Top 5 reasons I should stay away from Crispin Dalton:1. He’s been bullying me since the day I started at Wildwood Academy, the prestigious high school for young elites2. He’s the kind of jerk who thinks liking a girl means tugging on her hair (seriously, is this first grade?)3. There’s a scandal tying our families together in the most awful way, and his whole family hates me because of it4. He’s … hates me because of it
4. He’s so far out of my league, he might as well be wearing a sign that says ‘Don’t look, touch or fantasize about me… or else’
5. He’s kind of, sort of, dating my best friend…
We’ve come a long way since being co-stars on my TV show. The boy I used to crush on obsessively isn’t the nice guy anymore.
No, he’s the mean, cruel, evil bully who’s dead set on ruining my life. And to top it all off, he’s more off-limits than he ever has been.
So, obviously, I shouldn’t be crushing on Crispin, because he isn’t the boy he used to be.
No, no, no… he’s even hotter now.
And as it turns out, little old me can’t resist a bully with a heart of gold.
This is a full-length novel, part of the Lords of Wildwood series. Can be read as a standalone.
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Boys That Tease is the first book in this series but can be read as a stand alone. It is a contemporary, slow burn, YA/NA bully romance. The characters in this book will have their own story in the succeeding installments but I’d say it’s imperative to read this because I felt that the base of story started here (as will be clear when you read along). The series started with Tinsley and Crispin’s story and their friend, Estella.
Former child star Tinsley or Tins, started going to Wildwood Academy after a nasty scandal that destroyed her family, career and her friend’s life, Crispin’s. Thankful for small mercies, her best friend Estella was there to help her navigate the school and protect her from malicious gossips.
Crispin always like Tinsley since their acting days, despite the misery she brought on to his life. He never could leave her alone no matter what he did. But a friend advised him that good girls only liked bad boys. So, that’s what he did. He teased her mercilessly, pulled pranks, all to get her attention. But as they say, boys that tease always pay for it…. in more ways, than one.
Tinsley’s character is not the usual I find in the bully romance I’ve read of late. You can say most of them are snarky, sassy, mouthy and with spitfire attitude. Tinsley is inherently good, both as a daughter and a friend; has a bleeding heart, trusting and a broken girl. Lord knows how much I root for her in this book when she was obviously being used and bullied over by the mean girls and by Crispin. But that’s the beauty of her character, because it’s real. Not all of us has the guts to stand up against the bullies. I was a victim of one until I’ve learned to fight back. Some don’t fight back and turn those hurt internally.
Crispin is your typical bully, the famous lacrosse god who’s got everyone doing his dirty work and I mean even the school staff turning a blind eye on his misdeeds. His only saving grace for him (in my opinion) is that he genuinely felt bad after the pranks and that he really liked Tinsley after all that happened with their families.
For me, this was first and foremost a story of self discovery and healing for both characters, owning up to mistakes, forgiveness, lies and a mystery that I couldn’t wait to read more about (hopefully!) on the next book.
4*
Tinsley is starting at Wildwood Academy after been home schooled due to her acting career. A scandal caused the collapse of the show and rumours to start. A big change for her but having her best friend there will help combat the fact her first crush acting partner Crispin rules the school. Things can’t get any worse can they?
A brilliant introduction to a new series with lots of different personalities and characters I can’t wait for more. Already added “Boys that read” to my tbr list.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Angst at full blast – full of conflicting emotions!
Talk about overwhelming amount of teenage angst, petty jealousies, bullying and heartache. Who would have thought that all the drama and heartache would start with one jealous and calculating teenager? One “sincere advice” and all started to crumble.
That was very emotional read for me as I can’t imagine why people have tendencies to ruin other people lives. And it is done only from pure cruelty and to show the upper hand. Also the struggle that Crispin went through with his parents and how he was dealing with overpowering guilt. It was really heartbreaking to see how he hurt himself and how cruel he was to Tinsley.
I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery in the plot and was really grateful that it added a little bit more fresh air to the trope that seems to be already used in many many stories concerning young population in high school.
I can’t wait for the next parts in the series, I need to know what happened “that night”.
Boys That Tease by Betti Rosewood author really suprised me in a good way with this young adult romance. I didn’t know what to expect from the book, because it was my first contact with that author. Whole story is great thought, with interesting storyline.
