Cruel Kisses: A Dark Bully Lovers-to-Enemies-to-Maybe Lovers Romance (It's Just High School Book 2) Kindle Edition

Cruel Kisses is the second book in the It’s Just High School series by Thandiwe Mpofu. You are so not ready for this book. Forget everything you expected or thought would happen. Because the author reached the highest level of suspense, secrets, and drama. Cruel Kisses is the most unpredictable book I have read so far. I am staring at the wall trying to collect my thoughts. Julian and Mia own my heart and soul. It furiously beats for them (and Liam and Cole too).They are young, beautiful, and rule the high school. They are rich, powerful, and untouchable, to the outside world of course. But there are secrets and lies that runs deep in their families. Secrets and shocking past that have the power to destroy everything they believed so far. Nobody is trustworthy! Everybody hides something. Mia and Julian are put in the center of it.They hate hard but love even harder. Julian and Mia are explosive and highly addictive. You can feel their need to be in each other presence, just simply be together but at the same time, we know how fragile and insecure they really are. That one wrong move or world will make everything fall apart, like a house of cards. They are driven by emotions and oh boy, how much the author will play with ours.It’s Just High School they said. But with Thandiwe Mpofu, this “just” is a lid to Pandora’s box. I can’t wait for the next book. The author is going to destroy me because you can’t end a book like that.

Just when you think you know what’s next...you have no idea! Mia just keeps getting blindsided, but this time the secrets will impact more than just her. The rich have never been more riddled with deception.Julian and Mia have obliterated the line between love and hate, but it’s not that simple. Their chemistry and feelings have always been undeniable. They continue to create sparks that turn into a blazing inferno. However, the path to happiness will not be easy. They are going to have to fight for it, taking on both internal and external enemies.No one is who they thought they were. Everyone lies. While trying to sort out her life, a devastating loss will turn Mia’s world upside down and send her into a tailspin. Julian will have to step up and become the man she can lean on. His possessive and protective nature will serve him well as he gives Mia what she needs.Running from the pain won’t make it go away. It just gives the others time to plot and put their own plan into action. It’s hard to trust anyone since deception is as easy as breathing for these people. The drama is never-ending in their world.Everyone has their own agenda. Nothing is black and white. The one’s that were supposed to love you most are starting to show their true colors and their intentions reek of revenge. Mia and Julian will need to navigate the treachery, either together or apart.My one suggestion is to re-read Devious Kisses before diving in to this. It would have been a nice refresher of the key players. This story is definitely complex. The secrets are many and the suspense runs deep. I still have so many questions because every character is working their own angle. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the stories within the story that are taking place.This emotional, angsty read will tear you up and spit you out more than once. Hang on...this story is about to test your limits of endurance.

In a good way...kinda lol. Omg what her writing does to me!Aiden...sweet little Aiden. The most horrible things happened to the sweetest person and it's painful to know it can't be righted in their lifetime.I am invested in these characters. Its almost too intense but doesn't quite go over the edge. Thank God cuz ugh I just wouldn't be able to handle it. I like that you can't guess everything. Sure you can start getting smug thinking you do but NO!!! She always goes the extra mile leaving you in a big holy st@t puddle and have to pause reading to process the oh my god moments. I think this is my new favorite writer I'm loving everything I read.

5 OMG STARS!! This book is just wow!!! I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster all the way through. I could not put it down, it hit all my emotion button and more. This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites that will always have me one clicking.

What did I just read? What is happening? This book and Devious Kisses have thrown me for so many loops that I cannot keep all of them straight. Every single time I think things are settling down and things will be ok, here comes that left hook. Some cliffhangers, I can see them coming, I can kind of predict where things are going, not with this one!

