor Hunter. Heck, poor Judah. Oliver is right, your actions have consequences.
66%: Something catastrophic is going to happen.....I just know it.
74%: I LOVE this scene....
76%: Can Judah PLEASE get his own book? Now that's a book I would happily read.
86%: I knew this was going to happen.
91%: I swear I LOVE Oliver....I literally cannot wait for his book.
94%: Okay Elle....its a little late for redemption but way to be the queen.
Finished: I am way too frustrated overall to express what I really feel.
"The Five":
Loves from Book: the chapter "names", Oliver, Judah, the play final rehearsal, Prom bathroom scene.
Hates from Book: pretty much Elle's entire irrational logic and POV the first 50% of book, the way each chapter (& section) ends, the entire first 35% of the book, Cameron, the fact that CASUAL is misspelled as CAUSAL almost every time its featured
Quotes (okay 6 bc Oliver is too funny):
“Elle, I’m going to tell you something that might be a little shocking.” My stomach tenses. “What?” He takes another dramatic breath and blows it out. “I’m not perfect.” I stare at him silently. Is he for real right now? When I don’t respond, he keeps going. “I know you probably need a moment to process that, but it’s true.”
-Oliver & Elle
“I’m so fucking in love with you that it brings out the worst part of me.”
-Hunter
“This is really hard for me.”“All relationships are hard sometimes,” I say softly. He shakes his head . “No, not for me. I’ve never loved anyone before— I never let myself love someone the way I love you.”
-Hunter & Elle
“The only thing that would make this even more poetic is if it started to rain right now.” As if the heavens heard him, thunder strikes across the sky and rain begins to pour. Oliver’s hand flies up to his mouth. “Oh my God,” he whispers through his fingers. “He can fucking hear me.”
-Oliver
“Thank you, Judah. For everything.” He gives me a genuine smile. “Always, babe. Always.”
-Elle & Judah
“If you don’t care then why go to so much trouble to make sure I lose?” A smile crosses my face. “You think I had to do anything? I showed up. That’s it. You were always going to lose.” I lean in closer. “But I think you knew that.”
-Cameron & Elle
Final Thoughts (in "Five"):
Currently Feeling:
1. I love me some playlists to accompany my books so I was giddy when I saw one at the start of Tragic. But something I may have loved just a tiny bit more (& something I've never seen or at least don't recall prior) is the chapter "names." Each chapter is given a "name" like House Guest, Blame it on Me, & Poison and Wine that correlates with the events of that chapter. Trust me, this one little feature kept me reading at times when I felt I couldn't hate a book more, knowing by the titles that there was a better "future" ahead.
2. At the very start I was on the fence with Elle, but I knew I would love Hunter. Maybe it is her age vs his, but her immaturity and "games" seriously made me rage-y. I get the purpose of it for plot purposes but there comes a time it is a little overboard and unnecessary..... not to mention completely off-putting.
3. I LOVE me a good slow burn but what differentiates the good from the ugly is the crumbs that make the build up bearable....those moments that remind us that the events in between are leading us to something worthy of the misery we are experiencing through them. This one falls short in that dept....we get a lot of the same song & dance over and over again, subjected to an unlikable heroine and the guy that I honestly wanted to move on from her antics. Eventually it speeds up, but be prepared to suffer until then.
4. This is the first book I ever skipped to the last chapter. It was so an awful reading experience at one point that I had to make sure the reward would at least be worthy of the extreme effort it was going to take to get there.
5. As much as a seemingly complained and hated the story for a majority of the time, I almost believe that was the authors intention.... to make the reader as crazy as those that are involved in this "triangle" so to speak.
I actually finished the book & the last 15-20% was so good.... despite the MANY times I didn't want to. It made me feel things, sure, but the true emotions (that weren't rage) that I felt had little to do with the main characters. Maybe I am just not the target reader for this type of love story, but despite the characters & events I loved, there were more things I didn't. Who knows though? Maybe this could end up your favorite read of 2019! All I know is if this is what it took for me to get to know Oliver & Judah, I would subject myself to reading it over and over again just for those two hotties.
