Book Review: Merit by Devney Perry

Enemies-to-lovers is one of my all-time favorite tropes so I was ready for Stevie and Maverick's story in Merit. The tension between these two was palpable and I ate it up. I loved the development and details of them coming together and all the emotion it made me feel. This was a winner!

Merit (Treasure State Wildcats #4) by Devney Perry

An enemies to lovers, sports romance from #1 Amazon, WSJ and USA Today bestselling author Devney Perry.

The world loves Maverick Houston. Me? I’ve hated him since we were ten.

It’s not exactly easy to escape your childhood nemesis when your parents are best friends who live on the same block. Through countless vacations, parties and holidays, Maverick and I have spent the past decade trading insults.

Until that family dinner when his mother tells us she’s dying. When she asks us to forget the past and start fresh. That’s how I found myself on a date with the Treasure State Wildcats football star. The campus playboy. The boy I kissed when I was three. The man who is the bane of my existence.

He’s arrogant. He’s blunt. He’s too handsome for his own good. But if he has a single, redeeming merit, the guy sure does love his mom. And that’s why I started fake dating Maverick Houston. That’s why I made him a proposition of my own. That’s how this sham of a relationship ruined my life.

The world loves Maverick Houston. Me? I hate that he made me love him too.

5 out of 5 stars

As soon as I picked up Merit, I never wanted to put it down. I felt like I was immediately a part of the story, feeling it all! I couldn't wait for Maverick and Stevie to come together. I loved the animosity between them as they battle their feelings in their fake dating relationship. I loved how entertaining it was, the fantastic slow burn, and all the beautifully heartbreaking moments as well. This book had everything I love. I'm sad to see this series come to an end but it went out in the most perfect way.

I loved learning all about Maverick and Stevie, from their youth where their bitterness started to present day and what they were going through. I hurt for Maverick as he dealt with his feelings about his mother’s health, I could feel all his emotion and pain. I loved Stevie and where she was at in life and how hard she worked. I loved the fake dating aspect and the reasons why. I loved the bickering and tension, creating the perfect enemies-to-lovers vibe. Their verbal sparring could be harsh and wicked, but when it starts to turn more playful and sweet, it was perfection. I loved them spending time together, seeing each other in a new light, and watching their feelings grow as the fake turns real. I loved the bits of drama and jealousy, and what Stevie was asking of Maverick. It had so many fantastic moments filled with emotion, passion, and heart, and it was incredibly well done. I loved the growth they both experienced throughout the story, how they opened up and became vulnerable, and how Stevie was there for Maverick when his world came crashing down.

I loved Stevie and Maverick’s families and what a tight-knit group they were and how they were there for one another in a time of crisis. Everything with Maverick’s mom was heartfelt and touching. I loved the relationship Stevie had with her dad and the growing pains they were experiencing together. I adored Maverick’s friendship with Rush and how it has grown over the years. Again, it was just filled with all these special moments that made me feel all the things and I couldn’t get enough.

This was exceptional storytelling. I got choked up more times than I could count. And the epilogue? It was everything! With every book in this series, I have felt like it's a new favorite and now it's safe to say that this one is my favorite! Merit is a must-read!

Complimentary copy received.