Book picks similar to
Blinded by McKayla Box


contemporary
high-school-college
freebie
bully

Promises Hurt


Elle Brooks - 2014
    He’s the most popular guy at school and a complete player. Me; I’m the perpetual good girl, trying to carry out one last request. But when you make a promise, how far do you go to see it through? ~ BlairIt’s a running joke that I’m a terrible liar, if only people knew the truth. My whole life has been spent making excuses and deflecting questions. I was pretty good at it until Blair Thomas entered my world. She saw through the mask that everyone is so willing to accept. She makes me want to tell her all my secrets, but can she promise to keep them?~ Ethan

Cold and Broken


Nichole Greene - 2020
    No one befriends her. Otherwise they risk the wrath of the Titans.”Moving her senior year of high school was not Lilith’s idea of a great plan. She would have much rather stayed with her best friend Zion for their final year of school. Her dad had different plans though; this new job was too good to pass up, and she knew she needed to go with him. Being thrown into a school of snobby rich kids, where she would even have to wear a uniform, seemed like an even worse idea. The icing on the cake, though, is Connor Volkov. He wants her gone and thinks siccing his friends Griffin, Levi, and Margaux on her will scare her off. But, if he wants her out of his life so badly, why does he keep butting into hers?When he first saw Lilith, Connor realized two things: one, he wanted her, and two, he wanted her gone. Making her life at school hell should be enough to make her and her dad get out of his house. The more time he spends with her though, the more his desire for Lilith and her company grows. Realizing he doesn’t want to be the bad guy anymore, Connor has to convince Lilith he’s worth taking a chance on. But, can he show her he’s a lot more than cold comments and hot, stolen kisses? Recommended for readers 18+ due to bullying elements, triggers, and sexual content.

Boys That Tease


Betti Rosewood - 2019
    Dirty. Rich. And all he cares about is ruining her life. She knew being the new girl at Wildwood would never be easy, considering who she is. But nobody warned Tinsley Sullivan I'm not her friend anymore. I'm the enemy, and I can't wait to bully her until she does as I say. They say my name like I'm their king. Crispin Dalton. Lacrosse god. Insta-famous. Drop dead gorgeous, and only eighteen. Teachers and students worship the ground I walk on. They all follow my lead... Except for her. Teen actress. Pop star sensation. Broken beyond belief. She's as beautiful as she is damaged, and I can't help but push those buttons. I didn't think Tinsley would have it in her to fight back. It's kind of adorable that she won't budge, refusing to break for me, to submit to my cruel desires. Except I'll never stop pushing for more. I'm ready to make her life so miserable, she'll be begging me to stop hurting her. There's just one thing that's messing it all up. My crush on Tinsley is still just as intense as it was before everything went to hell. But Tinsley is off limits. Not just because of the scandal that ruined her acting career. But also because I'm kind of, sort of, dating her best friend... First in a series of interconnected high school romances. This is a new adult, high school romance with an enemies-to-lovers relationship. ★★★★★ "This story swept me off my feet, gave me all the feels and kept me yearning for more. It was unforgettable, raw, sexy and just EVERYTHING!" ~ K&M Sultry Reads ★★★★★ "Mind. Fucking. Blown." ~ The Sassy Nerd Blog ★★★★★ "Consuming, Enthralling, Sexy, and MIND-BLOWING! 10 Phenomenal stars!" ~ K.S. Rochell

Always You


Kirsty Moseley - 2012
    To me, he’s simply my best friend, the one who has been there as far back as I can remember. Our relationship has always been easy, playful and affectionate, but after one lost bet, and one payment in the form of a kiss, the dynamic of everything changes… Note: Always You is book one in the Best Friend series; however, it is a standalone novel with a complete ending.

