Reviewed by Ing Cruz on
You know that feeling where you crave a certain food so bad that you can literally taste that sucker and you won't be satisfied until you eat it? Once you indulge in your craving this euphoria settles on you and you feel all full and complete? Well waiting for UNTIL YOU to release and then finally reading the dang book gave me those exact same feelings. I was floating on cloud nine. I didn't think that I could love Jared more but I did after reading HIS story. Until You is book #1.5 of the Fall Away series and is the companion novel to Bully. This is told from Jared Trent's POV. I think Penelope said it best in her note from the author section, "This is NOT a retelling of Bully. This is Jared's story." Truer words have never been spoken. This was definitely Jared's book all the way. Penelope lets the readers in and took us on a roller-coaster ride full of bumps, thrills and joy.
I loved, loved, loved BULLY. I didn't always agree with how Jared treated Tate half of the time in that book. Even though he was such a jerk face I still fell in love with him in Bully. I wanted in badly inside his head. When Penelope announced that she would be writing a book from Jared's POV, I fist pumped the air and jumped up and down squealing like a 10 year old girl! Finally we'd get to hear what Jared was thinking in some places during Bully and finally we can get a better understanding how someone could turn so against and so mean towards someone who was their world and best friend.
Did Until You deliver for this fan? Fudge YES it did. That one summer spent with his father was a freaking nightmare. If I could reach in and tear Thomas Trent a new a-hole I would have. That man put Jared and his brother Jax through hell. My heart broke for the both of them. Especially Jax. I can't imagine what a nightmare it was for Jax living that whole time with a father like that. What Jared's father put him through messed him up so bad that something in Jared broke that summer. I hate that Jared turned on Tate. I wish he would have reached out to her but I get it. I totally get where his head was and how he could have flipped things into what it was. Does any of it still excuse his treatment of Tate, heck no but I get it.
As it's been stated this was definitely not a retelling of Bully. We get so much more new information in this book. We saw what Jared was up to while Tate was away. We got to see more Madoc, who is Jared's best friend and partner in crime. I can't wait for Madoc's book. Madoc is freaking funny. He's so silly and had some of the funniest lines in this book. His and Fallon's story is going to be great. That girl is going to take that boy down a notch. I totally fell in love and have a massive crush with a Tate's dad in this book. Mr. Brandt plays a bigger role in Jared's book. I love his no BS policy and how he told Jared like it is. His advice and wisdom was something Jared was missing in his life. I was so glad that he got that from Mr. Brandt. He got something he never had and respected it. Jax...oh Jax you are going to be trouble and I have a feeling you are going to make my heart break. I am so scared to know what happened to Jax. His story I have a feeling will be even more devastating. Sigh I can't wait.
Now let's get to K.C. who was Tate's best friend. I hated that girl so much in Bully. She broke the girl code and really hurt Tate in Bully. I wanted to pull her hair and slap her silly in Bully. I wasn't sure how Penelope would redeem her in Until You. I wanted to know how Jared could use K.C. in that way to hurt Tate and I wanted to know how K.C. could have even contemplated being with Jared and hurting Tate. I got my answers. Did it make me hate K.C. less. Yes it did. I don't love her but I like her enough now. I am hoping and don't get mad other Fall Away fans but I want to hear more about K.C. She has a story and I am hoping she gets one! :)
Tate's voice is more in the background in this book. For me I STRONGLY recommend you read Bully first before you read Until You. It will add to the experience. But her voice during Bully was very strong that even though all of this was from Jared's POV there were many times her voice was in the background in my head talking smack back to Jared. I love Tate. Seeing Tate from Jared's eye I fell in love with her more. I'm so glad to see her put Jared in his place at the end and told him like it is. Jared needed to hear that. I don't think he ever really got it until that moment or he just tried to gloss it all over in his head.
OMERGAWD!!!! I can't tell you how much I LURVED being inside Jared's head. Guys tend to be dirtier and raunchier with their thoughts. Being in Jared's head was like being allowed in a bookstore with no money limit to buy books. I was all over the place squeeeing and just falling in love with him and was greedy. I knew this book was going to be HOT because Penelope teased us. But boy howdy freaking holy oh...that boy was mind f--king Tate all over! Several times I was cuing the porno jingle in my head while reading. Oh how I loved it. Besides the sexier scenes just seeing the more emotional moments through Jared's eye was refreshing. I felt like I was reading a whole new book and feeling all those same emotions I felt while reading Bully. There was a very touching moment with Jared and his mom. It was a very poignant moment between two people who have drifted apart so much. I'm glad the rift is slowly closing.
Fans of Bully will not be disappointed with Until You. Penelope Douglas delivers big time and meets all the expectations that this fan had for Until You. Being inside Jared's head was one crazy emotional roller coaster ride. With the addition of Until You, Penelope has become an author I trust and will automatically buy anything this woman writes. I recommend this series with all my heart. If I could marry this series and have a family with it I so totally would! :)
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One of the characters that shined in this book! Totally have mad crush on Tate's dad! I heart you James Brandt!!!!
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Horrible book hangover! Jared & Tate fans will not be disappointed. Jared I love you even more than before. This was me the whole time reading the book! Full review to come soon.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 1 November, 2013: Finished reading
- 1 November, 2013: Reviewed