I HAVE A BAD REPUTATION.Call me what you want: Bad Boy Next Door. Trouble. That Kid Who Can’t Do Anything Right. When Willow moves into my neighborhood, nothing should have happened. She’s geeky. Shy. A true wallflower.Willow is a good girl. Too good for me. And how the hell was I supposed to know that she’s related to Loren Hale—yeah, that douchebag celebrity that lives on my street. The same … celebrity that lives on my street. The same guy I’ve been pranking by spray painting vulgar words on his mailbox and worse. Much worse.
Don’t ask me why I do the things I do.
Don’t ask me why it had to be her.
I’m cursed. Simple as that. But here’s the thing about people who are cursed—they break everything they touch.
And yet. . .I still want to touch her.
Whatever It Takes is the first book in the Bad Reputation Duet and can be read and enjoyed without reading any of Krista & Becca’s other novels.
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The time has come for Willow and Garrison to get their own books. If you have read the Addicted series, then you already know these two and some of their background story. But if you don’t you’ll still get pieces of it in this book. This book alternates between present and past (3 years ago). You’ll be getting to see how these two met and how they ended up in the relationship they are in present. Both Willow and Garrison have things they are dealing with. While Willow is bookish and quiet, Garrison is rebellious and misunderstood. Even though from the outside these two are the opposites, they also have a lot in common. I absolutely loved seeing them together and getting their love story finally told from their POV. I already know where they will end up but I don’t know the road to their HEA. So I am super excited to finally go on the journey with them.
This is a new adult romance and even if I usually don’t tend to read this genre, I will never say no to a book written by Krista and Becca Ritchie. I loved seeing all the relationships grow, especially between Willow and her newfound family. Garrison doesn’t think he is good enough, and his insecurities have him make some bad decisions. It was really heartbreaking how hard he was on himself. He and Willow just make a great couple, and they really complete each other. This book has no crazy drama, no stupid miscommunications. It just about two outcasts trying to find their way in the real world. I am proud of the growth they go through as individuals. These two are awesome and I loved this first book to the Bad Reputation Duet. The ending has me very anxious to get my hands on the next book.
Willow and Garrison own my heart and soul. I’ve been waiting for this books for years, I kid you not. As you can imagine, my expectations were high.
I find Willow entirely too relatable. It’s like the authors managed to get into my head to create Willow Hale. We see Willow’s first semester of college throughout the book, and I saw my own experience at college here. She’s quite and a bit awkward, but she also has this quiet bravery that I hope and strive for.
Garrison Abbey is so full of self-loathing. He’s a guy who has made a lot of mistakes in his young life, and while he strives to make better choices, he feels like he’ll never be worthy of anyone’s forgiveness.
This book is told through Past and Present scenes, which I thought worked really well. My one peeve was that all the “Past” scenes in this book were straight from the web series. So if you read the web series, you’ve read about half of this book already. However, the “Present” scenes more than make up for it.
The “Past” scenes show you how Willow and Garrison met, and their evolution from strangers to friends. The “Present” scenes follow Willow in college, Garrison working at Cobalt Inc., and them trying to maintain their long distance relationship.
My heart was so full after reading this. I cannot wait for the next book. This does end in a bit of a cliffhanger, so the 28th cannot get here soon enough. I’m expecting a few things for book 2, and I hope it delivers.
I recommend this to anyone who likes their angsty romances. Also, if you’ve read and enjoyed a K.B. book, you will love this one!
I truly can’t believe it took me so long to read this book. Having it on my bookshelf for awhile I bit the bullet and decided to read it, which was the best decision I made.
Krista and Becca are always hitting it out of the park with each book that they write and this book was amazing.
When reading about Willow and Garrison in the other books I always loved their relationship and craved more. So I am so happy that this book exists and we can see the evolution of their love story.
Willow Hale, the instantly famous Hale due to her brothers, is just trying to have a normal college life, which lands her in London. With her family being world famous she isn’t sure how her new life in England will be but it turns out that it can be normal. Her classmates recognize her but don’t make a fuss since they all understand her situation. Willow has friends she didn’t expect to have but what she is missing is her boyfriend.
Garrison Abbey, the troubled yet genius teen that we met and the Hale’s helped out, is now well known since his girlfriend is Willow Hale. Trying to deal with the long distance relationship is not easy as well as trying to come up with his project for Cobalt Inc. He tends to second guess his discussions about his work and relationship. Willow means everything to him and her happiness is what matters most but being so far away from her is very hard.
We see how these famous yet normal couple do their best to cope with the long distance relationship. You feel for them and want to give them advice on when they are unsure of something. I couldn’t put this book down and I can’t wait to read the next book to see the rest of their story.
