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Empire High Untouchables by Ivy Smoak

A Contemporary Romance | Available now in Kindle Unlimited

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Book Blurb: The Untouchables. That’s what everyone calls the Hunter and Caldwell brothers. At least, it’s my best friend’s nickname for them. And since she’s the only one that talks to me at my new school, I’ll take her word for it. The nickname probably comes from the fact that they’re exorbitantly wealthy. Old wealth. The kind that isn’t flaunted around. But you can tell by the way they carry themselves. Or maybe the name just refers to the fact that they’re so beautiful it’s almost hard to look at them. No matter the reason for their nickname, it’s an ironic one. Because I’ve only been going to this school for a week and I already want to touch.

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BY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR IVY SMOAK

★★★★★ “My favorite book this year!!”
★★★★★ “Gahh! My heart. I adored this book.”
★★★★★ “IT WAS AMAZING.”
★★★★★ “Oh my, plot twist! I did NOT see that one coming!”
★★★★★ “It’s literally IMPOSSIBLE to put down.”
★★★★★ “Buckle in for this emotional roller coaster!”

 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:  Ivy Smoak is the international bestselling author of The Hunted series. When she's not writing, you can find her binge watching too many TV shows, taking long walks, playing outside, and generally refusing to act like an adult. She lives with her husband in Delaware.  

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Empire High Untouchables by Ivy Smoak
Release Date - July 9, 2020
Pages - pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The Untouchables. That’s what everyone calls the Hunter and Caldwell brothers. At least, it’s my best friend’s nickname for them. And since she’s the only one that talks to me at my new school, I’ll take her word for it.

The nickname probably comes from the fact that they’re exorbitantly wealthy. Old wealth. The kind that isn’t flaunted around. But you can tell by the way they carry themselves. Or maybe the name just refers to the fact that they’re so beautiful it’s almost hard to look at them.

No matter the reason for their nickname, it’s an ironic one. Because I’ve only been going to this school for a week and I already want to touch.

I had never read an Ivy Smoak book previous to picking up Empire High Untouchables. I was immediately sold with the premise, but I wasn't sure what to expect otherwise. There was something comforting about reading Empire High Untouchables. It felt like easing back into a world that I was already familiar with. It manages to be a mix of both old and new with the situations feeling familiar, and the characters making it resonate in a different way. Many of Ivy's fans will feel that sense of returning even more as I believe there are characters within this story that appear in other novels by this author.

The characters added to that sense of familiarity in that the author obviously knows who these characters are. The voices of the characters feel strong and sure. It is evident that the author is comfortable writing these particular characters and that makes them resonate a little more with the reader.

Brooklyn is grieving the loss of her mother. Her mother's death turned her entire world upside down and took away everything from her (including her home) so to say she is adjusting would be an understatement. She's very much still grieving and I think the book does a good job in presenting how a loss like this is always part of your thoughts, even if you've progressed past the most debilitating stages of grief. She's someone that people would refer to as 'a good girl'. She's sheltered compared to some of the other characters. I appreciated that she wasn't jaded and was willing to give people the benefit of the doubt even if it leaves her open to being taken advantage of by others.

The romance in this one had a dynamic that is instantly recognizable. The love interest who is hot one minute and cold the next. The one who tries to distance himself for the good of the love interest. The forbidden aspect of them being together. It's a trope that romance readers know well and it works here. The added element of another guy being interested in Brooklyn also makes the dynamic more fun and interesting. I was also surprised at how restrained all of the romances were. There are some intense kissing scenes, but it never goes farther than that. I think it works for the type of character Brooklyn is and her the journey that she is on.

The supporting cast of characters stood out to me. I loved the supportive and caring relationship between Brooklyn and her uncle. The friendship between Brooklyn and Kennedy was another highlight. The Untouchables themselves (who are the Caldwells, and Hunters) are intriguing. I wish we had gotten to learn a little bit more about this group of guys who seem to have it all but actually are really messy and flawed. Hopefully we dive into more of the dynamic in the upcoming books.

The end was something I pieced together earlier in the novel, but it was the journey to that reveal that made it satisfying anyway. It only resonates because we have gone through everything else with Brooklyn. It hits harder because we know how this is going to impact her. It sets up the sequel nicely, and ensures that it is going to filled with even more angst and drama (if that is even possible).

This is exactly the kind of book I want to read when I am looking for a distraction. It has over the top tension and reads like watching some of my favourite CW television shows. If you're looking for something that fits that criteria I recommend picking up a copy of Empire High Untouchables. Just be prepared to desperately want to read the second book immediately.