3.5 stars
Romantic suspense, former friends turned enemies and they, Neo, Crew, and Jagger, have it out for Scarlett. So united in their hatred they have bullied their childhood friend from afar, creating incidents and disruption to cause her to be expelled from high school after high school. Now transferred to their academy, she’s under their clutches. The question is why, though it most certainly involves in part to her best friend and favored girl in their mix, Maddie.
The story featured three hot heroes, from the lead and biggest jerk, a broody Neo, to mixed feelings and mildly aggressive Crew, to playful but equally united Jagger. Scarlett encountered skirmishes with these elite boys, who are duty-bound to make her pay. The story unfolds revealing the genesis of their rapport, the resentment and hardened animosity — and there is a best friend Maddie in the mix as well as another, unknown, dangerous player.
Scarlett was fierce, admirably so, challenging the guys in their demands but at the same time, frustratingly, always succumbing while being drawn to them, especially Crew. Her contradictory behavior ran throughout the entire story. Thus, repetitive in their encounters in the sense of Scarlett's posturing to stand up to the guys, go to war with them, but always submitting. This constant push and pull and caustic altercations rang less credible and awkward since she never stood her ground, especially in the face of such bravado.
I loved Crew, his jealousy, and his mixed feelings for Scarlett but wondered about his strength against lead hero, Neo. Neo, who was in charge, seemingly irredeemable, and to whom they all submitted, his authority felt imposed rather than given, which made Crew and Jagger appear weak, possibly on purpose -- at least for now. Jagger was not so distinctive in comparison to Crew and Neo. His personality wasn't clear. Still, the guys were smoldering appealing, an apparent, and in some cases denied, attraction between them and Scarlett.
A true bully romance, some cool ("pleasingly unpleasant") events occurred, particularly within the harem. Theirs was a toxic relationship, and I enjoyed their interplay.
The story was told in first person from limited points of view, mainly Scarlett's and Crew's. Lots of inner thoughts, particularly from Scarlett. There was little side character prominence in which more development could have added some complexity.
Overall, I wanted the story to progress, more character development. The plot line was a slow burn in which very little occurred other than the repetitive, back and forth interactions between the heroine and heroes. Unfortunate, as the beginning was very good and attention-grabbing. I enjoyed the mystery in the sub plot though.
For this to be a RH, almost no spice! But the hate sex was hot. Maybe book one is a warm up to book two.
Good story premise, some challenges in execution. I'm hoping for more in the next book as the foundation is promising.