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Stepbully #1
Stepbully
Cole Smith, all-star athlete, six feet tall, smouldering blue eyes… He’s the hottest guy I’ve ever known, and I’ve had a crush on him since I was eight years old. The feeling isn’t mutual, though. Cole’s been tormenting me for as long as I can remember.
He only teases you because he likes you, says my mother.
But even if that were true, we’d still be off-limits to each other.
Cole is my stepbrother.
This past year, with Cole away at university, has probably been the most peaceful year I’ve had since our parents got married. But now that Cole is back home for the summer, things are worse than they’ve ever been.
He and his best friend Xander won’t leave me alone. They never take their eyes off me, and they’re always picking on me, pushing my boundaries further and further, until all three of us end up in uncharted territory.
He only teases you because he likes you, says my mother.
But even if that were true, we’d still be off-limits to each other.
Cole is my stepbrother.
This past year, with Cole away at university, has probably been the most peaceful year I’ve had since our parents got married. But now that Cole is back home for the summer, things are worse than they’ve ever been.
He and his best friend Xander won’t leave me alone. They never take their eyes off me, and they’re always picking on me, pushing my boundaries further and further, until all three of us end up in uncharted territory.
ebook
Published February 28, 2022
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About the author
Astra Rose
16 books424 followersAstra Rose writes stories that explore taboos and power imbalances, including age gap and daddy kink. She is the author of Off Limits and Haven.
Hailing from Canada, Astra needs to write hot erotic fiction to stay warm. That's also why her words contain so many extra vowels. She's proud to write stories that make you feel something and believes that smut is (actually, physiologically) good for you.
Join Astra’s readers’ group on Facebook to connect with Astra and be the first to hear about new releases, promos, and giveaways → https://www.facebook.com/groups/680616649619011
Hailing from Canada, Astra needs to write hot erotic fiction to stay warm. That's also why her words contain so many extra vowels. She's proud to write stories that make you feel something and believes that smut is (actually, physiologically) good for you.
Join Astra’s readers’ group on Facebook to connect with Astra and be the first to hear about new releases, promos, and giveaways → https://www.facebook.com/groups/680616649619011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
February 28, 2022
I'm OBSESSED with this!!!
StepBully is a spicy, short, bully, taboo novella.
Hailey and Cole used to be best friends when they were younger. That all stopped when junior high started and Cole started to bully her. She is also stuck with him as her stepbrother.
Cole is back from college for summer and him and his best friend Xander are home, and taunting Hailey.
And OH BOY, do things get spicy!!!
I love Hailey!! Her love of smutty, dark romance books is AMAZING and her and her best friend have a podcast about them, too!! Cole might be a jerk but he is a HOT jerk!!
I am hoping we get more of Cole and Hailey, pretty pretty please!!!!
StepBully is a spicy, short, bully, taboo novella.
Hailey and Cole used to be best friends when they were younger. That all stopped when junior high started and Cole started to bully her. She is also stuck with him as her stepbrother.
Cole is back from college for summer and him and his best friend Xander are home, and taunting Hailey.
And OH BOY, do things get spicy!!!
I love Hailey!! Her love of smutty, dark romance books is AMAZING and her and her best friend have a podcast about them, too!! Cole might be a jerk but he is a HOT jerk!!
I am hoping we get more of Cole and Hailey, pretty pretty please!!!!
March 23, 2024
if you’re into taboo tropes this is for you. if you’re not, LOOK AWAY!
🥵
🥵
Did not finish
January 27, 2025DNF @ 15% - everyone is way too horny in this book - the bullying is just immature and nasty for no particular reason - plus the heros are into each other. MM is not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
At least for the moment, I don’t care if she’s my stepsister.
2/5 ⭐ 2/5 🌶️
Step-siblings and bully are one of my favorite tropes and I was so excited to get into this one! It was kind of fun with spicy scenes, mm, the forbidden aspect and the antagonism between the mcs but there was something missing for me. I mostly hated the mmc - Cole-. His dialogues and inner povs were … unfortunately painful to read.