“But most of all, I would want to tell them that even though the journey we had to take to get here wasn’t always pretty— in the end, it was beautiful.”
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.5 Seriously Tragic Stars!
This was another unknown author to me with a pretty cover that instantly grabbed my attention.... seriously authors, good covers are SO important as are good titles but carrying on....the little quote on the cover is what sealed the deal, before I ever read the blurb.
"The journey they took wasn't always pretty, but in the end, it was beautiful."
Serious swooning....
But I've been fooled by a pretty exterior before, discovering the inner contents to be way to boring to be represented by such covers. Would this be another one of those disappointments? Or would I prove "don't judge a book by its cover" to be inaccurate once again? This wasn't a fav of mine, but it wasn't a total waste either. The quote featured on the cover truly describes this book from start to finish, and I'm still not sure if I hated it or not. All I know for sure is I am 100% jumping on Oliver's story in January!
Book Facts: Told in dual POV, this is book 1 in the Cherry Grove series. Described as a brother's best friend romance with a twist, it tells the story of Elliot & Hunter...the reigning queen of the halls who wears the perfect mask, the older guy who could lose everything....A war of two hearts, a forbidden love that will be tested at every corner. But what would you be willing to give up to get your HEA? Will they risk it all? Or have an ending as tragic as the journey itself? Well, the HEA is awarded BUT the path is one that they will have to fight harder than they ever have before to get to.
Timeline of Feelings:
Starting: I spy a playlist....I LOVE playlists.
10%: I'm too impatient....and this slow burn is killing me.
15%: Why do I feel like she is going to completely destroy him and not the other way around?
16%: I know, too soon but feelings and all ---I'm not sure Elle will be a fav of mine.
18%: She isn't serious right now?
25%: I desperately need something redeemable to happen soon for this story to get above the 3 star rating its currently sitting at.
27%: I am seriously so close to very aggressively throwing this in the DNF pile....WTF is the point in this? Its not even entertaining.
33%: And now we are reaching the point of missing text & noticeable grammar mistakes....why am I still reading? Its like I have a point to prove to myself.
35%: She is a special kind of stupid. I feel like the author is basing a story off one too many teen dramas while trying to mix one too many sub-genres resulting in a barely-there "love story" that has such obnoxious (& unneccessary) drama used as extreme filler.
43%: It took almost HALF of the book, but its FINALLY getting to an enjoyable read but I have one serious question..... where TF are her parents? I mean I "know" where they are, but seriously not one interaction so far?
54%: Poor poor Hunter. Heck, poor Judah. Oliver is right, your actions have consequences.
66%: Something catastrophic is going to happen.....I just know it.
74%: I LOVE this scene....
76%: Can Judah PLEASE get his own book? Now that's a book I would happily read.
86%: I knew this was going to happen.
91%: I swear I LOVE Oliver....I literally cannot wait for his book.
94%: Okay Elle....its a little late for redemption but way to be the queen.
Finished: I am way too frustrated overall to express what I really feel.
"The Five":
Loves from Book: the chapter "names", Oliver, Judah, the play final rehearsal, Prom bathroom scene.
Hates from Book: pretty much Elle's entire irrational logic and POV the first 50% of book, the way each chapter (& section) ends, the entire first 35% of the book, Cameron, the fact that CASUAL is misspelled as CAUSAL almost every time its featured
Quotes (okay 6 bc Oliver is too funny):
“Elle, I’m going to tell you something that might be a little shocking.” My stomach tenses. “What?” He takes another dramatic breath and blows it out. “I’m not perfect.” I stare at him silently. Is he for real right now? When I don’t respond, he keeps going. “I know you probably need a moment to process that, but it’s true.”
-Oliver & Elle
“I’m so fucking in love with you that it brings out the worst part of me.”
