I have loved Channing Monroe all my life.In first grade, he asked for my Trapper Keeper.I hit him in the head with it.Third grade, we were best friends. We kissed in seventh grade.Eighth grade, he turned into a bad boy and the rest was a tumultuous storm.Growing up, the problem was never love for us.Bad times. Good times. There were times when I felt our love in every inch of my body, vibrating, … every inch of my body, vibrating, making me feel like it could bring me back to life.
The problem was us.
The problem is that we’re living in two different worlds now.
Fallen Crest and its millionaires for me. Roussou and their criminals for him. I was thriving in mine and he was running his.
But…
But there were nights I felt we couldn’t be further apart than we were, and there were nights I felt we shared the same heartbeat.
When was it time?
When was it time to either sacrifice, make a change, or walk away from the boy I grew up with?
** 103k standalone
There are two chapters at the end from additional books.
more
The Boy I Grew Up With (TBIGUW) was another Tijan masterpiece. I swear just when I thought she couldn’t surpass Crew, Tijan legit made my head spin with Heather and Channing and their love for each other and their families. This book spanned years and she could not have done a better job. This book was magnificent!
I absolutely DIED for Channing during the Fallen Crest books and then when we got a closer glimpse in Crew, I thought it was heaven. But NOTHING compares to this story. NOTHING. I absolutely fell in love with the banter, love and just all around amazingness of this story. I was totally surprised that Heather’s book would be a Crew book in a way, but it all ties in to Rousseau. But Tijan could never have prepared me for the thorough breakdown of all things Heather and Channing like she did with TBIGUW. This novel was absolutely perfect and was almost saga like. We get glimpses of pivotal moments in their lives and how they became “Channing and Heather” through flashbacks while also progressing their story from what we saw in Bren’s book (Crew.) This book really was so amazing and I am sad to see it end. It hurts to say it but Channing Monroe rivals Mason Kade and them be fighting words for sure.
I truly truly loved this book and will continue reading everything and anything from Tijan’s fountain of kindle crack. Bravo! 6 stars!! ~Ratula
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Channing and Heather’s story! It was sweet, suspenseful, heart breaking, and beautiful. I haven’t read any of the Fallen Crest Series, so my first introduction to Channing and Heather was in Crew. After reading Crew, I wanted to know so much more about them. I was so excited when this book was announced!
“He’d worked his way under my skin in first grade. He’d declared us best friends in third. We held hands in fifth. We shared our first kiss in seventh, and he’d been a headache ever since.”
I loved how this story went back and forth between past and present. It really gives the reader insight into how they grew up together, fell in love, and why they were struggling independently and together in their relationship.
“Channing had a face for the runways, a body of tattoos that could appear in any magazine, and an attitude that made him a leader among the rowdiest and most clinically inclined.”
Channing… HOLY HOTNESS! I salivated over his character. Alpha, bad-ass, and super sexy! He made me want to lick the pages! Only someone as fierce as Heather could handle all his bravado. Despite their inner strength, both Channing and Heather carried so much baggage. With Channing’s intense perseverance and Heather’s unyielding determination… these two were explosive!
“There were no pretty words between us. There weren’t flowery promises. There was just us. Our love. Our bodies. The addiction we had for each other. We were linked, like invisible chains. They were there, whether we wanted them or not.”
The growth that evolved between Channing and Heather was beautiful. I loved how they fought for their own happiness in addition to each other’s. Through their trials and tribulations, their love for each other was unstoppable. I could not get enough of their story!
“I am Fallen Crest. I am Roussou. This place is who I am”. She looked up, our eyes meeting. “You are who I am.”
The Boy I Grew Up With was such an amazing read! It gave me all the feels and left me wanting more from the Roussou/Fallen Crest world. Whether you have read every Fallen Crest story or like me, are just getting started, I highly recommend!
Review by Lys
After reading the Fallen Crest series you will have met and fallen in love with Heather. She was Sam’s feisty, loyal friend and she embed herself in your heart along with Samantha and the Kade’s.
