The judge didn’t serve justice. But the Devils will.
Violet
I never meant to hurt anybody.
Chloe was my best friend, and that night, we were drunk and stupid. We never backed down from a dare, and the one time she did, I wouldn't let her.
Even though it was an accident, no one believes me. She was the girl everyone loved, and now I'm the girl everyone hates.
I can't pretend their punishments don't hurt. Especially his. Her brother, the hockey captain I once called a friend. The man I thought, someday, might be something more.
Now Wes hates me too. And he's not quiet about it.
But I can't fight back. Because I deserve it all.
Wes
Before, Violet was the girl I wanted but couldn't have.
Now, my sister is dead, and she's the girl I can't stand.
Violet is getting everything she doesn’t deserve. Protection. Freedom. Her life.
She gets to keep living, even after she put my sister in the ground.
So I’m enlisting my team to make every second of her life as miserable as possible. Because that’s what she deserves.
Violet is going to pay for what she’s done. The Devils will make sure of it.
she was assaulted by him and his friends and that was his vengeance plot… and this poor girl believed it was justified because her friend (the mmcs sister) died to the fmc pushing her in a pool. prior to the push the fmc & her friend had their drinks spiked by guess who? one of the mmcs friends! aw and he was the main man to torment the fmc as if he wasn’t planning to rape her friend and her that night!!! the fmc didn’t drink the spiked drink but unfortunately her friend did. yes we don’t know until the end but this poor girl even at the end basically excuses getting assaulted by the mmcs friends saying she deserved it. also i thought his grovel fucking sucked so for me this was just a shitty situation. the flashbacks were the best chapters.
2/25/2024 ******************************************** also to add on, i LV a good bully romance but this shit was not a bully romance this was him literally mentally, physically, and emotionally abusing her then making it seem like it’s deserved. i can handle any bully x hockey romance all day everyday those are my favorite but this book genuinely grossed me out and was horrible. it amazes me how half of these people justified it. his half ass apology AT THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS WAS SHIT. honestly he should’ve been her past and she should’ve got a new mmc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow wow wow! This was my first time reading a bully romance and honestly didn’t know what to expect but I enjoyed it so much! This book is dark so please check TWs before reading. 🤍
If You Dare show how guilt can manifest in different ways for different people. The “before” chapters show us what Violet and Wes were like before Chloe died (Wes’ sister and Violet’s best friend). And the “after” chapters gave us a glimpse into how they both deal with their guilt.
I love Violet and Wes together! 🤍🖤🤍🖤
just for good measure this is for Trey 🖕🏻🖕🏻
Also this is my official petition for Harmony to write a novela of Violet and Wes cause I want to see them happy together forever 😭🤍
This was an arc given to me from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I finished the book so it wasn’t terrible but cant rate it higher because:
- The H was too cruel and never protected the h. He allowed his team to grope/SA her,cut her hair and didn’t believe her when the villain was clearly lying about something.
- The h was fine but she was dumb/weak and never defended herself. I get that she feels like she deserved everything she got due to her involvement in her friend’s death, but still.
I would read something by this author again but think she needs to tone down some of the dark elements to make her characters somewhat likeable.
Imagine a man regaulrly made it so you were hungry, beaten, sexually assaulted and made to feel like shit constantly.
Now imagine that was a romance book.
Imagine that author prefaced her romance book, knowing abuse is terrible way to show any sort of feelings towards anyone, as it creates muscle memory of committing abuse.
Right?
Good.
Now imagine that author was afraid of words like sexual assault and abuse.
Imagine the author likes having her characters act out sexual abuse, knows its wrong, enough to warn you at the start, but hasn't the courage to call it what it is.
Its like watching someone with a drink problem be scared of the word alcohol or alcoholism.
Its chronic and pathetic, reading how he genuinely believes it is one of her fantasies for him to throat rape her, and for us to be expected to be "hey its ok, he can learn to be better than rape."
Nope, not if he never learns the word rape or sexual assault can he ever be better than when he does it.
Its kinda sad, reading women so comfortable in their lives, they make a man a rapist, to save him from being a rapist, and nearly kills her at several points, but makes him afraid of fhe word.
Its kinda cowardly.
Act it out, but dont say it, that way, we can keep shaming ND women when they say rape because it is rape.
I don't give a fuck that hes grieving.