But let’s get a bit into the plot. Hailey and Cole (steb-siblings) have a very stretched relationship, with Cole antagonizing Hailey every chance he gets. Obviously they both like each other, but Cole prefers to act with the attitude of a 5-year old. And then we add to the equation Xander, Cole’s best friend and occasional lover, who also bullies but likes Hailey. It’s safe to say that things get messy pretty fast.
The book focuses mostly on the relationship between Hailey and Cole, and although there are intimate moments with both mcs and Xander, he remains at the sidelines.
I liked the dynamic between the three characters, and although the bully aspect was pretty light for my taste, it was enjoyable. However, both the writing and the boys' attitudes, povs and dialogues were messy af. I am all about a*holes mmcs but Cole and Xander were just the bad type of douchebags, the characters that the mysterious, dark mmcs obliterates in a dark college romance. They were childish and idiotic, in a way that made them boring… so unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the book.
Did I like it? uh..no
Would I reread it? Nope.
2/5 ⭐ 2/5 🌶️
Step-siblings and bully are one of my favorite tropes and I was so excited to get into this one! It was kind of fun with spicy scenes, mm, the forbidden aspect and the antagonism between the mcs but there was something missing for me. I mostly hated the mmc - Cole-. His dialogues and inner povs were … unfortunately painful to read.
But let’s get a bit into the plot. Hailey and Cole (steb-siblings) have a very stretched relationship, with Cole antagonizing Hailey every chance he gets. Obviously they both like each other, but Cole prefers to act with the attitude of a 5-year old. And then we add to the equation Xander, Cole’s best friend and occasional lover, who also bullies but likes Hailey. It’s safe to say that things get messy pretty fast.
The book focuses mostly on the relationship between Hailey and Cole, and although there are intimate moments with both mcs and Xander, he remains at the sidelines.
I liked the dynamic between the three characters, and although the bully aspect was pretty light for my taste, it was enjoyable. However, both the writing and the boys' attitudes, povs and dialogues were messy af. I am all about a*holes mmcs but Cole and Xander were just the bad type of douchebags, the characters that the mysterious, dark mmcs obliterates in a dark college romance. They were childish and idiotic, in a way that made them boring… so unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the book.
Did I like it? uh..no
Would I reread it? Nope.
March 6, 2022
I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.
Hailey has loved Cole since they were children but things changed between them when her mum married his dad. He has spent years now tormenting her with his best friend and making her life as miserable as he could. The past year he had been away at university but now they are both back and making things harder than ever before. The night she finally takes her revenge she ends up paying a higher price than she ever expected, especially when things get really heated between them. Is this just another way for Cole to hurt her or is this him finally acting on how he feels?
Cole remembers when Hailey was his own personal sunshine but that time passed and when his dad and her mum got married he knew that any hope he had once thought about maker her his were well and truly over. Back for summer break he sets about making things harder than before with the help of his best friend Xander and he knows he’s succeeding, but Hailey isn’t the same girl he left behind and she’s making him feel things he never wanted too. Is this really a game to him or a chance at so much more?
This is my first book by this author and yes I enjoyed it but I had one or two issues with it. Cole to me is never likeable from page one to the final page, his character has no reason for the way he treated Hailey. Hailey needed more backbone shh he d gave in too easily especially after his and Xander’s treatment. Good read but I would have like an epilogue further into their future. 4* read.
Hailey has loved Cole since they were children but things changed between them when her mum married his dad. He has spent years now tormenting her with his best friend and making her life as miserable as he could. The past year he had been away at university but now they are both back and making things harder than ever before. The night she finally takes her revenge she ends up paying a higher price than she ever expected, especially when things get really heated between them. Is this just another way for Cole to hurt her or is this him finally acting on how he feels?
Cole remembers when Hailey was his own personal sunshine but that time passed and when his dad and her mum got married he knew that any hope he had once thought about maker her his were well and truly over. Back for summer break he sets about making things harder than before with the help of his best friend Xander and he knows he’s succeeding, but Hailey isn’t the same girl he left behind and she’s making him feel things he never wanted too. Is this really a game to him or a chance at so much more?
