Special Release Price!WSJ bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a gripping enemies-to-lovers, secret admirer, high school romance.The rich and popular Sharks rule at prestigious, ivy-covered Camden Prep. Once upon a time, I wanted to be part of their world–until they destroyed me.The last thing I expected was an anonymous love letter from one of them.Please. I hate every one of those … them.
Please. I hate every one of those rich jerks for what they did to me. The question is, which Shark is my secret admirer?
Knox, the scarred quarterback.
Dane, his twin brother.
Or Chance, the ex who dumped me. . .
Dear Ava,
Your eyes are the color of the Caribbean Sea.
Wait. That’s stupid.
What I really mean is, you look at me and I feel something REAL.
It’s been ten months since you were here, but I can’t forget you.
I’ve missed seeing you walk down the hall.
I’ve missed you cheering at my football games.
I’ve missed the smell of your hair.
And then everything fell apart the night of the kegger.
Don’t hate me because I’m a Shark.
I just want to make you mine.
Still.
★★★★★
“A gut punch right in the feels. These characters wreck you. It’s a deep storyline, with such tender, beautiful, unbelievably perfect romance. Gah. I. Am. Wowed. Five Stars!” Angie, Angie’s Dreamy Reads
Not part of any other series. Dark High School Romance. Recommended for 18+.
A short excerpt of Dear Ava appeared in Team Player 2. (No longer available) This all-new, full-length version is 331 pages and 100,000 words.
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Dear Ava is a brutal, angsty ya romance. While I am a huge fan of the author, she’s made one huge mistake by not listing trigger warnings. It turned me off from the story and I honestly couldn’t finish reading it. I couldn’t wrap my head around the concept of falling in love with one of the Sharks. Disgusting.
Is the writing top-notch? Of course.
Would I recommend it? No.
My Rating: 2 stars
Sports romance, enemies-to-lovers, new adult, secret admirer, and a HEA!!!
Dear Ava started with a really terrible and bad episode for Ava, there’s not specific description but you do get the images in your mind while reading. After Ava was pickup walking alone on the side of the road by the woods, there’s a ten month’s lapse, she returns to the HighSchool, that same one where she knows her attacker is, but she’s a girl who’s been through a lot and this time she’s fighting not just for her but her little brother too.
I love and admire Ava, after everything that happens to her she rise like a Phoenix, not everyone got the strength to go against the richest and powerful people, and when she does it instead of get support from the classmates what she receives is hostility.
“So you aren’t going to let these assholes get to you, Ava?” I say to the scared girl in the mirror.
“No. Not yet. I’m not quitting. Only cowards quit.”
But she got a few really good friends who stand by her, and then there’s Knox.
Knox has scars and it is not the one that marks his face, his scars are so deep and he hides them with a coldness that allows him to raise a wall toward the other ones. The only person who knows him well is he’s twin brother, and then Tulip when they both gains each other’s thrust.
I hate it when you call me Ava instead of Tulip, you know. You’re putting distance between us. Even now, when I know you aren’t the big bad Shark you want me to think you are.
Is sweet and adorable to read the way this two get to know who they really are, their souls, the way they start worried and taking care was something the touch me deeply. Not all monsters have scars, sometimes the real ones hide in perfect faces.
What makes me so special? He cocks an eyebrow. Does that even need a response? Don’t you see how incredible you are? How fucking hot and sweet and strong?
”Truth or dare, Cold and Evil. You pick, and you better choose the right one, damn you.” “Dare.”“Kiss me.”
I’m so honored to read Ava’s journey, to read a young girl with all this dream who loves and cares but is willing to let go in order to grow and keep moving, looking forward to a better future and maybe, just maybe if the time and life do any justice end up with the love of her life, the one who needs the space and time time to heal, even when he doesn’t see it, she proves that she is strong enough to make that decision when the time is on.
I know underneath that tough-girl exterior, you’d do anything for the people you love. Do you know how rare that is? People may say they care and love, but from what I’ve seen, they only look out for themselves.
