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The Hate Between Us
One moment. That’s all it takes for your life to do a one-eighty. One moment to have your dreams shattered and freedom stolen. One moment to forget who you are.
The night Caroline Adams decided to drive drunk and ended up striking me as I stood on the sidewalk was when that moment happened to me. Nothing has been the same since.
In a wheelchair and broken, I’ve started my senior year at Lake Gate High, where I have to deal with the humiliating stares and whispers. Moreover, I have to see him—Jason Adams, Caroline’s brother.
He doesn’t hide the fact that he hates me for being the reason Caroline ended up in juvenile detention, and that he wants me to stay away from him. But that might prove to be impossible when we’re cast as the leads in our school play and that line between us gets blurred.
But I won’t let my old feelings for him resurface.
Not when he’s a jerk.
Not when that moment keeps haunting me and reminding me of the darkness.
The darkness of that night I might never be able to escape from.
This book includes sensitive themes and situations that may be triggering for some readers, so caution is advised.
The night Caroline Adams decided to drive drunk and ended up striking me as I stood on the sidewalk was when that moment happened to me. Nothing has been the same since.
In a wheelchair and broken, I’ve started my senior year at Lake Gate High, where I have to deal with the humiliating stares and whispers. Moreover, I have to see him—Jason Adams, Caroline’s brother.
He doesn’t hide the fact that he hates me for being the reason Caroline ended up in juvenile detention, and that he wants me to stay away from him. But that might prove to be impossible when we’re cast as the leads in our school play and that line between us gets blurred.
But I won’t let my old feelings for him resurface.
Not when he’s a jerk.
Not when that moment keeps haunting me and reminding me of the darkness.
The darkness of that night I might never be able to escape from.
This book includes sensitive themes and situations that may be triggering for some readers, so caution is advised.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2022
106 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
About the author
Vera Hollins
8 books389 followersVera Hollins writes emotional, dark, and angsty love stories that deal with heartbreak, mental and social issues, and finding light in darkness.
She’s been writing since she was nine, and before she knew it, it became her passion and life. She particularly likes coffee, bunnies, angsty romance, and anti-heroes. When she’s not writing you can find her reading, plotting her next book with as many twists as possible, and watching YouTube.
Keep up with Vera:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verahollins/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorveraho...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorverahol...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VeraHollins
Website: https://www.verahollins.com/
Newsletter: https://www.verahollins.com/newsletter/
Join her FB group to get the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VeraH...
She’s been writing since she was nine, and before she knew it, it became her passion and life. She particularly likes coffee, bunnies, angsty romance, and anti-heroes. When she’s not writing you can find her reading, plotting her next book with as many twists as possible, and watching YouTube.
Keep up with Vera:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verahollins/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorveraho...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorverahol...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VeraHollins
Website: https://www.verahollins.com/
Newsletter: https://www.verahollins.com/newsletter/
Join her FB group to get the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VeraH...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
April 8, 2022
Mmmm, okay, the way I keep calling the heroine Willow instead of real name in this review and consider myself a representative of a sentient life form.
Whoever has the misfortune of reading this review, insert Katie (h) instead of Willow yourself because I'm too lazy to change her name 17 times right now, maybe next time.
Thanks Sammy:)
4.25 stars. Before I either stoop to breaking into the ugly cry over the last one fifth of the book or proceed to obsess over Ms. Hollins exceptional writing skills, let me take a moment and do a public service by giving any potential readers the
✨ trigger warnings✨
(I wish I had the same luxury)
Now now, we're off to a good start isn't it so. But all ye who enter here, don't fool yourself into believing that this is anything but a messy, chaotic
Love Letter to Ms. Hollins talent and craft 🛐
I WANT MY MAN TO BE SO OBSESSED WITH HATE LOVING THE FUCK OUTTA ME WITH HIS HARDDIC- EYES THAT HE DOESN'T EVEN BLINK CAUGHT IN THE CLUTCHES OF THE GODLY FEAR — FEAR OF LOSING SIGHT OF ME EVEN FOR A SECOND. Okay, next.
The plot of The Hate Between Us revolves around a school student named Willow (h) whose life took a sudden drastic turn the night when Jason's (H) little sister drove drunk and ran her over with the car, leaving Willow paralyzed for life. Far from feeling any kind of remorse or compassion towards Willow's predicament, our golden boy turned on the full capacity of his grey matter to twist the whole incident and put the blame on Willow, who ruined his little sister's bright future and life. 🤡
A day passed since I finished reading the book, and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the uncharacteristically intense and emotional response this book managed to evoke in me.
★ You see, the thing is that neither of the main characters impressed me much as separate characters.
Yet. Yet... Willow and Jason, involuntarily drawn and attuned to one another's presence like high-accuracy receivers calibrated to the specific frequencies, burned the space around them.
(meanwhile, me lurking somewhere close by:)
I WANT MY MAN TO MAKE THE WORLD STOP EXISTING BY SENDING A BOLT OF SOMETHING SIMILARLY INTENSE RIGHT THROUGH ME. As you can clearly see, I'm totally fine and mentally stable. N-E-X-T.
Once in the vicinity of each other, the sparks were flying between them, creating the tension that was so intense and palpable, it gave me butterflies.
★ Did I love Willow (h) as a female lead?
— Well, not particularly. Even if I like her archetype: the sweet, shy, kind and talented girl with a certain depth to her. Which didn't hinder my strong empathetic response to some of her passages (hats off to miss Hollins). Also, I can't deny that I felt that there was something special about her when I looked at her "vicariously", from the hero's perspective.
★Did I love Jason (H) as a male lead?
— Again... weirdly, no. A bit clichéd. A bit underwhelming in his bullying phase. He lacked the viciousness I crave in bullies that makes the gradual softening they undergo under their heroines' influence feel like taking ecstasy pills — increasing my heart rate and giving me heightened sensations (do not mind me romanticizing stimulant drug consumption in this review, bye 🤚🏻☠️)
Yet. Yet!
Look at how pointedly this author delivers the blow. 🤌🏻 The force of Jason's words is subpar compared to the author's immaculate ability to convey the whole spectrum of his hatred through succinct descriptions of his body language and visceral reactions.
Ugly smiles and sneers just do it for me, guys. 🤳
CLOSER PLEASE. 😩
“Because I can’t fucking stand you!” he erupted, his face going crimson with fury. “You’re an eyesore!”
We love a good chameleon, don't we. 🤚🏻😩
His performance amounted to a couple of biting words, snide remarks and verbal intimidation, but the effect? The execution?? The acting??? ✨S-u-b-l-i-m-e✨
The town's/school's golden boy with a secret background that turned out a tad too tragic and sad (ostentatiously sad) and, I suppose, aimed at giving his personality more depth. But in all honesty, his obsessive fixation on the hatred towards Willow that slowly transformed into a single-minded fixation on Willow, plain and simple, was the only interesting thing about him. But it was enough. 🙇🏼♀️
There's truly nothing better than watching a boy obsessed with his hatred turn into a boy obsessed with the object of his hatred. I said what I said. No proofs. My subjective, distorted and convenient perception ofreality any good bully story.
I attribute my obvious fascination to Ms. Hollins' knack for making a reader so immersed in the story and captivated by the black magic she wields effortlessly with her words.
She has a Ph.D. in Chemistry. 🤚🏻🥵
This book features one of the most intense, emotionally and sexually charged buildup to the couple's gradually escalating feelings I've ever had the pleasure to read.
★ I wasn't panting after the plot twists and action.
Yet. Yet... I was so absorbed in the story, I was reading the parallel storyline (which usually proves to be a page-filler for me alongside the flashbacks, letters, diary entries and similar elements) with equal eagerness.
Willow and Jason's infatuation, slowly morphing into a deeper feeling, was the bastard child of forced proximity
This aspect of the story was beautifully crafted and gave Willow and Jason's connection and story meaningful substance: shared ardor and hopes, similar dreams and ambitions.
I can't even begin to describe how obsessed I'm with artistically talented characters and stories where their passion for the art is not for appearances and constitutes a natural and significant part of the narration. As someone who can't imagine their life without performing arts, I feel elated every time I read about characters that are fervent art aficionados — actors, dancers, singers, painters.
, both Willow and Jason fell prey to the blurring lines between what was supposed to be their characters' feelings and their own turbulent emotions.
CALL 911, I FEEL FEVERISH TOO.
I'm not even kidding: 4/5 of this book was a prolonged foreplay, a courtship spectacle, a mating dance (or whatever they call it) interlaced with mental breakdowns, depressive thoughts, misery, frustration and a shy glimpse of hope.