Bad Intentions (Kings of Hawk Academy #1)


Peitho - 2019
    I was offered the chance to be part of their ritual. Old rules. Old traditions. Old building. Old money. But all of this was new to me. I wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t rich or privileged, and I was far from arrogant. The Kings, both Trent and James, were the most gorgeous but dangerously cruelest guys that I’d ever met. They expected me to fall in line and fade away as if their sky blue eyes would brainwash me as they continued to torture me. I was the new girl, but I was no princess. They may be the Kings of Hawk Academy, but when I find out their secrets, I’m going to bring them and these old walls tumbling down. Author's Note: This is book ONE in a THREE book series. Each part of the series is told from a different viewpoint. Please be advised this series contains material not suitable for all readers. There are dark scenes which could be disturbing to some readers.

Wanted


Amanda Lance - 2013
    Desperate to rid the crime of its only witness, one of the thieves kidnaps Addie. Yet surprisingly, when a renegade thief attempts to silence her for good, Addie is saved by the very man who abducted her. Now, forced on board a cargo ship in the middle of the ocean, Addie finds herself surrounded by international smugglers who want nothing more than to throw her overboard. All except the artistic and intriguing Charlie Hays, whose strange protectiveness convinces Addie to trust him, even when common sense tells her otherwise. Yet, despite her doubt, and his unrelenting temper, their relationship develops into something much more. But, Charlie’s scorned colleague has stowed away, and as he seeks revenge against his coworker, Addie and Charlie are forced to put their new love—and lives—at risk.

Tripping Me Up


Amber Garza - 2013
    No one in my high school seems to notice me at all. When they finally do it's because the popular Tripp Bauer accidently smacks me in the face with a wad of paper. Talk about humiliating.Only now he keeps talking to me.At first it was to apologize, and I figured once I forgave him he'd go away. But he doesn't, and now my feelings for him are starting to grow. And that scares me. Guys like Tripp Bauer don't fall for girls like me. Or do they?

Sweetness


Lindsay Paige - 2011
    But after moving to a new town with her dad, a charming boy makes it impossible for her to disappear. Despite her feelings of unworthiness, Emily soon finds herself drawn to the safety of Jake's world. Good looking and the star of the hockey team, Jake has a lot going for him. What most people don't see is the difficult life he has at home. When quiet Emily steals his heart, Jake vows to help her discover she is worthy of love. Just when the two of them realize the sweetness of their relationship, they are put to the test. Only together can they overcome their haunted pasts to fight for a future together

Pierced Love


T.H. Snyder - 2013
    Dressing to the trendiest Goth fashion, Zar wears nothing but black from head to toe. Not that this warrants unwanted attention, but she is also top in her class and is looking at a full academic scholarship to Iowa State in the fall. Loudon Clarke is an all star athlete. He plays three varsity sports and has the world in his hands. Except for one thing; Loudon is failing majority of his subjects. He is about to be suspended from the basketball team risking his athletic scholarship. Zar and Loudon would normally never cross paths, until these two are brought together when Zar’s brother proposes to Loudon’s sister. With an upcoming wedding and a lot of planning Zar and Loudon are stuck with one another regardless of their differences. Zar has hidden behind the pain she deals with on a daily basis for years. Loudon has never had to feel pain nor the ignorance of his peers. Can opposites really bring these two together or will they be pulled even further apart. Only one thing is for sure, it is impossible to fight the connection of pierced love when one is willing to change for happiness.

Skin


B.B. Easton - 2017
    . . perhaps on the entire planet. He hated everyone, except for BB Easton—the perky, quirky punk chick he couldn’t avoid.BB, on the other hand, liked everybody . . . except for Knight. She was scared to death of him, actually. All she wanted was to marry Little Mermaid’s Prince Eric-lookalike and king of the local punk scene Lance Hightower.But Knight was patient. Persistent. Unexpected. And once he got under BB’s skin, her life would never be the same.A  forbidden love story overflowing with '90s nostalgia, dark humor, and heart-wrenching angst, and based on a true story.

