The bully isn’t supposed to win…Senior year was off to a rough start: lube in my locker, panties on my front porch, unimaginative name-calling. See, I got a player suspended from the football team for harassing me, and in my small Texas town, you don’t mess with the football players—even if they mess with you first.I didn’t care if it was an unpopular thing to do; I stood up for myself… and in … do; I stood up for myself… and in doing so, opened Pandora’s Box.
I never dreamed I would attract the attention of locally worshipped star quarterback, Carter Mahoney. Never imagined his coveted attention would turn out to be such a nightmare. Beneath his carefully constructed façade lurks a monster, a predator looking for the perfect prey to play with. Now, since I’m the girl no one likes or believes, I guess I’m the perfect target for his dark games and twisted desires.
After surviving my first encounter with his casual depravity, all I really want is for Carter to leave me alone.
But all he seems to want is me.
WARNING: This book is provocative. It is categorized as DARK ROMANCE for a reason. If you are a reader with certain triggers or sensitivities common to the dark romance genre, PLEASE heed the author’s note at the beginning of this book.
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I Give this Book a Legit 4.5-5/5 Star Rating, Listing as 5.
I know it’s weird to be afraid to read a specific book, but Untouchable by Sam Mariano is legendary among the bully books, reported to be one of the best.
And I was afraid to read it, not because it’s a bully book (I LOVE THEM! Darker the Better), but because I wasn’t sure if it would live up to all the hype this book was given.
And I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this book!
It was sooo good & Once I opened the book I couldn’t stop reading it!
The bantering in this book is epic, it’s flows so well between Carter & Zoey, it does not at all have that B Movie Scripted bantering feel. It honestly feels natural.
I hope we’ll see more of Carter & Zoey in the future, maybe a novella of some sort? I can’t get enough of them.
They are most definitely one of my favorites couples.
I will gladly reread this book over and over, I would love to listen to an audiobook version as well!
HEA(?): Yes!
Dark(?): 2/5, I am an avid dark reader so my rating will be different from others who may consider this book darker.
Bully: 3(maybe 3.5)/5, Now please understand I am a hardcore bully reader & love even darker aspects of it, so my rating towards the bully will be different from other readers. Please keep that in mind.
There honestly isn’t that much bullying in this book, from some reviews I reads it sound like there was a lot, but when I break it down, there isn’t that much overall. I love hardcore bully reads and I so I had hoped there was a bit more bullying especially from Carter’s end.
Heat & Dark Heat: 5/5, I do wish there were more darker scenes but that’s just me lol.
Romance: 4-4.5-5/5
Drama: 4 (maybe 4.5-ish)/5, there is a bit of drama but the further you read drama really does..in a way..turned down a bit, which makes sense but I did want some more bully type drama.
Suspense: 5/5
Pacing: Mid to Mid Fast
Relationship Type: MF
Can’t wait to read more books from this author!
The characters are well-developed and likeable in regard to their roles in the story. I have to emphasize that they’re likeable with regard to their roles because if you’re not prepared for the asshole that Carter is, then you won’t like him at all. In the first few chapters, Zoey is depicted as a mousy pushover who’s being bullied by the wolfpack of football players who believe she’s wronged one of their own, but she quickly turned my opinion around when she stands up to Carter in her own way (I say her own way because a lot of readers are NOT going to appreciate how she empowers herself and will view her as an abused, depraved little girl). Considering the story takes place during their senior year of high school, it’s not entirely realistic to believe that the quarterback holds as much power in the town and school that the author has given Carter. There were times when the story slowed down too much for me, mostly when Zoey was alone with her thoughts about Carter and their future…and that all began just 2 days into their “relationship”, so it got old pretty fast. The head cheerleader bully and the wolf pack football team were typical of high schools today (unfortunately). The story itself ebbed and flowed, sometimes a little too slow and sometimes too fast for my liking, until it reached a pretty great end and an even greater epilogue. The characters certainly all ended up where they belonged, though not always predictably. I really wanted to love this book, but the fact of the matter is, I only liked it. It was quite long and I felt there was too much internal dialogue used as filler between what were some really great scenes. Unfortunately, that’s what kept me from giving it 4 stars. As far as the writing, I definitely will give this author another shot because she’s good, just a little long-winded.