Me: BUTTERFLIES FLIPPING IN MY STOMACH VS UNSHED TEARS IN MY EYES
Which brings me to the next point...
do I make this book sound deeper than it actually is?
— Maybe. 🤚🏻
Do I make this book sound shallower than it actually is?
— Maybe. 🤚🏻
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
✨ Tropes ✨
— enemies to lovers
— forced proximity
— verbal bullying
— unrequited love (h)
— boy obsessed
— popular hero
— slow-burn
— manwhore reformed
What would have made this book an authentic 5-star read for me
— more aggressiveness sprinkled in the hero's jealousy scene(s) and his demeanor (that being said, I was very satisfied with the culmination of that one big jealous fit 🥵)
— more malice and protectiveness on the hero's part. I prefer them irredeemable and possessive of their unwilling victims' fears, tears and misery 🥺🙏🏻
— consistent pacing throughout the whole book (not the first 4/5 of it 🤒)
— a different approach to their stage director and teacher Ms. Holloway's role in their relationship. 💀☠️ When this woman insisted on watching Jason and Willow practice their stage kiss and even ended up instructing them on the technique, it felt very...odd. ☠️ On top of it, this woman used emotional blackmail and abused the power she held over them as a teacher to coerce them into playing nice so let's never mention this woman again for the sake of my sanity and that rating of mine, will we 🤒
— a couple of scenes where the hero would protect her from mean remarks from other people (to be fair, the bullying that the heroine had to endure was pretty mild. Her classmates and students in general were more ignorant, dumb and mean bitches than vicious piranhas after her life. It helped that most of them were females and didn't attack her directly. Yet I admire when a bully hero lays claims on a heroine and makes it absolutely clear that no one but him can cause any emotional or physical damage to his unwilling victim. Dreams...🥵)
— a rewritten first-sex scene (how heartbreaking is that their first sex description (at the notorious 80% mark, lmao 💀) was so inferior in the face of many prior moments they shared and that were both infinitely more intimate and sensual than the final deed
Having gotten that off my chest, I have to admit that in the context of this particular story and Willow's disability, I think the author balanced things out very well. More so, I applaud her courage: writing about a heroine with a disability and making her suffer at the hands of a hero? That is a damn brave thing to do in our age of high sensitivity and people who take everything at the face value. Regardless of how subjectively mild the bullying part can come off as, wow. 👏🏻
✨ OKAY, DO I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE LAST ONE FIFTH OF THIS BOOK? — FUCK NO🤚🏻✨
DO YOU WANNA HEAR ME WHINING ABOUT IT? — I DON'T CARE.
Like a sneaky, graphomaniac bitch, I decided to include slander at the very end in the hopes that no one will see it while I'll still be able to sleep tight at night knowing that I did my best to scare people off and gatekeep this little wacky book. If I see any of my friends read this book because of me and then proceed to slander it, I'm afraid I'll have to take drastic measures and — 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
SPOILERS
— the pacing during the last one fifth of the book underwent an abrupt change.
So many events were crammed in one tiny boxset: their first sex, Willow remembering the day of the accident and her rape (multiple detailed flashbacks), her fight with Jason, the play dedicated to the centennial celebration at their school, the kidnapping right after the play 🤡, the attempted rape 🤒, the rescue, her giving the statement at the police station, her visiting Jason's sister at the Detention Center and their first serious talk after the incident and reconciliation, interviews with the talent agent and receiving the invitations to star in a TV series, discussions about their college and what not...
😍 WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK 😍
One might wonder how it is possible to squeeze so much in a tight space of 5 (FIVE) chapters and what kind of experience it provides a reader with. Well, I'll tell you.
The magical squeeze was possible due to a well-known technique of 'telling not showing' half of these events. The author seemed to have grown tired of developing the story and wanted to fill in all the plot holes painlessly quickly.
🤡Imagine eating French grilled meat from a world-famous chef for a couple of days only to wake up one day to a local butcher throwing raw pieces of meat in your hungry face🤡
That part of the book disrupted the smooth, languish pacing of the story and somehow the rapid wrap-up took a toll on the dialogue and emotional aspect of the story, making it cheesier than it already was.
I'd rather this book was shorter and left more answered questions. Or was longer while remaining the same natural pacing it took off with.
I hated that Willow's memories returned so abruptly and set in motion so many events that looked like a tempestuous hand-made tsunami taking over otherwise emotional yet calm and moderate waves of the story.
Epilogue
Another day. Another long rant review that took away the hours I could spend on resting and sleeping. No regrets. 🤡
Finally, I'm riding off into the sunset and praying that the angry twitter mob never finds out about this author, twists every word and idea that is written there, nitpick at every sentence and accuse Ms. Hollins of ableism, misogyny, sexism and only God knows what else. 💀
I have to admit that this book is a dozen times milder than her Bullied series (which I loved).
Hopefully, this author doesn't make a u-turn for lighter and more politically-correct stories because I sense that another successful release by her and I'll put her on my authors-to-stalk list. Not to sound creepy or anything.
Crying 🥰 (first 40%), shaking 😌 (next 40%), throwing up 🤢 (last 20%)
Whoever has the misfortune of reading this review, insert Katie (h) instead of Willow yourself because I'm too lazy to change her name 17 times right now, maybe next time.
Thanks Sammy:)
4.25 stars. Before I either stoop to breaking into the ugly cry over the last one fifth of the book or proceed to obsess over Ms. Hollins exceptional writing skills, let me take a moment and do a public service by giving any potential readers the
✨ trigger warnings✨
(I wish I had the same luxury)
Now now, we're off to a good start isn't it so. But all ye who enter here, don't fool yourself into believing that this is anything but a messy, chaotic
Love Letter to Ms. Hollins talent and craft 🛐
He sat reclined at his table next to a girl who was telling him something, her hand roaming up and down his arm, but his attention was fixed solely on me. His hard eyes never even blinked as he watched me with so much hate it felt like it would never stop.
I WANT MY MAN TO BE SO OBSESSED WITH HATE LOVING THE FUCK OUTTA ME WITH HIS HARD
The plot of The Hate Between Us revolves around a school student named Willow (h) whose life took a sudden drastic turn the night when Jason's (H) little sister drove drunk and ran her over with the car, leaving Willow paralyzed for life. Far from feeling any kind of remorse or compassion towards Willow's predicament, our golden boy turned on the full capacity of his grey matter to twist the whole incident and put the blame on Willow, who ruined his little sister's bright future and life. 🤡
A day passed since I finished reading the book, and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the uncharacteristically intense and emotional response this book managed to evoke in me.
★ You see, the thing is that neither of the main characters impressed me much as separate characters.
Yet. Yet... Willow and Jason, involuntarily drawn and attuned to one another's presence like high-accuracy receivers calibrated to the specific frequencies, burned the space around them.
(meanwhile, me lurking somewhere close by:)
Everything slowed down, and the rest of the library stopped existing as his unblinking eyes watched me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking because his face settled into the usual blank mask he wore in front of me, but the way he didn’t let go of my gaze sent a bolt of awareness through me, warming my blood.
I WANT MY MAN TO MAKE THE WORLD STOP EXISTING BY SENDING A BOLT OF SOMETHING SIMILARLY INTENSE RIGHT THROUGH ME. As you can clearly see, I'm totally fine and mentally stable. N-E-X-T.
Once in the vicinity of each other, the sparks were flying between them, creating the tension that was so intense and palpable, it gave me butterflies.
★ Did I love Willow (h) as a female lead?
— Well, not particularly. Even if I like her archetype: the sweet, shy, kind and talented girl with a certain depth to her. Which didn't hinder my strong empathetic response to some of her passages (hats off to miss Hollins). Also, I can't deny that I felt that there was something special about her when I looked at her "vicariously", from the hero's perspective.
★Did I love Jason (H) as a male lead?
— Again... weirdly, no. A bit clichéd. A bit underwhelming in his bullying phase. He lacked the viciousness I crave in bullies that makes the gradual softening they undergo under their heroines' influence feel like taking ecstasy pills — increasing my heart rate and giving me heightened sensations (
Yet. Yet!
“Why don’t you do us all a favor and go back to wherever you came from?” he sneered.
Look at how pointedly this author delivers the blow. 🤌🏻 The force of Jason's words is subpar compared to the author's immaculate ability to convey the whole spectrum of his hatred through succinct descriptions of his body language and visceral reactions.
“What?” His lips formed a cold smile. “Cat got your tongue?” His smile turned ugly, and his gaze moved slowly down my body, examining every bit of me that wasn’t hidden by the table. His perusal ended with a sneer. “I just don’t understand how you can sit here and act all innocent when things could’ve been way different if you’d just used your brain.”
