A steamy and angsty coming of age stand-alone that will pull at every heart string. Twists and turns that keep you on your toes, and characters who are forced to open up old wounds from their past.
Jasper rolled into my life like a loose wagon wheel—taking out everything in his path just to get to me. It was all for show, until it wasn’t. No part of me was prepared to be swept away. After all, … be swept away. After all, gravity is supposed to keep us grounded. He had other plans, and didn’t give a damn about the chaos we were about to unleash. They say secrets are like a silent death. Only, I never knew the depth of it until now.
I never saw Blakely coming, but when I did, there was no chance I was letting her get away. She’s a walking disaster, always leaving a trail of smoke in her wake. And me? I’m the sorry bastard who kept following her—that is, until she sucked the air right out of my lungs, just to keep her own filled. She’s a queen through and through. A spoiled rich girl that reaps no consequences, until she did. I’m that consequence, and I know her dirty little secret.
☆☆☆☆☆I loved it beginning to end and it was exactly what I needed to be able to escape the real world for a few hours and get caught up in their unexpected love story. -Dirty Reads Book Blog
☆☆☆☆☆She definitely keeps the reader on their toes. Such an extraordinary love story. My one an only complaint is it left me wanting more! A highly recommended read. If you like steamy, romantic completely interesting love stories then this book is for you! -Goodreads Reviewer
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Like Gravity • Redwood High Series Book 1
Rachel Leigh
“I want all of you—the broken, the bruised, and the beautiful.”
Such a tragically beautiful story of overcoming pasts, being true to yourself, discovering secrets, revenge, standing your ground, forgiveness, and falling in love. Lots of high school angst & drama with unexpected twists that will keep you guessing.
Rating:
Bullies, Lies, and Secrets
I really enjoy bully romance, but it is funny how perception can change based on the particular book you are reading. About a week ago, I read a bully romance book and in my review I said that I was tired of the bully always having to be more than just a bully. I have read more than one book where the bully is a Mafia kingpin, in a cartel, or even some sort of heist crew. I was wishing that these high school kids would have normal family issues and behave more like actual high school kids.
However, when I started this book, I got a bit frustrated because the characters seemed to be acting a bit too immature. Funny, since they are high school kids and kids do act immature. So I realized this was more the kind of book I wanted. As the book progressed the characters got much deeper and the storylines became extremely compelling.
This book was about a girl named Blakely from a wealthy background. Blakely has a ton of issues. She used to be the most popular girl in the school but after getting drunk and passing out at a party, a few of her classmates took some pictures of her and spread rumors about her to the entire school. The girl behind it was Blakely’s rival, a girl named Petra. Now Petra is at the top of the food chain and Blakely has a mask of toughness that she uses to keep people at a distance and make sure she doesn’t get hurt.
Blakely has a difficult home life with two parents who are rarely home and when they are home they ignore her and her younger brother. Her father is an alcoholic and fights with her mother a lot, so their house, though big and beautiful hides a cancer within.
Enter new student Jasper, who’s from the rival school. His father is the new Coach and they moved in with his father’s girlfriend and her son, Knox. Knox is Blakely’s best friend and next door neighbor, so Blakely spends a lot of time at their house. Jasper has his own issues, mainly stemming from the fact that he didn’t want to move away from his football team and friends in his senior year of high school. His dealings with Knox are very acrimonious and though he tries for his father’s sake, he has a quick temper and often lashes out.
The romance between Jasper and Blakely is non-standard since she is trying to get revenge on Petra. Blakely wants to date Levi, the football quarterback and most popular boy in school. I really liked the progression of the romance between Jasper and Blakely and the build up. It was also quite steamy. The storylines all meshed well together and kept me at the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
The first couple of chapters into this book, I was not a fan of the characters. However, as I continued to read this story, I watched the aspects blossom and mature before my eyes. This book was a pleasant surprise. Jasper, along with his father, moves into a new town and house, obtaining a future brother and mother. Jasper demonstrates his feelings in the way he responds to teasing. He is having a hard time moving from a place he called home to a rival town that he has to accept for his senior year. Blakely is a stubborn, vain, self-centered, and manipulative girl. As the story unfolds, she lets down her walls and peels back the layers of her bitter self. Jasper and Blakely hurt and heal each other. The fight that they have to help each other shows what true colors shine underneath their dark shadows.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Based on the first couple of pages, I really didn’t think I was going to like the story…or at least I expected it to be so similar to hundreds of others that it would be boring. I’m glad I kept reading because I ended up loving it. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I immediately purchased the other three books already published by Ms. Leigh and can’t wait to get the second book in this series.
