Don't Say You're Sorry: Hawthorne University, Book 2

I have been WAITING for this ever since Like You Hate Me 😍😍 I’m equally obsessed. I have all of the feelings for Easton and Adam 😭 this has a similar vibe to book one but it’s also very different. Easton doesn’t want to take Adam back after the hurt he caused so he tries to keep him close while also pushing him away but you can see just how hard it is for him. The duel timeline between past and present sucked me in. Soulmates exist in the name of Easton and Adam. You can really feel how much these two love each other before everything fell apart 💔 getting sneak peeks of the texts Easton sent him almost broke me. Once they reunited you can see that love and connection they had never went away. There was tension and teasing but also so much emotion hidden under it all. The spice scenes? Ridiculous hot ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 they show you how much trust they have in each other. I’m really hoping we get Carter’s book next because I desperately need to get inside that man’s head 🤣

This has been one of my most anticipated releases for this year! Nate and Xavi were crazy and I looooved their book so much!! Honestly I didn't remember Easton that much in Like You Hate Me, so I had to do a re-read (or re-listen). Easton was quite, he was a friend to Nate, Carter and Frankie and was nice to Xavi. I didn't know I needed Easton's story but oh boy I'm so happy we got one!! There was a lot more to Easton that we didn’t get to see in LYHM. And I have to say I absolutely loved Easton and Adam. Easton and Adam started as stepbrothers, quickly became best friends and after years of dancing around the inevitable, they became lovers. Then Adam ran off to London and left Easton devastated. After 3 years of misery, Adam returned to the states to try and reconcile his friendship with Easton. The path to their HEA was rough, hurtful, messy, and complicated, but these two were meant to be together. They had so much chemistry which is to say they were so hot. Easton 🥵, was ridiculously possessive and very dominant 🔥. Adam loved the possessiveness and was very submissive. 🥵🔥 I loved their story. Bethany knows how to hurt you and then make it better. One thing, there were a lot of things that went unanswered in regards to Carter!! So I am very, very, excited for his story because that guy is crazy! Ps. The Nate and Xavi cameos were giving me LIFE. I fell in love with Nate even more. And their relationship was the cutest thing EVER!!!

It’s really tough for the second book in a series to hold up to the first, but this ABSOLUTELY did!!! Easton and Adam were absolutely everything and their story was heartbreaking and precious all meshed together!!! First off, a step sibling trope done right is just something extra special and yum, yum , yum! Secondly friends-lovers-enemies-lovers is magnificent and all that angst banter and hate filled lust was PERFECTION! Perfect plot line that was unique, fun filled and super spicy and fun to read! Bethany’s writing is just amazing and Don’t Say You’re Sorry was the perfect example! One of my best reads of the year!!🔥🔥🔥👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I had high hopes, I was ultimately left a bit underwhelmed. The story felt quite drawn out and, at times, honestly a bit boring. I kept waiting for something big to happen, for a spark to ignite, but it never truly did. It was missing that sense of excitement and passion that usually keeps me glued to the pages. Adam and Easton as a couple were fine — they worked together well enough, and their chemistry was decent. However, it just didn’t reach the same level of intensity and energy that we saw with Nate and Xavi in the previous book. I missed that raw connection and the emotional highs and lows that made the earlier story so compelling. Despite my disappointment, I still look forward to the next book in the series. I’m especially curious to see if it might explore a MMM dynamic — that could definitely bring a fresh twist and potentially more heat to the story. Overall, while this book didn’t fully meet my expectations, I’m staying optimistic and excited for what’s to come. Fingers crossed for more sparks and stronger passion next time!

Coming right after Like You Hate Me, I was expecting DSYS to be another pain-filled, angsty, fight-for-your-life experience. This was so not that. DSYS is a much quieter experience than its predecessor. There’s a bit of pain, it’s sad, but our MCs don’t let their years apart change their love or need for each other. This was a nice break from the hardship-laden storylines in this genre. The found family in this series is also one of the best I’ve read. You just want to throw yourself in with this ragtag group. There’s also something about Winters’s writing that I love. It’s simple without being simplistic. It draws you in and keeps you without trying too hard. This is a go-to if you’re looking for a comfort read. An excellent second installment in the Hawthorne U series. I truly can’t wait for more. Read it, sunshine.