Ugly smiles and sneers just do it for me, guys. 🤳
He let out a growl that sent my stomach flipping. He leveled his head with mine, too close for comfort.
CLOSER PLEASE. 😩
“Because I can’t fucking stand you!” he erupted, his face going crimson with fury. “You’re an eyesore!”
We love a good chameleon, don't we. 🤚🏻😩
His performance amounted to a couple of biting words, snide remarks and verbal intimidation, but the effect? The execution?? The acting??? ✨S-u-b-l-i-m-e✨
The town's/school's golden boy with a secret background that turned out a tad too tragic and sad (ostentatiously sad) and, I suppose, aimed at giving his personality more depth. But in all honesty, his obsessive fixation on the hatred towards Willow that slowly transformed into a single-minded fixation on Willow, plain and simple, was the only interesting thing about him. But it was enough. 🙇🏼♀️
There's truly nothing better than watching a boy obsessed with his hatred turn into a boy obsessed with the object of his hatred. I said what I said. No proofs. My subjective, distorted and convenient perception of
I attribute my obvious fascination to Ms. Hollins' knack for making a reader so immersed in the story and captivated by the black magic she wields effortlessly with her words.
She has a Ph.D. in Chemistry. 🤚🏻🥵
This book features one of the most intense, emotionally and sexually charged buildup to the couple's gradually escalating feelings I've ever had the pleasure to read.
★ I wasn't panting after the plot twists and action.
Yet. Yet... I was so absorbed in the story, I was reading the parallel storyline (which usually proves to be a page-filler for me alongside the flashbacks, letters, diary entries and similar elements) with equal eagerness.
Willow and Jason's infatuation, slowly morphing into a deeper feeling, was the bastard child of forced proximity
This aspect of the story was beautifully crafted and gave Willow and Jason's connection and story meaningful substance: shared ardor and hopes, similar dreams and ambitions.
I can't even begin to describe how obsessed I'm with artistically talented characters and stories where their passion for the art is not for appearances and constitutes a natural and significant part of the narration. As someone who can't imagine their life without performing arts, I feel elated every time I read about characters that are fervent art aficionados — actors, dancers, singers, painters.
He missed a beat; his lips didn’t move as his eyes flitted between my eyes and then dropped to my lips. I couldn’t remember if that was in the script or not.
, both Willow and Jason fell prey to the blurring lines between what was supposed to be their characters' feelings and their own turbulent emotions.
He slowly pulled away. The backs of his fingers started trailing a path down my cheek, jaw, shoulder, and all the way down to my hand so tantalizingly slowly, his touch like silk against my heated skin. He didn’t even blink, following my reaction to this too closely.
I felt feverish. That definitely wasn’t in the script.
CALL 911, I FEEL FEVERISH TOO.
I'm not even kidding: 4/5 of this book was a prolonged foreplay, a courtship spectacle, a mating dance (or whatever they call it) interlaced with mental breakdowns, depressive thoughts, misery, frustration and a shy glimpse of hope.
Me: BUTTERFLIES FLIPPING IN MY STOMACH VS UNSHED TEARS IN MY EYES
Which brings me to the next point...
do I make this book sound deeper than it actually is?
— Maybe. 🤚🏻
Do I make this book sound shallower than it actually is?
— Maybe. 🤚🏻
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
✨ Tropes ✨
— enemies to lovers
— forced proximity
— verbal bullying
— unrequited love (h)
— boy obsessed
— popular hero
— slow-burn
— manwhore reformed
What would have made this book an authentic 5-star read for me
— more aggressiveness sprinkled in the hero's jealousy scene(s) and his demeanor (that being said, I was very satisfied with the culmination of that one big jealous fit 🥵)
— more malice and protectiveness on the hero's part. I prefer them irredeemable and possessive of their unwilling victims' fears, tears and misery 🥺🙏🏻
— consistent pacing throughout the whole book (not the first 4/5 of it 🤒)
— a different approach to their stage director and teacher Ms. Holloway's role in their relationship. 💀☠️ When this woman insisted on watching Jason and Willow practice their stage kiss and even ended up instructing them on the technique, it felt very...odd. ☠️ On top of it, this woman used emotional blackmail and abused the power she held over them as a teacher to coerce them into playing nice so let's never mention this woman again for the sake of my sanity and that rating of mine, will we 🤒
— a couple of scenes where the hero would protect her from mean remarks from other people (to be fair, the bullying that the heroine had to endure was pretty mild. Her classmates and students in general were more ignorant, dumb and mean bitches than vicious piranhas after her life. It helped that most of them were females and didn't attack her directly. Yet I admire when a bully hero lays claims on a heroine and makes it absolutely clear that no one but him can cause any emotional or physical damage to his unwilling victim. Dreams...🥵)
— a rewritten first-sex scene (how heartbreaking is that their first sex description (at the notorious 80% mark, lmao 💀) was so inferior in the face of many prior moments they shared and that were both infinitely more intimate and sensual than the final deed
Having gotten that off my chest, I have to admit that in the context of this particular story and Willow's disability, I think the author balanced things out very well. More so, I applaud her courage: writing about a heroine with a disability and making her suffer at the hands of a hero? That is a damn brave thing to do in our age of high sensitivity and people who take everything at the face value. Regardless of how subjectively mild the bullying part can come off as, wow. 👏🏻
✨ OKAY, DO I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE LAST ONE FIFTH OF THIS BOOK? — FUCK NO🤚🏻✨
DO YOU WANNA HEAR ME WHINING ABOUT IT? — I DON'T CARE.
Like a sneaky, graphomaniac bitch, I decided to include slander at the very end in the hopes that no one will see it while I'll still be able to sleep tight at night knowing that I did my best to scare people off and gatekeep this little wacky book. If I see any of my friends read this book because of me and then proceed to slander it, I'm afraid I'll have to take drastic measures and — 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
SPOILERS
— the pacing during the last one fifth of the book underwent an abrupt change.
So many events were crammed in one tiny boxset: their first sex, Willow remembering the day of the accident and her rape (multiple detailed flashbacks), her fight with Jason, the play dedicated to the centennial celebration at their school, the kidnapping right after the play 🤡, the attempted rape 🤒, the rescue, her giving the statement at the police station, her visiting Jason's sister at the Detention Center and their first serious talk after the incident and reconciliation, interviews with the talent agent and receiving the invitations to star in a TV series, discussions about their college and what not...
😍 WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK 😍
One might wonder how it is possible to squeeze so much in a tight space of 5 (FIVE) chapters and what kind of experience it provides a reader with. Well, I'll tell you.
The magical squeeze was possible due to a well-known technique of 'telling not showing' half of these events. The author seemed to have grown tired of developing the story and wanted to fill in all the plot holes painlessly quickly.
🤡Imagine eating French grilled meat from a world-famous chef for a couple of days only to wake up one day to a local butcher throwing raw pieces of meat in your hungry face🤡
That part of the book disrupted the smooth, languish pacing of the story and somehow the rapid wrap-up took a toll on the dialogue and emotional aspect of the story, making it cheesier than it already was.
I'd rather this book was shorter and left more answered questions. Or was longer while remaining the same natural pacing it took off with.
I hated that Willow's memories returned so abruptly and set in motion so many events that looked like a tempestuous hand-made tsunami taking over otherwise emotional yet calm and moderate waves of the story.
Epilogue
Another day. Another long rant review that took away the hours I could spend on resting and sleeping. No regrets. 🤡
Finally, I'm riding off into the sunset and praying that the angry twitter mob never finds out about this author, twists every word and idea that is written there, nitpick at every sentence and accuse Ms. Hollins of ableism, misogyny, sexism and only God knows what else. 💀
I have to admit that this book is a dozen times milder than her Bullied series (which I loved).
Hopefully, this author doesn't make a u-turn for lighter and more politically-correct stories because I sense that another successful release by her and I'll put her on my authors-to-stalk list. Not to sound creepy or anything.
Crying 🥰 (first 40%), shaking 😌 (next 40%), throwing up 🤢 (last 20%)
May 16, 2022
I loved this author's previous works (read them on Wattpad) but not this one it's just read like a bad copy from her first novel.
Same characteristics
Same circumstances
Same similarities
There's wasn't anything new 🤦♀️
Same characteristics
Same circumstances
Same similarities
There's wasn't anything new 🤦♀️
February 28, 2022
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4.5/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Jason
Heroine : Katie
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 6/10
Heat Rating : 5/10
Triggers Involved : to be updated after release
Plot Summary :
Katie never had an easy life but things really took a turn for the bad when Caroline, who was a younger girl than her, got drunk one night and ended up crashing into her. She lost control of her legs and everything went to shit. Her dreams, her whole life. High school was a nightmare. The one boy she had a crush on, now hated her. Jason, Caroline's older brother. He blamed her for his problems even though it should be the other way. His constant taunts and cruel words ruined her already fragile mental state.
