I decided to ARC a copy of this book because the premise behind it peaked my curiosity. The Cheat is the first installment in a series of books following the same storyline. By way of introduction this book is an enjoyable read and has reeled me in. I look forward to reading the next installment and will express my opinion more clearly as the books progress.

This book centers around a group of high school students that seem to think they are above everyone and a girl named Lucy who is trying to survive them. At the beginning of the book, I wasn't sure what to think.  All of the characters of this book had very little redeeming qualities.  I actually felt the worst for Riley.  He was a jerk but seemed to be just trying to help his father out and survive.  Although why he thought that Brooke could get him kicked off the team, especially if he was the best Hockey player not only on the team but in the area the father would have to be a horrible coach.  This book was ok to me but I am sure I will read the series just to find out what happens to all the characters.

***2.5 stars***
I requested this book because I liked the blurb, it seemed interesting and a little bit different from the classical “hot boy meets nerd girl, they fall in love”. Turns out, it wasn’t that different. 
I really like the beginning of this story but it was all too rushed. I understand that it’s a short novel, but the final part was terrible and there was a moment involving the girl’s mother that was. So. Freaking. Cringy.
The writing isn’t bad and if the story had been longer, with more character development and a stronger connection between the couple, I would have rated it higher.

Lucy and Riley have a secret. Lucy hates Riley, but he is her guilty pleasure. She is crazy attracted to him and can't seem to stop herself. If has ruined her high school years, so far.

Riley lives right next door. The hockey star, and all around best looking student. He needs her help now. He wants to do all he can to stay on the team. This could be Lucy's chance for some payback.

Such a short but very hot story. These characters have an extremely shocking attraction. I found myself strangely enthralled. Now I cannot wait to read the next installment in this soon to be epic series.


***This early copy was given by Netgalley and its publishers, in exchange for an honest review only.

This is such a sweet and short book.

It definitely brought out so many of my teenage insecurities just like Lucy our main lead. Teenagers, whether you look like a super model or you don't, we all have insecurities and Lucy struggled with this throughout the book. Not that she wasn't beautiful but society views on beauty isn't does make it hard to understand self love and appreciation of our bodies during fragile teen years. 

Marita, did a wonderful job of show casing this in her book, this is real, this is what we all have gone through.

Lucy is a strong, sweet, and quirky neighbor to Riley, her next door neighbor. Riley, he's the hot guy next door, a bit of an alpha, and someone who's trying to make the best of his situation.

They strike up a deal to benefit both. Let's just say this quick read is full of angst, humor, and a sticky situation. Nothing is easy and life sometime will throw you a curve ball or puck in this case when you least expect.

I do recommend this quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book

1 star
I HATE ongoing series! That being said, if I knew that, I would have never picked this book up.

Then the whole story was not my cup of tea.

I just wasn't feeling this one, I have read a lot of revenge books and I think this one was way to short for me. Just to focused on Lucy's revenge. The cliff hanger doesn't leave me wanting to read the next one. 

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance read, all opions are my own.

Very short read, apparently this is a serial. I enjoyed it a lot, even though it was short the characters seemed believable and I cared for the leads...who doesn't remember the feeling of being a love-struck teenager? The plot was a bit cliché but I still had a good time reading this and I will continue with the series.

This book has taken my breath away. The ending left me reeling and wanting more. Lucy has been spying on her neighbor since freshmen year with him knowing. He does not disappoint, the star hockey player always put on a show for Lucy. Stripping down to almost nothing as Lucy watched and recorded from her window just across the lawn. It captured and held my attention to the very end. Lucy is not your average pretty thin character, she has a bit of weight and is unusually tall for a women. Riley comes from a struggling home and is working hard towards a scholarship. I loved how each character had their own past and their own problems. The ending is amazing both characters finally getting what they want but it leaves you wanting more. It was a bit short and only took me an hour to finish.

Wow just wow I read it in like an hour and I enjoyed every second cannot wait to read more from Marita do love a little bit of steam !!

This was my first book by this author... 
The writing was good but the story line was not for me.. 
The reader experience the characters feelings and pain.. but also anger and frustration.

A quick and steamy New Adult bully romance with a unique premise.  I was entertained and I enjoyed the give and take between Riley and Lucy, but there were a few twists that left me hanging.  I had a hard time believing certain aspects of this story and the ending was a little abrupt.

Blurb:  Lucy has been spying on her next door neighbor Riley for years and he’s been bullying her just as long, but it isn’t until Riley needs her help that the two become a little more chummy.

Lucy will help Riley cheat if Riley does a few things for Lucy, one of them being her first kiss.  What the two don’t anticipate is the explosive chemistry that comes with messing around.

While I found this book to be funny and I loved the whole exchange of favors plot, I just didn’t like their approach to each other. Riley is a bit of a pushover and Lucy thinks about revenge too much.  I had a hard time falling in love with these characters and I had an even harder time believing anyone could fall in love as quickly as they did.

