I am nothing.Nobody.I’d rather be invisible than deal with what happens on the days my classmates decide to acknowledge my existence.But then Turner Hall shows up – all cool confidence and witty banter – and all of a sudden I don’t want to be invisible any more. I want to be seen.I want him to see me.I’m not who he thinks I am but I’m starting to suspect he’s not all he says he is either.Just my … he’s not all he says he is either.
Just my luck that he starts to make friends with my tormentors. How am I supposed to tell him who I really am? How am I supposed to show him my true face? What if the boy I’m falling in love with decides I’m nothing too?
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Gripping is an understatement when it comes to this book. Like You Care was so addictively wonderful I devoured it in just a couple hours. From start to finish this book is an emotional roller coaster that keeps you captivated. I ugly cried, I raged, I cheered so freaking hard for both Mena and Turner it’s not even funny.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted happiness for a character more than I did for Mena. All she goes through, all she’s endured was utterly heartbreaking, while the strength she had in carrying on was awe-inspiring. She was just one of those characters that was so easy to love. Truthfully she was my favorite part of reading this. That’s not to say I didn’t adore Turner too, because I did. It’s just Mena is so freaking special.
Mena and Turner have a story that packs more than just an emotional punch, it’s a full emotional K.O.
This book kept me up until 4am reading it. I couldn’t go to sleep until I got to the end. This was my first Kaydence Snow book but it won’t be my last for sure. I expected something when I went into this knowing it was a bully story (or it had at least started it’s life in the Bully Me anthology)
But this was incredible.
Mena and Turner are #goals.
I lay in bed crying at how beautiful the writing is and how strong the characters are.
I had a dream about this book the night I finished it, I doubt it will be my last. This book..it blew me away. It might have blown the whole genre away. It’s so completely gripping and emotional. Deep and full of compassion.
The only “problem” I have with this is that it wasn’t long enough and I want more from Mena and Turner. Heck, the rest of the Devildend Dynasty can get some too.
Thanks to Wildfire Marketing Solutions and Kaydence Snow for the ARC. My opinion is my own and hasn’t been influenced.
I cared about this story! 4 stars
I read the beginning of this book in the Bully Me 2020 anthology, and I had to read the whole story because I cared so much about Mena. She was being bullied at school for something that was not her fault (you will have to read it yourself to find out). My heart broke her for so many times, and I cried tears for her. Turner “saw” Mena for her she really was, and I loved that. But Turner also has secrets. Will their newfound love be handle the truths when they are revealed? Read this novella and find out, because I recommend it!
*I received an advanced copy of this ebook for my honest review.*
Menas story and the torment she had to endure broke my heart and it seemed like Turner was becoming her beacon of light at the end of the tunnel only problem is he doesn’t know exactly who she is and starts hanging out with the people that bully her relentlessly. All Mena wanted was to be invisible and go totally unnoticed but her tormentors wouldn’t allow her to have even a moments peace. The bullying that Mena endured has left her with such low self worth that it was beyond heartbreaking. Even though I loved this story but I just wish I would of got Turners POV too
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I felt so deeply for Mena throughout this book. Her story was heartbreaking but at the same time you could see how strong she was through her struggle. She was an outcast for something that she could not change. But when she tried, the bullies made her life even worse. While it may seem like she was weak because she did not fight back, I believe she was strong in her own way. It takes incredible strength to deal with the torture (both physical and mental) that she endured for years.
So many people grow up feeling insecure about one thing or another. Whether it’s a physical part of their appearance, part of their personality, their family, or any number of things. Because of that insecurity, a number of people become bullies or don’t help the victims. I really loved the way that Kaydence showcased that throughout the book. While Mena’s bullying was a focal point, the story also displayed how others go along with the bullying for fear of it turning on them or as a way for them to feel superior and gain friends.
I loved Mena’s cousins/friends. How they never saw anything other than Mena when they looked at her and they loved her for who she was. I wanted to cry with them during/after the diner scene. And I cheered them on when they would have her back.
I definitely felt like Mena’s friends/cousins did when it came to Turner sometimes. But I won’t go into detail and spoil it for you. In the end I understood Turner’s reasoning for things and really rooted for them.
