New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Penelope Douglas delivers an unforgettable romance that toes the fine line between love and hate… he turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I was humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got worse as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to stay out of his way. I even went away for a year just to avoid him.
But I’m done hiding from him now, and there’s no way I’ll allow him to ruin another year. He might not have changed, but I have. It’s time to fight back.
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Loved this series!
I loved it and I’m reading it again soon.
Loved it read twice
** spoiler alert ** Well, that was intense.
Tate didn’t understand why Jared hated her so much. He’s been her best friend since she was kid but when they turned fourteen, he suddenly changed. He became a bully. And Jared’s prey is Tate. Thank God when everything overwhelmed her, she got a ticket to getaway. Scholarship to France for a year. She determined: when she back and Jared pushed her, she’ll push back.
How I love the storyline! But there’s something missing though. I wished Jared pushed Tate a wee bit too far and hurt her physically. You know, bleeding or stuff? I love to see him begged her forgiveness eventually. Hahaha, I’m a pain-whore indeed. :)))
I enjoyed the author style of writing. Easy to catch up and simple. Jared is such a scarred young man, it’s hard to picture some teenage boy suffered what he’s been suffered and stay alive without any ghost live inside him. I liked him, though the stuff that come out of his mouth are pretty disturbing. Tate, on the other hand, is one hell of a girl. She’s strong and independent and I liked her so much. Standing against the bully, especially the one who used to be your best friend, is quite hard.
Too bad I didn’t really feel Jared’s apology. I mean, I know he’s hurt in the past, but it’a just not right to caused pain to someone innocent just because you can’t hurt the guilty one. I was hoping for big redemption in the end, Jared crawl and kiss Tate’s shoes but then again, this ending itself’s enough.
And Tate? Gurl, I know you loved him but seriously? Just like that? You gave up your v-card to someone that hurt you for years?! Puhlease. I still can’t get my head wrapped around it. :/
Overall, this book’s very good and easy to read. I enjoyed it so much. Can’t wait to read the sequel! Eeeeeeep! :))))
Geared to younger adults.
One of my favorite books! I’ve reread it more than once. Jared is a character you love to hate until you don’t. It’s my go to book when I want a heated relationship between characters and these two aren’t always heated in a good way. The follow up book from Jared’s POV and continuation of their relationship through this series is just as good.
High school romance
Manwhore hero
I love Jared (eventually) and Tate! Even though I wanted to punch Jared in the face on more than one occasion, Tate holds her own.
“Yesterday lasts forever. Tomorrow comes never. Until you.”
Childhood Friends turned Enemies to Lovers – My goddd this book!!
Tatum Brandt and Jared Trent were childhood friends. Tate lost her mother young and Jared was always there to help her get through – Until he wasn’t. There was no going back for Jared after what he went through, so he turned the tables on Tate and became her high school Bully.
“She can be my North.”
Tatum performs an early ‘monologue’ presentation in class (at her request) letting him know just how much he’s hurt her – It broke me. She’d lost her mother, gained hope in a friendship, but lost that in him too. I was so proud of her in that moment. He truly hurt her, and she finally took her grandmother’s advice and let him have it.
My heart broke for Jared when he was finally ready to open up to Tate about his past, and let her in completely. It was all just so emotional.
This is a bully romance that literally gives you ALL THE FEELS – I SWOONED hard for Jared.
I can’t stress enough how thankful I was for that HEA – I could feel something coming when they’d found their perfect rainstorm.
This is the last series of Penelope’s back list I have left to read and it definitely caught me off guard – I’m not sure why I waited so long…but I knew I had to know all of these characters before her spin offs and new books came out.
So if you’re like me, and waited to go into this series for whatever reason – GO IN. It’s SO GOOD, and so worth it!
(Luckily for me, I had collected all the OG US covers just as they were stopping production)
“I was his. And he was mine.”
3
Style: Bully Romance
Story: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Dark Level: 1/5
Sexual Level: GOOD
Triggers: Yes
Violence: Yes (very mild)
Male: Mean w/Sex Appeal
Series: Book 1
Pages: 333
Audio: GOOD
Kindle Unlimited: No
STORY:
If I was rating this on just storytelling, automatic 5/5 stars. I definitely feel the picture painted for me, pull me in. With that being said, I liked Tat, it was everyone else that was wishy washy. Jared played the bully not too bad, it was his redemption I had a problem with, especially since his reasoning was ok. It was too easy. I wanted him to work more for that forgiveness. Tat, admired the way she conveyed the story to me. She just annoyed me with how laid back she was or seems with certain situations. Also, I don’t know what I thought, but I actually thought it would be more intense and a bit darker. Apart from that, it was still entertaining. ****SPOILER**** that whole scandal with the recording, I’m sorry, but I needed to see some justice for that. Like many situations, Tat let it go too easily.
CHEMISTRY:
Sexual chemistry, It was good, would have loved more. Either way, it was satisfying.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
Kacey – Tat’s best friend. She was partly why my enjoyment was in between. I don’t consider her a real friend even if she didn’t do anything with Jared. The amount of times she lied, no bueno. She was an ok-ish friend but I couldn’t view her as best friend.