That is until they are both cast into a play, forced to play the lead roles. They have to act together, get to know each other and that might be the one thing which will solve their problems and she will see Jason in a bigger light and the same for him too. Her tormentor might become the one man who will make her feel again, if only she could trust him with her heart again.
Overall Opinion :
I have been waiting for this book forever! Like, I read the blurb and knew I had to have this one because it just called to me. A sweet heroine and a cruel hero with bullying and eventual redemption? Count me in!
Jason was just so cruel lmao. Like I wouldn't say that he bullied her, he did not go out of his way to play pranks on her or to humiliate her but he was just plain cruel. His sentences and everything he said was cruel. He wanted to hurt her and break her, and he certainly accomplished that because Katie was already fragile.
This one was not a dark romance but more of a contemporary romance with a lot of triggers that I will update after the book's release. I loved this book a lot for a one time read. The grovel was good and the slow burn romance was the best part. That twist at the end was totally shocking to me because I did not see that coming , the author did an amazing job with that.
Definitely recommending this one to all the contemporary romance loving people out there. If you like genres like enemies to lovers, second chances, grovel and slow burn, then go for this one but keep in mind that it does have a lot of triggers and some triggering scenes described in huge detail.
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July 26, 2022
Que historia más bonita, que evolución de personajes 🥺😍 me gustó mucho 🤍
~~~~~
What a beautiful story, what an evolution of characters 🥺😍 I liked it a lot 🤍.
~~~~~
What a beautiful story, what an evolution of characters 🥺😍 I liked it a lot 🤍.
June 28, 2022
Katie es el típico cliché de la chica tímida que tiene un mega crush por Jason el chico más popular e inalcanzable de su instituto...
Todo esto fue antes de que la hermana de Jason condujera borracha y atropellara a Katie dejándola parapléjica.
Pero después de que Jason y Katie son escogidos para protagonizar una obra escolar, se forma una conexión inexplicable que hace que el odio que hay entre ellos quedé en un segundo plano.
En la primera parte de la historia me dolió el corazón por Katie 💔 después de que el accidente cambio radicalmente su vida ella tenía que lidiar con tantas cosas, sus inseguridades, la ansiedad, la depresión y Jason con su crueldad hizo que todo fuera peor. Pero luego de que él deja de ser un imbécil y Katie empieza a superar todos sus obstáculos definitivamente el libro me empezó a gustar mucho más, y esos dos plot twist aunque fueron un poquito predecibles también estuvieron buenos.
“But humans are interesting creatures. We can adapt to anything. Even when it feels as if we’ve reached the very bottom, like there’s nowhere to go anymore, it turns out there’s something that keeps us afloat. And before we know it, a door we didn’t know existed opens, and life isn’t so difficult anymore.”
“Only one moment was enough to end my life. To end all my misery.”
Todo esto fue antes de que la hermana de Jason condujera borracha y atropellara a Katie dejándola parapléjica.
Pero después de que Jason y Katie son escogidos para protagonizar una obra escolar, se forma una conexión inexplicable que hace que el odio que hay entre ellos quedé en un segundo plano.
En la primera parte de la historia me dolió el corazón por Katie 💔 después de que el accidente cambio radicalmente su vida ella tenía que lidiar con tantas cosas, sus inseguridades, la ansiedad, la depresión y Jason con su crueldad hizo que todo fuera peor. Pero luego de que él deja de ser un imbécil y Katie empieza a superar todos sus obstáculos definitivamente el libro me empezó a gustar mucho más, y esos dos plot twist aunque fueron un poquito predecibles también estuvieron buenos.
“But humans are interesting creatures. We can adapt to anything. Even when it feels as if we’ve reached the very bottom, like there’s nowhere to go anymore, it turns out there’s something that keeps us afloat. And before we know it, a door we didn’t know existed opens, and life isn’t so difficult anymore.”
“Only one moment was enough to end my life. To end all my misery.”
January 15, 2023
Esperaba un poco más de escenas romanticas o cutes jajajaja pero en sí fue un buen libro con un poco de misterio sobre qué pasó realmente en el accidente.
Sinceramente no me pasaba por la cabeza que ese personaje en específico haya hecho todo lo que sucedio por que realmente no sospeche de él, pero bueno si fue un poco sorpresivo y creo que fue lo que más me atrapó del libro.
Sinceramente no me pasaba por la cabeza que ese personaje en específico haya hecho todo lo que sucedio por que realmente no sospeche de él, pero bueno si fue un poco sorpresivo y creo que fue lo que más me atrapó del libro.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2024
4/5✨
Solely because I could not put this book down.
Solely because I could not put this book down.
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March 12, 2022There is a thin line between love and hate, and pretense and reality. And all it might take to cross that line is a few touches . . . or a kiss.
The Hate Between Us is now available and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US ➡ https://amzn.to/32Xi73K
Amazon UK ➡ https://amzn.to/31GlAmz
Amazon CA ➡ https://amzn.to/3Exbd3f
Amazon AU ➡ https://amzn.to/3pyndv9
The Hate Between Us is now available and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US ➡ https://amzn.to/32Xi73K
Amazon UK ➡ https://amzn.to/31GlAmz
Amazon CA ➡ https://amzn.to/3Exbd3f
Amazon AU ➡ https://amzn.to/3pyndv9
December 26, 2023
unique storyline with the disabled heroine but ultimately very ridiculous. i think i need to break up with bully romances, i always find myself critiquing bc they always come across as immature on some level. the bullying of the heroine was baffling… people treat her like shit because she…survived the crash? it makes zero logical sense.
March 1, 2022
I am repeating myself when I say that Hollins has once again written a wonderful book. She has the capacity to convey so many emotions in this story that it touches you deeply.
Katie was in a terrible accident. She was depressed then and an emotional wreck ever since. She doesn't think much of herself and especially not when she has to go back to school. Fortunately, there is one thing that cheers her up. Acting.
Jason has his reasons for hating Katie. He doesn't like her and bullied her. But when they both has the leading part in the play, they have to touch and even kiss each other. The atmosphere between them changes.
It involves feelings that Katie has had for him for a long time, but never dared to express and Jason doesn't understand at all what makes Katie attractive.
Can they make the obstacles between them disappear or will the bumps stand between them forever?
I liked the characters. You discover as the story progresses how they really feel, the reason why they act. There is a twist that I saw coming and yet, it surprised me. See for yourself how good this book is. Five big stars for The hate between us.
Katie was in a terrible accident. She was depressed then and an emotional wreck ever since. She doesn't think much of herself and especially not when she has to go back to school. Fortunately, there is one thing that cheers her up. Acting.
Jason has his reasons for hating Katie. He doesn't like her and bullied her. But when they both has the leading part in the play, they have to touch and even kiss each other. The atmosphere between them changes.
It involves feelings that Katie has had for him for a long time, but never dared to express and Jason doesn't understand at all what makes Katie attractive.
Can they make the obstacles between them disappear or will the bumps stand between them forever?
I liked the characters. You discover as the story progresses how they really feel, the reason why they act. There is a twist that I saw coming and yet, it surprised me. See for yourself how good this book is. Five big stars for The hate between us.
January 2, 2023
I love ..love this book ..best read of 2022…
If u pick this book u won’t be able to put it down …that’s how magical nd good this book is ..
So, Katie (MFC) lost her ability to walk in an accident… The first chapter where she went to the school ..for the very first time after the accident had me in tears …m not saying invisible tears but for real I was crying so much …I cried a lot while I was reading this book ..I don’t know when was the last time I cried after reading a book …people were talking shit about her ..and I was like damn why people are so cruel …and Katie hated herself a lot …she thought she is not pretty and now no guy will want her because of her disability…this book is so emotional…I hated Jason in the beginning that how cruel he was to the heroine but later on I also fell in love with him..his sister was the reason Katie was in wheelchair..so they both had a hate relationship in the beginning…
I will highly recommend this book ..Sad to see that this book has low ratings ..it deserves fucking 5 stars …
If u pick this book u won’t be able to put it down …that’s how magical nd good this book is ..
