Name: Tristen D’Amico's review of The Dare by Elle Kennedy
Item: The Dare
Rating: 3
Author: Tristen D’Amico

Elle Kennedy

No quarto spin-off da série Amores Improváveis, Elle Kennedy oferece aos leitores o que eles mais amam: humor, romance e cenas muito, muito quentes. A faculdade devia ser a chance de abandonar meu complexo de patinho feio e me tornar um lindo cisne. Em vez disso, fui parar em uma irmandade cheia de meninas malvadas. Já está sendo difícil me enturmar, então, quando minhas irmãs da Kappa Chi propõem um desafio, eu não posso dizer não. A missão: seduzir o mais novo (e gato) jogador de hóquei da Briar. Todo mundo conhece Conor Edwards. Ele está em todas as festas de fraternidade, e na cama de todas as meninas. É do tipo que você se apaixona antes de perceber que ele nunca olharia para você. Mas o sr. Popular me surpreende — em vez de rir de mim, ele me acompanha até o quarto e finge que estamos nos pegando. Por incrível que pareça, agora ele quer continuar fingindo. Conor adora um joguinho e acha que vai ser divertido enganar as meninas da Kappa. Mas resistir ao seu charme de surfista é quase impossível, e estou começando a desconfiar que ele tem muito mais a oferecer do que seu fã-clube imagina. O problema é que eu sou péssima nessas brincadeiras. E quanto mais tempo esse jogo bobo durar, maior o perigo de tudo isso explodir na minha cara. CONTEÚDO ADULTO

O jogo de Taylor e Conor

The Dare

College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can't say no. The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class. Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties...and in Greek Row sorority beds. He's the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don't give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop--rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we're getting busy. Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it's fun to pull the wool over my frenemies' eyes. But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I'm realizing there's much more to Conor's story than his fan club can see. And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.

nanafark

My mom and Max love her. So much so they’re already making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She’s my future now, and I’m hers.

I realize now that the damage is done, that no matter the grand gestures and sincere apologies, sometimes you hurt people too much and push them too far. There’s a limit to what you can ask someone to endure for your bullshit.

And reality has a way of smacking you in the face when you least expect it.

“It’s okay to try things, remember. You’re allowed to be wrong.”

It tends to be that the deeper into the semester it gets, the more my habitat starts to resemble the harried chaos shuffling around in my head.

I’ve already forgotten what Taylor’s wearing, because I’m busy trying to figure out if her mom marrying Coach makes us brother and sister until I realize Coach and I aren’t related.

Most of the time, if you make fun of yourself first, it takes all the wind out of the fat-shaming sails.

Afsara Monzur 

Tristen D’Amico

Can confirm Taylor and I are the same person 

Jaclyn

While maybe not the best/most interesting story of the series, this last one was my absolute fave. I loved the sentiments of the mcm and anything with a plus-size fmc gets automatic love from me

Alyssa deRaad

I loved it I really do but my first complaint is the cover of this book. Like you are telling me she has self-esteem issues bc of her body but I fear the model doesn't reflect that body that is described here at all, which sucks.and eventho i hate that whenever there's a plus size main character all they talk and think about is how their s.o. doesn't actually feel physically attracted towards them, I loved Taylor because she felt real she was/is me, like it was relatable and didn't feel like shoehorn.

My second complaint is that I think it was necessary to pace the two breakups these two went through. I think it was a bit too close to each other. But also, this story expanded through 3 months if I'm not mistaken, so it was expected. However, this got a scene that I really wanted on the risk of meeting the parents, kudos to that.

Also I wanted to add that I truly hate that wlw characters in this novel felt like a throwaway line but honestly it is just something I know the author is that way with wlw, unfortunately.

I loved it I really do but my first complaint is the cover of this book. Like you are telling me she has self-esteem issues bc of her body but I fear the model doesn't reflect that body that is described here at all, which sucks.and eventho i hate that whenever there's a plus size main character all they talk and think about is how their s.o. doesn't actually feel physically attracted towards them, I loved Taylor because she felt real she was/is me, like it was relatable and didn't feel like shoehorn.

My second complaint is that I think it was necessary to pace the two breakups these two went through. I think it was a bit too close to each other. But also, this story expanded through 3 months if I'm not mistaken, so it was expected. However, this got a scene that I really wanted on the risk of meeting the parents, kudos to that.

Also I wanted to add that I truly hate that wlw characters in this novel felt like a throwaway line but honestly it is just something I know the author is that way with wlw, unfortunately.

I cant even begin to explain how much I’ve enjoyed it. Its funny, lovable, interesting and doesn’t leave your mind.

