Untouchable A Bully Romance

Sam Mariano — 2018

Senior year was off to a rough start: lube in my locker, panties on my front porch, unimaginative name-calling. See, I got a player suspended from the football team for harassing me, and in my small Texas town, you don’t mess with the football players—even if they mess with you first. I didn’t care if it was an unpopular thing to do; I stood up for myself... and in doing so, opened Pandora’s Box. I never dreamed I would attract the attention of locally worshiped star quarterback, Carter Mahoney. Never imagined his coveted attention would turn out to be such a nightmare. Beneath his carefully constructed façade lurks a monster, a predator looking for the perfect prey to play with. Now, since I’m the girl no one likes or believes, I guess I’m the perfect target for his dark games and twisted desires. After surviving my first encounter with his casual depravity, all I really want is for Carter to leave me alone. But all he seems to want is me.--publisher description.

Reviews

Lulu Evensen@lulu444moonfairy

Jun 8, 2023

It started out exactly how i wanted and then he turns soft ofc and they have a boring relationship.. so disappointing

Anyways, what i did like were the psychological aspect we got.

Rebecca@rebeccalk

Jan 18, 2023

I don’t know why I kept reading, but damn this was a mess.

Lover of Romance @addictedtoromance

Jan 1, 2023

Untouchable is a book that I have been seeing all over booktube and I have been so curious about it but I knew that I needed to be in the right mood for it. Its a story that is part of the dark romance sub genre and is also a bully romance and has a scene of non consent so this book is NOT going to work for everyone. So be warning and check out the trigger warnings before reading this one here. Untouchable is a story of a young woman who reported when one of the players on the football team, by touching her without her consent, and he was taken off the team and he and his two friends including of which is Carter who is the star of the school. His family is powerful and he can do no wrong. His focus seems to be determined on making her life miserable but yet something more than just tormenting her. There is a connection that begins to build between the two, where secrets and truths are revealed and they bare themself all to each other. I found Untouchable to be a interesting story and one I was more than willing to take myself on and you know I was in the right mood for this type of romance. Sometimes you just gotta read a bully romance and this is one of the best that I have ever read before. If you have a fondness for Penelope Douglas than this author is definitely one you need to pay attention to. Despite how this book begins, I was so drawn into this world and I can tell you I don't really care for YA at all although I would say this blends into NA as well. But I was so drawn into this book and I couldn't put it down. There was such deep and provoking moments that blend so flawlessly within this story that I fell so hard for. Its not a story for the faint of heart but it is a story you can get behind in very unique ways. I was so drawn into seeing what was happening here. Both characters have depths to them that you don't expect to see and I adored every single moment in seeing their bond deepen. This is a true romance in that we see both character see the best and worst parts of each other and find acceptance in it. Overall I found Untouchable to be a thrilling, on the edge novel that kept me in suspense and I only thirsted for more, such intriguing elements written in such a compelling manner you won't be able to resist falling in love right along side this pair.

Neeky Reid@lemonysnicket

Oct 30, 2022

Stopped halfway. I can't. I really thought he was gonna redeem himself. He did not. I think what changed the game for me is that yes I can handle intense bullying and public embarrassment but I like to redeem these bullies (in my own twisted way) by not making them a full-on rapist. And that is the difference between Carter in this world and Rhys of the Immortal Confessions world. I'm feeling my way around different types of romances since I've only read the generic white picket fence ones but I'm sorry I don't like Carter.

lilac archives@lilacarchives

Aug 28, 2022

** spoiler alert ** i don't know what i actually should say. when i started reading this i went into it with no expectations but holy shit the scenes w zoey and carter especially the first one god it was fucking vile and disgusting i almost threw my phone across the room. i hated carter and zoey was fucking intolerable. you hate the man but you want a relationship with him. he was like her little science project but idk i did understand her need to actually 'fix' carter or whatever. after looking past all this shit there were a few redeemable aspects of the book. chloe WAS V CUTE. i think the ending was a good one. but don't read this if you're into fairytales and shit please. you will not love it.