-Hunter
“This is really hard for me.”“All relationships are hard sometimes,” I say softly. He shakes his head . “No, not for me. I’ve never loved anyone before— I never let myself love someone the way I love you.”
-Hunter & Elle
“The only thing that would make this even more poetic is if it started to rain right now.” As if the heavens heard him, thunder strikes across the sky and rain begins to pour. Oliver’s hand flies up to his mouth. “Oh my God,” he whispers through his fingers. “He can fucking hear me.”
-Oliver
“Thank you, Judah. For everything.” He gives me a genuine smile. “Always, babe. Always.”
-Elle & Judah
“If you don’t care then why go to so much trouble to make sure I lose?” A smile crosses my face. “You think I had to do anything? I showed up. That’s it. You were always going to lose.” I lean in closer. “But I think you knew that.”
-Cameron & Elle
Final Thoughts (in "Five"):
Currently Feeling:
1. I love me some playlists to accompany my books so I was giddy when I saw one at the start of Tragic. But something I may have loved just a tiny bit more (& something I've never seen or at least don't recall prior) is the chapter "names." Each chapter is given a "name" like House Guest, Blame it on Me, & Poison and Wine that correlates with the events of that chapter. Trust me, this one little feature kept me reading at times when I felt I couldn't hate a book more, knowing by the titles that there was a better "future" ahead.
2. At the very start I was on the fence with Elle, but I knew I would love Hunter. Maybe it is her age vs his, but her immaturity and "games" seriously made me rage-y. I get the purpose of it for plot purposes but there comes a time it is a little overboard and unnecessary..... not to mention completely off-putting.
3. I LOVE me a good slow burn but what differentiates the good from the ugly is the crumbs that make the build up bearable....those moments that remind us that the events in between are leading us to something worthy of the misery we are experiencing through them. This one falls short in that dept....we get a lot of the same song & dance over and over again, subjected to an unlikable heroine and the guy that I honestly wanted to move on from her antics. Eventually it speeds up, but be prepared to suffer until then.
4. This is the first book I ever skipped to the last chapter. It was so an awful reading experience at one point that I had to make sure the reward would at least be worthy of the extreme effort it was going to take to get there.
5. As much as a seemingly complained and hated the story for a majority of the time, I almost believe that was the authors intention.... to make the reader as crazy as those that are involved in this "triangle" so to speak.
I actually finished the book & the last 15-20% was so good.... despite the MANY times I didn't want to. It made me feel things, sure, but the true emotions (that weren't rage) that I felt had little to do with the main characters. Maybe I am just not the target reader for this type of love story, but despite the characters & events I loved, there were more things I didn't. Who knows though? Maybe this could end up your favorite read of 2019! All I know is if this is what it took for me to get to know Oliver & Judah, I would subject myself to reading it over and over again just for those two hotties.
“But most of all, I would want to tell them that even though the journey we had to take to get here wasn’t always pretty— in the end, it was beautiful.”
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2020
Elliot has a problem... she has a crush on someone she shouldn't, and acting on said crush could be life changing for more than one reason. Hunter has been tempting her for years, constantly starring in her fantasies, but Hunter is her big brother's best friend... and that makes him off limits, or does it?
Tragic is a very fitting title for this one, Elle and Hunter find themselves in an impossible situation, one that could have a tragic end. These two were doomed from the start, Elle has been crushing on her brother's best friend for years now, but holding onto the notion that it wasn't a shared thing, that there was no way that Hunter felt the same. But she couldn't have been more wrong, the whole time she was admiring him in secret he was doing the same. When their feelings come to light, their hearts start to make demands, and these two are faced with a tough decision.... act on it or let it go. I loved watching this one unfold, it was a slow burn forbidden romance, that held my full attention and tortured my heart from beginning to end. Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Tragic is a very fitting title for this one, Elle and Hunter find themselves in an impossible situation, one that could have a tragic end. These two were doomed from the start, Elle has been crushing on her brother's best friend for years now, but holding onto the notion that it wasn't a shared thing, that there was no way that Hunter felt the same. But she couldn't have been more wrong, the whole time she was admiring him in secret he was doing the same. When their feelings come to light, their hearts start to make demands, and these two are faced with a tough decision.... act on it or let it go. I loved watching this one unfold, it was a slow burn forbidden romance, that held my full attention and tortured my heart from beginning to end. Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 2, 2019
What a great read!!! Elliot and Hunter's story is a good one. Steamy scenes, forbidden love.
