When my best friend died of cancer just before her eighteenth birthday, she left her coveted bucket list to me.
The things she already crossed off? Skinny dipping, going to Paris, completing the local hot wing challenge, road tripping to the ocean, and sending out a message in a bottle.
So, it falls on me to finish it for her, to honor her memory. In the next year, it’s my mission to:
Dye my … mission to:
- Dye my hair
- Have sex
- Camp out in a tent
- Go bungee jumping
- Get revenge on Lincoln Kolb
Most are doable, some terrify me, and then there is the last item on the list. When the raven-haired football god dumped my best friend during senior year of high school, she was devastated. The jerk with charm for days found out she was sick, and betrayed her in the worst way possible.
But he doesn’t know me, I went to school a town over. Now, to fulfill my promise, I’m the newest freshman on the campus where he is the big man. If there is one thing, aside from cheap beer, that a jock can’t pass up, it’s a shiny new girl.
So when I catch his eye, play hard to get, and then fall into his bed, I know my scheme is working to perfection. But what Lincoln can’t see coming is the beatdown I have planned for his ice-cold heart.
Unfortunately, what I never saw coming was the one he had planned for mine.
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Blown away by this gutsy book.
Looking at the cover, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is just a simple NA love story, and it is a love story, but there’s a lot more to it than just falling in love. For one thing, that’s not what the heroine, Henley had planned- for herself anyway- but, for Lincoln, yeah, he was meant to fall head over heels. Then she was going to do to him what he did to her best friend.
Only, what is it they say about ‘best-laid plans’? Yeah, Henley got caught up in all that was Lincoln. This guy wasn’t the demonic, virulent person she and Catherine had pegged him as. He’s a jock, the freshman quarterback with big plans. Yes, he has an ego and deservedly so, but Lincoln has a real-life persona and it’s not the same as the college boy. He’s sweet and kind. Romantic in his own way, virile and dominant- when Henley allows him to be.
He’s all that and a whole lot more.
Emotions bleed off the pages when these two are together, whether its a hot hookup or a raging fight, the feelings are all there.
Carrie Aarons must have gone to a dark place while writing this book, it’s a raw, gritty story with exposed nerve-endings that flutter in the wind of Lincoln and Henley’s emotions. But, there’s also real growth that is showcased with utter precisions and an ending that leaves you wishing for just a little more.
Wow! This book… Where to start? Fool Me Twice blew my expectations out of the water. It was angsty, wholly intense, steamy, wonderfully written and emotionally explosive. I smiled. I laughed, and I cried. And let me tell you this… It delivered in EVERY WAY! From the very start I was hooked, furiously flipping the pages and devouring this all in one day.
Henley and Catherine have been best friends since the early age of three. When Catherine’s cancer returns for the third time, they realize the end is near. So what does she do? She makes a bucket list and the two set off to see it through. Only Catherine dies before she is able to do them all. So it falls on Henley to finish the rest in order to honor her memory.
The last item on the list is a doozy… To get revenge on Lincoln Kolb for breaking her best friend’s heart. But Henley comes up with the perfect plan… To get his attention, play hard to get and to rock his world in the bedroom. To make him fall in love with her only for her to break his heart. And everything is going as planned until she starts falling for him too. But is she willing to choose him over the best friend she ever had? And how will he react when he discovers her plans for him?
“Henley Rowan came into my life like a meteor, destroying anything that came before her and changing the landscape of my life forever after.”
Overall, I am in awe of this author and her way of telling a story. From start to finish, it was addicting, intoxicating, heart-wrenching and delicious. I absolutely loved it, and I can’t wait for you to love it too! Henley and Lincoln are going to blow you away. So what are you waiting for? Go grab this book and READ!
I’m in the minority in that I thought the book was a good read and it had its angst but I didn’t much care for either Henley or Lincoln. Both their immature attitude at the beginning of the book frayed on my nerves but they did have some growth as the story progress. It’s a good story just maybe me feeling my age.
Fool Me Twice is Carrie Aarons’ newest standalone novel. I have been loving Carrie’s books for years so I knew I would want to devour this one even without reading the synopsis. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will try my best to make this fast.
It all starts with a bucket list. Henley lost her best friend, Catherine to cancer at the age of eighteen. It was devastating but she had their bucket list to complete. The last one is the most complicated. To get revenge of the boy who not only broke Catherine’s heart but did it with an audience. Henley had the summer to come up with a plan and now it was time to execut it. She knew it would be hard in some ways and easy in others. Then she saw him in the flesh. That’s when she knew it was most definitely going to be a challenge. He was to hot for his own good with charm for days. She was warned but damn…
Lincoln wanted her. Badly. Her body was perfection but it was her witty tongue that intrigued him. He has never had to work so hard for a girl’s attention and it not only turned him on but it turned him inside out. He should stay away from her and focus on football. That was why he was here…to be the big man on campus and get drafted. Not to be distracted by a coed. But damn…she wasn’t like any other girl. He was so screwed.
