I'm still a little confused by this whole push and pull between Emma and the guys.
Who Breaks First is definitely a college bully to lover romance. It doesn't hurt that it was a reverse harem.. but I don't know. Something was definitely off with this one. I liked Emma and the guys but it's like the whole revenge thing was just pointless in my eyes. Maybe it's because I think its' really dumb that people just don't talk to one another. Plus the whole - I know you're lying even though they weren't thing was just annoying.
Just talk to each other people. Everyone has a past but it's like Trent's head was so far up his ass he couldn't see anything. He's a very destructive person so I don't feel bad about what happened to him at the end. Yet, I don't think all these wrongs will ever make a right.
The romance and sparks were there but this whole thing was just messed up from the beginning. Plus the whole deal with Emma's dad and Trent's mom was just weird. Why did their little two year secret just come out at the end - it made zero sense.
No idea what the next book will bring me but I guess I will dive into it whenever I see it pass my way on KU. Eva Ashwood This could have been awesome, but poor characterisation and relationship-building really let it down.
I requested a beta copy because I enjoyed Ashwood's debut A LOT, and there's no doubt that she is technically a good writer. But she made one huge mistake: she skipped describing most of the initial interactions between the heroine and heroes. Essentially, the heroine was once the best friend of the heroes, but (through a huge and frankly stupid misunderstanding) they start bullying her, thinking she's evil. She then moves away and returns for her first year of university, which is when she runs into them once more.
❌ We see their very first interaction, but after that there's a sudden time jump of 'A few weeks later... in which they kept teasing me and making mocking comments about me...' HOW were they teasing you? WHAT mocking comments were they making about you? It's okay for an author to be less specific later on in the book, but getting slammed with it so early on meant that I felt like we'd missed out on major parts of the relationship development. My interest in the romance never quite recovered.
❌ To be honest, bully romances are never the most unique things in the world anyway, but this book was also cliched as hell - I mean, we even got the old 'the teacher is making us be project partners' trope!!! Authors, please, that trope honestly belongs on Wattpad and in fanfiction. If you really must, it can belong to some YA high-school novels too, but not ones like this. It again felt like poor relationship development, because it was the author-as-God shoving the characters together, so it didn't feel organic. There was even suggestions of the stepbrother trope thrown in - basically, everything old and tired and worn out.
❌ The misunderstanding... seriously, it all hinged on the fact that despite the heroine being best friends with the guys, they immediately thought the worst of her, assumed it was her, and commenced bullying. I would never turn on my best friend without at least questioning her about it, and I don't think anyone else reading my review would either. Otherwise, that person is not your best friend.
❌ One hero (the main instigator of the bullying) is the dumb one; another, who vacillates between feeling sorry for the heroine and supporting 'his boys', comes off as weak; and the third one, whom we don't really learn much about all, appears to have very limited personality. Perfect trifecta.
I think that's all I have to say on this book... I mean, I'm reading Ashwood's other stuff in the hopes that something replicates the way her debut hooked me, but I'm not holding my breath.
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Eva Ashwood Predictable plot, stupid reason for revenge and an weak heroine. I tried to read it but after 20% I just skip-read because I think this one doesn't deserve my time. It ot probably for young teenagers or something, but definitely not for me. Eva Ashwood I'm totally reading the next book, even though this 1st book was a massive disappointment. Massive. Huge.
I luuuuuuurved Eva's Slateview High series... and after researching, I realized THAT series was actually her first (I think) ... and this one came later?? This Clearwater series feels much more like a debut.
What I liked:
- the guys seemed dominant and kinda into intimidating her like effing cavemen. I love that ish. Yaaaass... use your muscle-y muscles and her small size against her to make her feel all hot and bothered. 😈🖤😈🖤😈🖤
- I liked that she lost her v-card to one of them. 🤷🏼♀️
What I didn't like:
- errything else
- 👀 no, really. 😐
- the relationship and character development was extremely lacking - she kept saying weeks passed and the guys were so sweet or a few weeks went by and they continued to torment me or whathaveyou... but she never gives any dang descriptions.... and frankly, a bully situation in college is pretty ridiculous to begin with, so Imma need some details. 😬 Otherwise these guys just sound like a bunch of immature pansies. Grown men terrorizing a woman under very flimsy reasoning. Ridiculous. And not very hot. So, in order to keep me from feeling that way, I need some details, otherwise I'll fill in with my own, and my details aren't flattering. 🤨
- Trent is a straight up moron. She calls him that too. {right on, sister!} His reasoning behind his extreme bullying is so stupid it makes my brain hurt. She's supposed to be his best friend, and he completely turns on her at the drop of a hat. And this lasts for 2 years... and then CONTINUES when they end up at the same college... except he now adds on additional nonsense reasons. He effing DOUBLES DOWN on the stupid. NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY DAMN SENSE. But Trent is really the only character that is fleshed out. 😐Fantastic.
- Reese and West? We don't really get much from them. I know nothing about their lives or motivations, other than they are blind blood brother sycophants to Trent. Just doing his bidding even though they supposedly love the h as well. Suresuresuresuresure. #alltheeffingsideeye 😒😒😒
- Emma? I don't know what the hell is going on with her. West takes her v-card in an angry f*ck when they are juniors in high school... and when she shows up at this college 2-years later, she acts all timid and scared and like she's been celibate while she's been away, because these guys traumatized her... but then some of her thoughts, later in the book, indicated that maybe she DID have a sex life with other dudes over the past 2 years?? I dunno... it's not adding up... and she attacks these guys like she's a trained hooker... but then plays all dumb and innocent the next. You know what I dislike ALMOST as much as a promiscuous h? 👀 Well, I'll tell you... A slutty virgin is the next worst thing in my book. 🤷🏼♀️ PICK. A. LANE.