March 18, 2020
Cole Lepley is a new to me author, and I'm so glad that I got the opportunity to experience her with Tragic. This is one of those next level emotional reads that has me cautious to give any details other than the bare bones, so this review will be short & sweet. Elliot & Hunter are two people who society says shouldn't be together, but fate doesn't go by the world. That doesn't mean that their journey is even close to easy, because it wasn't & frankly, I had some reservations to be honest. It doesn't even mean they'll get past the hangups to be together, all it means is this story will break your heart over & over again without knowing if it will ever be healed at the end of the day. It also means you won't be able to put it down for anything as you NEED to know how it all pans out. So do yourselves a favor & hit the one click button to experience all this angst filled goodness for yourselves! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
July 4, 2020
'Tragic' is a story of two young people trying to do the right thing and keep their feelings for each other secret. A secret from Ellie brother Ollie he also happens to be Hunters Best Friend; from her paretns and lastly the school where Hunter is now working. There is a slight age gap but only 4 years where Ellie is 18 and Hunter 22.
This is a complex story. Ellie has just broken up with her one and only boyfriend Judah they have been together forever; he just going of to college and wanted to keep his giirfriend and then allow them both to see the other people - 'to get the full college experience'. Tragic just there.
This story does really centre on these 3 people and a secret that Hunter has that he is afraid will change everything
This is a complex story. Ellie has just broken up with her one and only boyfriend Judah they have been together forever; he just going of to college and wanted to keep his giirfriend and then allow them both to see the other people - 'to get the full college experience'. Tragic just there.
This story does really centre on these 3 people and a secret that Hunter has that he is afraid will change everything
May 15, 2020
I was asked to write an honest review of this book and not only that I have enjoyed it, but also I recommend it wholeheartedly. The story is intense and exciting, in some points, hot and steamy. I liked the leading female character from the first sentence because even tho Elliot's behavior is not perfect, she knocks everything she does because she is strong-willed. The leading male character, Hunter, is badass in his way, and I liked him very, very much. About Elliot's brother, I could write an essay, especially after I read his book. All in all, this book is exceptional, and you should read it because you will like it. Trust me!
April 4, 2021
I wanted to give up in this book so many times, but I persevered... until chapter 16.
Elliot/Elle is so unlikeable. Everything is always someone else’s fault. She'll happily try and make Hunter jealous – even though she claims jealousy is an unattractive trait – but God forbid if she thinks the shoe is on the other foot. I can’t even deal with this girl.
Reading it, I feel there’s whole sections that have been missed out. As readers, we're meant to believe there's this massive unspoken sexual chemistry between Elle and Hunter yet, other than Ella acting like an immature, annoying... urgh... just urgh... prancing around trying to make him jealous, I’m not buying it. Then they start arguing like they’ve been having this illicit affair, though I didn’t think much of anything had been happening to warrant such an outburst. That the author tries to forge a link between this and Wuthering Heights is laughable, or Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl.
There needed to be more time dedicated to building on Elle's and Hunter's mutual attraction, and not just a few pages of nonsensical musings. Then again, when the author tries to create something – I don’t know - it's just a mess. I mean, Elle literally has this inner monologue how she knows he wants her, which he then admits in the next paragraph, only to internally say she is unaware he wants her. WHAT? Seriously, WHAT?