Soon as this arrived on my kindle I was so excited and as usual Tijan delivered another phenomenal read. She managed to brilliantly weave the past and present together along with running along side her new series Crew.
Best friends from childhood to adult, this is such a brilliant coming of age story. It will tear at your heart and make you love Channing and Heather that little bit more with each page.
Channing and Heather to me have always been perfect together as you could always sense the love between them, even when things were rocky. Their path has always been a hard one. No matter what happens they always gravitate back to each other. Even if they are better apart, safer, they can never be away from each other for too long.
Tijan knows how to give us characters that show immense strength but also a vulnerability too. There is so much angst and drama going on through their story that you are completely hooked and unable to put the book down until its finished.
The Boy that Grew up is a simply brilliant epic love story.
I recently binged on the Fallen Crest series, and while Heather was one of my favorite characters we never really got enough of her. When I found out she was getting her own book I was ecstatic, and Tijan definitely delivered exactly what I was hoping for!
From the glimpses at Heather & Channing’s relationship we were given in the FC books, it was obvious that they had a very complex relationship. And boy is it complex! From flashbacks beginning in first grade through present day, we are able to see just how complex and deep their bond is. They’ve struggled through their ups and downs, each battling their own demons and trying to hold on to each other.
Heather is one of the strongest characters I’ve read, and definitely someone I would want in my corner. Channing is loyal to a fault, and puts everyone else before himself. Best friends, lovers, enemies, soul mates, they are everything to each other, and because of each other. Their friends are family, and the bonds they all share are amazing.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster that I never wanted to end. It was addicting, and I couldn’t put it down once I started. Tijan not only gave us a beautiful, and incredible story, but she gave the characters the one they deserved.
Whether you have read the Fallen Crest series, Crew, or these characters are completely new to you, The Boy I Grew Up With is an amazing book and I highly recommend it to everyone!
Finally we get Heather Jax and Channing Monroe’s story. Both loved characters from this author’s beloved Fallen Crest Series.
Heather & Channing’s story begins when they are children and i can honestly say that i was totally blown away. I’ve always liked both characters, but this story gives us their life in such depth and layers that liking them is taken to a whole new level. I had pre conceptions about this couple and what i expected, but i can tell you, nothing is what it seems and everything will have you emotionally wrapped in a book that will leave you changed!! We see their growth from youth to adult, and i for one just couldn’t get enough. Their up’s and their down’s, their sweet swoony moments and their hearts on the line. It’s so much more than a coming of age romance, this couple deal with so much, Channing just tore my heart out, this man spent his life wanting nothing but to do whatever was best for Heather. They faced life head on, but no matter what, their connection was never going to be broken. Through good and bad and their push and pull, emotionally my heart was beating right along with theirs. I loved seeing Heather’s emotional side, and i was captivated at her strength. I cannot even begin nor do i want to give you details, because IT REALLY IS THAT GOOD!!! I physically felt their bond, right down to my toes, I felt their pain right through my heart. If you think you knew Channing and Heather, think again because this book will give you a whole new meaning to falling in love with your book Hero’s!
And i have to mention… at the end, your life becomes complete again when we catch up with some little suprises !!!
So, if you’re anything like me, you love Fallen Crest. And that also means that you love Mason, Sam, and Logan. And if you know them at all, then by extension you know Sam’s bff is Heather. Heather has been there – a force to be reckoned with of epic proportions. She is fierce and loyal and tough and has a heart of gold. So the man she loved? He has to be the same. Heather and Channing…this is their origin story.
I always found Heather to be incredible. It makes perfect sense why Tijan would bring Heather into the Kade fold; the woman can hold her own and her awesomeness not be overshadowed by all that is the #fearsomethreesome. She was always so strong and keep rolling with the multiple punches life threw at her. And the only man who could complement her had to be just as tough and just as golden as her. Enter Channing.
He always seems so elusive in past books, but there was always a je ne sai quoi about him. But now I get it. He is what I always thought he was but also the perfect other half of Heather. I have to admit that there was a time when I was hoping Heather would pair with Logan back in the day, but now that I know Channing, I can see how those two are better suited as lifelong friends.
