I didn’t know what to make of this book when I started it, especially with the fact that the only book I had read prior to this from the author, I didn’t really like. All I know is: I loved the cover and the blurb was interesting...bonus points that it seemed to be a bully romance. 🙌🏾 Those bonus points were brittle at best, however, since the book I didn’t like from her WAS a bully romance. Take in the fact that a book colleague of mine told me she ended up not finishing the book, I was pretty scared to go in.
I had promised myself that it would be my next read and I kept to that promise despite the doubts that were planted. I also emptied myself of any preconceived notions, as well as my experience with the other book. I went into this as though I was new to Sam Mariano...
And I am so happy I did!
I want to write a short story-type review on this book, but I will try to keep it short. This was a beautiful, sweet and frustrating book in parts. There is manipulation. There are secrets. There are lies. There are light-hearted moments. There are moments that make you yell at characters (watch out for the lead male’s “mother”). There are LOTS of sexy times. There is even a little dub-con thrown in there for “schitts (loophole to Amazon’s cussing rule) & giggles”. I mean, not really, since dubious consent is a super slippery slope that I don’t want any woman/man going down.
But, I digress.
So much happens in this book that I felt eager to turn every page, but dreading the end. I dragged this out for as long as I could. I thought the banter between Hunter and Riley throughout the whole book (yes, I mean the whole book), was the cutest thing! It added so much depth to the story, although it seems so simple. It kept me smiling as I read which adds to my love for this book.
I am going to tailor this review for ME because I want you to get how much I absolutely loved every word of this book. I’m not going to try and convince anyone to read this because I know reading tastes differ. The Boy on The Bridge made me yearn for a love like Hunter had for Riley...with all the manipulation, kind-of-controlling, buy-me-a-dang-house, mess-up-someone’s-car-for-me, dub-con, all-consuming, jealous, unconditional, sure and unwavering conditions piled on top of it.
There were times I got frustrated with Riley for denying what she and Hunter could have. And there were times I got so mad at Hunter for being a manipulative bastard. Would I change them? No. I got to understand Riley’s stubbornness and I also got to understand Hunter’s motivation as the book wore on. And I wouldn’t change a thing about how the story ensued. Hunter needed to go away. Their friendship needed to be severed a little bit. Their love needed to be tested. Their heart’s boundaries needed to be pushed. Riley needed to be stubborn. Riley needed to fight her feelings. They needed to go through the ringer. And I needed to read this book! Lord, did I need it!
I’m not sure if it was a bully romance per se. He didn’t do anything overly wicked, or bully her constantly, aside from that one rumor he started before he got sent away and that dating ban he set up in that period. I’m thinking more a second chance romance...and Lord, did they need that chance! I’ve never seen a character work so hard to get back into their love interest’s good graces. Hunter went above and beyond to secure her love. And I’m over here, can’t even get a text back. 😩🤣🤣
My favorite character was actually her mother, Michelle. She was witty, protective and had a great heart despite what she may have gone through. I see where Riley got her stubbornness from, saw where she got her wit from. She is one of the best mother-type characters I’ve read in...ever, maybe. She has a back story I’d love to read about. I’d love to read about Ray’s backstory as well...not to mention his love story with Riley’s mom...hint, hint Sam Mariano 😉
I promised myself I’d keep this short, but it’s going into dissertation territory 🤦🏾♀️ I enjoyed this HEA. It made my heart happy to read until 6am today and until 3am the days prior, even though I had work. What’s sleep when you have a good book to read?? Not important is what it is!
I’ll end my review by saying, The Boy on The Bridge has been my FAVORITE read of 2021...so far ❤️
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Popular Highlights in this book
It’s like my heart knows that loving him will be hard, that I need to preserve all the tender, protective feelings I’m experiencing right now or we’ll never make it.Highlighted by 269 Kindle readers- “That’s because you haven’t made it onto his bad side yet. Hopefully you never will, but I’m sure you’ll see other people get there. No one can hold a grudge quite like my son.”Highlighted by 229 Kindle readers
- I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I do have a sinking feeling that if I ever see Hunter Maxwell again… he’ll make me wish I hadn’t.Highlighted by 173 Kindle readers
About the author
I recommend for those stout of heart
Haters will hate The Boy on the Bridge hard, but too bad because it's Sam Mariano at her finest.Not for the weak, Sam Mariano's newest book has a hero that is broken and twisted. Hunter Maxwell's character has an ambiguous moral compass but maintains the ability to be remorseful of his most heinous and tragic actions. It doesn't necessarily stop him from doing heinous or tragic things.Riley Bishop is a glutton for punishment. She knows that she did something that Hunter can't forgive, but she still tries to make him forget it until she has something she can't forgive. Her greatest sin was to fall in love with him and try to protect him. His is his inability to stop manipulating her and the people around him—a far larger problem.There are some parallel's in The Boy on the Bridge and Untouchable in that, like Carter Mahoney, Hunter, once fixated on his girl, will move heaven and earth to make things right and have her. There are also two scenes in this book that will thoroughly ruffle some feathers, not unlike the Untouchable opening scene. Some people who had issues with that book found that situation to be utterly unforgivable.Trigger Warning. Trigger Warning!If these things bother you, maybe you should stay away from Sam Mariano's books.Hunter and Riley have a dynamic that I genuinely loved. Writing monstrously wounded characters is something good writers often fail to nail; Sam Mariano is at goddess level with it. Riley's mental state is something that drove me mad while simultaneously made me adore her. She is a tough and complicated female who understands herself and her love. She knows what her limits are and what she can and won't forgive. It's impossible to remove the psychology from the story in that it demands the reader to face their own expectations of those characters around Riley. I was not too fond of Michelle, but I could understand her motivations and relate to them--I didn't like her anyway.Also, many times, Hunter shocked the ever-loving hell out of me, and I was unsure if I could/would be as understanding as Riley. But that is okay because he's her perfect match and not mine. Although Carter Mahoney is one of my favorite book boyfriends and he was far less palatable. So maybe I just like my black souls darker.All in all, The Boy on the Bridge is one of Sam's gems. I highly recommend it for those with really stout hearts and the ability to stomach some rough happenings.I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy of this book.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2021
Top reviews from other countries
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Leyendo ForeverReviewed in Mexico on May 17, 2021
Un one word: what a random story!
- sophie collinsReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2023
Ahh I want a hunter !