The writing is really quite poor. It's an endless telling of how whoever looked down, then back up, or put their hands through their hair, one person looks at the other and that person looks back, arms are folded across chests. Lots of “laugh(s) once”, and just so much monotonous play by play of what the characters are doing without trying to put any creativity into it.
These are just a few points. There is so much wrong with this book and that’s without finishing it.
DNF ch.16.
Elliot/Elle is so unlikeable. Everything is always someone else’s fault. She'll happily try and make Hunter jealous – even though she claims jealousy is an unattractive trait – but God forbid if she thinks the shoe is on the other foot. I can’t even deal with this girl.
Reading it, I feel there’s whole sections that have been missed out. As readers, we're meant to believe there's this massive unspoken sexual chemistry between Elle and Hunter yet, other than Ella acting like an immature, annoying... urgh... just urgh... prancing around trying to make him jealous, I’m not buying it. Then they start arguing like they’ve been having this illicit affair, though I didn’t think much of anything had been happening to warrant such an outburst. That the author tries to forge a link between this and Wuthering Heights is laughable, or Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl.
There needed to be more time dedicated to building on Elle's and Hunter's mutual attraction, and not just a few pages of nonsensical musings. Then again, when the author tries to create something – I don’t know - it's just a mess. I mean, Elle literally has this inner monologue how she knows he wants her, which he then admits in the next paragraph, only to internally say she is unaware he wants her. WHAT? Seriously, WHAT?
The writing is really quite poor. It's an endless telling of how whoever looked down, then back up, or put their hands through their hair, one person looks at the other and that person looks back, arms are folded across chests. Lots of “laugh(s) once”, and just so much monotonous play by play of what the characters are doing without trying to put any creativity into it.
These are just a few points. There is so much wrong with this book and that’s without finishing it.
DNF ch.16.
March 16, 2020
Tragic. Perfect title for this book. Elliot and Hunter’s relationship is described perfectly by that one word.
Two people that feel more than they should per society. But society can’t dictate what the universe wants and that is Elliot and Hunter to be together forever.
They both make mistakes along the way. They stumble and grow together. Their love is beautiful.
I’m adding this author to my list of ones to keep an eye on because I have a feeling if Oliver gets a book it will be amazing.
Two people that feel more than they should per society. But society can’t dictate what the universe wants and that is Elliot and Hunter to be together forever.
They both make mistakes along the way. They stumble and grow together. Their love is beautiful.
I’m adding this author to my list of ones to keep an eye on because I have a feeling if Oliver gets a book it will be amazing.
July 22, 2020
3.5 ★★★★
My first read of Cole Lepley.
I quite enjoy reading this.
This story is a brother's best-friend trope with a little bit of forbidden element.
It follows the story of Elliot and Hunter.
They both are great.
Their relationship does not start easily and it seems like there are always problems that arise during their relationship. Luckily for them, they finally realize it's better to be together rather than alone.
My first read of Cole Lepley.
I quite enjoy reading this.
This story is a brother's best-friend trope with a little bit of forbidden element.
It follows the story of Elliot and Hunter.
They both are great.
Their relationship does not start easily and it seems like there are always problems that arise during their relationship. Luckily for them, they finally realize it's better to be together rather than alone.
March 15, 2020
This book was definitely worth the read. It’s absolutely fantastic. I was hooked from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. This book was funny, sad, heartbreaking and beautiful. I can’t wait for the next book.
March 17, 2020
Spunky N Sassy Rating: 5.0
~~~~~~~~~~Lindsey's ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Fantastic Book
This book was heartbreaking and beautiful. I was absolutely hooked! This book was definitely worth the read! I can’t wait for the next book!
~~~~~~~~~~Lindsey's ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Fantastic Book
This book was heartbreaking and beautiful. I was absolutely hooked! This book was definitely worth the read! I can’t wait for the next book!
March 28, 2020
I Enjoyed everything about this book there was nothing I didn't like about the book u like the setting,the writing style,the plot,the plot twists and the characters in the book were amazing.I would gladly reread it again.
