Review: Good Girls Never Rise

 

Title: Good Girls Never Rise

Series: St. Mary's duet

Author: SJ Sylvis

Release Date: November 2021

Gemma:

We were from two completely different worlds that couldn’t have been more opposite. Fate brought us together, and we devised a plan. I was to leave St. Mary’s Boarding School, and he was to stay.

I was molded to follow the rules, and he was taught to break them. But somewhere along the way, following the rules became a choice. The lines became blurred. The good girl of St. Mary’s suddenly got a taste of rebellion, and he came in a package of wild blue eyes and hot, lingering touches.

Isaiah warned me that we’d go up in flames if we veered from our plan.

Except, there was no we about it.

Isaiah Underwood let me fall right into the ashes.

Good Girls Never Rise is book one in the St. Mary's Duet and ends on a cliffhanger. Good Girls Never Rise is intended for readers 18+ and deals with subjects that some may find triggering.

First thing: this book has trigger warnings so be warned before going in. There is some mention of child abuse, possible sexual assult, violence/death & child endangerment- but it isn't as detailed as other books. 

Good Girls Never Rise is book one in the St. Mary's duet and follows Gemma & Isaiah. 

Gemma is the good girl. Innocent. Sheltered. She was brought up to follow all the rules. The moment she is away from her possessive uncle, at St. Mary's she finally is free from the shackles of her past, and present. She knows it's only temporary, but she will do anything to make sure she doesn't end up back in her uncle's clutches. 

Isaiah is the school bad boy. His past, present and future is dark. Anything he touches will be tainted by who he is. He can't have Gemma. Not in the way he wants. But he needs her nevertheless. He needs a cover for when he's breaking the rules, and who better than the one girl who doesn't fall at his feet. 

Both are keeping secrets, neither able to give in and trust anyone else but themselves. But the more they get to know each other, the more they realize their lives may be more entwined than either realized. 

So I usually love me a good dark romance. I love the bad boys, the high school, new adult age group and this book checked all the boxes. But I personally didn't connect with these characters and this story wasn't for me. I wanted to like it, wanted to fall in love with these characters and I pushed through until the end of this book, but I will not be continuing the duet. But, just because I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would, doesn't mean others won't. 3⭐ out of 5⭐.