REVIEW: Rogue by Elle Kennedy

Rogue by Elle Kennedy: Taking off comfortably from Misfit, Rogue is focused on Casey, and whilst a bit of work has gone into determining how she almost died at prom in a sinking car in the lake the year before, there’s a lot to be said for trauma.

And whilst the narrative is focused on uncovering how, why and who and so on, it lacked a certain edge generically that was evident in the first. With that said, it still hit a tonne of nails on the head as relationships were challenged, people revealed their true colours and trust was an ever-constant.

Casey hit rebellion in the face, at 17 and a half and whilst that’s okay, it did seem a smidge late, brought on by ongoing bullying and her families pathological need to treat her like a fragile child. Quite naturally, therefore, she lets loose and, despite not getting the full treatment it deserved, her retaliation to the playground bullies was excellent.

At times, I don’t think it went far enough, there was still something fragile and opaque about her Great rebellion, and I kind of felt like it was a bit sad dropping Lawson (who is one of my faves) down the drain to justify Casey’s rightly owned desire to just be her.

As always though, the narrative voice was on point, and the sharp writing style was excellent with some fantastic moments of forgiveness, honesty and revelations that have set the platform perfectly for the next juicy instalment.

Book Info:

Publication: 7th March 2023 | Bloom Books | Prep #2

It’s been a long time since Casey Tresscott has felt like her life was her own. After the car accident that nearly cost her everything, she’s used to her family’s coddling and the relentless whispers at school, no matter how much they sting. After all, she’s found a safe harbor in her budding relationship with Sandover’s golden boy, Fenn Bishop…or so she thinks.

Beneath Fenn’s pretty, party-boy surface is a dangerous truth about the night Casey almost died. He thought lying to her was the right thing to do, but when the secret shakes loose, he just might lose her for good.

Because Casey is done being taken advantage of.

Grasping for the control she’s been missing, Casey finally snaps―telling off her bullies, gallivanting with rebels and playboys, and shirking her headmaster father’s strict curfews, despite the consequences. A desperate Fenn must ally with his stepbrother RJ and the other Sandover delinquents to uncover the full story of Casey’s accident and the ones responsible if he hopes to win her back.