Megan Lowe@booksandbubbletea

Aug 21, 2022

4.5 stars. Holy wow! This isn’t my usual type of book at all, but I LOVED it! The feelings and emotions is evokes are on opposite ends of the spectrum and it’s curious and fascinating all at the same time. Carter is a great character, if polarising. I can understand why people wouldn’t like him, but I love him! Zoey is great as well. I love how she stands up for herself and lets Carter know what she wants. A few small complaints I have are the overuse of the word literally and legitimately. I also think the “everyday” action is a little rushed and at times I thought the storyline dragged a little bit. One more small thing, I think the language choices weren’t fitting with the characters age and the epilogue sounded like it was three or four years into the future, rather than one. Still, these are tiny complaints. I loved this book. It’s not for everyone. It’s dark and confronting so please be aware if you have triggers.

May thin Khaing@medusxo

Feb 5, 2022

Holy fuck.... This book might have been one of the most enlightening books I've read this year. I know it's only February but holy shit, but I swear this book will stick with me for decades, this book the epitome for manipulation and gaslighting. If you've ever watched a movie or read with a spinless abused side character that just refuses to see their partner as the vile humans that they're no matter what. This book brings insight to that. For the first time in my life I've finally managed to be inside of their heads. And OMFG it was one hell of a ride. First off I have a lot of issues with the book being labelled as a dark romance. This book is not a dark romance. I'm an avid lover of dark romances and dubious consent featuring villains who'd burn the world down. But this wasn't it. it offends me that they actually labelled it as such. THIS BOOK VALIDATES THE GASLIGHTING, MANIPULATION AND RAPE. I can safely say that I have never hated a character as much as I hated Zoey, she punishes one guy for alleged rape and potentially ruined his career while rewarding another guy who DID much worse to her. All because he managed to "see her". Would she have let Jake, or whatever his name was, get away with it too if only he had done worse? For someone who advocated being a voice for other women who might not be brave enough to stand up for themselves, she really shouldn't have been the voice for that. Even tho she's fictional, I'm deeply worried for the people she might counsel. I can only imagine how much worse she'd fuck them up. For a character who valued her intelligence and has a deep rooted sense of self. She really was very easily manipulated. Not only that, she sets boundaries and reward Carter when he disregards it. I do feel a smidgen of pity for her but honestly it's underserved. She knew who Carter is, all the red flags and the manipulation, saw the games he played and believed herself special anyways. I don't know if the author actually intended it but she did create one hell of a realistic victim and their mindset in Zoey Ellis. We saw the tough feminist, (I despise having to label her that), who was not at all afraid to stand up for herself and all the other woman that might come after her, no matter the censure or that even her parents didn't believe her, at the beginning of the story. She slowly descended into the web that Carter weaved and fell for his spell. By the end of the book, she was well and truly delusional. She overlooked all the times Carter disregarded her consent, put her at risk, lied to her and even gaslighted herself into believing something that actually took place into something that didn't? For a raging feminist she really went on to blame the other woman, not only that but also just accepts the fact that he can't not get his dick wet, either by her or someone else??? And when has cheating ever depended on if the guy cums??! So as long as he didn't cum it doesn't count???! WHY WOULD SHE PUNISH JAKE WHEN CONSENT CLEARLY ISN'T IMPORTANT TO HER?? As for Carter, maybe because we're cut from the same cloth to some degree that I saw all the manipulation and gaslighting that he did to her. Even the really subtle ones like how he conditioned her into being financially dependant on her, how at every lie, it's always either protecting her or is her fault. Nonetheless it was a very thought provoking read that made me wanna vomit blood in anger. There was a lot of moments where I wanted to throw my Kindle out the window just to be done with their idiocy.

This review contains a spoiler

Raven Dean@ravenluvs2read

Nov 16, 2021

***6 Stars*** First off let me say that the author does warn you of the darkness and triggers in this book. And the beginning is very intense, so I wouldn’t take her warning lightly if any of that stuff triggers you. Now that’s out of the way. This book was EVERYTHING! Carter Mahoney is fucking EVERYTHING!!!!!! From the start of the book until the end, I was OBSESSED!!! Carter is the definition of an Asshole, but you can’t help falling in love with him. And I did just that. Head over heels in FUCKING LOVE with that man!!! As for Zoey, I loved her and how strong she was, but at times she was too much in her head and it drove me crazy lol. She definitely gave Carter a run for his money though, and I loved every single second of it!! Hands down one of my all time favorite books ever, and Carter has landed hisself on my top book boyfriends list!!! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Asmae Khayi@asmae

Sep 25, 2021

I’m truly horrified and disgusted at myself for how much I loved this book. There must be something incredibly wrong with me, because what happens is NOT okay at all. There is no excuse. But I loved the story and the two of them together even though I shouldn’t