So, Katie (MFC) lost her ability to walk in an accident… The first chapter where she went to the school ..for the very first time after the accident had me in tears …m not saying invisible tears but for real I was crying so much …I cried a lot while I was reading this book ..I don’t know when was the last time I cried after reading a book …people were talking shit about her ..and I was like damn why people are so cruel …and Katie hated herself a lot …she thought she is not pretty and now no guy will want her because of her disability…this book is so emotional…I hated Jason in the beginning that how cruel he was to the heroine but later on I also fell in love with him..his sister was the reason Katie was in wheelchair..so they both had a hate relationship in the beginning…
I will highly recommend this book ..Sad to see that this book has low ratings ..it deserves fucking 5 stars …
October 26, 2022
Were the characters really high school seniors? It felt like they were 4th graders.
March 11, 2022
Katie’s life was never the same after the accident that took away her ability to walk. She battled depression and Jason’s hatred while paralyzed from the waist down. Her dream of acting didn’t feel possible after that.
That night, Jason’s sister was driving under the influence and ended up hitting Katie. He believed Katie had enough time to move out of the way. His hatred towards her came from the belief that she was the reason his sister was in juvie.
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Their feelings may spoil their chances of making a dream come true. This is because the two got cast in the same play and were forced to spend some time getting to know each other. Sharing the same passion for acting might not be the only thing they have in common.
The story tells of an emotional high school romance involving enemies-turned-lovers. It also has an element of a love triangle and a lot of internal battles the characters have to work through. If you are familiar with Vera Hollins’ Bullied series, you might know what this book contains. It might be a triggering book with a few topics some might not enjoy reading about.
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Katie’s character changes throughout the story, along with Jason’s. In the beginning, we see two teenagers with a lot happening in their lives and too many emotions being bottled up. Then they open up and accept things they cannot control as the story progresses. They illustrate some struggles that many experience during their lives. What I liked about this book is how we see the side characters supporting each other, which gives the book more themes alongside love and hardships.
Sometimes Katie seemed naïve. The way she kept pointing out that she was in a wheelchair was frustrating. Being in a wheelchair doesn’t limit her horizon. But then again, she’s just getting used to her new life, and she’s battling depression.
The acting parts were fascinating. You get to see how they are supposed to rehearse the play, all the while separating their feelings from what’s real and faking it. With the two main characters fighting hard to keep themselves separate, their true feelings still found a way through the cracks.
I’ve received an advanced copy of this book, and maybe that’s why there were a few mistakes in it, nothing major, just a few words repeated. Other than that, this book was unique and captivating.
This book makes you see both sides of the story. Katie’s side and how she handled the accident and Caroline’s side and how she handled juvenile detention. It’s written through the eyes of Katie, so we only experience this story through her. Vera Hollins knows how to write an emotional story with characters who are having internal struggles and external struggles.
Having a few triggering scenes might not make this an easy read for everyone. The Hate Between Us will make you feel Katie’s frustration and Jason’s confusion, along with his protectiveness towards his sister. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys angsty romances with enemies to lovers.
May 6, 2022
This one was booooring.
Katie Turner is wallowing, left paralyzed after a tragic accident, where she was run down by a drunk diver. (Her crush's twin sister) The first 30% of the book, is all about her self-hate, and self-pity, and the rest is about her crush. The boy was disgusting to her, blaming her for putting his sister in juvie, yet she is in a wheelchair and she is still crushing after him. The girl put the "mat" in the doormat.
I couldn't stand her, she hates herself but is all about him. Ugh
Katie Turner is wallowing, left paralyzed after a tragic accident, where she was run down by a drunk diver. (Her crush's twin sister) The first 30% of the book, is all about her self-hate, and self-pity, and the rest is about her crush. The boy was disgusting to her, blaming her for putting his sister in juvie, yet she is in a wheelchair and she is still crushing after him. The girl put the "mat" in the doormat.
I couldn't stand her, she hates herself but is all about him. Ugh
March 18, 2022
3 stars.
I was way too excited for this book and that is what led me to being disappointed. I thought this book would be a bully romance but Jason was hardly mean and then I realised I had all wrong expectations for this book. My bad. My fucking bad. Sigh. Anyway. Vera Hollin's next book should definitely be a bully romance just like the Bullied series because I am dying to read one.
I was way too excited for this book and that is what led me to being disappointed. I thought this book would be a bully romance but Jason was hardly mean and then I realised I had all wrong expectations for this book. My bad. My fucking bad. Sigh. Anyway. Vera Hollin's next book should definitely be a bully romance just like the Bullied series because I am dying to read one.
June 10, 2022
I loathe books that write the FMC as so pathetic . Not only does she lose her ability to walk , and drastically alter her life, she dumbfoundedly crushes on and allows the girl (who hit her with the car) to bully her and make her feel and look more pathetic than she is . It just amazes me that authors portray females in this bad of a light. We may be physically weaker, but for goodness sake , we should never be made out to look this bad . Disgusted
March 8, 2022
First off thank you to the author and GiveMeBooks for this ARC!
This book started off a bit rocky and I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about it, but as things kicked off and it picked up I actually really found myself enjoying it!
Okay, so some things I liked. Katie’s journey after her accident and dealing with her depression and mental health was done really well, watching her find joy in acting again and overcoming some of her struggles was done beautifully as she slowly worked to love and accept herself. She was a great MC, she was relatable and genuine and I feel like a lot of people can find bits of themselves in her. Albeit small, I loved the little support system she had in her family and Dylan, and how she started to build that even more with the drama club and eventually Jason too.
Although, I do wish sometimes she would have stood up for herself a little more, I was dying for her to just turn around and tell Jason to do one at the beginning and at times I felt like she was maybe put through the wringer too much, it all went towards her journey in the end and she really did grow as a character. She over came so much and it made her ending that much more special.
Even though I didn’t love that she was portrayed as the ‘ugly loser’ who didn’t have any friends and was bullied by loads of people on top of all her other struggles, but this did take a turn as the book went on and I think by time you get to the end you can understand why this happened and that a lot of it was actually how Katie saw herself but overcame her obstacles.
Speaking of… Jason. Now I have mixed feelings about this dude. Although he technically didn’t go out of his way to bully Katie, if given an opening, he took it. I UNDERSTAND, I really do, the reasoning behind why he was this was with Katie for the first half of the book, and then when the first plot twist was revealed. BUT… regardless of this, he still was an absolute ass and it was absolutely uncalled for, I did not like him for the first like 100 pages.
However, and YES we are going to ignore how many times I have contradicted myself in this review, again, we got some really good character growth so that sort of helps justify why he was like this, it at least had a reason and wasn’t just a pointless personality trait, and the fact that I grew to like him by the end, I guess really shows it had a purpose.
Once he FINALLY got over himself, watching how Jason and Katie’s relationship evolved over the course of the 2 months in the book was actually really sweet and I did absolutley love this about the book. Their relationship was a complicated one from the very go but seeing Katie’s confidence grow and Jason’s wall break down was actually really beautiful. They had great chemistry even as ‘enemies’ and the slow burn of their relationship worked really well. I know he had he’s ‘reasons’ for the way he was (no we’re not justifying it either way) and when you learn more about him plus Katie’s history and everything is revealed at the end it makes more sense. I STILL don’t like the way he was at the beginning, but the redemption and grovelling was enough to give reason to it.
The plot twists at the end were unexpected and genuinely shocked me. They rounded out the story and helped fill in all the gaps but it just wasn’t what I was expecting at all! This book was emotional and heavy at times but those moments of levity and love made it all the better. There are some heavy TW so please be aware but it’s a book worth reading if you can for Katie’s journey
The afterword from the author is what really brought all of this together for me and although I enjoyed the book I really felt like this helped me understand it so much more!
This book started off a bit rocky and I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about it, but as things kicked off and it picked up I actually really found myself enjoying it!
Okay, so some things I liked. Katie’s journey after her accident and dealing with her depression and mental health was done really well, watching her find joy in acting again and overcoming some of her struggles was done beautifully as she slowly worked to love and accept herself. She was a great MC, she was relatable and genuine and I feel like a lot of people can find bits of themselves in her. Albeit small, I loved the little support system she had in her family and Dylan, and how she started to build that even more with the drama club and eventually Jason too.
Although, I do wish sometimes she would have stood up for herself a little more, I was dying for her to just turn around and tell Jason to do one at the beginning and at times I felt like she was maybe put through the wringer too much, it all went towards her journey in the end and she really did grow as a character. She over came so much and it made her ending that much more special.
Even though I didn’t love that she was portrayed as the ‘ugly loser’ who didn’t have any friends and was bullied by loads of people on top of all her other struggles, but this did take a turn as the book went on and I think by time you get to the end you can understand why this happened and that a lot of it was actually how Katie saw herself but overcame her obstacles.
