They call him the devil. When I crash-landed into him on my first day at Loyola Academy, I was sure that couldn’t be true. He was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen in real life. Little did I know he was also the cruelest. I went from starstruck to stunned the moment his cynical eyes cut through me. I can’t tell you what it was that made him want to punish me. But from that day forward the … to punish me. But from that day forward the brooding recluse of a man made it his goal to torment me.
I want to loathe him, and some days, I do.
But good or bad, nobody’s attention has ever tasted so sweet.
What do you do when you have a hate crush on your bully?
Worse yet, what do you do when he’s also your teacher?
Hate Crush is a full length standalone age gap bully romance with a complete ending.
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3.5 I Can Keep a Secret Stars
I’m in love with A. Zavarelli’s mafia romances so I was highly intrigued when she stepped away from her norm and went with a Bully Romance. And since bully romances are a serious weakness for me, I was excited to read this. There are multiple aspects of this story that I loved and just a few that kept this from being a 5-star read for me.
**She is a curious dichotomy of fire and fragility if ever I saw one.**
I enjoyed the forbidden aspects of this story. You could feel his dominance pour from the pages in a delicious wave. Sebastian screams Alpha all the way. He’s strong and doesn’t take crap from anyone. He’s completely closed himself off due his past. And ultimately doing a job he hates because of a tragedy. Which in turn makes him super bitter and angry all the time. He’s a broody delicious Alphahole to the extreme.
**I want to taste him. I want to melt him in a spoon and inject him into my veins. **
Stella has the potential to be so strong. This girl has been through a lot and has many issues because of it. One of those main issues is abandonment. Everyone in her life has left her for one reason or another. And she’s stuck at this new school trying to cope with her new life. She doesn’t have a lot of friends and or family. And she ultimately doesn’t know what she wants or who she wants to be. Stella is on a path her mother has placed her on and she doesn’t want to be. She’s struggling with lots of issues and her own dark desires.
“I knew you were poison the first time I saw you, but I wanted to drink you anyway.”
Okay so this is where it gets tricky for me. I felt that due to her abandonment issues she lets Sebastian do anything. She just sit’s there and takes it. She’s constantly just trying to gain his approval. I wanted her to stand up and make him work for her. Also, I didn’t feel the connection between them, I didn’t feel them fall in love. I was waiting for the ultimate connection to pull through and it just lacked that for me.
“Cruelty is just pains gatekeeper.”
Don’t get me wrong I love this author and will read all the things she writes. This one just didn’t quite do it for me. I completely devoured it from the moment I started, and I would recommend it, but for me it just needed a little more depth and Stella’s apathetic nature just kind of killed it for me.
Like any other book of Ashleigh’s, this one had me hooked! I swear her writing gets better and better with every book! Hate Crush will have your emotions on overdrive but I promise you’ll love every minute!
Grab this student/teacher, bully romance today!!
I picked this book up because I love the author’s writing. Once I realized what it was about I have to say I’m surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did. I find”taboo” relationships creepy but I have to say this was well done! And I couldn’t put it down!
4.5 stars
I started this with the impression that I’d think the female lead was naive and immature and the male lead would win me over within seconds. That was not the case with Hate Crush. I adored Stella. She’s young and innocent but she has a maturity about her especially compared to her peers. When she’s sent to a new boarding school everything in her life starts to change. Suddenly she’s alone with no support from her family, she’s already made an enemy of the mean girl at school and now she somehow has to learn to survive Sebastian.
Sebastian Carter isn’t an easy man to like. He’s broken and troubled and usually I’d be madly on lust with him from the start but he frustrated me. I really disliked his actions at times, especially the way he treats Stella, but the more I found out about him the more I started to like him. Both these characters need something the other can give and even though they know they should keep their distance they’re both like moths to a flame. The sexual chemistry is hard for the reader to ignore, the characters have got no chance ignoring it.
This is a really good forbidden romance with an older, damaged man that will win you over and a woman that’s more than up for the challenges he (and life) throw her way.