Malik


Lisa Helen Gray - 2015
    Shortly after my parents were murdered I moved in with my Grandma. It meant switching schools, losing friends, and moving away from the only home I knew. All I wanted was to finish the school year hassle free. Switching seats on that first day altered my life. After surviving the loss of my parents I never thought anything could break me, but then HE came into my life.... He wants to hurt me Destroy me Ruin me Tragedy brought me here, and a cruel twist of fate has me desperate to leave. There's also someone here that has me fighting to stay though. All my life I’ve lived in the shadows, trying to go unnoticed, until I met HIM.... Malik Carter.... He’s broody, quiet, and holding on to a dark past. From that first meeting I was drawn to him, his painfully gorgeous looks and model physique, but I also knew he was totally out of my league. He's the boy next door who, with his domineering personality, has somehow etched his way into my life. When the Carter Brothers take it upon themselves to protect me from what’s coming, I’m not sure whether to be relieved or shocked. You see, when a Carter brother loves, they love fiercely, strongly and protectively. No one can get in their way. They’re also used to getting what they want, even if it means getting hurt. There’s one thing you should know about the Carter brothers before you read my story.... If you mess with one, you mess with them all.

Deviant


Dani René - 2020
    It was meant to be freedom. But with those watchful eyes, it’s anything but the fresh start I crave. When you’re good, nobody ever remembers. But when you’re bad, they can’t stop reminding you. I was labelled a rebel, a party girl, a nuisance, even a… never mind, you don’t need to know that. That all changed when he gave me a label. I submitted to the nickname. I am a Deviant. I revel in the dark, alongside him. Forbidden. Against the rules. A bad idea. We can’t stop ourselves from breaking the moral compass. But the stranger is watching me. Every move, every breath, and every dream. He’s there, waiting, biding his time. In the end, he will get me. When secrets are spilled… Who will be the deviant then?

Measuring Up


Nyrae Dawn - 2012
    This summer, she's hiring a personal trainer to help her lose weight. Annabel doesn’t expect her trainer to be a gorgeous guy around her age. Boys like Tegan are jerks. They pretend to like girls like her so they can make an idiot out of them. Been there, done that. Totally not going there again. She kind of hates him on principal. Blond. Muscular. Funny. It doesn’t help that he knows her measurements!Soon, Tegan's so much more than that. He’s the boy who teaches her to box when she has a bad day. Who jogs with her and lets her set the pace. Who kisses her until she melts. He makes her feel beautiful regardless of what the scale says. Unlike her mom, he doesn’t expect perfection, and he doesn't try to shield her from the world like her dad and best friend. Tegan likes her the way she is.But what happens when he’s not there? He can’t always be there… Will Annabel be able to stand on her own and learn that she already measures up? That her worth doesn’t lie in what the world thinks, the scale says, or even what Tegan tells her—but in herself?

Evil Love


Ella Fields - 2020
    Ex-girlfriend? Whatever. Point is, the Adonis loved to hate me.It wasn’t my fault he’d followed me. It wasn’t my fault he’d stared too long and stood a little too close, just daring me to accomplish my wildest dreams.And it most certainly wasn’t my fault his ex-girlfriend arrived when he’d decided to kiss me back.Then the cruelty began.I’d thought I could handle it, so long as his lips kept gracing mine and he kept giving me more scorching firsts. Until he took it too far, and all his carefully kept secrets blew open the doors to a brand-new world. A world he was all too familiar with.Obsession became loathing and fear replaced naivety as Jude was forced to hold my hand and help me navigate a secret society rife with sin and debauchery—the crème de la crème of Peridot Island.If I wasn’t careful, I’d do more than lose what remained of my heart. My first love and greatest foe wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d devoured my soul, too.

Marching Offsides


A.M. Williams - 2020
    She plays her music and calls it a day. But when she’s paired with King University’s star quarterback for a class project, she discovers that football might not be all that confusing.Jackson is the big man on campus and star quarterback. People love him and flock to wherever he is. He doesn’t realize how much he hates it until he meets Camden, a girl that acts like she doesn’t know who he is.Can two people from different social groups overcome the expectations placed on them to find true love?This was originally published as part of the Heart Beats Music Anthology, a charity anthology that donated all proceeds to the Mercery Phoenix Trust. The story is the exact same as what was published there, just by itself now.