I'm not sure if I'm being overly sensitive or if this 'teenage romance' is just a complete dumpster fire of horribleness. The H is a flashing-red-light of crazy, but the other characters treats him like he's Prince Charming! I kept turning pages, horrified and unable to look away. I've read all kinds of dark and dub-con books, but this one is just insanely bad. There are COUNTLESS warning signs in this relationship. But he buys her a cute purse afterwards, so you know he's sorry Oh and let's not forget he lies about taking her virginity as a Freshman, so everyone thinks she's 'easy.' Then he actually does take her virginity as a Senior (because it 'belongs' to him) and then blasts it all over the internet. Oh well! He gives her mom a credit card for a shopping day, so he must be a great guy! He agrees to finance her stepdad's new business, but only if the h agrees to literally do whatever he says for the next six months, including public sex. He manipulates her at every turn, which her family half-heartedly warns her about, but. He lies to 'test her' even though he knows it hurts her. He is mindless violently jealous of other men coming near her.

But, he repeatedly refuses to wear a condom, because 'he doesn't like them' and he thinks if she gets pregnant, she'll have to stay with him. He buys her clothes and purses and calls her 'a professional girlfriend,' because all that really matters is her availability for sex. The H 'doesn't want her to work' so he convinces her to quit her job and live off his money. That’s just one of the MANY issues I have with this book. And the h just shrugs it aside, like it’s no biggie. Holy SHIT! I’ve read mafia romances with less egregious assaults. So instead I just begged him to wear a condom (he didn’t) and to calm down (he didn’t), so I guess it was consensual? And I feel guilty, because I did provoke him with my short skirt and by bringing another guy to the party.

Afterward the h is like “I didn’t technically say no, even though I didn’t want to have sex, because I knew he wouldn’t stop. I’m not even going to spoiler tag that, because I feel like it needs to be known to anyone who buys this book. Then he buys her pretty things and she forgives him.

He is angry at her for dumb reasons, so he repeatedly humiliates and lies to her. They are high school, but knew each other in middle school. The basic 'plot' is as follows: A rich, quasi-royal, popular, handsome, instagram model H falls for a bookish girl. I don't like to be negative, but The Boy on the Bridge by Sam Mariano is one of the worst books I've ever read.

Sam mariano untouchable