Vera Hollins – лучшие книги

Three weeks ago, Carter and I had managed to find each other again. We’d managed to conquer hate and give in to the all-consuming feelings that had always existed between us. Life was perfect at last.

Until the next day, when everything came crashing down.

Separated by tragedy and the terrible truth surrounding the death of Carter’s mom, Carter and I couldn’t feel further apart, fighting every step of the way and prolonging the cycle of hatred between us.

But that’s the thing about hate built on the back of love. The more you try to hate, the more love wants to persist, and with every encounter, my heart bleeds ever more for him, refusing to consider him my enemy.

Soon enough, the lines between us blur.

But he’s already broken my heart twice. Getting close to him yet again would be a mistake.

Unless we can learn how to conquer our demons, despite it all, and finally let our love prevail.

Warning: This book contains sexual content and sensitive themes such as pregnancy loss, grief, and mentions of suicide. It includes situations that may be triggering for some readers, so caution is advised. Please note that Bitter Enemies is part two of a duet within the Hurtful Love series. It can’t be read as a standalone, so it’s necessary to read Shattered Memories (Hurtful Love #1) before reading this book.

Carter Reese hated me from the moment Mom and I moved into his dad’s house. Grief-stricken over the loss of his mother, he never accepted my mom as his dad’s new girlfriend. He claimed we were intruders and never missed a chance to insult us. I wanted nothing to do with him.

Neither of us counted on falling for each other.

For a year and a half, he was the guy of my dreams. He was my lover, my best friend, my twinkling star. Everything was perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

Memories work in funny ways, depending on the circumstances. One moment, they can be a source of great joy, and the next . . . they’re just a painful reminder of happiness lost. Because when Carter was injured in an accident, he woke up missing all of his memories of the last two years, forgetting he ever loved me. Now he refuses to believe we’re no longer enemies. He refuses to let me be close to him. Now those missing memories only cause me pain.

Despite that, I refuse to give up on our love and our memories. I’ve decided to fight for him. No matter how hard he tries to push me away, I’m going to show him we’re meant to be.

But I don’t count on the scars his continuous insults create. And when our family dynamic shifts, I’m worried that not only have I irrevocably lost him, but there also might be serious consequences of his hate.

I have always been bullied and trapped in darkness. I hoped life would get better when I moved to my mother's hometown, but it only got worse because it was there that I met my unrequited crush, Hayden Black.He despised me from day one, and even more when I became best friends with his twin, Kayden. Kayden gave light to my life, but my happiness with him lasted only until one night two years ago.That night Kayden died because of me.Half of me died with him. The other half was left to bleed, suffering Hayden's and his friends' constant bullying.Now I must endure one more year before I can finally escape them and go to college. This year has…

One moment. That’s all it takes for your life to do a one-eighty. One moment to have your dreams shattered and freedom stolen. One moment to forget who you are.

The night Caroline Adams decided to drive drunk and ended up striking me as I stood on the sidewalk was when that moment happened to me. Nothing has been the same since.

In a wheelchair and broken, I’ve started my senior year at Lake Gate High, where I have to deal with the humiliating stares and whispers. Moreover, I have to see him—Jason Adams, Caroline’s brother.

He doesn’t hide the fact that he hates me for being the reason Caroline ended up in juvenile detention, and that he wants me to stay away from him. But that might prove to be impossible when we’re cast as the leads in our school play and that line between us gets blurred.

But I won’t let my old feelings for him resurface.

Not when he’s a jerk.

Not when that moment keeps haunting me and reminding me of the darkness.

The darkness of that night I might never be able to escape from.

Six months ago, I arrived in Enfield looking for a fresh start. Scarred by an old incident, I hoped life in a new town would help me finally accept myself, but I was wrong because the big change brought something way worse. Blake Jones.I was on Blake’s radar from the first day of our senior year, when he humiliated me in front of the whole school with a “welcome party.” However, it wasn’t welcoming at all, and it was just the start.Day after day, Blake was there to remind me I was fat and worthless, and the coward in me never let me defend myself.Until I finally exploded and fought back, right in the middle of class.But now? Now I have to pay the price because Blake won’t let it slide. He’ll make sure I regret it.Unless I manage to break out of his hatred and my all-consuming fears.

Three years ago, I became a shell of the girl I'd once been, left to pick up the pieces of my soul. I’d decided I wasn’t going to let anyone walk all over me or bring me down, and I was surviving just fine. But then I met him. Masen Brown. I call him Barbie, though. Or Pudding Face. Or Walking STD. The list of insults goes on and on, I hate him that much. He’s rotten to the core, a bully, a womanizer, and the cockiest guy I’ve ever met. I’m going to teach him his place. One way or another. He doesn’t give in without a fight. He strikes back each time, though I’m not one to give up or be intimidated. He’s going to see he’s finally met his match in me. So, either he'll learn his lesson, or I’m going to make him learn it.

Nine days have passed since Hayden got into an accident and fell into a coma. Nine days of hoping for a miracle that would allow him to wake up. Nine long, endless days.Half of me is conquered by despair, while the other half clings to the hope that he will recover soon. I refuse to let fear and doubt overcome me. Hayden is dark and complicated, but as the days pass, I'm more determined to fight for him despite the hurdles in our way.I have to believe that there won't be serious consequences once he wakes up. I have to believe that we will overcome all obstacles and become stronger together.After all, we may be both damaged, but we're each other's salvation.

Two months have passed since the day I pushed Hayden away. Two months since I found out he loved me and wanted to be with me. I’ve been trying to move on and forget about him, but my heart refuses to listen.

Hayden had almost died saving me. Half of me wants to forgive him for everything and give him another chance. The other half prevents me from doing so, distrusting him and ignoring my heart's desires. Hayden is dark and complicated, and as the days pass, he gets further away from me, ignoring me whenever our paths cross.

I have less than a year before I go to college, and I won't see him ever again. I have to believe I will get over him…