Penelope Douglas

Until You

Have you ever been so angry that hitting things felt good? Ever felt numb to all emotions? The past few years have been like that for me. Traveling between fury and indifference with no stops in between. Some people hate me for it, while others are scared of me. But none of them can hurt me, because I don't care about anything or anyone. Except Tatum. I love her so much that I hate her. I hate that I can't let her go. We used to be friends, but I found out that I couldn't trust her or anyone else. So I hurt her. I pushed her away. But I still need her. She centers me. Engaging, challenging, bullying her - it's the last part of me that feels anything human. But then she left for a year and came back a different girl. Now, when I push, she pushes back. For everyone who loved Bully . . . This is Jared's story. Praise for Penelope Douglas 'I was really craving a book that would make me stop everything I was supposed to be doing and devour every word... and that's exactly what Bully did!' - Smitten Book Blog 'A unique twist on the bad boy meets good girl tale. I could not put it down!' - Aestas Book Blog 'She did something seasoned writers haven't been able to do-take a hero who was a complete ass and make me fall in love with him' - Scandalicious Book Reviews

Renata

pls i feel so stupid with the amount of time i took reading this bc jared's pov is fucking amazing 
jaredtate in my head are the song bad romance by lady gaga

- “I stared out at our street, Fall Away Lane, but I couldn’t shake the feel of her off my hand. The humming spread up my arm and over my whole body. It was like all of my hairs were standing up, and I kind of wanted to laugh, because it tickled.”

- “Watching her—something I could do every minute of every day—I know I’m all bluster. I would sit through a million Silverchair concerts for her. Things are changing between us. Or maybe just for me, I don’t know. I hope for her, too. What felt friendly and easy before is different now. Every damn time I see her lately, all I want to do is grab her and kiss her.”

- “Our fish pond is where it needs to happen. It’s where I want to tell her that I love her.”

- “Now, it was like a talisman. And I was no longer keeping it safe, but it was keeping me from harm.”

- “Right at that moment, I wanted everything from Tate. Everything. Her anger and passion, her hate and lust, her body and soul. I wanted control of all of it.”

it’s giving “I want your love, and I want your revenge I want your love, I don't wanna be friends j'veux ton amour, et je veux ta revanche j'veux ton amour, I don't wanna be friends” vibes

- “Now, it was ten year old Tate again, rocking my fucking world.”

- “But day after day I caught myself mesmerized by her every move. The methodical way she’d sharpen her precious pencils, the way her hair fell over her shoulder when she’d lean down to grab something from her messenger bag, or watching her body bend as she’d sit down or get up. Every bit of skin, every smile, and every time she licked her lips had a lightning storm shooting downwards from my stomach to my dick, and I almost wished she was back in France. At least I could hate her and not want to fuck her every second.”

- “I wanted her to hurt. I didn’t want her to hurt. I hated her. I loved her. I wanted to violate her body in a hundred different ways. I wanted to keep her safe. There was no limit to how fucking confused I was right now, but one thing was for certain. She wasn’t trash.”

- “And for the first time, I wasn’t getting any peace from tormenting this girl. I just wanted to wrap her up in my arms and see her smile.”

- “The first thing that came to mind was an angel. Her hair flowing and shiny. Her legs dangling, long and smooth. She looked perfect where she was, like a painting. And then I remembered that Satan was also an angel.”

- “She was looking at me like she used to, like I was everything.”

- “She was looking at me like I was nothing. Like I wasn’t the focus of her life when she was the focus of everything in mine.”

- “Tate didn’t want comfortable. She wanted to get pushed. She wanted someone’s hands and mouth on her, driving her insane. She wanted to be made love to in the rain.”

- “Tatum” didn’t fit. It never did, really.
She was Tate and always would be.”

- “But I wanted Tate back. My heart only beat for her, and I’d rather spend my life hating, loving, fucking, and breathing her than losing her.”

- “Tate. My Tate. My best friend, and my worst enemy. The girl that turned my world upside down with her overalls and red baseball cap. The only person in every one of my good memories.”

- “Tate is my family. My real family.”

