Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - The Dare

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Dare by Elle Kennedy

10 reviews

ameliabiblio's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have to admit, this one got off to a bit of a rough start, but once the story started in earnest, I was hooked. I was bothered at first because I couldn't tell if Taylor was actually fat or if she just thought she was fat and honestly, I'm still not sure. Either way would have worked because both would be a representation of some sort, but I felt like I wasted time trying to figure that out. But maybe that's a me problem. But basically, I felt like the beginning was cliche and unoriginal and kind of boring, but once we got to the meat of the story, which was about halfway through, I was all in.
I loved watching Conor and Taylor confront their own demons and insecurities head on and with each other's support. I thought it was actually pretty brilliant to

have them make the exact same mistake with each other. It put them on even ground and showed how irrational acting like that is, but also how it's so easy to fall into bad habits to protect yourself.

Once the story had more depth, it really came alive. If the whole book had felt like that, it would honestly probably have gotten 5 stars, but as it is, the beginning was pretty meh and an amazing ending can only make up for so much.
I'm so excited to continue reading Elle Kennedy's other books. I'm glad I gave her another chance after feeling pretty neutral about The Deal. (Which I am planning to return to and reevaluate after loving so many of the other books in the series.)

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shaesensual's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

"I'm too young to be this unhappy, and too loved to be this alone"

This quote really describes my change of heart about the final 15% of this book because this felt like something the main character had already discovered before reaching this point in the story.

Light spoilers ahead, but I've got a lot to rant about. So much time is spent building a foundation of trust, support, and honesty between these characters only for that to be thrown away in an instant. Not only do things blow up again, Taylor then takes the unnecessary step of insulting all of Conor's deepest insecurities. Taylor struggles with her self image due to her weight, which I wish took up less of this book because she's a more dynamic character than that, but when Conor has his own turmoil, he doesn't start calling her fat and saying nobody could possibly want to be with her. Taylor, on the other hand, says things to Conor that I might consider unforgivable even taking into consideration the circumstances. Her actions were just to harm him and it felt like taking 1,000 steps backwards in their growth as a couple. And he somehow manages to immediately forgive her and even says she was right. Additionally, there is a lot of gratitude for Conor's reaction in this final section of the book as if its so remarkable, but I can't honestly imagine an adult who would have reacted any differently. This book would have received a 4.25/4.5 rating from me without this major shift towards the end or bad just ended after the gala conflict.

Really wish this had a stronger ending overall as this was the weakest book in the series.

The positives: the fake relationship into real was really great. I loved all the "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" comments when they were still both unsure. I thought their flirting dynamic and conversations together were fun and cute. Overall a really fun couple to read about.

The spice was spicy in this book! I loved seeing repeated scenes of foreplay leading up to their first time having sex. Standalone, these scenes are great but the fact that their first time happens immediately following the biggest fight in their relationship and Conor's sudden change of heart makes it less sexy than it could have been because that conflict is still right there. And, in all honesty, I had no interest in the final sex scene after Taylor gets sexually exploited. The resolution with Conor and from that type of trauma was too quick for me. Not to mention “fuckturtles” was beyond weird.

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skyhazzard's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think this was my favorite out of the series but just by a little bit cause I also loved book 3.

I really enjoyed how Conor and Taylor just liked spending time together. Their fake dating really didn’t last that long because it developed into something real and they both decided to just take a chance on it. Conor was just in it from that first night they spent talking to each other. He never once (excluding when he got dumped and drunk, which yes slight disappointment in him but he was really so far gone he barely remembered what had happened during that 12 hour missing period) thought about seeing anyone else just wanted to keep hanging out with her. And I love how comfortable Taylor was with him, she gained some more confidence hanging out with him and his friends.

Omg his friends were ride or die for her. They wanted to come on her makeover montage and all had thoughts about what new looks she should try. And they were ready to fight for her when the time came, I was just like these boys. Oh and Coach Jensen dating Taylor’s mom lol! That provided some good moments.

I am sad we never got to witness the pig mascot…

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britwalsh16's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

OMG! This book is EVERYTHING! Like the amount of emotions I am feeling right now is insane! I am Taylor, Taylor is me! I identified sooo much with her it was insane! & Conor with all his talk about body positivity & all his support of Taylor, just made me swoon to no end!! I NEED a man like Conor! He is everything!! If I could give this book 10 stars I would! 100 stars! They go through a lot of very serious stuff, & it was all written so beautifully! I just couldn’t put it down, but also, I did not want it to end!! Give me more of Taylor & Conor please!! Pretty pretty please!!! 🥺🙏🏻

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abidavisf's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Phew, Elle Kennedy does it again. I’ve not seen myself in one of her protagonists quite as much as I do in Taylor. I’m flawed. The Dare was healing for me, eye-opening and really quite surreal.