May 9, 2020
I was gifted this book from voracious readers and it was a nice easy read with a happy ending. I am. Not sure I really liked Elliot as a character but she suited the story well and I wish I had had an English teacher like Hunter....
May 14, 2020
I’ve reached 64% and I’m really struggling to power through the rest. It started off so well, the story has so much potential, but it’s not leaving me wanting more. I’m going to leave this partly read for now and maybe get back to it another day.
July 31, 2020
This is intense, amusing, and sad. It will grab your attention from the very beginning, and hold until the very end. Elliot and Hunter are sympathetic characters you can't help rooting for. I enjoyed reading this.
April 8, 2020
Thank you for making this book free on Amazon! I really love this book. Their relationship were rocky at first. They had a happy ending obviously and I am happy for them.
December 19, 2020
It is not often I don´t finish a book. Gave up half way.
June 8, 2021
Achei cansativo e imaturo demais, no final deu uma melhorada
June 8, 2021
Great Story
Love the way the characters are it's just a greAt story and a Must read...... I wish there was a follow up to see where and what happens to Hunter and Elliot.
Love the way the characters are it's just a greAt story and a Must read...... I wish there was a follow up to see where and what happens to Hunter and Elliot.
January 7, 2023
A Brothers Best Friend Romance
Good reading but a little on the Younger side for me to read. Still a decent book to read and highly recommend reading for a Younger person.
Good reading but a little on the Younger side for me to read. Still a decent book to read and highly recommend reading for a Younger person.
February 16, 2023
amazing!
This book was well written and had an amazing story line! Elliot and hunters story will stick with me for a long time!
This book was well written and had an amazing story line! Elliot and hunters story will stick with me for a long time!
October 30, 2019
Cole Lepley is a new author to me, I was hooked on this book due to the cover standing out and also because of the genre that this is. I love best friend/student-teacher romances, for some reason they just seem really intriguing but they have a way of captivating me and honestly, Cole did such an incredible job. I was hooked from the first page and you couldn’t help but fall in love with Elliot and Hunter, there was a lot behind their characters, and I think Cole managed to get every aspect of them both right. As for Elliot’s brother (Ollie) whilst he was an entertaining character at times, I found myself wanting to punch him a lot because honestly if I was in his position and I saw that an guy or girl was treating my younger sibling with no respect I’d be wanting to do something about it to show that they couldn’t get away with it, but whilst he did annoy me at times with the way he acted I know that there’s a lot more beneath the surface and I can’t wait to explore his story.
There’s a lot that goes on with this book and at times it does feel like you’re being transported back to school with what’s going on, but in a way I do like that aspect as it gives you a more real outcome as to what’s going on throughout the story. With that being said, I did find some scenes just being a bit slow, I mean I didn’t understand what Judah’s aim was, he kept coming back even though he should have moved on. It was clear that Elliot wasn’t going to take him back, so I didn’t see why he was doing what he was. To me, it just seemed like he was coming back just for the drama which was unnecessary. But that being said, everything did tie in together and I’m excited to read about both Ollie’s and Judah’s stories as I’m sure more secrets will be revealed throughout them. Cole did a great job and she should be proud of herself, I can’t wait to see what else she creates.
Elliot is about to start her last year of school, but the only thing that’ll be different this year is that Judah won’t be roaming the halls with her as he’s starting his first year of college. They’ve been together for 4 years on and off, but whilst at one point she thought that them both being together would be the perfect fit for her life in the future, she’s now realising that maybe her life isn’t all that set out than what she planned. With this new arrangement of both her and Judah being in an open relationship to see if things are better being together or not, she’s unsure of what to make of it all. She knows that life is going to be different this year, but what she didn’t realise is that her life is about to get a lot more complicated.