What the hell just happened.First off, let me say that I need the third book regardless of my stars or review. The drama of it all. I swear.Julian and Mia couldn’t be more toxic for each other if they tried. Their families have so thoroughly messed them up that I’m not even sure a HEA is even in the cards for their future. We haven’t even gotten into the legacy issue and they’re literally so flip floppy about their trust and feelings is laughable. I still Stan them though. What does that say about me?The problems I had with this book don’t have anything to do with the characters or plot though. The characters are broken and dynamic. The plot twists regularly and keeps you wanting to read. The dual POV is something I live for. The damage in Mia is heartbreaking and raw. It’s hard to read some times. [Trigger warning insert here- self harm is something discussed in excess during this story. If you’ve got an issue with it, this isn’t for you.] Liam and Cole help to balance out the darkness in Julian but let’s be real, he’s a dark force to be reckoned with and we’re here for it.My issues with this book were in the holes. I feel like this story skipped around a lot. It left you with more questions than answers. The way it built up kind of let you down and the ending was atrocious. I’m still seething about it thank you very much. Overall, I’m addicted to the story but I’m hoping this next book clears up the gaps and heals the serious damage to the characters and readers.

CRUEL KISSESIt's Just High School #2Thandiwe MpofuPOV:DualJulian and Mia                             Continuing from DEVIOUS KISSES.Julian and Mia find out a whole load of lies, secrets, cover ups.They're both lost, broken, trust issues.Mia's world has crumbled, mixed in with Julian's too. It's a war zone. A war that's been brewing for years.Mia leaves. She's numb now, dark thoughts are roaring around her head. Feeling unwanted. She's last to find out that her life has been lie. Has everyone lied to her?The guy she loves has never been or will ever be hers. He's got a future and she's not part of it.Mia has to find herself again.Julian is beside himself with worry over her whereabouts. With the help he tracks Mia down.With everything they've been through, what else can happen?What other secrets are there to uncover?What else could possibly go wrong?Will they ever get to the bottom of what's going on?This book will have you on the edge of your seat.I did ugly cry.I felt so much for them, not just for Julian and Mia but Liam too.How much more can these three go through?Ends on a cliffhanger.

OMG! This book! Holly sh!t!What a wild roller-coaster of emotions.This is an unbelievable dramatic and suspenseful second book in the It's Just High School series.This action-packed and gripping story is definitely not for the faint-hearted.You think probably, what can be so dramatic in a YA romance?Yeah, Thandie is the queen of creating dramatic, mysterious and insane crazy life events in the world of rich and powerful people.Amazing? Of course! I love every second of this wild ride, but let me warn you, it's unbelievable nerve-wracking and maddeningly complicated tangled and twisted world of lies, secrets and power games that will make you go crazy and on edge of your seat throughout the whole book. I love it!!!I don't know how she does it, but her books are like a YA thrillers mit a mystery vibes and an eerie dark atmosphere .You're constantly expecting something gruesome to happen.This is not the sweet and swoony kind of a romance.This is a dark sinister and brutal story that will wreck youand because it ends with a cliffhanger, not put you back together.Don't let me start about the terrible endingI don't know how I can wait for the next book till DecemberThis is not a standalone story. You've to read Devious Kisses first to understand the dynamic of this story.

Oh my God. I wanted to give both Mia and Julian a good slap to the back of their heads. Mia really plunged to such a low within herself that she showed just how naive and vulnerable she really was. Julian, for all his bravado was just an insecure boy. By the time they worked things out between them, things went to hell. Glad I don't have to wait too long for the next installment.

I just love this story so much! This is one of those bully romances that brings out all sorts of emotions as you read, the secrets and lies are drip fed through out the plot and keep you guessing throughout about what's happening...I still don't think I understand who are the good guys and who are the bad guys!That ending though.....OMG talk about cliff hangers....how am I going to wait?Honestly this is one of those stories that stays with you that you have to read, so much angst, betrayal, lies and secrets....it's brilliant!

I liked the story of book 1 but there were definitely quality issues. This book was much better edited, some small minor issues but not enough to detract from the story.Let's just get this out there though. Julian is such an idiot. He goes from declaring his love to thinking the worst in a heartbeat. He honestly does not deserve Mia.And poor Mia just has hit after hit on her, she barely gets a break.All these characters are so completely broken and clearly the next book is going to continue in all the angst and drama which can be a bit overwhelming, but of course I now need to read book 3 because that ending was devastating.