- “Tate,” she finally said, “was at her open French doors. Her room was dark, except for a Japanese lantern lamp that you and her father had made for her as an early birthday present.”

- “It was her birthday today, and all I could think about was how she’d brightened my day when I was eleven. I wanted to return the favor and show her that I remembered.”

- “Tate never played games. There was never a flirty sparkle in her eye or a play of her lips to get me to notice her. She looked at me right now just like she used to. Like I was Christmas.”

- “In the rain—in Tate’s beloved thunderstorm—is where we would make love for the first time.”

- “It was always her face. Since I was ten years old, I only ever saw her.”

- “You own me body and soul, and everyone is going to know it. Sometimes I’m going to go slow with you, and sometimes I’m going to fuck you. But it will always be love, Tate." Always has been. And always will.”

- “And suddenly we were fourteen again, back in her bedroom, and arguing about Silverchair. I was Jared. She was Tate. And we were inseparable.”

- “That she was going to come back for more. That she was my girlfriend. I never wanted to give anyone that title, because I thought I wouldn’t be able to make the commitment. That wasn’t it. 
I already had a girlfriend. All along, even though we were enemies, no one could take Tate’s place.”

- “And as much as I hated to admit that, it was true. I loved my mother and my brother. But if it ever came between the three, I would always pick Tate.”

- “I met a girl who became my best friend. So much so, that I even wanted her by me at night. I’d sneak into her room, and we’d fall asleep together. I didn’t need her so much as she just became a part of me. I was wanted, loved, and accepted.” (...) “I can’t change the past, Tate. I wish I could, because I’d go back and relive every day that I existed without you, and I’d make sure that you smiled.” (...) “Every minute of my future belongs to you.”

- “You’re poisonous, toxic, bad for my health./ You’re greedy, sly, way too stealth./ You hurt me, use me, mistreat and abuse me./ But your apologetic eyes,/ As you tell your lies,/ Draw me back in,/ And I forgive every sin./ I take you back,/ Your love is my crack./ I’m clearly a masochist,/ You’re my personal terrorist./ My tormentor,/ My lover,/ My bully,/ My friend.”

linhie

lulaa

I would actually rate 3.5/5 because while I LOVED reading from Jared's POV...Tate was way more annoying in this book than she was in Bully. The first book in this series. Especially at the end when she did what she did right before the assembly. Like girl please be fucking for real right now. I get what she was feeling wanting to be included in everything but what she did was way to much. I really do like that we got to see inside his head and what he was thinking throughout the whole thing. I also loved that while it was from his POV it wasn't a retelling of bully. We got to see way more of Jared and what he went through. I wonder what writing Rival from what seems as Madoc's POVs will do for us.

lilac archives

im so glad we got to see jared's pov. ILL MISS THESE CHARACTERS SO MUCH

Melina Resbani

i enjoyed it more than the first one but i don't see myself continuing this series

nory

3.5 only read this bc i don’t remember shit from bully i read it like a year ago and just now got the sudden urge to finish this series but jared’s pov was soo good

Brittney Browne

Reading this book was a very interesting experience for me because it’s one of the first times I’ve read a book where I got the very distinct impression that this book was written for the author and not so much for anyone else. It seems very clear that she wasn’t ready to move on from these characters or this story so she wrote another book about the same characters and the same events with literally no new information and honestly not that fresh of a perspective. While I didn’t mind reading from Jarod’s perspective, it was completely unnecessary. She did a really good job with Bully in portraying Jarod’s feelings, thoughts, and experiences that I really don’t feel necessitated a whole separate book. I feel like I just read the same book all over again with maybe one or two new minor details. And a lot more focus on the spicy scenes. Which, again, I felt pretty weird about because these are BARELY 18 year old high school students. That’s not sexy to me. Way too icky. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some spice, but not from barely legal teens. Ick ick ick. But maybe this book isn’t for me? Maybe. But the blurb specifically states 18+ only. Anyways, I’m off on a tangent. 