Probably my biggest bone to pick with this book is that it’s being split up into a bunch of short stories.  There is a giant cliffhanger at the end and I just wanted a happy conclusion for Riley and Lucy.

I don’t think I was drawn in enough to want to go back for seconds, but it was a cute, quick read for sure.

Lucy's lust-fueled addiction to watching her hot neighbour Riley strip in his bedroom window has earned her stalker status at their high school and being constantly harassed. He's known she watches him but it's not until he needs help to pull his grades up to stay on the hockey team that he's willing to do anything, and that's when things change. Not liking Riley at the beginning seems unavoidable but unlike some Lucy wasn't a favourite either. Though bullied she chooses an unusual method of payment and quickly gets into more awkward situations than she expected. Riley turns out to be a beautiful misunderstanding who is constantly being used. Though I wasn't aware that this was a high school story I was surprised at how much I got into it. Looking forward to the the next part to see how screwed things will get. 
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

The Cheat is my first book by Marita Hansen and I’m on the fence. The concept intrigued me however after reading the story I’m not sucked in. 

This series will be released in episodes. Because of that it ends in a cliff hanger. 

The main characters were very juvenile on the way they interacted. 

Overall this reminds me of some Wattpad Fanfic with too much bullying.

I’m sorry.. what in the hell did I just read?
I am all for taboo and pushing the lines but this just didn’t do it for me I’m any way, shape or form. 
The plot was intriguing but once I started reading it I was immediately turned off. 
I also hated the constant “fat” references and depicting the female main character a certain way. No thanks.

This was not what I was expecting. The main character, Riley, is nothing but a huge bully as are all of his friends and honestly, Lucy is pretty shallow too. There is also a weird scene with Lucy's mom. I didn't see the connection between the two at all other than lust.

3.75 stars

The Cheat is the first "episode" in the Played series where the author wants to publish a new "episode" every few weeks to "air" like a TV show. While the title is typically not a sought-after topic for my reading the premise of the series really intrigued me. 

Riley is the typical highschool hot hockey jock with less than desirable academic acumen. Lucy the typical high school nerd with a huge crush on her hot neighbor. Ever since Riley moved next door, Lucy has been mesmerized by the daily strip-tease he does at his window each night. Riley knows Lucy watches him and he's even started the Peeping Lucy moniker for her at school. Lucy knows she's being a creeper but she and her camera just can't help it.

Oy, the angst in here. I felt transported back to high school with all the drama of daily life. Bullies, clicks, nicknames, playboys, fake people, fake eyelashes... Ick. 

I liked Lucy, she was unpopular but she had a backbone and stood up for herself when Riley told her to do his work for him. (Not so much with the mean girls but, what can ya do) But, you can also feel the youthful innocence coming off her and you kinda wanna cringe because you know that car crash (metaphorical) is coming. Riley, oh Riley. He's in a pickle but he kinda knowingly put himself there. It's a hard hit to the ego when you have to face what you sow. He's just getting railroaded all over the place. You feel bad for him but he's also a jerk but... ugh... and then what he's doing with/to Lucy. (Momma's got her eye on you... )

My one comment... sex... now this is my Mom/doctor side coming out...yeah, SAFETY should have been addressed, and this may be a plot device for later... BUT.... ugh, yeah, safety. Yes, it is crazy how morals and standards shift when you are young and in the face of something you really, really want. And, standards can change in the heat of the moment... but all the condoms, please!

The episode what short but I'm invested now, and I absolutely want to know what's going on with the cheerleader girlfriend and where Riley and Lucy go from where they left off. 

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you (i guess) to Netgalley for providing this e-arc.

What the fvck was this book. I don't want to waste my time trying to be articulate about it so let's get to ranting.

Each of them is terrible. Lucy's perverted and arrogant. Riley is well.... a mess. His girlfriend is definitely the worst. She literally takes advantage of Riley and has sex with him whilst he's intoxicated with alcohol.

The Cheat is a strange story of blackmail and falling for your blackmailer.

None of the characters were likeable in any way, and I found it impossible to root for anyone. The plot not at all believable, and seemed to be trying to maximise the shock factor rather than telling a story. This book has more clichés and tired tropes than I've ever seen before. Instead of being sexy, the interactions just made me very uncomfortable. 

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me and I won't be picking up the next episode.

This review has been posted to Goodreads.

I am super confused about what I read just now. 

First off, I am aware this is part of an ongoing series that is supposed to release every two weeks. So there is missing story here. I have acknowledged this and it plays no bearing in my review.

With that being said, where is the story? I feel like there was a lack of information given that wasn't based on stalking (being a peeper). It is totally fine he since he is okay with it, but then she extorts him and he cheats because he is unhappy with his current relationship. Then they have sex and she decides she is in love with him... even though he ignores her and is still with his girlfriend. That "summary" is the extent of the book. There is no development between the characters that make you want a real relationship between them. You don't connect with either of them because they have zero reasons or excuses for their behavior. Justification of these types of situations are difficult to give in the first place, but there is zero discourse within the story that give the impression the next ones are worth reading.