The Boy I Grew Up With by Tijan 
Genres: New Adult
Source: ARC
Also by this author: Fallen Fourth Down, Fallen Crest University, Anti-Stepbrother, Cole, Eye Candy, Bennett Mafia, Teardrop Shot, The Insiders, The Damaged , The Revenge
Goodreads
I have loved Channing Monroe all my life.
In first grade, he asked for my Trapper Keeper.
I hit him in the head with it.
Third grade, we were best friends. We kissed in seventh grade.
Eighth grade, he turned into a bad boy and the rest was a tumultuous storm.Growing up, the problem was never love for us.
Bad times. Good times. There were times when I felt our love in every inch of my body, vibrating, making me feel like it could bring me back to life.The problem was us.
The problem is that we’re living in two different worlds now.
Fallen Crest and its millionaires for me. Roussou and their criminals for him. I was thriving in mine and he was running his.But…
But there were nights I felt we couldn’t be further apart than we were, and there were nights I felt we shared the same heartbeat.
When was it time?
When was it time to either sacrifice, make a change, or walk away from the boy I grew up with?
Its finally Channing and Heather’s story! The angst is strong with this one. These two have been up and down more than a roller coaster. If you have read the Fallen Crest series, you are aware of parts of their story, but The Boy I Grew Up With gives us the WHOLE story.
These two love each other, but they aren’t always good for each other. Their downs are toxic at times, but you can see the true love they have. As I said, uber angsty, full of feels, and your heart will feel the pain of it all. Tijan is the only author I will read angsty books from (yall know I hate the angst!). Tijan makes it work though! I loved finally getting the details of Channing and Heather and it was worth the wait for sure! Also, I love both covers (there is one for the ebook and 1 for the paperback)! I will say that you may THINK you know what their relationship has been, but this book still brings some unexpected events.
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super angsty new adult books like Bully by Penelope Douglas, Racer by Katy Evans, Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines …then you will probably like The Boy I Grew Up With!
The Boy I Grew Up With
Fantastic review. This sounds like an interesting read,. I tend to not like the stories with a lot of up and down in them, especially if the down times are toxic. It always leaves me with the impression that after the last page of the book, the couple will eventually not work out. This one sounds interesting though. I am glad you enjoyed this one.
Excellent review! I had to decline reading this ARC as I had too much on my plate but Tija is one of my favorite authors!
Great review. You have to love an author who can do angst well. There aren’t many who can and so when angst arrives in a book I am always wary and ready to DNF at the first sign of me not enjoying it so it’s good to see Tijan does it well and works for you.