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 difficult and emotional book to read. The book starts with Ava in the woods, drunk and drugged. She has a hard life after that. Waking up at her friends house. Going to the police. Everyone thinking she’s a snitch. No one believed her story. Knox was always in love with Ava, but she never knew it. He plays it off as if it’s nothing. Until they have to work together for a school project. They are perfect for each other, but they are so young and need to learn to grow without each other.
I cried, I laughed, and I smiled while reading this book. It has a few TW, but it’s worth reading!
Where do I even begin… What happened to Ava was heartbreaking. But Ava’s and Knox’s story omg unbelievable. Loved their chemistry from the start. Broke my heart towards the end, shed a few tears, but they both needed to find themselves to grow stronger. Over all amazing story, glad I gave it a chance.
A gripping love story that is powerfully inspiring, emotionally raw, and breathtakingly romantic. A story delivered with so much heart and soul that that I fell deeper in love with the characters and their epic love story with each turn of the page. Two broken souls who find the missing piece that makes them feel whole again. A beautiful, strong, and resilient heroine and a complex, fiercely protective and determined hero. Their chemistry is magnetic and undeniable. The storyline is incredibly well-written and flowed seamlessly with heart-breaking twists and turns that are a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Their journey together was so beautifully written and I felt every emotion experienced – they radiated from the pages. The heartbreaking moments shattered my heart and the heartfelt moments stole my breath. How they fight for one another was breathtaking. The wisdom interlaced throughout was inspiring. A powerful story that left a mark on my heart and soul. This book is one of my top reads of 2020. This book is a must read!!
When I first saw the blurb for this book, I thought that I needed to read it. Who doesn’t love a good high school, jock type of story. Add in a secret admirer and love letters and I was sold.
But what I didn’t expect was the story that I got. It was SO MUCH MORE. It hits you with emotions right from the getgo and doesn’t let go. It’s a story of a very strong girl who has endured a very tough life and enters the toughest of circumstances with her head held high. She’s witty and smart and just about everything you could love in a heroine.
And the plot!? It was suspenseful and twisty and kept me guessing right until the end. And I have to say that the way this story ends was so different and creative and it just gave me life. I can honestly say that this is definitely a story that you shouldn’t pass up.
Really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers, NA romance. Knox and Ava ticked all the boxes for makes a great, NA love story.
I normally do not read high school aged genre. Nothing wrong with it, just not my cup of tea. Well, I gave this a shot and I am so glad I did. The heroine was one of my favorite to date in all my readings (and I read a lot!). She suffered so much for a young girl, yet, she rallied! Rallied like any butt kicking superhero! The main hero was just that as well, a superhero in disguise, struggling to overcome adversity and challenges in a different fashion than the heroine. Together, the realize the could be so much, but they also realize the are so young. The way the author writes the book really makes you feel the connection between the two. One could feel this is a once in a lifetime type of love, the fiercest kind that not many manage to know in their lifetime. Fast forward to a life later in years as young adults and you are rewarded with a perfect ending. Highly recommend this book.
Dear Ava was such an incredible story! Honestly, Ava was such a strong and determined girl. Her strength and compassion went above and beyond. From beginning to end I loved this entire book. This author always makes me greedy for more words. These characters just drew me in and made me love them more and more!
Loved Ava and Knox! A beautifully written love story Heartfelt and emotionally driven-Dear Ava pulled me in from page 1 and couldn’t put it down! An incredible journey of real love…beyond perfect.
Dear Ava is the first book I’ve read from Ilsa Madden Mills. I don’t normally read YA novels because I’m so ancient that I can’t feel myself connected to them . But when they’re from my favorite authors or recommended by my trust-worthy sources, I’ll definitely read and enjoy them! Dear Ava surprised me with its maturity, with heavy and sensitive family issues that were dealt with respectfully and delicately. I couldn’t help but falling in love with both main characters, my heart broke for them, I cried and cheered them on, and I’m left with perfect contentment after the final paragraph .