I love Zavarelli’s books, her crazy stories always make me want to bite my nails out… And again, she managed to leave me with my jaw on the floor!!!
I have a thing for ‘bully’ books – so when I realized it was *also* taboo, I was SO curious… Both her teacher AND her bully?! It’s so fricking original, damn it!
” ‘ , . ‘ . .”
Stella LeClaire is starting her senior year at a new prestigious high school, ‘Loyola’, where money is just as important as grades.
And because she doesn’t come from old money, she has to deal with the mean rich girls… But her biggest challenge is facing the tough teacher, who makes all the students shake in their expensive designer shoes…
Sebastian Carter.
” , .”
Stella was mature and witty. I loved her strength, just because she was restrained and didn’t fight back (well, I couldn’t handle what she went through NOW – so definitely not in high school… I would have probably locked myself somewhere until my parents would come to take me home!)
Sebastian is the kind of character I love to hate and hate to love… Super dominant, possessive, jealous and alpha in the full sense of the word!!!
On the outside he is cold and tough (and I wanted to punch him in the di*@%!) But on the inside he is a broken man, with a tragic past.
He doesn’t like his job, the teachers who work with him or his students… He only has one purpose – to calm his conscience and make up for his past. And so, Stella becomes his project.
Despite all the hate between them, they can’t ignore the electrifying chemistry… So how will it end? What does he want from her? And who will exactly redeem who…?
“’ . , . .
, ’ ’ .”
Damn, this book was HOT!!!
Although there were BDSM scenes (which I really don’t like!) I was afraid my Kindle would catch on fire!!!
Surprising twists, forbidden romance, dark scenes… This book made my heart beat in the best way possible!
BUT… In all of the ‘bully’ books I’v read, the best part for me, was seeing the characters surrendered and fell in love, and it was missing here… There was physical attraction, but I didn’t feel the love. In my eyes, Stella depends on him, because she wants to please everyone… and Sebastian was obsessed with her and only saw her as a project. and I have to admit that it kinnda bummed me out at the end. (So… it was between 3.5 to 4 stars for me)
At that, this book reminded me of ‘Dark Notes’ By Pam Godwin.
” ’ . .”
So, if you want read about hearts and flowers, this is NOT the book for you… but if you want to go on a crazy ride full of passion – get some clean underwear… and get ready for a BLAST!!!
*** ℝℂ ***
Wow what a read that will have you on a love hate trip throughout this book. It is a amazing read that will suck you in to the story and have you hooked tell the very ending. This is a fast pace read that will keep you on the edge of your seat when read this.
Stella is awesome!
I’ve read most of the books by this author, and I love the way she doesn’t stick with one trope because she’s good at them all! Her heroes are a bit damaged and her heroines are tough enough to deal with their own problems and take on their man’s.
Stella is young when her world starts to fall apart but Sebastian is there to force her to find her own path. It’s not easy, especially when Sebastian is fighting his own ghosts and Stella has to prove her loyalty and submission repeatedly. I loved the epilogue and feel like it was the perfect time and place to get a glimpse of the future!
A Zavarelli has yet to let me down! Absolutely LOVED!
A forbidden taboo age gap bully read that definitely gave me all the angst and feels! Sebastian and stella’s tumultuous relationship throughout the book makes it a page turner like no tomorrow. Angsty plot, Forbidden Taboo relationship, and the sexy chemistry gives you a perfect A. Zavarelli Read!
This book is so much more than a bully/taboo story.
It’s also about two broken people trying to live or going through life the best they can.
With what has been handed them.
Sebastian is a strict no nonsense teacher at a prestigious school.
He’s good at teaching but he’s not really living his full potential.
He is one hundred percent alpha.
He is one hundred percent dominant.
And most of the time he is an a$$h**e.
Underneath all his tough mean layers though the are glimpses of his pain and vulnerability.
Stella is a young woman who knows what she wants.
But lets her parents guide her path.