This is my first book by this author and yes I enjoyed it but I had one or two issues with it. Cole to me is never likeable from page one to the final page, his character has no reason for the way he treated Hailey. Hailey needed more backbone shh he d gave in too easily especially after his and Xander’s treatment. Good read but I would have like an epilogue further into their future. 4* read.
June 25, 2025
Cole, Xander and Hailey.
February 5, 2025
Very short - not much content. But 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
October 2, 2025
Devoured this and it devoured me🔥
Normally the bully trope is not my thing BUT this one hit just right 🥵
Normally the bully trope is not my thing BUT this one hit just right 🥵
March 28, 2022
Stepbully by Astra Rose is a forbidden erotic romance.
This is the first book of Astra's that I have read and it definitely won't be my last. The chemistry between Hailey and Cole was off the charts. If you are looking for a quick steamy read look no further.
The only downfall of this book was how short it was. I would love to get more of Hailey, Cole, and even Xander.
I would recommend this book if you like erotic romances, forbidden romances, or taboo romances.
This is the first book of Astra's that I have read and it definitely won't be my last. The chemistry between Hailey and Cole was off the charts. If you are looking for a quick steamy read look no further.
The only downfall of this book was how short it was. I would love to get more of Hailey, Cole, and even Xander.
I would recommend this book if you like erotic romances, forbidden romances, or taboo romances.
April 17, 2022
yo no sé porque me empeñó en leer este tipo de historias, sabiendo que detesto los bully romance. Se nota que me gusta pasarla mal.
le doy una estrella porque hay una escena donde el chico entra al cuarto de la chica y comienza a fastidiarla, y le termina por romper los libros mientras ella le pide que se detenga, ¿La razón? Le dio su fkn gana y ya. Sinceramente eso me pareció inconcebible e imperdonable, y miren que he leído cosas peores que no me hicieron tanto ruido como eso.
le doy una estrella porque hay una escena donde el chico entra al cuarto de la chica y comienza a fastidiarla, y le termina por romper los libros mientras ella le pide que se detenga, ¿La razón? Le dio su fkn gana y ya. Sinceramente eso me pareció inconcebible e imperdonable, y miren que he leído cosas peores que no me hicieron tanto ruido como eso.
September 17, 2022
I know what a bully romance is usually about and I'm a person who doesn't have triggers when reading, but this book surprised me in an incredible way.
Can we talk about the fact that even though she didn't say anything but she looked hesitant he didn't stop doing what he was doing and yet when she told him to stop he kept going? I mean, come on! Idk, I've read several taboo's and unusual books and as I mentioned before I don't have triggers but I didn't like this book at all 🤷🏻♀️
Can we talk about the fact that even though she didn't say anything but she looked hesitant he didn't stop doing what he was doing and yet when she told him to stop he kept going? I mean, come on! Idk, I've read several taboo's and unusual books and as I mentioned before I don't have triggers but I didn't like this book at all 🤷🏻♀️
September 18, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I want more of Cole, Xander and Hailey! The story was short & spicy, with some 🔥 dub-con thrown in to take it up a level since it’s friends-to-bully-to-lovers. Ooooooh, and there’s some 🔥 M/M too between Cole & Zander, and some sharing, going in raw, and ends with a HFN. Def would love to see a follow up story and how they get their HEA. Astra Rose is quickly becoming a fave author and I find myself downloading each new book the moment it’s released.
I want more of Cole, Xander and Hailey! The story was short & spicy, with some 🔥 dub-con thrown in to take it up a level since it’s friends-to-bully-to-lovers. Ooooooh, and there’s some 🔥 M/M too between Cole & Zander, and some sharing, going in raw, and ends with a HFN. Def would love to see a follow up story and how they get their HEA. Astra Rose is quickly becoming a fave author and I find myself downloading each new book the moment it’s released.
October 20, 2022
I liked this steamy/dirty short that has some MM, MFM and MF action all in one. Always love a stepbrother trope too, and he was a good filthy talker though I wish there was more of that. It's a short so not much story/development to speak of but fits the bill for a dirty short. It doesn't really have an ending but I was pleased to see there is a sequel featuring same characters coming soon.
3.5 Stars
3.5 Stars
April 9, 2023
This was awful 🥴
I was so curious with this one and it ended up being a freaking (bad) mess. The characters were so bland and boring and so was the story.