I would have liked a little more background about Mena. It seemed like she had somewhat of a social life through her cousins and I would’ve liked to see the side of her that hung out with others and went to parties. But even without that, I was still able to get a great picture of who she was. I also would’ve liked to see things from Turner’s POV and know how he was feeling in certain situations.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I’m really excited for book 2 in the series, which follows Donna’s story. I found her character super intriguing and cannot wait to learn more about her!
Oh my heart!! I’ve got a girl crush! Y’all I love Mena! This character is amazing. I can’t even imagine all this poor girl went though. Oh the tears I shed for her, but she was surviving the best way she could. By being invisible. She got stronger as the book went on in my opinion.
When Turner moved in next door I just loved how she was able to be with him, it was behind a screen but she was a fun and normal teenager with a crush and the connection between them made my heart flutter with emotion.
This book was full of hope and love, heartbreak, and some elements of acceptance. I loved Mena and Turner together. The book itself was an easy read and flowed well. I read it super quick. There were some surprising elements to it. This was my first book by Kaydence Snow but I will definitely read her again!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book!
She’s the victim of extreme bullying through no fault of her own. Friendless and hated, she counts down the days till school is over for good.
The girl next door, his new neighbour, intrigues him. Her identity hidden, but her soul bared. She’s the sun to his shade.
He knows they go to school together, but who is she and why the secrecy…
This book is simply amazing!! It is the kind of read you could read a thousand times and still want to read it once more.
The storyline was everything I hoped it would be. I was completely and utterly in book heaven reading this!
The fear and the hatred poured off the pages, along with despair and hopelessness. My heart bled for her situation it really did!
Inner me cheered excitedly when he came onto the scene through stolen moments and darkness.
I adored them both. They brought a unique sence of goodness, and innocence to a world of pain and anguish that surrounded them.
Kaydence Snow certainly knows how to make your heart melt, and your eyes weep with compassion and love.
A devastatingly beautiful read that will leave you begging for more!
5 EMOTIONAL TOUGH STARS!! The feels in this high school bully book was off the charts. Mena and Turner’s story starts in a beautiful way, it was perfect and new to me. Their story is full of secrets with some mystery and will have you turning pages quickly. I read this book in one sitting. Looking for high school bully book look no further.
This is my first book by Kaydence and it wont be the last, like you care is a bully romance of epid proportions and I loved it.
Once I started it I couldnt put it down, the story touched me in a deep way because what happened to mena happens all the time.
Turner had my heart from the beginning.
An amazing story
This book is absolutely phenomenal. It’s extraordinarily written, with amazing characters and a story line that will stick with you. Mena and Turner’s journey is full of secrets, darkness, grit, and true love. The author has taken bullying and the unexpected to a new level. This book instantly pulled me in and I finished it in one sitting. I loved everything about Mena and Turner and their story! This book is an absolute must read that I highly recommend to all romance lovers.
I first came across this author in Bully Me anthology- we got the first 10 chapters (about 50%) of the book, and I was going insane to read the rest. The prologue was heartbreaking, gut wrenching, and suspenseful, and the rest of the chapters that unfolded were a sweet and tender story of a bullied girl (and I found this depiction of bullying to be a bit more realistic than other stories…my heart was breaking, I could physically feel Mena’s pain and hurt) as well an intimate story of an unexpected but gentle connection between Mena and her new neighbor, Turner.
The formation of this relationship was really touching- we have a little Cyrano de Bergerac vibes going on as they connect emotionally long before they lay eyes on each other physically. We see two souls, both weighed down by their own troubles, find peace and connection with a stranger- finally feeling seen and understood, even though they don’t actually SEE each other right away. We knew trouble was brewing once Mena’s real identity came out, and Kaydence left us with that epic cliffhanger- where we witness the painful truth that bystanding hurts just as much as the actual bullying- and makes you just as culpable. These moments were beautifully written- tenderly and delicately conveyed, tugging at my heart and soul for Mena in what she experienced- even the small moments of bullying struck me, which is a sign of Kaydence’s character building- I felt so personally connected to Mena. I remember what it felt like to be so insecure within your own skin, the need to hide in plain sight to protect yourself. The shield of resilience and disconnection you put on everyday.