Pain is not a reason men are toxic.
Men are toxic because they are men.
No. Other. Reason.
The way he's attracted to her more when Trey removes a huge important.part of her.
And the way the author insists shes into it.
Its so.fucking weird.
These authors are responsible for every time a woman dies from accidental choking.
Neoliberals, so bored in life, they make excuses for abusers.
»What? She's all yours now?« »That's how it works. I claimed her. She's mine.«
★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑽𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒕 Poor girl suffered so much. I could really relate to her and it was heartbreaking reading about her story.
❥ 𝑾𝒆𝒔 He is heartbroken over his sisters death and does everything to make Violet miserable. He was an asshole most of the book.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 This was super thrilling and I was so curious what happened the whole time. The love story is a little tragic considering the whole situation with Chloe’s death but Wes and Violet have a deep connection. I didn‘t like the bullying because it was more of sexual assault than bullying and this is a big no go. Wes literally told his friends to sexually assault and torment violet to get his revenge and to make her life a living hell. Good for him that he comes to his right sense and started protecting Violet but still I had a hard time forgiving him. Overall this was a thrilling and enjoyable read which goes in the direction of darkromance. Only read this book if you can stand (sexual) violence and mention of death.
»I hope you know what you've just unleashed, little flower. You're not going anywhere now.«
DNF around 20% what the fuck do you mean “bullying” is him and his teammates trying to r@pe her? this book was pure trash, the mmc constantly talked about wanting to have sex with the fmc, the random orgy (????), on page detailed sex with ow, making the fmc justify the assault??
“Tell me, Violet.” Trey’s singsong voice sends a shiver down my spine. “Have you been deflowered?” 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
I saw a reel on instagram and thought I would give this a read, I enjoyed some parts of the book but I struggled reading the bully trope. I like dark romance but I feel like this was more sadistic that haunting Adeline
Anything by Harmony West is a MUST READ! The plot was great with twists and turns that made it such a great bully suspense romance.
Violet and her best friend, Chloe, were involved in a tragic accident that everyone blames her for. Even her own mother has stopped supporting her daughter. But worst of all the guy, Wes, she was falling for hates her the most. Who happens to be Chloe’s older brother.
This emotional roller coaster is filled with red flags and how trauma can be dealt with in very unhealthy and unorthodox ways. Check the TWs. It was dark, twisty, suspenseful, with a whole lot of built up sexual tension. I loved every page of it 😏
The beginning was not a good start. I couldn't even see myself finishing it. This was a crazy ride. Basically all the men are psycho. Trey was literally the most messed up character I have ever read about. Wes was okayish. I get why he was so angry but the things in the beginning were terrible. How did he go from that to loving her? The ending was was twisted but it ended up good. This was overall crazy but interesting. It was a fast read.
usually not something i would read but i wanted to try this. i didn’t enjoy this at all. quite disgusting and not something for me, broke my heart to read about violet tbh
“If You Dare” is a visceral tale of guilt and twisted love. Violet’s life is shattered by a tragic accident, and Wes, once a figure of desire, becomes her worst nightmare.
It’s a dance of passion and punishment. Violet’s struggle with guilt is palpable, and Wes’ transformation from adoration to bully is chilling, instigating the Devils’ campaign of cruelty against her.
Wes is the kind of hot that’s both thrilling and terrifying - his intense claim over Violet sizzles with a dangerous edge that’s utterly addictive.
This dark romance will make you weep, rage, and ultimately, find a strange solace in the end.
***ARC REVIEW*** Name: If You Dare Author: Harmony West Rate: 5/5🌟 Spice: 3/5 🌶️ Genre: Hockey Bully Romance
~Harmony you blew my mind away again. This is the 3rd book you write and I sure devour it like there's no tomorrow!! Yet this one was a bit different and yes when I mean different I don't mean it in a bad way. At first I was wondering why all the revenge, the bullying, making poor Violet suffer and making her life so miserable. But once I started to read it I was like DAMMM no words… People can be cruel without knowing all the facts!!!
