The boy who once made my life a living hell is now the only way to save my family from living on the streets. I wish he’d just stayed wherever he’s been for the past four years. That is, blissfully out of my life and nowhere near our little country town.But in my weakest moment, he arrived like some knight in shining armour. One I never wanted or asked for. I should have run him down with my … down with my wheelchair. But I didn’t. I got in his car. And now I have to see his beautiful damn face every damn day.
And that’s my worst nightmare. Because the things he once said can’t be unheard. The hell he put me through can’t be forgotten. The man he is now can’t be forgiven for the boy he once was.
And yet, I want him.
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ONLY THE NEGATIVES
By Elle Thorpe
4
This is my first Elle Thorpe novel and definitely won’t be my last. This is Book 3 in the Only You series. This can be read as a standalone.
Gemma and Ryker both had pasts that they would rather forget. Once childhood friends the pair drifted in high school because of immaturity. When reuniting many years later, Gemma is filled with hatred and anger towards Ryker while he is full of regret and remorse.
They went from friends to enemies back to friends to lovers. I loved all the passion , intensity and sweetness between the two.
“I sought out her eyes and loved what I saw there. Passion but something more. Trust. Respect. There were feelings between us I’d never felt, and the sheer intensity of that moment was enough to do me in.”
From heartbreak, cruelty of teens, to obstacles as adults; this book is full of so much emotions, anger, forgiveness, lust & love.
Elle brought so much to the characters and wow, all the feels! I definitely recommend this book and I’m looking forward to going back and reading the first two books in the series!
A beautiful love story between the strong willed Gemma and her former school friend, turned enemy, Adam Ryker.
Gemma is left wheel-chair bound after an accident in childhood and the author doesn’t shy away from the sensitivities of this during the story, portraying an independent strong willed heroine.
Ryker is sweet and is the perfect partner for Gemma.
A sweet story with low angst and well developed characters.
Ok so I’ve been with this series for a bit now and I didn’t know how I’d like such an intense time jump but holy ish it worked. And for people who aren’t familiar with the series and read this as their first off (it’s totally possible to do so) it felt just as fresh and open and new as book one did. Seriously all the stars. This pairing were everything, sweet and sometime stupid but passionate and loving and just, seriously everything.
This has to go down as one of my favourite books that I have ever read. Although it is the third book in the ‘Only You’ series, I never found any difficulty whilst reading. It is the first book by Elle Thorpe that I have read and I’m proud to say it definitely won’t be my last. The story is extremely well written and the chemistry between the two main characters is incredible. Giving chapters in both Gemma and Ryker’s point of view, it is clear that the two have this burning passion towards each other. However, Gemma is determined not to let Ryker back into her life but Ryker is determined to show Gemma how guilty he feels for everything he put her through when she was younger and prove to her that he’s not the boy be used to be. I can’t wait to be able to get my hands on the rest of the series!
Only the Negatives takes place several years after the first two books in the series and features Gemma and Ryker. We met Gemma in the first book as Reese’s little sister, but she’s all grown up now and facing some all too grown-up problems. I guess if I had to classify this one, I’d say it’s a friends to enemies to friends to lovers romance – yeah, that about sums it up. Both Gemma and Ryker tug at the heartstrings, each for different reasons – his reasons are a little more hidden than hers, and when they come out, it goes a long way toward understanding how the whole enemy thing happened between them. I love that Gemma doesn’t let her disability stop her, and Ryker sees her for the beautiful young woman she is. Oh, and don’t let the title fool you. The story does have its share of angst, but it’s certainly not a Debbie downer. The title fits for a different reason, which isn’t hard to figure out from pretty early on.
Gemma and Ryker were friends until they started high school. Ryker becomes her worst nightmare and she hates him. Ryker always had a crush on Gemma but continued to mess up. Years later the couple end up together on a road trip. Gemma is wheelchair bound due to an accident from her childhood. Ryker was hired to work on her family’s farm after her dad has a stroke. This was a beautiful story about overcoming difficulties and finding love where you least expect it.
