He was an abrasive, demanding, conniving, intolerable brat.
Yet somehow, we’d been best friends our whole lives.
Until our senior year when I finally decided to dip my toes into the dating pool.
All it took was one kiss for jealousy, lies, and betrayal to sweep in and propel us heart first into dizzying, hostile depths.
You’re not supposed to kiss your best friend.
You’re definitely not supposed to kiss your best friend while you’re dating someone else.
And the absolute worst thing you could do is fall for your best friend.
Unless, of course, you want to ruin everything.
REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"If love doesn't terrify you, you're not in love."
I wish I could say it's official, but it's been official....so it's officially official: I love Ella Fields.
I don't trust many to give me a teenaged romance.....oh, who am I kidding, I can't even say that with a straight face anymore. HAHA! Ella Fields has made me rethink the possibilities with YA and NA romances. They are NOT my favorite trope and I honestly do trust only a few at this time, but for some reason I trust Ella every single time - no questions asked, and I've never been let down. It's not just because I love her writing, because that's a gimme. I can talk about her cadence and her flow and blah blah blah, but I do it every time and that should be common knowledge by now, right? Right. That gets boring after five reviews. Anyway, I'm just saying, she writes these stories that have so much more reality and truth behind them. So much so that I can't help but relate to the characters. Their pain and drama? I went through that. I totally connected to them on that level. Their stupid decisions? They're teenagers!! Actually explained away in a teenaged mindset and it worked, because that's how it works in their minds. It really does. The aggravation and the love that was mixed with the good times and the bad, it flowed. I loved this painfully accurate account of a best-friends-turned-lovers trope. Maybe not accurate for everyone, but Ella sure made it feel like I was right there, hurting and laughing right along with them, exploring and questioning while trying to understand the pain and the stubbornness.
"Dash Thane wasn't capable of loving anyone but himself, and I'd do well to remember that."
You know what's really weird? I feel like I was sufficiently warned with this one. Seeing all the underage shenanigans and the considerable amount of heartbreak between the kids, I feel like this one was laid out rather well. How well? Well, I found myself angry at each character individually and as a whole, and I didn't discriminate on that anger. HA! But, to be clear, I wasn't angry for doing stupid stuff that was careless - it was for doing stupid stuff that I actually expected of these entitled, privilege-spoiled teenagers. And I loved it! Hindsight is a beautiful thing. I know I look back and tsk my way through circumstances and events, but if I missed out on those learning experiences, then I wouldn't have those life experiences to draw on. So it's a catch-22 here, with a very valid reality behind it. Exploring and navigating what is already a tricky time emotionally, adding another heart into the mix that you are ultimately accountable for was probably the highlight of this book for me. Dash had me from the beginning, and as selfish and as immature and ridiculous as he could be, he had ONE heart that he held higher than the rest. Including his own. I loved that about him.
"His touch was kerosene, but I didn't want to catch fire."
This story came complete with teenage dramatics, jealous antics, and a guy that would not take no for an answer, no matter how much it hurt. I fell in love with Dash, and yes - he was a jerk. A Class-A, certifiable ass, but he had a lot of heart and the purest of intentions......sometimes. His love for Peggy was what made this book for me. Well, HE made the book for me, but his love and devotion to her is what gave me those little anxiety pangs and the cheeky smiles. I smiled a lot and his mouth, his banter, was the best!!
I honestly feel like Ella nailed the rock | hard space scenario that Dash and Peggy were stuck between. I understood the "not wanting to hurt" the other person's feelings, and that was very prevalent in this book. I looked at this story through my own memories and really felt all the young, teenaged emotions that these two characters went through. Talk about a trip down memory lane in a small town where everyone knows everyone. This one didn't have the angst I am used to reading from Ella, but once again she proved she could write something a little different and still give me an exciting story. This was a great book, easily recommended and happily so.
"She was only ever supposed to be mine."
~BEE
I wish I could say it's official, but it's been official....so it's officially official: I love Ella Fields.
