Remi. I was a popular cheerleader and the queen bee until my father decided to relocate us to Aycliffe. Not only am I forced to attend the local high school and cheer for the rival team with Legacy, the head cheerleader, who hates me. I have also moved in with my boyfriend’s main rival, Zayd, the infuriating team captain of Aycliffe’s basketball team. The worst part? Zayd is holding something over my head. Something my boyfriend, Bennett, must never find out. How far am I willing to go to keep it hidden? As Zayd, his friend Jacob, and Legacy test my resolve, I find myself awakening to desires I never knew I had.
Zayd. I plan to ruin Bennett’s life. First, I’ll steal the title from under his nose. Then his “High School Basketball Player of the Year” award and his girlfriend, Remi. Now she’s in my playground, and I don’t play nice. She refuses to cheerlead for me, but I’ll break her down. I’ll get her begging on her knees.
This book is an FFMM dark romance. It contains sexual scenes and sexual assault/violence throughout. Please see the book preview for complete CW.
Not sure why the good ratings. Make sure you definitely read the trigger warning s. I like dark books but not stupidity.
She is getting beat by her boyfriend Bennett and her father. The father also sexual abuses her throughout the book. Now you would thing with her being sexually abused she wouldn't sleep with every Tom, Dick and Harry.
She is having sex with a female and two boys they all sleep together and there's no mention of protection.
Now you have this girl bein abused you would think someone would do something to help. Sorry but I will NOT be reading the next book.
Her actions are unbelievable, sorry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book just sucked me right in and never let me go. There was so many things happening in this one and they always had my full attention. I really enjoyed following through these people’s lives and seeing what they were up to. The characters in this one were super fun to follow along and I really enjoyed being part of it.
I’m really excited to see what happens next because this book ends on a cliffhanger and I just want more.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
Trigger Warnings: there are multiple scenes involving rape and molestation, bullying, dubious consent (DO NOT IGNORE THIS WARNING!)
Tropes: dark reverse harem with FFMM, bully, sports romance
Hedgewood High and Aycliffe High have rival basketball teams. Remi is the head cheerleader for Hedgewood and girlfriend to the basketball captain, Bennett, when her father informs her they'll be moving to Aycliffe since he's getting married. He expects her to still cheer for her new school with Legacy, head cheerleader and cheer for Zayd and Jacob, Bennett's rivals. Zayd wants to take everything from Bennett including Remi and he'll do whatever it takes to ensure that happens. Remi's personal life gets more and more nightmarish. At her new school, Zayd, Jacob and Legacy proceed to make her life hell. Soon desire is the name of the game and Remi finds herself wanting things she'd never imagined before. At the same time, the darkness in her life practically swallows Remi whole. Is there any chance she'll make it out whole or will her spirit be destroyed?
From the first page to the last, I was sucked in and glued to the pages every step of the way. Please don't ignore the trigger warnings! I spent the whole book fueled by the incredible angst and my emotions ran the gamut. I felt it all and I'm DYING for the next book. I pray the author makes it all better. I want her to make a few people PAY! I have so many questions too. My heart bled for Remi and I truly hope she gets her HEA. I couldn’t recommend this read more! This is my honest opinion, freely given.
So… i read one book by the author before, so i was curious about the rest of them. This book it's about a girl- Remi- that, after told herself by her father that needed moves with your new step mother and step- brother (who are the rival's of her school), finds herself in a strange place and in a middle of 'enemies' (after all she are the girlfriend of the captain from the, now, ex-school). With bully, a RH really good (give me more RH with woman, please) and a lot of sexual tension (and a lot of spicy), we are presented with a narrative that traps the reader from the beginning. Definitely isn’t for all the readers because of the triggers and the way the author didn’t assuage anything, but i really enjoyed.
I loved this book! It was my first time reading FFMM (I usually read MF or RH) and I don’t know what took me so long. I love how the relationship between the 4 of them is forming and I can’t wait to see how they continue to develop in the next book. Major TW for sexual assault - there are several scenes, but I am looking forward to seeing how that situation is resolved. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
And Harleigh has done it again!! I couldn't stop reading The Rivals' Touch. I'm usually a slow reader but when it comes to Harleigh's books, I devour them.
