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Cry About It
-Joelle-
You know what they say about enemies.
* Know the enemy
* Keep the enemy close
* Outsmart the enemy
* Make out with the enemy
Okay, maybe not that last part. And maybe that’s what got me in trouble with Vaughan Thompson. But in my defense, he started it. That city boy should have known better than to act a fool in these parts.
I don't get mad. I get even.
______________________________
-Vaughan-
None of this would have happened if an armadillo hadn't wrecked my car. That was my welcome home to Maren, Texas. The other half of the welcoming committee was a five-foot-three pile of sass and pure evil. Too bad everyone else in Joelle Reed’s life was completely smitten with her. But not me. Jo was the incarnation of evil in a pretty package.
A pretty hot package.
I wasn’t at fault for what transpired. The she-devil started it.
______________________________
Cry About It is a standalone enemies to lovers romance with moments so hot they’ll melt your Kindle and a swoony happily ever after. Get ready to laugh your head off, and be prepared for an excessive amount of canned ravioli, topless bull riding, and to fall in love with the world's worst guard dog.
You know what they say about enemies.
* Know the enemy
* Keep the enemy close
* Outsmart the enemy
* Make out with the enemy
Okay, maybe not that last part. And maybe that’s what got me in trouble with Vaughan Thompson. But in my defense, he started it. That city boy should have known better than to act a fool in these parts.
I don't get mad. I get even.
______________________________
-Vaughan-
None of this would have happened if an armadillo hadn't wrecked my car. That was my welcome home to Maren, Texas. The other half of the welcoming committee was a five-foot-three pile of sass and pure evil. Too bad everyone else in Joelle Reed’s life was completely smitten with her. But not me. Jo was the incarnation of evil in a pretty package.
A pretty hot package.
I wasn’t at fault for what transpired. The she-devil started it.
______________________________
Cry About It is a standalone enemies to lovers romance with moments so hot they’ll melt your Kindle and a swoony happily ever after. Get ready to laugh your head off, and be prepared for an excessive amount of canned ravioli, topless bull riding, and to fall in love with the world's worst guard dog.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2022
348 people are currently reading
1822 people want to read
About the author
Maggie C. Gates
24 books2,204 followersMaggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
December 11, 2022
4 ☠️🤬💘💘🌟🌟🌟🌟s❣️
🏆 for the BANTER / BICKERING
🏆 for ENEMIES TO LOVERS
Congrats Maggie C. Gates 👏
Tbh, I was hesitant to pick this book up due to its 458 pages length.
I am so lucky that my curiosity won over and I decided to read it! 😉
Vaughn, the successful city boy who had forgotten his Texan roots and Joelle, the Texan small-town girl who was so sharp witted!!
“Good thing Joelle Reed wasn’t a woman. That gremlin was pure evil.” Vaughn
The bickering between Vaughn and Jo was out of this world!!! It was intense, astute, meticulous, pointed, witty and exquisite!!!
They started off on the wrong foot!
The animosity was coming out of the pages in huge frenzied waves.
There were moments when I really felt so sorry for Vaughn when Jo was being so tough and sassy towards him!!!
“You know, you should really see a chiropractor. Having your head up your ass can’t be good for your back, old man.” Jo
Jo was the absolute star in this story. Despite what she had been through, despite her flaws and very well hidden vulnerabilities, she came out strong, independent and feisty. She was spirited and then some, full of fire and backbone.
The story had me in a rollercoaster of emotions.
The transition from enemies to lovers was wonderfully executed.
Did I mention to the pranks? 😱😱 Each one escalated to a new level making this an epic war!!!
Cry About It was very well written, the secondary characters were successfully integrated into the story, the flow was smooth and the epilogue was wonderful.
🏆 for the BANTER / BICKERING
🏆 for ENEMIES TO LOVERS
Congrats Maggie C. Gates 👏
Tbh, I was hesitant to pick this book up due to its 458 pages length.
I am so lucky that my curiosity won over and I decided to read it! 😉
Vaughn, the successful city boy who had forgotten his Texan roots and Joelle, the Texan small-town girl who was so sharp witted!!
“Good thing Joelle Reed wasn’t a woman. That gremlin was pure evil.” Vaughn
The bickering between Vaughn and Jo was out of this world!!! It was intense, astute, meticulous, pointed, witty and exquisite!!!
They started off on the wrong foot!
The animosity was coming out of the pages in huge frenzied waves.
There were moments when I really felt so sorry for Vaughn when Jo was being so tough and sassy towards him!!!
“You know, you should really see a chiropractor. Having your head up your ass can’t be good for your back, old man.” Jo
Jo was the absolute star in this story. Despite what she had been through, despite her flaws and very well hidden vulnerabilities, she came out strong, independent and feisty. She was spirited and then some, full of fire and backbone.
The story had me in a rollercoaster of emotions.
The transition from enemies to lovers was wonderfully executed.
