Childhood tension, one summer, and a love they swore they wouldn’t touch… but can’t stay away from 😮‍💨🔥

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My Review

🏒 Back to Briar (My First Dive In)

This book?
Felt like coming home… even though it was technically my first visit.

Yes—this is my first Elle Kennedy read 👀 I haven’t read the previous Campus Diaries (or the earlier Briar books), but since this is a standalone, I jumped right in.

And honestly? I had no problem following along. The world-building and character dynamics were easy to pick up, and I still got that sense of history, friendship, and nostalgia everyone talks about.

Now I definitely get the hype—and I might just have to go back and read everything I missed 😏📚

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🔥 Blake & Wyatt (aka Delicious Torture)

Let’s talk about THEM 😮‍💨

• Childhood connection
• Complicated history
• “We shouldn’t want each other… but we do” energy
• Forced proximity
• Slow burn tension that hurts in the best way

Wyatt???
STOLE. THE. SHOW.

He’s this dark, brooding, tortured musician with a serious attitude problem—and yes, he frustrated me at times—but once we start peeling back his layers?? My heart ached for him. His growth was hands down one of my favorite parts of the book.

Blake balanced him out so well. I loved that she called him on his bullshit and didn’t just fall at his feet. Their chemistry was insane—the banter, the tension, the history… I ate it UP.

“I’m going to ruin you,” I say roughly. “Maybe I’ll ruin you too,” she whispers back. She already fucking has.

That said… I wanted just a little more from Blake’s character arc. While I enjoyed her journey, it didn’t feel as fully resolved as Wyatt’s did.

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🌅 The Vibe: Summer, Nostalgia & Feels

Set against a Lake Tahoe summer, this book had that soft, nostalgic, slightly bittersweet energy that just hits different.

It’s:

• Emotional
• Comforting
• Angsty in the best way
• Full of “this is where I belong” feelings

And the group chats??
Elite. Absolute elite content.

Dad chat. Man chat. Dean being Dean. Garrett and Logan!! I was literally laughing out loud 🤭 Add in the next gen chaos and I was living for every second.

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😬 The Dip (Because You Know I’ll Tell You)

Okay… here’s where it lost that 5-star glow for me.

The last 20%.

There’s a plot twist (CHECK YOUR CWs—because they’re at the end of the ebook 🙃) and the way everything played out felt heavier and more depressing than I expected.

I didn’t hate it… but I didn’t love it either.

And after such a long emotional build-up, Blake and Wyatt’s ending felt a little rushed. I needed more time with them happy—more payoff for everything we went through.

There were also a few pacing dips and moments of heavier drama than I personally needed.

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💖 Why I Still Loved It

Even with those flaws?

I stayed up until 4am to finish this.
So that should tell you everything 😌

This book has:

• Strong emotional depth
• Incredible tension and chemistry
• Nostalgic Briar vibes
• Laugh-out-loud moments
• A romance that feels like home

And honestly? Being back with these characters—old and new—was everything.

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👀 What’s Next…

Now I’m sitting here like…

AJ’s story?? Hello???
I’m READY 👀🔥

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💭 Final Thoughts

This wasn’t a perfect book—but it was a deeply emotional, nostalgic, and addictive return to the Briar world.

If you love:

• Next gen romances
• Angsty slow burns
• Complicated history + undeniable chemistry
• Found family chaos

You’re going to eat this up 💖🏒

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 Stars from this “Good Girl”

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