What happens when a dare goes too far?Maddox Coulter. Reckless bad boy. Infamous playboy. My nemesis. And now my best friend.I know he’ll never leave me hanging. He knows I’ll never refuse a dare. Everywhere we go we turn heads, but it’s not like that.Until it is.For one of us, anyway.I’ve always known he would be my downfall. But I trusted him to catch me.He proved me wrong.Maddox has gone too … me.
He proved me wrong.
Maddox has gone too far, and I don’t know if I want to rein him in or push us further into dangerous territory.
He tells me those three little words that I crave. Three little words I want from no one else.
“I dare you.”
Except this time, it’s no simple dare. This could burn us to the ground.
(This is book one of a duet)
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“I could feel him. I could smell him. He was so close, yet so far out of reach.”
Maddox Coulter the frustrating bad boy. Lila Garcia strong and fierce girl who never back down. Enemies, friends, lovers?? The banter, the angst, the tension and the chemistry made this book everything!! Do You Dare takes slow burn to whole new level. The epilogue about killed me!!! If you are a fan of enemies to lovers or friends to lovers this book is for you!!
“You’re the best unplanned thing that has ever happened to me, Maddox.
This book… Oh. My. God! There’s angsty, slow burn and then there’s ANGSTY… BUURN! Love Maddox and Lila so much. This book deserves more than five stars. It deserves a million. I can’t wait to see the conclusion and can’t wait for more of my favorite alphahole and his feisty Sweet Cheeks.
“Don’t.” That was a warning, and I should’ve listened. I really should have because for the first time, I saw a different Maddox. A boy filled with rage, but blue eyes that held a broken song.”
I hit every emotion dozen times, giggled insanely at these two and their antics, hooked completely by their banter, my heart tugged by their grief at their own situations. I wanted them to fall, and they did, but wouldn’t let it happen, fought tooth and nail against what was crystal clear. With tension mounting, I near exploded with anticipation and we’re left with a giant breadcrumb to salivate in the corner waiting for the conclusion. Lila and Maddox were an intricate puzzle I couldn’t wait to solve, and hope to find out how it all fits together soon!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!!
“Maddox Coulter-the balm to my soul but also the stinging pain in my chest. He was a sweet heaven, but also the bane of my existence.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
Well, let me just start by saying I am actually not a fan of high school, college, or sport romances. HOWEVER, I am a huge, huge fan of Lylah James. So, of course, I had to read this book…. and I loved it! I didn’t want to put it down. It’s not the bully romance you may have been expecting. It’s soooo much more. I LOVE these characters! They’re frustrating, sure, but they’re funny, sweet, and sexy. Their banter and chemistry is just… gah! So good! I can’t wait for the next book!
DREAMY’S REVIEW
“Maddox Coulter was neither Prince Charming nor the… villain. He was something else, and I didn’t know exactly where to place him.”
ENEMIES TO LOVERS.
BULLY ROMANCE AF.
ANGSTY AND EMOTIONAL.
DELICIOUS SLOWBURN.
MY NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND.
ALL THE FEELS.
I have been so excited, so eager, and so at the edge of my seat waiting for this book and Lylah James truly didn’t disappoint!!
Maddox Coulter has just ruin me, absolutely ruined me!
There’s something about a man who has a tough af exterior and yet there’s more to him that meets the eye. There’s so many layers and depth to his character, that when you first meet him, you may have the wrong perception and impression of him.
“To everyone, I was Maddox Coulter – the golden boy, star quarter and Berkshire’s king. To my parents, I was a disappointment. To myself? I was just the boy trapped in the closet.”
Lila Garcia is anything but another girl on his list of girls. She’s strong af, fiesty, and full of sass! I love how she always has something to say back, I love how she doesn’t back down, and I absolutely adore her strength and how much she showed it. But behind the walls she built around herself is a damaged girl just trying to survive.
“Lila had been through hell and back. That was the most beautiful part of her; she was a woman who wore her pain like a diamond choker around her neck. Strong, unyielding… a survivor.”
As you continued to read this deliciously angsty, slowburning story about two damaged people with tough exteriors and a not so easy past… YOU FALL SO FUCKING HARD AND FAST.
This book consumed the hell out of me. Maddox and Lila penetrated themselves don’t deeply inside of my heart, I could not get enough of them, their push and pull, their friendship, and everything that had to do with them! I couldn’t help but love them, enjoy their flirty banter, root for their friendship, and feel my heart break for the pain these two have gone through.
