Falls Boys: Hellbent One

Reading Falls Boys was like coming home from a long trip away and needing that deep rooted nostalgia that only home can provide. I fell easily and helplessly into this book from the moment I opened its pages unable to break away until the last word was read. This story is just the start to the next generation, but Pen started us off with a bang. Bringing back everyone we’ve missed and bringing in some new people that we didn’t even know existed. This book was the perfect mixture of Devil’s Night and Fall Away meshed together into one non-stop adrenaline ride, with just the right amount of intrigue and mystery to keep us salivating for more. Hawke was an unexpected delight. I loved his character growth and really seeing him struggle through his issues. It brought levity and realness to him in ways that only Pen can provide. He’s equal parts strong and determined but lost and broken, and that dichotomy was so poignant and raw it took my breath away. I wanted to throttle a couple characters in this book for talking badly about Hawke, they took his weakness and exploited it and ridiculed him for it instead of supporting him and giving him what he needed. Aro was the first one to give him what he needed, and I’m not surprised by that one bit. Aro is the perfect contradiction to Hawke. She’s wild and reckless because she needs to be. But she’s also smart and kind. Patient and loving. She is the missing piece to Hawke in more ways than one. They fit together perfectly. I could feel the tie that binds them in similar ways it did his parents. Juliet was the first person to truly touch Jax, one that he allowed to in ways that no one else did. And Aro was the same for Hawke only she’s allowed to touch him. I died for that past and present connection. Really bringing home the fact that this may be the next generation, but their parents are still well and truly in the picture. I’ve been impatiently waiting for this series since I finished the Fall Away series. But honestly, I’m always impatient when it comes to Pen’s books. The worlds she creates are layered with so many things, memories, moments, people, places, events. She effortlessly weaves both past and present together in so many ways, that it feels as if you are living through two different stories in one and I’m an addict for more. I can’t wait to see where she takes this series next. We got a small glimpse at the very end of Falls Boys just enough to really make us desperate in the best ways. But if that book turns out half as good as this one than we are in for a real treat. And I for one am dying for it. While this can technically be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend that as there is so much happening that without the back story you run the risk of getting lost. Now having said that, The Carnival Tower is coming alive once more!

So I took the night to collect my thoughts, and I still don't know how to rate this - there's a lot going on in the story, and a lot going on in my head. Let's start with this: I'm a first-timer! I've been meaning to check out Douglas' work for years now, and this seemed like the perfect place to start. It's a series starter the DOES pick up a fresh story, but... wow, yeah, not really a standalone, lol. If you're a longtime fan of Douglas' work, chances are that you'll have your own opinion on the storyline, but there are a LOT of characters to keep track of, so many snippets of history that you'll be scratching your head if you're not familiar, and this doesn't actually wrap everything up with a neat little bow. I was legitimately confused sometimes, and based on other responses to this, it's not just because I'm new to this world. Some things just don't make sense. But you know what? The writing was immensely bingeable, and I found myself pushing through the confusion repeatedly because I was honestly curious to see how things turned out. So, this is neither a win nor a loss for me; it provided me with a solid reading experience, but I can EASILY identify like 20 things that didn't work for me. The story follows Aro, a teenager who has grown up taking care of herself. Every day is a battle, but she's got family to provide for, so she perseveres - at least for now. Aro is convinced that she'll die young (she IS in danger at every moment, either from her drug-dealing boss or the cops), so she doesn't hold back. Her latest incident might've gone too far, and Aro soon finds herself mixed up with a group of wealthy teens from the other part of town, including the do-gooder former class president, Hawke. Aro has heard all about Hawke, but she never expected to be drawn to him. Aro came into Hawke's life like a wrecking ball, and she is dismantling everything he thought he knew about himself... possibly in a good way. Let's talk about what I loved for a minute. This hits the ground running from the first page, and it was a high octane read after that, even if I couldn't tell you what the actual plot is about, lol. It's got a suspenseful feel, definite new adult vibes, and an opposites attract dynamic that worked. I loved how well Aro and Hawke complement each other, and more focus on the swoony side of their relationship probably would've made this pretty great. Well... that and a coherent storyline, because I don't think I'm the only one who is confused. I liked that Aro has experienced so much in her life, and that Hawke is the vulnerable one still grappling with a few things. He's also not a manhoe, which I liked. I DIDN'T like the level of OW drama, or that the emotional connection was so weak that Hawke was still messing around with his ex a significant portion of the way in. That definitely put a damper on the romance, so it was sort of strangers to enemies to reluctant friends to friends with benefits to love. Not enough time spent on the quieter, intimate moments, which really could've enhanced the story. I could write an essay on the things that bugged me or the level of confusion I felt while reading, but what I'm trying to say is that there's a lot of good stuff going on in the story, and it was strangely compelling for me. Perhaps it would flow better with a reread, I don't know, but I genuinely liked a significant portion of the book, even if I felt lost many times.