Here comes the story about forbidden love, full of emotions, angst and teenage drama.
When I first read the blurb about rich kids society attending to the famous WildWood Academy, I thought that it makes a plot even more interesting because rich and spoiled teenagers always made a lot noise and lately it’s my favorite genre. I was so happy that author written this story from the dual perspective and I could learn about Crispin and Tinsley thoughts and feelings at the same time.
Both were involved in scandal and also fought their own battle with feelings deep down in their hearts. They couldn’t be together although strong chemistry was pulling them to each other. They were like two magnetics which strongly pulled and pushed them to one another. She was his forbidden fruit and he was off limits for her. Everyone stands against them either and it seemed that their story was a lost case, but as a true hopeless romantic I was eagerly waiting for their HEA. I loved how author lead the plot and she knew how created so strong angst and tension between hero and heroine. I think it was really hard to create interesting couple because they’re very young, but Betti Rosewood author managed really great.
Background and second characters excellently fulfill whole story. I need to mention that one of them really got on my nerves and if I could, I would slap her in her face.
It was refreshing and captivating story with lots of emotions and twist of action. If you like NA story I recommend this book.
Boys That Tease is an angsty, love/lust-fueled, and emotionally charged bully romance. Set in an elite, upper-crusted, prep school, this drama inducing atmosphere was the perfect setting for this YA/NA love story. Not having read this trope in a really, really, long time, it was refreshing to go into this story with my eyes wide open.
The book introduces you to Tinsley and Crispin, both teenage actors working on a TV show together. Their cute and flirty friendship started out like any typical teenage romance does…Girl like boy, boy likes girl. But after a shocking scandal rocks both their lives, they find themselves on opposite ends of a controversial battlefield with little hope of saving what they almost had.
This story had a lot going on…teen angst, HS drama, family issues, jealous classmates, a secret society, a mysterious disappearance, and much more. I love a good book that keeps me guessing as to what would happen next, and to what secrets will finally be revealed. This book does not lack in story. But while the progression of the story line flowed great, it didn’t seem to match up with the development of the characters. I felt that Tinsley and Crispin played the same back-and -forth animosity card throughout most of the book. And although the book was dual POV (which I loved!), the feelings of hostility and the actions of tenderness and compassion gave me too much whiplash. Granted, this story is about teenagers in high school. But I was hoping for a little bit more respective maturity growth in their characters. By the end, I felt like they finally DID reach that point, but it came to that conclusion a little too quickly and a little too late in the story line, in my opinion.
Overall, Boys That Tease was a good read. The story line established in this book built the potential to expand in the next books to come in the series. For a debut novel, Betti Rosewood did a great job.
A bully romance, with a twist, also with high school drama, angsty, with secrets.
Addicting and intriguing, captivating and intense, couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Tinsley and Crispin were costars on a movie. Now all that is behind them. Tinsley is starting a public school where Crispin is king. Tinsley refuses to bow down to Crispin and he makes her life miserable. Crispin ran hot then cold, he’s also dating Tinsley’s best friend. The attraction between the two is irresistible. All the drama, angst and bullying you can ask for from a high school romance. An enjoyable read that I recommend.
I received a copy of this book via Give Me Books Promotions and am leaving a review.
What a great new series from Betti Rosewood. The Lords of Wildwood series starts off with Boys That Tease and boy did he tease! This is one angsty teen romance revolving around Crispin, the golden boy of Wildwood and Tinsley, the fallen from grace actress. These two are drawn to each other but can’t help pushing each other away as well. There is so much push and pull and at times hard to read actions that I loved every minute. We also see glimpses of the rest of the Lords of Wildwood so I can’t wait to read about the rest of them.
Boys That Tease is a good read. Crispin and Tinsley are teenagers but they have worked on a tv show together. Something happened and the tv show is no longer. We don’t get to know what happened right a way but it does come out as you continue to read. Crispin is kind of a jerk. He likes Tinsley but he doesn’t treat her very well. Crispin is hot and cold and I never knew how he was going to treat Tinsley. Tinsley is super sweet but a bit naive. Estella is the quintessential mean girl. I’m sure there is more to Estella then we got in this sotry but in this one she was just mean and not very likeable. While Tinsley and Crispin find themselves and form a great relationship, there are many side stories. Some of the side stories still aren’t completely resolved so I’m hoping we get more in the next book.