I received a copy of this book and am leaving a review.
Wow! This book had me enthralled. The amount of research the author had to do to pull this off so perfectly. I do wish there was more closure on Gerald. I wish his father had turned around. I enjoyed it. I really loved this couple.
This is the first book I read by Elle Thorpe and I absolutely loved it! Although it’s the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. There was enough backstory written in that I didn’t feel like I was missing something.
I related to Gemma in so many ways. Having Cerebral Palsy and being permanently wheelchair-bound, I know what it feels like to have people see just my chair and not me and make assumptions when they first meet me. And the same with the dating issues. But it was absolutely refreshing to see a wheelchair-bound heroine find love and get her happily ever after. Yes, she and Ryker had their ups and downs, both in high school and as a couple, but he never saw her as anything other than the smart and driven person she was. That gives me hope that I’ll still find my Adam Ryker someday.
Elle Thorpe has nailed it again! In her newest stand alone in the Only You series, you get to see Reece’s little sister, Gemma, unexpectedly find love in this artfully combined sweet AND hot enemies-to-lovers romance.
What I love about Elle is her gusto at running toward topics others shy away from. In Only the Negatives, the main character Gemma is in a wheel chair. While I LOVE that she incorporated diversity, I also love how she did it in such a seamless, believable, well-researched way that it never feels like a forced, unnatural character trait. Instead, it’s just who Gemma is, and Elle sums up her personality perfectly when Gemma says, “I should have run him down with my wheelchair.” That feisty attitude is what makes readers fall in love with her fast and hard. And don’t even get me started on swoon-worthy, hard-to-hate “bad boy”, Ryker. He’s the perfect blend of a man who’s both damaged and struggling to turn everything around. He’s sometimes sloppy about it, but he’s earnest, honest, and determined. And it’s pretty darn hot.
Somehow, Elle continues to weave sweet with heat at a masterful level. We can no longer call her an up-and-coming romance author; Elle has firmly arrived and claimed her spot as a favorite, must-read author!
I absolutely loved this story! Gemma and Ryker journey started out as a friendship to some heartache to a blossoming love! So enjoying this Only You series looking forward to more!
**ARC REVIEW**
This is my 1st book by Elle Thorpe!! It was amazing.
Gemma is a strong independent young women who became disabled at a young age. Because of her disability she was bullied in school, the cause by someone who she thought was her true friend. It crushed her but only made her stronger throughout the years.
Ryker has had some unfortunate events happen in his life. Throughout the years he cannot let go the hurt he caused to someone who was extremely special.
Circumstances brings Gemma and Ryka together. Will Gemma let Ryka in or will her hurt all these years keep them apart….
This book has so many emotional moments. Characters are written beautifully and their story at times is suspenseful and inspiring.
Her life altered from the tender age of ten. Her mobility changed forever. Feet replaced with wheels.
She suffered at his hands terribly as a child. His outburst in the heat of the moment resulted in years of bullying.
He stole her smile, lightness and laughter and she was glad when he left.
But now he’s returned and is looking at her once again.
Her fathers aiming health means there’s a job going on the farm. Unfortunately only one person applies for the position..
Can the past be left behind or will it always be a problem for them?
I absolutely adored this read! it’s very unique and brings so much emotion to the table. Beautiful!
Gemma is a little spitfire on wheels. I loved her spunk and determination. She’s a force to be reckoned with whether she knows it or not!
Adam is the guy who is haunted by his past, and wishes he could change what he did. Hes full of pain and guilt, but underneath that there’s so much more to him.
They make for quite the couple!
Life isn’t about material products and this book to me highlights it. Their love is raw, it’s real and it’s all consuming. Nothing else matters.
Another rivetting read by Elle Thorpe. She gets better and better with each book I read of hers!
Cant wait to see whats next!
