Review: Rival by Penelope Douglas

RIVAL
Series: Fall Away #2
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Penelope Douglas
Release Date: August 26, 2014

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….

AMAZON | iBOOKS

That beautiful girl hated me, and I hated her, but – goddamn it – I loved how we hated, because it was raw and real. It didn’t make any sense, but yeah – it was real.”

Why the hell did it take me this long to read this book?! Why? WHY I ASK YOU?! I’ll admit that reading a few reviews made me a little nervous to pick this one up. I should have known better. Other people’s pet peeves tend to be my catnip. What? I never said I wasn’t a lot little crazy? But I digress.

As you may already know from my reviews, I love enemies to lovers. And you already probably know that my love for all things Penelope Douglas know no bounds. I LOVED and I mean LOVED Bully and Until You. So why did it take me so long to read this book? I have no freaking idea! But I’m so happy to rectify that grand error in judgement.

Madoc was everything I had hoped he would be. A goofball hiding a lot of depth beneath the easy jokes and quick smile. He’s a downright asshole to Fallon at first, and as more and more of their history comes to light, the puzzle pieces begin to click together.

Fallon is exactly the sort of heroine I love to read about; smart mouthed, sassy, and with a spine of steel. This girl sure knew how to dish it, and she could take it just as well.

You’ve always wanted me. You know why? Because I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.”

Her family life isn’t exactly ideal and her mother is downright kaka for coco puffs. Her father is the only solid influence she’s had in her life, and I’ll admit that I loved reading about their unconventional relationship.

Nothing that happens on the surface of the sea can alter the calm of it’s depths.”

Did I love this as much as Bully? No. But nothing compares to that book. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the hell out of this one. Because I did. I really REALLY did. It had everything I love in NA; great banter, hate lust, and the sexy times were downright SIZZLING.

I devoured this book in a day. It reminded me all over again why I love this woman’s writing. She does it for me every time. Every. Single. Time. Now to just finish the rest of this series!!!

But breaking was beautiful. It hurt, and it was an uphill climb back to sanity, but you came back stronger, fiercer, and more solid than you were before.”

THE FALL AWAY SERIES

BULLY | UNTIL YOU | RIVAL | FALLING AWAY | AFLAME | NEXT TO NEVER