Oh Garrison…
I’ve been dying for Willow and Garrison’s story forever! And it’s everything! Krista & Becca do an amazing job weaving past and present together. I felt every moment of joy and heartache and I NEED the second book!
unable to relate
I was ‘iffy’ about an Abbey book. They didn’t really catch my eye until the LIKE US series and Maximoff’s love of them.
BUT
OH
MY
WORD
I did not expect to FEEL this much. Garrison is now my 4th favorite male of the series. Lo, Moffy, Connor, Garrison. (though Farrow might edge out someone) That boi (Garrison) hit me in the FEELS so hard. I think it’s his bleeding heart that got to me. Under that bad boy is just a boy that wants, and deserves, to be loved.
I loved going back to the Core 6. I loved looking at events that we know about but from a different angle. I don’t think anything new was discovered about the core 6 but just seeing them again makes my heart bleed in the best possible way.
I’m merging Whatever it Takes and Wherever You Are into one review because it’s a duet and there really isn’t a dramatic cliffhanger at the end of the first book. The second book is merely a seamless continuation of the story.
Garrison and Willow finally get their own book after being side characters in the Addicted series. You can definitely read this duet without having read the series. However, I think I enjoyed the duet exponentially more because I was familiar with most of the key characters involved.
Garrison Abbey is the rich juvenile delinquent who played cruel pranks on Loren Hale’s house. He is clearly troubled, but I had no idea just how deeply disturbed he is or how bleak this bad boy’s life is. He is at an all-time emotional low when he meets Willow. Willow Hale is Lo’s long-lost, painfully shy and socially awkward sister.
They’re both misfits in their own way, but the fact that two people with completely opposite personalities managed to find each other and fit together like puzzle pieces is beautiful. There’s something honest and pure about their relationship. It’s not bogged down by misunderstandings, lack of communication, or trust issues.
This emotional story tugged on my heartstrings. I would have preferred that the story be told in a straightforward timeline rather than alternating between past and present. Instead of enhancing the story, the format is disorienting. It’s the one dim spot in an otherwise enjoyable read.
The “core six” characters from the Addicted series are deeply integrated in the Bad Reputation Duet and it reawakened my fondness for them. Excuse me while I go re-read the series.
{I have received this as an ARC in exchange for an Honest review}
Reading this book over these past two days has been absolutely wonderful. I read it slowly because I did not want it to end. Willow and Garrison are absolutely amazing. This is a book that I have been dying for. It was everything I wanted and so much more. This story is so different from other new adult romance’s out there. It starts off with a bang. Once you pick up this bad boy and his girl you will not want to put them down. Garrison is a tortured soul calling out for help. Willow is a wallflower who is daring to be brave. Together they are just what each other needs. Willow and Garrison are made for each other and even though they struggle they still fight for their love. This story is full of emotions and angst. It will captivate you and make you feel. I promise you that Garrison and Willow will steal your hearts. I can not wait to read part 2 “Wherever You Are”. This one ends so good and has me craving more. I am absolutely in Love with this story. If you have never read a KBR book before this is an amazing place to start!!
“We are going to make this work, Willow. Because you’re my girl, and that’s not going to change.”
P.S. This book is about two side characters in the “Addicted/ Calloway Sisters” Series but you do not have to read that series to enjoy Willow and Garrison’s story.
Angsty Teenage Love? YAS PLEASE
Willow you are adorable and I loved seeing inside your head. Garrison, you are loved and you deserve to be happy. Getting to see the inter workings of this teenage love story is amazing. You have the angsty “bad boy” and the dorky shy girl. They’re a match made in heaven. I loved seeing Garrison try to relate and learn more about Willow. Seeing Willow mature and come out of her shell was perfection. Thank you Krista & Becca. I loved the little glimpses we got of these two during the other series but it means so much more when you read about them first hand cant wait for book 2!
4.5*
Whatever It Takes was my first introduction to Garrison and Willow, well except for that very brief mention in the Like Us series when it’s requested of Garrison to pick up a wedding ring.
I’ve not read the Addicted or Calloway series yet, nor did I read this story when it was on Wattpad, so everything was new to me- and now I really can’t wait to go back and read those series!
Some thoughts I jotted down while reading-
Garrison’s brothers are assholes!
Baby Maximoff!!!
“Bravery exists somewhere inside of her. She just needs to remember that.”
My heart is clenching while Garrison reads Willow’s answers to the Tumblr questionnaire.
Ugh, my heart hurts for Garrison, I want him to have friends! He makes me so sad.