I don't trust many to give me a teenaged romance.....oh, who am I kidding, I can't even say that with a straight face anymore. HAHA! Ella Fields has made me rethink the possibilities with YA and NA romances. They are NOT my favorite trope and I honestly do trust only a few at this time, but for some reason I trust Ella every single time - no questions asked, and I've never been let down. It's not just because I love her writing, because that's a gimme. I can talk about her cadence and her flow and blah blah blah, but I do it every time and that should be common knowledge by now, right? Right. That gets boring after five reviews. Anyway, I'm just saying, she writes these stories that have so much more reality and truth behind them. So much so that I can't help but relate to the characters. Their pain and drama? I went through that. I totally connected to them on that level. Their stupid decisions? They're teenagers!! Actually explained away in a teenaged mindset and it worked, because that's how it works in their minds. It really does. The aggravation and the love that was mixed with the good times and the bad, it flowed. I loved this painfully accurate account of a best-friends-turned-lovers trope. Maybe not accurate for everyone, but Ella sure made it feel like I was right there, hurting and laughing right along with them, exploring and questioning while trying to understand the pain and the stubbornness.
"Dash Thane wasn't capable of loving anyone but himself, and I'd do well to remember that."
You know what's really weird? I feel like I was sufficiently warned with this one. Seeing all the underage shenanigans and the considerable amount of heartbreak between the kids, I feel like this one was laid out rather well. How well? Well, I found myself angry at each character individually and as a whole, and I didn't discriminate on that anger. HA! But, to be clear, I wasn't angry for doing stupid stuff that was careless - it was for doing stupid stuff that I actually expected of these entitled, privilege-spoiled teenagers. And I loved it! Hindsight is a beautiful thing. I know I look back and tsk my way through circumstances and events, but if I missed out on those learning experiences, then I wouldn't have those life experiences to draw on. So it's a catch-22 here, with a very valid reality behind it. Exploring and navigating what is already a tricky time emotionally, adding another heart into the mix that you are ultimately accountable for was probably the highlight of this book for me. Dash had me from the beginning, and as selfish and as immature and ridiculous as he could be, he had ONE heart that he held higher than the rest. Including his own. I loved that about him.
"His touch was kerosene, but I didn't want to catch fire."
This story came complete with teenage dramatics, jealous antics, and a guy that would not take no for an answer, no matter how much it hurt. I fell in love with Dash, and yes - he was a jerk. A Class-A, certifiable ass, but he had a lot of heart and the purest of intentions......sometimes. His love for Peggy was what made this book for me. Well, HE made the book for me, but his love and devotion to her is what gave me those little anxiety pangs and the cheeky smiles. I smiled a lot and his mouth, his banter, was the best!!
I honestly feel like Ella nailed the rock | hard space scenario that Dash and Peggy were stuck between. I understood the "not wanting to hurt" the other person's feelings, and that was very prevalent in this book. I looked at this story through my own memories and really felt all the young, teenaged emotions that these two characters went through. Talk about a trip down memory lane in a small town where everyone knows everyone. This one didn't have the angst I am used to reading from Ella, but once again she proved she could write something a little different and still give me an exciting story. This was a great book, easily recommended and happily so.
"She was only ever supposed to be mine."
~BEE
~MEET ELLA FIELDS~
Ella Fields is a mother and wife who lives in the land Down Under. While her kids are in school, you might find her talking about her characters and books to her two cats. She's a notorious chocolate and notebook hoarder who enjoys creating hard-won happily ever afters.
~CONNECT WITH ELLA~
Hhmm I'm excited to read this! I have always loved YA/NA and friends to lovers. So with this combination, I'm definitely in.
ReplyDeleteGreat review Bee! You got me so excited to dive in.
Thank you, Bunny!!
DeleteGreat review...I definitely need to read this!
ReplyDeleteI hope you LOVE it!!
DeleteGreat review!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
DeleteLoved your reviews. Thank you
ReplyDelete