Hunter has been around Elliot and Ollie for years, he’s Ollie’s best friend, so it’s natural that he’s going to be in the presence of Elliot as they’re siblings. However, with him harbouring a secret crush on her, he can’t help but feel protective and defensive over her…. He’s glad that Elliot is no longer dating Judah although he’s fuming over their arrangement, but at the same time he knows that he can’t go after Elliot because it would implicate his friendship with Ollie. So when he gets a teaching job at Elliot’s school, he must figure out a way to remain professional, but with her making advances at him and turning it all into a game, he’s got to figure out if she’s really playing him or if she really does have feelings for him, but at the same time will everything be worth risking his job over?
There’s a lot that goes on with this book and at times it does feel like you’re being transported back to school with what’s going on, but in a way I do like that aspect as it gives you a more real outcome as to what’s going on throughout the story. With that being said, I did find some scenes just being a bit slow, I mean I didn’t understand what Judah’s aim was, he kept coming back even though he should have moved on. It was clear that Elliot wasn’t going to take him back, so I didn’t see why he was doing what he was. To me, it just seemed like he was coming back just for the drama which was unnecessary. But that being said, everything did tie in together and I’m excited to read about both Ollie’s and Judah’s stories as I’m sure more secrets will be revealed throughout them. Cole did a great job and she should be proud of herself, I can’t wait to see what else she creates.
Elliot is about to start her last year of school, but the only thing that’ll be different this year is that Judah won’t be roaming the halls with her as he’s starting his first year of college. They’ve been together for 4 years on and off, but whilst at one point she thought that them both being together would be the perfect fit for her life in the future, she’s now realising that maybe her life isn’t all that set out than what she planned. With this new arrangement of both her and Judah being in an open relationship to see if things are better being together or not, she’s unsure of what to make of it all. She knows that life is going to be different this year, but what she didn’t realise is that her life is about to get a lot more complicated.
Hunter has been around Elliot and Ollie for years, he’s Ollie’s best friend, so it’s natural that he’s going to be in the presence of Elliot as they’re siblings. However, with him harbouring a secret crush on her, he can’t help but feel protective and defensive over her…. He’s glad that Elliot is no longer dating Judah although he’s fuming over their arrangement, but at the same time he knows that he can’t go after Elliot because it would implicate his friendship with Ollie. So when he gets a teaching job at Elliot’s school, he must figure out a way to remain professional, but with her making advances at him and turning it all into a game, he’s got to figure out if she’s really playing him or if she really does have feelings for him, but at the same time will everything be worth risking his job over?
October 23, 2019
This was a first time reading Cole Lepley’s work. This book is filled with lots of drama. You have to remember that it’s just a book, because there is so much wrong going on in it. I wondered where Elle’s parents were all of the time to where she could have her boyfriend Juddah sleeping over and drinking. Her older brother Oliver has basically helped raise her and his best friend Hunter has deep feelings for Elle that only he knows about. Once Juddah leaves for college he decides that it’s best for them to see other people, and this puts a strain on their relationship.
Elle and Hunter start seeing each other and keep it a secret because of he’s her brother’s best friend. Oliver convinces Hunter to apply for a teacher’s position that’s available at the school where he teaches and his sister attends. When he accepts the job it makes having his relationship with Elle that much harder. The story has lots of drama from teenage kids and young adults that aren’t responsible, but the ending is great. It’s a good read if you like drama filled romance. Cole Lepley did a good job on this, and I’m waiting to see what the rest of the series of books entails.
Elle and Hunter start seeing each other and keep it a secret because of he’s her brother’s best friend. Oliver convinces Hunter to apply for a teacher’s position that’s available at the school where he teaches and his sister attends. When he accepts the job it makes having his relationship with Elle that much harder. The story has lots of drama from teenage kids and young adults that aren’t responsible, but the ending is great. It’s a good read if you like drama filled romance. Cole Lepley did a good job on this, and I’m waiting to see what the rest of the series of books entails.