Did I mention to the pranks? 😱😱 Each one escalated to a new level making this an epic war!!!
Cry About It was very well written, the secondary characters were successfully integrated into the story, the flow was smooth and the epilogue was wonderful.
November 30, 2024
4/5 ⭐️
Не найкраща прочитана мною книга Меггі. Але вона була непогана.
Мені дуже подобається як тут був описаний троп від ненависті до кохання. Герої точно ходили на межі. Головний герой, Вон, більшу половину книги мені не подобався. Він знав яка травма була у Джо, але продовжував давити на її болючі місця. Лише під кінець він дещо реабілітувався :)
Джо-Джо - сильна персонажка. Вона пережила тяжке дитинство, змущена була виживати та боротися зі світом сама. Я дуже хотіла, щоб вона знайшла спокій для себе, і рада, що вона його отримала.
Дуже подобалась взаємодія героїв, коли вони "ненавиділи один одного". Над жартами я хіхікала. Сцени 18+ гарячі :)
Окремо хочу згадати про маму в цій історії. Вона найкраща другорядна персонажка.
Книга ніби і легкий роман, але вона піднімає важливі питання. Для мене це було нагадування, наскільки важливо давати собі право на почуття: бути слабким, бути вразливим, плакати, коли це потрібно. Книга наповнена емоційною інтенсивністю, яка змушує переосмислити власні переживання і навчитися приймати себе.
Якщо хочете почати знайомитися з книгами Меггі, не починайте з цієї історії. Йдіть до родини Гріффітів.
Не найкраща прочитана мною книга Меггі. Але вона була непогана.
Мені дуже подобається як тут був описаний троп від ненависті до кохання. Герої точно ходили на межі. Головний герой, Вон, більшу половину книги мені не подобався. Він знав яка травма була у Джо, але продовжував давити на її болючі місця. Лише під кінець він дещо реабілітувався :)
Джо-Джо - сильна персонажка. Вона пережила тяжке дитинство, змущена була виживати та боротися зі світом сама. Я дуже хотіла, щоб вона знайшла спокій для себе, і рада, що вона його отримала.
Дуже подобалась взаємодія героїв, коли вони "ненавиділи один одного". Над жартами я хіхікала. Сцени 18+ гарячі :)
Окремо хочу згадати про маму в цій історії. Вона найкраща другорядна персонажка.
Книга ніби і легкий роман, але вона піднімає важливі питання. Для мене це було нагадування, наскільки важливо давати собі право на почуття: бути слабким, бути вразливим, плакати, коли це потрібно. Книга наповнена емоційною інтенсивністю, яка змушує переосмислити власні переживання і навчитися приймати себе.
Якщо хочете почати знайомитися з книгами Меггі, не починайте з цієї історії. Йдіть до родини Гріффітів.
November 11, 2024
Мені дуже-дуже сподобалось. Від початку і до кінця. Тут все ідеально. Шикарно розкритий троп вороги-коханці. Стільки хімії, емоцій та почуттів. Я навіть декілька разів пустила сльозу, бо було так чуттєво і проникливо. Це однозначно одна з найкращих книг авторки. Аж сумно прощатись з історією. Це 10/10 ❤️🔥
November 18, 2024
давно не читала такого поганого чтива (стараюсь говорити у м'якій формі). що герої не сподобалися, що атмосфера книжки. я буквально не знайшла жодного плюса, та ще й бажання читати взагалі відбилось. ЧГГ дуже дратував, грубіян і взагалі огидний персонаж. тепер очолює мій особистий топ жахів. головна героїня теж недалеко втекла. тут справжній троп «від ненависті до кохання», але з ненавистю щось перегнули. хлоп справді думає лише про те, як використати сумні обставини її дитинства проти неї? мені огидно стало. а вона трохи не в собі і кидається на нього без причини. на цьому моменті у моїй голові виникло слово «клоунада». так можна й описати цю історію. не моє. коротше, від початку мої враження були зіпсовані і до кінця вже нічого не могло виправити ситуацію. навіть той факт, що далі він почав турбуватися про неї. все одно виникали ситуації, де я відчувала явну огиду до прочитаного.
1/5 (натягула бал за свої зусилля 💪🏻).
1/5 (натягула бал за свої зусилля 💪🏻).
November 30, 2022
I just finished this and am literally in awe of how udderly amazing it is. Beginning to end I didn’t want to put it down and I didn’t want it to end.
Between the banter/humor, the characters and their story and emotions, not to mention the spice…
If you love enemies-to-lovers, banter, tension, brat/brat tamer, spice and emotions… read this.
Between the banter/humor, the characters and their story and emotions, not to mention the spice…
If you love enemies-to-lovers, banter, tension, brat/brat tamer, spice and emotions… read this.
December 12, 2022
3.5 Stars
An enemies-to-lovers novel by a new-to-me-author that is both explosive and graphic. The plotting that includes a bit of suspense, the setting on the family farm and Chicago, along with the characters for the most part, were appealing – BUT the sexual escapades became far too graphic for my comfort zone. For me this was a case of a great start with even more potential that suddenly became stale and lost its mojo!