Adam Ryker has made a lot of bad decisions and mistakes in his life, the most epic one being how he treated his childhood friend Gemma in high school on her first day, which sets up the bullying she must deal with on a daily basis. Years later Ryker has an opportunity to try to make amends with Gemma when her family posts an ad for help on their farm. Gemma would hire anyone except Ryker, but she has no choice when there are no other applicants & she really needs the help. She now must find a way to work with the man responsible for the years she endured to constant teasing which left her hurt & lonely. How will Ryker redeem himself?
We get to see the other characters in the previous book, particularly Reese & Low since Gemma is Reese’s little sister. This was a great read & looking forward to the next book!
*** 4.5 Stars ***
Only the Negatives (Only You #3) by Elle Thorpe is contemporary romance told in dual POV featuring a strong heroine who is a paraplegic and the boy responsible for making her high school years a living hell. In a way, it is a second chance, friends to enemies to friends to lovers story. Although this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone; but I’d recommend reading the previous books. All the books are good and the characters make appearances in each others’ stories.
When her father had a stroke, the last person Gemma ever expected to offer to help was Ryker, but he just showed up out of nowhere in her time of need. She didn’t want anything to do with him. She didn’t want to hire him either, but she really had no other choice. With her father recovering, there was no way she’d be able to keep up with all the work on the family farm.
Ryker has made some pretty big mistakes, but his biggest regret was the mistake that ruined Gemma’s high school experience and their friendship. When he returns home after being away for four years, he sets out to make things right. Ryker doesn’t blame Gemma for hating him. He deserves it. But he’s determined to make it up to her. Will she give him a chance? Could she ever forgive him for the pain he caused?
I really enjoyed Gemma and Ryker’s story. They were both wonderful characters, very likeable and relatable. Gemma was strong and independent. I loved the fact that her disability did not prevent her from living a full life and being a role model to the children she worked with. Ryker was sweet and hard working. His desire to right his wrongs and to help those in need was honorable.
So far, I have read and enjoyed every book in this series, and this one was no exception. In fact, I think each book just keeps getting better. Gemma and Ryker’s love story was beautiful, charming, engaging, touching, and poignant. I loved it!
*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. ***
I absolutely loved this book. Gemma and Ryker were childhood friends, however, things changed as they got older and they ended up growing apart. Gemma was definitely not happy to see Ryker or to have him back in her life.
Seeing how much these two had to overcome different obstacles in their life and their relationship was eye opening. Gemma may be one of my favorite heroines I’ve ever read because she is different, she feels real. She is strong, she’s a great role model. She doesn’t let the fact that she is in a wheel chair hold her back from anything in life. Ryker took some warming up to, I wanted to dislike him because of how he treated Gemma in the past, but he made up for that. He showed her that he wasn’t that person anymore.
Only the Negatives is a beautiful love story that will break your heart but also put it back together. It’s a story about growing up, never giving up and being the best version of yourself.
While it can be read as a standalone, it’s also a great series. Elle Thorpe is definitely an author you will want to keep your eye in. Her stories are fantastic and full of detail. You truly feel like you are in the scene.
Elle has done it again and created another brilliant book for the Only You series! I think Only The Negatives is my favourite so far! Why? Gemma, the heroine of the story, she is so likeable and inspiring, she is determined, independent and doesn’t let anything stop her.
This novel is an enemies to lovers story and is set 10 years on from the previous books in the series. Gemma we met briefly in Only The Positives as the younger sister of Reese. Gemma suffered a spinal injury after a riding accident at their families livery, leaving her wheelchair bound. One thing I loved about this book is that Gemma is such a strong female so determined to live her life to the best of her ability, to not let her non functional legs hold her back, and for people to see her and not her chair. This message shone throughout the book in so many ways!
Only the negatives is a well paced and wonderfully written novel, that was a joy to read. The central characters were likeable, you wanted them to succeed and right their wrongs, plus seeing characters I loved from the rest of the series 10 years on was a nice bonus. I particularly enjoyed reading Ryker’s POV of how events throughout his and Gemma’s non-friendship stayed with him. Moments Gemma didn’t realise he was there; but he was supporting her, caring for her, loving her before either of them knew how special they were to each other. I feel that Ryker and Gemma enhance each other and a Elle wrote two half’s of a whole here.