STORY:
PROOFREADING:
I absolutely loved this book!!! The main character in this book was by far the cruelest bully I’ve ever met, yet he was also the sexiest!!! A major @sshole who could probably be diagnosed as psychotic, but he is yummy!!! Best of all, he was incredibly manipulative!!! I am certain I would have found some of the sadistic, twisted things he did unrealistic if this book was written by anyone else, however, Mariano knows how to find the perfect words!!
“… I at some point decided it would be an okay idea to start dating the guy privately voted most likely to date rape. Fabulous. I make fabulous choices.”
This story truly is a mind fu
I don’t even know where to begin. This book has my most hated heroine I’ve ever read about.
At this point with this being my second book from this author, I think I’m going to stop TBRing her books.
I cannot get into her writing.
I’m not a wet blanket.
I love bully romances. Noncon, dubcon, and dark AF books. This book? It was an utter disaster.
I nearly DNF it a few times but this bitch isn’t a quitter when so many people recommend this book.
It was a hot mess express.
Not for the faint hearted, but if you like your romance DARK, then this will be the book for you!
Bully = Greatness
Holy snap Carter. Whoa Carter!!
**This book has triggers. If you have triggers be careful and know your own limits**
This book was my first by Sam. And it won’t be my last! Great book! I LOVE bully romances and this one was totally different!
Carter is a guy with many hidden gems. But Zoey had something that just dug into his soul!
The book is a little long but totally worth all the heartbreak!
If you are not a fan of toxic relationships and noncon do not pick this one up because you will hate it. Do not pick up this book and then vent about how horrible it is and immoral blah blah blah Clutch your pearls elsewhere Karen. It’s a book not a guide to healthy relationships We all know this isn’t a positive relationship. Now that that warning is out of the way.
Holy hotness. If you love non-con books this is a definite must read. In the first chapter right out of the gate it hits you with the noncon no slowburn here. It wasn’t one of those lets kinda be dark but skirt the line to not upset the masses.
Carter is unapologetically caveman and I loved it. While Zoeys reasoning behind continuing to associate with him had actual substance. It had an odd sense of logic to it at first and then became emotional. It balanced her fear and her drive to attain her goals perfectly. This book went all the way and Carter was a repugnant ass and at the same time absolutely lovable character. Dichotomy ya know.
There were a few things I didn’t enjoy though. The ending seemed a bit rushed for me and in the beginning Zoey was quite close with a friend and it just fades off there is no explanation as to why and it seems plot holey for me. I also didn’t like that she accepted the money he was constantly throwing at her without more of a fight.
Overall I would recommend to any dark romance or noncon lover.
TW; noncon, mentions of previous sexual abuse, rape, bullying, abusive relationship
Let me start off by saying, I completely understand why so many people DNF this book. The main couple’s first encounter is disgusting and wrong. It is in NO WAY, romantic or acceptable. I myself was tempted to DNF this book in the beginning, it definitrly pushed my limits and made me VERY uncomfortable. but I’m so happy I pushed through!
Carter Mahoney is not a good guy.
He is manipulative, borderline abusive, and unapologetically fucked up.
But he’s also sweet, damaged, and lovingly protective. And he loved Zoey so damn hard. Zoey was his perfect match. She is equal parts strong and soft. I loved how their relationship progressed after that terrible first meeting and how Zoey worked to understand Carter and his kinks.
I love being the place he puts his darkness. I love being the keeper of the secret of who Carter really is.
Now, if this were to happen in the real world, Zoey would be pressing charges. But this isn’t the real world, this is the dark romance world! And in the Dark romance world, we get to understand why the villains & anti-heroes do the things they do and witness them find their perfectly twisted love. And now I need my own physical copy of Carter Mahoney on my shelves!
I have heard so many good things about Untouchable that I couldn’t wait to get started. This lived up to everything people had said and more.
First, it starts out really effed-up and dark. In fact, at this point it’s a lot of what the hell and how will there ever be a romance out of this? This is a major good bully romance that takes its time blooming. Carter is pretty funny; as he tries so much at first, but does succeed. Eve through the progress of the romance and relationship there’s still some bully themes there, mixed with the possessiveness that is Carter.
