Dirty English is now a #8 Wall Street Journal Bestseller! #1 in the Amazon Store; #1 in Contemporary Romance A scarred fighter.A girl with rules.One night of unbridled passion. There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Bennett: she’s smart as a whip, always in control, and lives by a set of carefully crafted rules. She’s learned the hard way that people you love the most always … that people you love the most always hurt you in the end. But then she meets Declan Blay, the new neighbor at her apartment complex.
A tattooed British street fighter, he’s the campus bad boy she’s supposed to avoid, but when he saves her from a frat party gone bad, all her rules about sex and love fly out the window. She gives him one night of unbridled passion, but he longs for more.
With only a cardboard-thin wall separating their bedrooms, he dreams of possessing the vulnerable girl next door forever.
One night. Two damaged hearts. The passion of a lifetime.
A modern love story inspired by Pride and Prejudice
Dirty English is a full-length stand-alone 75,000 word novel with a swoony, heartfelt HEA.
(Also included is one chapter of her debut novel Very Bad Things.)
FILTHY ENGLISH (British Bad Boys #2) and SPIDER (British Bad Boys #3) are now available! This series is complete.
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Wonderful book, a fun take (sort of) on Pride and Prejudice. He’s a sexy British college guy who also fights in an illegal underground fighting ring. She is a survivor who is ready to open her heart back up, even if she doesn’t know it. Great supporting characters and its not easy. I loved every second of it. So romantic. Declan is a perfect hero.
Loved it! Great character build, amazing dialogue couldn’t keep it down
Really enjoyable new adult/college romance. The characters were believable, relatable, and refreshingly mature. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I picked this book up at 7AM and It’s now 10:53AM and I am done. I was emotionally invested in it. It was INCREDIBLE! I didn’t put it down for even a second! Elizabeth has been through so much pain and had completely closed herself off to love. In comes her very own “Mr. Darcy.” Declan, a sexy English underground fighter, instantly feels their connection. With their friendship growing you can feel their emotions and lives changing. I loved watching and feeling their story unfold. It had all the feels needed for absolutely powerful read. I loved this! I will absolutely be reading again and again!
This a classic College romance story with a little bit of everything. A hot, built Brit. A young woman with a traumatic past. A catty ex-girlfriend. An insane and abusive ex-boyfriend. Strained parental relations. And a bit of shagging.
So, in other words, damn entertaining!
I love American College romances. You get pubescent dramatics but with adult consequences. And Dirty English is precisely that. It has it all! It’s colorful, angsty and has hot encounters. And of course there’s the weird rich-poor dynamics that I have such trouble relating to but creates great conflict. But what I really have a hard time accepting is the description of a society where wealth and political pull makes you practically untouchable. Again, it’s great drama, but how close to the truth is it?
I enjoyed this story immensely. Not necessarily because it was the most original, well-written book I’ve ever read, but because the characters were truly intriguing and the story-telling was top notch. I just had to know what would happen next. And I wasn’t just rooting for the main characters. There were several secondary characters as well that pulled me in and had me wanting to learn more.This is no award-winner, but it doesn’t matter in the least. It’s a story of young love, told in a way that had me binge-reading. In conclusion, a great way to spend a couple of hours.
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I devoured this book so fast that I still can’t catch my breath after all the feelings that keep boiling up inside of me.
What a fastastic way to be introduced to such an incredible author.
To be honest, the beginning of the book is so heartbreaking that my heart started shattered into million pieces crashing against the confines of my ribcage. But at the same time, it was perfect the way this author showed us how a simple moment can change the life of someone irrevocably.
There is more to this story then meets the eye. Ilsa Madden made sure her readers take their time peeling off all the layers of her characters in a very raw and realistic way. That why it’s almost impossible not to keep reading till the very end.
There is even a thrilling part almost at the climax of the story that will keep the readers glued to theirs seats and biting their nails.
Elizabeth Bennet, who avoids to be intimate with the guys she meets for understandable reasons, and Declan Blay who wants to be more than one night stand and has a heart of gold, will leave you perplexed and completely addicted to this author’s work. This is certainly a book you HAVE to read.
