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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I love me a good new adult romantic comedy, especially when it’s written by an author I’ve been following for years, Carrie Aarons. Seriously though, I didn’t know what to expect out of this story. I mean you hear RomCom and think tons of laughs and a good time but reading the blurb, I was unsure. I mean, Henley’s bestie just died of cancer! That’s rough on any day but Catherine was a high schooler. It just instantly made me sad. And it is sad. A little bit. Just enough angst, in my opinion. Henley is fulfilling besties bucket list after she dies. Some of it is fun, a lot is fun really, but Lincoln is serious business and Henley is in it to do it all for her friend’s memory.
Never doubt Carrie Aarons though! She is an incredibly skilled author and new adult is just one of her many talents! Fool Me Twice walked a fine line between just what we want in a college romance… that sweet first love that makes your heart stutter and swell, with some angst and drama to remind us that we are dealing with the young and freshly in love with revenge on the mind, add in the heart-breaking reasons behind the bucket list and you get yourself a well-rounded story that pushes and pulls at your heart strings! Both Lincoln and Henley were fabulous characters! I really enjoyed Lincoln getting put in his place a bit more. He had himself on this pedestal in the beginning… we all know those cocky, arrogant jocks… this is Lincoln. Henley walks a fine line of love and hate and she trips up on the high wire multiple times! Aarons created such a great story! I know I definitely felt like a college student struggling with my thoughts and feelings!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Henley and Catherine were best friends since they were 3 years old. When Catherine’s cancer comes back for the third time her senior year of high school they create a bucket list and set out to complete it. There are 5 items on the list that Catherine wasn’t able to complete before she passed away. Henley vows to complete them. The last item on the list is to get revenge on Catherine’s ex-boyfriend, Lincoln Kolb. Lincoln was the star quarter back in high school and his goal is to work his hardest to become the starting QB his freshman year of college and get drafted his junior year and nothing will stand in his way of that . . . until he sees Henley.
I loved Lincoln. He was so sweet and amazing and he knew just how to read Henley and when to push and pull with her. Their banter was hilarious and I couldn’t get enough of it. Henley was extremely loyal to her best friend almost to the detriment of her own heart. You could feel how much she loved Catherine and how much it was eating her up that she had to get revenge on Lincoln. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow and their chemistry was amazing! I was worried with how the story started that this would be a heavy read and it was not. This was a sweet, funny and sexy story that was beautifully written. I was sad to seem them go. I highly recommend you grab a box of tissues and read this book.
Carrie Aaron writes another heart wrenching, gut pulling romance with her new release, Fool Me Twice. This new adult story centered around two college freshman will pull you in just from the synopsis alone. Henley is out for revenge after losing her best friend, Catherine, to cancer her senior year. Having made a bucket list together, Henley is determined to fulfill her friends last wish- revenge on the boy who dumped her after cancer.
At first you enter this novel feeling like Henley is justified in bringing Lincoln to his knees after breaking her friends heart. Aaron writes such powerful words of loss that make you as the reader filled compelled to root for Henley and the wicked web she weaves around Lincoln’s heart. Until you meet Lincoln.
Yes, at first you roll your eyes at this freshman football player who is all ego. However, once Aaron’s cracks his shell and reveals the heart warming, family loving and determined player Lincoln is, she has you in a mix of feelings. Which my friends, results in an epic romance filled with all the pain love can bring.
Aaron’s captures every feeling with this one painting the most honest and true emotion of a new adult college romance. This one isn’t dramatic or immature. It’s pages is filled with bitter honesty and so much more than a love between a girl and a boy. Fool Me Twice was an amazing story of healing and morality that consumed me from cover to cover. One of Aaron’s best works to date. I can’t beg you enough to one click this one and see for yourself.
3.5 stars
Fool Me Twice by Carrie Aarons was a enemies to lovers kind of romance with shades of sports romance and small town romance. It’s story of how a girl wants to take revenge on the boy who broke heart of her best friend expired due to cancer. But what happens when she falls for the same guy? Is Lincoln the same bad guy her friend made him to be?