Our lines got a little blurry along the way, through broken hearts and time lost, but in the end, we made a full, complete, beautiful circle.
I dare you to read this book, you won’t regret it, this book is going to touch you on ways the we should all.
Ilsa has done such a beautiful job touching on such a delicate and hard subjects with a respect that is impossible not to love her.
Thank you to the Author and Social Butterfly PR for providing an ARC on exchange of honest review.
Emotional roller coaster! Great story of tragedy and redemption. Ava has no memory of a tragedy that happened in her life the year before. She may have been drugged but has no proof. She has decided to go back to where it all began but wasn’t prepared to find her fate. Knox, known as THE Shark. He is also QB1 and the Sharks are the ruling class in the school. Knox isn’t prepared for what Ava will do to his life. This is a fast moving great story.
I love me a book with a strong heroine and Ava has strength in spades. Ilsa takes great joy in putting your heart through the wringer with Dear Ava but in the end she puts it back together. She keeps you on the edge of your seat while you come up with all the theories while reading, trying to figure the whos and the whys.
Watching Ava break down everyone of Fort Knox’s walls even without her realizing he gave her the tools to do so will have you flipping every page until you get to their HEA.
Having read, and loved, Dear Ava as a novella in the Team Player 2 anthology, I was anxious and eager for 2020 to arrive so that we could get the rest of Ava’s story. Ms. Madden-Mills had me completely enthralled by Ava, by her secret admirer, by the goings on at Camden Prep, and I needed to know how things were going to play out. I so wanted Ava to be happy and to get the answer she so desperately needed. I had so many questions and I wasn’t sure if I should let down my guard – was it safe to be happy with who SA turned out to be?!? (YES!) Was he really all that he seemed?!? (YES, all that and more!) IMM had me questioning everything and I couldn’t wait for what was to come.
I thought I was prepared for where things were going, considering I had read the novella, but I was nowhere near ready…not by a long shot.
Dear Ava was such an emotional read, more so than any previous books I’ve read from IMM. There was so much depth to this story, so many layers to be peeled back and discovered. My heart hurt for Ava, for Knox, for Dane.
Ava has been dealt more crap hands in her 17 years than many people have to deal with in a lifetime. She’s been down, but never count this girl out, ever. I was amazed at her strength, even if at times she had to fake it.
Knox is everything a girl could want in a boyfriend. Fiercely protective, loyal, dedicated.
But lord, did he carry a heavy weight on his shoulders! Wanting to be a man, wanting to take care of everyone around him, but at 17 realizing it was too much to handle on his own.
I love this book. I love Ava and Knox, Tyler and Dane. I always say I’m not a fan of angst, but inevitably the angsty reads are some of my favorites, Dear Ava is proof of that- my new favorite by Ms. Madden-Mills. This story is full of so much heartache, but it’s hopeful, and the ending is probably one of my favorite endings to a book, ever. I have an arc I need to start, but the book hangover is real y’all and I just don’t want to move on yet.
So Good!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration:
Romance:
Heat/Steam:
Story/Plot:
World building:
Character development:
The heroine: Ava Harris (a.k.a Tulip) – Scholarship student at Camden Prep. Ava wakes up in the woods after a bonfire party with a hangover and the realization that she has been brutally raped and left in the woods. She returns to school ten months later for her senior year determined to find out who hurt her.
The Hero(es): Knox Grayson (a.k.a. cold and evil) – Leader of the Sharks, QB1 and rich boy at Camden Prep.
Dane Grayson – Twin brother of Knox and a Shark, they have a special twin relationship.
Chance – another Shark and ex-boyfriend to Ava. He dumped her the night of the bonfire.
The story: Ava wants to find out who raped her and get revenge. She lives in a group home with the sisters of charity. She takes care of her younger brother, Tyler who has special needs. She has returned to Camden Prep because she wants to get into a good college to take care of Tyler and also so she could get Tyler in to the Camden Prep Elementary school which has programs that will help Tyler unlike the public school he attended.