Penelope just hooked me with the promise of intrigue and danger wrapped up in familiarity. You ever move away from your hometown and then come back YEARS later...and it just feels so much like coming home. That nostalgic feeling of knowing where everything is and seeing everyone yet you know nothing because during your absence...things changed! There's a whole new crew running the show and their games are much more intense than when you were last really there. You almost know what to expect yet at the same time, the intensity has been upped to unknown levels and it's almost like there are no boundaries anymore so it's almost like walking into an unknown situation completely blind. Yea, that pretty much sums up Falls Boys for me! And I can't begin to tell you how much I loved this intense, adrenaline-filled feeling that almost every scene in this book left me with. I've been reading Fall Away since 2014 and the moment I knew there would be a second gen; I've been dying for these kids' stories! I was anxious to step back into this world but I had no idea where she would take it...now having finished Falls Boys I can't imagine their world in any other way! It was perfection...I won't go into any single bit of it because my review would quadruple in size but also I am a firm believer that you should experience this book the same way I did. 100% spoiler free! But we will definitely talk about Aro for a minute! Aro Teresa Marquez!! This badass girl that changed everything for Hawke Trent! Remember her name!!! This girl is EVERYTHING a heroine should be! I truly believe that for the rest of this series we are going to see this girl accomplish some amazing things! I loved her boldness, strength and the dedication she had at such a young age to the ones most important to her! I can't even lie, not once did I dislike this girl! At all! Curious about the path she was going to take....perhaps! But each and every time I was so eager to see what she would do! Hawke has always intrigued me and I loved getting to REALLY see him! His inner thoughts revealing so much more than you could have ever imagined! Be prepared to swoon a bit, because this guy just showed up his dad and uncles! Falls Boys was a WILD return to a favorite world....that's just SO MUCH MORE than it was when we left it years ago! If you loved the original Fall Away crew and you also loved Devil's Night then I think you will fall HEAD OVER HEELS for this one!

I'm not finished reading it, but I desperately need to vent my frustrations. Therapy sesh! I'm struggling to read this. I'm sooo not happy about it because I adore Penelope D's writing style- hence the 3 star rating. I'm 150 pages in and bored out of my ever-lovin' mind. I don't care about the plot, I don't care about the fmc. I want to care about the mmc, but even that is taxing thus far. It's aggravating. Will I finish this book? Yes, I have to as a devoted P.D. fan. (At least, that's what's in my head... I must fully read it.) The struggle is real with this one. It's not exciting, the romance connection is non-existent, and the characters are dull. Whereas I really felt P.D. poured some of their soul into the Fall Away series - THIS ain't THAT. To be continued... *Well* I finished it. I think my og 3 star review is accurate. While the story definitely picked up around Chapter 20 or so it still fell flat for me. The romance improved, but it was still missing something. Part of the issue I believe is the short period of time Hawke & Aro actually spent getting to know eachother before they fell in love. It was a little too insta-lovie, imo. She was his first and... idk. Time will tell I suppose. I'm going to keep on with the series for now. Pirate Girls is next and I'm looking forward to Hunter's & Dylan's story. That plot definitely holds more of an appeal. However, what I'm REALLY looking forward to are Kade & Tommy - if that is even in the cards. Hope it is! That (potential) story is already enticing based on the possible hints laid out in this book. To sum up; the writing is excellent, as always. Here and there, it was slightly confusing trying to decipher what was going on in an action scene. I like to be able to have somewhat of a clear picture in my head, and the descriptions were a smidge lacking for me to envision them. I wasn't mentally satisfying. The romance did happen, but it left something to be desired. And it took way too long to get any real hint of it. The plot wasn't interesting. The subplot- which appears to be extending into the continuing story- is. I'm curious to see where that goes. This is not a book I will want to reread. However, I did annotate it for the purpose of being able to look back if need be- to understand future books in this series.

It's finally here. The next generation is here! I've been waiting for the Hellbent series for sometime, and Penelope Douglas does not disappoint. It feels so good to be back in this world, with these characters. This book is kind of hard to review, in the sense that while I'm DYING to talk about it, I also think the less you know, the better the experience will be. Falls Boys is witty, sexy and a little heartbreaking at times. There is danger, mystery and oh so much chemistry. Hawke and Aro are nearly complete opposites. Hawke is from a loving family with every opportunity in front of him. He is spoiled in a way that he has never known what it means to be without any basic needs. Hawk is thoughtful and kind though, and fiercely protective of his family. Aro has grown up in foster care and no nothing of having supportive parents. Her only concerns in life is taking care of her younger siblings and to try to survive. Aro is brave and strong and selfless. The two of them should never even cross paths... But one night changes everything. Hawke and Aro are forced together. And even though they are well aware how different they are, they also can't help but notice they just... fit together. Understand each other in a way no one else has. Swoon. One of the things Penelope Douglas is amazing at, is telling a story within a story. The ubran legend mystery woven through out is just... chef kiss. So well written! *Falls Boys is the first book in the Hellbent series, a spin-off series from the Fall Away series. However, they are all standalones, and you DO NOT need to read any previous books in order to understand Falls Boys. I highly recommend the Fall Away series though. :) You can meet a slightly younger Hawke, as well as the other Hellbent kids in Next to Never. You can meet Hawke's parents (Jaxon and Juliet) in Falling Away*