Told in both points of view by Joelle and Vaughan, there’s an excessive amount of repetitive language as the story is told from both sides. It seemed as if every other chapter or so when the voice changed, there was a recap of what readers had already been told in the previous chapter almost verbatim. That got old real fast – and I didn’t feel duplication was required to get this story told. This book was long enough without adding the unnecessary reruns.
There were, however, some great lines of comical relief and pranks scattered throughout from start to finish. I must admit the author has a gift for producing witty and laugh-out-loud dialogue.
The romance includes BDSM which is an immediate turnoff for me. I realize other readers will find it entertaining. After a while, I dreaded turning the page to be faced with another down and dirty sex scene. Each wild and rough encounter was a replay of the one that came before. And they all seemed more carnal and just another rote sex session than tender and meaningful lovemaking.
Kudos to the author as she carefully tackled close family ties faced with personal grief and financial woes by weaving them into a storyline that traveled a bumpy road to happily ever after.
The Epilogue and extended bonus epilogue were the best parts of the story! So, I did end this read with a smile ear-to-ear.
November 2, 2024
Швиденький відгук і я лечу спатиии!! ❤️🔥
Це було нереально дико і гаряче 🔥🌪 В один момент почало перетворюватися на роман зі зламаними героями, які намагаються вирватися з безодні 💥💔
Чергова неймовірно тепла і затишна сім'я. Мама ❤️🩹 Сестра і брати, які нарешті воз'єднуються. Ферма, яку намагаються врятувати.
Мені Джоель і Вона нагадали Фокса і Лейні 🙈 Теж чоловік, який кидає усе заради родини і жінки, намагається відновити прибутковість підприємства, вибухова хімія і купа вогню (і в стосунках, і не тільки 😂) 🫶
Але, на відміну від Бурбона, мені тут була дуже нудна і нецікава розв'язка 🥲 просто події ніби повторювалися з середини і до кінця.
Непогано, але не вистачило. Хоча сама по собі затягнута.
Це було нереально дико і гаряче 🔥🌪 В один момент почало перетворюватися на роман зі зламаними героями, які намагаються вирватися з безодні 💥💔
Чергова неймовірно тепла і затишна сім'я. Мама ❤️🩹 Сестра і брати, які нарешті воз'єднуються. Ферма, яку намагаються врятувати.
Мені Джоель і Вона нагадали Фокса і Лейні 🙈 Теж чоловік, який кидає усе заради родини і жінки, намагається відновити прибутковість підприємства, вибухова хімія і купа вогню (і в стосунках, і не тільки 😂) 🫶
Але, на відміну від Бурбона, мені тут була дуже нудна і нецікава розв'язка 🥲 просто події ніби повторювалися з середини і до кінця.
Непогано, але не вистачило. Хоча сама по собі затягнута.
April 6, 2024
“It’s okay to stop and enjoy life occasionally. You don’t get bonus points for running yourself into the ground.”
The first half of this book was SO much fun. The actual, pure hatred they had for each other made for incredible banter and chemistry, and the pranks were entertaining as hell. The scene where she hit him with her car had me laughing out loud. I also enjoyed the topless mechanical bull-riding more than I expected, and that’s a hell of a sentence.
The second half, I struggled pretty hard with. Vaughn’s character just went in too many directions, he was too perfect, too many tropes. I also didn’t really care about any of the side characters, and why did the Thompsons have to have the weirdest names imaginable?
Overall pretty fun and some good smut, it just played out like a raunchy hallmark movie. I also try not to hold horrible epilogues against books, but the timeline of all of ~that~ was not really adding up to me.
The first half of this book was SO much fun. The actual, pure hatred they had for each other made for incredible banter and chemistry, and the pranks were entertaining as hell. The scene where she hit him with her car had me laughing out loud. I also enjoyed the topless mechanical bull-riding more than I expected, and that’s a hell of a sentence.
The second half, I struggled pretty hard with. Vaughn’s character just went in too many directions, he was too perfect, too many tropes. I also didn’t really care about any of the side characters, and why did the Thompsons have to have the weirdest names imaginable?
Overall pretty fun and some good smut, it just played out like a raunchy hallmark movie. I also try not to hold horrible epilogues against books, but the timeline of all of ~that~ was not really adding up to me.
August 13, 2024
“You’re not delicate like a butterfly. You’re delicate like a landmine.” 💣
You like enemies to lovers?
Then this is it.
How much more enemies could it get?
They plotted ways to murder each other constantly, she hit him with her truck, they bicker like toddlers, they name call.
Joelle x Vaughan
Holy 🔥
I loved Jos job, an ag pilot, how bada…
The woman was nuttier than a fruit loop. But god dang when you find out her backstory cue the emotions.
Topless bull riding anyone?
