THE REBEL OF RALEIGH HIGH BY CALLIE HART

While I liked the idea of this book, the execution was lacking. The author threw so many issues at us but never resolved them. It made for a very frustrating read. 

Rating: ★★★
​Release Date: April 27, 2019
Genre: New Adult. High School. Bad Boy Romance. 
Series: Raleigh Rebels #1 (can stand alone)
Pages: 377 pages
Format: eBook. Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited. 

* The Rebel of Raleigh High is the first book in the Raleigh Rebels Series. Please be advised, this book comes with a trigger warning. Intended for readers 17+ * 

Silver 

Hit me. 
Kick me. 
Hurt me. 
Hate me. 

There’s nothing that the students of Raleigh High can do to Silver Parisi anymore. Over the past year, she’s had to endure more pain and suffering than most people are asked to bear in their lifetimes. She’s a pariah, an outcast, a ghost. She’s also never been one to take shit lying down, though…despite what half the football team might say. 

With only one hundred and sixty-eight days left of the school year, it won’t be long until graduation, and Silver’s planning on skipping town and leaving Raleigh firmly in her rearview mirror… 

Until he comes along… 

Alex 

Orphan. 
Degenerate. 
Reprobate. 
Deviant. 
Alex Moretti’s earned most of his labels, and he’s not ashamed of a single one of them. He’ll earn far worse before he’s finished with his new found ‘friends’ at Raleigh High. Having spent years being ground down under the boot heel of society, it’s time for a little payback. And if exacting revenge upon the heads of the Raleigh elite means he can also help the beautiful girl who hovers in the shadows, then that’s all for the better. 

Oil and water. Fire and ice. The differences between Silver and Alex are broader than any chasm. To reach one another, they must take a leap of faith and fall into the divide. 

And falling? 

Nothing good ever came from falling.

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Read my Book Review

Release Date: April 27, 2019
Genre: High School Romance (With bullying and social issues)
Actual Rating: 2.75-3 stars

The Rebel of Raleigh High is the first standalone in the Raleigh Rebels series. This is a bully(ish) romance novel between two outcasts who find love with one another despite the circumstances in their lives. For the most part, I found the story to be good but I had some problems with it (see below). Regarldless of my personal issues with the story, I think anyone who is obsessing over the bully trope is going to want to check this one out. It highlights some important social issues with High School students and shows that even those who are treated unfairly can lead happy and healthy lives. 

First I'll start by telling you what U liked about the story. Obviously, the "bully" trope which seems to be like the most wanted trope to read this year. There is just something about a jerk redeeming himself for the one he loves that gets me every time! I also like seeing the "outcasts" find love. It just makes the romance extra special as it points out that you don't have to be perfect to be happy and find someone who loves you- flaws and all. Another thing I liked about the book is the fact that the author gave these characters real world problems to overcome. It's not just a bully romance but one that discusses series issues that can affect teens (or anyone for that matter) these days. This is important because it gives the book a realistic feel to it. 

Now I'll tell you what I personally didn't like about the story. If you HAVEN'T read it you may want to skip this part is it could possibly contain spoilers .

First, the main issues of the book that affects the heroine (Silver) is a sexual assault. She was raped by 3 high school boys (who were supposed to be her friends) at a party. This is a heavy issue and if you are going to incorporate such an issue into a book then it MUST be resolved. Unfortunately, it wasn't resolved AT ALL. If this sexual assault is what drives the story you have to give some sort of resolution to this particular issue and it's just not done within the story. There is a HUGE climax towards the end (view spoiler) but it takes away from the justice that should have been served for Silver. One simply doesn't get over being raped in such a cruel way just because something else big happens. I really wished the author spent more time on the assault issue than throwing in another huge thing. It all just seemed out of place for the story. Had the author chosen one issue to focus on I think I would have liked it a lot better. 

Another issue I had with the book is how quickly Silver and Alex fell in love. With both of them dealing with serious issues in the novel, it doesn't seem realistic that they basically looked at one another, hung out for a couple of days, and then fell in love. What about the demons they were facing? Why make it such an important part of the story if it's not going to affect the characters? It seems very strange for me as a reader who everything just perfectly aligned for these two despite all the crap being thrown at them. 

Anyway, the book, while having issues for me, is a decent read and I think many readers will enjoy these story as long as they can look away from these prominent issues. I will be giving the second book a try whenever it releases because I enjoy the way the author writes but I hope there is more depth than shown in this book.

PS: While there is bullying in this novel, the hero is NOT the bully that scars Silver. He's kind of like a knight in shining armor for her and saves her from everything. It's her classmates that bully her.

★★★

Rebel of Raleigh High Collage