Challenge Corner discussion

Stone Reeves was my neighbor, and I’ve hated him since sixth grade.

Gorgeous and charismatic, he became the town’s football god, while I became the town’s invisible girl.
He went to a Division 1 school for football, while my father was fired by his father.
His team won the National Championship, while my mother died the same day.

He was a first round pick for the NFL ...
… while I made the worst decision in my life.

Now I’m in Texas trying to pick up the pieces of my life.
But, Stone is here.
Stone is everywhere.

It doesn’t matter that disaster has struck my life again.
It doesn’t matter that he’s the one trying to console me.
It doesn’t matter that he’s the nation’s newest football obsession.

Because for me, he always has been and always will be my enemy.

24% (view spoiler)[I am really curious about what happened to Dusty before she moved to Texas. It mentioned that something happened because someone knew that she knew Stone. It couldn't have been good if she is running from it or that person.

Most of her roommates are being awful to her. It's not her fault that their previous roommate screwed everyone over. I can't imagine how hard everything must be for her because of her living situation. Nothing is ever easy when you don't feel comfortable at home.

I am also wondering what else happened between Stone and Dusty. He stopped being friends with her in sixth grade but they must have interacted since then.

It was a little shocking that her dad and stepmom were in an accident and died. I just don't know why Stone was the one to come and tell her about it. Why would he bother if they were not on good terms. He definitely seemed like he didn't want anything to do with her when they talked on the phone before. When he showed up at her house to tell her he seemed like he actually cares. (hide spoiler)]

56% (view spoiler)[I really think that Stone feels remorse for ghosting on their friendship when they were younger. I am not sure that it is totally believable that he didn't know about his dad firing Dusty's dad when he knew about the incident between his mom and Dusty's dad. Would he not have put two and two together?

You can definitely feel the deeply rooted bond that they still share from being childhood friends. And there is definitely an attraction there. I mean, they wouldn't have had that heated night together otherwise. I think that their bond makes that much more intense. Now they have agreed to a physical relationship and I can't see that going over well since it's obvious that they care about each other. (hide spoiler)]

73% (view spoiler)[I honestly don't know what is holding them back from being in a relationship. Dusty says that she is not in a good place at the moment but having Stone around seems to help her. Though I have no idea what Stone's issue is. Other than his fame I can't imagine what would hold him back. But that doesn't really make sense because he didn't seem to care about it when he was with Dusty before. He never acted ashamed to be with her or anything like that. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[I really liked that even though Dusty was devastated about Stone, she put on a brave face and went on with her life. She didn't wallow in her sadness or self-destruct. She tried to be better. She went back to school and went back to work and trudged on.

The stalker thing wasn't as climactic as I was hoping but I did like that Stone came running to Dusty as soon as he found out about it. It shows how he really feels about her. Not that he was obligated to care about her because of her mother's request.

I did like the epilogues. Though I honestly don't know how Dusty could get along with Stone's parents after what they did to her family. It seems like that would be too hard to deal with. But she is a strong person and I think that it shows. Everything works out in the end and I smiled at little Grayson. I also liked seeing Jared and Apollo in the end as part of their family as well. She even calls Apollo her brother which warmed my heart. I would love to see stories with Jared and Apollo in the future.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

22% (view spoiler)[ Dusty is a relatable character! I really can relate to her to some level, where I overthink about something and then someone does something that makes me think “oh it’s all on my head” it’s really relatable. I am curious with what happened to Dusty before Texas, but seeing her acting like that to boys and her roommates make me think that it has something to do with her body which is done by a popular crowd. Maybe a bully?

And.. I have to stop reading for a moment because her parents’ death are definitely shocking... poor dusty.... (hide spoiler)]

Vanessa wrote: [spoiler removed]

(view spoiler)[ yes!! i am curious about why Stone has to be the one that delivers the news, it can be anyone but him, I am sure a hospital would call her but since it’s a romance book, let’s see the reason why Stone calls her!


and yes, i also think, stone has tried many times to reconnect with her... and he’s not as bad as i thought he would be (hide spoiler)]

ikram wrote: "Vanessa wrote: [spoiler removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I wonder why a hospital or law enforcement didn't call her about her parents' accident. It seems odd. I still don't know why Stone decided to tell her. He obviously learned about it from his parents but I can't imagine his parents caring to tell him or let Dusty know about it. (hide spoiler)]

35% (view spoiler)[Is this book really an enemies to lovers book because this is so soft??? So soft and cute???? Stone didn’t seem to hate Dusty, I just feel like he secretly has cared for her all along (hide spoiler)]

Vanessa wrote: "ikram wrote: "Vanessa wrote: [spoiler removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ exactly??? stone learned it from his parents and even though he forced his father to take care of everything, i just want to know why. (hide spoiler)]

ikram wrote: "35% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, it is definitely on the softer side. They were definitely enemies after he ghosted on her in middle school but the feelings never really went away and I think that reconnecting brought all the good feelings back. (hide spoiler)]

ikram wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "ikram wrote: "Vanessa wrote: [spoiler removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, it doesn't really make it clear why Stone was the one to inform Dusty about her parents' accident. And Stone didn't get involved and make his father take care of the funeral and things until AFTER she spewed off about what his father had done in the past right before her own car accident. (hide spoiler)]

53% (view spoiler)[ sooo that’s why stone suddenly cared for dusty. i didn’t expect him to have been in contact with dusty’s mother all along. but still, i just don’t really get why he didn’t make it right years before now (hide spoiler)]

Vanessa wrote: "ikram wrote: "35% [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU!!! tbh this is so emotional and angsty :(( (hide spoiler)]

ikram wrote: "53% [spoilers removed]"

Same.

86% (view spoiler)[ I may not have cared about Dusty’s roommates. They are toxic for finally care about Dusty right after they learned that she’s seeing Stone but I’m glad they stick around with her! I also feel bad that.. all these times, Dusty was stalked.. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ IM SOFT. I really am soft for Dusty and Stone. This is the softest thing I read during the week of romance and love (wow I’m exaggerating), but seriously, I expected it to be more like LJ Shen’s book where the enemies to lovers trope becomes so toxic but noooo, this angsty feds me really well. I’m attached to the character and really glad Dusty settles everything with her roommates. The boyfriends are also protective toward her too, I just wish, I could’ve seen a lot of brotherly relationship between Dusty and them, but anyway.

I agree with Vanessa, the stalker thing isn’t as climatic as I thought it would be but Stone’s reaction toward it is a confirmation that he really cares for her and will do anything for her. And I agree, even though I like the epilogue, I still want to see how things going on between Stone’s parents and Dusty.

The letter made my heart swell a little.

4.5/5 stars! (hide spoiler)]

ikram wrote: "86% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, the roommates were awful in the beginning. Though, it really was only two of them that were really mean to Dusty. I remember the scene where one of the boyfriends was giving her crap because she was being mean to Dusty without even knowing her. So it's not like all of them wanted to be mean to Dusty. They pretty much just let her do her own thing in the beginning. I am glad that they came around after her accident and tried to be more like friends. (hide spoiler)]

ikram wrote: "Finished! IM SOFT. I really am soft for Dusty and Stone. This is the softest thing I read during the week of romance and love (wow I’m exaggerating), but seriously, I expected it to be more like L..."

Totally agree. =)