The rich kids at Camden Prep are not happy that Ava returned. She brings with her many bad feelings about what happened at that bonfire party. Many of the students believe she lied about what happened to her and think she is a snitch and much worse. While a few actually believe her and feel guilt and angst about their part in what happened to her.
The narration is terrific! Zachary Webber and Savannah Peachwood do a great job and have the perfect voices for the characters. I love Ilsa Madden-Mills book and this one had all the things I like, It was really a bully romance with some added angst and I loved the relationships in this one. Especially the relationship between Ava and Tyler and the one between Knox and his twin Dane.
Standalone twist on the “bully” genre in romance. I loved this book and how the author handled the ending. I thought it was perfect, really. Incredible read.
When I read the novella in Team Player 2 I feel in love with Knox and Ava!! I was excited to get the full story. I had to know what was going to happen with Ava!
I love the strength Ava has. She determined to not let anyone bring her down. She’s on a mission and is going after what she wants.
Knox is the mysterious guy. He acts tough but he really has a heart of gold. He deserves to find some happy in his life.
This book has added scenes throughout the book and we get the closure we need!!! I really enjoyed this book.
Angst Queen Ilsa Madden-Mills does it again! Emotional NA done right! Sports romance, enemies-to-lovers, new adult, secret admirer, HEA…a recipe for book hangover! Worth it!
The words I want to articulate are failing me right now about this book. I was giving the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book for my i honest review. I had the chance to read the novella version on Dear Ava that was part of Team Player 2 (which is no longer available.) and the shorter version was not enough. Anyways, first off if sexual assault triggers you then this book is not for you. I found this author by whim just looking for a new author to sweep me off my feet with their words, and Ilsa M.Mills doesn’t fail. I don’t want to give anything away about this book. I only hope I can convey how deeply impactful I think this will leave you. One night for Ava changed her junior year. She had her friends, good grades and a boy she liked. That one night changed her life like a snap of a finger.
I read Dear Ava that was part of an Anthology and I wanted more from the story and M.Mills delivered throughout this book. I loved seeing the character development of each character. Knox, Ava, Chance, Wyatt, Piper, Dane and Mr. Vance Grayson. I couldn’t put this book down, I hope you take my word this is wonderfully written. The characters are strong and loyal and give sass when needed. I swoon for Ava and Knoxx and I’m so so happy to have this in my collection.
Ten months ago something happened to Ava at a school bonfire.
Now she’s finally back at the elite private school near Nashville.
She doesn’t really belong there – she’s a scholarship girl. She’s not one of the millionaire kids. She’s an 18 year old semi-orphan living in a home run by nuns.
The kids at school all think she’s a snitch for telling the police about what happened at that party. Everybody hates her.
And then she finds a letter … from one of the football guys. But who? Her ex? One of the hot twins? The new guy?
Whatever – she doesn’t have time for romance anyway. She has to concentrate on school. Her dream is it to get into Vanderbilt College and to make a great life for her and her little brother!
I LOVED IT!
Such a beautiful young/new adult highschool dramance!
Our darlings are going through some very sad and heartbreaking and serious issues and the reader just wants to fast forward to when they can all live happily ever after in their new and perfect lives!
But of course Ava has to fight really hard for that happy end. It’s not easy being back at that school and it’s not easy falling for one of the guys she has hated ever since she stepped foot in this school three years ago.
I loved reading this book!
Ava is amazing! She fights so hard to make a life for Tyler and herself. And now maybe she doesn’t have to fight so hard all on her own. But can she trust him? There are still some secrets left to unveil … let’s hope we’ll get our happy end!
PS – the cover! YUM!
DEAR AVA was … a beautiful love story! Starting with this gorgeous cover & all the pretty words inside and the whole cast! Such a heartbreaking & exciting & mysterious & funny & sweet YA/NA dramance! I adored it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own millionaire highschool football star – this one is MINE!
I’m a total sucker for the broken bad boy who falls for the resilient heroine. This book was a well-crafted high school romance between the rich and deprived football star and the orphaned and whip-smart scholarship student. The emotional ride swept me into their world and didn’t let go until I finished. I loved that all their conflict centered on trust and being vulnerable, and the angsty, hot chemistry between the characters was off the charts.
