“Isn’t it about time you fought back?”

The summer Tatum's childhood friend Jared came home from his father's, he's pushed her away and she never knew why. Her best friend that had always been there for her, one of the people she loved and trusted.

2 years later, Jared is a stranger to Tate. From sleepovers and tree climbing to spreading nasty rumors and constantly humiliating her, making her feel excluded from high school life and stand out, Tate is threatened by Jared's moves, making her life miserable. Always making her his target.

However, after a year abroad, Tate returns home, hoping that things have calmed down. But not in Jared's books.
Sick of his taunting, and lost as to what she ever did to make him turn on her so badly, Tate decides to finally fight back. With a bit more confidence, attitude and sense, she tries to take back the control he has on her.


“You've already made me cry countless times." I raised my middle finger to him slowly, and asked, "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 ever get.”

At first Tatum is vulnerable to Jared, always wary of what pranks he'll pull on her next to humiliate and harass her. She's attractive and has a sweet personality, a bit of a tomboy even, but she has been beaten down from constantly being laughed at and talked about.
A year later though, Tatum is a bit more prepared. She doesn't want to have to go through all the torment, but with a bit more back bone, fine.

Bring. It. On.

Feisty, bold Tate shoves Jared his own ass. We see how she's changed from the vulnerable bullied girl who took everything thrown at her, to a girl who can stand up and take on anyone who touches her or says a bad word about it. I really loved her character as she became witty and bold and yet, she wasn't totally insane about it. I definitely found her confident but in a reasonable way that seemed natural to the story.

“You were my tempest, my thunder cloud, my tree in the downpour. I loved all those things, and I loved you. But now? You’re a fucking drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.

The game is on- until it goes too far. Why bother anymore? Should she let him go? Only 1 more year and he'd be nothing to her.....


“I want to touch you.” His words were against my lips now. “I want to feel what’s mine. What’s always been mine.”

Tattoos. Racing. Sex. Jared Trent has had a rough life. From is mom being an alcoholic and rarely being home, to his father leaving him when he was 2, Jared hasn't felt much love all his life. Until Tate. She was his everything, until that summer. He was never the same. Unable to hurt the people he mosted wanted to, picking on Tate and her perfect little life was easier and relieving. Making her feel on the outside, spreading rumors to keep guys from approaching her... but it was so much more than that.

After a year, Jared is done with her. She can do whatever she likes. But with her new found confidence, he's intrigued to see how far she's willing to fight, unlike before. Oh how he's missed seeing her everyday, tormenting her.... but is it too late to realise how much he's hurt her before there's no going back?

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I know I can make this up to you. Don’t hate me.”

I really like Jared's story, (which you can read about in his novella 'Until You', WHICH IS AMAZING). Although some people mightn't believe how Tate ever forgives him, I think with a story like Jared's and the mourning for friendship that they had both lost, we can see how they come together.

I think the book was well written as it wasn't scene jumping into the next scene with them carrying the story. I think the story was well developed as the characters gradually came together. It wasn't until a good bit into the book that they finally did, but I really found the story grabbing my attention from the very beginning with each thought and action that happened.

As your typical romance novels go, I liked the different beginning this had from the start. Overall an enjoyable read and a new book boyfriend!!