I love Penelope Douglas’ writing however…this one was a bit different for me. And here is why… The characters…not necessarily Aro and Hawke but ALL the others! There were soooo many characters! I know this book is helping to lead into the rest of the series and maybe that’s why it seemed like there were a lot of people. But man…it was hard to keep up with so much stuff! And not only the characters but all the names of various groupings of people or locations. Westons, Falls, Rivertown, Green Street, Pirates, Rebels, Grudge Night, Rival Week, Carnival Tower. It was a lot! I couldn’t keep straight what was a location, what was a group of people, and what was an actual road! The sheer number of characters in this book threw me off too because I couldn’t remember who was a part of which town. I think that’s one reason why this book took me longer. There was SO MUCH going on! I spent most of the time confused at to where the characters were and who they belonged to. It just wasn’t as enjoyable as other PD stories. I am of course still excited for the rest of the series but I know the character count goes down some. Aro: She’s this fierce, protective, and strong willed girl who just wants to take care of her family. I liked her as a main character. She knows what it’s like to not grow up with money and to see these kids on the other side of the tracks having it all when all she wants is her brother and sister to survive. She does what she can however necessary. I am glad she was able to make a friend in Dylan. Those were fun to read. Hawke: I get that he wants a love like his parents. We all love their story. But his obsession with shutting down when turned on seemed weird to me. I don’t know. It was cute that they explored each other and got to know one another and he eventually fell in love with Aro. I think their relationship could definitely have had more but because there was just so much going on it lacked. My most frustrating part was the whole antagonist aspect. Who exactly was the bad guy??? Reeves?? If it was him he was taken care of rather quickly and easily. It didn’t seem like he was much of a big deal. I ended up thinking “That’s it??” Overall, too many characters, too many names and references, not enough about Aro and Hawke. I enjoyed a lot of Dylan and Kade more. I definitely plan to read the rest of the series but I am hoping for “more”. Favorite quote

You know the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? That’s exactly how I feel getting to step back into one of my favorite places in the entire book world, Shelburne Falls. Good doesn’t adequately describe how amazing this book really is though. I knew from this first chapter that the gloves were coming off with the next generation of kids from the Trent/Carothers gang. We thought the parents had it tuff with their lives in the Fall Away series, but that was mild in comparison with this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I knew it was Hawke and Aro’s story, and the relationship the develops between them, but it’s so much more then that. I absolutely adore Aro. She’s this spitfire that keeps getting knocked down, but gets back up stronger each time. She’s feisty, tuff, protective and loyal to those she loves. She’s been dealt a crappy deal in life, it’s real and raw, but it doesn’t stop her from dreaming about what could be. I absolutely fell in love with Hawke in the story. He’s loving, kind, also protective of his family. Always wanting to do the right thing by others, to never hurt anyone on purpose. He leads with his heart, which he gets in his head about, which causes paralyzing fear. But with that fear, is a burning desire to love someone with his whole heart and soul. I loved the unique dynamic between the two of them. Aro in the alpha role, to Hawkes tender side. Beyond their relationship, the story is full of drama, suspense, secret hide outs, folk lore stories of the past, and the ever present rivalry between the Falls vs Weston kids. Loved seeing the next generation kids playing major roles in the story to. Let there be no mistake this story, and the ones that follow belong to the kids not their parents. Penelope, I loved the introduction to your father at the beginning of the book, and your note at the end had me in tears. I gained new found respect for you not only as an author, but a a mother, wife, sister and daughter. Well done!! (less) flag4 likes · comment · see review

This is more than I think it could be. It is everything that I didn't know I wanted. Latin characters are few and far between in the romance genre, so when one is introduced, I become even more invested in the story. Aro Marquez is what I want to see in a Latina. She is strong, independent, strong and loving. She fights for everything she has and wants. She lands on the radar of Jaxon's son, Hawke, a young man who is moving into the next phase of his life as he figures out what he wants for himself. Apart they belong to the legacies of those who came before them. Together they are a quiet storm waiting to erupt. Pen, I have loved your writing from the first story of yours I came across, Bully. This is no different. I did try to take my time. When I love a story, I want it to last as long as possible, but I did not succeed. One night and early morning, I was done, and I already miss being in the Falls and Weston. On a personal note, thank you for getting Aro's language and culture right. Like her, I know my mom, aunts, grandmothers and many friend's mothers would do everything possible to provide, protect, care for and love their children. To you readers, this story has full characters, a great storyline and plot. It gives us side characters that we crave to learn more about while giving us glimpses into the older generation. There's intrigue and a nod to what's coming down the pike. It leaves you craving more Kade, Hunter, Dylan and Tommy. I haven't forgotten Quinn either. Love this world. Thanks Pen.