Long lost city boy Vaughan makes his return to little hick town Texas to save the farm. A man that does a suit and cowboy boots🥵
Let’s not forget the quirky side characters here either.
This was another memorable Maggie Gates book.
You like enemies to lovers?
Then this is it.
How much more enemies could it get?
They plotted ways to murder each other constantly, she hit him with her truck, they bicker like toddlers, they name call.
Joelle x Vaughan
Holy 🔥
I loved Jos job, an ag pilot, how bada…
The woman was nuttier than a fruit loop. But god dang when you find out her backstory cue the emotions.
Topless bull riding anyone?
Long lost city boy Vaughan makes his return to little hick town Texas to save the farm. A man that does a suit and cowboy boots🥵
Let’s not forget the quirky side characters here either.
This was another memorable Maggie Gates book.
November 28, 2022
I fell in love with Maggie Gates's books after reading her Beaufort Poker Club Series, and let me tell you, while this book is SO SO different than that series, I still loved it!
"You make me want everything I tried to leave behind."
I have read so many enemies to lovers books in the past, but the enemies part of this one just blows those out of the water.
Vaughan has to return to his hometown to fix the family farm, which is suffering greatly financially. When coming into town, he has an accident of sorts and needs a tow. Joelle (aka Jo) seems him on the side of the road and offers to help. Well Vaughan wants nothing to do with it, and right then and there starts the battle in the war of two enemies.
Vaughan and Jo go back and forth with their harshness (and I mean harsh!!). I couldn't believe they were each talking to each other sometimes - like my mouth dropped at some of these words coming out of their mouths. At the same time, some of their banter was downright hilarious (with the car - IYKYK).
But you know what they say? The line between love and hate is paper thin and they proved that here.
"Wanna know something, Tiger?"
"What's that?"
"I think you're the best kind of rush"
Even when they were still hating each other, their chemistry was explosive. Let me say - this is easily Gates's spiciest book. I read some spicy stuff, but WOW!! I was blushing at some parts because of the unexpected spice and chemistry between these two.
Beyond the romance, the family aspect was so strong in this one. Both Vaughan and Jo lost their mothers and struggled with that their entire lives. While Jo's story was extremely tragic, it absolutely explained why she was the way she was. Why it was hard for her to receive love and why it was hard for her to trust.
I loved Vaughan's family. They were so accepting of Jo and Vaughan. And their banter was absolutely hilarious at times! I am hoping that this books turns into a series and we see more of the Thompson siblings!
"You make me want everything I tried to leave behind."
I have read so many enemies to lovers books in the past, but the enemies part of this one just blows those out of the water.
Vaughan has to return to his hometown to fix the family farm, which is suffering greatly financially. When coming into town, he has an accident of sorts and needs a tow. Joelle (aka Jo) seems him on the side of the road and offers to help. Well Vaughan wants nothing to do with it, and right then and there starts the battle in the war of two enemies.
Vaughan and Jo go back and forth with their harshness (and I mean harsh!!). I couldn't believe they were each talking to each other sometimes - like my mouth dropped at some of these words coming out of their mouths. At the same time, some of their banter was downright hilarious (with the car - IYKYK).
But you know what they say? The line between love and hate is paper thin and they proved that here.
"Wanna know something, Tiger?"
"What's that?"
"I think you're the best kind of rush"
Even when they were still hating each other, their chemistry was explosive. Let me say - this is easily Gates's spiciest book. I read some spicy stuff, but WOW!! I was blushing at some parts because of the unexpected spice and chemistry between these two.
Beyond the romance, the family aspect was so strong in this one. Both Vaughan and Jo lost their mothers and struggled with that their entire lives. While Jo's story was extremely tragic, it absolutely explained why she was the way she was. Why it was hard for her to receive love and why it was hard for her to trust.
I loved Vaughan's family. They were so accepting of Jo and Vaughan. And their banter was absolutely hilarious at times! I am hoping that this books turns into a series and we see more of the Thompson siblings!
December 16, 2022
Maggie Gates has done it again. I don't think I have read one of her books that I have not absolutely loved!
💚Enemies to lovers
🖤Small Town
🤎Topless bull riding
💚Strong FMC
🖤Spicy
🤎Lots of Ravioli
⚠️ Check your Trigger Warnings ⚠️
I absolutely love these characters! Jo had a rough start in life and it has made her strong.. but also has made her cautious of the people she keeps around her.
Vaughn is a city boy raised on the farm. As soon as he could get away he did and it was city life from then.But when he is forced to come back to help get his family farm back on track financially Jo hits him like a brick.
These to are my favorite couple. The bantering between them and the tricks they play on each other is amazing! From chapter one Jo has Vaughns car... and the billboard 😍
But the second Vaughn starts with having Ravioli around all the time for her had my ❤️!
This is definitely a must read!
