Never Hollowed By The Stare

The Boys Only: The Prep and the Punk – Imogene Kash

In this elite school… locked high away in the Colorado mountains… it’s boys only.
He’s a loner.
Sebastian “Bash” Lowell is used to not fitting in or going with the flow.
They call him a punk in the press, so he does his best to live up to the title.
He’s practically a professional outcast at this point, having changed schools so many times he’s lost count.
Bash learned long ago it’s far better to stand out than it is to fit in, so he’s made sure everything about him screams “back-off.“ Finding friends is more hassle than it’s worth when he knows he’s going to be gone again at his parents’ next whim.
Bash fought to get into the elite, exclusive, private school to avoid his publicity-hungry parents who use him to fuel gossip and fend off far-reaching rumors.
Having learned a few tricks from his vicious, media-savvy mother, Bash broke a few laws, ruffled the right feathers, and was exiled to Castle Pines. Now he gets to finish his high school career in peace and quiet, and in the same damn place.
All Bash wants is to graduate and get on with his life outside the limelight. No attachments, school only, so he can focus on getting into his dream college.
Nothing prepared him for Rutledge Darby.
He’s a legacy.
Rutledge “Edge” Alexander Darby IV has had everything in his life handed to him on a silver platter.
They call him the preppy-billionaire-heir in the press, although he resists his title at every possible opportunity.
Edge is American royalty, his last name synonymous with wealth and privilege. His family crest adorns the walls of the elite private school he’s attended since before he could walk. Castle Pines is all he’s ever known—a kingdom he’s ruled since birth.
Everyone in his world wants something from him, and Edge isn’t the type to give anything away for free. His life is simple. No attachments, no entanglements, and the only person he trusts to watch his back is his best friend.
For their senior year, they fully plan to do as they please and raise as much hell as possible.
Edge longs for something to surprise him. He’s desperate for the unexpected. He’s ready for something real.
Nothing prepared him for Bash Lowell.

LGBTQIA+ Gossip Girl? I’m in!

Welcome to Castle Pines, an elite all-boys school where the rich and the famous hide their dirty little secrets aka gay sons they want to forget they have.

Spotted: new boy, Sebastian “Bash” Lowell. Bleached hair, pierced and tattooed within an inch of his life. Not my definition of attractive but definitely eye-catching. He certainly caught the eye of Castle Pines’ king, Rutledge “Edge” Alexander Darby IV. Rumor has it the golden boy had it bad for our resident punk, so hands off boys! You’ve heard what happened to Rodgers.

Oh, it’s not a one-way street. New boy is also apparently smitten with Master Darby but our dear Bash has all his walls up. Not until Edge throws him a surprise birthday party, his first birthday party in all the 18 years of his life, that he literally throws himself in Edge’s arms. That birthday scene is super sweet! After that, the prep and the punk were all over each other. Thank god, they spared us all the unnecessary drama.

Little ginger Ron Kray-in-training, Malachi “Mac” O’shea lives for the drama that is Theo and Klein, his two feuding, apparently straight roommates whom he had been shipping with each other. I ship them too, Mac. Our little leprechaun is pretty astute at reading people and is as manipulative as Edge. I can’t wait to see him take over his dad’s Irish mob. Oh, the havoc he can wreck! I hope we get to read about it, Imogene Kash.

What’s this? Edge’s bestfriend and shadow, Cutter Cunningham is apparently in love with him? All this time they have been together, Edge didn’t know? You think poor Cutter’s going to stick around now that Edge found somebody who makes his cold, cold heart pitter-patter? Who wouldn’t want to be the best third wheel ever? Nobody, that’s who.

Seems like our boys have an exciting senior year ahead of them. What with falling in love, falling out of friendship and a drug bust to shake things up. Not as twisty as I would have liked, the manipulation level being YA PG-13 but with NC-17 bedroom scenes. I would have wanted plots and intrigues up the wazoo but I’m loving the strong Gossip Girl vibes here so I could deal. I definitely can’t wait for the next book.

Bored beautiful boys in boarding school. Anything can happened.

You know you love it…

XOXO

Rating:

4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

Soundtrack: Twice as Hard
Artist: Interpol
Album: El Pintor

(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40040224-the-prep-and-the-punk)