Her heart isn’t in what they want for her.
But she does as she’s told.
When Stella and Sebastian’s life crash into one another both of them are in for the fight of their lives.
Their relationship is complicated.
Not just because of the taboo issues that are involved.
But also there is so much more complex things that happened/are happening.
That makes their situation not easy.
I loved Sebastian.
I love his type of domineering personality.
He was cruel at times which made me what to punch him.
But when his tender side shows it melted my heart.
I adored Stella.
For being so young I thought she was handling her situation the best she could.
She never gave up nor let circumstances and situations defect her.
Stella does the best she can within her means.
I thought the relationship with Sebastian and Stella was complex and twisted.
Their chemistry is undeniable.
The tension between them is absolutely combustible.
They are sizzling.
Whether they are arguing or burning up the sheets it’s always red hot with them.
“But I don’t know how to love you gently. I only know how to love you on fire.”
I loved those two sentences!
And this is who Sebastian and Stella are.
I have to confess that I LOVE bully books! I also love the whole student/teacher romance trope. To have the hot teacher also be the bully? I’m in heaven.
Stella is the only child of a former super model and a former photographer turned Wall Street type. Her parents are rich, nouveau riche to some, and always worried about how things look.
In that vein, they are shipping Stella off to the super exclusive Loyola Academy for her senior year. She also has been a bit of the misbehaved teen trying to get their attention. So the boarding school is to help keep her in line and on track for her mother’s dreams.
Unfortunately for mama, things aren’t so great in their rich little bubble. At least not for them. Stella ends up saving herself because her parents are a mess. A very selfish mess.
Thankfully, Stella has one really good friend, Sybil, who is at the school too. So she isn’t completely alone. She also is a pretty determined girl. She isn’t going to let her parents mess everything in her life up.
She also isn’t going to let the hot, sexy, strict, and oddly mean, Mr. Carter, her new teacher, stop her either. Even if he keeps targeting her in class, giving her detention, and fills her every waking thought.
Mr Carter, Sebastian, has his own agenda for being at Loyola. He doesn’t really like teaching and is known as Satan to the students. He also is one hot, sexy package. And full of guilt he is trying to make up for.
He picks one student every year to be his secret project. Secret because no one else knows about his projects. Just him. This year? That project is going to be the stunning redhead who rubs him the wrong way from minute one. Stella.
Angst, heat, so much heat, suspense, tenderness, did I say heat? Yeah, add more heat.
Sebastian makes Stella’s life heaven and hell on earth. A hot steamy heaven and hell. Shades of The Secretary.
But while he wants to make her his, he also doesn’t want to make her his. He is very protective of her. After all, her parents certainly aren’t. And yet, he is also the one who can hurt her the most.
I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
3.5 stars!
I have read A. Zavarelli for years and have LOVED her stories. They can range from mafia to contemporary – if she writes it, I will read it. For that reason, I was intrigued when she said Hate Crush was a bully romance as bully romances are a weakness of mine and a trope I can never get enough of. Sebastian and Stella were delicious, sexy and their banter was engaging.
But while I enjoyed the story and found them to be compelling, I did find that their connection was somewhat stilted. I never really felt the love and the zing between them. While their attraction was obvious, her feelings for him seemed almost co-dependent and obsessive due to her feelings of abandonment versus real emotions of love. In addition, while he was dominant and alpha, I never quite believed that he loved Stella. To me it felt like she was a pet project he could check off his list during his time at Loyola. As a result, this was a mixed bag for me as I hoped for more of a connection between them as I have found in countless other books by Zavarelli.
Don’t get me wrong, bully romances are my weak spot. I love them more than anything especially seeing the couple fall in love amidst the bullying and turmoil – a turning point so to speak. But I unfortunately couldn’t find that here in Hate Crush. While this was a sexy student – teacher romance, it didn’t have that love story “feel” I crave. But like always I love this author’s writing style and look forward to more from her in the future. 3.5 stars, Ratula
Hate Crush is definitely a taboo bully romance. Stella is the lonely little rich girl, or is she? That is the question I found I was asking myself. Sabastian is the taboo bully. What starts out as a lesson turns into more. Sabastian wants to teach Stella, but is she teaching him? This book is steamy with teacher/student (she is eighteen) relationship that does cross some lines.