~ While reading this book you will get the truth which will be revealed in a crazy way. But it does bring the MC so peace after finding out you may say! So be prepared for a crazy ride because you're going to love every bit of it. The plot twist, the way it's written it's OMG!!! From being Bullied to Lovers, keeping their love a secret.. Yeah I just can't tell you how much I enjoy reading Harmony’s book!!! All her books are 5 stars all the way… Now there is a scene that had me like OMG!!! WTF!!! NOOOO!! But I was relieved that it didn't fall through…
~Violet FMC a girl just started college and befriends her roommate Chloe right before college started. Chloe and Violet become so close that they are like sisters. But a tragic accident happens that turns poor Violet’s world upside down. She goes through so much in the second year of college after that accident. She always felt guilty for what happened, blaming herself, wishing she could have done things different. Plus she is still grieving after the major loss, and the unexpect bullying from Wes!! That just broke her even more. But, even though Wes bullies her, things start to get a bit hot between them! But do you think Wes gives in and stops bullying Violet for what happened?
~Wes MMC, is the older brother of Chloe. He met Violet the first year they moved into the dorms. When Wes layed eyes on Violet he started to have feelings for her and he knew Violet was going to be a challenge. Why? Well lets just say Wes is known to never have a GF, he’s the type of guy to have one night stand. Will things change? After that tragic accident Wes feelings take a turn towards Violet. He started to hate her and blame her for everything that had happened that day. Now do you think his feelings always stay as hatred or do his true feelings get in the way?
So much happens, so many questions, this story is sooo juicy that it will not disappoint… Go get it now!!!!!
Read this based off a reel that looked interesting.
TW: multiple SA scenes that are very descriptive
Could hardly stomach many of the scenes. I’ve read bully romance before, but this book took it to a whole different level.
The MMC treats girls horribly at the start of the book, and encourages and participates in disgusting treatment of girls. It’s one thing to have a degradation kink, another thing to treat the random puck bunnies in the beginning the way he and his team did.
Setting that aside, he is the ring leader and mastermind behind the ongoing psychological dumb -uckery and abuse of the FMC.
I don’t care what she did, no one deserves the ongoing torture they put the FMC through. How are we supposed to want a good outcome for him?
I have no idea when I’ll be able to read hockey romance again after this one, as I can’t get some of the locker room scenes out of my head. And NOT in a good way.
Going to go back and check if there were accurate trigger warnings in this one.
Update: TW from the book:
Wes Novak would like me to warn you that his hockey team is called the Devils for a reason. There are few lines they won’t cross for revenge. Proceed with caution. For more detailed warnings, visit www.harmonywestbooks.com. This book includes graphic content. Whether you’d like to skip over or skip to the steamy chapters in this book, you can find these scenes in Chapters 11, 13, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, and 41.
Not enough in my opinion. SA TW should be in book, not only available if I exit the book and go to a website.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you Harmony West for sending me another absolutely amazing book!! I feel that anything Harmony West writes will always be amazing. She has a way of writing that hits the spot every time and gets you engaged in her books. If You Dare is just another one of the amazing books she wrote.
This book follows a sophomore college student named Violet who is returning to school, after the death of her best friend Chloe. Chloe's brother Wes is not a fan of Violet and because of that the whole hockey team is out to get her except Violet's brother and captain of the hockey team. They want revenge for her but what happens when Wes starts to realize that he can not get Violet out of his mind? Will he be able to get his revenge on Violet like he wants and push her to her end? Or will they work things out and learn to grieve the loss of Chloe together?
this book was so good. I could not put it down once I started. I really enjoyed the dual POV and I also really like the Past and Current POVs as well. This is one I will be purchasing and adding to my shelf for sure.
If you are looking for a hockey bully romance this is the book for you. You will get twists and turns and a great storyline will the different views of how things were.
I got this as an ARC and this is my honest review.
I love hockey romances and I saw one quote and instantly downloaded.
