Good trashy fun!

Originally posted on Three Little Birds Book Blog

Oh man! That was good. What an angsty and delicious read - I ate Bully up!

I started reading this book on my lunch break at work. Rookie move. I'm advising you against following my moronic move, because I regretted it immediately. By the end of my lunch break I was a few chapters in and rehearsing lies in my head that might get me out of work. I couldn't think of any, so for the next few hours I was hopelessly distracted, and I'm sure I'll be cleaning up whatever mess I made when I head back in to work. I'm not even a little bit sorry about it...Bully is that kind of book.

Penelope Douglas' debut novel centers around two high school seniors (it's not YA, trust me) who after growing up together as best friends, now live to make each other's lives hell. If you like the enemies-to-lovers trope even a little bit then you'll love this book. These characters have great chemistry, and even through the scenes that make your chest burn with angst, there's still a sweet tenderness between them that makes you want to root for them so badly it aches.

I thought this story felt very natural. I believed it. Penelope Douglas was able to, and with only a few chapters, capture the depth of feeling and painful history between Jared and Tate. I loved that, because these stories never work for me unless I can connect with their backstory and feel as emotional as the narrator does. I connected with Tate right away, empathizing with everything that she went through. I knew who I loved early on, and I knew who I hated early on, and it wasn't long before I was completely entrenched in the roller coaster of exhilarating drama. Because of that, I was never bored.

So not only was I an idiot for starting this on my lunch break, but I was an even bigger idiot for waiting so long to cross it off my TBR list. I had this book on my radar for a while and I always hesitated to read it, because I assumed that it would just be another book with a heroine that's treated like shit by the hero who takes the abuse like some spineless fool, but I was wrong. There were times when I was nervous because Jared was sometimes truly horrible to Tate, but she wasn't a powerless victim. She had grit, and she did dirty too. They were both bad at times, which made the tension between the two even more addicting because it was coming from both ends. I loved that. I was also nervous that I wouldn't be able to forgive Jared for what he did, because his reasoning would be too weak (as it sometimes is with these tropes), but my worries were for nothing. I loved him, and empathized with him, and just wanted him even more. My weakness for brooding heroes will never go away. I do wish the ending had been drawn out a bit more, but I have a full-length alternate POV book to look forward, so I'm not too upset about it.

Moral of the story: don't be an idiot like me. Pick up Bully and devour this intense, emotional, and addictive treat. Just don't start it on your lunch break. ;)

I needed a light read after reading very emotionally draining stories and I am so happy I did pick this book. It is a lovely, lovely story about two people who learn to grow apart to then find each other and build a beautiful future together. I seriously loved Tate. She is the girl I hope to be some day. She had so much courage and integrity, it was no surprise Jared was so in love with her. Jared is a true mystery at the beginning and a perfect example of how teenagers can just lose it. But he was able to grow out of it and become the man Tate needed him to be. Just read the book, PLEASE!

I listed to this book on audible. I didn’t think I would like the story in high school setting but it sucked me in. I didn’t care for K.C. I felt like she wasn’t a real friend. If that was the only friend she had she should have been a stronger character and better friend. Also, felt things with Piper should have went differently at the end. Like them telling her dad. But over all really enjoyed the story.