Ava Harris was perhaps one of the strongest heroines I’ve read. She was intelligent, hard working, confident, independent, and goal-oriented for an 18-yo girl. She took on the responsibility of caring for her 6-yo brother while earning a scholarship at a prestigious high school. But then one night changed her life forever! After taking some time off, she decided to come back to demand justice for herself, and that was when she found a love letter from a secret admirer in her locker .
Knox Grayson was absolutely swoonworthy, a popular football player, wealthy and handsome… But underneath the gruff exterior, he was a secret romantic, who loved poetry and rom-com movies . He was also acting as a responsible adult keeping an eye out for his twin brother who was struggling with mental issues. I really admired his strength, maturity, and devotion to his loved ones.
In the beginning of the book, I thought their banters were a bit silly and immature . But when the story went on, their actions and thoughts spoke volume, and they charmed me away with their off-the-charts chemistry, their care and love for one another. Before I knew it, I was already swooning hard for Knox , at the same time, wanting to have Ava as my BFF … The character development is so well plotted, the story is captivating and emotional, and will keep you engaged till the end. This is surely my first of many more books to come from this author .
Absolutely 5- read for me!
CW: rape, mental issues, drugs, suicide, child abandonment.
Can Knox be more sweet?! I really love him, he was very protective and humble, he is absolutly my book boyfriend of the month!
Ava was fierless, she suffered every day because of what happened to her but she was able to continue her life and look for whats best for her and Tyler.
This book was a little slow at first but then I couln’t put it down
Dear Ava is LIVE and a must read! My favorite kind of book to review ~ I couldn’t put it down.
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Ilsa Madden Mills just set the bar so high for a 5 star high school romance, that it will be hard to surpass this one. Ava & Knox were incredible. The strength that these two characters had was palpable. I didn’t consider this a “Bully Romance” because neither the Hero or Heroine ever bullied the other. The feelings these two had were there early on, even if they were being ignored. That being said, the heroine was so much more than bullied in this story. Make sure you are ready for a beautifully written, very heavy read when you settle in for Dear Ava.
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The author takes us down a difficult road with this story. It is painful to read parts of this because you, the reader are so invested in all of the characters (I’m looking at you Dane) but my oh my, it was 100% worth the ride.
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That epilogue was everything!
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5 Star ~ Must Read!
Bullying is my go-to right now because there is so much of that going on in the real world and it’s so different how each child/teenager/adult goes through it.
What happened to Ava that one unfortunate night partying with the popular kids and her boyfriend was when her nightmare would begin. She would get shamed at school, bullied and called names, but she wasn’t going to let that deter her. Her goal was to graduate from school at the top and continue on with her life. She only had her senior year to go and then she would be far away from all these people that did not believe her on what happened to her that night.
Her boyfriend didn’t want anything to do with her anymore, but there was one popular guy that obviously believed her, protecting her and going to her defense every time someone would bully her.
The circumstances were not nice and the people who were involved were obviously not nice and would be hateful and spiteful towards her every chance they got.
Knox might be the most popular Shark in school and the head of everyone but he actually cared for Ava. He was at times hot and cold with her so she could never tell which Knox she was going to get. But little by little Ava was able to break his walls and get him to open up to her because she learned to care for him the same way he cared for her.
The way everything got pieced together and unfolded in the end was mind blowing. I had my suspicions and my theory was accurate in the end. I give myself props for figuring this sh*t out.
Any hoot, Dear Ava was a great read with some life lesson learning tid-bits.
“No one wanted them to be together. None of the gods approved. Who’d love the king of the underworld?
The right person.”
A reading that left me speechless. I never expected a book to mess with my emotions so much. Sports Romance, High School, Second Chance, Enemies to Lovers. You may think that it is an exaggeration so many themes in one book, that there is no way that a book can work. So think again.
