Monday, February 9, 2015

#2015HW Review ~ Bully ~ Penelope Douglas

Bully (Fall Away, #1)Bully 
Fall Away Series #1
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Mature Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms

Synopsis
My name is Tate. He doesn't call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all. No, he'll barely even speak to me.

But he still won't leave me alone.

We were best friends once. Then he turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I've been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to stay out of his way. I even went to France for a year, just to avoid him.

But I'm done hiding from him now, and there's no way in hell I'll allow him to ruin my senior year. He might not have changed, but I have. It's time to fight back.

I'm not going to let him bully me anymore.

**This novel contains adult/mature young adult situations. It is only suitable for ages 18+ due to language, violence, and sexual situations.



Bully is a unique story about love and hate. A story of Tate and Jared -- neighbors and a pair that were once inseparable. Their friendship was special -- the good stuff where they shared everything and Jared helped Tate through a very difficult time in her young life. But something happened the summer before they started high school. Jared became cold -- never explained why he suddenly ended their friendship. And not only did he end their friendship but he also did everything possible to make Tate a pariah. Tate even goes abroad for a year to escape. But when she returns she's different. And she's not going to be bullied anymore.

Watching the dance between Tate and Jared before she left was rather appalling but also telling. Once she returns from France, the dance becomes heated and at times humorous, as Tate stands up for herself. But here's the thing -- Tate loves Jared...at least the boy he used to be. And I know Jared had his reasons for his behavior -- I could speculate on one reason -- and I was right -- but there was more to the story. And when Jared asked Tate to trust him once again, I was proud of Tate for sticking to her guns on needing to know all of it. Jared's story -- the reasons behind his actions towards Tate -- didn't excuse him but it did offer valid explanation for his thinking...the psychology behind all he did.

Both Tate and Jared suffered a lot in their young lives. They both showed inner strength and resilience in surviving it all. 

Bully is a love/hate story. Tate and Jared are a couple you're going to root for. It's a gripping story and although it's entitled Bully, it was about so much more. I very much enjoyed my introduction to Ms. Douglas and am excited to read Until You, Jared's POV.




26 comments:

  1. At times I find it cute how "stupid" young love is. all the love/hate when its so much better to.just love!

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  2. Amen, sista!! :)

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  3. Oh man, this looks like one that could totally play havoc with my emotions Brandee! Sounds like it backs up that saying that there's a thin line between love and hate (unfortunately)! Great review.

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  4. I bought this one >.< have to read it. Tate is an interesting name for a girl

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  5. I loved this book! Great Review!
    And I agree, it is about so much more than just bullying. I haven't read Until You but I have heard it's just as good, if not better than this one. Unfortunately, Rival and Falling Away didn't really work for me. But I will be reading Aflame when it's releasd. Because it's about Jared and Tate. So yay!

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  6. Hi Brandee! long time, no see! I loved Rival, but haven't read Bully. I can see I need to fix that. Great review!

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  7. Oh Brandee, I'm SO happy you loved it! Like Andrea, I've only read Rival (which is great!) and it pushed my curiosity on such a high level that I was over the moon when the UK Publisher sent me Bully and Until You as well!
    Thanks for reminding me why I need to make time for Jared and Tate sooner rather than later! :)

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  8. Wonderful review, and I love that this is more than just a romance or about bullying. Lovely review :)

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  9. Great review! This sounds like an interesting story and I like it when characters go from friend to lovers, or where friends in the past. It seems like they have some issues to work through, but it sounds like a good romance! Although I am wonderign why they called the book Bully.

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  10. Great review, Brandee. I've been meaning to read this one for a while but still haven't gotten around to it.

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  11. Wow... I have heard good things about this series... you are pushing me a bit harder to read it. I love how Tate came back more confident and not willing to let Jared walk over her. Glad she stuck to her guns... go girl!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  12. I loved this book. I actually got it for FREE before it got picked up by a publisher. *preens* BUT that won't happen again, b/c I no longer make time for stalking the kindle freebie best sellers. It's all about priorities ;) Anyway, I'm glad you loved it too. Friends to enemies to more than friends . . . *swoons*

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  13. I absolutely adored Bully too! I haven't read Until You but I've heard it's fantastic. As for the other books in the series (Rival & Falling Away), I've read them and was not as impressed. But I actually think I'm in the minority so you may love them. This couple will be the focus of the next book in the series Aflame, and I can't wait to get more of them :)

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  14. I haven't read Until You either, Stacy. But I'm anxious to. And thanks for letting me know about Aflame...I didn't know that so I'm really excited now! :)

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  15. Kindle freebie best sellers?!? You know, I've been at this for awhile and I still feel like such a newbie sometimes. I had no idea about that. *ha* Well, I probably wouldn't have time to stalk it either, huh? Especially seeing as I'm just now getting around to commenting back? I'm glad you loved Bully - but I'm not surprised since we seem to have similar tastes. :)

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  16. *push* *push* Yeah, I wanna push you to read something...I'm all about reciprocating! ;)

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  17. Thanks, Marilyn. I think you'll love Bully.

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  18. It is such an interesting story, Lola. I hope you'll read it to find out why it's called Bully. :)

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  19. Thanks, Kimba! It is so much more than I was expecting! I'm really happy I finally read it :)

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  20. Oh, I hope you spend some time with Jared and Tate soon, Silvia. It's well worth it!

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  21. Hi Andrea!!! Thanks for dropping by. I miss you...just in case you were wondering. :) You'll love Bully - I can almost guarantee it. It was so much more than I thought it was going to be. I hope things in your world are wonderful! Stop by again sometime. :)

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  22. So I can see I was really late to the Bully party. I'm glad I finally joined though. :) I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I plan to. Especially Aflame. :)

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  23. Oh Lorna, this book is so many things...and they're all great! Yeah, it's a romance among other things. It is an emotional read for sure. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it!

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  24. I hope you get to it soon, Lily. I'd had it on my kindle for ages and I'm so glad I finally read it!

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  25. Oh, it's totally going to take you through the wringer, Berls. But it's sooo worth it!

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  26. I haven't read this one, but I will. I'm not totally sold on the love/hate entanglements, but I suspect that, if done right, they could make for one heck of a story. Intriguing. Great review.

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Now you know what I think...what are your thoughts??