Boys That Tease: A Bully Romance by Betti Rosewood is a new adult contemporary romance told in dual POV between the naive heroine, Tinsley, and the bully/anti-hero, Crispin. The overall gist of the story pulled me in. The angst between friends turned enemies – with one now bullying the other in their elite high school, Wildwood. The pace of the story felt stilted and there was a lot of different things happening that added noise to a strong plot. There were also some unanswered plot lines that may be addressed in the next book. The interactions felt genuine but naive.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but just wow I got so much more, this was filled with so many emotions and the drama there was no holding back as you needed to learn more and where it was going to end up. Tinsley I am so proud of what a strong woman she was and still held her head up high with the kids from school and Crispin just wow, the story pulls you right in and you cant turn the pages fast enough I loved the characters and lets mention they are super hot. I cant wait to here about more exspecially Estella who I did not like at all but we will see. The character development is outstanding and I loved it.
First Love, Last Love
A tangled web of secrets and lies that will keep you wondering. They are more than just a bunch of privileged kids trying to navigate high school. This story will give you all the high school drama and an incredible story of first love.
Tinsley was a former childhood actress brought down from the top by a scandal. She’s starting over at Wildwood as a senior. She wants the high school experience. She’s about to get all that and more.
Crispin was the boy she had her first crush on. He’s the big man on campus at Wildwood Academy. Too bad there is nothing but bad blood between them now. She’s the new girl and he’s about to make her life at Wildwood total hell.
All the angst and teen drama you could want. Wildwood houses so many secrets amongst it’s elite student body. Everyone has their own story to tell. Many may come from wealth, but it doesn’t shield them from the darker side of life. You will get wrapped up in them and the story will keep you guessing. If you love a bully, a mean girl and first love…get to clicking!!!
Wow! What an engrossing read! Boys That Tease is an angst filled, young adult romance that was a phenomenal start to the new Lords of Wildwood series. From the well developed characters, the hot and cold interactions/relationships to the enthralling story-line. I absolutely loved all of it!
Our heroine, Tinsley Sullivan, is a former childhood star who is determined to get some real life experience now that her days on the set are over. After years of fame and private tutors, she starts at a public school for her senior year of high school. When a public scandal disrupts her life, she turns to her best friend, only to find out that she’s not really much of a friend.
Crispin Dalton is the golden boy at Wildwood High with both the students and the staff under his thumb. Except for Tinsley who won’t follow his commands. He teases her mercilessly and tries to make her life hell. But there’s just one problem… The two share a past and the feelings are still there, but she is off-limits because he’s currently with her best friend.
I absolutely loved these two characters together. Their chemistry instant and the burn, oh so satisfying. I couldn’t help but to root for these two to find their way. The road to happily ever after for Tinsley and Crispin wasn’t an easy one. It was one filled with bumps and bruises along the way. Where secrets from the past hold more weight than you’d except. Where lies add up and destroy everything. But, if there is one thing that we learn from this love story, it’s that these strong characters can take whatever is thrown at them.
Boys That Tease is a fantastic book from beginning to end. It is a story of overcoming the past and not giving it the power to consume your life anymore. It’s a story of finding yourself again and taking chances. It’s a story of being brave and fighting for love. This story swept me off my feet, gave me all the feels and kept me yearning for more. It was unforgettable, raw, sexy and just EVERYTHING!
“Careful, Crispin. Boys that tease always pay for it.”
Not quite the bully romance I was expecting, but I enjoyed quite a bit of this story. Typically, in the bully romances that I’ve read as of late, the boy is over the top making the girl’s life ridiculously difficult, and the girl has a strong enough backbone to retaliate, then poof, they fall eventually. This wasn’t the case here, because Crispin was flip-flopping throughout, but I imagine many will enjoy their story regardless. The friend mentioned in the blurb, who I couldn’t stand at any point in this story, made a better bully than our male lead and couldn’t get down with any twist involving that character, who got no retaliation either. Still trying to wrap my head around that. In fact, our female lead didn’t quite strike back the way you would have thought she would at any point in the story. I was left kind of disappointed in quite a bit of reactions from the characters. You never really questioned their feelings for each other due to the dual POV letting you in on every inner thought, and some of the sweetness and attraction was fun to read. It seemed most of the parents, circle of friends, etc were crazier than these two, but I enjoyed their steamy, forbidden, and fun antics much of the time. I was left with some unanswered questions to some of the swirling happenings throughout that may be answered in future books hopefully, but the crazy twist at the end was one I didn’t see coming, and not sure what it had to do with the rest of it. I thank the Author for providing a copy to review.