Do You Dare is brilliant, so beautifully written, unputdownable, and oh so addicting! This bully, enemies to lovers romance will keep you turning the pages! You will want so much more of these two and the ending will leave you freaking breathless and screaming at your kindle for so much more!
“What we had… it was a kaleidoscope of colors.”
Lylah James, you blew me away and I cannot wait for more of Maddox and Lila! Bravo!
Five dreamy stars:
Overall Rating – +
Oh my heart! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where my heart was in my stomach the whole time. The angst and the sexual tension was in abundance and I felt the pull of Maddox and Lila to my core!
Lila meets Maddox in their last year of high school, he bumps into her spilling her drink everywhere and on her. He’s the star quarterback, bad boy, school playboy and a Class A jerk! Lila demands that he apologises and the feisty side in her makes Maddox take note. She gives as good back, isn’t swayed by his charm and this is something he likes.
From there, Maddox gently stalks her, getting in about her business and they get into a battle of sorts, always trying to get one up on each other. I love their fights and retaliations between each other, they were funny and lead to a point in their love/hate relationship that made them want more.
Maddox has always had a thing for Lila, mostly likely because she’s the only person to ever turn him down. When she proposes friendship and effectively friend zones him, he takes it, not expecting what he gets. What becomes of them is best friends, yes they still prank each and joke around, but they become something to each other and so much more.
I could not book this book down, Maddox and Lila were constantly on my mind wanting more and more from them. Those times when I had to ‘adult’ I found myself just dipping in when I could squeeze a few minutes in. When I got to around 90% the angst and tension was so much I had to go away and read in peace until I finished it, I wanted them to have my undivided attention.
I believed every minute of their love, each day it grew and grew and I was desperate for the collision to see what was going to happen. James did not disappoint, they were electric.
I laughed, I swooned, I cried and I hearts in my eyes. They are so meant to be and I was hanging onto every word James wrote! There is still some mystery in the story and the read was on another level! But that cliffhanger, nooooooo!!! I need book two!
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*An ARC received for an honest review*
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Overall Ratings;u2063
First Sex Scene -97%
POV – Duel
Hero – +
Heroine –
Story –
Angst –
Steam –
Chemistry – +
5 I Dare You Stars
This book is a deliciously slow burn/bully/friends to lovers romance that will leave you writhing and wanting for more. I could not get enough of Maddox and Lila, they are legit Perfection! Lylah has created a complex world filled with so many layers and contrasting emotions. My feelings were all over the place while reading this, and I ate up every minute of it. This book will take you on a ride starting from page one!
“A shadow loomed over his face, his expression almost threatening. There was a predatory feel in his glare as he watched me closely.”
Maddox is this complex Alpha jerk who runs the school as The King and gets any and everything that he wants. But underneath all of that bravado he’s lost, lonely and keeps everyone at arm’s length. He went through trauma as a child and it changed him irreparably. This just makes him that much more attractive and makes you want to try and fix him. He’s parents but specifically his father are cold and distant. Maddox is left constantly feeling as if he isn’t good enough no matter what he does. His upbringing and what happens to him, broke my heart into pieces. While watching him go through that I could feel my heart constrict to the point of pain, that’s how much it hurt seeing it happen.
“Maddox was on the top – the pack leader. He was the King, and he wore his crown with a cocky grin. He was untouchable to his rivals, and he was every girl’s favorite dick to ride.”
Lila is the project girl, she’s only at this prestigious school due to scholarship. She is whip smart and sassy to boot. I loved her, she didn’t take anyone’s crap and put Maddox in his place from the get go. She never let any of the girl’s walk all over her and constantly stood up to them and their intentions. She too went through some terrible things that will bring tears to your eyes. Lila exudes strength she doesn’t like to rely on people she stuffs her emotions so far down so that she doesn’t appear vulnerable to anyone not even her grandparent’s.
“His lips tasted like… sin. And I hated myself for reacting the way I did to his kiss.”
Maddox and Lila were broken but in differing ways. But each of their broken pieces found a connection within the other. It’s as if there trauma brought them together in a way that other’s would never understand. They had each other and anytime one would break the other was right there to support them. This was so heartwarming to see, watching them fall apart and then watching the other support them makes your soul sing. This couple will seriously tug at your heartstrings. The things that they had to go through and the places it brought them will bring you to your knees.
