From USA Today bestselling author K Webster comes a MM high school bully romance called Hood River Rat! Hood River was supposed to be the change I needed.A fresh start.An escape from my painful past.Better in every way. I’m a popular guy. Approachable. I make friends easily.Cool car. Nice clothes. Good attitude. Everything will be fine. School is school. I’ll keep my head down until graduation …
School is school.
I’ll keep my head down until graduation and try not to stick out.
College will be here before I know it.
Yet my first day proves to be anything but easy.
The Hood River Hoodlums—our school’s most notorious group of bad boys—have put a target on my back.
Their leader, Roan, hates me.
He calls me Rat.
To him and his friends, I’m a loser who doesn’t belong at their school.
I could pretend I don’t care about their hate.
If only Roan wasn’t so hot.
He’s mean, cruel, and sexy as hell.
My nemesis is impossible to ignore…and a secret part of me doesn’t want to.
Here I thought being gay was the worst of my problems.
Turns out, being gay and crushing on your enemy takes the cake.
This is a full-length high school enemies-to-lovers and new adult romance with high angst, suspense, and gutting emotion. It’s book one in the Hood River Hoodlum series that will have interlinking storylines. Hood River Rat can be read as a standalone and starts off a four-book planned series that gives each Hoodlum a book. This is the only MM story. The others are MF.
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Two tortured souls, with two differently horrible pasts! Two men different as night and day. One the tormentor the other the victim of his abuse.
A unexpected love that no one saw happening especially the two of them. Obstcales that good very well end up with one of them dead and the other in jail.
This is definitely a book that needs to be read. This book will have you at the edge of your seat and so many WTF just happened moments!
Hood River Rat was a great addition to the current world of bully romances. Hollis and his family have just moved to town after his father disowned him for being gay. So he’s not had a good time recently.
And it gets no better on his first day of school (mid-senior year, I might add!) when the Hood River Hoodlums take an instant dislike to him and his preppy style. The most important Hoodlum here is Roan, who hates Hollis and is yet intrigued by him at the same time.
Roan is pretty damaged himself, with an imprisoned father and a drug addict mother, and he is the primary “parent” for his sister. Hollis gets an insight into Roan’s life, and their equal brokenness seems to draw them together. Their relationship slowly evolved and they soon developed a deeply emotional bond.
Their physical connection was undeniable and the writing was superbly done. Steamy and sweet at the same time, their relationship was #couplegoals.
Lastly, I thought all the side characters served a purpose and were great additions to the overall story. Can’t wait to read more about all these Hoodlums!
I absolutely loved Hollis and Roan! I loved how Roan tried to be all big and bad. But managed to find his happy with Hollis. Roan’s love for his sister was adorable and warmed my heart how he was so protective of her. Every girl wants a brother like that. For real man. Back to Hollis and Roan.. i loved how the Hoodlums came to like and protect Hollis and help him if needed. I can’t wait for more Hoodlums!!!!
I did not go into this book expecting it to play with my emotions so much, but it did! Oh my goodness, this was a wild ride! I teared up several times reading this, laughed out loud a few times, ran the full gamut of emotions. K Webster has a way of pulling you into her stories, so you feel like you’re living the story with the characters! I loved Roan and how he was with Roux, how everything revolved around her. Hollis was just sweet, and so tortured and angsty. And I can’t WAIT to see more Jordy!! This was definitely a can’t put it down read, I finished it in one day! What a read!
This story snatched my heart! 4 stars
This was my first time reading M/M, and I am so happy I did! I was hesitant to read M/M for one reason: I always pictured myself as the heroine (you can call it weird or selfish, I don’t care!), so I wasn’t sure if I would emotionally connect with the story if I could not picture that. But when I read the Hood River Rat sample in the Bully Me 2020 anthology, I knew I could. I deeply cared about what happened to Roan and Hollis individually, I deeply cared about their relationship and I rooted for them so much. They both went through a lot which hurt my heart. Roan thought he hated Hollis when he first laid eyes on him, but that turned into fascination and addiction later. Hollis knew he shouldn’t be attracted to him, but they felt connected in more than a physical way. They wrecked each other’s lives in the best way, and they snatched my heart along with each other’s! I finished this book one sitting, because I was riveted to the pages of Hollis and Roan’s story! I loved and recommend this story, and I am excited about the next couple/book in the series!