5 STARS
This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading from A. Zavarelli. I really enjoyed this student/teacher-bully romance. It was a nice change of pace from the standard bully romances I’ve read lately. There was sizzling chemistry between Stella and Sebastian. The way he was dominant with Stella and she was the perfect submissive, just worked.
This was an enteratining and EPIC read! If you enjoy student/teacher romances, you’ll most definitely want to read this one. Hate Crush by A. Zavarelli will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
This book was really, really good. This is an awesome spin on the bully romance trend that’s going around. It is still a college bully romance, but there’s also an age gap, considering the person she has a hate crush on also happens to be her teacher
Hate Crush by A.Zavarelli is going to test your limits. If you think you can handle and breeze through any kind of forbidden, taboo and bully romance, think again. Because this steamy, volatile and intense story surprised me in the best possible way. Guard your panties and your heart. Hate Crush will capture them in a heart beat.
Teacher Student romance is one of my favorite forbidden trope. It can be tricky to balance the chemistry and the awkwardness. But A.Zavarelli did a stellar job of making this story memorable. I hate and love Sebastian. And that’s exactly what I wanted to feel about him. A brooding, tortured , broken and arrogant alphahole all the way. I am drawn to his cold, ruthless, sometimes heartless and punishing attitude. Because this same guy morphs into the most protective, caring and charming lover ever. His dominance and anger hides the jagged bleeding edges. And Stella is the first person to shed light in his dark soul. He should not want her or crave her or try to destroy her. As she is his student in one of the most esteemed institutions in the country where he is working on his mission to change someone’s life. So he shows his caring and hides his emotions by doing what he can do best. Hurting, debasing and pushing away Stella. But how far is too far? Will he lose Stella completely?
Now Stella is a different story. This girl has so much resilience and strength in her heart. Life keeps on knocking her down and she gets back on her own two feet every single time. She feels this addictive attraction to her intimidating and rude teacher. And she is not afraid to acknowledge the dirty, filthy and deviant part of herself that finds happiness and satisfaction by submitting to Sebastian’s darkest fantasies. She kept her promises and was always loyal to him even if he broke her heart repeatedly. It could have made her a weak and docile girl. But A.Zavarelli’s storytelling made it an angsty, heartaching and beautiful connection. The passion is like a burning fire. But the more enthralling part is how their broken pieces fit together to heal and complete each other. The twists and turns did not let me feel bored or distracted at any point.
Hate Crush by A. Zavarelli was a deliciously sexy and heartbreaking taboo treat. The passion, the emotions, the characters and the writing all came together to gift us this unforgettable romance.
Received ARC for Honest review
I really like this author’s books and when I saw that her next project was a forbidden love affair between teacher and student I knew I had to read.This book runs away from what I’m used to from it which are the mafia books, but this is not a bad thing. I liked the premise of the story and found the book sexy, and quick to read. I liked the book but couldn’t love it.
Sebastian and Stella are two complex and secretive characters. And while I could feel the attraction and chemistry between them in my opinion the romance element was missing. And I think the book eventually fell into avoidable clichés. I really like the author’s writing and although this is not my favorite book hers is still a nice read.
Hate…HAS NEVER BEEN HOTTER!
HOT! SEXY! FORBIDDEN! And a BROODY ALPHA! Hell YES! It doesn’t get any better than this.
Stella is starting her senior year at Loyola Academy, the elite boarding school. Her mother has a plan for her. Her future has been all mapped out. Her father told her it’s her shot to follow the path laid out because he has sacrificed everything to get her there.