💚Enemies to lovers
🖤Small Town
🤎Topless bull riding
💚Strong FMC
🖤Spicy
🤎Lots of Ravioli
⚠️ Check your Trigger Warnings ⚠️
I absolutely love these characters! Jo had a rough start in life and it has made her strong.. but also has made her cautious of the people she keeps around her.
Vaughn is a city boy raised on the farm. As soon as he could get away he did and it was city life from then.But when he is forced to come back to help get his family farm back on track financially Jo hits him like a brick.
These to are my favorite couple. The bantering between them and the tricks they play on each other is amazing! From chapter one Jo has Vaughns car... and the billboard 😍
But the second Vaughn starts with having Ravioli around all the time for her had my ❤️!
This is definitely a must read!
March 21, 2025
ok this wasn’t horrible (decent writing, consistent pace that never dragged on) but there were a NUMBER of things I really disliked about it, so here we go:
- the entire reason the two main characters started hating each other was because the man was SUPER misogynistic toward the woman when they first met (mansplaining, assuming women are incapable of skilled jobs, disparagement). he continued to be both misogynistic and very stupid until the two main characters got together, at which point I guess she just forgave him and everything was fine??
- before they got together he learned that she had suffered childhood abuse and his first thought was “hmm how can I use this against her?” my brother in christ what is wrong with you
- he takes her to a fancy dinner to which she wears heels and his only thoughts are “MMM SEXY LADY IN HEELS” and he doesn’t notice the extreme pain her feet are in
- at said fancy dinner, which HE asked her to attend, a bunch of people started making fun of her for being from a small town. did the MMC try to defend her? nah, he just sat back and let her defend herself
- the author liked to repeat events from both perspectives which was boring and unnecessary. we already know what happened in that scene, now move on with the plot
- butthole referred to as “rosette” 😐
- the 3rd act breakup lasted for approximately 12 hours and was pure nonsense
- non-negotiated/never-discussed kink
- not just pregnancy epilogue, ACTUAL BIRTH epilogue. as a 22 year old who never wants kids I understand that I am not the target audience for pregnancy epilogues but I seriously don’t understand the appeal of reading about giving birth in a romance novel
- anyway I just hate the MMC, he was awful in every way
- the entire reason the two main characters started hating each other was because the man was SUPER misogynistic toward the woman when they first met (mansplaining, assuming women are incapable of skilled jobs, disparagement). he continued to be both misogynistic and very stupid until the two main characters got together, at which point I guess she just forgave him and everything was fine??
- before they got together he learned that she had suffered childhood abuse and his first thought was “hmm how can I use this against her?” my brother in christ what is wrong with you
- he takes her to a fancy dinner to which she wears heels and his only thoughts are “MMM SEXY LADY IN HEELS” and he doesn’t notice the extreme pain her feet are in
- at said fancy dinner, which HE asked her to attend, a bunch of people started making fun of her for being from a small town. did the MMC try to defend her? nah, he just sat back and let her defend herself
- the author liked to repeat events from both perspectives which was boring and unnecessary. we already know what happened in that scene, now move on with the plot
- butthole referred to as “rosette” 😐
- the 3rd act breakup lasted for approximately 12 hours and was pure nonsense
- non-negotiated/never-discussed kink
- not just pregnancy epilogue, ACTUAL BIRTH epilogue. as a 22 year old who never wants kids I understand that I am not the target audience for pregnancy epilogues but I seriously don’t understand the appeal of reading about giving birth in a romance novel
- anyway I just hate the MMC, he was awful in every way
October 28, 2024
3.75 truly a hate to lovers story
September 4, 2024
Ughh this book was so hard to get into. I hated the character development and just was bored. I had to force myself to finish it.
April 3, 2024
Vaughan and Joelle hate each other since their first interaction. Some of their antics were funny, although I wish they would behave more like the adults they were. Ofc all that hate turns into 🔥.
I loved the family dynamics. Parent/child deep conversations always make me tear up.
Overall a very entertaining read!
I loved the family dynamics. Parent/child deep conversations always make me tear up.
Overall a very entertaining read!
December 5, 2022
I loved this book so much. So so much. Joelle Reed was such a badass & took no crap from anyone. An incredible, hardworking woman with a heart of gold that had built up walls to protect that beautiful heart. Definitely a top FMC for me. I am a little irritated that Vaughn got to hug her & not me😒...BUT...it's okay because Vaughn was perfect for her. They went back & forth with their disdain for each other. It was absolutely their foreplay & when they finally got together...what an explosion!🔥🥵
I love how Maggie includes healthy communication in her books. I love how they say what they mean & want. I swooned so hard over Vaughn. Oh my god. He was so patient with Jo & at the same time, dominating while providing a place she could let go & be safe.🫠
I also loved all the other characters in this story from Bean(the worst guard dog💅🏼) to the siblings & parents. It was incredibly heartwarming.🥰I also think everyone deserves a Mrs. Faith in their life. I love that woman & you will too. I had so many laughs & also cried & got teary-eyed (all good tears) with this amazing story.