*I received an advanced copy of this ebook for my honest review.*
Hood River Rat By K. Webster has written quite the firestarter of a bully romance read. It’s gritty, dark, twisted yet beautiful, evocative, touching M/M read. There’s heat, passion, needs, desire, confusion, and 2 young men who don’t understand the sparks flying between them.
Hollis had his life flipped upside down when he had to move to a new school. He goes from being Mr. Popular to Nonstarter. He’s shy and new so he is trying to figure his new life out.
Roan is the head of the gang at the high school. King Hoodlum. He runs everything . He’s a sinfully dark character. He has had to fight for everything. To fight to protect his sister from those who would hurt her/them.
Just know when Hollis crosses Roan, oh my!! Enemies-to-lovers/Bully romance. I don’t want to give anything away but oh this story is seriously swoon-worthy!! K Webster is the Queen of Dark Romance and she really did this with a serious angst, dark, raw hand. Loved every moment.
My Rating: 4.7 stars ********
Heart wrenching and steamy M/M high school bully romance.
This is the enhanced version of Hood River Rat featured as part of the anthology Bully Me Class of 2020.
I really enjoyed Roan and Hollis as they go through so much. Theirs is a unique enemies to lovers story with lots of heart and even more scorching passion.
Hood River Rat has proved once again that K Webster is a genius when it comes to storytelling. Hollis is the new boy at school. He has a run in with his automatic enemy named Roan. What happens when hate starts to blossom into something else? Both characters are strong and worthy of loving. Roan comes with a really sad back story that will make you tear up. This book was sexy, intriguing, emotional and beautiful. What a truly wonderful book. I can’t wait to read the follow up, Little Hoodlum. This is a must read if you enjoy m/m enemies to lovers romance.
Diving into Hood River Rat I expected an intriguing bully romance but the feels this raw, passionate, and heartwrenching book wrung out of me completely took me by surprise.
Roan and Hollis stole a piece of my heart and they are more than welcome to keep it. Both were such broken yet relatable characters that pulled at my emotions. Their struggles brought on the tears and the next thing I knew I was furiously blushing like crazy over their steamy scenes and dirty talking mouths. The angst and push and pull between them kept me on the edge of my seat constantly craving more.
Hood River Rat is so much more than a mere bully romance. It’s an intense, amazing, captivating, and tender love story that held me completely enthralled and I never wanted it to end. Now I’m left rather impatiently awaiting the rest of the Hood River Hoodlums’ stories.
I am all about some delicious M/M, and Hood River Rat tickled my fancy in every single way. Enemies to lovers/frenemies to lovers fans,THIS is the book to read. GAH! Y’all this book was EVERYTHING. Yes, it was super hot and intense and I loved every minute because… Well, Hollis and Roan! I loved the fact that this was two super hot dudes, but honestly I tended to get so caught up in them as their characters, that their gender didn’t matter as much as their journey to love. I was so drawn into their story. I was mesmerized. I was speechless, reeling and warm in my little southern heart. Seriously, this book that will have me jonesen like crazy until I can get my paws on Little Hoodlum. I just want more from The Hood River Hoodlums world K. Webster has created. This delicious tale of stolen kisses and forbidden love by K. Webster is a must read for fans of M/M or really just fans of literary amazingness in general.
This story will hit you in all your feels. It’s more than just a bully romance. It’s about good people and a little rough around the edges people that haven’t had the easiest time of it, but they find camaraderie together. It was just poignant and heartbreaking and healing and perfect. Roan and Roux just plain devastated me at times, but Hollis and his open and loving family patched them back up, just like K. Webster did to my heart by the end of this story.