I loved Lincoln’s character. He comes across as the typical arrogant jock but as we see more and more other sides of him, I felt he is a nice guy. Who is in love with his family. Who is compassionate, respectful and helpful. He fought something fatal in his early life and that taught him to take nothing for granted. Henley is a nice girl. Someone who vows to complete her best Friend’s bucket list. She is smart, funny and bold. The author gave her character doubt, guilt and heartache about her feelings about Lincoln. I couldn’t help but feel bad for Lincoln as Henley kept doubting him till the end even when he gave no reason to her. They first became friends and then gradually more. I felt the story needed a bit more angst and drama because it resolved too easily after being dragged till the very end. I found myself turning pages to reach the turning point.
Overall, Fool Me Twice by Carrie Aarons was an enjoyable story. Not my favorite by her, but you should definitely try it.
Received ARC for honest review
Awwww, how I loved this story from Carrie Aarons! I was swept away by this story and the relationships within these pages. The story consumed me and I devoured it all from start to finish.
When Henley makes the commitment to complete her best friends bucket list for her, I don’t think she quite realises what she’s letting herself in for. What should be an easy task, ends up being far more complex, especially when feelings and emotions start to take hold. And especially where Lincoln Kolb is concerned.
I loved these characters and I adored the journey that they make. It was sexy, intriguing, funny and super emotional. I loved the back story revolving around Lincoln himself and the things that he carries. We learn a lot in this story and see Lincoln for who he really is. He’s been through a huge amount himself & he’s massively vulnerable. His heart is something special, even though he may not always show it with his popular ‘jock’ persona.
However, where Henley is concerned do all her loyalties not lie with her best-friend & her dying wishes? Somethings, maybe they can’t be forgiven?
I loved how the characters developed in this story. How they opened themselves up and we learnt so much about them. With an absolutely super storyline, plot twists that you don’t see coming, this story has a bit of everything. It’s definitely another MUST READ story from Carrie Aarons!
Losing her best friend Catherine was devastating to Henley but she is determined to fulfill all the dreams that she wasn’t able to and that starts with ensuring that Lincoln knows how it feels to be on the receiving end of the same treatment that he doled out to Catherine. While they are at college, she is determined to attract his attention and them dump him in the most humiliating way possible. What could possibly go wrong?
From the moment that Lincoln meets Henley he is enchanted and everything all in his life becomes secondary and that includes football. He believes that he can trust her with his past and his heart, but will he feel the same if Henley follows through with her plan?
Henley is conflicted as there is so much more to Lincoln than the arrogant hard-hearted jock that she believes him to be and their relationship has become about so much more than payback. Humor, heat and all the feels as Henley must decide what truly matters in life.
Great college romance story with funny antics sprinkled within the story. Along with heart felt moments and grief. So so good. I swooned for Lincoln!
Fool Me Twice left me an emotional wreck. What is more heartbreaking than your best friend dies of cancer but when you made a promise to finish her bucket list. Henley (love the name) is ready to complete the list her friend left and that includes the last item on the very bottom. Revenge on the boy that broke her heart and humiliated her when he found out she had cancer. Lincoln is cocky and knows his ability on the football field is just as phenomenal has his skills in the bedroom. But when a curly haired blond captures his attention, he’ll do everything to get her in his bed.
I rooted for Henley until I couldn’t anymore. I wanted to hate Lincoln until I couldn’t. Then I fell in love with each of them and wanted a happily ever after so bad. Loved Lincoln and Henley. Ready for more from their friends.
So many emotions…
I started this book with tears and ended it with tears. I can honestly say this is one of my favorite books so far this year. It will break your heart and then slowly put it back together again.
Henley and Lincoln are fantastic characters. He’s the hot football player that deep down is the sweetest guy around and she’s the character that you can’t decide if you love or hate her.
This is a great story with phenomenal writing. I will definitely be reading this beauty again.
*review by Michelle
So many emotions…
I started this book with tears and ended it with tears. I can honestly say this is one of my favorite books so far this year. It will break your heart and then slowly put it back together again.
Henley and Lincoln are fantastic characters. He’s the hot football player that deep down is the sweetest guy around and she’s the character that you can’t decide if you love or hate her.
