Very Bad Things (Briarcrest Academy)

Very Bad Things - Ilsa Madden-Mills More like 2.5 stars...Okay, I'm going to start off by prevaricating....hehe...so's you guys (and the author) don't hate me. The most vast majority of my friends, and indeed, all of Goodreads, five starred this book. Not only that, but there was a nice mix of my friends who have extremely varying tastes who really loved this book. So I was ever so hopeful, and quite possibly set the bar too high before I ever even started. I'm just jotting down my thoughts now, and take this opinion for what it's worth - ONE lone opinion amid hundreds.The most promising part of the book was the premise...a nineteen year old senior in high school who lives in the richie-rich City in the middle of Dallas...Highland Park, Texas, has been the epitome of perfection her entire life. And I'm not saying that lightly. This chick has been a robot. Dressed, talked, walked, eaten, and basically lived exactly as her dearest (bitch) mother told her to. It's BAD. She's not really even sure who she is, exactly. Not to mention, one VERY BAD THING that happened in her past...and let me tell you folks, it's a doozie. Now, I'm a Fort Worth, Texas resident...we're the redneck cousin of Dallas...everyone around here knows it. We're cowboys and steak, while Dallas is upper class business and sushi. But we all know how those upper class rich people are, and Nora's parents are the worst.Okay, so what didn't work for me:#1 - Hero slutting it upLeo is banging someone else throughout the ENTIRETY of this book. Literally up until the very end. Um...NO. Huge no-no for me. I don't care that he says she "understands his stance" and doesn't expect anything more from him than sex. It's apparent that she does, and even if that weren't the case, the fact remains...this hero fucks another girl for this whole book.#2 - Lack of self respectNora, in my mind, has no pride when it comes to Leo. She chases him, offers herself up to him over and over again, strips naked for him, and no matter how many times he rejects her, she comes back for more, insisting that he loves her, that they are meant to be. I can't stand when a woman begs after a man. Sexist? Yes. My apologies. I want the man to do the begging and the chasing."Are you saying we're soul mates? That you're in love with me?" Yes, Leo...she says it over and over again.#3 - Insta LoveInsta love that is never backed up with REAL love. Both Nora and Leo have a bad case of insta love. Thing is, I totally like insta love...I think it's romantic. I knew within days that my husband was the love of my life....so yeah, I truly believe in love at first sight. But only when the ensuing story solidifies that attraction with real meaning, real purpose, real feelings. Nora's CONSTANT waxing on about soul mates made me want to laugh...it was just cheesy, because I didn't understand why she and Leo were so googly eyed over each other. Nearly every scene that they are in together is nothing but heated looks, longing eyes, sexual innuendo, or actual sexual acts. But not much talking about anything of importance. I never actually got to the point that I liked either of them...I didn't know them well enough...the entire plot consists of Nora's terrible childhood and her new obsession with Leo. That's it.#4 - The DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA DRAMANora's initial breakdown was pretty over the top. Who suddenly decides to just go crazy...tattoos, piercings, becoming a drunk, vandalizing cars, destroying expensive household things, doing drugs, etc....not to mention that she plans it all out. It was just so...high school, and I never got the feeling that Nora dealt with her issues. It was all about this obsession with Leo, nothing focused on how she really needed to heal and deal with her truly messed up life. I lost count of how many times Leo and Nora lip locked, got hot and heavy, then pushed away from each other, had words, and stormed away...either in anger or tears. Soooo many times. It was a wash, rinse, repeat in a different setting. Also, When Nora's brother is in the alley with her, instead of running away, Nora DRAMATICALLY sinks down to her knees, giving him plenty of time to pull the rope out of his pocket and walk over to her, verbally threatening her the entire time.The GOOD part - Drew!!!!!!!!!!! I loved Drew!!! And I really loved Sebastian!! I'd love to see them get their own HEAs...these two boys were the levity in this book. They added some much needed lightheartedness and gave Nora true friendship when she needed it most. I wish that her aunt had been more of a part of the story, because I really think she needed some stability in the form of an adult. I think possibly this is what kept me from connecting with Nora more. To me, she was just a lost little girl making bad decisions.But read it for yourself and see what you think!!!!