Alma 

THE BEST OUT OF THE WHOLE SERIES!!

I cant even begin to explain how much I’ve enjoyed it. Its funny, lovable, interesting and doesn’t leave your mind.



lexie

Elle kennedy never fails to write a hot fictional character that will make question your standards in men and with friendships. This one has a lot of heavy topics. I think taylor’s breaking up with connon is unnecessary but i understand why.

this is my least favourite because with Conor being the last connection to the Briar U, the world around was pretty empty 😔. what made it up for this though was the whole story with the coach 😆.

Conor’s story was sweet and heartwarming and he was the sweetest guy. on the other hand, Taylor’s seemed a bit forced. 

and although their love was cute and lovely, i didn’t like the miscommunication between them. i get super frustrated with these kinds of things so it ruined a lot for me.

i’m also sad that this world has come to an end and fortunately, Elle Kennedy rewarded us with the 

this is my least favourite because with Conor being the last connection to the Briar U, the world around was pretty empty 😔. what made it up for this though was the whole story with the coach 😆.

Conor’s story was sweet and heartwarming and he was the sweetest guy. on the other hand, Taylor’s seemed a bit forced. 

and although their love was cute and lovely, i didn’t like the miscommunication between them. i get super frustrated with these kinds of things so it ruined a lot for me.

i’m also sad that this world has come to an end and fortunately, Elle Kennedy rewarded us with the Campus Diaries series to continue the legacy 🙌🏼

There is so much I want to know! What happened to Pablo Pigscobar? Did they even get him? 

Fer Azura

brianna

"i'm too young to be this unhappy, and too loved to be this alone. i owe myself better."


mmm this was definitely my least favorite in the briar u series and that's mainly because taylor was annoying as fuck. genuinely shocked elle kennedy wrote more than 1 break up in this book and at that point i was just over the whole thing.. sad because conor and taylor could've served with their lil fake dating tea but elle kennedy don't know how to write anything but cishet skinny white girls

Amelia 

Holy crap...

I loved this book so friggin much. Taylor and Conor were everythinggg. 

I really enjoyed Taylor's Character. I also appreciated the fact that she was a bigger girl. I think that it should be included in more stories. It's hard finding a story that makes me feel seen, so I really appreciated that aspect. And Taylor was lowkey a bad bitch and I loved it. 

Conor was so kind and thoughtful. He melted my entire heart. I absolutely loved that he wasn't judgemental at all and truly loved Taylor and everything about her. He made her feel loved, sexy and beautiful which I cherished. Conor is the guy everyone dreams of. He was protective and truly cared about Taylor, and if someone messed with her he would be there in a heartbeat to beat up a bitch, but also would make sure he would comfort Taylor. 

Taylor and Conor were a power couple. I love them so much. What a great way to start off 2021.

I have to say this was Sweet, Sexy and Steamy.

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

  
    
  




The Dare is the most recent release into the Briar U series by Elle Kennedy. This has been such a fun series, I have fallen in love with this whole Briar U world and from the very beginning of the story, this author sets the tone of the story so beautifully, and boy, the LAUGHS, I found this book beyond entertaining in multiple of forms. This author definitely writes this genre that I look for, where we get the drama, but its not overdone or overplayed, just fits well with the age of the characters that we see here. 



The Dare is literally a story that starts off with a dare. Taylor is part of the sorority at Briar U, and she has certain insecurities concerning her appearance especially her weight and how she appears. When one of the heads of the sorority house, who despises, challenges her to a dare which is meant to embarrass her in the worst of ways, she has literally zero options except in hoping that the man that they are issuing the dare towards, will aid her. But surprisingly, Conor is more than willing to be her partner in crime. Conor is the playboy of the Briar U team, and definitely sleeps around but he is bored with it all. He wants more in his life, and then Taylor comes into his life, and they take on this "fake relationship" scheme, to trick people into thinking they are together, but what begins as a facade, only turns into something deeper than either expected to happen. 



Yup, hungering for Conor Edwards is very, very bad. Because he’s exactly the kind of man who will break my heart. Even if he doesn’t mean to.



The Dare was a delicious story and I can tell you I was super eager for Conor's book. I actually have always liked his character, he definitely has no shame in what he likes but he also has this charm to this personality that is so infectious and you became so endeared to him. Within this book, we so many more depths to his character that I just fell in love with very quickly. He actually has so many positive qualities to his character, and we see his darker past and how he is far from perfect despite the appearance of it. Taylor, struggles with confidence in herself and I have to say that I definitely related to this, or at least my younger self definitely would have been Taylor. She has this beautiful figure, but doesn't have the confidence to embrace that beauty. But its her relationship with Conor and his hockey friends and teammates, that builds that confidence and I adored the growth within her character. Their romance is packed with some bumps in the road, but what I did admire in this book was seeing how in the end, they have such faith in each other at times. They both make some mistakes, but they learn and grow together from those mistakes and I admired seeing their romance blossom in such a way. 



