Kings of Cypress Prep Book 1
Labelled as a “dark high school bully romance” I expected plenty of angst in this one and it didn’t disappoint. The author creates a huge amount of curiosity from page one, and the suspense generated hooks the reader, and keeps the pages turning. Within a few pages my insides were churning with foreboding. However, the book was not as dark as I originally thought it would be.
West Golden is the eldest of triplets. The three brothers rule the school because they’re rich, gorgeous and popular. But, they’ve got problems too. Their dad’s a complete jerk and there’s a secret about West that may ruin his football career before it’s even begun – rich boy problems.
Blue Riley is from the south side of town, trying to improve her life for her, and her sister, by accepting a scholarship to prep school with the rich kids. She’s trying to finish high school, work to pay bills (because her dad’s a dead-beat alcoholic), take care of her sister after their mum abandoned them, oh, and her brother’s a convicted murderer. If that’s not enough for an eighteen-year-old to have to deal with, from day one at Cypress Prep, West Golden is out to make her life miserable, and she has no idea why.
Bully romances can be hard to stomach, but this wasn’t too bad. West made her life more difficult, but I didn’t feel his behaviour was anything that could not be forgiven. He openly states he wants to destroy her and she hates his guts despite the physical attraction.
However, I feel the author didn’t convey the emotional and psychological torture at levels I expected from a “dark bully romance”. While there’s plenty of shoves and snide remarks, it’s more like pranks that are instigated by West. The bullying does increase in intensity, however, but by that point it’s done by West’s minions without his knowledge.
It was impossible not to get behind Blue because she does not let the bullies win. She’s a fighter and gives as good as she gets. However, I felt more empathy for Blue because of the things she faced in her life away from school, rather than the bullying. Perhaps it’s because the “dark” label was misleading, or maybe I am old and jaded. Who knows? Other readers may feel differently.
The tension of their conflicting feelings for each other builds and builds over the course of the story, but apart from some heavy make out sessions, the love action is reserved for the very end. After all that build up, I would have preferred it to be a bit longer. Then, of course, it all crumbles for Blue again. However, we know Blue is not going to take this lying down, so roll on Book 2. Plus, there’s still plenty of questions yet to be answered…
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Feels: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for sharing, Bianca.