However there’s one little name that causes a flutter of sadness, and that’s Jordy. But, I am hoping and have a feeling like maybe that will work itself out in the next book. Please K. Webster
Told in dual POV get ready to fall in love with Roan and “the Rat” and the rest of the characters in this book. Each one was an intrical part of making this book the amazing reading experience it was and I can wait for more of them in the next book.
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book!
Cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book!
– MY POOR HEART Y’ALL!! This book O-M-G. Secrets,angst, hot sexy times, so much heart, banter, heart ache, disappointment, and tears, These characters are LIFE!
-This is somewhat of a slow-burn romance however the tension is there from early on. But HOLY HOT HADES!! When then steam kicks in though, dang!! It’s hotter than a sauna. Steamy, hot, sweaty, and oh so sexy.
Cliffhanger Warning-Thankfully NO Cliffy! This beautiful couple gets a perfect Happy! Though K. Webster does set it up for mere books in this series and I for one can’t wait!
Trigger Warning-This book is a Bully romance and does have violence and scenes that could be considered triggers for some. If you have concerns you can PM for more information.
I’m not always the biggest fan of bully romances. There is just something about the cruelty that the bully often dishes out that I don’t understand how their counterpart could get past and find love for the bully. Knowing that, though, I also understand that K. Webster always delivers and I wasn’t disappointed in this story.
Hollis comes to town with a lot of baggage. Not only is he coming to terms with upheavals in his family, he is thrust into a new school, is dealing with some physical issues, and all the normal craziness that comes with your teenage years. When he meets Roan, they are immediately at odds, and saying that is an understatement. While the two of them are navigating that relationship, there is also SO MUCH going on in each of their lives that I’m not sure how they haven’t combusted.
The evolution of their relationship was interesting to say the least. They did begin with a lot of dislike, but once they found a space to act with a “truce” of sorts, they begin to actually talk as humans, not as high school students at war. At this point, they began to like each other, but they still couldn’t quite get past the reputation they had built at school for hating each other.
As the story went on, I found that Roan didn’t quite seem like a bully, but rather a confused and hurting teenager. There are so many aspects to this story that pulled me in – friendships, community, trials, family, and the regular struggles of teenager life. Once things became deeper, I truly became invested in this family & community enough to truly care about the outcome. I really fell in love with the family and all the characters. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
If you think about what a coming-of-age by K Webster would be, that is what this book is.
Bully romance, but so, so much more. It will rip your heart out, make you laugh, and trust me, there will be tears. But in the end, your heart will be overflowing with love and DYING for the next book in the series.
Five Hoodlum Stars
“You’re too perfect, porcelain boy. Makes me want to break you.”
K Webster has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Whenever I see a book with Kristi’s name on it, I immediately want to read it. Doesn’t matter what is is, I want it.
I read the first half of Hood River Rat in the Bully Me anthology that was released about a month or two ago. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop and I was so upset not to have the rest of Roan and Hollis’s story.
Finally, FINALLY, I got what I was missing. I LOVED THIS STORY. The characters are both broken in their own ways. Roan is mean and ruthless. Hollis is just trying to fit in.
This story had me in tears. It’s not easy to make me cry while reading but Kristi did it with the pain I could feel coming from these broken boys.
I can not wait to see what she brings next. I’m here for it. I want the words. I want ALL the words!!
“In all honesty, I want him to wreck me some more. I want him to decimate me.”
If you like bully, enemies to lovers and male/male, then you will LOVE this book.
I was immediately drawn in by the blurb on this one and I’m happy to report that this book totally lived up to everything I hoped it would… and then some!
As someone who comes from a broken home and witnessed parents with drug addictions and jail stints Roan’s character really resonated with me. I understood his initial dislike and resentful attitude towards Hollis aka “Rat” because of the Rat’s apparent wealth and “good life”. Roan just handled it the wrong way, but he’s a teenage boy still in high school dealing with the struggles that come with that on top of all of his home-life issues – so it was understandable that Roan would direct his anger/hate/resentment towards a specific target.
