Review: Bully by Penelope Douglas
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Review: Bully by Penelope Douglas
This is most definitely one of my favorite books. I don’t know whether it was engaging characters, emotional roller coasters, the writing, or the author’s realistic portrayal of bullying that captivated me, but this book sucked me in from the very beginning. I sympathized with victim and shed tears over the bully.
Tate and Jared used to be best friend. They were next door neighbors with the tree connecting their bedroom windows. They spent their childhood climbing that tree, playing at the pond and having innocent sleepovers. But everything changed the summer Jared went to see his father. He became cruel and seemed to live solely to torture her. He became the bully.
“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.”
Tate spent sleepless nights trying to figure out what she did to destroy their friendship, but she came up with nothing. At one point his torment sent her running to spend a year studying abroad, in Paris. Now she’s back and she is determined not to let him ruin her senior year. She’s done being a pushover.
“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.”
She finally found her backbone and became strong, sassy girl and truly likable character. But lines began to blur, was she still a victim or did she became the bully?
“This is how bullies are made. I’d just purposely made him feel unloved and unwanted. I’d told him he was alone. Even with everything he’d pulled on me, I’d never felt abandoned or isolated. There was always someone that loved me, someone I could count on.”
Thankfully, she realized that the only way to set herself free is to let go of the hatred and hurt she felt. I loved her monologue. It really moved me and touched the deepest parts of my heart.
“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 fu**ing drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.”
This is the point where Jared’s story starts to unravel. One of the things I loved about this book is that it wasn’t really predictable. Sure I figured some things were about to happen, but I rarely knew how they were going to happen. That being said I was skeptical of the male lead. I wasn’t sure I could like him. He was plain mean, and at some point I even considered him evil. How was I supposed to fall for someone like that? I hate bullies! However I sooo fell for this one. His story is heartbreaking. I knew from the beginning that there was story behind all of it, there always is when it comes to bullies. I take my hat off to Penelope Douglas for changing my mind so tremendously about this character. Some people are wondering how Tate managed to forgive Jared after everything he’s done. I personally think I wouldn’t be able to do so, but two of them have lots of history and good memories. Moreover, I don’t think Tate has ever stopped loving him in the first place, so I understood that even though I think she should have made him sweat little longer.
“Yesterday lasts forever.
Tomorrow comes never.
Until you”
Supporting characters were believable, however that doesn’t mean I liked all of them. I personally think K.C. is a sh**ty friend, and trust me I know all about those. On the other hand I loved Madoc, he was one of my favorite characters and his book is also a must-read. He made me laugh countless times through the book and I loved his banter with Tate.
To sum it up, I really liked this book and I can’t seem to get my head around the fact it is debut novel. Sure it had few flaws and cliqued moments, but whole story, in my opinion, was very sweet and touching. Next in Fall Away series is Jared’s book. I was little disappointed that we didn’t have both points of view in this one, but him having his own book is second best thing. I hope you all enjoy this one as much as I did.
Tate and Jared used to be best friend. They were next door neighbors with the tree connecting their bedroom windows. They spent their childhood climbing that tree, playing at the pond and having innocent sleepovers. But everything changed the summer Jared went to see his father. He became cruel and seemed to live solely to torture her. He became the bully.
“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.”
Tate spent sleepless nights trying to figure out what she did to destroy their friendship, but she came up with nothing. At one point his torment sent her running to spend a year studying abroad, in Paris. Now she’s back and she is determined not to let him ruin her senior year. She’s done being a pushover.
“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.”
She finally found her backbone and became strong, sassy girl and truly likable character. But lines began to blur, was she still a victim or did she became the bully?
“This is how bullies are made. I’d just purposely made him feel unloved and unwanted. I’d told him he was alone. Even with everything he’d pulled on me, I’d never felt abandoned or isolated. There was always someone that loved me, someone I could count on.”
Thankfully, she realized that the only way to set herself free is to let go of the hatred and hurt she felt. I loved her monologue. It really moved me and touched the deepest parts of my heart.
“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 fu**ing drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.”
This is the point where Jared’s story starts to unravel. One of the things I loved about this book is that it wasn’t really predictable. Sure I figured some things were about to happen, but I rarely knew how they were going to happen. That being said I was skeptical of the male lead. I wasn’t sure I could like him. He was plain mean, and at some point I even considered him evil. How was I supposed to fall for someone like that? I hate bullies! However I sooo fell for this one. His story is heartbreaking. I knew from the beginning that there was story behind all of it, there always is when it comes to bullies. I take my hat off to Penelope Douglas for changing my mind so tremendously about this character. Some people are wondering how Tate managed to forgive Jared after everything he’s done. I personally think I wouldn’t be able to do so, but two of them have lots of history and good memories. Moreover, I don’t think Tate has ever stopped loving him in the first place, so I understood that even though I think she should have made him sweat little longer.
“Yesterday lasts forever.
Tomorrow comes never.
Until you”
Supporting characters were believable, however that doesn’t mean I liked all of them. I personally think K.C. is a sh**ty friend, and trust me I know all about those. On the other hand I loved Madoc, he was one of my favorite characters and his book is also a must-read. He made me laugh countless times through the book and I loved his banter with Tate.
To sum it up, I really liked this book and I can’t seem to get my head around the fact it is debut novel. Sure it had few flaws and cliqued moments, but whole story, in my opinion, was very sweet and touching. Next in Fall Away series is Jared’s book. I was little disappointed that we didn’t have both points of view in this one, but him having his own book is second best thing. I hope you all enjoy this one as much as I did.
