The Crush

Penelope Ward

Feb 2021 · Penelope Ward Books, Inc.

About this ebook

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone, second-chance story of forbidden love…

It’s natural to want the one you can’t have. And for as long as I could remember, I’d secretly wanted my brother’s best friend, Jace.

He was six years older and always treated me like the sister he never had.

Fast forward a decade.

We were all in our twenties now. Jace had moved in with my brother, Nathan, and me to help us make ends meet after our parents died.

It was just the three of us—an odd family dynamic.

Living under our roof, Jace was as bossy and protective as ever.

But he certainly didn’t look at me like a sister anymore. That was what made things so complicated.

I was pretty much hot and bothered twenty-four-seven.

And he was torn.

The signs were subtle, at first. Like on movie night, I’d casually rest my leg against his, and he wouldn’t exactly shift away.

Still, I assumed he would never…go there.

Nathan would kill us.

The knowledge of that wasn’t enough to stop the inevitable, though.

Eventually our slow burn exploded.

But more than the physical attraction, we’d developed a strong connection.

We just couldn’t get caught, right?

That sounded simple.

Until it wasn’t.

This is a story of forbidden love, broken trust, and an unexpected second chance.

Ratings and reviews

Penelope certainly takes readers on a tumultuous journey with Farrah and Jace. The older brother's best friend trope is usually a pretty angst filled story and this one is no exception. Jace and Farrah have known each other for most of their lives, and Farrah has been in love with Jace since she was a young girl. Jace knew she had a crush on him when they were younger, but he just thought it was cute. He had no clue that once Farrah was grown up, his feelings for her would change in such a dramatic way. Penelope really knows how to do unrequited love. Poor Farrah! And Jace was definitely the brooding older man who really had no clue how to handle his emotions. Not only are these two trying to navigate forbidden territory, they both are still dealing with the tragedy of Farrah and her brother Nathan losing their parents years ago. Jace was there when it happened, and his survivor's guilt is huge. Get ready to experience a rollercoaster ride of emotions with this book! I was dying to see if Farrah and Jace would ever be able to figure out a way to be together. Can they both heal from their pasts? Can they overcome all the obstacles keeping them apart? Read the book and find out!

Wow! An intense, emotional rollercoaster of feelings as we go through the journey of Farrah and Jace! It’s definitely a slow burn read with amazing chemistry and a little danger in getting caught! Will take you on a crazy ride with this brothers best friend love story!

The Crush is an emotional journey of love, friendships and life! I found it a bit sad most of the time and just felt like something was missing to be quite honest. This was a brothers best friend romance with some heartfelt moments between the characters and their struggles after certain difficult moments in their lives. When Jace returns home and lives with her and her brother, Farrah isnt quite sure how to keep her feelings to herself. Yes, some years had passed without word, but living in close proximity could be a recipe for disaster? How do these two cope? There is drama, secrets, some heart wrenching moments and distrust. Will these friendships stand the test? A good story!

About the author

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.