I felt bad for Hollis in so many ways but especially when it came to his dad. Hollis was a brave kid who rolled with the punches that his father threw and tried to suffer in silence so that his mom and sisters wouldn’t be disrupted anymore then they already had.
The Hoodlums were mean, funny and loyal as a group – I loved their banter and the bond in their friendships. I won’t say too much about this because I don’t want to give too much away but I will say: we should all hope to have friends like Roan.
An absolutely great, page-turner with all the drama you could hope for. I can’t wait to read the next book – I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
I chose not to read the copy of this that was in the anthology and I am so glad I didn’t. I would have gone crazy waiting for this full masterpiece. I have read quite a few MM reads and this one is in my top 3. The characters were live able, the passion and attraction they had for one another jumped off the pages (even when they hated each other you could feel that chemistry). I loved the hate aspect they had, the banter they shared and just the connection they had.
I really want Jordy’s book. He really had my heart aching for him. Even with the crap he pulled in this book in the first half. He pulled me in. I need to see that poor boy get a HEA. This author can really seem to write anything! While this was an MM novel, it was more then that. It was of love between family, heart break and passion. I don’t want to spoil the story but it was one that hooked me. From start to finish I devoured everything word, every feeling and clung to the sorry needing to see how it would end. I was not disappointed. Bring on the next book, I am so ready. 5 stars #2OCCJD
I usually never go into a book expecting to cry. Especially a book like this one. But dang, K Webster has such a way with words and writing that one minute I’m blushing and the next minute I’m bawling like a baby. Webster has such a way of bringing you down to your knees emotionally, it’s very powerful. Hood River Rat has officially taken the top spot for me, this is hands down my favorite Webster book and I’ve read quite a few. It’s got everything; Steamy scenes that light the pages on fire Heartbreaking, make you bawl scenes I can’t believe that just happened *gasp* scenes and so much more. Roan and Hollis are endgame and couples goals. They give you all the dang feels. Now I’m absolutely dying for the next one because I might already have a hunch where it’s going
Hood River Rat blew my mind in classic K
Webster style. Hollis and Roan’s story has every element of awesomeness. Chemistry that will set your kindle on fire. Character who are broken and twisted yet perfect. Angsty emotions run crazy through the pages along with nail biting suspense.
Hollis is forced to move with her aunt after his father abandons his family due to his sexual orientation. In Hood River, the Hoodlums rules and Roan is the king. He hates Hollis because of his apparently perfect life. Hollis should stay away from this arrogant, cold and almost cruel bad boy. But they have a magenetic pull they cannot deny. Roan is a dark soul with baggage that Hollis cannot even understand but he wants to. Will the Hoodlums destroy him? Or will the king fall for the rat?
Roan is an inspiring character who made my heart hurt so good. He carry so much weight on his small shoulder. He is protecting his sister from his addict mother and her shady lifestyle. He has experienced only poverty, violence and abuse. And all he cares for is fighting for survival. And his friends are his lifeline. He hated Hollis with all his heart. But Hollis carries slient strength behind his soft heart. This boy has been misunderstood. But he still loves unconditionally with every fibre of his life. The enemies to lover vibe was spot on here. The electrifying connection goes beyond physical craving. They help each other through every heartbreaking, devastating and life changing crisis. I was cheering for them through tears and their Happily Ever After was so beautiful. The storyline is fast paced with something happening at every turn. And it won’t be a K. Webster creation if it was not dirty and filthy as hell.
Let me tell you that you are in for one sexy, bumpy and angsty ride in Hood River Rat by K. Webster. She carved out a piece of my heart and captured it for eternity.
Received ARC for honest review
I’ll tell you a secret. I had never read a bully romance before this book.
I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Due to my history with bullies, I’ve always been sensitive around the subject (even now I’m almost 40) and figured it just wasn’t for me.
However, when I saw that K. Webster had written one I was suddenly interested. Add the fact that it’s M/M and I was sold, lol.
And omg, was it worth it!
RAT/HOLLIS
It’s so easy to love him!
