Very Bad Things

Briarwood Academy, Book 1

By: Ilsa Madden-Mills

Narrated by: Emily Durante, Sean Crisden

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

Born into a life of privilege and secrets, Nora Blakely has everything any 19-year-old girl could desire. She's an accomplished pianist, a Texas beauty queen, and on her way to Princeton after high school. She's perfect. Leaving behind her million-dollar mansion and Jimmy Choos, she becomes a girl hell-bent on pushing the limits with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless sex. Then she meets her soul mate. But he doesn't want her.

When it comes to girls, 25-year-old Leo Tate has one rule: never fall in love. His gym and his brother are all he cares about...until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six-year age difference. As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken.

©2013 Ilsa Madden-Mills (P)2014 Tantor

Angst is only the beginning of the DRAMA

I am uncertain of my opinion of this book.

I would describe this as a survivors story for young adults perhaps.This story dealt with a high school senior who is 18 .... from a wealthy successful family .... but held dark secrets.

WARNING: This deals with incest/rape/mental abuse. Those difficult subjects were approached in a way I think would an inspiration to young people. HOWEVER, her attraction to an slightly older (24) year old male and his attraction to her was drawn out far too long ..... add that to the problems she faces with bullying at school, parents who are absent or mentally abusive .... her half-brothers rape and taunting .... the girl friend of her would be love interest being brutal ..... other girls in high school jealous of their boy friends apparent attraction to her, yet another rape attempt ..... you get way too much drama overload which is why I knocked it down to 3 stars. She does get her HEA ....but it was a long drawn out process.

The performance by Emily Durante and Sean Chriden is stellar as usual (I still don't care for Chriden's female voice). I used a credit for this book .... but recommend waiting for a sale.

Love this story

Nora is so awesome. The storyline was amazing the characters. I wish mila would get a story.
I know Cuba is next I wish that had a audible I loved reading that one too.
Little x rated at some parts but I just skipped .
The strength and journey of this story just blew me away. Love her tattoo too
Awesome love story

Narration

I enjoyed the story even though it was a bit repetitive with the anguish each character felt. The female narrator was great with her voice inflections but listening to the male narrator was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I almost didn't finish.

Awesome

Great book
Great narration
Great story lines as well

Would recommend it to my friends

Yasssss!!!

This was an awesome book!!! I love these types of books. A little push and pull with some pain makes any book stick with me. We all have our demons, hard times and the little sweet times in between can be eaten up by the demons. This book shows that but in the end love will prevail!!!

Triggers

this was a really good story, however there should be a warning in the audio description about the abuse. I was abused as a child by a sibling and when it was first brought to light I almost DNF. however I was already invested in the two main characters Nora and Leo and wanted to see if they made it through.

a fantastic YA romance

I floved this book!!! the performance was fantastic, I'm a huge fan of Ilsa Madden-Mills and yet I've not read this series. tou can bet that's changing now!!!

Nora and Leo

Nora is young, immature, fighting some demons, and annoying at times. Leo is too old for her, fighting feelings his feelings, and not ready for what is in store for him. I felt like all the scenarios in this book were unbelievable. I was pulled in at the beginning but after a while it was hard to get through. I only finished because I purchased it. I absolutely hate being negative about a book because I a lot of respect for authors, and I know all the hard work that goes into writing a story.

Very Bad Things by Ils a Madden-Mills

Wow! Ilsa Madden-Mills goes deep with her character development of Nora. Allowing the reader a slow build-up of understanding the impetus to her actions, her secrets, and motivations. Her slow, rocky and very brave journey to find her strength and healing. So very well done. Leo was mostly honorable, but found it nearly impossible to fight the vulnerability in this girl that reached into his soul from the start. Sebastian and Mila, even Drew are great supporting friends and characters. Fantastic story. Hard to put down once I got into it. Narration was well done. 4.5 stars

I just flove Ilsa Madden-mills ❤

I can't believe I didn't read this series sooner!!! I have read everything by Ilsa Madden-mills and she is absolutely amazing and never disappoints ❤❤