Maggie, this was absolutely incredible & I'm so proud of you. Loved this so so much!
Tropes:
🤬Enemies to Lovers(LOL banter & pranks)*This is E-to-L perfection
🏘️Small Town
🌪️Badass FMC
🧲Opposite Attract(City boy💼/Country girl👩🏻🌾)
✈️Girl Boss
🥵Spicy🌶️🌶️🌶️
💥Expect a lot of canned ravioli, topless bull riding, an adorable dog, & ALL THE FEELS🤣🥹😭🫣🫠😲🥰
Just a few of the many quotes that I loved:
"Just call me Karma, Vaughn Thompson. Because I can be a real bitch."
"That's the spirit. We don't settle for weak orgasms or weak men."
"Have you ever stuck your dick in a tornado?"
"How had the world's most infuriating woman become the one person I couldn't stand to be away from."
"You make me want everything I tried to leave behind."
*I received an ARC for this book & this is my honest opinion.
I love how Maggie includes healthy communication in her books. I love how they say what they mean & want. I swooned so hard over Vaughn. Oh my god. He was so patient with Jo & at the same time, dominating while providing a place she could let go & be safe.🫠
I also loved all the other characters in this story from Bean(the worst guard dog💅🏼) to the siblings & parents. It was incredibly heartwarming.🥰I also think everyone deserves a Mrs. Faith in their life. I love that woman & you will too. I had so many laughs & also cried & got teary-eyed (all good tears) with this amazing story.
Maggie, this was absolutely incredible & I'm so proud of you. Loved this so so much!
Tropes:
🤬Enemies to Lovers(LOL banter & pranks)*This is E-to-L perfection
🏘️Small Town
🌪️Badass FMC
🧲Opposite Attract(City boy💼/Country girl👩🏻🌾)
✈️Girl Boss
🥵Spicy🌶️🌶️🌶️
💥Expect a lot of canned ravioli, topless bull riding, an adorable dog, & ALL THE FEELS🤣🥹😭🫣🫠😲🥰
Just a few of the many quotes that I loved:
"Just call me Karma, Vaughn Thompson. Because I can be a real bitch."
"That's the spirit. We don't settle for weak orgasms or weak men."
"Have you ever stuck your dick in a tornado?"
"How had the world's most infuriating woman become the one person I couldn't stand to be away from."
"You make me want everything I tried to leave behind."
*I received an ARC for this book & this is my honest opinion.
December 13, 2022
"Cry About It" is a spicy, small town, enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance that touches on the impacts of childhood trauma in a respectful and understanding way. Joelle (Jo) and Vaughn both experience tragedy and trauma in their youth that contributes to who they are as adults in a clear and understandable way. I appreciate Maggie Gates' tenderness around those traumas and how she develops her characters as adults. It's a classic and formulaic romance with lots of entertaining, lovely side characters (Bean the Pitbull *heart eyes* and Ms. Faith *heart*) and a HEA. Also the spice is 🔥🔥🔥
Honesty hour: I love Maggie Gates' books and I love being on her ARC team - it's an absolute pleasure and privilege but I didn't love this book. I struggled with erratic pacing, the extreme reactions of Jo and Vaughn to anything and everything that happened in the book, and I felt like the emotional development was rushed and sudden. I think the story is fun and interesting, and there's a lot to like about it (and I do like it), and as much as I wanted to love it (because I love so much of Maggie's work!), I couldn't get past some of these things. These are SUBJECTIVE and PERSONAL feelings about some mechanics of writing and everyone is going to have different and valid feelings about them. I will always encourage people to read Maggie's work and I will also be honest about my *personal* experiences.
Honesty hour: I love Maggie Gates' books and I love being on her ARC team - it's an absolute pleasure and privilege but I didn't love this book. I struggled with erratic pacing, the extreme reactions of Jo and Vaughn to anything and everything that happened in the book, and I felt like the emotional development was rushed and sudden. I think the story is fun and interesting, and there's a lot to like about it (and I do like it), and as much as I wanted to love it (because I love so much of Maggie's work!), I couldn't get past some of these things. These are SUBJECTIVE and PERSONAL feelings about some mechanics of writing and everyone is going to have different and valid feelings about them. I will always encourage people to read Maggie's work and I will also be honest about my *personal* experiences.
March 7, 2024
OH MY GOODNESS. THIS BOOK. WILD. i liked it tho :)
k the nicknames and the banter??? hilarious. genuinely hilarious and not cringey which was great. also the whole storyline? running over an armadillo and then having to stay at the farm and deal with jo? vaughen had the whole world against him at that point. AND THEN HE TURNED INTO AN ANGEL? LIKE WHAT?? the aftercare? amazing. the way he paid attention to jo and attuned to her? amazing.