He’s kind, brave, intelligent and hot. Sadly (for us girls) he’s gay…and make-believe also (keep forgetting that when I’m reading one of K Webster’s books *sigh*).
He and his family – minus the dick-head dad – have moved in with his aunt while his mum gets back on her feet.
Something he feels so guilty for because he feels like it’s all his fault that they had to move.
But it was his dick-head dad that pretty much disowned him for coming out! His mum took his side (yay mum!) and kicked that idiot to the kerb. Now they are starting all over again.
The first day of a new school was…not good.
He managed to get on the bad side of the toughest dudes in the school and it all goes downhill from there.
The worst part is, the guy who’s head of these thugs- Roan – is hot as fuck.
Hollis’s treacherous body hasn’t quite gotten the message that this one is off-limits though as his dick gets hard whenever he’s around!
Beyond all reason, he wants this dude…but no matter his intentions, he only manages to piss him off more.
Appearances aren’t everything though because as much as he seems to be carefree and happy he has so much going on inside that is just tearing him apart.
ROAN
This lad is hot-to-trot! Other than his hoodlum friends there’s only one thing that he cares about. His wee sister.
He needs to protect her and get her out of the house they live in.
Their dad is in jail for murder and their mum is a druggie with a habit of picking the worst of men to bring home.
Wee Roux (she’s only 13) isn’t safe there and they barely have enough money to eat.
Life has never been kind to Roan and he’s angry at the world so when he sees the new kid looking like the all American boy next door with plenty of money…well it’s an instant trigger for him.
But the thing is…the more he treats Hollis like shit, the worse he feels. And to top it off his body keeps doing some crazy shit whenever they’re together.
Something is coming alive between them, no matter how hard they try to deny it.
But Roan also has some demons to fight and not just the ones in his own mind.
Life is a constant battle and is only getting worse for him and Roux
SEX SCENES
These were hot as fuck but also sweet. Learning and exploring each other’s bodies. And the first time with a male for one of them.
Taking him deeper in my throat, I make sure to keep my eyes locked on his golden-brown ones. With my wet fingertip, I tease at the puckered hole of his ass. He clenches, fear shining in his eyes. I pull off his dick and smile. “I’m going to put my finger inside you.” “Well, do it already.”He’s grumpy because he’s afraid. “Demanding,” I tease, licking at his tip. “I’m in charge right now. So lie there and hush.”His scowl is somewhat playful until I take him deep into my throat. As soon as his hips thrust up, I push into his body. He lets out a string of strangled curse words, his ass tight around my finger. Slowly, I ease into him, seeking out his prostate. I know the moment I touch it because he cries out. Such a sweet, vulnerable sound from a hard, often mean boy. My name is whimpered on his lips as his salty cum shoots abruptly into my mouth. I keep massaging his prostate until his dick ceases twitching, swallowing down each jet of cum. His hips stop flexing up and he lets out a ragged breath. I slip off his dick and grin. “What do you think?”I waggle my brows at him. He grabs my biceps and hauls me up to his mouth. His tongue is curious and probing as he kisses me, tasting his remnants on my tongue. We grind together as we kiss. He grows hard again, which feels good against my dick. “Hollis,” he murmurs, fingers biting into my hips to urge me to move against him. “I like this. I like you.”I nip at his bottom lip. “Me too.”
Final Thoughts on HOOD RIVER RAT by K Webster.
This one was quite the emotional rollercoaster right to the very last page!
Although these two had their HEA I wanted to keep reading so that I can find out what happens with all of the characters in the book!
There were some dark and dangerous moments and I could hear my own heart beating while reading them and there were sexy AF moments where, again, I could hear my heart beating, lol. Ye ken?
4 Stars
Omg. K Webster has blown me away with Hollis and Roan’s story. This is one of my favorite MM books ever. It was filled with tension and suspense and secrets and SO MUCH HEAT! Everything I’ve come to love in a K Webster book. The characters grabbed me by the heart. The plot grabbed me by the throat. And the ending filled holes in my heart I didn’t even know were there. I can not wait for more stories from these characters! Read this book right now!