Speaking of… Jason. Now I have mixed feelings about this dude. Although he technically didn’t go out of his way to bully Katie, if given an opening, he took it. I UNDERSTAND, I really do, the reasoning behind why he was this was with Katie for the first half of the book, and then when the first plot twist was revealed. BUT… regardless of this, he still was an absolute ass and it was absolutely uncalled for, I did not like him for the first like 100 pages.
However, and YES we are going to ignore how many times I have contradicted myself in this review, again, we got some really good character growth so that sort of helps justify why he was like this, it at least had a reason and wasn’t just a pointless personality trait, and the fact that I grew to like him by the end, I guess really shows it had a purpose.
Once he FINALLY got over himself, watching how Jason and Katie’s relationship evolved over the course of the 2 months in the book was actually really sweet and I did absolutley love this about the book. Their relationship was a complicated one from the very go but seeing Katie’s confidence grow and Jason’s wall break down was actually really beautiful. They had great chemistry even as ‘enemies’ and the slow burn of their relationship worked really well. I know he had he’s ‘reasons’ for the way he was (no we’re not justifying it either way) and when you learn more about him plus Katie’s history and everything is revealed at the end it makes more sense. I STILL don’t like the way he was at the beginning, but the redemption and grovelling was enough to give reason to it.
The plot twists at the end were unexpected and genuinely shocked me. They rounded out the story and helped fill in all the gaps but it just wasn’t what I was expecting at all! This book was emotional and heavy at times but those moments of levity and love made it all the better. There are some heavy TW so please be aware but it’s a book worth reading if you can for Katie’s journey
The afterword from the author is what really brought all of this together for me and although I enjoyed the book I really felt like this helped me understand it so much more!
January 9, 2025
I read the reviews for this book on kindle and I was excited, but I think my review can be summed up by: not for me. At the beginning the struggles the FMC faces are very real but I feel like all of it gets reduced to 2 things that are constantly on her mind and doesn’t go in depth at all. I could not connect or relate to her at all.
As for the MMC… just… no. I know they’re young but… no. I understand it is a hate to lovers trope but… and i cannot stress this enough…no. Obviously gets better in time but his thought process is just… brainless.
The conversations/and even insults feel forced and don’t flow naturally, as well as why she decides to do things. Much of it gives “i need my character to do this and they’re going to because I say so” a way for the author to quickly move the plot along without actually giving the FMC any depth or personality.
It also gets pretty graphic, taking a way darker tone. And although it was aiming toward it, I wouldn’t say anything that happens in this book is actually a plot twist.
However, it was a quick read and cute at times. My favorite thing was the FMCs relationship with her parents for sure.
As for the MMC… just… no. I know they’re young but… no. I understand it is a hate to lovers trope but… and i cannot stress this enough…no. Obviously gets better in time but his thought process is just… brainless.
The conversations/and even insults feel forced and don’t flow naturally, as well as why she decides to do things. Much of it gives “i need my character to do this and they’re going to because I say so” a way for the author to quickly move the plot along without actually giving the FMC any depth or personality.
It also gets pretty graphic, taking a way darker tone. And although it was aiming toward it, I wouldn’t say anything that happens in this book is actually a plot twist.
However, it was a quick read and cute at times. My favorite thing was the FMCs relationship with her parents for sure.
March 8, 2023
Only reason it’s not getting five stars is because I really feel like the guy shouldn’t have hated her to begin with. I ended up understanding him better but still
March 11, 2022
Amount of sex – 2 / 5
How explicit are the sex scenes – 2.5 / 5
Story – 4.5 / 5
Overall: – 4.5 / 5
The Hate Between Us is a standalone enemies-to-lovers high school romance by Vera Hollins. I absolutely love the author’s ‘Bullied’ series, and I was excited to read her newest book! As soon as I turned that first page, I was completely hooked, and not much could have pried me away!
The Hate Between Us tells the story of Katie Turner and Jason Adams, and it was emotional, dark, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Katie and Jason’s HEA was definitely a rocky one. While their path was not an easy one, it was exceptionally written.
I wish I could fill you in on all of the details, but I really believe that you should read and experience Katie and Jason’s story for yourself. Although, I can tell you that this story has all the feels! Love, pain, resentment, and lots of twists and turns along the way.
It’s a definite add to your TBR list!
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy
How explicit are the sex scenes – 2.5 / 5
Story – 4.5 / 5
Overall: – 4.5 / 5
The Hate Between Us is a standalone enemies-to-lovers high school romance by Vera Hollins. I absolutely love the author’s ‘Bullied’ series, and I was excited to read her newest book! As soon as I turned that first page, I was completely hooked, and not much could have pried me away!
The Hate Between Us tells the story of Katie Turner and Jason Adams, and it was emotional, dark, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Katie and Jason’s HEA was definitely a rocky one. While their path was not an easy one, it was exceptionally written.
I wish I could fill you in on all of the details, but I really believe that you should read and experience Katie and Jason’s story for yourself. Although, I can tell you that this story has all the feels! Love, pain, resentment, and lots of twists and turns along the way.
It’s a definite add to your TBR list!
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy
May 18, 2022
I've been struggling to find a book that got my attention and was interesting enough to finish. Well, this book did the deed. It was so full of emotions, it expressed feelings in a way that it was impossible not to cry along (I cried for the most part).
Katie was in an accident that left her paraplegic and she also is depressed because of it. In the beginning of the book we saw how she is struggling with her new condition and all the changes in her life. We also see that she was already depressed before the accident. Adding to all this, Jason is blaming her for the accident because now his sister is in juvie, since she was the one who hit Katie. Oh, and now Katie and Jason are in a play together where they're going to be a couple.
As the book progresses we see that with therapy and getting to know Jason, Katie is doing better. She starts to see life a little differently and understand that she has something to live for.
Jason seems to be a douche in the beginning of the book but when we start to get to know him, we see that his life is not easy. He lost his mom, then his family started to fall apart because of his dad's drinking problem and now his sister is in juvie. He blames Katie but he never put himself in her position, until he starts to know her.
I'm not gonna write more because I don't want to give anything away but I just gonna say that I thought it was a bittersweet story about a girl accepting her condition and seeing that she is awesome and talented (and that has nothing to do with her being in a wheelchair).
Katie was in an accident that left her paraplegic and she also is depressed because of it. In the beginning of the book we saw how she is struggling with her new condition and all the changes in her life. We also see that she was already depressed before the accident. Adding to all this, Jason is blaming her for the accident because now his sister is in juvie, since she was the one who hit Katie. Oh, and now Katie and Jason are in a play together where they're going to be a couple.
As the book progresses we see that with therapy and getting to know Jason, Katie is doing better. She starts to see life a little differently and understand that she has something to live for.
Jason seems to be a douche in the beginning of the book but when we start to get to know him, we see that his life is not easy. He lost his mom, then his family started to fall apart because of his dad's drinking problem and now his sister is in juvie. He blames Katie but he never put himself in her position, until he starts to know her.
I'm not gonna write more because I don't want to give anything away but I just gonna say that I thought it was a bittersweet story about a girl accepting her condition and seeing that she is awesome and talented (and that has nothing to do with her being in a wheelchair).
March 31, 2022
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review.
Katie's life changed drastically after her accident with Caroline, her friend. Subjected to a wheelchair, she was forced to encounter some challenges ranging from snide remarks from her school mates to resentment from her crush, Jason.
Thank you Vera Hollins for always pouring your heart into your books. As always, you remain one of the best authors that I've encountered. I look forward to reading more of your books
Katie's life changed drastically after her accident with Caroline, her friend. Subjected to a wheelchair, she was forced to encounter some challenges ranging from snide remarks from her school mates to resentment from her crush, Jason.
Thank you Vera Hollins for always pouring your heart into your books. As always, you remain one of the best authors that I've encountered. I look forward to reading more of your books
April 13, 2022
3.5 stars!
I don't have the energy to write a review coz I'm not 100% happy after finishing the book so I'm just gonna copy my reactions while I was reading🤡
Why was I so aggressive??😭😭idk I expected too fucking much from this book and it didn't deliver, so I'm so mad😑.
But I loved the build up and slow burn so yay💖
I don't have the energy to write a review coz I'm not 100% happy after finishing the book so I'm just gonna copy my reactions while I was reading🤡
Why was I so aggressive??😭😭idk I expected too fucking much from this book and it didn't deliver, so I'm so mad😑.
But I loved the build up and slow burn so yay💖
April 4, 2023
“Depression was a tricky thing. It was stealthy and unpredictable. It clouded your mind and sucked all the joy out of your life. Until you carried nothing but emptiness inside. Until you’re your days blended into one and you didn’t see the point in trying. Until you reached the point when, no matter what you did, it felt like it didn’t matter. Because life was hard, and you didn’t think you were suited for it. It was too harsh, and you’d be better off not even trying to overcome obstacles. You were lost, with no way out.”