I'm not super into smut so this was a lot for me...but also prob cause i read it at the most inconvenient of times but still. not a fan. everything else was perfect though.
the whole enemies to lovers dynamic was gold between them. like the way they hated each other but were still willing to engage and take things farther than they probably should have gone.
also the way the relationship escalated in the last chapters? they went from not knowing if they were gonna stay together to putting out a fire, getting engaged, and then having a child. wow.
overall, this book was very interesting and kept my attention. i was constantly reading it in class (VERY BAD IDEA) and enjoyed almost every second!
k the nicknames and the banter??? hilarious. genuinely hilarious and not cringey which was great. also the whole storyline? running over an armadillo and then having to stay at the farm and deal with jo? vaughen had the whole world against him at that point. AND THEN HE TURNED INTO AN ANGEL? LIKE WHAT?? the aftercare? amazing. the way he paid attention to jo and attuned to her? amazing.
I'm not super into smut so this was a lot for me...but also prob cause i read it at the most inconvenient of times but still. not a fan. everything else was perfect though.
the whole enemies to lovers dynamic was gold between them. like the way they hated each other but were still willing to engage and take things farther than they probably should have gone.
also the way the relationship escalated in the last chapters? they went from not knowing if they were gonna stay together to putting out a fire, getting engaged, and then having a child. wow.
overall, this book was very interesting and kept my attention. i was constantly reading it in class (VERY BAD IDEA) and enjoyed almost every second!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2023
I absolutely adored this book. It might be tied as my favorite of the year so far. It was funny, emotional, witty, and took us on a journey of healing between Jo and Vaughan. We meet Jo when she attempts to rescue Vaughan on the side of the road, a very very grumpy and rude man who returns to Maren. They declare each other as enemies, and while YES Vaughan was absolutely brutal in the beginning, Jo takes it in stride and gives it right back to him tenfold. She had me cracking up laughing and the progression of enemies to lovers felt extremely natural for them.
The spice and tension that is built up between these two are everything. Jo is one of my favorite heroines I’ve ever read in this genre. Knowing her past, how she’s still so sweet and strong is amazing. We also see Vaughan make up for everything he put Jo through in the beginning. Truly, by the end of the book it’s like a whole new person and I loved how he always went above and beyond for Jo once he realized his feelings for her.
I also loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup per se and that everything resolved with minimal drama. This book is a 10/10 and such a hidden gem.
The spice and tension that is built up between these two are everything. Jo is one of my favorite heroines I’ve ever read in this genre. Knowing her past, how she’s still so sweet and strong is amazing. We also see Vaughan make up for everything he put Jo through in the beginning. Truly, by the end of the book it’s like a whole new person and I loved how he always went above and beyond for Jo once he realized his feelings for her.
I also loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup per se and that everything resolved with minimal drama. This book is a 10/10 and such a hidden gem.
December 9, 2022
"Cry About It" was such a fun read! Vaughan started this book out like a real uppity-better-than-you city boy, and Jo matched that energy with a middle-fingers-in-the-air-take-me-or-leave-me personality! The minute Jo said, "Bless your heart," I knew Vaughan was finished. Mortal Kombat style TKO! They were downright mean to each other, at first. The way these two antagonized and fought with each other had me grinning ear-to-ear because I knew the pay-off was going to be spicy, and I was here for every moment!
I adored that Jo remained a strong-willed character. Vaughan had to do a little work to scale those walls of hers, and boy, was it a wild ride. Both characters experience a wide range of emotions and growth. The supporting characters all bring a lot of personality and flavor to the story, and I really loved it. This book is feisty and fun!
Here are some of my favorite notes that I made in the Kindle app while reading:
*"Southern vitriol at its finest."
*"I love a Petty Betty!"
*"Vaugh-ldemort is my favorite nickname so far!"
*"Yes! In the words so eloquently penned by Flo Rida, it's going down for real!"
*"I'm sweating..."
*"How sweet....lol" (Yes, that is sarcasm.)
Contains: explicit scenes, discussion on abuse/child abuse, discussions on death and suicide
I adored that Jo remained a strong-willed character. Vaughan had to do a little work to scale those walls of hers, and boy, was it a wild ride. Both characters experience a wide range of emotions and growth. The supporting characters all bring a lot of personality and flavor to the story, and I really loved it. This book is feisty and fun!
Here are some of my favorite notes that I made in the Kindle app while reading:
*"Southern vitriol at its finest."
*"I love a Petty Betty!"
*"Vaugh-ldemort is my favorite nickname so far!"
*"Yes! In the words so eloquently penned by Flo Rida, it's going down for real!"
*"I'm sweating..."
*"How sweet....lol" (Yes, that is sarcasm.)
Contains: explicit scenes, discussion on abuse/child abuse, discussions on death and suicide
July 5, 2024
I did, in fact, cry about it… This was a really great book, the banter and shenanigans had me in stitches, these two are truly enemies to lovers. The tension is THICCCC. And the way they made each other’s lives a nightmare in the beginning was so very funny. I didn’t know who to side with! They’re both a little unhinged.