“Lila.” My name on his lips sounded like poetry. So right, so perfect…. so filthy.”
Lylah has crafted such an amazing story, her words, her creation was written so well you feel what the characters are feeling. I wasn’t kidding when I said this was a slow burn romance, it’s not an understatement. You will feel like throwing your Kindle with how long it takes them to get their shit together. The angst level in this story is next level. But, the ride they take you on is so worth it. Watching them come together and go through every stage in their relationship it’s like you are right there with them experiencing it. I loved everything about this story. But that ending though, that about killed me. I need the conclusion to this story desperately. So be prepared for an EPIC cliff hanger, I’m still reeling.
I HAVE NO WORDS. LIKE HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WRITE A REVIEW WHEN I HAVE NO WORDS AFTER THAT ENDING.
Holy crap. This book had so much to it and I just need to know what happened??????? I buddy read this with my friends and I’m still not ok.
The push, the pull, the swoon all of it I loved. Lila is my favorite type of heroine.
Oh my goshhhhh!! I knew going into this book, that it was going to be great. I was not expecting it to be SO AMAZINGLY FANTASTIC AND FLAWLESS. Lylah James just slayed me with her words. I am in the biggest book hangover after finishing DYD. I devoured this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down, I couldn’t stop reading. It was just incredible.
BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER.. Maddox Coulter is mine, mine, MINE!! You can’t have him. You can look but you can not touch!! Actually, scratch that.. YOU CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT HIM. Don’t even breathe near him. MINE.
Okay, now that that is out of the way, Maddox is so perfect to me. He is this troubled bad boy with a broken soul. He is mean but passionate. He is so delicious and that dirty mouth makes my ovaries sing.
Lila, oooohhh, GIRL. Can you say girl crush? Yeah, definitely. She is such a fire-cracker. Bold and beautiful. Sassy and strong. She doesn’t put up with ANYBODY’S shit, especially Maddox. She gives as good as she gets. She is so strong and loyal and so, so broken.
Lila and Maddox are two broken pieces that become whole when they are together. Their banter had me smiling and cracking up laughing through the whole book. But their loyalty to each other really cut me deep.
Lylah owned me with this book. Mind, body, and soul. I was and still am so consumed by this story and these characters. I will be in a hangover for a looooong, loooooong time after finishing this story. I can’t wait to see what Lylah gives us next.. Seriously, I can’t wait Lylah. I need this book, like… tomorrow? Is that doable? Pleaseeeeeeee!!
One of the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given. If I could rate more than 5 stars, this book would easily take the cake.
What have you done to me Lylah!!!! I have to have book 2 now!!!!
So much angst, I loved it! Maddox is just a dreamy @sshole. I could not put this book down once I started reading it. That ending though, I have to know what happens next.
You won’t regret picking this one up if you love angst and @assholes!
„Pinky swear, me and you… forever.”
Oh my GOD! This book is phenomenal! I’m totally OBSESSED with this story and with Maddox Coulter. Lylah James shook my world. Do You Dare consumed me completely and I couldn’t tear myself away from this read. Lila, Maddox and their explosive hate/love relationship took control of my life and I couldn’t think of anything else but how their story would unfold. This book is so addictive that you can forget about adulting until you finish, I’m not kidding.
Maddox Coulter… I can’t even say his name without drooling. Every girl’s wet dream. Sinfully sexy, school’s most popular guy, complete playboy. You know the type… Every guy wants to be like him and every girl wants to be under him. But as it turns out, there is one girl whom Coulter doesn’t impress at all, on the contrary – she despises him. Lila Garcia is not like the rest of her peers in school. She doesn’t come from rich and influental family. But she’s beautiful, smart and determined to reach her goals. But the most important- she doesn’t bend to Coulter’s constant teasing. She gives as much as she gets, she’s feisty and strong. At first Maddox treated her like a challenge. Their mutual malevolence was full of insults and pranks. But this acquaintance has quickly evolved into the most unique and fantastic friendship. They shared a special bond and they they got to know each other from every possible angle, even the broken parts. Lila and Maddox became the most important people in the world for each other. For years nobody and nothing could stand between them. Until one bet gone wrong and threatened what they had.
Do You Dare is brilliant, unputdownable and addicting. The storyline is amazing, characters are flawed but so perfectly developed that there’s no other way- you’ll fall madly in love with them! I was so immersed in this book that I don’t know what was happening around me, I’m not even sure that I’ve blinked during this read. Lylah James created my new obsession and I’m waiting with bated breath for the continuation! I need more Lila and Maddox! This is definitely one of my top reads this year!