I found this book out with another cover, I'm pretty sure if I saw this ugly ass one I never would pick it up 🤢
Thank you, next.
▬ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: forbidden romance, bully, stepbrothers, LGBT, polyamorous (MMF)
▬ 𝐭𝐰: abuse
I was so curious with this one and it ended up being a freaking (bad) mess. The characters were so bland and boring and so was the story.
I found this book out with another cover, I'm pretty sure if I saw this ugly ass one I never would pick it up 🤢
Thank you, next.
▬ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: forbidden romance, bully, stepbrothers, LGBT, polyamorous (MMF)
▬ 𝐭𝐰: abuse
August 3, 2022
read Aug 3, 2022 - Aug 3, 2022: 1 star
February 26, 2023
Forbidden, step sibling, bully romance with a dash of MFM and pure smut 🔥
This definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but holy shit was it hot! I do feel as if the ending rushed a little bit, like they fell asleep after fucking and then all of a sudden Cole is back off to university… idk maybe I’m just being greedy and needed more lmao. It’s definitely a quick and easy read. I can’t wait to jump into book 2!
This definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but holy shit was it hot! I do feel as if the ending rushed a little bit, like they fell asleep after fucking and then all of a sudden Cole is back off to university… idk maybe I’m just being greedy and needed more lmao. It’s definitely a quick and easy read. I can’t wait to jump into book 2!
November 13, 2022
"At least for the moment, I don’t care if she’s my stepsister. I don’t care if our parents are downstairs. I just know that I couldn’t bear to see her pretend to be with someone else when the only person she can belong to is me.
She’s mine."
.
.
This is a story of Hailey, who is annoyed that her Stepbrother, Cole is back for summer break with his best friend Xander. She hates his guts, and Cole and Xander both love to make Hailey's life unbearable. One day after a particular incident she enters the movie room to give Cole the taste of his own medicine but finds him and Xander in a precarious position. And thus starts a new set of events.
.
.
This was a wonderful read, it was super short but full of feels. I don't condone bullying but there's just some beauty in it when there is Lust and Love simmering just under the surface.
She’s mine."
.
.
This is a story of Hailey, who is annoyed that her Stepbrother, Cole is back for summer break with his best friend Xander. She hates his guts, and Cole and Xander both love to make Hailey's life unbearable. One day after a particular incident she enters the movie room to give Cole the taste of his own medicine but finds him and Xander in a precarious position. And thus starts a new set of events.
.
.
This was a wonderful read, it was super short but full of feels. I don't condone bullying but there's just some beauty in it when there is Lust and Love simmering just under the surface.
May 9, 2024
Sooo step siblings. 👌🏼 Spicy book. 👌🏼 I’m giving this 5 stars because the writing is great and I appreciate the storyline. But it wasn’t my cup of tea at all. It’s a great piece but I was asking for noncon step brother recs on an app and this was very “he’s dark and pushy” but she definitely wanted and enjoyed . Great chemistry. Great author.
My die hard fave is non-con. So just because it wasn’t my cup of tea, it definitely wasn’t a bad read or boring by any means. Definitely spicy. Great book for taboo steamy step sibs if you want both characters to enjoy. ❤️🫶🏼 Definitely read if this sounds up your alley ❤️❤️🥰🥰
My die hard fave is non-con. So just because it wasn’t my cup of tea, it definitely wasn’t a bad read or boring by any means. Definitely spicy. Great book for taboo steamy step sibs if you want both characters to enjoy. ❤️🫶🏼 Definitely read if this sounds up your alley ❤️❤️🥰🥰
October 9, 2024
This girl is a delusional doormat.
February 3, 2025
This is straight up 🍇. Without any warning for me as a reader. The characters are thin and the ”bully to lovers” is giving more of a toxic abuser —> victim vibe. Do not recommend
April 27, 2023
Before I started reading I noticed this was going to be short. I had completely forgotten the ones I've read previously were just as short :( I like my stuff face paced - but not this fast! lol
There were no chapters before the story started but it was split POV between the FMC and MMC
:D YAY!
I really enjoyed the author's previous works but i've always hated the length cause I always want more!