Her first day sets the tone. Mr. Sebastian Carter is her teacher. He has a reputation for being tough and ruthless. Her first impression makes her a target. Too bad she hates him even though she can’t help her attraction to him either.
Sebastian has secrets. A past that haunts him. His current life is nothing that he ever imagined it would be. A tragic night changed everything. Now he lives for her. To live the life she had wanted. He can’t let go of the past.
Stella may be his student and any relationship is off limits, but she is attracted to his darkness. He hasn’t felt anything in so long, but Stella makes him FEEL! Consequences be dammed!
Taboo is just about my favorite thing to read and this story was perfect! Sebastian has the dark and broody down. You can’t help but love all his broken parts. This man will OWN you! Stella is naive and the total opposite to Sebastian’s brooding nature. She is his light, his saving grace. If you love a student/teacher romance with intense chemistry and a total alpha, then this is a DO NOT MISS READ!!
I was so excited to read this book. I love bully romance add student/teacher to it and I’m in heaven. This is my first book from A. Zavarelli, so I went in not knowing what to expect.
Stella and Sebastian’s relationship was definitely intense. Sebastian would take and Stella would give. Sebastian was a complete jerk and Stella would love it at the same time as hating it. She loved his dominant jerk side during their alone time, but he had a problem with being a different kind of jerk in the daylight. Their push/pull, give/take relationship was a roller coaster as a reader. Everytime you think Sebastian will stop being the world’s largest asshole he proves us wrong.
This forbidden romance is hot AF to read. These two are not low on the steam factor of their relationship. Right from the start the chemistry and attraction between them jumps off the page. When they finally get together it’s like an explosion to read.
Like with any forbidden romance they have to stay secret, but what happens when their secret comes out? Will it be too late for Sebastian to make up for the mistakes he made? Will Stella continue to believe she needs to stop the train wreck of a relationship they have or will they be able to salvage it?
Hate Crush was a good read. It definitely left me wanting to see what else Zavarelli has to offer.
3.5 Hot, sexy, teacher/student forbidden romance, older man.
I’m not usually a fan of this trope, I wasn’t really a fan of this but it’s A Zavarelli, I love her books, her writing and to be honest I dove In without question.
I wasn’t disappointed, I did enjoy most of this book I just found HATE CRUSH to be similar to other student/teacher romances I’ve read before, the forbidden romance development, the secrets and sneaking around, the hot bossy teacher and like I said it’s not my favourite trope.
I can’t say I liked the hero Sebastian, he was mainly all about the sex, he was cold, hard and demanding, maybe if he’d had more inner turmoil battles, shown more of his venerable side, I may have been a little bit more sympathetic but he was just an Ass hole to Stella until he was shaken out of his miserable self in the eleventh hour.
Stella didn’t have enough backbone for me, I know she was only eighteen but her weakness caving into and succumbing to Sebastian aka Mr Carter each time he hurt her, used her and made her feel like door mat, annoyed me.
An enjoyable hot sexy read but not one of my favourites from A. Zavarelli, I missed the different kind of angst I normally love from this authors books.
Hate Crush by A. Zavarelli is a deliciously tempting teacher/student romance, one’s that’s an older man/younger woman romance. It’s a brilliant mix with sides of steamy and mind blowing scenes that will totally fry your e-reader completely. You have your dark, raw and brooding alpha (Sebastian) plus your beautiful, smart and sweet heroine (Stella).
When you get these two broken souls together, it’s like watching fireworks go off. They are electrifying!! Seb was horrible to Stella. He was conflicted about his feelings for her since he was her teacher yet he bullied her. Stella was grace under fire and just handled him beautifully which made him act more like a jerk. But there are more twists to this story- their story and I loved the emotions, chemistry, feels, steam, heat, drama, angst, twists, passion, intrigue, heartbreak, heartache, anger, frustration, fear, forbidden romance and love that pours out into the pages in this story. It’s a unique, intense, amazing, steamy , dark, beautiful and interesting read that has a fabulous HEA.
MY RATING: 4.5 Stars *********