There’s trigger warnings of drug abuse and sexual assault, so stay safe if those are difficult for you.
For those who need a “love heals all wounds” kind of read, you’ll love this story!
Literally, the best book I’ve read in 2020!
4.5*
First of all, I have to thank Ilsa Madden-Mills and her team for the advance copy, which has not affected my opinions.
I stayed up until 4am reading this. I couldn’t put it down. I did read the short story version of this in the Team Player 2 anthology and when Ms. Mills said that she was putting a full length version out, I hopped on the chance to review the full length version.
There’s a trigger warning at the start of this and it’s important to be read, because while this story centres around someone who survives a sexual assault, the assault is not seen on page.
Ten months after the events of that night, Ava is back at school, she’s mostly there because she needs to take care of her young half brother who has learning difficulties because their mother drank and did drugs while pregnant. (Again, a possible trigger, but not much is spoken on page about this)
Ava deals with a lot going back to school, people are talking about her behind her back, but she’s also getting notes in her locker and texts from someone who’s very interested in her. But this person is one of the group of people who was there the night of her attack.
Can she trust this person? Who is it? And can she figure out who attacked her and get justice?
All of these questions are answered in this amazing book that I could not put down. I couldn’t sleep until I had answers, and I not only love the hero and the heroine, but several of the side characters became really close to my heart.
TW sexual assault, verbal and physical bullying, dug use, mental health issues, mention of suicide
Amazon: https://amzn.to/37T4EYl
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DearAva
Add DEAR AVA to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Z2jwQx
Wow! This book was so much more than I expected.
The whole story started with a bang and from then I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know everything! What, where, who, WHO? I just needed to know! And damn this story stole my heart!
After reading the synopsis I already knew I had to read this book! And Ilsa Madden-Mills didn’t disappoint. I loved this book so much and never expected this storyline. Definitely the best book by Ilsa Madden-Mills I’ve read yet, and ome of my top favourite 2020!
First book by Ilsa, and I was instantly hooked. Her words were captivating and I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved it. Right off the bat, this book jumps into the sexual assault of Ava Harris. It was difficult to read about but amazing to see how strong and fierce she became. Ten months later, she returns to the school that her unknown abuser also attends and stands up to everyone who didn’t believe what happened to her. Knox isn’t the typical jerk football player. He has his own troubles from the past that he’s dealing with, but behind his brooding he has a sweet heart and a thing for Ava. I loved everything about Knox. His words to Ava are beautiful and the care he has for her is the sweetest. I loved their banter and all the Star Wars references throughout the book. He’s her secret admirer and Ava begins to fall for him. Then one day, lost memories begin to surface and things from the past begin to reveal.
I can see how some would be hesitant to read this book since it takes place in a high school setting, but the characters are so likeable and wise beyond their years. I highly recommend it.
Ava and Knox’s story captivated me from the beginning. Their story is one of hope. The setting is high school, but these two really dive deep into adult topics. There is a lot going on using mystery and drama. There are lots of characters that make this a well rounded story. I definitely recommend this enemies to lovers story!
Beautiful. I don’t have more words to describe this story. There just isn’t a more beautiful thing than reading about how strong a female character can be. She goes through tragedy that can destroy the soul with her head held high, determined to get her justice, fighting with the shittest people in the world who I personally don’t understand and I never will. It is just beautiful!
The romantic suspect between Knox and Ava was also perfect, very tasteful considering what happened to Ava. Knox was a mysterious character at first, I love it how very slowly his true face is revealed. I couldn’t wait to know more about this mysterious and broken hot guy. The author did a fantastic job of creating Ava and Konx and transferring all the feelings in a balanced way, not too overwhelming just enough to move me with their story.
I very highly recommend this book to every romance addicted person. It just a must-read. You can’t miss it.
If I was to describe this book with three words they would be: ENGAGING, AMAZING, LOVELY.
I LOVED IT