By the end I was boohoo crying big ugly tears. I loved their character growth, and the cameos of other characters from Maggie’s universe. My heart strings were thoroughly tugged on and I wanted so badly for them to get their HEA.
All around it was a great fast paced standalone!
By the end I was boohoo crying big ugly tears. I loved their character growth, and the cameos of other characters from Maggie’s universe. My heart strings were thoroughly tugged on and I wanted so badly for them to get their HEA.
All around it was a great fast paced standalone!
December 6, 2022
I don't know if I've ever loved a book girlfriend so hard.
Jo is brimstone and fire. She's hard and she's grit. Her love is powerful and she's a fucking tornado! I felt her pain and it ripped through me. I love how she never had to soften for the world and even through love she kept being her.
Vaughan and I were gonna have to have a come to Jesus moment about how he was treating my girl!!! Like excuse me sir.
But it was so satisfying when they CAME together. .
Tw.
Unaliving self
Child abuse
Ptsd
Jo is brimstone and fire. She's hard and she's grit. Her love is powerful and she's a fucking tornado! I felt her pain and it ripped through me. I love how she never had to soften for the world and even through love she kept being her.
Vaughan and I were gonna have to have a come to Jesus moment about how he was treating my girl!!! Like excuse me sir.
But it was so satisfying when they CAME together. .
Tw.
Unaliving self
Child abuse
Ptsd
September 2, 2024
Spoilers ahead 3.5*
When I think enemies to lovers I think this lol, the things No and Vaughn said to each other had me gasping and clutching my pearls 😂 he called her a c u next Tuesday 😲
But underlying it all the spark was there and when it caught whew was there heat.
I loved Jo! She could more than handle her own with Vaughn
I did think it was a little bit too long though, I actually skipped some of the sexy times
Small town
Enemies to lovers
Experienced mcs
H divorced
No cheating
When I think enemies to lovers I think this lol, the things No and Vaughn said to each other had me gasping and clutching my pearls 😂 he called her a c u next Tuesday 😲
But underlying it all the spark was there and when it caught whew was there heat.
I loved Jo! She could more than handle her own with Vaughn
I did think it was a little bit too long though, I actually skipped some of the sexy times
Small town
Enemies to lovers
Experienced mcs
H divorced
No cheating
December 3, 2022
If you’re an avid romance reader and haven’t read a book written by the talented Maggie Gates — we need to change that ASAP.
Maggie is known for writing stories that are relatable, fun, and heartwarming (and, yes, very spicy). “Cry About It” is one of my favorite new releases of hers, and it is a true and fun enemies-to-lovers story. I loved reading this story and cannot recommend it enough.
Maggie is known for writing stories that are relatable, fun, and heartwarming (and, yes, very spicy). “Cry About It” is one of my favorite new releases of hers, and it is a true and fun enemies-to-lovers story. I loved reading this story and cannot recommend it enough.
February 26, 2024
“Cry for me. It’s obvious that you’ve never cried a day in your life and that’s a damn shame. These walls you’ve built around yourself… It’s not who you are. It’s a shell, not a skin. Deep down there’s a little girl who’s still hurt and she was never safe enough to cry about it.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion, darling.” I nipped at her earlobe. “I told you to get on your hands and knees.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion, darling.” I nipped at her earlobe. “I told you to get on your hands and knees.”
January 19, 2025
4.5 🌟
me ha gustado muchísimo! la química que tienen es INCREÍBLE. Me ha encantado la evolución de los personajes, el banter, el spicy 🔥 y sobre todo el contraste entre ese spicy tan dirty y la relación tan bonita que tienen a la vez tanto fuera como dentro de la cama. muy muy guay.
"your crazy is safe with me" 💜
me ha gustado muchísimo! la química que tienen es INCREÍBLE. Me ha encantado la evolución de los personajes, el banter, el spicy 🔥 y sobre todo el contraste entre ese spicy tan dirty y la relación tan bonita que tienen a la vez tanto fuera como dentro de la cama. muy muy guay.
"your crazy is safe with me" 💜
December 8, 2022
Maggie has done it again! Another book I didn’t want to put down! When I say Enemies to Lovers is my favorite… Maggie enforced that!!! Jo and Vaughan are so much enemies they want to unalive each other! Banter, sexual tension, and spice!!!! I am hear for all of that!!!!
February 29, 2024
4.5🌟 2.5🌶️
Vaughan blew my socks off. The things this man said and did? FILTHY 🥵🥵 and I loved every minute of it.
Jo was badass too 😉 and just didn’t take shit from anybody. She will spar with anyone who she feels wronged her or the people she loves, and I loved her bad bitch energy. 😜
Vaughan blew my socks off. The things this man said and did? FILTHY 🥵🥵 and I loved every minute of it.
Jo was badass too 😉 and just didn’t take shit from anybody. She will spar with anyone who she feels wronged her or the people she loves, and I loved her bad bitch energy. 😜
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