The dynamics in this one are soooo addictive!! I just loved the love/hate relationship between Remi, Legacy, Zayd and Jacob. And Legacy's character development is class! Hated her at the beginning and ended up loving her and having the hots for her. Who doesn't like a sexy queen bully? 😍
I also enjoyed the dark aspects of this story, I wasn't expecting half of what poor Remi had to go through and I love that Harleigh doesn't hold back 🖤
Aaaaand it has basketball guys!!!! Like....what else do I need? Basketball, FFMM spice and fantastic dynamics, dark stuff, Harleigh's addictive writing....oh yes! I need the sequel RIGHT NOW! Because that cliffhanger shouldn't be legal. I NEED TO KNOW. I usually don't mind cliffhangers but with this one I feel the need to go torture the author until she releases the second 🔪
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of her new book The Rivals Touch and Jesus this book. Harleigh can write some dark stuff but this literally threw you in at the deep end from the first chapter. She instantly makes you feel Remi's pain has you cheering her corner and wanting to stand up to everyone that's hurting her. You really don't think it can get any worse for Remi until her step-brother Zayd and his blackmailing makes her life hell. But this isn't all Remi has to put up with, read the book and you will see! Honestly I want to give that poor girl a hug 😭 This is the first of 2 books following Remi and as much as I hate cliff hangers there was no way I could wait until both books were completed. Harleigh, babe. Please make everything OK for Remi 🙏
This was my first read of Harleigh’s books and I am so glad I read this. Remi is the popular head cheerleader who is dating the captain of the basketball team. She finds out she is moving to her rival school because her dad is getting married. When she gets there she finds out she is going to be living with her boyfriends rival. This book was different from most reverse harems I read. I enjoy that it does not all just happen right away. Remi really isn’t sure about what to do with her feelings and not everyone is ok with sharing. Remi really is fighting to survive her life all while finding out new information that turns her world upside down. She is in high school and the stuff she goes through made me feel so helpless at times. There is so much I could write but I do not want to give anything away. It ends on a to be continued and boy was I not ready for the story to end. I will not so patiently be waiting for the next book! If you are looking for a book that is different from your typical reverse harems but is still very spicy then this is definitely for you. Just check your triggers it is not a safe read.
I LOVED this book. It’s probably my favourite book of hers, which is saying a lot since I’ve enjoyed all her books.
This book hits you with all the emotions and there’s no easing you into them. From page one the characters reach out and take hold of your heart and your mind and don’t let go. The plot is deliciously dark and twisted, and surprising. There are so many plot twists and unexpected events that I was always felt off balance, teetering on the edge of cliff, but never knowing where the final blow that would push me off would come come from.
Rival’s Touch was spicy, heart wrenching, funny, surprising, sweet, and throw-your-kindle-at-the-wall-in-frustration or disgust good(though I recommend not actually throwing your kindle). Harleigh kept me guessing the entire time.
It was impossible to tell who the bad guys were, and the difference between good and evil wasn’t always clear cut. I don’t want to give any of the plot away as it’s best to go in blind, but expect the unexpected. Is a blackmailer really a friend? Are rivals really pining for the heroine instead of loathing her? Are the nice guys as nice as they seem?
All I know, is that Remi has a lot going on in her life and I don’t know how she’s going to navigate it all.
Thank Gouda, Harleigh isn’t going to make us wait forever for the next one there are so many questions that need answering. The biggest being will Remi get her HEA?
If you enjoy dark, twisted, suspenseful bully romance, definitely check this one out.
2.5 STARS well…this was pretty bad. the writing style was AWFUL like i could tell as soon as i started reading but i had to see it though!! the romance was terrible like i LOVED the ff, legacy is my GIRL but the other two guys…i needed them gone like yesterday. there was also way too many exclamation points in here it was so so so weird. the development was also extremely confusing because why were they at school and then randomly fucking suddenly?! fmc had very little backbone but her upbringing may be a decent excuse for that. imo the dubcon was not done well at all, which was disappointing. the plot was lowkey interesting though so that’s what fr kept me reading and i’m a legacy girl for life, i wish this was only ff so bad ugh.
✨ ARC Review ✨ *** Thank you to Harleigh Beck and Nisha's Books and Coffee PR for the ARC to review. *** I think I found another favorite. Y'all, I am left without words. Harleigh Beck broke me!! I absolutely without a doubt loved The Rival's Touch. The story was so dark, spicy, and addicting. I loved the writing! It captured my attention from the first chapter. The story broke my heart and made me want to chunk my phone across the room. I loved Remi! She was a bad ass. Her situation was horrible and she managed to push through. Zayd, Jacob, and Legacy were the perfect people for her. They were sweet, sexy, and loving. This book made me feel so many thing. I was angry, hot, confused, grossed out, annoyed, happy, and so many other. The ending broke my heart and I cannot wait for the next book. I might go crazy without it!!! *** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *** Harleigh deserves all the stars, y'all!!! But please check your triggers with this one!!!! ****
I'm going to start off by asking that you please check all triggers for this book. This book won't be everyone's cup of tea. Now, let's get to it.
