A review by kailafitz
Rival by Penelope Douglas

4.0

“The thing is, Fallon . . . I told you before to lock the door if you wanted me to stay out. Funny thing is . . .” I leaned in. “You. Never. Did.”

Fallon is back. 2 years ago it was all about tattoos, piercings and skate-boarding. But now, she's grown up and ready to bite. After being dragged out from her step father's home by her gold digging mother, a young traumatic Fallon gets dragged through the shit. Given no choice.
With a plan to return the favour, something makes her sway. Or someone.

We know of Madoc Caruthers from Bully, as Jared's best friend. All cocky and charming.
But really, it's just a show.
Rich, with a mansion, divorced parents and a step mother who's also never around, Madoc has usually gotten what he wanted.
Even Fallon, his step-sister. But devastation took him and was buried when she disappeared after their last night.

“But that was two years ago. She wasn’t sexy to me anymore. Now she was lethal.”

Madoc knows Fallon being back can't be good. But their hating on each other soon has things heated up and intense between them. Remembering how things used to be, Fallon's not sure anymore....

But when the dirt comes out, Fallon knows what she has to do. No, she has to go through with it.

Months later once the damage is planted and begins to grow, Fallon and Madoc are both at college trying to forget the other miserably. With Madoc trying to forget everything that's happening with his family now being torn apart by the same person that up and left him AGAIN, he's had enough.

Hurting him is all she seems to do but Fallon knows what she truly feels, what she's always felt deep down. She sees Madoc for who he really is.

“You’ve always wanted me. You know why? Because I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.”

I really enjoyed this book! This time we got to read from both Madoc and Fallon's point of view. I really loved this book as part of the Fall Away series. I don't think I connected with the characters as much as I did with Tate and Jared but I still felt immersed in the story, if that makes sense.

In the final few chapters, things really got crazy and full speed as the situation became kinda desperate. We learn a lot of things that may have been mentioned but not fully explored in the other novels, while also setting up for the next one so very interesting altogether.

I also loved how we saw a bit of Jared and Tate and how they were getting on from where their story left off.

The main character for the next novel really played a part in the last few chapters of Rival so I'm looking forward to #3!!