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Overall: 3.4 ☆
Characters: 3 ☆
Writing: 4 ☆
Romance: 3 ☆
Chapter length: 3 ☆
Pacing: 4 ☆
Ending: 3.5 ☆
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Overall: 3.4 ☆
Characters: 3 ☆
Writing: 4 ☆
Romance: 3 ☆
Chapter length: 3 ☆
Pacing: 4 ☆
Ending: 3.5 ☆
Read
March 15, 2022?/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶
Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- bully romance
- suspense
- virgin heroine
- disability rep
POV: first person - single (heroine)
Type: stand-alone
2/5 🌶
Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- bully romance
- suspense
- virgin heroine
- disability rep
POV: first person - single (heroine)
Type: stand-alone
November 27, 2022
this was absolute dogshit. would give it zero stars if i could.
June 29, 2023
no but really, why did i read this.
March 18, 2022
Ansty Bully Romance All Your FavouriteTropes
*Spoilers*
Katie Turner is wallowing, left paralysed after a tragic accident, where she was run down by a drunk diver.
The first part of this book is all about her self pity as she constantly goes over the situation she now finds herself in.
When she’s not doing THAT she’s obsessing over Jason Adam’s, moody, golden boy.
Jason, the boy she writes about in her diary every time he pays her a little attention.
It also just happens, that he’s the brother of the girl that ran Katie down with her car.
But, instead of empathising with Katie for being the VICTIM, Jason is all scowling looks, & anger towards Katie, the victim, for not getting out of the way & ruining his sisters life.
As K returns to school, she falls deeper into her depression.
No thanks to her pushy bestie, Dylan, & the comments & stares from fellow students.
So when Mr. Morgan, the P.E. Teacher suggests that Katie could benefits from learning how to play wheelchair basketball, assigning her a student to help…
She reluctantly agrees.
The student? He happens to be Liam, once a geek, , now a HOTTIE
Katie is flattered when he starts paying her the attention she has craved.
It not to much later, with the encouragement of teacher, Ms Holloway, friends & family, Katie finds herself trying out for the school play
. “The Promise of Tomorrow:”
Not the lead mined you.
Oh no! …She would never have the courage to extend herself THAT far..
But her pushy drama teacher has other idea’s, & before you can say hear comes a trope.
Katie is being cajoled into excepting the main role of Chloe, based on The real story of a girl who had cancer & her boyfriend Nathan
So
With Katie as Chloe
It’s no SURPRISE! Nathan ends up being played reluctantly at first) by JASON.
Cue, life imitating art scenario, & the drama teacher orchestrating J&K into a relationship
(for the sake of the play of course)
As you can imagine, as the story of Chloe & Nathan’s ‘love story against the odds’ ,is retold for the stage,
K & J’s own story unfolds with the two, conveniently, working their way through love scene, as their drama teacher Ms Holloway gives them instruction on the more intimate kissing scenes. Awkward.
( yeah. Not weird at all. This sounds like sexual abuse by this teachers to me)
This is where the story follows the pattern that you can see coming a mile off.
Of COURSE Jason has a troubled family life.
Of COURSE Nosey Katie is going to push herself into his business, she’s been OBSESSING over him for YEARS!
Of COURSE their animosity towards each other is going to be extinguished through their drama teacher FORCING THEM to spend time together for the play.
(Especially when she is dangling a Hollywood agent being in the audience, for their final performance over Jason’s head.)
OF COURSE, Through the play, Jason was going to understand Katie’s disability better, having a “come to Jesus “ moment about his overall A’holery!
But as with all Bully Romances, the course of love doesn’t run smooth.
The S**** usually hits the fan after the female lead has had sex with/ or experiences her first big O, with the ML for the first time.
And THAT is exactly what happens here.
With Katie experiencing memory flashbacks, things begin to unravel leading to what REALLY happened the night of her accident.
If that wasn’t enough drama, we also have the mystery around the death of Jimmy Caruso’s girlfriend Samantha, & how THAT Whole second? third? . Storyline unfolds
All leading up to a tension packed (kidding. We know what the ending has in store) last few chapters.
Where the real bad guy in revealed.
Jason gets to be a hero
Jimmy redeems himself for his creepy behaviour
And Katie gets to absolve herself of her guilt over the night of the accident.
Ok.
Part of the book that worked for me :-
the paraplegia that Katie suffers from
The Play - The author appears to know her stuff and you DO get invested in the parallel story of Chloe and Nathan
However I found Ms Holloways behaviour regarding K & J to be overstepped boundaries.
“Did Holloway talk to you about kissing practice?” My throat constricted. “No. What kissing practice?” Hmm
It was like she deliberately pushed the two together to creat ‘BUZZ’ about the play.
However, overall, this book felt a little….too light for me at times
Don’t get me wrong.
Having the Female Lead in a wheelchair was brave, but as far as the rest of the narrative went, it was the usual fair.
I mean, the minute Katie had decided to audition for the school play, you knew exactly how things were going to pan out.
And I was right.
The only hiccup in J & K relationship might have been, her getting the H,wood contract & not HIM, but the author resolved this situation by..
Wait for it…
THEY BOTH GOT CONTRACTS
AND!
BOTH in a SERIES,
BOTH in their Hometown! …WtF!
I HATE HEA’s where the LC’s remain attached at the hip RIGHT TO THE END.
Going to college together ?
Going to LA together?
C’mon???
At least let them be individuals
*Spoilers*
Katie Turner is wallowing, left paralysed after a tragic accident, where she was run down by a drunk diver.
The first part of this book is all about her self pity as she constantly goes over the situation she now finds herself in.
When she’s not doing THAT she’s obsessing over Jason Adam’s, moody, golden boy.
Jason, the boy she writes about in her diary every time he pays her a little attention.
It also just happens, that he’s the brother of the girl that ran Katie down with her car.
But, instead of empathising with Katie for being the VICTIM, Jason is all scowling looks, & anger towards Katie, the victim, for not getting out of the way & ruining his sisters life.
As K returns to school, she falls deeper into her depression.
No thanks to her pushy bestie, Dylan, & the comments & stares from fellow students.
So when Mr. Morgan, the P.E. Teacher suggests that Katie could benefits from learning how to play wheelchair basketball, assigning her a student to help…
She reluctantly agrees.
The student? He happens to be Liam, once a geek, , now a HOTTIE
Katie is flattered when he starts paying her the attention she has craved.
It not to much later, with the encouragement of teacher, Ms Holloway, friends & family, Katie finds herself trying out for the school play
. “The Promise of Tomorrow:”
Not the lead mined you.
Oh no! …She would never have the courage to extend herself THAT far..
But her pushy drama teacher has other idea’s, & before you can say hear comes a trope.
Katie is being cajoled into excepting the main role of Chloe, based on The real story of a girl who had cancer & her boyfriend Nathan
So
With Katie as Chloe
It’s no SURPRISE! Nathan ends up being played reluctantly at first) by JASON.
Cue, life imitating art scenario, & the drama teacher orchestrating J&K into a relationship
(for the sake of the play of course)
As you can imagine, as the story of Chloe & Nathan’s ‘love story against the odds’ ,is retold for the stage,
K & J’s own story unfolds with the two, conveniently, working their way through love scene, as their drama teacher Ms Holloway gives them instruction on the more intimate kissing scenes. Awkward.
( yeah. Not weird at all. This sounds like sexual abuse by this teachers to me)
This is where the story follows the pattern that you can see coming a mile off.
Of COURSE Jason has a troubled family life.
Of COURSE Nosey Katie is going to push herself into his business, she’s been OBSESSING over him for YEARS!
Of COURSE their animosity towards each other is going to be extinguished through their drama teacher FORCING THEM to spend time together for the play.
(Especially when she is dangling a Hollywood agent being in the audience, for their final performance over Jason’s head.)
OF COURSE, Through the play, Jason was going to understand Katie’s disability better, having a “come to Jesus “ moment about his overall A’holery!
But as with all Bully Romances, the course of love doesn’t run smooth.
The S**** usually hits the fan after the female lead has had sex with/ or experiences her first big O, with the ML for the first time.
And THAT is exactly what happens here.
With Katie experiencing memory flashbacks, things begin to unravel leading to what REALLY happened the night of her accident.
If that wasn’t enough drama, we also have the mystery around the death of Jimmy Caruso’s girlfriend Samantha, & how THAT Whole second? third? . Storyline unfolds
All leading up to a tension packed (kidding. We know what the ending has in store) last few chapters.
Where the real bad guy in revealed.
