Dare You to Hate Me

Product Information

Just when she thinks she's about to drown in the foggy memories of her night spent partying at the football house, Daniel Bridges walks into her life. Lindon University's wide receiver. A total flirt. And a total threat.

Blurb: “When Skylar Allen decided to move across the country for college, she thought it'd be the perfect chance to reinvent herself. But then one party changed the course of her entire freshman year. I also liked the fact that she emphasized the struggle to get specialized help for mental issues when you have no money.

About ‘Dare You to Trust Me’ by B. Celeste

I do have to applaud B. Celeste for covering the topics of bullying, sexual assault, depression and anxiety very well. You could be surrounded by loads of people and still feel lonely.

I grin to myself and pass the man his change, coffee, and bag of pastries before turning to her. “Whatever. And he’s just another customer, so chill.” Skylar’s freshman year in college isn’t going as expected. After experiencing a traumatic event that leaves her with many questions, she is feeling wary of those around her. So what happens when the school’s beloved wide receiver shows interest…in being her friend? I couldn't help but fall in love with Ayden and Ivy. They are imperfect young people. They have both made mistakes, they both hurt, they both have dreams and want a better life and go about achieving that as best they can. I try not to focus on the low, husky tone of his voice, which causes bumps to rise over my arms. He’s twenty-­one, but he doesn’t sound it. Before I settled for a half-­renovated basement, I couch surfed with strangers. Most of them were men older than my twenty years with every intention of making me pay them in some way, and usually not with money. MINOR SPOILERS : I PROBABLY ACCIDENTALLY SAID SOME REALLY MINOR SPOILERS BUT IT SHOULD BE FINE.. I THINK !!

‘Dare You to Hate Me’ excerpt

I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a friends to lovers, YA romance with a little bit of darkness. I’ve seen some of the players use the attention to their advantage, making me scoff every single time they convince some poor victim to help them with homework or papers or buy them something here at Bea’s. I can do it,” Elena, or Lena as I call her, offers, sipping on some disgusting concoction that only she drinks. I liked that the main characters kept talking about "what ifs." "What if she didn't leave." "What if he didn't let her go." "What would have happened if they made different choices." These things heightened the intensity of the story. I connect more with them through their pain and mistakes. It made me understand deeper and reflect why they did what they did. I may not agree with some of their justifications, especially with the heroine, but I grasped the true reasons behind their actions. Self-harm is a very serious matter, but there's no doubt that B. Celeste handled and delivered a story out of it very well.

Danny was everything and Skylar, ahh the wah she grew!!! The way she got over all the difficulties and started to trust again. Ayden senses Ivy has problems and does his best to regain her confidence and help her. Ivy is flighty, untrusting and has very low self esteem. The slow burn between these two was amazing. I love this author's flawless writing style, the multi-dimensional characters and the emotional exploration of a complicated situation. As a couple, I did not really enjoy them. I saw no chemistry between them, whatsoever. I felt like they worked better as friends. This story as a whole to me would have worked better if it was not marketed as a romance. I just did not feel the connection. It felt more like Ivy's journey and her best friend helping her with that journey. I can't deny that they did have some cute moments but in all it just did not work for me. I adored our heroine, she had scars, she was perfectly imperfect but perfect in every way, she had flaws but god she was so strong. Her past was shady, but that just made her real. Her struggles were raw but she owned them.

Table of Content

Ivy’s inner struggles with her dark thoughts were something that was on-going through out the story. I liked that the story didn’t shy away from the reality that Ivy was faced with, her problems didn’t magically disappear. For all the work that Ivy put into moving forward in her life, she still found herself having those moments where she almost succumbed to the suicidal thoughts that would plague her. I found Ivy to be a strong female character because, with her flaws and fears, I found her to be real and not fake. Ivy was the kind of girl who can shut you with just a few words or a look. I admired Ivy and despite even myself being a bit intimidated by her, I still found her likable. In addition, for all those times when it seemed like Ivy was so closed off from others, she was actually a selfless and kind person. Devil," I exclaimed, "do you dare approach me? And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, oh! That I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!"

I can totally relate to Sky and her quirkiness. I understood all the emotions that she was going through. I have been bullied throughout high school, so I know how it difficult it is to not have someone in your corner. I loved the fact that she found Olive and their friendship dynamic. Safety: trigger warning for attempted suicide, suicidal thoughts; 3+ semi explicit scenes with sexual content. Growing up on the same street, Aiden and Ivy became fast best friends. Aiden was her safe space, away from the negativity at home. Often feeling rejected and unwanted, Ivy was desperate for a change. In the night she ups and leaves, with one final goodbye to her bestfriend. It was too complicated to try to explain it, so it will be better to just jumb into this story without many informations about it...i didnt hate her but her character definitely annoyed me at times with her constantly pushing aiden away. i think to a certain extent i get her but its all. the. time. What Skylar doesn't anticipate is the friendship she forms with the witty football player as months go on. And how easy it is to fall for him as he teaches her how to trust again...and so much more.”