FUCK HIS BROTHERS!!!
No seriously, FUCK HIS BROTHERS.
His family is awful.
Why are his brothers such dicks?!?
What is wrong with his family???
Ugh, that hug- making me cry.
*I’m going to have to seriously edit this for Amazon!
Man did Willow and Garrison tug at all the heartstrings! Both during the present chapters and the ones set in the past. They each have pretty crappy family lives, so it was awesome to see Willow and Garrison embrace each other, and be embraced by Loren and Ryke, and the rest of the “core six”. I loved seeing the relationships grow, especially Willow and Garrison’s- they were 2 people who really needed each other.
My poor heart broke for both 17yo Garrison and 20yo Garrison. I didn’t understand his family, at all- they made me so angry, if you couldn’t tell from my ramblings above. I felt so sad for him, he was troubled but such a sweetheart. He was so wonderful with Willow- you could just feel how much he cared.
Willow was a sweetheart as well- these two really were made for each other. While I felt sad for Garrison, I felt really bad for Willow when it came to her family. Finding out that pretty much everything you knew about yourself was a lie, well that would be a lot to take let alone finding this out when you’re just a teen-ager. I have to hand it to Willow though, she was so brave. She might not have thought she was, but I tip my hat to her!
While certain parts of this story were definitely angsty, I’m looking at you Garrison’s brothers and you, last chapter, overall I feel like this was a really heart-warming story. I’ve loved Willow and Garrison’s journey so far, and I cannot wait to see what is to come for them!
This was my first read by these authors. I know it’s book one of a duet (yay, I love duets.), so no HEA…yet.
Willow and Garrison met through a series of random circumstances when they are 17. She’s the shy, awkward, geeky girl. He’s the broody, angsty bad boy.
They become friends. He takes her under his wing when she ends up in Philadelphia. Both of their lives changed by the same man, her brother Loren Hale.
They are there for each other. They both discover new things about themselves because of each other. Garrison goes from being the rich popular guy to being the outcast because he rocked the boat. Willow starts to spread her wings since she ran away.
The book bounces between the past and the present (them at 17 vs 20). Giving the details that explain the angst of the present. In the present they are trying to maintain a long distance relationship. A long long distance. He’s back in Philadelphia and she’s in London. She’s coming into her own and making friends. He, on the other hand, is isolating himself, except there are those around him (her brother & friends) trying to bring him out of his cave.
In the past, we see them shortly before they meet and after and all the circumstances that have led them to this point.
They both shy away from the fame adjacent life they have now. But they adore each other. But can it work? Especially when one of you thinks they don’t deserve anything good.
This is not a happy uplifting read. I loved it! I adore angst though, so that is no big surprise. And Garrison has a lot of angst.
And now I am impatiently waiting for the second book!!!!
I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Rate: +5/ 5 stars
I feel so happy and giddy and just blessed.
I always wished I’d get to see these two’s story from their own POVs and wow it was so much more than I’d ever imagined. We see so much of the core six, I could cry about how much that makes me happy. Yes, it’s mostly moments we’ve lived from their eyes before but now getting to see them from the other side is just so precious. Every Lo and Willow moment had me close to freaking tears, specially when Willow officially meets him. My heart.
Willow and Garrison’s story is told in then and now chapters and I loved that so so much. We get to see the first time they met, which was not the moment I thought!! We get to see how they become best friends and each other’s safe haven *eyes glistening* and then we get to see them working on their futures while doing a long distance relationship… oh man, it’s so emotional reading about them missing each other and how distance emotionally and physically affects them. I feel so protective over these characters and boy they don’t have it easy… they never did.
Krista and Becca are truly capturing how hard a long distance relationship is… the time differences and how hard to talk they make it… the second guessing, the doubts and fears…boy did these two make my heart hurt. I feel so much for them and Willow will be in London for 4 freaking years, I doubt it will get any easier.
Garrison completely tore my heart apart. There is so much going on inside his head… so much hate and self-loathing… I truly hope he gets some professional help to work through all that emotional heartache and anger.
Willow, my sweet Willow. Gosh, she’s so relatable… the social anxiety and awkwardness, the nerdiness. I am her, she is me. But despite all that, she is so brave and she slowly puts herself out there and makes some friends in a new country, all the while missing her family and boyfriend back home. I could also relate to that and it just made it hurt all the more whenever she talked about Garrison and her the core six.
I cannot wait to read Wherever You Are. I honestly could have kept on reading about these two for days on end. I love them so much. My heart was SO full while reading Whatever It Takes, even with all the angst and emotion going on. I was just so happy to finally be reading about these two.