Bully (Fall Away #)

Bully (Fall Away) - Penelope Douglas image
♥♥♥ 4 STARS ♥♥♥

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This is how bullies are made.

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Tatum Brandt use to have a really close best friend when she was a child, her neighbor, Jared Trent. They were inseperable. But one day, when he returns from a trip during the summer, he comes back changed. She no longer sees the boy she loved in him. Instead, he becomes her bully. Years of pranks and rumours take a toll on her. And when she returns from being away for a year in France, she knows things need to change. She is done being a coward and letting him humiliate her. It's time for her to fight back.

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“Do you know what this is?” I took my middle finger and patted the corner of my eye with it. “It’s me, wiping away the last tear you’ll get.”

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Tate is no longer gonna take being bullied. I will say, I was hella happy that she was going to do something about it. Unfortunately, the way she handled things, was not the manner in which I was hoping she would use. She was becoming a bully herself. I wanted her to talk to him and finally clear the air about WHY he changed with her so much?? WHY was he only picking on her?? And on another note, WHY did no one do anything about it?? I am pretty sure her family was aware this was happening since her grandmother brought it up. So again, WHY did no one intervene??

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Even after everything he'd done, part of me still missed that boy who was my waking thought and constant companion as a kid. But that Jared was gone now. In his place was a sour, hateful douchbag that had no regard for me.

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I absolutely HATED Jared from the start. I was not amused with his behaviour. He was a total douchnozzle. And to be honest, I didn't think I could possibly soften up to him, and I did. But, I just couldn't really love him. Everything he did to her was horrible. I wasn't sure Tate could forgive him. But then we get to learn a bit about his back story, and then that's when you start to understand his actions. I am not accepting that as an excuse, however. Because his actions were still, 100% wrong, no matter what he went through. But my heart did break for him and all he had to endure at such a young age. No child should go through that. But you definitely don't treat people you love, the way he did.

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“Are you mine?” I asked as I wiped my tears.
He kissed the corners of my mouth softly, and I felt heat rise up my neck. “Always have been,” he whispered against my mouth.

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The feelings they had for each other, had been growing since they were kids. They had fallen in love, before they had fallen in hate. But no matter how much they tried to hate one another, the love they felt, wouldn't let go. For me personally, I think that her forgiving him after everything he put her through, went by way too quick. I'm not sure I could have done the same. I mean I probably could have forgiven, but most definitely never have forgotten. I feel like Jared needed to work a lot harder for him to earn Tate's trust again. But that didn't really end up happening. They got together too fast for me.

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Yesterday lasts forever.
Tomorrow comes never.
Until you.

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I am happy they end up together, don't get me wrong. It definitely makes you think about how you would deal with this, if this were happening to you. I am glad that they opened up to each other in the end and that they have each other to heal from all that they went through. Overall, it was a really good read.


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