As always, the spice and the banter was on point, and Elle navigated really tricky topics with grace. The shining star, however, is definitely Taylor’s insecurities and the way we get to see how the rest of the world truly sees her. I wish I could read the minds of the people around me like we got to read Conor’s.

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katiechia8's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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shaylee_reads's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ratings:

Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Writing:⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5

Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5

Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Diversity:⭐⭐ /5

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Sadness: 💧💧/5

Spice:🌶️🌶️ /5

Trope & Kinks: Fake Dating, Hockey Romance, Sport Romance, College Romance, and Virgin MC

The Dare is the finale instalment in the Briar U series and the last book in the Off-Campus universe. The Dare follows Taylor who during a game of dare and dare at a college party is dared by her fellow Kappa Chi sorority members to seduce the self acclaimed F-boy hockey player Connor Edwards. Surprising Taylor, Connor agrees to help Taylor and helps her convince her sorority sisters that they slept together. What surprises Taylor more is the fact that Connor does want to stop after one night, so Taylor and Connor begin to fake that they are dating but resisting Connor's easy charm and surfer boy looks is a lot harder than you would think.

I absolutely ADORED this book!! This book might even beat The Chase as my favorite book in the Briar U series. When I think about this book I can't think of anything I didn't like about it, I just absolutely loved it.

One of my favorite aspects in this book is Taylor. I relate to her so much more than any of the other characters in the Briar U series… maybe even the whole Off-Campus series. Taylor is a midsize girl and struggles with her weight and body dysmorphia and as someone who is also midsize and struggles with the same things I related to Taylor so much. A lot of the thoughts Taylor had about herself and her body I also have had and it warmed my heart to see Taylor become more comfortable with her body and grow to love herself. I also loved the way Connor kept hyping Taylor up about her body and telling her how beautiful she was and how she should be ashamed. I loved how in Connors point of view he doesn't even point out her weight and only sees her as beautiful. This book I feel like is really important for people who struggle with their weight and it shows that no matter your size you are beautiful and someone out there is going to love your body just the way it is.

I also loved Taylor because she was such a sweet and caring girl and I hated to see the way she was treated by her fellow Kappa Chi sisters. I loved seeing Taylor grow from someone who didn't stand up for herself to someone who did. I loved Taylors character development and how she went from this shy, self conscious, sad girl to someone who was confident and comfortable in her body and was bold and strong and happy. I just absolutely loved Taylor so much and I think she is my favorite girl in the Briar U series.

In the last book The Play we are introduced to the self acclaimed F-boy hockey player Connor Edwards who is basically Dean 2.0 and if you know me you would know that Dean is my least favorite Off-Campus boy so I was expecting not to love Connor but boy was I wrong!! I absolutely loved Connor!! He was so incredibly sweet and cared so much about Taylor and was very clear with his intentions with her from the beginning. I loved how non judgemental he was and how he was always trying to get Taylor to see how beautiful she was. I also loved how he didn't push Taylor to do any thing she didn't want to do, he was very understanding and didn't pressure her to do anything for his sexual pleasure. It was always about her and what she was comfortable with and her pleasure. He's also very good looking and hilarious, there's just so much to love about him and he was just amazing.

I absolutely loved the story between Connor and his stepfather. I actually cried when they finally sat down and talked for the first time. It was just so sweet and I loved seeing it play out.

Taylor and Connors relationship has to be my favorite out of the Briar U series. I just absolutely loved them together, they were so incredibly cute and I grew so attached to their story and relationship to the point that at the end when everything was falling apart I was absolutely balling my eyes out, like I could not stop crying because I loved them so much and it hurt to see them both hurting so much. I loved how Connor was the one to fall first and was always trying to get Taylor to see how much he cared about her and that she was beautiful. I loved how their sexual relationship went and how Connor never pressured her to do anything she wasn't ready and cared more about her pleasure then his own. I'm just ABSOLUTELY obsessed and I want more!

One thing that I can say is I could have not done with the two miscommunication plot twists in this book but honestly that's just a very small thing and I still love the book anyway.

Another part of this book that was absolutely hilarious and I loved was the storyline between Coach Jensen and Taylor's mom. Any time Coach Jensen, Taylor's mom, Breanna, Taylor, and Connor were together I was just dying with laughter especially at the end when Connor was running around naked. I absolutely loved Breanna's little comments throughout the scenes. Honestly they were just hilarious and so much fun.

Overall, I felt that this was a very nice ending to the Briar U/Off-Campus series and I absolutely adored this book and I recommend everyone read it right now! I'm so sad to have to say goodbye to this world and these characters that I love so much. This series will always be one of my favorites and I have so much to thank it for because it was the book that introduced me to the smutty romance books.

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sophies_reads's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

4.25

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bunn1e's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

5.0

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stupiddrat's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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