This is a great story with phenomenal writing. I will definitely be reading this beauty again.
I’m not sure I can put into words, a review of my thoughts and feelings on this story and do this story justice! From the prologue in Carrie had me hook, line and sinker, I literally could not put it down! The characters that are the stars of this story, wormed their way into my heart, Carrie made me feel with her words what Henley and Lincoln were feeling! Even the background characters were great! This story deserves more than 5 stars, I recommend this book with my whole heart! I think you will enjoy it!
Great job Carrie!
The prologue broke me. The rest of the story helped build me back up.
When Henley’s best friend Catherine lost her battle to cancer she was determined to finish the last item on her bucket list. #10. Get revenge on Lincoln Kolb.
Henley goes to the same college at Lincoln just to make sure she gets revenge for Catherine, and thus their story begins.
I loved chemistry that Lincoln and Henley had, and the way their relationship grew. Their story had me rooting for them from their first interaction. Once the truth came out I felt it was rushed and wanted more than I received.
Moral of the whole story is, life is short and you only live once. Get that bright pink streak in your hair, go sky diving, live your life like you want, and maybe… just maybe while getting revenged for your best friend you fall in love and it becomes epic!
I am a fan of this author but this book was an ok for me, I liked it but it didn’t give the vibes I normally get whilst reading her books. Revenge books are fun to read I love the twisted nature of them waiting for that moment when everything is revealed. My main problem is that Lincoln didn’t come across as a bad guy at all, sure he was a little immature as proven by some of the dialogue but at no point did I dislike him. I also got that she was honouring her friends wishes but in the grand scheme of life his supposed crime was just not big enough to warrant all the trouble Henley went to. Henley was a character I didn’t really take to I mich preferred Lincoln. Overall this was a book with a good premise but just didn’t do it for me
How do you move on from losing someone so close? Someone you thought had been wronged? What happens when you meet Mr. Right under the wrong circumstances?
Find out in this gripping read from Carrie Aarons.
I was sucked into this book as soon as I saw the blurb. Reading the first chapter, I knew it was going to be amazing. By the end of the book I had been through almost every emotion under the sun and was smiling like a crazy woman.
Even though it was a crazy and wild ride, Jimmy and Stallion’s story (yes, their nicknames stuck with me even days later) was fantastic. A little bit sweet, some sad, super hot, and even more surprising.
An absolutely fabulous read that I happily give 5 stars to.
Wow – what a storyline! Henley’s best friend Catherine dies right before high school graduation, and it hits her hard. Leaving behind a half completed bucket list, Henley agrees to finish it for Catherine, and while most of the tasks are typical, there is one that is more impactful than the rest – to get revenge on Catherine’s ex-boyfriend Lincoln. She changes her college plans and sets out to get the revenge Catherine wanted, and ends up with much more than she bargained for when she starts to have feelings while seducing him. Lincoln is trying to make it to first string as a freshman, but when he meets Henley he starts to see a future and lets her into a part of his life he’s always kept private. But when he finds the bucket list, things change, and their relationship and future are left in question. I can’t get enough of Carrie’s storylines – there were parts of this book that I never saw comings, like Lincoln’s childhood and how it relates to Catherine’s! I really enjoyed reading this and was so happy for the HEA for them!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
“I’m stuck between a rock, Lincoln, a hard place, and Catherine’s list … what would I do for him?”
This sweet and sexy read was just what I needed! The chemistry was off the charts hot and the characters’ banter was everything.
Lincoln, AKA Stallion, is the notorious playboy we all despise in public but lust over in private. He’s hot, he’s charming, and he knows just how good he is.. at football girls! At football. Lincoln is the jock of the college. He’s the ‘It Guy’ on campus. But he also has a sweet and sensual side that only Henley can bring out in him.
Henley, AKA Jimmy, is a smart, artsy, beautiful girl. She loves photography and takes her schooling serious. She is the complete opposite of the jock she is chasing but she’s doing it anyway. Not for her. For Catherine. I loved how Henley didn’t give in to Lincoln’s playboy ways.. she made him work for it.
This book hit on all my feelings. I was rooting for them one second and screaming the next.
All around a great, sweet read.