I enjoyed the realism of their relationship, especially from her side. Since they’re seniors in high school, they’re both looking at colleges. Zoey is a poor student, smart, and working on a college scholarship. Carter is set to go ivy-league, between his status as an athlete and is family influence. He’s under the belief that they will be together after high school, while Zoey is realistic and fighting him at every turn. Based on his educational and career prospects he will find someone more in his status. Dragging out this relationship into a long-distance one will only lead to heartbreak, so she tells him multiple times they need to break it off after grad, even going as far to suggest a friends-with-benefit status as they visit each other until he finds better. I liked this. Given their situations, she wasn’t naive and assumed all would be well and tried to set them both up for as much success as they can.
Mind you, his solution to all this was pretty darn okay.
It’s such a good book that leaves you glued to the page. Again, it’s effed. And I do not condone the way it all started, but there are trigger warnings in the beginning. Do not read if you are not ready. Despite it all, I can understand how a romance bloomed from this. I know I know…some people are WTF-ing at me right now. But I do. I respect the author for touching those bounds. I read and love Pepper Winters’ books; her light and dark books, but especially her dark books. I learned to stomach a lot. If what the heroes do in those books are okay for the development of the romance than so is Sam’s Carter and Zoey. It goes there and if you walk into this book understanding it is a dark bully romance, you will not be upset.
First, Sam rocks my world with the Morelli series- a series that quite literally defies any sort of description. Then, she bashes into the bully genre with this knockout bully romance with the same vigor that Carter comes at Zoey. This is why I love Sam Mariano- she takes what we think are pretty straight forward, well defined genres and tropes and she’s redefining them and adding her own spin- with Morellis, Stitches, and now Untouchable.
At its core, Untouchable is a DARK (read: LOTS OF TRIGGERS) bully romance. It comes out swinging hard from chapter 1- a dark, dark bully scene that from these reviews you can see is clearly not for everyone. (but this is also the lowest/darkest of the book IMO, so get the sample and see how you feel about it). Carter is our bully- and he is as unlikeable and a-holey as bullies come- clearly with some psychopathic tendencies. He preys on our heroine, Zoey, because he enjoys controlling others, gets off on making her powerless (see, I said dark). Bullied by the popular jocks, something sparks between her and Carter in this disturbing bully opening act- and thus, our story unfolds.
We have all the things we’ve come to expect in a bully romance- alpha a-holes who fall hard for the girls they are bullying, all the high school tropes, delicious steamy scenes, the necessary reparations for the romancing, and the two world tensions. But, like I said before- Sam defies definition, so she bring her unique Sam spice- her ability to somehow make toxic relationships understandable, interesting, and GASP appealing, the finesse she has in making men who are genuinely villains appear likeable and relatable, and the deeply nuanced and riveting way she unpacks the psychology of her characters – even when the psychology is not pretty. Sam doesn’t shy away from flawed, complicated characters- she creates this characters who in real life we’d hate and who would be considered unstable but her stories their unique brand of damage and dysfunction is softened and understood because they find their perfect match- a character whose dysfunction and damage is the perfect match for our hero. There’s no denying Carter is his own breed of messed up- and while Zoey’s actions aren’t reprehensible, she, TOO has her own damages- that draws her to Carter. Sam attacks this head on- in fact, Zoey and Carter openly research and discuss the toxicity in their relationship and the dysfunctional aspects of Carter’s relationship needs.
And that is what Sam does- she gets us SO up in our characters’ warped little minds that somehow we start to love them and accept their behavior- our own minds are F’ed- not only because we “get them” but also because we so clearly see who these two flawed souls fit together- not in ways that change the core of who they are but rather because they accept, embrace, and NEED these flawed, in-real-life-concerning dynamics. And, that is interesting AF, to me at least.
All that said, I loved this book- but if dubious consent (multiple instances) or the beautification of unhealthy relationships aren’t for you, take the warning on this seriously. Everyone else, strap in- this is QUITE the ride!
First off, it’s really not a read for the light hearted as especially the first chapter was at times gruelling to read! I even had to skip a page or two ‘cuz it was just too hard to read. The author’s note in the beginning is there for a reason and I had friends who’ve read it warn me. I really tried to get past everything, hoping that the male lead character, Carter, was going to redeem himself but still it was very hard to see past everything he was doing. Zoey on the other hand was strong in the way she handled herself although there were moments I didn’t know why she did some things… I just didn’t understand… In the end I don’t regret reading it but it troubled me too much.