I hate the FMC trope that gets bullied but then allows the sexual shit with the MMC ( their bully ) like all the hurt and pain they caused meant nothing as long as she is getting some kind of attention from him. Like whyyyy???
I wanted to know so bad what made him stop being her friend and start hating her. When he finally told her I was like ... seriously? THATS why?
I still loved the story and the writing though. It seems like he's just going to keep bullying her no matter what. But hey, she apparently likes it.
My favorite part about the dark romance or bully romance is when the relationship changes from bad to good. I don't like the FMC who just give in to get the sexual attention even though she's been through hell. But if the MMC changes and start trying to atone and apologizes and explains (and has a recent other than the person being rich lmao) then okay yeah! I love that.
Even though its the kind I don't like - where she just allows him to treat her like poop and still use her to get off - Its still really good. I love the smutty smut. <3
There were no chapters before the story started but it was split POV between the FMC and MMC
:D YAY!
I really enjoyed the author's previous works but i've always hated the length cause I always want more!
I hate the FMC trope that gets bullied but then allows the sexual shit with the MMC ( their bully ) like all the hurt and pain they caused meant nothing as long as she is getting some kind of attention from him. Like whyyyy???
I wanted to know so bad what made him stop being her friend and start hating her. When he finally told her I was like ... seriously? THATS why?
I still loved the story and the writing though. It seems like he's just going to keep bullying her no matter what. But hey, she apparently likes it.
My favorite part about the dark romance or bully romance is when the relationship changes from bad to good. I don't like the FMC who just give in to get the sexual attention even though she's been through hell. But if the MMC changes and start trying to atone and apologizes and explains (and has a recent other than the person being rich lmao) then okay yeah! I love that.
Even though its the kind I don't like - where she just allows him to treat her like poop and still use her to get off - Its still really good. I love the smutty smut. <3
April 8, 2022
-⭐️ for ending
Step Bully by Astra Rose is spicy standalone novella.
Tropes:
✔️ Step-Siblings
✔️ Virgin
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ MMF
This story is exactly as advertised… a short, smutty bully romance between step-siblings with a best friend thrown in for fun. This is my first Astra Rose book and it delivered on what I was expecting. Gave me Jessa Kane vibes who is my go to smutty novella author so it was nice to switch it up. The ending felt random and rushed but overall it was good. Just know what you are getting into.
🌶 starts: About 20%
✨“Hailey, Hailey, Hailey… you h***y b***h. How dare you judge us for watching *orn when you just read it all day?”✨
Cole Smith, all-star athlete, six feet tall, smouldering blue eyes… He’s the hottest guy I’ve ever known, and I’ve had a crush on him since I was eight years old.
Cole is also my stepbrother.
He and his best friend Xander won’t leave me alone. They never take their eyes off me, and they’re always picking on me, pushing my boundaries further and further, until all three of us end up in uncharted territory.
Check Triggers.
Step Bully by Astra Rose is spicy standalone novella.
Tropes:
✔️ Step-Siblings
✔️ Virgin
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ MMF
This story is exactly as advertised… a short, smutty bully romance between step-siblings with a best friend thrown in for fun. This is my first Astra Rose book and it delivered on what I was expecting. Gave me Jessa Kane vibes who is my go to smutty novella author so it was nice to switch it up. The ending felt random and rushed but overall it was good. Just know what you are getting into.
🌶 starts: About 20%
✨“Hailey, Hailey, Hailey… you h***y b***h. How dare you judge us for watching *orn when you just read it all day?”✨
Cole Smith, all-star athlete, six feet tall, smouldering blue eyes… He’s the hottest guy I’ve ever known, and I’ve had a crush on him since I was eight years old.
Cole is also my stepbrother.
He and his best friend Xander won’t leave me alone. They never take their eyes off me, and they’re always picking on me, pushing my boundaries further and further, until all three of us end up in uncharted territory.
Check Triggers.