Fool Me Twice gave me all the feels, not just for the individual characters, but the overall story as a whole. I swear Carrie Aarons’ books just keep getting better and better, but the sass and heart in Fool Me Twice definitely stuck out. Placed in an impossible situation, Henley goes down a rabbit hole with the star Freshman QB. Will she be able to live with what she has to do?
Seriously, this book was amazing. From the humor to the heart to the heat, Fool Me Twice is a new adult book that you need to read ASAP. 5 HUGE stars from me.
PS: I also want to thank Carrie Aarons for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly. Thank you! <3
A good, strong friendship is one where you’re thick as thieves, you spend every second possible with them, one that you would do anything for, a forever friendship is an unbreakable bond, and when one of you is terminally ill, it’s like a punch to your gut, a thousand times over, and when that sick friend dies, you do everything you can to remember her by, including finishing her bucket list.
When Henleys best friend Cathrine dies, she vows to finish out her bucket list, no matter the cost, even at the risk of hurting someone that she thinks is a good person, just because her best friend said he wasn’t as nice.
Carrie Aaron’s has brought us a different twist on friendships and what they might mean to us and the lengths we’ll go to remember our friends by when they’re gone. If you need an easy and fantastic read, grab your copy of Fool Me Twice today!
Another very different and incredibly amazing storyline from Carrie Aarons that will have you reading non-stop from the first word to the last!
A promise to friend, a plan for revenge, starting college, and an insanely hot guy who turns out to be nothing like she was expecting…geez, Henley’s life isn’t complicated at all!
When you end up loving a character you thought you’d hate, and questioning a character you thought you’d be cheering on…yeah, that’s what this story did to me.
Henley is no nonsense, independent, feisty and naturally beautiful. Lincoln is gorgeous, a self-proclaimed stud and a cocky football quarterback. Had it not been for a bucket list and a plan for revenge, they never would’ve met…how’s that for destiny?!
Unknown to Lincoln, Henley has followed him to college to fulfill the promise she made to her friend before she died, which is to take him down several pegs and make him pay for breaking said friend’s heart. It doesn’t take long for Henley to get Lincoln’s attention, enabling her to put her plan into action. The closer they got, the harder Lincoln fell, and the more I dreaded the outcome. Henley started to dread it too…whose heart was going to get broken if she continued to do what she set out to do?!
I was terrified, waiting for the other shoe to drop…would Henley do it?…decimate hearts all in the name of revenge?…or would Lincoln find out her plan some other way?
Saying this story had all the feels doesn’t seem adequate for all the emotions involved. Hang onto your heart because it’s going to be taken for a ride!
Wow. Seriously, wow. The book starts off with a gut punch (as you can tell by the synopsis) with a best friend trying to complete a bucket list for her recently departed best friend…who she list to cancer. If that doesn’t get you in the feels, just wait. So now we have a grieving friend who is trying to get revenge on the boy who broke her best friend’s heart before she died. Smell some complications yet? Of course you did… Well, complications there are. Because the head and the heart are two vastly different beasts, they don’t always ride the same train, and when they go to different stations, they wreck havoc on emotions. And that’s the crazy good part of the story.
Let’s talk about Henley a bit. I admired her loyalty and love. But at the same time, I had to remind myself she was young. And naive. She was just 19 and going into college. Plus she was grieving. Part of me wanted her to avenge her best friend, because surely Lincoln MUST BE A CAD. And then my adult brain said, “Hold up, sister, there’s always three sides to a story”. And that’s when Aarons dangled Lincoln in my face and made me do an about face.
So truth and lending? I think I loved Lincoln more than anyone else in the story. He was judged by a rash decision and his cover (as in, book cover…I know you’re tracking). Cocky? Sure, he’s a football player. Terrible person? Nah, I think he has just as many demons as everyone else. And he had something above and beyond Henley – vulnerability. Even through his jock persona, there was a depth within him that made me wish for more for him.
All of this reminded me how short and precious life can be. How easy it can be to misconstrue or miscommunicate. And you can be fooled and heart broken in the process. But when things works out, when the head and heart get on the same train, it’s a thing of beauty. That’s what Aarons wrote.