Overall I found The Dare to be a read of growth, embracing one's self, and learning along the way to the road of happy ever after.

Vera Rich-Byberg

Annabella

Kristina

Zarah Hussain

I’m so close to finishing the Off-Campus/Briar U series. I don’t want to let go of these characters! With Conor and Taylor, we say goodbye to Briar U, a spin off worthy of its predecessor. I had so much fun with these characters. I had a feeling I would like Conor based on what we saw of him in 

, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. He’s a great guy, very fun and kind. And Taylor was impossible not to love or relate to. Together they were so sweet and fun. I also adored seeing Brenna, Hunter and Demi, and the scenes with the hockey team were hilarious. I love these guys so much.

Having to read not one but two moments of what I call “the down time” (aka the drama that usually comes around the end of the book before the grand finale) kept me on the edge of my seat and had me binging into the night. However, by the time the second time arrives and the miscommunication trope is used again…I didn’t hate it, but I would have preferred if the two had talked it out immediately the second time around.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

I’m so close to finishing the Off-Campus/Briar U series. I don’t want to let go of these characters! With Conor and Taylor, we say goodbye to Briar U, a spin off worthy of its predecessor. I had so much fun with these characters. I had a feeling I would like Conor based on what we saw of him in The Play, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. He’s a great guy, very fun and kind. And Taylor was impossible not to love or relate to. Together they were so sweet and fun. I also adored seeing Brenna, Hunter and Demi, and the scenes with the hockey team were hilarious. I love these guys so much.

Having to read not one but two moments of what I call “the down time” (aka the drama that usually comes around the end of the book before the grand finale) kept me on the edge of my seat and had me binging into the night. However, by the time the second time arrives and the miscommunication trope is used again…I didn’t hate it, but I would have preferred if the two had talked it out immediately the second time around.

Taniareads 

unfortunately the off campus series didn't finish the best way. this book it was full of drama. however i really liked the body image discussion!

Carolina Mendes

First 7/8 off campus/briar U books I loved and this last one was absolute garbage. Problematic and doesn’t even make much sense

Rachel BD

Gretchen Sartele

** spoiler alert **
           I had to sit on this book for a minute before writing a review. 

While this book had one of my favorite tropes (fake relationship) and definitely had my favorite banter and dialogue from the Briar U series, there were some aspects that really rubbed me the wrong way. 

For example, there has to be a way to write a mid-size character/a character who has body image issues that isn't fatphobic. And there has to be a way to write a man who appreciated a mid-size woman who isn't shamey to think girls. The disordered eating (calorie counting, binge eating) was pretty triggering, to be honest, and it really pulled me out of what was an otherwise enjoyable book.

Now let's get into the double "pushing your partner away/misunderstanding" conflict point. Unfortunately, these moments made this book seem much more YA than NA, and really just made everything overdramatic. I don't think either conflict point was really necessary and, the revenge porn especially, just felt like torture porn from the author. I have praised Elle Kennedy in the past for bringing light to issues like this but I felt there wasn't tact in how this was accomplished. 

However, I did want to praise EK's handling of virginity in this book, as opposed to how she handled it in the first series. I thought it was portrayed in a mature and non slut-shamey way. I just wish that the v-card hadn't been handed over as a "gift" after a fight because he said, "I love you." 

I do really like Conor and, while I find Taylor funny and witty, her character just did not do it for me.

quitando el drama innecesario, este libro me gustó bastante. conor es demasiado lindo para ser verdad 😩

Megan Lowe

I quite enjoyed this book! Conor and Taylor weren’t your usual main characters and I loved it, it was a refreshing take.
I loved how sensitive Conor is, and how he’s not afraid of his feelings, absolutely obsessed with hockey, and how he goes after Taylor.
I loved that Taylor wasn’t self assured and had hang ups. She felt real.
Together these two are great. There’s some real fun moments, as well as real human moments.
This feels like the perfect end to Elle’s series.

sharyn

2.5 porque al principio me había entretenido luego meh, me terminé aburriendo y eso. Taylor una linda pero ajdjsnf y connor en las últimas también ¿? Pero esperaba más y estaba emocionada porque era plus size sooo esperen lo peor para sorprenderse 🤪

catia

need to finish my briar u reread bc i dont remember this one that much

Tristen D’Amico &
The Dare by Elle Kennedy

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Tristen D’Amico &
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