The Rival's Touch is the first book I've read by Harleigh Beck. I'm already dying for more because the ending has my jaw still on the ground. I am not ok right now and I need answers like yesterday. I was hooked from the beginning. This book sucked me in and held me captivate until the very end. I had a love/hate relationship with the characters. I loved watching how their relationships started and seeing them form a bond throughout the book. I loved how they were dark, toxic, fun, and addicting. I hated Legacy in the beginning, but really enjoyed her later on. I felt horrible for Remi and what she has/had to endure. The darkness of this book definitely adds to the wow factor. Harleigh if you're reading this, I need the next book lol 😆 😂
Wild as fuck. Dark as fuck. Holy shit. And here I was thinking I was gonna read a simple bully romance! Haha NOT!
This book was so so out of my comfort zone. This was my first time reading an FFMM book and it was so not what I was expecting. This book is extremely dark. So be cautious of the trigger warnings ⚠️ Some parts were really hard to read but by the end of the story it makes you root for the main FC that much more.
I can’t say much without spoiling the storyline.
This book was such a roller coaster of a ride! I had no idea where the story was taking me. There’s so many twist and turns and characters who you think are good aren’t and vise versa. Rent goes theory complete hell through the entire book and by the end I felt so emotionally drained reading her pain. The book is a duet and ends In a cliffhanger so beware. Definitely glad I read this one. And can’t wait to read how this story ends.
I want more stars; I need them! This book was so deliciously dark that you might need a torch. You will not want to put this one down. Did I scream at my kindle and throw it about? Yes, yes, I did! There were so many twists and turns I could barely catch my breath. This author is one of my favourites, she really knows how to write gritty, dark romance, and she doesn't skimp on the steam either. It's hot, spicy and will tie your stomach up in knots. Be warned, there is a cliffy at the end, but the next instalment is out at the end of October, so there isn't long to wait.
This book sucked me in right from the beginning. I really enjoy Harleigh’s writing and the way that it flows and makes reading her books easy and they fly by!
While this one isn’t as dark as say the Devil’s Bargain, it is still pretty dark and I would suggest reading trigger warnings for this one.
This book follows Remi and her relationships with various people in this book when she’s forced to move to a new town and her world gets turned upside down when she has to move in with none other than the star Basketball player form her Rival school. Now this isn’t your traditional reverse harem that your used to and not because there is a female in the harem. Each relationship is complicated and Remi fights her feelings for each of them. Her father is a mean bastard and we find out her boyfriend Bennet isn’t who he says he is. Zayd and Jacob are such dicks but you kinda can’t help but love them anyways and Legacy is a bad@as b!tch and always gets what she wants (and that’s Remi 😏) I really liked each relationship they had with Remi even though we only got to see a small part of them.
This book does end on a cliffhanger so reader beware! 😁
Whoa…this one is dark and STEAMY!!!! Mega trigger warnings so beware! This was my first read for Harleigh Beck and I’m diving right into book 2 to find out what happens next with Remi, Zayd, Jacob and Legacy!
This book gave me lots of feels. For HS they are naughty. Lol, at any rate Remi goes through a lot, how is the question, but she does her best get through the S**tstorm that is her life. She is betrayed by the one person she though she could trust, abused by the one person who should love and protect. She used, then she finally when she really figures out what she wants she can’t have it. Bennett, Jacob, Legacy, Abigail they all want to be there but is it too late? Book hangover here.
I received this copy and my honest review is voluntary
This book was crazy. It was definitely one of the darkest books that I’ve read and I keep finding myself surprised at how much dark romance I actually enjoy reading..
Rival's Touch is book one in the Rival's Duet and is my first book by this author. Please be sure to check the TWs and proceed from there. The pain Remi has to go through and the way Zayd gets off on it just makes you root for her more. This does end on a cliffhanger. This book is dark read that had me in its grip and I can't wait to read more.
This one was so good! Warning it is very dark and there is a bit of sexual abuse. Harleigh is such a strong girl from all she’s put up with since she was 8 years old. This is a reverse harem with FFMM and it is HOT. That cliff hanger though I need the second book like now.
4.5 ⭐ i enjoyed this a lot. remi is forced to move to a different school which happens to be her rivals' school. what makes matters worse is that she also lives with her rival. she's bullied by zayd and his two friends. things start being held over her and she has no choice but to go along with what zayd's is saying. she doesn't get treated well by her father and things get revealed about him and her boyfriend. i wasn't expecting half of this book but thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.