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thebusybookmom's review against another edition
5.0
Clayton realized that only an alpha male can fully appreciate the tough, fierce, and firecracker personality that makes up Tess. Asher Hawthorne is all man, and is drawn to Tess right from the beginning.
Tess has been one of my favorite characters since we met her at the beginning of the series. Her quick wit, ability to love unconditionally, and undying loyalty are just a few of her wonderful traits. She has high walls that she has had to build due to always being last from her parents. She is dealing with a traumatic experience that her family just blows off.
Asher is grappling with an injury that has affected his future in football. He is trying to figure out where he wants to go in life with the question of professional football in his future. Just wanting to feel better for one night he meets Tess. They are explosive coming together for their one night. Neither can stop thinking about each other, but recognize that it was just one night.
Start the school year where Tess has to repeat her senior year, and Asher starts his new job as her English teacher. What happens next is a love story that can only be looked at as Fate. Tess gets her great love while dealing with her demons. Asher learns that Tess is everything he never knew he needed. Can they keep away from each other? Can they keep it on the DL? Read the book to find out! I promise you WON'T be disappointed!
Tess has been one of my favorite characters since we met her at the beginning of the series. Her quick wit, ability to love unconditionally, and undying loyalty are just a few of her wonderful traits. She has high walls that she has had to build due to always being last from her parents. She is dealing with a traumatic experience that her family just blows off.
Asher is grappling with an injury that has affected his future in football. He is trying to figure out where he wants to go in life with the question of professional football in his future. Just wanting to feel better for one night he meets Tess. They are explosive coming together for their one night. Neither can stop thinking about each other, but recognize that it was just one night.
Start the school year where Tess has to repeat her senior year, and Asher starts his new job as her English teacher. What happens next is a love story that can only be looked at as Fate. Tess gets her great love while dealing with her demons. Asher learns that Tess is everything he never knew he needed. Can they keep away from each other? Can they keep it on the DL? Read the book to find out! I promise you WON'T be disappointed!
bookish_kayy's review against another edition
5.0
Forbidden
Tessa’s story is one I’ve been waiting for. The “bad girl” of the group, I knew watching Cupid take her down would be a rollercoaster ride.
And of course this is EXACTLY how it should go down.
I loved the dynamic between her & Asher, her and her sister, and the introduction of Colby. This series has become one of my favorites and I can’t wait for more.
Tessa’s story is one I’ve been waiting for. The “bad girl” of the group, I knew watching Cupid take her down would be a rollercoaster ride.
And of course this is EXACTLY how it should go down.
I loved the dynamic between her & Asher, her and her sister, and the introduction of Colby. This series has become one of my favorites and I can’t wait for more.
tatumoshea's review against another edition
4.0
rtc this was my absolute favorite so far of the series
kfriend's review against another edition
5.0
HOLY MOLY. Kelsey Clayton has delivered another addictive addition to her Haven Grace prep series with this age gap, forbidden romance. But the Rebel is so much more than this trope- this story is heartbreaking at times, sweet and soulful, and beautifully emotionally complex. The character journeys are riveting and the emotional connections captivating. Tessa's story exceeded all my expectations. Cancel your plans- you’ll want to read this in one sitting!
TESSA. MY OH MY, TESSA. She's a FORCE. Bookfriend? Who needs a book boyfriend? I have my new book girlfriend! I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure I would love her- we had the spunky dynamo in the other books- the ballbusting, explosive side character who fought for her sister, but what we didn’t see was the dynamic, heartfelt, nuanced and gentle soul underneath all that bravado. I don’t just love Tessa, I FLOVE Tessa. Tessa is truly a revelation- everything you want in a book heroine. I loved her spunk- her sassy confidence, take no prisoners personality. But, what I loved even more was the beautiful, complex heart beating beneath that rule-breaking veneer. Tessa has demons- she’s suffering, both because of her history but also because of the trauma she experienced in our last book. She was surprisingly complex, achingly vulnerable, trapped in her own hurt, craving love and acceptance. I loved how unabashedly Kelsey let us see inside her soul- it was surprising and unexpected how that played out, but emotionally gripping. Tessa’s character journey is the strongest in this series, masterfully woven. I loved every high and low of her story, loved how Tessa proves that we can indeed be stronger than our demons- and that sometimes strength is about allowing yourself to be weak and lean on others.