The first one half was a 5 star read- I immediately one-clicked a pre-order for the entire story and anxiously awaited. The second one half was more a a 3.5 read- the story telling felt a bitrushed, even though we still had the same uncurrent of sweetness in the slow burn romance, and the plot itself almost seemed distracted- taking focus off the romance (though this is still the core) and delving into some somewhat far fetched side plots/side characters, and doing so pretty quickly. We knew Turner had something going on- I was surprised by what it was, and I didn’t feel emotionally connected to it, either (again, perhaps because it felt a bit rushed). To be fair, I did read this in two one halves- with a month between them, so perhaps my feelings might be different with one fluid experience. One win of the second half, however, was the depiction of female friendships- this was refreshing, and so rare in bully books. I needed that optimism, and it created a beautiful juxtaposition that just reinforced the themes of the randomness and futility of bullying.
The resolution was definitely my least favorite part of the book- it seemed a bit over the top and incredibly abrupt- two pretty intense situations (one the focus of this book-the bullying and another the side-plot with Turner’s family) were wrapped with a neat bow SO quickly that it made these very epic moments (two huge climaxes) feel anticlimactic and non-impactful. And, I’m still not sure what the whole BestLyf stuff was about- wasn’t resolved and didn’t feel necessary, perhaps in future books?
The book is a full length novel but on the shorter side (about 200 pages), so I think a few more chapters (or a tighter focus) would have made it a perfect read….plus, I’m all for insta love, but I wanted to swim around in Turner and Mena’s relationship a bit more in the 2nd half (and I feel like we don’t know Turner as well as we know Mena- the book is entirely from her POV), after that Bully Me cliffhanger that left me reeling., I needed a it more repairing and a bit more HEA.
Overall, though, I liked it- and I’ll read the next in the series (Donna’s story). The character connection was there, the bully darkness, and a sweetness I don’t always get in NA romances- even if the back half didn’t wow me like the first.
4.5 STARS!
The first half of this book was a 5 star read for me, no question. But the second half was more 4 star due to some ridiculous situations and confusing story lines.
My heart broke for Mena from the very first few sentences of this story!!!!! Her little patio meet ups with the mysterious new neighbor Turner were some of my favorite scenes in the story! They were connecting on a deeper level than face value, which Mena desperately needed. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for him to figure out her identity! I sighed with glee so much at his declaration of feelings for her!
I couldn’t believe the cruelty Mena was subjected to day after day by her peers. This was some of the darkest, most belittling writing I’ve read in a long time! The author did an incredible job making your heart shatter for the heroine!
I LOVED everything about Turner and Mena together, up until the point that Turner figured out who he was falling for. His behavior was completely ridiculous and unforgivable. I felt awful for Mena and was so glad she had some backbone when she confronted him. I honestly didn’t know if they could come back from his betrayal.
The whole story line around Turner and Jenny threw me for a loop. I was expecting some insane secret scandal. Honestly I’d kinda hoped that Turner was a C.I. or something! But the reality of who Jenny was didn’t do anything for me. It felt pretty random, given how focused the story was on Philomena. I felt like the conclusion of it was brushed under the rug a bit. So much focus was given to the obviously predatory business, BestLyf, in the beginning, with numerous characters including Mena’s mother getting sucked in. Yet we didn’t get much closure for them. I wished that aspect of the story was flushed out more.
The ending was okay but rather abrupt. I’m glad it all worked out and someone finally did their job and dealt with the bullying. The last encounter that Mena has with her assailants nearly did me in! I thought for sure she’d never recover from it. I wanted more from Turner and Mena after their lives took a turn for the better. I wanted more of a HEA.
I absolutely loved Turner. He was one of a kind. I get that Mena was afraid to show him who she really was for fear of losing him, but I wish she would have given him more credit then she did. He was one of the good guys. I wanted her to just stand up for herself. I did like her a lot better in the last half of the book, but I loved Turner in all of it. I liked the first half of the book a lot better than the second. I am looking forward to reading more of this series to see where it takes us. I hope we get a lot more of Turner!
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
This is my first Kaydence Snow book and it hooked me in so fast! The prologue was gripping, edgy, raw and so intense that I had to keep going. There was no putting this book down, no doing anything except read.
Like You Care is a high school bully romance that is definitely more than you think it is. There are twists and turns, the unknown, and so much more than just your average bully romance. The storyline will grab you in and pull you tight, refusing to let you go.