These two! Carrie is the queen of Mature YA. I have two remember they are college students even though Lincoln and Henley have been through hard times so they are more mature in ways. Yes, Lincoln seems overly cocky in the beginning but just wait. And Henley, she is a badass with a heart. Her task isn’t easy but will it be worth it?
Overall…it was a fun, sexy, and emotional read! I definitely laughed, cried and felt the heat.
Quotes:
The way he makes eye contact with one blue, one green, hypnotizing you into believing him. The small gentle touch, the whisper of his husky voice … He’s a dangerous man, and I need to keep my head clear and my focus sharp.
It’s a sin, watching this man exist. Eve would certainly be in trouble if this guy was in her garden.
“Sports are sports, babe, I don’t discriminate.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Babe? No. If you want to be affectionate, it’s Jimmy.”
What started out as a case of finishing off her best friends bucket list turned into something so much more. All past feelings regardless of what they are take interesting turns between Henley and Lincoln. All the raw emotions and pain felt in this story just bleed off the page that Aarons wrote flawlessly. I honestly could not get enough. I ached. I wanted to cry. I felt the pain of these two as everything unfolds and implodes. There are so many feelings that rush through you. What I loved about this story the most though was the character growth. Seeing from where they started to where they got to in the long run. It was a stunning journey.
Overall, I think this is one of the best by Aarons. It packs such a punch that makes you feel and so much more. I devoured it and could not put it down at all. It was utterly amazing. The quick wit and banter, to the emotional moments when things are exposed. It all is wrapped up into this epic tale that will have you wanting more!
This is one of those stories which deserves to be rated far more than the 5 stars allowed, is it certainly packs quite a punch and remains with you even when finished. Henley is on a mission to complete her best friends bucket list as she has passed on. When she starts at college her aim is to dish out revenge to Lincoln the football star. The chemistry between Henley and Lincoln is intense, but will things go to plan? No spoiler: this is a must read, you will not be disappointed. This is a beautifully written story which is an emotional roller coaster throughout, as well as heart-wrenching, steamy, and with witty banter, grief, revenge, sarcasm, and love. This gifted author has out done herself with penning this tale. I highly recommend for all.
Amazing from beginning to end! Henley had me hooked right from the beginning with finishing her friend’s bucket list. One of the items was Lincoln. Lincoln was deliciously confident, romantic, and vulnerable. Their chemistry was off the charts and the building momentum of their story was like a rollercoaster I didn’t want to get off. I think this is the best so far from Carrie Aarons!! I can’t wait for more!
This was such an emotional New Adult romance! I am so in love with Henley and Lincoln, a.k.a. “Jimmy and Stallion.” Reading this story was a fast rollercoaster of emotions. One minute I was an emotional wreck and then I’d be happy and smiling along with the humor and the steamy moments, and then all of a sudden I’d be punched in the gut once again. I couldn’t put this story down until these two got their happily ever after.
Revenge is a tricky thing; emotions and relationships are even tricker. I loved watching these two deal with everything that was thrown at them. Their journey is far from easy but when you are meant to be with someone, nothing is insurmountable.
If you’re looking for an angsty, emotional, new adult, sports romance, pick this one up. Lincoln will make you swoon!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
What would you do for your ride or die person!?!?
What would you willingly do for your ride or die? People say, I’d help bury a body. They say they’d take bullet for someone. Hell, Bruno Mars says he’ll catch a grenade, step in front of train, take a bullet to the brain…
But what would you do for your best friend? Would you…dye your hair? Probably. Would you go camping? Yeah. (I am not a bug preson, but I used to love camping as a kid.) Would you get revenge on the one who broke her heart? I know enough people who would say yes. The ones to actually do it…even fewer. The ones to face their acts …let’s just say its significantly smaller.
Revenge is a tricky thing. When you throw yourself into it wholeheartedly, it like anything can consume you. Henley may have thought of the list as a promise but its not so easy to do it. Relationships are easy to get into- not so easy to maintain. But to make a guy fall in live with you…that’s not going to be the piece of cake she anticipated.
Fool Me Twice is over too quickly but I think thats the grudge holder in me. Lol. Revenge isn’t as sweet and it won’t hold you at night. Henley and Lincoln will learn valuable lessons about themselves and each other. Don’t worry though, Carrie Aarons wants you smiling with heart eyes at the end and she will get you there too!
Fool Me Twice
Carrie Aaron’s
5 ++++++ Stars
Beautifully written!! Ever so amazing!! Loved this so so much!! Love the cover! Captivated my interest throughout! Very intense- tragic loss with grief, emotional, and a very steamy romance!