This book by itself is probably fine, but I found it completely redundant and unnecessary and a little icky. Oh and also, Jarod is still an ass hole, there is no further insight to his behavior, really, from the first book and I still don’t buy it. So yea ⭐️⭐️

Lucy Howard

This is the story of “Bully” told from Jared’s point of view. But it is more than that and is very much Jared’s tale. I enjoyed this more than “Bully” because Jared is a really complicated character and it was interesting to see his motivation for bullying Tate. This book is steamier than “Bully” too. A good steamy romance but I’m glad that I read “Bully” first. 

Hannah Gallacher

DNF (the series) miss Penelope Douglas is such a hit or miss and this was a swing and a miss. I just don't care about the characters AT ALL so have no emotion towards them. Tate is a pick-me and Jared doesn't have enough redeeming qualities to make up for how irritating he is!

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a companion novel to Bully. This is Jared’s story. Have you ever been so angry that hitting things felt good? Or numb to all emotions? The past few years have been like that for me. Traveling between fury and indifference with no stops in between. Some people hate me for it, while others are scared of me. But none of them can hurt me, because I don't care about anything or anyone. Except Tatum. I love her so much that I hate her. I hate that I can't let her go. We used to be friends, but I found out that I couldn't trust her—or anyone else. So I hurt her. I pushed her away. But I still need her. She centers me. Engaging her, challenging her, pushing her—it’s the one last part of me that feels anything anymore. But then she went and screwed everything up. She left for a year and came back a different girl. Now, when I push, she pushes back…and I’m not sure either one of us will ever be the same. Includes a teaser for RIVAL, the next unforgettable novel from Penelope Douglas…. Praise for Bully: "Bully was a wonderfully addictive read that kept my heart racing from start to finish. I could not put it down! 5 stars!!"—Aesta's Book Blog "A heated and passionate novel, full of feeling and intensity that will appeal to the reader seeking an emotional rush.”—IndieReader.com Penelope Douglas is a writer and teacher in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, then a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans. She and her husband have one daughter. She is the author of Bully.

Niamh McAuley 

Loved this addition to the series, loved getting to know the characters more and seeing them fall in love again! 

Aayusma Aryal

yup def better with Jared's POV. I was lost for so long in Bully but this is so easy to read. we also learn that he obviously loves her more. AS HE SHOULD.

Raven Dean

***4.5 Stars***

I loved getting Jared's Pov of Bully in this book. It was hard reading some of the stuff he and his brother Jax have been through, but it also gave us a better understanding as to why he is the way he is, especially with Tate. I can't say that I would have been as fast to forgive him, but that is the funny thing about love. You honestly don't know what you are capable of until you fall in love with that special someone. 

As for the secondary characters, Jax, Madoc, and K.C., I can't wait to dive into their stories. I have loved every book I have read so far by Penelope, so I am sure I will love their stories as well :)

Siobhán

Reviewed By: Siobhán
Format: Kindle
Published: 5th June 2014
Publisher: Piatkus
Source: Bought
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Shelfability: Covet

 
Description:
Have you ever been so angry that hitting things felt good? Ever felt numb to all emotions?
 
The past few years have been like that for me. Traveling between fury and indifference with no stops in between. Some people hate me for it, while others are scared of me. But none of them can hurt me, because I don't care about anything or anyone.
 
Except Tatum.
 
I love her so much that I hate her. I hate that I can't let her go. We used to be friends, but I found out that I couldn't trust her or anyone else. So I hurt her. I pushed her away. But I still need her. She centers me. Engaging, challenging, bullying her - it's the last part of me that feels anything human.
 
But then she left for a year and came back a different girl. Now, when I push, she pushes back.
 
For everyone who loved Bully . . . This is Jared's story
 
My Thoughts:(May Contain Spoilers from Bully, Fall Away #1)
 
Oh. My. God. Oh. My God. Just Oh My God!!! I never expected to like this as much as I did. Usually I am not a fan of books that's are "retold" from a different point of view. However, Until You is not a retelling! Yes this story and Bully cross over and you read the some of the same bits again but mostly this is Jared's story! We get to finally see what is going inside that yummy but messed up head!
 
