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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Whew, there was a lot of drama in this one! The whole professor/student trope isn't really my jam. But, it was a solid read nonetheless.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book perpetuates so many dangerous ideas, it's a story of abuse packaged as a romance. A grown man is pursuing his teenage student, and this student is recklessly pursuing him back. The only adult in this situation that rightfully points out how wrong this all is, is treated as the villain. Everyone else around them either accepts it or adamantly pushes for it.
There's zero reason as to why TB couldn't age Honey up to at least a college senior, around 22 years old, but no, she has a 19 year old being taken advantage of and plyed with alcohol by various adults throughout this story. Additionally, the lesson that Ben learns from his father is so fucking toxic. Instead of saying, "wow, cheating is wrong and being involved with underaged/barely legal girls is evil," his takeaway is "women lie." Not to mention him being the actual liar in this situation with that letter bullshit. He's also emotional abusive to her, constantly punishing her for imagined slights and being intentionally cruel to create distance, rather than communicating his feelings. He love bombs her constantly with grander and grander gestures every time he screws up. Also the use of Lolita? Brother, eugh!
Overall, this story is trash and I hope no young girl reads this thinking it's the embodiment of romance and tries to replicate it. This is a story of abuse and TB should be ashamed to peddle this as a love story.
There's zero reason as to why TB couldn't age Honey up to at least a college senior, around 22 years old, but no, she has a 19 year old being taken advantage of and plyed with alcohol by various adults throughout this story. Additionally, the lesson that Ben learns from his father is so fucking toxic. Instead of saying, "wow, cheating is wrong and being involved with underaged/barely legal girls is evil," his takeaway is "women lie." Not to mention him being the actual liar in this situation with that letter bullshit. He's also emotional abusive to her, constantly punishing her for imagined slights and being intentionally cruel to create distance, rather than communicating his feelings. He love bombs her constantly with grander and grander gestures every time he screws up. Also the use of Lolita? Brother, eugh!
Overall, this story is trash and I hope no young girl reads this thinking it's the embodiment of romance and tries to replicate it. This is a story of abuse and TB should be ashamed to peddle this as a love story.
2 stars because I could never give my girl Tessa one star… but there’s no plot to this book- all spice and dirty talk
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book 11 of 2025 finished 30/1/25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Book 2 of the Broke and Beautiful series
Honey Perribow has left her cowboy boots at home on the farm and is following her dream to study at Columbia University. She has 2 amazing roommates and a handsome professor to look at every day. She knows she shouldn’t but she just can’t resist him, Ben Dawson is gorgeous.
The pair share a kiss in a dark, locked closet but when the lights come on and Ben realises it’s the student he can’t stop thinking about he is stunned. Ben tries to ignore their attraction but no matter how hard he tries he can’t stop thinking about Honey. But she’s his student, she’s off limits, and now she’s flown back home before he has had a chance to show her how much he needs her.
My thoughts: This is the first time I’ve read a ‘hot for teacher’ trope and not cringed. It doesn’t feel seedy at all which is the vibe I usually get. The story is lightweight and easy to read. The characters are the best friends of the MCs of the first book so we already know a little of these characters backstory which helps draw you to them. I really enjoyed the inclusion of book 1’s characters too.
The pace is a bit off, Ben is supposed to be desperate to avoid his student but he really doesn’t do much to avoid her to be honest. I would have preferred an extra 100 pages to build some tension or slow it down a bit. You can tell that this is Tessa Bailey’s earlier work but it’s still a great book.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
I wasn't able to finish it. I could not deal with literary theory professor calling her Lolita.
I'm assuming the character would have read or and knows its about the rape of an 11 years old. Using it to indicate something sexual is so gross for me. I couldn't get over it.
I'm assuming the character would have read or and knows its about the rape of an 11 years old. Using it to indicate something sexual is so gross for me. I couldn't get over it.
funny
medium-paced