March 27, 2024
5 *****
This is the first book I've read by Cole Lepley and even though there were parts that concerned me, i loved it
I couldn't stand the constant emotional games at the beginning of the book (and maybe a few a bit later on) but i became so hooked into the lives of Elliot and Hunter that i didn't care at that point
The only disappointment i had was not finding out the outcome with Hunter's dad, I know he told him what he'd do but it would have been a nice way to wrap it up completely
But i absolutely loved this book with all its drama and love that comes out across the pages, now I'm waiting (not so patiently) for Oliver's book
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review
This is the first book I've read by Cole Lepley and even though there were parts that concerned me, i loved it
I couldn't stand the constant emotional games at the beginning of the book (and maybe a few a bit later on) but i became so hooked into the lives of Elliot and Hunter that i didn't care at that point
The only disappointment i had was not finding out the outcome with Hunter's dad, I know he told him what he'd do but it would have been a nice way to wrap it up completely
But i absolutely loved this book with all its drama and love that comes out across the pages, now I'm waiting (not so patiently) for Oliver's book
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review
December 16, 2019
I was lucky enough to read the original version on wattpad (twice) which I loved but then got the opportunity to read the updated version thanks to the amazing author. The whole book is an emotional roller coaster around the two main characters. It’s adorable how they start off as friends but the chemistry is so strong that they give in. This book is a best friends sister story.
The supporting roles are also just as important and will intro you to the next book. Elliot and Hunter are the ultimate couple with everything pinned against them but will they sacrifice everything for their love. You will have to read it. Congratulations to the author for such an amazing book and cannot wait to read more of her work.
The supporting roles are also just as important and will intro you to the next book. Elliot and Hunter are the ultimate couple with everything pinned against them but will they sacrifice everything for their love. You will have to read it. Congratulations to the author for such an amazing book and cannot wait to read more of her work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
"...even though the journey we had to take to get here wasn’t always pretty—in the end, it was beautiful.” This quote from the book pretty much sums it up. Hunter and Elliot had a lot of hurdles to jump over in order to get their happy ending (Ha! That's funny because she runs track. 😂). From outside forces to inner demons, these two pretty much fought everything in order to keep their forbidden relationship intact. At times, it seemed easier to let go for the sake of the happiness of the other person, but would that give them happiness or only increase their suffering? I really enjoyed reading this forbidden romance book, and am glad that it ended with a HEA!
October 16, 2019
Love it!!!
Sugar and spice, and everything nice meets sexy alpha male!! Yes, I could not get enough of this book. Page turning, heart touching, warm and cozy book. I absolutely loved Hunter and Elliot. Their story is what girls dream for and what woman wish they had. The writer transcribes their love and connection to each other that you feel it in your soul.
Entertaining and very well written 10 star read!!! I cannot wait for the next book in this MUST READ series. Loved it!!
Sugar and spice, and everything nice meets sexy alpha male!! Yes, I could not get enough of this book. Page turning, heart touching, warm and cozy book. I absolutely loved Hunter and Elliot. Their story is what girls dream for and what woman wish they had. The writer transcribes their love and connection to each other that you feel it in your soul.
Entertaining and very well written 10 star read!!! I cannot wait for the next book in this MUST READ series. Loved it!!
October 18, 2019
This was my first read from this author and I will most definitely read more books from her. Nothing beats the forbidden romance. NOTHING. Hunter is Elle's brother's best friend. Elle has a boyfriend, but are about to separate because of college and he suggests they should see other people. Elle agrees, but Hunter cannot understand that somebody would suggest that to her. I loved this story. I loved the dynamic between Hunter and Elle.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 24, 2019
The characters are younger in this story and just starting out and about to graduate Elliot has a crush on her brothers best friend but this crush may also end up with her heartbreak. Hunter thinking he knows what is right thinks he is not good enough and is willing to let her go. This is a love story about two young people and they have so many obstacles to walk through to be together. I just wish the ending was a little bit more with maybe an epilogue. I voluntarily received an arc copy through Booksprout for my honest review,
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