And Asher is just dreamy. He’s got some of that dirty talking, bad boy flare, but he’s a sweetie at his core. He’s got integrity, drive, and he’s dedicated- when he loves something, he gives it his all. He’s slow to open up given his own wounds, but once we see his heart, it's blindingly beautiful. His actions at the end- his compassion and depth and unconditional acceptance of Tessa is really quite moving. He’s steady, a more quiet character journey than Tessa’s, but no less delightful.
Their chemistry BURNED up my pages. From their first meeting to their last page, heart and heat. I won’t spoil what makes their relationship taboo- but it is more than the age gap. This taboo creates a delicious push-pull tension- they both want each other, but both have much to lose, especially Asher. Given that Tessa is a bit of an older soul and Asher’s challenges, the maturity difference isn’t much of an issue The steam was yummy as always, and Kelsey always does such a great job of building the emotional connection between characters. These two have such fun and humorous banter and have such fun, but we also get a carefully constructed emotional bond that is heart-poundingly magnetic. They bring out the best in each other, even though they have to break all the rules to get there.
This series just gets better and better! Kelsey continues to wow me with her ability to create a rich deck of colorful, interesting, dynamic, and loveable characters- we get to see some of our old favorites and get to spend time with some newer stars. Colby in particular was a scene stealer- I love this guy, and I hope we get to see his story. I’m also loving the evolution of Lennon, and I’m secretly hoping Zayn gets his due as well. Kelsey’s characters just jump off the page and grab you- her storytelling is so well crafted that you feel intimately connected to each of them, invested from the first page to the last. You live and breathe their journey. That’s what makes her one of my favs.
Narratively, I also thought this was Kelsey’s most tightly woven tale yet. I’ve loved our other stories, where the romance is the focus but you also have a dash of some external danger/drama. Here, the focus is solely the romance, though- the dynamic relationship of these two characters and their individual emotional stories as they confront their own demons, their own fears. And, it really pays off emotionally- we don’t just dip our toe into the connection and psyche of these two beautiful souls, we dive down deep- swim around in their pain, their joy, their hurt and hope.
There are twists, a lot of unexpected turns, and an emotional punch at the end that will squeeze your heart and steal your breath. The surprisingly gritty, emotionally intense moments made this story that much more rich, more impactful. You will not be disappointed by Tessa’s story! I can’t wait for more of this series!
(PS- this can be read as a standalone, but a) the whole series is awesome so read it and b) Tessa’s story really is impacted by the events of book 2, so I’d recommend at least reading that. Plus, Laney and Knox = GOAT)
TESSA. MY OH MY, TESSA. She's a FORCE. Bookfriend? Who needs a book boyfriend? I have my new book girlfriend! I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure I would love her- we had the spunky dynamo in the other books- the ballbusting, explosive side character who fought for her sister, but what we didn’t see was the dynamic, heartfelt, nuanced and gentle soul underneath all that bravado. I don’t just love Tessa, I FLOVE Tessa. Tessa is truly a revelation- everything you want in a book heroine. I loved her spunk- her sassy confidence, take no prisoners personality. But, what I loved even more was the beautiful, complex heart beating beneath that rule-breaking veneer. Tessa has demons- she’s suffering, both because of her history but also because of the trauma she experienced in our last book. She was surprisingly complex, achingly vulnerable, trapped in her own hurt, craving love and acceptance. I loved how unabashedly Kelsey let us see inside her soul- it was surprising and unexpected how that played out, but emotionally gripping. Tessa’s character journey is the strongest in this series, masterfully woven. I loved every high and low of her story, loved how Tessa proves that we can indeed be stronger than our demons- and that sometimes strength is about allowing yourself to be weak and lean on others.
And Asher is just dreamy. He’s got some of that dirty talking, bad boy flare, but he’s a sweetie at his core. He’s got integrity, drive, and he’s dedicated- when he loves something, he gives it his all. He’s slow to open up given his own wounds, but once we see his heart, it's blindingly beautiful. His actions at the end- his compassion and depth and unconditional acceptance of Tessa is really quite moving. He’s steady, a more quiet character journey than Tessa’s, but no less delightful.
Their chemistry BURNED up my pages. From their first meeting to their last page, heart and heat. I won’t spoil what makes their relationship taboo- but it is more than the age gap. This taboo creates a delicious push-pull tension- they both want each other, but both have much to lose, especially Asher. Given that Tessa is a bit of an older soul and Asher’s challenges, the maturity difference isn’t much of an issue The steam was yummy as always, and Kelsey always does such a great job of building the emotional connection between characters. These two have such fun and humorous banter and have such fun, but we also get a carefully constructed emotional bond that is heart-poundingly magnetic. They bring out the best in each other, even though they have to break all the rules to get there.