“She was so innocent, so pure. And I wanted to be the one who got to keep that innocence in my pocket, the one who took it all away from her.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
I am giving Boys That Tease 3.5 stars.
I was super excited for this book but had a hard time getting into it. I did not feel the connection at all between Tinsley and Crispin. I was trying to remember if thats how high school kids acted. I felt the characters acted more like middle school kids. Except for Estella, she stayed true to her character. I liked the mystery that was there, I think that’s what kept me reading otherwise I may have just given up on it. Now the mystery still continues into the next book, I am looking forward to finding out more about the Lords of Wildwood.
I seriously love bully romances and this is my new favorite one by far. Crispin and Tinsley have known each other since they were on set together. Of course things happen and now he wants nothing to do with her yet he wants everything to do with her. They are so perfect together if they let go of it all. I love how she made new friends who are protective of her. Everything he did was for her but just didnt go about it the right way. I truly enjoyed this book and can not wait for the next one.
A bully romance will always have you frustrated and wanting to pull your hair out at times, but this is why it’s a bully romance.
I had been anticipating Boys that Tease for a while and couldn’t wait to read it and I absolutely LOVED it!
Crispin and Tinsley were those types of characters that you wanted to love and hate at the same time. Crispin bully’s Tinsley because he likes her and he was told that when you treat a girl bad they seem to gravitate more towards you because they love bad boys, but in Tinsley’s case that’s not it at all. He went from being charming and cool to a complete a**hole and she couldn’t understand his change of attitude towards her.
But even though Crispin was mean to Tinsley she still managed to want to capture him and make him like her the way she liked him, except Crispin made the decision to date her “best friend” and then that’s where things started going south.
But Crispin has a secret that he knows will shatter Tinsley and he just doesn’t know how he’s going to break her heart again.
I absolutely could not put this book down.
I am looking forward to the next installment of this series! These characters are so addicting!!
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars
What a fabulous high school angst book that seriously felt me feeling deprived when I left my kindle at home and couldn’t read during the day. Betti did a fabulous job with these characters and pushing through a multitude of issues. I really enjoyed how the characters developed through the story and the background to them was provided in just the correct increments. It has been a long time since an author has written a character that I despised as much as I did Estella. I found this read to really keep me on my toes and anxious to know what was happening next.
The only reason I can’t give this 5 stars is I feel like I need more information about the Lords and Crispin’s mom and sister — still need some closure there for me.
I have become addicted to the high school bully romance trend and while I thought the premise of this book was good, I feel like it missed the mark in the application.
The bones of this story were all there: high school, bully, semi secret group, spoiled rich kids, sweat girl being picked on and a mean girl. What ruined the story for me was the immaturity of the characters and the weak reasons for the bullying.
The story starts out great had the main character stopped and asked one simple question the entire book would not have been needed. I just felt the characters were more middle school age and painfully immature. Anyone who has been in high school could figure out the motivations or reasonings and it made the story lack depth; it wasn’t dark either.
I like some of this author’s other works (and will check out others in the future) but this was a miss for me. If you like young characters and a light easy read then this might be a good fit for you. I received an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
I love a good bully romance and this fit the bill perfectly. I can say Crispin gave me whiplash at moments with his back and forth nature towards Tinsley but he was fighting a internal battle when it came to her and couldn’t deny that she haunted his senses and he hated the power she held over him without her even knowing. Now Tinsley I absolutely adored, she might be one of my favorite heroines in this genre that I’ve read in a while. She was just so sweet and caring that it was enduring, now at times at found her extremely gullible but she is teenager so it went with her character, not many teens are super mature and have life figured out lol. I loved the push pull and the extreme angst between these two, as much as they hated there connection it was undeniable!! Can’t wait for more from this series
I voluntarily reviewed a advanced readers copy of this book