March 4, 2022
Eine schöne sexy Kurzgeschichte über einen Stiefbruder und seinem besten Freund und der ein Jahr jüngeren Stiefschwester. Natürlich ist es Tabu und es wird spannend, denn zeitweise sieht es so aus, als würde eine Dreiecksbeziehung zwischen den Stiefgeschwistern und dem besten Freund entstehen...kurzweilig, interessante Charaktere und super heiße Sexszenen. Empfehlenswert.
Ich habe ein Freiexemplar über Booksprout erhalten und hinterlasse freiwillig eine Rezension.
A beautiful sexy short story about a stepbrother and his best friend and the a year younger stepsister. Of course, it is taboo and it becomes exciting, because at times it looks as if a love triangle between the step-siblings and the best friend will arise... entertaining, interesting characters and super hot sex scenes. Recommendable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ich habe ein Freiexemplar über Booksprout erhalten und hinterlasse freiwillig eine Rezension.
A beautiful sexy short story about a stepbrother and his best friend and the a year younger stepsister. Of course, it is taboo and it becomes exciting, because at times it looks as if a love triangle between the step-siblings and the best friend will arise... entertaining, interesting characters and super hot sex scenes. Recommendable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
January 27, 2025I didn't think I would dislike it as much as I did.
Let me start with the positive. The sex scenes were decently written, and the dirty talk and casual MxM was well done.
But that was it.
The only "main" person I didn't dislike or feel a strong amount of disgust towards was Xander. Not because I dislike the step-sibling taboo trope, but Cole and Hailey are awful people. Not only are they awful people, they are not written well in a way that makes them feel like they are genuine. Their reactions to each other and their situations are so unrealistic that I could not suspend my belief because it felt unnatural.
It felt like it was written for the gaze of a misogynistic man who wants to hate-fuck a girl so far out of his reach he has to turn to Ai to write it for him and then to add to his fantasy he wants to pin all responsibility for his softcore rape on his unnaturally willing 'slutty' 'good girl' victim.
Let me start with the positive. The sex scenes were decently written, and the dirty talk and casual MxM was well done.
But that was it.
The only "main" person I didn't dislike or feel a strong amount of disgust towards was Xander. Not because I dislike the step-sibling taboo trope, but Cole and Hailey are awful people. Not only are they awful people, they are not written well in a way that makes them feel like they are genuine. Their reactions to each other and their situations are so unrealistic that I could not suspend my belief because it felt unnatural.
It felt like it was written for the gaze of a misogynistic man who wants to hate-fuck a girl so far out of his reach he has to turn to Ai to write it for him and then to add to his fantasy he wants to pin all responsibility for his softcore rape on his unnaturally willing 'slutty' 'good girl' victim.
March 6, 2022
This is a short and steamy stepbrother story featuring Cole and Hailey who used to be best friends before their parents married. Hailey's had feelings for him since she's 8yrs old but her feelings aren't reciprocated since Cole torments her and he seems to enjoy doing it since he's been doing it for years. Hailey has really been enjoying the peace with Cole away at college but he's home for the summer and things are worse than they've ever been. Now he has his best friend Xander teasing and picking on Hailey too he won't leave me alone the both of them are relentless. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this short and steamy stepbrother romance to see what happens. I would recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 7, 2022
Stepbully is a short new adult bully romance with dubcon elements and very light MM scenes.
Hailey and Cole are step-siblings after their parents married when they were in high school. They used to be best friends but Cole became a bully to her after the marriage so this has enemies to lovers trope too. Xander is Cole's best friend and they masterbate to porn together sometimes, and sometimes give each other hand jobs and blow jobs.
Since this is so short, I'm hoping the next installment is longer in length and Cole is a bit more redeemable in that one. Despite his attraction to Hailey, he still made a lot of mean comments towards her and played the bully part to a T. Also hoping for some progress or further MM scenes between Cole and Xander and hope this series(?) develops into an MMF.
Hailey and Cole are step-siblings after their parents married when they were in high school. They used to be best friends but Cole became a bully to her after the marriage so this has enemies to lovers trope too. Xander is Cole's best friend and they masterbate to porn together sometimes, and sometimes give each other hand jobs and blow jobs.
Since this is so short, I'm hoping the next installment is longer in length and Cole is a bit more redeemable in that one. Despite his attraction to Hailey, he still made a lot of mean comments towards her and played the bully part to a T. Also hoping for some progress or further MM scenes between Cole and Xander and hope this series(?) develops into an MMF.