Inspired by Pride and Prejudice in our modern days, Dirty English is a beautifully devastating story, that will resonate with the readers.
Totally recommended.
This has to be one of my favorite Ilsa Madden-Mills books. She writes great characters. What attracted me to the book was the characters name is Elizabeth Bennett, but what held my attention was the chemistry between Elizabeth and Declan was amazing. I have read this and her other books several times.
Dirty English brings us another swoon worthy alpha type with a softer side in Declan, and a broken shell of a girl with deep seeded pain in Elizabeth. Cue modern twist on every girl’s favorite, Pride & Prejudice – ya her last name is Bennet, and spoiler alert – Declan aims to lover her like Mr. Darcy. That is, if Elizabeth doesn’t let her past get in the way of her future.
This book is a good read, well put together, with good character development. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed – would have really liked a bit more considering all of the back and forth between the two before they finally got together. Seriously – any other guy would have given up.
Dirty English is the first book I’ve read by Isla Madden Mills. Ever since I’ve been hooked. It has a touch of Pride and Prejudice which is the best book ever. Elizabeth Bennet is the definition of damaged. She’s been broken in a way no women should have to be by the one they love. She started off young and naive like most of do when we first fall in love and had life altered. One decision, on Prom night, the night most girls look forward to, changed her course forever. Ever since she’s shut down. She became cold, rigid, withdrawn from her personal life. She lives by a motto of no repeats, screws them and leaves them before they can do that to you. Elizabeth is a very intelligent woman, she received a full scholarship to pursue a new life for herself. While getting settled into her place, she meets Declan in the most inconvenient way. Declan Blay is handsome, British (que sexy accent), intense and a fighter. He has dreamy silver eyes, and a body to die for. He’s every girl’s fantasy essentially. Declan is trying to gain independence from his abusive father. He wants to make his own way for himself and hopefully be able to help his brother. He’s doesn’t want a relationship after being burned by his cheating ex. Declan never thought his unicorn girl at the party would end up being his neighbor. Elizabeth is a Spitfire. The two of them are drawn to each other but neither is willing to budge. They have this intense connection. There’s a part of Elizabeth that warns her to stay away from Declan while another part pushes her. “My heart is not easily mended… you have the potential to rip it apart permanently.” Elizabeth. No one can blame her on her views of love. She got so burned. My heart cried out for her. “Love is a knife that cuts out your heart by piece; feeding it to the boy you love.”Elizabeth. It’s why she struggles her with wanting more from Declan. That’s not to say he’s a cake walk. He has his issues and pushes her too. “Loving Declan was like the rain storms I loved to dance in. Crazy and unpredictable, sometimes turbulent, sometimes gentle…I wanted him anyway.” Elizabeth. No matter what they went through, he was always there for her, fighting for her. “ The way she’d dance in the rain” the way she struggled through her fears. I wanted all of her.” Declan. One thing I like about this story is how Isla switched the roles. In most books, you see the girl wanting something serious and the guy wanting something casual. In Dirty English, it’s the reverse. Elizabeth wanted something casual while Declan ended up wanting more. These two weren’t easy and when through a lot of miscommunication, while that’s normal from two people coming from lots of baggage. “My heart was locked up tight. The key buried deep in my soul. “Elizabeth. Dirty English has such a great message of having fears and conquering those fears because of love. All it takes is for you to find the right person to help you want to change. A person worth taking a risk over, a second chance again, to open up, to be vulnerable. A chance of redemption and healing. It’s filled with passion, romance, and witty banter. You don’t have to love YA to fall in love with this book. I promise you, you’ll fall in love with Isla Madden Mills. She’s one of a kind. She tackles on difficult topics and writes it in a way that we can not only understand but relate. If you’re into YA, this is the book for you!!! Rating: 4.5 POV: Dual
Let me start by saying I have never read anything by this author before until this book. I bought this book on a whim because of the great reviews I was seeing from ARC readers online. That and the price was only 99 cents! I’m not sure what I expected, but I didn’t expect what I got. I was BLOWN AWAY by this book! I started reading it and couldn’t stop! I was so taken in by the story and the author’s writing that I felt like I was one of the main character’s friends and I was right there, tagging along with her, and putting my two cents in when I felt necessary. This book made me mad, sad, happy, glad, and elated at the end! I absolutely LOVED IT and highly recommend it to all who love a well-written, angsty love story. Buy this book. You won’t be disappointed!