In addition to gently treating important issues such as sexual abuse, mental health, bullying and drug addiction, the author presents us with a well-developed and enticing narrative. Without forgetting to give us that hint of romance and anguish that we love so much.
Some scenes are definitely striking, for me, the two that involve the game of truth or dare are exciting. It is impossible that the actions and revelations of these scenes do not provoke any reaction to the reader. The ending is also full of cute scenes and filled with tenderness and emotion.
It is impossible not to fall in love with Ava, Knox, Dane and Tyler. It is impossible not to get involved with their personal dramas and their pains. They have beautiful characters, fight their battles, overcome their fears and are more than deserving of all the happiness that awaits them.
A roller coaster of emotions. An unmissable, unforgettable and remarkable book.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest Review *
I loved Knox and Ava so much. The added suspense of who left the note was great and I’m kind of hoping this isn’t the last we hear from this group.
5 stars for Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills. OMG this book. I have a horrible book hangover right now. I don’t even know where to start right now. I stayed up all night because I couldn’t put it down. This is an enemies to lovers high school romance. I was sucked in from the first chapter, all the way till the very end. In the first chapter you learn what has made Ava the way she is. You really see how she changes and grows through-out the book. She wants justice and she deserves it. Knox is QB1, girls want him and he is the top Shark. He wants what he can’t have. Now Ava is back at school that tore her apart. She finds a letter from a secret admirer, but can she trust that. I thought that Knox and Ava had great chemistry. They both have secrets. I really loved these two and everything that happens between them I will say this is a difficult book, there are some dark parts but they are what makes this story great.
I absolutely loved this book. I think the best part, to me, what how the author put teenagers in adult situations but they still reacted like teenagers. Definite recommend!
Ohhhhhh I love these characters and this their story. I just couldn’t put the book down, it dragged me in and I happily went along for the ride. The characters are so beautifully written I loved watching how they dealt with everything thing that happens to them and around them. I really enjoyed being able to see both points of view, it adds so much to a story. Such a good read. I could happily have stayed with them for longer.
This was my first from Ilsa and it truly was amazing, I wanted to know more with every turn of the page.
After a horrible incident at a party Ava takes a year off school, when she returns she’s looking for answers from that night. Of course not everyone wanted her back. She falls for the QB Knox, but will these stay together or will the answers she looking for tear them apart.
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 opening scene to this book finds Ava waking up after going to her first keg party and what a mistake that was.
One night changes her whole life she has always been a fighter and always stood up for what she believes.
But can she do it can she walk back into Camden Prep and carry on like nothing happened she has her brother Tyler and thats all that matters to her.
You bet she does her first day is a day from hell all the mean girls calling her a snitch and making nasty remarks. She just holds her head up high and gets on with it.
Opening her locker she is stunned when finding a note that reads.
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.
Ava has know idea who the note is from but let’s just say thats a great part in the book finding out.
Knox Is the QB1 everyone fear him and everyone wants to be with him but know one really knows him only his twin brother Dane.
Knox has always had feelings for Ava and she the same but they are worlds apart he is rich and handsome she is poor and beautiful. But they both have demons that they have to face will they face them together or apart.
And let’s just say this book takes you on a rollercoaster ride from start to finish so many emotions it will have you holding your breath.
This book blew me away one of the best reads this year for me.
Will Ava & Knox get the HEA the both deserve you will have to read it to find one and believe me you really do want to read it.
Ilsa has once again captured me with her words and characters in Dear Ava.
Ava and Knox are beautiful, heartbreaking, real ! They are so mature for their teenage years and have so much depth and layers . I truly fell in love with Ava, her strength, determination will to succeed against any cost. She is such a fighter and I loved that about her . Knox is always there in the background but in the public he is front and center. Their pull is overwhelming and oh so complicated My heart ached for then with each chapter and layer revealed ! Loved their story!
~~Michele McMullen ~~