While the story is similar to others as far as having broken people as main characters, I fell in love with Blakely and Jasper (Knox, too & his story is next) and found their backstories heartbreaking. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you give this book a try.
Jasper and Blakely are two broken souls trying to navigate through life, school and love. Blakely suffering trauma and family dysfunction. Jasper getting used to his new reality… seeking revenge on the person who turned his world upside down. The odds are set up against them.
My heart clenched reading this entire story. I could feel the pain, sorrow, and loss. The trauma Blakely suffers through is described so well that I felt I was living her story. The suspense kept me reading page after page.
Love and hate the main characters in almost equal measure
Blakely, a high school senior with issues, meets Jasper, the new kid in school with a chip on his shoulder, in class on his first day at the new school. As the story progresses battle lines are drawn, walls are breached, and getting to the center of one problem could cause more gall out than anticipated. Rachel Leigh keeps the reader hooked in this new adult bully romance. The reader will love and hate the main characters in almost equal measure as they travel down the dark and twisted path.
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
Two broken individuals amongst the secrets and lies.
This book gives you more than you expect. From the beginning you meet a mean, rich, and vain girl named Blakely, who wants to be the queen of the school but isn’t quite there. You meet the new kid Jasper, who is from the rival school and the poor side of town with a IDGAFA about the world.
They definitely have a enemies to lovers feel in this book. Jasper likes to mess with Blakely for her reaction but he also see far more than most see with her also. Blakely is a character you don’t know if you like or dislike sometimes but definitely sympathize with her. She has a dysfunctional family and is more the parent to her younger brother and she keeps secrets so one day she and her brother will be free of their horrible life at home. Jasper struggles with the loss of his mother and has destructive tendencies when he’s provoked and can be a bit of a jerk at times. He is forced to move his senior year to his rival school where he is now on a team with his soon to be stepbrother and his dad as a coach. He doesn’t want to be there but he soon finds his reason for staying because he wants the one untouchable girl he’s been told to stay away from.
These two are very opposite but work by being a piece they both seem to need to heal. The secrets and lies will cause pain between all involved but it finally gives the answers as the story goes on. You definitely will get more insight into these characters.
This story has you hooked by the bad boy taunting the queen of the school in the beginning, but the more the story plays out you get two broken people needing love for the first time. If you want a book with a touch of bullying and enemies to lovers feel this is a great book to start with. I freely volunteered for an ARC with nothing to gain from it other than giving my honest opinion and review of this book.
Blakely had it all, status, wealth, popularity. However, being the Queen B isn’t everything. The family secrets and pain that she hides. Jasper was struggled with his huge change in his new life and home. When they cross paths, secrets, lies, and truths are revealed.
This is actually my first story by Rachel Leigh. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There was a bit of mystery, heartbreak, steam. There was one scene that completely broke my heart. I ended up tearing up. I wasn’t sure about Blakely but she eventually grew on me. Jasper, I loved the whole IDGAF attitude. He was a bit of a douche, but I ended up forgiving him. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Ever since I first read the synopsis I couldn’t wait to pick this book up! I’ve been meaning to read Ms.Leigh’s work and I’m so glad that I got to with Like Gravity! I really enjoyed this story!
Blakely and Jasper’s journey isn’t an easy one. Their story pulled me in! I really liked the fact that I got to dig deeper with both of them and the way these two made me feel so much throughout as well!
With Like Gravity, Ms.Leigh has created a great read! I can’t wait to pick up book two!
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from the author*
Read back in April! (:
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. This story was full of friendships, betrayal, learning the truth, forgiveness, moving on, and finally happiness. Can’t wait to continue the series
Going into this book I really had no expectations as this is my first Rachel Leigh book. Jasper and Blakely’s journey was sooo good. I couldn’t believe it took me so long to finally read Ms. Leigh. This book is unputdownable and I freaking loved Jasper. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from all the secondary characters introduced!
Like Gravity is the first book in the Redwood High series. I enjoyed Jasper and Blakely’s love story. Teen angst that gives you all the emotions, feelings and so much more! Secrets are revealed. Lives are affected. Jasper and Blakely will have to figure out how to navigate their lives to avoid heartbreak. Highly recommend this great, emotional read.
