Book Review and Giveaway for The Boy on the Bridge (Bully Anthology) by Sam Mariano

THE BOY ON THE BRIDGE
by SAM MARIANO

The day I met Hunter Maxwell he wasn’t the rich kid who lived in the giant house, he wasn’t the most popular guy in school, he certainly wasn’t the bully who had chased his own best friend out of town after a falling out—he was just a boy with a black eye and a dark secret.

My life would have been much easier if I had stayed out of it, but I couldn’t. I saw someone hurting and wanted to help. I saw someone possibly in danger and wanted to make sure he was safe.

There’s nothing safe about Hunter Maxwell, though. I thought there might be. I fell under his spell. Whatever the world saw when they looked at him, it wasn’t what he showed me.

The bond we formed was real. I know it was real. But with Hunter, when the tides turn, you’d better hope you’re safely on the shore and out of his reach.

I thought I was a strong enough swimmer to keep my head above water. I thought if it came down to it, I could resist his pull.

I didn’t know, but now I do.

Once Hunter sets his sights on you, there’s no such thing as out of his reach. Whether it’s today, tomorrow, or five years from now, he’s coming for me—and when he does, he won’t stop until he’s destroyed me.

ADD TO GOODREADS

REVIEW: 5 WOAH STARS

"I may not be an angel, but I'm definitely in heaven."

It's every once in a while I get this excited for a story, especially one that is a novella - in an anthology, no less. I realize I scream about books often, but when the internal feelings manifest into giddy outward excitement, that says A LOT to me. This book was E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. good that is Sam Mariano's writing. Her forte is bully. She can tug on your heartstrings on one page and kick your feet out from under you on the next. This type of emotional turmoil is what I live for in a book. Because NOT ONLY am I falling in love with a character, but I am falling in love with excuses and reasons I wouldn't normally entertain.

"I'm not saying I have a crush on Hunter, but I'm definitely preoccupied by him."

I. NEED. MORE. HUNTER AND RILEY. I realize this was only a prequel of sorts with a raging cliffhanger, but it's sitting pretty on my favorites list already. I can only imagine the full book will end up there as well, which I'm now anxiously awaiting. This book reset my ideas of amazing YA in the bully trope and I will forever chase this kind of high with Sam Mariano's books. This is twice now that she's given me this buzz that shows how much I love this book lane she dominates. SO so good.

I am so in love with the way Hunter decides how things are going to be. I know that sounds bad, but hear me out. He's honest, real, and quite obvious....but it all benefits his agenda in its own sly way. But I love how he is with Riley. I love that her angelic side doesn’t turn off his devilish side. It’s seriously the perfect mix!! Oh. My. Gosh. He makes me giggle and smile watching him manipulate any situation for his benefit. I also loved his young man, alpha side. It obviously starts up young with some, but this was completely age appropriate flirting and I honestly loved it. It’s relatable. It’s smile inducing. It’s giggle worthy. It’s perfection. I imagine it has to be hard to write cocky with confidence, but Mariano pulls that off exquisitely, almost effortlessly, with Hunter.

The relationship Riley has with her mother is refreshing and I feel like I want to point this out. It’s real and honest and I love the discussions and the truths they share with each other. The open communication is great to see/read about because not always do we get that dynamic in a book and it's usually a bad relationship with mother and daughter that spurs on the actions and consequences in a book, and I felt like I wanted to point that out because it’s most definitely lacking in many of the books I read.

This story is proof positive that love can't hurt you....unless it affects you. Unless it touches you deep within. You can't deny it when it delivers the gut punch you never saw coming. I am freaking excited for more of this story and I can tell you, I'll be the first one standing in line, jumping up and down for a chance to read this one early and share it with you all.

I want more!!!! THIS is the Sam Mariano I first met and fell in love with. This right here. The bully trope is unequivocally her wheelhouse. She shines in this trope and can obviously write a gripping story of a young love that simply doesn't appear to fit according to plan, and one that pushes some buttons. I feel like she’s going to take great pleasure in my death upon the finish of this story. She's currently writing the full story to be sold separately and plans to have it out sometime on or around May 2020.

"Everything about him feels dark right now."

~BEE

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This is part of an anthology and I've only read this ONE book out of the whole thing, but this giveaway is for the FULL anthology.

FULL ANTHOLOGY INFO:

Loving your tormentor isn’t easy, especially when they collect broken hearts and parade them around like trophies. They’re the bad boys, the alpha a**holes, and the thorns in our sides. They push us past our limits, turn us on, and break us.

They’re our bullies.

They’re the class of 2020.

Eight bestselling authors are teaming up to bring you eight unique brand-new stories about the guys we love to hate.

This anthology benefits one of the largest anti-bullying organizations in the world, and all proceeds will go toward helping to support victims of bullying.

Note from the authors

Bully Me: Class of 2020 is a collection of novellas that includes a mix of standalones and prequels that will later be expanded upon.

Shantel Tessier

Callie Hart

CoraLee June

Siobhan Davis

Kaydence Snow

K Webster

C.M. Stunich

Sam Mariano

~MEET SAM MARIANO~

Sam Mariano has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. She lives in Ohio and has a sweet and wonderful daughter.

Because of You was her first finished story (she started writing it when she was 18) and due to a full-time work and college schedule, it took her years to finish. She has also been telling people for years that there would never be a sequel (sorry, guys!)…which turned out to be a lie.

Sam Mariano is currently working on Dante’s book (if you’re a Morelli reader) and some other WIP. 

Feel free to find her on Facebook, Goodreads, or her blog—she loves hearing from readers!

~CONNECT WITH SAM~

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