Zoey is having a very hard time at school and when an incident happens, it’ll change everything in its course. Now she’s caught the attention of one of the school’s most notorious’ bad boys, Carter, and he’s not taking no for an answer. Although she’s trying everything to get him to leave her alone, it only seems to make him want her more. When one thing leads to another, they can’t deny that their relationship is slowly changing even though she knows that she should stay as far away as she can. Carter tries to make her see that underneath it all, there’s more than meets the eye. Challenges lie ahead and with a lot at stake, they both have a lot to overcome… Who knows where they’ll end up in the end…
Good god! This book!! I couldn’t put it down. It was dark, frustrating, incredibly compelling, and hot as hell. I loved it!!
“If you’re looking for a Prince Charming and I’m your best shot, you are in a truly dire situation.”
Honestly, no woman in her right mind would want to be with Carter Mahoney but he’s an unstoppable force. He’s like an act of God that cannot be held back – a devastating hurricane, a catastrophic flood, a ravaging fire. I kid you not!! He is an alpha of the first degree – at only 18, too! The power and influence he holds is astonishing and not a little bit frightening.
“I can make you do a lot of things, but I can’t make you trust me. That, you have to give me.”
Zoey Ellis is a worthy opponent. She’s a remarkable young woman who walks her own path. She’s a prodigiously strong, smart character and I completely admired her spunk.
This was a roller-coaster of a story, as we follow Zoey and Carter from the dark and disturbing beginning of their relationship, and journey through their battle of wills and uncover the true Carter beneath his untouchable façade. I loved how their relationship developed – the truth and honesty between them, and the sheer fortitude that Zoey exhibits. I loved seeing the tiny chinks of vulnerability beneath Carter’s immoral and arrogant exterior. Told from Zoey’s POV, it’s actually very clear to the reader that in spite of Zoey’s doubts, fears and mistrust of Carter, he is fully invested in her and a future together.
If you’re looking for a bully romance with a strong heroine, a bulldozer of an alpha, and plenty of stark sexuality and raw honesty, this is the book for you!
Holy mother of hotness
It’s been a while since I’ve managed to lose myself in a book and lose completely track of time. Untouchable was everything a reader will fall in love with. It’s dark and twisted but not in a bad way. Well… in my opinion anyway!
A mystified hero with so much amazing qualities, sex scenes that will leave you wanting more, a strong heroine with just enough sass…
This story was my first by Sam Mariano and I will definitely be seeking more of her work.
Wow. Sam Mariano knows how to create and asshole hero that you love despite all his downfalls. And that is exactly what she did in Untouchable. We follow Zoey who is dealing with some heavy bullying after standing up for herself against a jock that the school loves. It’s during one of these bullying sessions that she catches the eye of Carter, the school’s top dog. His word is law and anyone who steps out of line has to deal with his considerable wrath. Zoey doesn’t fall all over herself for Carter like every other female he encounters so our hero decides to up his game to get the girl. His methods are, without a doubt, questionable, but he knows how to get what he wants and stops at nothing to achieve his goals.
I definitely recommend Untouchable, but make sure you heed the trigger warning at the beginning of the book.
I really want to cuss, and bi&*h, and moan about this book. For the first half I made notes about how awful and horrable this story was, how predatory Cater was, how wreaked and broken Zoey was… I wanted to rate it one star for the first few chapters, and then first half. A good 55% of this book had me disgusted and appalled, I was upset at myself for reading it, and then enjoying it… but OH MY GOD this author is brillant.
How, oh how did she get me to LOVE Carter? After everything he did, as disgusted as I was with him for a good part of this book, how to I want more?! Why is there not a book two with their adult life?! Why, why, why?!
This author and this book… wow, I’m at a loss. If you can get past the first four chapters (and I admit it took me three tries and a year to do it) you will discover a brilliant, wonderful, strong, bold, mesmerising, and heartwarming story!! I am SO glad I tried again, so glad I made it thorough.
5 stars for Untouchable by Sam Mariano. This is my first book from this author and man it was a doozie. I would consider this a dark standalone bully romance. I would not recommend reading this book if you are easily triggered by bullying, abuse, rap and more. This book is dark and twisted. I am not going to lie , there were points when I cringed a little about what was happening but it was still a great book. In this book we have Zoey and Carter as our main characters. Zoey was recently sexually harassed by Jake, a football player. When she turned him in , she became the outcast. In their small Texas town you do not go against the football players. Carter is another football player who has a lot of issues. He is dark and some may even say he is crazy. He is your typical high school star football player, a playboy and mister popular. The only difference is Carter has a dark side. “If you’re looking for Prince Charming and I’m your best shot, you are in a truly dire situation.” Zoey does not understand why she is still attracted to Carter after everything he does to her, but she is. I am telling you if you love dark bully romance then this is the book for you . You can not go wrong with this one .