Marco – loved him. Yes, he tortured Tat at times, but his character grew on me.
OVERALL, it was ok, not bad, but not epic either.
TRIGGERS: Bullying, child abuse and alcohol abuse.
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful.
I wasn’t quite sure where this book would go. Tate is such a badass, even with her vulnerabilities, so the whole bully vibe didn’t seem like it would work on her. I’m still not sure how I feel about Jared. Maybe I expected him to be a little more complex. Either way, this is a great read!
This was the first book of Penelope that I’ve read, and I can honestly say, that I became a fan instantly. The first time that I’ve read it was a few years ago, like five I think, and from that moment on, I had a soft spot for these bad boys, heart colded alphas with a chip on their shoulders, that could only melt în the right hands.
Jared and Tate took the whole friends from childhood to enemies and then to lovers on a whole new level, and I’ve loved every single minute of this book. It was a roller coaster of feelings.
Tate Brandt was once best friends with the boy next door, Jared Trent. They did everything together and shared a connection she thought it was impossible to break. But she was in for a surprise.
After Jared went away to visit his estranged father for a couple of weeks on summer vacation just before the beginning of high school, everything went down the hill. He returned a different boy, with one goal to make Tate’s life a nightmare. He spread false rumors about her around the school and slowly he became her bully.
After being his target for two years, Tate went to study a year abroad in France, and when she returned for her senior year, she was a different person too.
I really liked Tate, and thought she was a great character. I could reason with her, and understand why she acted like that, and for the most part I understood her decisions.
She was smart and funny, with her feet on the ground and very strong, even in her worst moments.
Even though it took her a few years , she finally got the courage and strength she needed to fight back. She would not longer let Jared put her through hell. Now she doesn’t get scared so easily and for sure she doesn’t back down without a fight.
As for Jared, I had mixed feeling about him. On one hand, he gave the French saying “qui s’aime se taquine” a whole new meaning. He was the wort for most of the book, and treated Tate so badly, that all I wanted was for someone to smack some sense into him. But, on the other hand, after we find out the reasons behind his behavior, what really happened that summer with his father, and all stars to make a little sense. I don’t condone bullying, and I don’t try to find him excuses, all I’m saying is that I can understand why he believed that was his only option.
I liked them as a couple, their dynamic and chemistry was undeniable.
These were the first books I’ve read from Pen and since then she became my favorite author.
Jared and Tate’s story is a complete roller coaster but they really are perfect for each other.
Bully is Tate’s POV of their story and Until You is Jared’s POV. The best part is that Pen also gave us a lot of extra scenes in this second one so you really feel more connected to the story.
I think the story was pretty tame for a “bully” romance. I didn’t feel really any emotional attachment to the story or characters until midway maybe. I did enjoy it when they finally got together so I felt satisfied in the end but it definitely wasn’t like her Devils Night series.
11/30/2020 – 2.5
Okay I’m rereading this one but I’m still feeling the same right now (40%) as I did the first round. The relationships are rather annoying – Jared kind of protects Tatum but also treats her poorly. Tatum, who was his best friend, still feels drawn to him despite him being awful since they were 14!! I’m pretty sure that ship would have sailed. And the KC. I mean pretty dumb as bricks, to have known Tatum and Jared’s relationship and how he treated her but think the first sign of “kindness” that he’s actually a good person and think that Tatum would be okay with that? *eyeroll*. Too….. Highschool. (note: I did mention above it got better and I’m not there yet so just note for now…. the first half is lame. Ha)
So I read Until You first, which is Jared’s story before bully. And I have to say this is one instance where it was better to read Until You first because I got a more complete understanding and perspective reading Jared’s story 1st vs Tates. Nonetheless, Bully is an excellent read. It is about the trials and tribulations of Tate and her high school experience at the hands of Jared’s abuse. It also focuses on the tumultuous journey of these former best friends turned lovers.
Loved this book
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved all of the characters and their story lines. This is a well written book and the activities of of the characters are slice less!on in how we can do things to others with no seming remorse and then have to answer for the behavior in unexpected ways. Great read, especially for teenagers. An excellent lesson in bullying.
My first Pen Douglas and I will definitely be reading more from her. I am a sucker for high school romance…especially bully romances. Tate and Jared and their story were engaging–with heartache, tragedy, steam and the whole friends to enemies to lovers dialogue and chemistry!
This book is such a phenomenal read. It will make you feel every emotion as you read it. Jared and Tate used to be the best of friends and then Jared decided to turn on Tate and they became mortal enemies and he also became her biggest tormentor. At times Jared’s behaviour was truly shocking, appalling and down right horrendous. My heart ached for what Tate went through (especially when she used to have such a close bond with Jared). I loved how Tate stood her ground and didn’t let Jared break her soul. Despite how awful Jared was, I knew that deep down he was a good guy and must be going through a lot to be the way he is. I liked when his walls finally came down and he let Tate back into his heart. The writing in this book is so darn good, the story literally sucks you in from page one and the characters are so fascinating. I highly recommend checking out this book.
Atrocious. I cannot believe anyone thinks this is a good book. I have stopped reading it less than halfway through.
It was boring