Bailey Nicole

Cruel and Careless is a new adult MM romance with an HEA, and can be read as a standalone. Please read the content warning before beginning as there are dark themes that may be triggering to some readers.

Ben
Wake up. Smoke. Get drunk. Sleep. Repeat. 
I’m about to start my senior year of high school, and I don’t see that cycle changing any time soon. I’ve spent most of my life just trying to make it one more day, a precarious war in my head—one I was barely winning. But then he forced his way in and showed me what I was missing. A boy I’ve always looked at a little bit too long. He’s no better than me, though— He’s barely hanging on.
Damon
I’m careless and I probably shouldn’t have gone out of my way to hook-up with a very pretty, very straight, boy. He wants more than I have to offer. He may not even realize it, but it’s written all over his face. His bright eyes drill into me in a desperate attempt to rip me apart and dive inside, but what he doesn’t know is that would be the worst decision of his life. I’m no one’s savior.

Worthless Boys Book 1

Cruel and Careless

aleksandra

1.5/5

Oh man, I don't know, I feel like almost everything in this book went how it not supposed to be. I started this series with the second book because I was more interested in the story of the second couple, that I ended up loving. That’s probably the reason why I had high expectations for this one, even though the rating is pretty low, but as you can see by my rating, I kinda end up hating it. 

The relationship between Damon and Ben was toxic, once they wanted to be together, later one of them was kissing some else. It was a constant push and pull, but in a bad way. 

I honestly think Damon was the worst one from both of them, he was so undecided he wanted Ben, he was jealous and possessive of him, and then five seconds later he told Ben that he can bang whoever he want. 


  
    “Nothing’s going on here," he sneers. “Feel free to fuck whoever you want.”
  


‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 


  
    "He leans in and buries his face into my neck. “Changed my mind. I don’t want you to be with anyone else, baby. I want you all to myself,” he murmurs softly."
  


Don’t get me started on the drama at the end when he promises he won’t take any drugs, but still goes and buys them. It was sad because Ben’s mom overdose and he didn’t even care about that, his boyfriend’s mom has the same problem as him and he doesn’t even though about it. Walking red flag here, because additionally he loves to argue and his groveling is pretty non existent. 

Ben character was okay, sometimes. I was more connected to him than to Damon. He had pretty bad situation with his family and school, which I’m glad end up at the end great, because his parents kinda "changed", at least his dad. One of the things I didn’t liked was his bi-awakening. It was said he was curious about Damon and I thought the tension between them will handled be longer, but they did something at 13% of the book and considering the book is short, it was just too fast, at least for me. 

The dynamic of their friend group, if you can call them friends because all they did together was party and smoke weed and sometimes hang out in the park while they did that too, was pretty weird. The only guy from this group I liked was Teddy because he was a cutie and I hope I will like Jazz too, because I can’t wait to read his and Ant’s book.


  Worthless Boys series ranking:

1.  Lone and Lifeless 4 stars 
2.  High and Hopeless 4 stars 
3.  Cruel and Careless 1.5 star

Aishling

Step one to enjoying a book: expect to not like it at all.

After reading some reviews for this I honestly didn’t think I’d like it that much. I was just reading it so I had a better background of the characters in book two. But I actually really liked it? It wasn’t half as bad as what I’d imagined. There was definitely some angst but it wasn’t the annoying kind so I enjoyed it. Ben felt like the main character of this story even though we get both his and Damon’s pov’s, but Ben has a lot more chapters and imo is the most likeable of the two. 

There’s a ton of drug usage in this book and the relationship isn’t the most healthiest at times so if this isn’t your thing I would recommend avoiding it.

Michelle Vasquez

“I’ve spent most of my life just trying to make it to one more day, a precarious war in my head—one I was barely winning. But then he forced his way in and flayed me open.”

Ben. Wake up. Breathe. Smoke. Party. Escape.
Escape from the bleak reality and the hand he’s been given. An unemotionally available father, and a mother who’s sole focus is on anyone else but him.

Damon. On the outside he has it all. The nice car, a place that is his haven, and a group of friends that make his world go round. On the inside - well, let’s just say the drugs and alcohol make the inside look so much prettier than it’s ugly reality.

“Cruel & Careless,” by Bailey Nicole is book one in her Worthless Boys Series. It is an MM Standalone romance, and it gives us the beautifully broken story of Ben and Damon. Ben is lonely; invisible even. Throughout the cracks the one person he wasn’t expecting to see him, was the one person that saw him from the beginning. Damon is also lonely, but his loneliness comes from a sense of loss, grief and the ability to not be able to feel. What starts out as mere curiosity and an itch to scratch, turns into a turbulent tidal wave of emotions and a deep sense of belonging and love with one another. This story isn’t easy. It deals with heavy drug and alcohol use and abuse, mentions of child abuse and neglect, some physical violence as well as suicide. It is raw and full of grit, and quite honestly powerful. It depicts that no matter who you are and what your upbringing is - you have the ability to overcome, and to BE seen. Although they had a rocky start, they were the person - that lifeline, the other needed. Amazing debut by Bailey - and I can’t wait for more of those boys.

Cruel and Careless Worthless Boys Book 1

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