Jasper had a chip on his shoulder the size of his heart. These kids pull you into their lives and don’t let you go. It has all the feels and is a must read
Thank you to Tormented Book Tours and the author, Rachel Leigh, for providing a copy of Like Gravity (Redwood High book 1) as a part of the series makeover tour. I have reviewed honestly.
Like Gravity features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
New adult
Contemporary Romance
Enemies to lovers
Boy next door
High school
Queen B
Sports romance
My overall rating for Like Gravity is…
4.5 Stars!
She’s done it again! I absolutely can’t get enough of Rachel Leighs books! Although I read the newer books first, I’d always planned to go back and read the original Redwood High tales. The way the story of “Like Gravity” builds and builds is excruciating; like, you know the big fall out is coming, but you can’t figure out what the catalyst will be. I loved Blakely, with her unique and misunderstood personality. She’s a little lost in the secrets and deceptions of her family, but that’s where Jasper comes swaggering through to shake things up. The emotions, particularly the anger, Leigh projects off the page, is intense and surreal. I loved the way the tale wrapped up, neatly and beautifully, with a teasing look of what’s to come in book 2, Knox’s story. I also want to mention that Blakely’s brother, Talon, has his turn in the spotlight with Leigh’s interconnected series, Redwood Rebels (Amazing series by the way.)
I love this authors work, mainly because of how much her characters seem to grow in such a long time span. At the beginning of this read I couldn’t really stand Jasper or Blakeley. They were acting like children and I felt they weren’t being represented well, but I pushed through and I am so glad I did. This story is so intense because of the backgrounds the characters have. The storyline is intriguing and the antagonist will make you want to pull her hair out. I’m excited to start the second book in this series.
This is my first book by this author and I loved it! I couldn’t put it down… The storyline was intense and a little bit dark which I love. This book isn’t your typical romance book where the female MC is the quiet girl who no one sees and the QB falls for her. No Blakely is the Queen B of the school who is pinning for the homecoming Crown. She is cold, sassy and spoiled, because that’s how’s she’s been raised. Until Jasper comes along and sees her for who she really is, and try’s to take the good out in her. What if it’s not enough, what if shes not enough?
This was real and raw and I couldn’t put it down. Hours had gone passed and i just couldn’t stop to do anything but find out what happens next.
Away onto Knox book and I can’t wait to read his story.
My very first book by Rachel was Striker. I immediately fell in love with her writing and her ability to pull you into her story with the first chapter. Now I’m slowly making my way through her back list and my first stop was Like Gravity.
Ok im going to start this review by saying why the hell didn’t I read this book sooner?? Like Gravity was like a breath of fresh air for me. I needed something different from my usual reads and this book was just that.
Jasper and Blakely are water and oil. Complete opposites from each other. She is the rich girl with a chip on her shoulder and he’s the boy trying to cement his future.
This story is the definition of do not judge a book by its cover. You never know what someone is dealing with or going through. I loved everything about this story. I honeslty was pulled in from the beginning all the way until the last word.
Rachel seriously amazed me with how incredible this story is. She truly is one remarkable author and I cant wait to read my next book!!
This was my first book read by this author. It was an excellent read overall. So much angst and it was super steamy! It led to a shocking secret reveal too which I never saw coming! Definitely a must read!
This was a good read. I think it had the potential to be amazing but it was worth reading once for me. I liked the writing style and the story never had a dull moment. However, it was hard to connect with the main female character in this story. Blakely kept a hard exterior and although there were tender moments with her it just wasn’t enough. I needed more! I needed her to let her walls down and show a softer side for longer than a sentence or two. I enjoyed both Knox and Jasper, and their back and forth banter was just as entertaining as it was between Jasper and Blakely. Talon was an okay character but we didn’t get much of him in this story. I figured out what happened to Jasper’s mom before it was revealed so it wasn’t surprising. The ending of the story was okay but I wish it was better. I wanted to end this story with the thought and feeling that I have to have the next story as soon as possible. This high school enemy to lovers romance was funny, steamy, full of drama, jealousy and more. It wasn’t a top read for me but I would tell each reader to give it a try and see if this story is for you. I will give other books from this author a try, I enjoy her writing style so I know I will find the book that will be a top read for me.
The stars shine brighter when the darkness is more intense. This book is angsty and twisted, in the best kind of way.
This was my first Rachel Leigh book, and I feel like I stumbled on a goldmine.
If you’re a fan of L.J. Shen’s hotholes or Ilsa Madden Mills you are going to love this book.
5 stars and a Greek myth.