Rival (Fall Away #2) by Penelope Douglas - #bookreview

Rival (Fall Away #2)

by Penelope Douglas (Goodreads Author)

From the New Adult sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Until You

Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…

She’s back.

For the two years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.

I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…

I’m back.

Two years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.

But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me…

ADD TO GOODREADS
 

 LINKS: AMAZON (USA)  | KOBO | B & N 

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Penguin

Genre: YA/NA Contemporary Romance

Part of a series but could be read as a standalone

My Rival Review ...

So, I have mixed emotions about this book.  If I hadn't just read Until You or if I never read Bully I think I would have liked this book so much more.  To be truthful when I was reading it, it started to feel like Bully v2.0 with the same drama but instead of neighbors/best friends it was step brother and sister.   I felt like this book was trying to be a bit taboo but to me it felt forced.  I think if Fallon was actually part of Bully and Until You then I might have felt the angst and desperation a bit more between Madoc and Fallon.   

I loved Madoc in the first two books but when I read this I have to admit how I pictured Madoc was not was portrayed in this book.  I pictured him as a bit of a bad ass not a abercombie and fitch guy with some bad tendencies. 

I liked the idea of the story but it felt repetitive to the first two books, but with this one I didn't feel the connection like I did with Jared and Tate.  It was all angsty and sex while being a bit all over the place.  The both were lied to but heaven forbid that if you were lied to than there is a big chance that maybe the other was also lied to???  No?  I'm sure it makes much more sense to assume that the other person is at fault then really look at the reality of the situation.  

I know it sounds like I hated to book which I didn't but I just didn't connect with it nor love it.  The good parts were:  finally having Madoc's story, the continuation of Jared and Tate and the build up of the mysterious Jax. 

2. 75 Not so rivaling thumbs up!

. 75 

Lauren