- all the back and forth with the revenge plans between the h and the H's... good gawd. Y'all are ridiculous.
- also none of these college kids think of protection of any kind. Ever. She doesn’t have any concerns about where they’ve been sticking their dicks? 😵💫 She knows absolutely nothing about their sex lives, and has ZERO questions? Not even a thought, AT ALL, as to whether she wants to have a baby with these asshats? We don’t even get a passing mention that she’s on birth control??? 👀 allrightythen. 🤡
Bottom Line? I really wasn't impressed with this mess at all... however, the smexx scenes are good, and my love for the other series had me downloading the next book on the HOPE that this one improves. Surely it can't get worse. Right? Riiiight??? For the love all things holy, I better be right. 😅 Eva Ashwood This was a great start to a new series from Eva Ashwood. My first introduction to this author was The Lost Boys and I was glad that this was just as good. By the end of this book, our heroine had found her backbone which I was extremely grateful of because if she spent the rest of the book hiding behind bushes I was going to scream. I would have liked a little more of their history before meeting up again two years later but I am sure that this will come out over the series. I'm holding judgement on the boys for now, it seems none of them can communicate and this is the brunt of all their problems. I'm sure they won't learn from their mistakes but maybe, just maybe their ego's will let them at some point. Loved the ending and cannot wait for more. Eva Ashwood
They were my bullies once.
Three boys I hated more than anything.
They made my life hell for a year--until I escaped their cruelty when my dad's job moved us away.
I've never forgotten them though. Never forgotten what they did. And I know they haven't forgotten me.
But when I'm offered a full-ride scholarship to the prestigious Clearwater University, I refuse to let old fears stop me from accepting.
Because I'm not the girl I used to be.
I'm stronger. Tougher.
Angrier.
And if West, Reese, and Trent think they can fuck with me again... well.
We'll just see who breaks first.
This is book one of the Clearwater University duet, a new adult reverse harem bully romance. Due to language and sexual situations, it is recommended for readers 18+. Who Breaks First (Clearwater University, #1)
ohhhhhhh, necesitaba esto en mi vidaaaa, me encantan los dramas que están incluidos en los harem reversos. Puede que sean obvios, y a veces repetitivos, peeeero, no dejan de ser aburridos. Es mi placer culpable, ¿qué puedo hacer yo ahí?
Siempre es más interesante cuando hay 3 chicos. Con 4, siento que las cosas salen más forzadas, pero si hay un buen desarrollo, el cuarto personaje funciona. En este caso son sólo 3, por ende es mi equilibrio perfecto... y porqué perfecto, porque cada uno representa una cualidad distinta. Tenemos a Trent, quien sería el líder del trío, quien sólo actúa cuando está enojado, a Reese, que sería el pacifista, el que le gusta bromear para romper el silencio y por último West, quien es el peso pesado, el callado, que observa todo... ¿ven? equilibrio perfecto.
La protagonista no es alguien que me haya impactado por algo, pero le tengo fe al desarrollo de los otros dos libros. Aún quedan cosas pendientes, así que, se vienen más cosas por delante... Eva Ashwood 3 stars ★★★
I wanted to really like this story. But I couldn’t follow the plot. It dragged and the whole reason behind Trent creating this hatred ploy to abuse Emma made no f%ckin sense! He hated her because she introduced his mom to her dad. Ultimately trent’s mom cheated on his dad with Emma’s dad. But somehow EMMA is to blame?!?! What?!?
And then.... this warped from a enemies to lovers romance to enemies to step-sibling hate romance?! But with 3 brothers... really?! Talk about combining story tropes.
The story seemed a little pushed. And forced in areas where a story should have been told. Everybody (the brothers) hates Emma on assumption that Emma is a liar. On no basis of proof.
The ONLY reason I gave it as many stars as I did, was the sex scenes. I wish there were more. If the whole book was just the sex scenes, it would have been given 500 stars! Drool worthy! Jaw-dropping! Lip-biting goodness!!!! Eva Ashwood Trent is so immature jesus fuck😐 But I still think that this series has some potential...so imma read it heheh🙃 Eva Ashwood I am super into the bully romance right now, I have read a ton, and I freaking enjoyed Who Breaks First so freaking much. The characters, the storyline itself, the word play, and the angst. All were on point with Eva Ashwood's writing.
In Who Breaks First we have Emma. She used to be friends with three boys, Reese, Trent and West. Until one day, they turn on her. Forced to move, she gets a break from them. Then she has to move back and there is more on the line for her. She must keep her grades up for a scholarship that she wants. But the bullying just picks up where it left off. But she will not let them get to her this time. She will fight back, and they will not run her off again.
Wow, guys, just wow. I was invested from page one. My interest was caught, and never let go. I kept needing to read the next interactions with Emma and the guys. There is tons of tension, chemistry and lots of heat. You will fall in love with Emma and be rooting for her just like I was. So overall, this is a another great addition to the bully romance, and I have to say will be moved to my top fave list. Eva Ashwood Emma (MFC) is back in Clearwater after 2 years away & shes just started at Clearwater University. Her new start there doesnt go to plan when she finds out The Icons - Reece, Trent and West are also going there too. Former friends who took great pleasure in bullying her because of a misunderstanding. They are determined to oust her from Clearwater too. What they dont expect is Emma is not the same girl as she was back when they knew her. Shes a stronger person now and she wont back down from a fight. I just wanted to shake Reece, Trent and West. Tell them to grow the hell up! I cannot wait for the next book because im hoping with fingers crossed that Emma gets them back for everything they put her through. If the ending of this book is anything to go by its gonna be good! Dying to read that. Such a great book!!! Eva Ashwood
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