My goodness! It’s been a long wait for this book but it was so darn worth it! Gah, Maddox and Lila exceeded all my expectations. I loved these two. There was so much fire between them at every single stage of their relationship. The banter and back and forth between them is everything. The chemistry is sooo clear. Lylah did an outstanding job with these two! The banter, the longing, the angst at the end… she pulled at my heartstrings left and right but also made things so incredibly hot throughout the book and this is a freaking slow slow burn.
Lila is one of the sassiest heroines I’ve ever read and I just loved her to bits. She did not let anyone put her down, she did not give in, she did not give up. She had balls of steel and I was here for it. She gave Maddox a run for his money.
Maddox was the football star, the school’s most desired guy. He is a hit and quit guy and he will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants…well until Lila catches his attention, that is. Lila does not fall at his feet, she stands tall and plays at his level. But behind his jerk mask and his popularity lies a broken little boy who has been through a lot.
Suddenly these two go from enemies who love to play pranks on each other to best friends who make each other feel alive with their game of dares and who are there for each other no matter what. Lila and Maddox have the most beautiful friendship and I loved watching them go from enemies to best friends to a taste of them being more.
This book would have ended on a high note if it weren’t for that epilogue… oh boy, I am scared of what’s coming next. I have a feeling our emotions have seen nothing yet and Lylah is gonna put us through the ringer in book 2. And I cannot wait until it’s here!
Do You Dare is an enemies to bestfriends unlike anything I’ve ever read… YOU NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIFE.
When Maddox and Riley bump into each other quite literally, the sparks fly. Maddox Coulter maybe Berkshire Academy’s star Quarterback but he’s also everything Riley despises. When he does not apologize, she gives him a what for and brushes him off.
When Riley does not fawn all over him, Maddox makes her life difficult through verbal sparring and pranks. But Riley does not take this lying down. Oh no, she holds her own and fires right back.
“..it was easy to hate but so damn difficult to love.”
When they finally strike a truce, they become the best of friends. Friends that are there through thick and thin. A once in a lifetime kind of friendship. A friendship they do not want to lose at any cost.
“Do you dare…?”
When their feelings start to change will they become more than friends? And if they do, will they lose the friendship and trust they worked so hard to achieve?
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
The relationship buildup between Maddox and Riley is exceptionally well done. It is not rushed and the author takes the time to build a rock-solid friendship between these two people that are hurting.
What started out as a bully type romance has become something so much more and I’m riveted. This couple together is amazing even though, throughout much of the book, they are simply friends. With that being said however, you feel the undercurrent of passion between them and you want them together soooo bad. There is also a little dark undercurrent to Maddox and it makes you wonder if he is going to do something to make their beautiful relationship turn sour.
Unlike other bully romances, there really are no triggers. Most pranks are harmless if not annoying. The way Riley stands up for herself and the revenge she took in turn had me excited. She did not take anything lying down.
GAH! Maddox has an arsenal of filthy words that made my stomach twist into knots. So sexy! There’s something more to Maddox and it intrigued and pulled me in as much as it did Riley.
This book left me breathless. It made me smile and made my heart ache. It has got to be the best book I’ve read this year. The writing is captivating and the story is filled with so much emotion and tension that you feel every second. I was swept up and completely taken with Maddox and Riley’s story. Can they ever be more than friends?
Please note that this is a duet and ended on a cliff-hanger.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Do You Dare is the first book I’ve read by Lylah James. This is an enemies to lovers romance that’s full of emotions. Some made me cry, others made me laugh. Some gave me pause for contemplation.
Lili and Maddox might have begun as enemies but somehow friendship found the way. They have blistering hot chemistry and when a ‘dare’ shows them the truth it’s game over. Maddox is a bad boy with a secret heart of gold, but Lili doesn’t need saving, she’s her own warrior. But, just as I was settling into this story it came crashing to an end. Beware of the cliffhanger, it’s a doozy.
Lylah kindly gave me an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review
This book is by far my best read of 2019. I couldn’t stop myself from reading this book at one go. Love the plot, the sassy protagonist and the angst level
This is my best Diwali gift and literally it’s a “phataka” If you love enemy/ bully romance then you have come at the right place.
I DARE YOU TO READ THIS BOOK