Untouchable is categorized as a dark romance. And no matter what you may think of it, it sure evokes plenty of feelings. Most of which aren’t of the fuzzy, warm variety. If I had to describe it with just a few words it would be disturbing, twisted and fascinating.
The first few chapters of this read had me totally appalled. I quite literally got sick to my stomach. Frankly, I considered to just quit it. But I was also outraged. I simply had to know what would happen next. And you might say that that’s the theme of the entire book. It horrifies and shocks you to the point where it’s impossible to put down, you keep reading since you need – and expect – to eventually get to the part where Zoey gets some kind of retribution. Beacuse nobody wants the bad guy to win.
The entire story is from the viewpoint of Zoey. She is abused, used and manipulated by Carter, and amidst all that, I’m still drawn to the character that is Carter. What he does and how he acts is horrifying, yet he’s quite mesmerizing. So, that’s brilliant storytelling right there. I haven’t read anything by Sam Mariano before, but I’m thoroughly impressed by her writing. The entire narrative, the way she manages to blur the lines and suck you in. It’s really freaking talented.
However. I’m quite uncertain about the label, dark romance. Beacuse it’s hardly romantic. Well, apart from the epilogue. And there are heaps of, very valid, trigger warnings. This read is simply not for everyone. Apart from atrocious sexual assaults, something that makes this read even more distressing is the young age of everyone involved. They’re all High School students, still mostly kids.
This might be my age talking, but my guess is that people in their twenties may view this story in another light than people in, say, their forties. I’ll venture as far as to say that younger readers would probably – and disturbingly – view this read as more romantic. As an actual love story. Seeing Carter as some dream guy, only a bit darker and more manipulative. You see, not being in my twenties myself, I don’t see this as a romance at all. And that’s not prudishness talking. It’s life-experience and self-respect. But about the story, I can’t decide if it’s a fascinating description of abuse normalization, or if it’s simply a twisted story using the logic that the end justifies the means.
And of course, as a European, I have some issues with the whole untouchable football player thing. I can’t imagine any scenario taking place in Europe in which practically every adult and every kid in a town would ever favour a minor like that. Then again, I don’t see any scenario taking place in Europe where every adult in a town would even know about a specific minor. But, school sports in the US seem to be a big deal I guess.
In retrospect, I feel that the main objection I have against this story is the quick shift happening when Zoey stops fighting, so to speak. That was a super weird demarcation of Carter’s changed behaviour. From what is revealed by his personality prior to that, it’s pretty unbelievable that it would actually be a permanent change. Since he’s agreeable only when he gets his way. But that topic is basically an entire psychology thesis, so I’ll let it drop.
Either way, Untouchable is an exceptional read. Disturbing as all hell, but exceptional. The way Mariano manages to shift your sense of allegiance, how the perpetrator’s actions aren’t only justified by Zoey but by you as a reader as well. It’s fucking awesome writing. So, if you have the stomach for sick and intense, you should definitely read this one.
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/
Great bully romance with a happy ending
I don’t even have the words to explain how great and messed up this book is and how much I loved it! So this is the first book by Sam Mariano. I’m hoping this is her type of work for all her books because I will definitely be reading more.
Be Warned – this book is for us Dark Lovers that are into messed up relationships and characters… lol. There are definitely might be triggers for some people so if extremely dominant and controlling men are not your thing – do not read this. I, on the other hand, loved it but I had a hard time at the beginning with what Carter done to Zoey. By the end of the book I loved him and they just worked together… they brought out the best in each other and it Just..Worked..!!
LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT
Wow… this turned out to be quite different than I anticipated. In a GOOD way.
I had read a few reviews, so I expected dark. But this started out REALLY dark. Still, throughout the story the author did an excellent job of building out the characters, and turning around my opinion of Carter. I did eventually end up rooting for him. And after the way the book started… well, at the beginning I did not see myself rooting for him. Unless it was rooting for him to get hit by a bus.
I ended up LOVING this book. Would love to see more, maybe about some of his friends? Particularly the friend toward the end? Just a thought. 🙂