Jason gets to be a hero
Jimmy redeems himself for his creepy behaviour
And Katie gets to absolve herself of her guilt over the night of the accident.
Ok.
Part of the book that worked for me :-
the paraplegia that Katie suffers from
The Play - The author appears to know her stuff and you DO get invested in the parallel story of Chloe and Nathan
However I found Ms Holloways behaviour regarding K & J to be overstepped boundaries.
“Did Holloway talk to you about kissing practice?” My throat constricted. “No. What kissing practice?” Hmm
It was like she deliberately pushed the two together to creat ‘BUZZ’ about the play.
However, overall, this book felt a little….too light for me at times
Don’t get me wrong.
Having the Female Lead in a wheelchair was brave, but as far as the rest of the narrative went, it was the usual fair.
I mean, the minute Katie had decided to audition for the school play, you knew exactly how things were going to pan out.
And I was right.
The only hiccup in J & K relationship might have been, her getting the H,wood contract & not HIM, but the author resolved this situation by..
Wait for it…
THEY BOTH GOT CONTRACTS
AND!
BOTH in a SERIES,
BOTH in their Hometown! …WtF!
I HATE HEA’s where the LC’s remain attached at the hip RIGHT TO THE END.
Going to college together ?
Going to LA together?
C’mon???
At least let them be individuals
March 3, 2022
THE HATE BETWEEN US
Vera Hollins
Releases 11th March
#arc #arcreader #amreading #currentlyreading #reader #reviewer #enemiestolovers #bullyromance #sensitivecontent #triggers #highschool #allthefeels #drama #emotional #mentalhealthissues
POV: h
Katie and Jason
Katie has had crush on Jason for a while. She's in the same drama club as him, but he's never noticed her before. She's not very social, she has her best friend, Dylan.
But in a blink of an eye, her life is changed forever.
Waking up from a coma after being hit by a drunk teenage girl, Caroline, who happens to be her crush's sister. She's told that she'll never walking again.
She was slightly depressed before her accident, now she's really depressed, having dark thoughts, no memory of the day of her accident, spiralling, broken, lost, suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, flashbacks, her mental health is on the verge of cracking. It doesn't help that she's now the centre of the schools gossip.
Money is tight, but her parents do everything possible for Katie.
Dylan, her best friend is her personal cheerleader, keeping things up beat, and positive, and she's with Seth, who's Jason's friend... not awkward... at all.
Jason's family life isn't all that great. Him and his sister, Caroline were in a car accident with their mother a few years previously, which their mother didn't survive. Leaving Caroline with issues and Jason having go to school, work, drama club, all while their father turns to alcohol and isn't there for his kids. Jason is trying to keep what's left of their family together.
But seeing Katie at school is a reminder that she's to blame why his sister is in juvenile detention. She's now the focal point of his hatred. Warning her to stay clear of him..... if only..... when they're cast as the leading characters in the upcoming school play. How will they get through this?
Jason is a great actor on stage, he's also good off stage. It may look like nothing phases him on the outside. But he's battling with his emotions on the inside.
Will lines get blurred with them spending time together going through their scripts?
What challenges are coming their way?
Will Katie ever remember all the details from that night?
Is there more to what went on that night? Or leading up to it?
These two are so strong. I felt so much for them.
I loved them!
Pure emotion.
Vera always makes me cry. Her characters are beautifully written. The turmoil they go through. You can't help but go through their pain with them and feel everything.
*Arc provided for an honest review*
Vera Hollins
Releases 11th March
#arc #arcreader #amreading #currentlyreading #reader #reviewer #enemiestolovers #bullyromance #sensitivecontent #triggers #highschool #allthefeels #drama #emotional #mentalhealthissues
POV: h
Katie and Jason
Katie has had crush on Jason for a while. She's in the same drama club as him, but he's never noticed her before. She's not very social, she has her best friend, Dylan.
But in a blink of an eye, her life is changed forever.
Waking up from a coma after being hit by a drunk teenage girl, Caroline, who happens to be her crush's sister. She's told that she'll never walking again.
She was slightly depressed before her accident, now she's really depressed, having dark thoughts, no memory of the day of her accident, spiralling, broken, lost, suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, flashbacks, her mental health is on the verge of cracking. It doesn't help that she's now the centre of the schools gossip.
Money is tight, but her parents do everything possible for Katie.
Dylan, her best friend is her personal cheerleader, keeping things up beat, and positive, and she's with Seth, who's Jason's friend... not awkward... at all.
Jason's family life isn't all that great. Him and his sister, Caroline were in a car accident with their mother a few years previously, which their mother didn't survive. Leaving Caroline with issues and Jason having go to school, work, drama club, all while their father turns to alcohol and isn't there for his kids. Jason is trying to keep what's left of their family together.
But seeing Katie at school is a reminder that she's to blame why his sister is in juvenile detention. She's now the focal point of his hatred. Warning her to stay clear of him..... if only..... when they're cast as the leading characters in the upcoming school play. How will they get through this?
Jason is a great actor on stage, he's also good off stage. It may look like nothing phases him on the outside. But he's battling with his emotions on the inside.
Will lines get blurred with them spending time together going through their scripts?
What challenges are coming their way?
Will Katie ever remember all the details from that night?
Is there more to what went on that night? Or leading up to it?
These two are so strong. I felt so much for them.
I loved them!
Pure emotion.
Vera always makes me cry. Her characters are beautifully written. The turmoil they go through. You can't help but go through their pain with them and feel everything.
*Arc provided for an honest review*
November 20, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was a wonderful story that hit a little too close to home. After an accident that leaves her paralyzed waist down, Katie's struggles with her depression and loneliness. With her self-confidence and self-worth completely shattered, she spends her days in her hiding in her bedroom feeling utterly defeated and broken. There was ALOT to unpack here... every time Katie questioned herself, every time she called her life worthless and felt death was better than this, it pained my heart. It was a long journey of growth and acceptance for Katie to realize she was more than her disability. To understand that she still had more to live for, that she still had a purpose, she was still worthy of happiness.
Jason is an equally complicated character. I won't lie, I completely hated him for the first half of the book. The way he treated Katie was horrible and unfair. He was not just rude and angry, he was incredibly selfish and callous. He did not leave a single chance to disregard Katie's condition and downplay the trauma that it caused her. However, as the book progresses on, we see a different side to him. We see HIM finally see Katie for what she really was. You begin to understand why he feels that anger, though it is misplaced. Whole credits for this goes to the author's good writing. The growth of Jason was incredible, and it was beautiful to see him transform from being Katie's tormentor to being her biggest pillar of support. Even when he supposedly "hated" her, he was always encouraging her to not give up on her talent.. to follow her heart and hold on to her craft. It made happy to see the relationship blossom in such a lovely way.
What I didn't like was the last 2 chapters. There was so much happening from murder to sexual assault and it was all brushed under the carpet and solved a bit too quickly for my liking. Katie just found out she was assaulted before her accident, and instead of focusing on that trauma, the author bypassed that issue entirely to tell us of the abuser's arrest. Another 100 pages would have done the book good.
This was a wonderful story that hit a little too close to home. After an accident that leaves her paralyzed waist down, Katie's struggles with her depression and loneliness. With her self-confidence and self-worth completely shattered, she spends her days in her hiding in her bedroom feeling utterly defeated and broken. There was ALOT to unpack here... every time Katie questioned herself, every time she called her life worthless and felt death was better than this, it pained my heart. It was a long journey of growth and acceptance for Katie to realize she was more than her disability. To understand that she still had more to live for, that she still had a purpose, she was still worthy of happiness.
Jason is an equally complicated character. I won't lie, I completely hated him for the first half of the book. The way he treated Katie was horrible and unfair. He was not just rude and angry, he was incredibly selfish and callous. He did not leave a single chance to disregard Katie's condition and downplay the trauma that it caused her. However, as the book progresses on, we see a different side to him. We see HIM finally see Katie for what she really was. You begin to understand why he feels that anger, though it is misplaced. Whole credits for this goes to the author's good writing. The growth of Jason was incredible, and it was beautiful to see him transform from being Katie's tormentor to being her biggest pillar of support. Even when he supposedly "hated" her, he was always encouraging her to not give up on her talent.. to follow her heart and hold on to her craft. It made happy to see the relationship blossom in such a lovely way.
What I didn't like was the last 2 chapters. There was so much happening from murder to sexual assault and it was all brushed under the carpet and solved a bit too quickly for my liking. Katie just found out she was assaulted before her accident, and instead of focusing on that trauma, the author bypassed that issue entirely to tell us of the abuser's arrest. Another 100 pages would have done the book good.
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