Bully

The King of Castleton High #1

by Ellie Meadows

The Castletons own River Valley. Everywhere you go, you’ll see their name. Castleton Motor Sports. Castleton’s Steakhouse. Castleton Golf Resort and Spa.

Castleton… High School.

The Castletons think money buys everything, including people. And Drake Castleton is the worst of the bunch—self-proclaimed King of the School. Too cool for the football team. Too sexy for academics. Too dangerous to fall in love with.

I’m new in town, and I’ve been warned about the Castleton Family. I’ve been warned about Drake. He’ll charm your pants off, girl. He’ll take you for a ride, leave you wanting more, and move on to the next girl. He’s a user. He’s just like his father.

He’s a bully.

I know all this. And I’m not a stupid girl. I don't fall for bad boys.

But the minute Drake Castleton notices me, I’m a goner. Of course, I won't let him know that...

***
All the girls in River Valley are the same.

I’ve dated most of them. Used many of them. Pissed off my family with a few of them.

The new girl isn’t what I’d call pretty.

Mouse brown hair. Giant ridiculous eyes. Permanently-pouting lips…

I want her the second I see her.

The only problem is: she’s already been warned about me.

But I’m the King of Castleton High, and I get what I want. One brat of a girl with a sharp tongue? Easy conquest.


**contains consensual sex, underage drinking/smoking, and various scenes some readers might find inappropriate** Recommended for 17+, mature readers.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, High School

131 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[Fre06 Begum · Rating 1 out of 5]

So glad I decided I didn’t like this book so I wouldn’t have gone through the next book only to find out he cheats in the third one (apparently to save her)

[Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.

Tarryn has just moved to a new town with her parents, she was dreading moving to a new school and leaving all her friends behind. Starting again at a new school was going to be hard but she wasn’t expecting Drake Castleton and how he was determined to make her his, but she was determined not to be like all the other girls that just fall at his feet.

Drake Castleton is the king of the school, his family pretty much run the town, he is used to having everything he wants and that includes whatever girl he wants, that is until Tarryn arrives she is determined to keep him at arms length and not fall for any of his lines, there is just something about her that has him hooked from the start. Will his plan work to get the girl he wants?

Ok so this wasn’t your typical bully romance and I was unaware when I agreed to read this that it was meant to be a trilogy, I have to admit I hate cliffhangers. Drake is definitely not a likable character so I am hoping that he becomes more redeemable as the books go on, but I hated that he was still hooking up with other girls whilst confessing he was falling for Tarryn. This was a great start to Tarryn and Drake’s story and I really want to read the next two book. 4* Read.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Um yea No

First I must say there are 4 book to this series but all about the same couple.

I can't get past Drake sleeping with anyone that walks, I don't care what his family is like just NO! Oh and top that off he's rough no soft edges.

[Heather M Callahan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. Just nope. I’ve read loads of bully romances lately and this is the first one I truly disliked. I just couldn’t stomach having to read, in detail, Drake’s sexual encounters with all his “side pieces.” I literally skipped those pages because I had no interest in all his hookups. To me, the slow burn should lead up to him and the MC but there was barely any interaction between Drake and Tarryn. It was just awful. And who the heck pays $10k to a guy, to basically use his FB profile to message the MC to learn about her. Like what?!? This one just left me frustrated. Drake’s character traits gave me whiplash. Nothing made sense and once again.. I love angsty, heated scenes, but not between the guy who keeps saying he’s falling for the MC..all the while constantly hooking up with other girls. I believe there’s even one place where he says he’s falling for the MC but then literally says he’s not giving up his side pieces. It makes the whole thing a total sham. No thanks, next.

[Jazzysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

arrgh a to be continued - hope it doesn't take ten books!
Take note authors.
Another new to me author I hope you deliver.

[Candi Sellick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously, Drake, the main character is hot and mean, but so deeply obssesed with our main. I love his manipulated twisted plot to gain her affections, but you still get the sense they're all somewhat decent deep down! I mean they clean up after they have a rager at their lake house! I cannot wait for the next book.

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

These kids are not written as seniors, they act like they are junior high. Don’t waste your time.

[MCrawDRKRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this bully book is different from what I’ve read in that the bully is kinda obsessed with the girl, but still acts like himself (the asshole he is sleeping around etc). I know a lot of readers are going to hate this, but ummm welcome to reality hahaha it’s pretty much more believable to me than the oh I’m automatically gonna stop sleeping with random girls cause of this one interaction with the new girl thing…give me a break 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Therefore I’m giving this series a chance and reading on…I hope it becomes more in depth I felt something was missing, but I’m hopeful.

[T. Vang · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far so good.

I hate cliffhangers. Not cool. I love stand alone and this book is not one of them. However I love it so far. Cant wait for the next one.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terryn new girl new town everything is owned by the Castletons her parents even work for them and the heir apparent Drake won't leave her alone hes a huge jerk off a real jerk hes gone threw every girl at school more then once and thinks his smarmy charm looks and wealth can get him everything even Terryn but shes not for sale. Love Terryn shes smart not impressed by the school bad boy and she seems to have her head on straight.