The only drawback for me, personally, was the single POV. I always feel like half of the emotion, half of the story is missing from a single person perspective. It doesn’t take away from the story line AT ALL and is just a personal preference for me. I wish I had a chance to understand Turner more and not just through Mena’s perspective.
All in all, it was a gripping story that had me turning the page and invested in the story and I am definitely excited for whatever comes next in the DevilBend Dynasty series.
Four stars for this thrilling bully romance.
I found a snip it of this beauty in the Bully Me Anthology. I’d never read anything from this author, and was totally surprised at how fast I fell in love with her work.
This is one of those bully romances that make you want to step inside the book and start swinging at characters. And what great characters we have. I was fully engaged in this beauty and can not wait to see where the author takes us next. Great story, wonderful writing and a very entertaining read. Loved it.
*Review by Michelle
This was my first book by this author and it wasn’t too bad. It honestly took a lot for me to really get into it not because of the topic but more because of the heroine. I understand what she went thru but she also had people on her side and her insecurities were on a hold other level. It was a slow burn but it got its point across. It wasn’t bad but it was sad the things she endured and kept quiet about. Turner wasn’t too bad and her cousins were good to her. Not a bad read.
After being introduced to Mena and Turner in the Bully Me anthology, I quickly became obsessed with them, instantly drawn in to their story. Now after finally getting my hands on their entire story, I can tell you it was worth the wait!
Mena is this sweet girl who is so openly and cruelly hated at her school, Devilblend North High School. My heart broke for her, but I was so angry on her behalf too. Upon meeting new neighbor Turner one evening, in the cover of darkness, the two quickly form a deep connection. Mena still has reservations, especially since it looks like Turner has befriended the very people that actively take part in making Mena’s life as awful as possible for her.
Not all is what it seems though in Devilblend. There are secrets and twists aplenty.
I loved watching Mena and Turner’s connection grow and their love bloom for one another. But I also really loved the fierceness in which Donna, Harlow, and Amaya loved Mena, too. Talk about ride or die, right? The Devilblend Dynasty is alive and well and I can’t wait to see what else Kaydence Snow has planned for this crew!
This story was so emotional and the torment had me on edge. Mena and Turner have secrets but their feelings for each other are undeniable. I hated seeing what Mena was going through and them going through some growth to get to the end. I cannot wait to see what else comes from this series.
This author pulls no punches when it comes to writing a remarkable and emotional high school bully romance! I read a snippet of Like You Care in the Bully Me: Class of 2020 Anthology and I’ve been dying to read more. As this is my first novel by this author, I didn’t know what to expect, but let’s just say I devoured this book in one sitting.
As I dove headfirst into this fast-paced novel and read the powerful, gut wrenching prologue, I marveled at Mena’s resilience. When it comes to the bullying, her classmates are beyond cruel. However, it can be hurtful when others stand by and watch or just walk away.
Mena is a rather interesting heroine. At times, I wanted her to stand up for herself more, but I also realize that we all cope in different ways and her self confidence had taken a beating as she tries to survive the only way she knows how – to be invisible. Mostly though, I found her strength and bravery to be admirable and do feel that her character had grown towards the end.
Turner moves into the apartment next to Mena and they first “meet” on their balconies, but they don’t actually see each other. What ensues is a sweet and intense connection between the two of them that leads to love. But, what will happen when she is no longer invisible?
Like You Care is a beautifully written novel full of heartbreak, love, and hope as well as a touch of suspense. I thought the ending was phenomenal, though a tad rushed. This book is told entirely from Mena’s POV which I think worked well, but I would love to get a little peak into Turner’s mind! Overall, I really enjoyed this high school bully romance and I have already added more of this author’s works to my list of “must reads.” Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Kaydence give us a bully book with a difference and this one really packs a punch!!
I loved this book and once I started I couldnt put it down, mena is aggressively bullied at school for just being who she is and oh god its heartbreaking but through it all she shows so much strength you cant help but love her more, I loved how the relationship between her and Turner started out and the way it progressed. Kaydence shows that love blooms from what’s on the inside out and I soooo loved that about this book.
I fantastic read with twists that take you by surprise ,brilliant characters that I cant wait to read more about and a storyline that’s both cruel and beautiful, will definitely recommend.