I don’t need to go into the character arc, plot development, or storyline flow; Tijan has all of those on lock. What you need to do it pick up a copy, get intimate with Heather and Channing, and go visit your favorite people in Fallen Crest/Roussou. I just wish the stories could go on forever!!
I have no experience with the Fallen Crest series – I know, shame on me, I plan on rectifying that oversight as soon as I can – but after reading Crew and seeing how much Heather and Channing loved each other I was ecstatic to get their story. I had no idea how long they’d been walking the precarious line between absolute commitment and devastation, after reading The Boy I Grew Up With and witnessing their story both in the present and through significant moments of their past I knew they had no choice in their fate. They were destined, their love preordained by something beyond their control.
I adored Heather, both in Crew and in The Boy I Grew Up With. There are few women who have the kind of innate strength she demonstrated in both books, and I didn’t even know a quarter of her story when I first fell in love with her. She fought for herself, even when the fighting she was doing was a little insane. She had the gumption to go toe-to-toe with one of the most respected and feared people in her town while retaining the sensitivity and empathy to recognize and care for the pain of the people in her life. Heather was extraordinary, and I was delighted to see her finally get the security and joy she so deserved in her life.
One of my favorite parts of The Boy I Grew Up With was the flashbacks to the beginnings of Heather and Channing’s relationship. Seeing those building blocks to the foundation of their relationship made me understand why they kept putting up with the pain they’d been through and were experiencing in the present. I loved how both Heather and Channing realized what they had together was meaningful and unique, and worth making sacrifices for. They both had to fight, forgive, and change their priorities to ensure their happiness, but the rewards the reaped from those changes were well worth all of it.
The Boy I Grew Up With is a standalone novel from Tijan. This book has ties to both the Fallen Crest series and her new Crew series, but none of those books need to be read to enjoy or understand this novel. The Boy I Grew Up With is written in dual first-person perspective, narrated by Heather and Channing.
I am still brokenhearted that I am so late to the Tijan game. I’ve read several of her books this year, and they are all fabulous. I love how seamlessly she seems to be able to move from an emotionally devastating book like Ryan’s Bed to books like Crew and The Boy I Grew Up With that are rife with intrigue and danger. She is well-versed in her craft, and her skill at bending the English language to her will is superb.
The Boy I Grew Up With is gripping, emotionally raw, and full of heartbreak, undying love, suspense, and some seriously hot chemistry! It is the story of Heather and Channing who were characters were in this author’s Fallen Crest High series (this takes place after this series) and they were also in Crew, but don’t think that you know their story based off those books! While these two were featured in the other books, I do believe that you could get away with reading this as a standalone, but I do recommend starting with the FCH series.
What an amazing book! This is perhaps my favorite book by Tijan. Heather and Channing have the most amazing love and their journey is full of ups and downs. They have been through so much and even during the times when their relationship was off again, they still had that intense connection and undying loyalty as friends and lovers. Appropriately, this book is told from a dual POV as I really enjoyed getting to see into the minds of both Channing and Heather. Heather was a totally hardcore heroine. She was strong and didn’t put up with anyone’s nonsense. Channing is a charismatic, caring, and loyal to a fault to his sister, his crew, and Heather. While both characters displayed great strength, they also had that vulnerability about them which made me love the more.
The author does a great job showing how their relationship evolved over the years. She has flashbacks interspersed throughout the book, some of which had me laughing and others having my heart break. I also enjoyed getting to learn more about the background of the crew. The Boy I Grew Up will put you through all the feels. This is a great entertaining read with an engaging and unique storyline; well developed characters; and moves at a good pace. The epilogue is fantastic! For the FCH fans, Sam and Mason are briefly mentioned periodically throughout the book, but they do not have a prominent role. Thankfully, the author includes a bonus scene about them.
I received this book as an ARC and I voluntarily leave this review.
“We didn’t have the pretty words, the nice promises. What we had was different. We had history. We’d bled for each other. We’d fought for each other. We fought against each other.”