This series just gets better and better! Kelsey continues to wow me with her ability to create a rich deck of colorful, interesting, dynamic, and loveable characters- we get to see some of our old favorites and get to spend time with some newer stars. Colby in particular was a scene stealer- I love this guy, and I hope we get to see his story. I’m also loving the evolution of Lennon, and I’m secretly hoping Zayn gets his due as well. Kelsey’s characters just jump off the page and grab you- her storytelling is so well crafted that you feel intimately connected to each of them, invested from the first page to the last. You live and breathe their journey. That’s what makes her one of my favs.
Narratively, I also thought this was Kelsey’s most tightly woven tale yet. I’ve loved our other stories, where the romance is the focus but you also have a dash of some external danger/drama. Here, the focus is solely the romance, though- the dynamic relationship of these two characters and their individual emotional stories as they confront their own demons, their own fears. And, it really pays off emotionally- we don’t just dip our toe into the connection and psyche of these two beautiful souls, we dive down deep- swim around in their pain, their joy, their hurt and hope.
There are twists, a lot of unexpected turns, and an emotional punch at the end that will squeeze your heart and steal your breath. The surprisingly gritty, emotionally intense moments made this story that much more rich, more impactful. You will not be disappointed by Tessa’s story! I can’t wait for more of this series!
(PS- this can be read as a standalone, but a) the whole series is awesome so read it and b) Tessa’s story really is impacted by the events of book 2, so I’d recommend at least reading that. Plus, Laney and Knox = GOAT)
yeriwithaj_'s review against another edition
3.0
A good read.
This wasn’t as great as I was expecting but it was still pretty freakin’ good! TikTok recommendations haven’t completely let me down yet.
This was so much more than a forbidden romance and even though I haven’t read the previous books, I was able to keep up pretty okay with what all was happening without being too confused. Still, I recommend diving into the first books.
This wasn’t as great as I was expecting but it was still pretty freakin’ good! TikTok recommendations haven’t completely let me down yet.
This was so much more than a forbidden romance and even though I haven’t read the previous books, I was able to keep up pretty okay with what all was happening without being too confused. Still, I recommend diving into the first books.
leighanneprin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
elles_library's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Good relationship. Liked the teacher/student aspect. Reformed playboy. Badass FMC. Dealt with grief, pain, and addiction with self destructive tendencies. Love that she went to rehab and got the help she needed - Asher being fully supportive the whole time
tzinreads's review against another edition
4.0
This freaking book omg!
I inhaled it.... I devoured it! I couldn't put it down!!!!
Gimme age gap, teacher-student/forbidden romance, touch of NFL and I AM FREAKING IN!
all the characters even the ones that i want to effing punch them in the face, were so well written
Tessa and Asher, ugh, they're eachother's anchor, the best and "worst" thing happened to them, she keeps him in his toes and he gives her what she needs and deserves! They zinced even if this started as a one night stand! And when push comes to shove they picked eachother!
The way Asher was so protective and possessive of Tess is like a huge turn on for me!
Colby and Lennon are the best friends i need! Already got my Laney!
The spice was GOOOOOOD!
I cried a few times, i got pissed others and turned on few more!
The "The vampire diaries" mention killed me, it was a really nice touch bc at 18 i loved and still do watching TVD!
This book is already living rent free in my head!
It's not a light read, you should really check TWS because it touches quite a few sensitive subjects such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, alcohol, suicide, PTSD, teacher/student romance!
I inhaled it.... I devoured it! I couldn't put it down!!!!
Gimme age gap, teacher-student/forbidden romance, touch of NFL and I AM FREAKING IN!
all the characters even the ones that i want to effing punch them in the face, were so well written
Tessa and Asher, ugh, they're eachother's anchor, the best and "worst" thing happened to them, she keeps him in his toes and he gives her what she needs and deserves! They zinced even if this started as a one night stand! And when push comes to shove they picked eachother!
The way Asher was so protective and possessive of Tess is like a huge turn on for me!
Colby and Lennon are the best friends i need! Already got my Laney!
The spice was GOOOOOOD!
I cried a few times, i got pissed others and turned on few more!
The "The vampire diaries" mention killed me, it was a really nice touch bc at 18 i loved and still do watching TVD!
This book is already living rent free in my head!
It's not a light read, you should really check TWS because it touches quite a few sensitive subjects such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, alcohol, suicide, PTSD, teacher/student romance!