“He is my person, the one I can’t wait to talk to about every little thing that happens in my day, and the man I can’t fall asleep without. I help him through his vulnerable moments, especially the tough losses on the field, though there haven’t been many. Last spring, he went on vacation with my parents and me, and they got to know him even better than they did from the couple of short visits we took home. They’re officially obsessed with him, and I think my mom might want him for herself.”
“He’s become the most important thing in my life, my career coming in a close second. It’s funny, I always thought it would be the other way around, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re truly in love with someone.”
“I might have started this whole thing as an elaborate trap, a way to fool Lincoln Kolb into falling in love with me. In the end, though, the jokes on me. Not only did he fool me once, or twice, but he fools me endlessly. Though now, both of our eyes are open. We’re clearly choosing to walk down this path together.”
Very highly recommend! Get to one clicking!
“Henley Rowan came into my life like a meteor, destroying anything that came before her and changing the landscape of my life forever after. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Fool Me Twice is sweet,emotional and well written story that had me laughing,crying and swooning all the time while I was reading it. It’s a story about grief,forgiveness and falling in love and I loved every moment I spent reading it.
My heart was breaking for Henley and I was in awe of her,of her determination,how she was ready to do whatever it takes to honor her best friend wishes. That loyalty Henley had for her best friend is something admirable and one of the things that made me love this book even more. When I started reading this book I didn’t like Lincoln Kolb at all. I mean how can you love a guy that dumped his girlfriend in front of their whole school a week after she told him she’d been diagnosed with cancer again? But the more I got to know him,the more I loved him. And the same thing happened to Henley. No matter how much she tried to ignore it and no matter how much she tried to deny her feelings for him she couldn’t stay away from him. Two of them together were everything! That banter between them,chemistry and that connection they shared was undeniable and it had me swooning like crazy. I loved Jimmy and Stallion so freaking much! 4,5
Fool Me Twice is a very different and unique story from Carrie Aarons that had me reading non-stop from the first page to the last.
I loved getting to know Lincoln and Henley. Their story had me laughing, falling in love with these characters, and ultimately rooting for them throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
This book had a great, engaging plot, awesome characters and fantastic storytelling. It’s a seriously good college romance and the dialogue, snark and banter kept me engaged the whole time.
Have you ever read a book that resonates so deep in you, you physically feel the meaning and experience it all over again? That. Is. This. Book. Holy moly!!!
This is an intense, addictive, totally consuming, emotional, obsessive, steamy romance. I need to be able to put more than 5 stars for this review so you can just get an idea of how much I love and crave this book!!
Carrie Aarons’ quotes in this book completely blew me away. I felt so connected and intertwined with all that Henley was feeling. It was definitely an emotional and intense book.
I was absolutely mesmerized by this book! The way Carrie takes a storyline and revenge and turns it into a beautiful amazing love story full of ups and downs, twists and turns, was absolutely breathe taking. I honestly have no words for this book. It completely left me speechless and with a huge book hangover!!
The way these characters are introduced and why they are the way they are was totally awespiring. These characters hit home with me when dealing with grief and overcoming what you have to face. I am so in love with this story right now! I don’t have enough words to express how I’m feeling.
Lincoln (a top 10 book boyfriend!!) and Henley (totall bada** woman who will do anything for those she loves) come together for a story that’s will leave you with your mouth open and begging for more. They have been through so much individually, and together they are fighting demons as well. They are so strong and beautiful together, but it torn apart with lies, deception, and broken trust. You have to read the book to find out more. Believe me! It is one book you NEED to one click now!!
Henley is heading to college with a plan. Her best friend died of cancer and left her with an unfinished bucket list. She is going to finish that bucket list and do what her friend couldn’t. Getting revenge on Lincoln Kolb should be easy for Henley, after all he’s the jerk who broke up with her best friend when she found out she was sick again. Catching his eye is easy, getting him to fall for her is working beautifully, but what Henley didn’t realize is that getting to know Lincoln might make her see a different side of him. She’s ready to do what it takes to break his heart, but the more time they spend together she has to ask herself; will he break hers too?
Wow. This book was more than I thought possible. I absolutely loved the loyalty that Henley had for her best friend even in death. Unorthodox with the bucket list? Yes, but that fierce loyalty is something that not everybody experiences at such a young age. You could feel her love for her best friend, and I truly felt like I could feel what Henley was feeling when she was trying to figure out what to do. Just wow, honestly, that’s a terrible word to describe the magnitude with which this book hit me, but it was such an amazing book. ‘Fool Me Twice’ dives deep into your emotions and watching Lincoln and Henley come together and be vulnerable with each other was amazing. This entire book was so beautifully written, and the push and pull between Henley and Lincoln was palpable. Carrie Aarons isn’t messing around; she’s kicking off the New Year with a freaking bang!