I have been waiting years for Heather and Channing’s story. It was definitely worth the wait and did not disappoint.
Heather is a badass chick who I have always loved and Channing has been such a sexy mystery over the years.
They share an undying love and were made for one another.
“Hot and cold. Fire and ice. Oil and vinegar. We were all of that, but we were also the second half to the other.”
I loved the dual POV. We get to experience their internal battles that they both shared. I’m not going to lie…their story gutted me a little and yes, it made me cry at parts. The history that they share runs deep and truly unique. They are so in sync no words are really needed between them.
“He’d been “mine” in some form or other almost my whole life. To say our trek together had been one with upheavals, peaks, climaxes, and downfalls—that’d just be an understatement.”
You can read this as stand alone but I believe you would enjoy it more if you read the Fallen Crest High first. Either way, if you are like me and have been dying for their story or have no idea who Heather and Channing are stop what you are doing and pick up this book now!!! Read it, love it and read it again!!!
“It was him and me. No one else. The world had ceased to exist, and the world knew it.”
~ Read on behalf of Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review Blog
Heather and Channing’s book is finally here! If you’re like me, you have read the Fallen Crest Series, and been patiently awaiting this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially after reading Crew and what that book hinted at.
So, starting this book, I was anti-Channing. Not because of their on-again off-again relationship, but because of something that came out in Fallen Crest Forever. It irritated me lol. We all know Heather is tough enough to kick his ass, but sometimes when you love someone they are hard to quit. Seriously, though, my heart softened towards him in Chapter One. It continued doing so. In fact, my heart was literally broken for these two. I’m pretty sure I went through just about every emotion in this book. I felt bad, sad, heart broken, mad, happy, angry, bewildered, irritated, scared, hopeful, and elated.
Heather and Channing’s relationship is quite a journey. She hit him with her trapper keeper in the first grade! I’m still laughing about that. They were best friends first. I love that about them. Heather has always been tough as nails, expect were Channing is concerned. The way he knows her and takes care of her, is another reason I’m not still hating on him.
Thank you, Tijan, for putting my heart back together by the end of this book. You have a knack for telling stories that is unmatched by anyone. You Do Not have to read Fallen Crest or Crew before reading this book. Heathers book is a stand-alone. Now we wait for Nate’s book .
I won an Arc and voluntarily left an honest review.
In the Boy I Grew Up With, we finally get the story of Heather Jax and Channing Monroe.
I enjoyed delving into Heather and Channing’s past. It was heartwarming, heartbreaking and funny at points.
Their whole story is a wonderful journey.
This writing in this book engages and the story consumes. It is told in dual POV and fluctuates between present and past tense seamlessly. The pace was good but somewhere in the middle, the pace slowed as I waited for something to happen. Regardless, Channing and Heather’s story was exquisitely done.
Heather and Channing have been soulmates since their first meeting in grade one. But, things do not always run smoothly and, with this, they have a never-ending amount of break-ups and reunitings. One thing is solid however-their love for each other.
Giving themselves one last chance at forever, will Channing find a way to put Heather first and will Heather find a way to support Channing and his crew?
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ugh the feels!! This book, it’s words, it’s characters, it’s world, is so poignant, so real, and a perfect way to bring you back to Fallen Crest. Tijan is at the top of her game with this book. Heather and Channing are simply put…wonderful. This is a stand alone, but let’s get real, do not read this unless you have read all of the Fallen Crest series. It leads you to this book, gets your appetite going.
This story is wonderfully told in dual pov. We really get to know Heather and Channing in depth, we find out why they are like they are. This story blew me away, and made me wish that it would never end. Tijan lets her characters have a wonderful voice, the writing was magical, and the pacing is perfection. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book!
Heather has loved Channing for as long as she can remember, and vice versa. They have been through so much together they are truly two halves of a whole. That’s not the problem with them. They both love each other with everything they have, but life keeps trying to pull them apart. They have to fight for what they have and sometimes fighting is too hard, but they can’t stay away from each other. They’ve never been able to stay away from each other, that’s why they always keep coming back. So when is the right time? When will they be able to make everything work?
