#2015HW Review ~ Bully ~ Penelope Douglas

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.