July 4, 2024
🌶️: 3
Taboo romance. The title implies that it is a bully romance, but I am not sure that I would call it that. If there is, it is really very, very light. There’s no real plot here, other than the underlying taboo element between the main characters. The main characters have known each other for a while actually and were friends before their parents met and got married when they were both in high school so they haven’t actually been stepbrother and sister for that long. The book’s purpose seems to be setting up for the second book. The first chapter for that book is included at the end of this book, which I did go ahead and read, which is why I am making that assumption. That book picks up nine months after this book ends so it seems like everything for this book was just setting up for that. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I like taboo romance, this was a quick and straightforward read, had a nice bit of spice to it and I will be reading the second book.
Taboo romance. The title implies that it is a bully romance, but I am not sure that I would call it that. If there is, it is really very, very light. There’s no real plot here, other than the underlying taboo element between the main characters. The main characters have known each other for a while actually and were friends before their parents met and got married when they were both in high school so they haven’t actually been stepbrother and sister for that long. The book’s purpose seems to be setting up for the second book. The first chapter for that book is included at the end of this book, which I did go ahead and read, which is why I am making that assumption. That book picks up nine months after this book ends so it seems like everything for this book was just setting up for that. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I like taboo romance, this was a quick and straightforward read, had a nice bit of spice to it and I will be reading the second book.
May 2, 2025
I kind of want to give it a 5 star but I’m gonna go with4. Actually found this from those Facebook reels and got sucked in and found out it was on kindle.
I was kind of pleasantly surprised it was actually kind of good. I’m glad it was short bc I’m getting sick of overly complicated storylines that are unnecessarily long. This was quick and to the point.
Another reviewer mentioned they stopped at 15% bc everyone was too horny lol which they all were. Like really all they did was just smash all day lol I would’ve liked to know more about Xander tbh. So I guess I do wish we knew a little more about them. Also when she’s crying when they are off to college, seemed a bit abrupt bc I guess the book is during their college break. But with the whole stepbrother trope this one just “flowed”
I was kind of pleasantly surprised it was actually kind of good. I’m glad it was short bc I’m getting sick of overly complicated storylines that are unnecessarily long. This was quick and to the point.
Another reviewer mentioned they stopped at 15% bc everyone was too horny lol which they all were. Like really all they did was just smash all day lol I would’ve liked to know more about Xander tbh. So I guess I do wish we knew a little more about them. Also when she’s crying when they are off to college, seemed a bit abrupt bc I guess the book is during their college break. But with the whole stepbrother trope this one just “flowed”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2022
Stepbully by Astra Rose is a short and spicy bully romance novella.
"I want to be inside her for hours, I don't want it to stop."
I loved Hailey's character; she is a smut-loving booklover, and she has a smutty podcast with her best friend! She also has crushes on her stepbrother Cole and his best friend Xander, who are hot AF!
Cole is horrible to Hailey only because he also has a secret crush on Hailey, but he's too cool to admit it.
I loved the spicy scenes in this book, the MM scene, yes, please!
I highly recommend reading this quick spicy little novella; you won't be disappointed.
"I want to be inside her for hours, I don't want it to stop."
I loved Hailey's character; she is a smut-loving booklover, and she has a smutty podcast with her best friend! She also has crushes on her stepbrother Cole and his best friend Xander, who are hot AF!
Cole is horrible to Hailey only because he also has a secret crush on Hailey, but he's too cool to admit it.
I loved the spicy scenes in this book, the MM scene, yes, please!
I highly recommend reading this quick spicy little novella; you won't be disappointed.
March 7, 2022
The title says it all. This is a steamy story about Hailey and her stepbrother Cole who has been more than a little cool towards her and she doesn't know why. Now that Cole has been away at school with his best friend, Hailey has had the space to forget just how mean Cole has been to her. Now the boys are back for the summer before Hailey goes to college herself and she remembers just how mean Cole can be. The boys step up their teasing and Hailey finds herself playing with fire. This short story had the steam I expected and the angst that comes with a step relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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