Here’s the thing I can do morally grey, I can do dark romance, I can do enemies to lovers. I love all of those tropes. But this is one of those ‘only you can decide if he is redeemable’ books and for me, he isn’t. A lot of things happen to the MFC that she blatantly does not consent to and the MMC is involved in it. Not for me. 🤷🏻♀️
If you are a red flag lover, this one would be for you! 🚩😉🖤
Side note: I’ve never met a hockey team I hated before😅🤣
4.5 stars and I loved this thrilling dark hockey romance. Trey can get hit by a bus tho. We love daddy Wes tho heheh. The masked hunt through campus was so hot tho! Definitely recommend for dark romance readers!! 🩵
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Dawno się tak przyjemnie nie zmęczyłam. Ta książka pojawiała mi się absolutnie wszędzie, więc stwierdziłam, że w końcu trzeba. Co również trzeba, to wyznać, że autorka ma bardzo przyjemny styl, który wciąga i nawet jak pojawiają się niedociągnięcia fabularne, to jakoś czytam dalej, aż do końca. No i te niedociągnięcia. Ja wiem na co się pisze biorąc się za romans dark, bully. I czytałam ich już parę, ale z tym mam ogromny problem. Czy, gdyby nie "ona jest moja", które zapobiegało większości krzywd Violet, gdyby była zwykłą dziewczyną, nie był by to romans, a powiedzmy coś bardziej na granicy obyczaju, może kryminału, czy wtedy główny bohater pozwoliłby ją napaść, zaganiać jak zwierzę, czy patrzyłby i brał udział w SA? Czy realizowałby swój plan bez mrugnięcia okiem? Czy gdyby nie włączona tutaj miłość, mogłabym nazywać go potworem? Niestety chyba tak, za co odejmuję punkty. Dodatkowo, główny bohater jest tak łatwy do manipulacji, chłopak po ostatnim związku powinien iść na terapię, już nie wspominając o wsparciu po śmierci siostry. Potrafił każde swoje uczucie i doświadczenie przepchnąć w relacji z główną bohaterką. Mówimy o zaufaniu, a kiedy tylko ktoś mu coś szepnie, to zaufanie znika. Mówi wybaczam, a w gorszej chwili pierwsze vo wyciąga to: zabiłaś mi siostrę, jesteś mordercą. To wybaczasz, ufasz, wierzysz i widzisz w niej wsparcie czy nie? Jest straszliwie niedojrzały. Straszliwie mnie frustrował. STRASZLIWIE. Z kolei nasza bohaterka była całkiem nieźle zbudowana. Mimo trwania w toxic, jakoś ją polubiłam. I trzymałam za nią kciuki. . . . “Your lack of forgiveness won’t hurt Violet, Wes. It’ll only hurt you.” Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure it hurts Violet too. . Wes carries Chloe up to our dorm, the scent of her vanilla perfume hitting us. The smell is comforting now. My home away from home. . I’ve always known he has a big heart. Bigger than he ever likes to show. I once thought I had a place in it. But I never will. . “Boys never change.” Edith tsks, peering at them over the rim of her glasses, the latest Nora Roberts installment open in her lap. “Wait until they’re men, Violet. Then they’ll be worth your time.” .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After Wes’s sister Chloe passes away at the hands of her best friend Violet, Wes decides he is no longer going to be this charming man Violet first met. Instead he is out to make her life a living hell and pay for what she did.
Violet has come back to college after spending a year grieving her best friend’s death. After facing Wes back at the college she soon finds out she shouldn’t have returned.
This book goes back and forth from before the passing of Chloe and the after. After Wes gets back a violet he soon realises that they should have been there for each other rather than playing the blame game.
I really loved every part of this book. The twists and turns it takes you on and the part where she gets chased by the whole hockey team 🥵. Yes, sir, give me that.
If you like hocky romance with a dark turn i would definitely say go and read this.
very mixed feelings about this but - mmc was a little TOO cruel - mmc should’ve been groveling harder.. like what do u mean the fmc just kinda forgives him??? i know aneesa is there to be logic but like ?? no part of the fmc fights back like girl get a back bone pls - trey was… - the last two chapters just kinda breezed by to tie everything up but i guess that’s how these books go - overall I wouldn’t say I enjoyed this bc it was a little too dark (esp compared to the time jumps) but it did have me glued so
I just finished this after finishing the Saint and sinner duet, and let me tell you!!! What's not to love about revenge and masked men? Stalkers? Hockey? I love it all and the way harmony wrote each character just made me fall in love with them... even if they're crazy. The spice was spicing and the kinks were to die for. I absolutely can't wait for the rest of the series to come out!! Check your triggers as always, they're a must for this book!
I have genuine whiplash from this book, sadistic as hell, the beginning is almost a bit repetitive when both characters are saying similar things which annoyed me. I had no expectations going into this book, and it definitely caught me off guard, I genuinely enjoyed the book even if it was twisted, and the last 30% was probably the best.
I have never hated a character as much as I do Trey.