I don't know if a book has ever pissed me off like Bully has. Anger is not my usual reaction. Sadness and frustration and pity sometimes, maybe, but usually it's pure joy when I read. Not this time. This time I was pissed. I was pissed because at first I saw a girl I could relate to, a girl who had been bullied by the same boy all of high school. Worst of all, he used to be her best friend. After a year away in France, Tate decided to let Jared stop bothering her. I understood. She starts standing up for herself, breaking noses and refusing to let herself be treated badly anymore. I cheered. Then, suddenly, she's kissing this boy and having feelings for him. Well, I tell myself, she's conflicted, but at least she still knows he's a jerk. Okay, fine. But then the worst thing happened. Jared groveled and told a sob story and told Tate he loved her, and she freaking believed him! She forgave him and told him she loved him and had sex with him! This is where I lost all respect for Tate and this book. I kept reading, yes, but now I was mad.

Bully is aptly titled because it is about a bully in many ways, but Douglas (in my opinion) belittles everyone who has ever been bullied by writing this book. She excuses Jared's behavior, ignores the emotional and psychological damage it has sure to caused Tate's, and pretends like the apology is enough. It isn't. Tate will never have those two years of high school back. She will never have good memories of those. That stuff isn't so easily wiped away, Ms. Douglas, and a bully isn't so easily forgiven. I'm a junior in high school, and I still haven't forgiven the boy who bullied me in elementary school. I still remember the taunts and the tears I cried, and I couldn't imagine kissing him no matter what he told me or how he apologized. Jared and Tate's relationship is not healthy, and Jared's very unstable. He might've had good intentions, but he crossed boundaries and hurt Tate and just would not be a very good boyfriend. In fact, the act of bully seems to not matter to any of the people in Tate's life. Her best friend defends Jared several times, and most of Tate's peers join in. Frankly, I was sickened. Why didn't a teacher step in? Why didn't Tate tell her dad? I was not impressed.

I can't even tell you what I think of anything else in the novel just because the concept itself is so ludicrous I can't wrap my head around it. Don't read this novel! It doesn't deserve its rating. Is this the message we want to send to girls? That it's okay to date guys who have belittled you and made you cry for the last two years of your life? No! I will never read anything Penelope Douglas writes ever again because I am so disgusted with this book.