Read Full Review: http://totally-bookalicious.blogspot....

I confess. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Jared. It continues in this book. Sometimes the extras from his POV made me love him. Sometimes they made me want to chuck my iPod against the wall. But all in all, I loved this book. Unlike other books told from an alternate POV, this one gave us more than just the same story all over again. There were lots of new scenes and additions in Until You. 

Full review to come.

Lacey

Also posted at Booklovers For Life

Oh lord. This book. THIS. BOOK. I don’t know how to describe my love for this beautiful book and series. I am completely head over heels in LOVE, and it’s all because of a boy named JARED. Jared will be the death of me, I swear. I CAN’T HANDLE HIS HOTNESS. *Takes a deep breath* Okay, so yeah. I loved this book.

If you’re expecting Until You to just be a retelling of Bully in Jared’s POV, well, you’re in for a lovely surprise. Until You has so much more than what happens in Bully, and the timeline is longer. We get more of the year that Tate left for Europe (when Jared is totally moping about how Tate won’t be there with him for him to bully), more flashbacks of Jared and Tate’s childhood (they are the cutest!), and more of what happens after the end of Bully (which is YAY!!) And Penelope Douglas writes this all with Jared’s no nonsense, totally badass POV. (Please write more male POV Penelope!)

What is it with boys who are totally hot but complete jerks? And WHY do I still keep on loving them? Maybe it’s the sweet side that they show only to the women they love, or maybe it’s the whole redemption thing, but whatever reason it is, I can’t stop reading about them! And Jared is probably my all-time favorite jerk. He’s the jerk of my dreams. The lovable jerk. Sometimes he takes it too far, but whenever that happens, we know that he feels guilty (even though he tries to be badass and not show it). *Sigh* Jared just makes me swoon so hard.

“Girlfriend isn’t enough to describe you, Tate. That term is disposable. You’re not my girlfriend, my girl, or my woman. You’re. Just. Mine,” I bit out every syllable, so she would fucking understand. “And I’m yours,” I added, a little calmer.”

We get to see how devastated Jared felt when he came home from his father’s, and how he kept spiraling downward, and pushing Tate away. But then, when Tate comes back, everything changes for him. It’s not so easy to bully her or to bottle up his feelings for her. Because no matter how many times Jared tries to push Tate away, she is always in his heart. And when he’s finally done with the bullying… SAH-WOOOON!! Oh god, why is Jared so amazing? He turns on the charm because he knows Tate can’t resist him, just like he can’t resist her, and the two of them together are explosive.

But I wanted Tate back. My heart only beat for her, and I’d rather spend my life hating, loving, fucking, and breathing her than losing her.

Jared’s lantern tattoo!! AH! The sweetest thing I’ve ever read. Until You is perfect. Reading from Jared’s POV about how much he loves Tate, and how he tries to redeem himself is just the best thing ever. Penelope Douglas is a goddess for creating one of my favorite book boyfriends!

“I can’t change the past, Tate. I wish I could, because I’d go back and relive every day that I existed without you, and I’d make sure that you smiled.” My eyes burned with regret, and I saw the pools in her beautiful blues, too. “Every minute of my future belongs to you.”

If you haven’t read Bully yet, you should. And then you should immediately read Until You (you lucky butt, you didn’t have to wait for it to release). I am SO excited for Madoc’s book. He has a much bigger part in Until You since he’s Jared’s best friend, and he actually seems like a genuine guy. Yeah, he’s a smartass and an idiot sometimes, but he’s hilarious and a really great friend for Jared. And oh! Jax! Can’t believe I almost forgot about him. Jared’s brother is getting his own book, and I’m PSYCHED. Jax sounds awesome, but broken. Can’t wait to see how Penelope Douglas will play out their stories!

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Ashlee

I’m usually pretty meh about books told from “the other POV” when much of the story follows the course of a previous book. However, this one has quite a lot more content than the first book and isn’t simply a “retelling.” It gives us flashbacks into Jared and Tate childhoods, follows Jared when Tate is in France and, best of all, we get some post-Bully content!

I’m looking forward to Madoc’s story in the next book!