One thing I admire about Elle’s writing is that she inserts elements in her novels that are very seldom seen in romance, utilising them in a way that enhances her characters and the story, in an empowering and motivational way. So I cannot wait to see what Bianca and Riley are going to bring next!
ONLY THE NEGATIVES is the third book I’ve read by Elle Thorpe. She is a new author for me in 2018 and ONLY THE POSITIVE made me a fan. We met Gemma Lawson, in ONLY THE POSITIVE as the paraplegic little sister, of Reese Lawson. ONLY THE NEGATIVES finds Gemma all grown-up and a very independent young woman. Her world is turned upside-down when her father suffers a life changing stroke.
Imagine when her family was at the lowest point and in danger of losing their family horse farm, the one person to be able to save the family from losing everything is Adam Ryker. The same person who made her life a living Hell as a teenager. Time changes people, and now he has changed into the person who is the answer to their prayers.
What they felt wouldn’t change. She could go chase her dreams, and he could chase his. But they would always come back to each other, time and time again. Because he was hers. And she was his. And there wasn’t a single negative that could ruin that.
It feels much longer since I first read Elle Thorpe’s debut book, Only The Positive, in September last year. She has grown in leaps and bounds since then, her writing only getting better with each successive book. Now on her 3rd book of the ‘Only You’ series and it’s time for Gemma and Ryker’s story.
We first met a younger version of Gemma briefly in her sister Reece’s book Only The Positive, but here we get to met her as a grown-up. Ten years have passed since that time and although Gemma still lives and works on her parents farm, she longs to get ‘out there’ on her own. But, even though that’s what she wants, she lacks confidence in her abilities to be able to care for herself alone.
When Adam Ryker comes back into her life, working on the farm, she wants nothing to do with him. He was once her friend in high school, but then he did a despicable thing and it left it’s indelible mark on Gemma’s soul.
Adam knows he made a mistake all those years ago. He wants to make it up to Gemma but she’s not going to make it easy for him.
I loved watching this tentative relationship as it flourished into a true connection, one that could last a lifetime. Elle has a true grasp on the emotions of her characters and her words flow beautifully across the page. For an author who work spans less than six months in publishing, this is a real feat of accomplishment.
If you’re new to Elle, make sure to pick up Only The Positive first, before diving in Only The Negative. It’s not totally necessary but will give you some insight into the background of this amazing, heartwarming story.
And of course, it needs to be said. I can’t wait to read Bianca and Riley’s story. They’ve been secondary characters since the beginning, so it’s about time for them to shine.
Oh My, this series just keeps getting better and better. I have to admit ever since I read Reese’s story and met her little sister, Gemma, I was hoping she would get her own story. I must say the author not only gave us Gemma’s story, it was so much more that I hoping for. The characters are strong, independent and know their own minds. The storyline has it all: drama, suspense, romance, and so much more.
Gemma and Ryker grew up as neighbors and best friends. Well that is right up to the first day of high school, that regrettable day that Ryker turned on her in front of the kids at school. From that day, she was bullied about her wheelchair something that continued throughout her high school years. Gemma grew to hate Ryker for his actions, their friendship lost. The story begins several years after they graduate. Due to her father’s illness Gemma steps up to run the horse farm. But they all know she needs help and put out ads for help. Ryker is back in town and answers the ad for the job. He has problems and demons of his own, and he needs the room and board more than Gemma knows. Gemma doesn’t want him there but know she need him so gives him the job.
What happens as these two have to see each other everyday? Does Ryker have an explanation for that horrible day, will Gemma even listen? Can these two ever get back the friendship and connection they once had? This such an amazing read. It will have you smiling, tearing up and hoping for any type of a happy ending. 2 Thumbs up and 5 Amazing stars for Only the Negative.