Loved it….one of my favorite books ever! This author is an amazing writer.
It was an enjoyable read. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I love this story! These characters make you fall in love. The way Declan is such a bad-arse, but also such a softy? Melt my heart. I’m so glad he gets his Elizabeth Bennett. And that they are able to help heal each other.
OMG The British are coming,the British are coming straight to my house! Just putting it out there they are mine!!….lol
OK but 5 freaking awesome amazing stars for this book. I love Ilsa and all of her books and this one didn’t disappoint me at all I wanted more and still do. You know those books that you want to devour because they are so good but at the same time you don’t want to finish it,you want to savor it and hope it never ends…that is Dirty English for me. I loved the book from the first sentence to the last word! I strongly suggest that you read this book,it is not a cliffhanger book either although it does leave you wanting more and more and more but that could be just me being stingy. One of the best books ever and has totally got me in a hangover. Definitely worth reading and it will be a reread book for me.
Dirty English , Ilsa has given us a swoon worthy street fighter in Declan. This is not your typical cookie cutter college romance and that is what I love about it.
Elizabeth is our sweet reclusive college gal that has learned the hard way to not place too much trust in the in the people you love. If they are give the opportunity they have the ability to destroy you. She has certainly had her share of physical and mental anguish and has now moved forward to heal .
She unfortunately is a product of her environment and trusts no one. The moment Declan lays eyes on her he is positive she is his game changer. The more he begins to scratch the surface of this beautiful but emotionally withdrawn women the more he is drawn to her.
He needs to gain her trust and show her that yes their are good people out there that want to love you.
The characters were beautifully layered. You are drawn to the hurt and pain that Elizabeth has experienced. Declan is so unexpected, he is tough, gruff but when the right person comes along he melts inside and you love him for that characteristic !!
A beautifully damaged couple that hope to find healing and love in each other.
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Love the characters of this book! I actually read “Filthy English” first an that book left me wanting more from the characters! Dax and Declan.. I could not put this book down!
I really, really liked this one. Perhaps one of my favorite stories by this author. The British accent during the audiobook really brought the story to life. Sweet and awesome new adult sports romance!
“He was wrong for me. Anyone was, really. Because my heart was locked up tight, the key buried deep in my soul. And no one, not even Declan Blay, could pick that lock.”
A tattooed British hottie with a painful past (TWIN Brothers!!!) lent a fun, flirty, steamy, angsty ride on a College Campus to melt you to the floor!! Polar opposites, sinful attraction, back and forth while they fought the fall, I had a ball reading!! I dove right in to book 2!!
“Loving Declan was like the rain storms I loved to dance in. Crazy and unpredictable, sometimes turbulent, sometimes gentle.”
4.75 stars
Finally a H that made me swoon! Not overprotective, a guy who knows what he wants. A romantically sweet, not cloying story. I LOVED every part of it.
The MCs, as well as the other characters, were great. The plot was interesting and amusing, very well balanced. However, there were some things that felt unanswered (at least for me).
I would loooove to read an extra chapter, epilogue, anything really, about this couple in the future (maybe I’m too late)
It’s my first book by this author and I’m certain I’ll read more in the future.
I read this on audible.
This was the first book I’ve read by Ilsa Madden-Mills, and I found it exciting and intriguing. It was more than just a college romance. It was the coming together of two broken people to find so much more than healing. They each had difficult lives for different reasons, and fate put them at the perfect place at the perfect time. I love the dragonfly reference. It made all of the good things that much more meaningful. It was laced with bits of humor and brought out all of the feels. I loved Elizabeth’s strength, even in her weakness. And I found Declan to be sexy and complicated.
There were some triggers that were tough to listen to in the narration, but the story was outstanding. The narrators did a great job with Elizabeth and Declan. I’ve heard Summer Morton narrate other stories, so it was wonderful hearing her again. John Hartley did a fantastic job with all of the accents. But the English one was my favorite. This story was just what I needed for a pandemic escape.