Well Tijan has done it again. Heather and Channing tugged at my heartstrings throughout the entire book. I have been a fan of Heather’s since she was in the Fallen Crest series, and she did not disappoint in this book. She’s so fierce and tough and an absolute badass! I was so engrossed in this book, I felt like I was living everything with them! I wanted to kick, scream, cry, celebrate, love, and hate all at once!! It was frustrating and all consuming.
I love the fact that Tijan gives us both sides to the story. I loved seeing Channing’s take on everything in their lives. I also was shocked when I realized things we thought were true for so long were so grossly misinterpreted! I was so sad when it was over I never wanted it to end! This is a must read if you are a Tijan fan or Fallen Crest fan. Or just love an angsty love story.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!! 5 amazing stars!!
Warning Emotional Spewing is pending in 5…4…3…2…
OMFG!!!!
Calling all Fallen Crest groupies!!! Finally, Tijan has given us the gift of the inside scoop with my favorite bestie! The Original Ride or Die Bitch- Heather Jax. I have no shame when I say for Heather- I would total go that way. I mean though I have always had the hots for Channing, I would total do Heather in a heart beat! She is the best friend you will ever have. She is loyal and 110% the person you want watching your back. She was always the only girl I ever trusted in Fallen Crest. All these feelings were before I read The Boy I Grew Up With.
Now I feel like a Stalker…you couldn’t pry my cold dead hands off of her. Heather has always been a secondary character. She was the best friend. She was the backbone. She was the ride or die BFF. She was ready to take everything to the next level because you needed her. She was there in the background but always just in the periphery.
Not any more!! Heather Jax, or Jax, takes the reader into the dark and hidden places in her on and off again relationship with Channing. She makes us fall in love with the boy who pokes, pulls hair, and gets her in trouble. If you have read the Fallen Crest Series, you were already half way there. Or at the very least in heated lust with Channing… But now the irreversible effects of Heather Jax’s history/opinions is the complete and meltdown of all the walls put in place to protect yourself from Channing Monroe. (Like you stood a chance anyway…)
Its official. My home away from home has expanded. I am now a transplant to the other side of the boundary. I may love Fallen Crest but it seems even I can be convinced that home is where Heather is!
The Boy I Grew Up With is written in a perfect mix of now and then- building up your love so that the foundation became thicker as the hurts kept coming. You don’t need to have read the entire Fallen Crest series to read this book. You don’t even need to read Crew…but if you want to understand Heather on the intrinsic level that Channing does, you need to follow the entire path of their relationship. Start at the beginning with Fallen Crest High and finish out the series, move onto Crew, and round it out with The Boy I Grew Up with. You will learn to love them all..one bad decision at a time!
reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
You know the feeling. You start a book, and from that very first page you know. You just know that you’re gonna love it. Well that was me with ‘The Boy I Grew Up With’. I’ve not had that feeling for a while, but thank you Tijan. It’s back! I fecking loved Channing and Heather. I was expecting good, great even, what I got was even better, it blew all my preconceived notions out of the window. It literally blew me away! We got a glimpse of Heather and Channing in Fallen Crest, and then again in Crew, but nothing prepared me for all the feels, the emotions, the never wanting a book to finish feeling I haven’t had in what feels like forever. The book starts in the middle of their, oh so complicated relationship, whilst they are currently ‘not together’. The story takes us through their very tumultuous, yet emotional relationship from when they met in fifth grade to the present day. The synopsis says it all, so I won’t duplicate it in my review. I will tell you that this is one of my top reads this year, that the writing was perfect, and the story was full of passion, action, lots of drama, sexy times, and yes again, that word, emotion. I loved it. Also two different book covers, one for ebook, and one for paperback. I love them both. Oh, and that bonus scene! I almost missed it. Perfection. I couldn’t have asked for more in a romance novel. A full five stars. I received an advanced review copy of this book. This is my honest review.