Drake the weasel trys everything to win Terryn over then comes up with a way to get her. Is it for revenge to make her another conquest or are his emotions real its hard to tell with Drake because while playing the long game to get Terryn hes still falling around with every scank at the school and apparently there aren't any shortages of those. So my feelings about Drake I don't like him hes just as much of a skank as the girls he goes threw but maybe with book 2 he will emprove. This book has and interesting plot but I like Terryn and her friend Sasha more then the man hoes in this book.

I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.

[Kelly Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay...so this is not what I would class as your typical bully romance. The hero Drake is obsessed with Tarryn yes, but he doesn't really bully her in your typical sense. The story is drawn out, but I liked the style of writing, I liked Tarryn a lot....and who doesn't want the hot hero chasing after you??? My only criticism is that It could have been longer, it does annoy me when authors string a story out over 3 books when it could easily be one story. That said I had to give 4 stars because it did capture and keep my attention and I am contemplating buying the next book. This is certainly not one of the best bully romances I've read but it is a far cry from being the worst....I would recommend.

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

[Kathryn Kirchner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this story. Instead of the expected dynamic between the main characters, it focused on the male lead's encounters with other females. While I appreciate a well-crafted "steamy" scene, the constant interludes between the MMC and various girls, excluding the MFC, left me disenchanted.

The constant deviations diluted the potential for a compelling love story. How can a character claim love while entangled with others? Implausible connections and minimal main-character interaction left the story lacking. The excessive focus on secondary characters diminished the impact.

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. The story is incomplete and to be continued which is something that I don't prefer. The story has a Cyrano de Bergerac vibe in that the H pays a classmate to befriend the h. The h has transferred to a new high school in her senior year. The H is the son in the family that owns the town. The H is a manwhore who tries to make a move on the H on her first day of school. She rejects him and his reputation. The H poses as a classmate and communicates with the h through texts. I really didn't see bullying in the interaction between the H and h. I've read other stories in which the bullying has serious consequences so this seemed very tame in comparison.

[Tranese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't consider this a bully romance..

First book to be read by the author Ellie Meadows. I absolutely loved the herione. She didn't care what anyone else thought, she stood up to the king of the school. Yea she was attracted to him, but in usual bully stories it doesnt take long for the herione to fall him or to be alone and something goes down. In this situation the the drake (who is the king and really interested in her) has to work extremely hard just to get her attention. I like that

[Sarah D P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from some editing misses, it was a good read.
I feel like the MMC is missing more to his story in this book.
There’s no friendships and camaraderie-he’s a lone wolf and very obsessed. He talks a big game but in comparison to other novels….he’s missing that little bit of oomph that really brings a main character to life.
I also feel like his flings were too personal for someone who was supposed to be mean and flippant with women-I think kissing these girls made it less special for when he finally gets his hands on his prey.
Loved the story line and eager to read book two.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was hard to like this H. The h wasn't too likable either. I understand she didn't like his reputation before she met him but she seemed rude and obnoxious to snap at someone she didn't give a chance to get to know.
I don't mind when the H has sex with OW before he is officially with h, but he already had deep feelings for h and he was still sexing 2 ow. and super detailed sex scene with one of them.
Something about giving oral to OW grosses me out. Yuck.

[Jen Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing special about it.

Nothing too bad. Young high school virgin, falls for the bad boy. Nothing different. He's not really a bully, more or less he's playing a game. Uses people for his advantage. Nothing got and steamy, nothing stands out about this book. A decent read at best.
The characters aren't bad, could be more. The side characters have my attention more than the main.

[Nour Srouji · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay I guess I wanted to see more of a connection between them and more scenes where they actually talked and had a conversation and not only on messenger or through aiden.
Also there where a lot of pages wasted on sex scenes with other girls that weren’t interesting,I would have enjoyed reading more scenes between drake and tarryn.

[Farrah Patel-hira · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb tells us one thing and the book says something else. Then the h shares no feeling for this boy... So I feel like um... Was that it for book 1. I mean it really didn't need to be spread out in that way... But let me summon up the courage to read the next one, maybe then it'll make more sense.
FYI... There was no bullying happening, just spoilt brattish, entitled behavior...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book description sucked me in. I liked where it started but then Drake still hooking up with his millions of other girls sorta put me off to the story. I wish there were more interactions between Drake and Tarryn. I'm going to read the next book. I want to see how Tarryn plays the player.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Slow Burn

This story is bully who plays like Cyrano de Bergerac. Yep, that's what I said. He wants her, but she refuses to play his game. He does the only thing he can do which is change the game. The question is who wins?

[Michelle-Louise Smart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite what I thought but still good

I was in a reading slump and came across this. I’ve read a lot of bully romance books and this one was very tame and nothing like what I’ve read before, however it’s only book 1.

[Marianna Da · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

I liked the book, I am intrigued to see where it goes. I wouldn't say there was much bullying maybe light bullying. Teasing if that.

It's still a good read. You won't be disappointed.

[LadyJane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Female is antagonistic from the beginning. She is a brat to everyone. Actually, there is no character worth reading about.

[Maya D’Arrisso]

YASSSSS

[bookishbellexoxo · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was just so...bad.

[wrkatreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the skim

This really wasn’t for me. The writing wasn’t bad but I’m not a bully read girl. 3 stars for the skim.

[Rebecca Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book

I usually don't like bullying by any means but this was very good and can't to finish the book. I hope book 2 is just as good

[Karina]

DNF

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed the last few pages won’t be reading the rest of the series