Description

You've been the heart of the Hawthorne Court for as long as you can remember, but now the eight boys who swore to protect you are the ones breaking your heart. You’re the only girl in a tight-knit circle of childhood friends, the unofficial little sister to a band of brothers who grew up on the same street. But things are changing. The brotherly teasing now has a flirtatious edge, and their protection is starting to feel a lot like possession. There’s Caleb (24), the silent, watchful leader; Julian (23), the charming diplomat; the twin artists Liam and Seth (22), one sharp-tongued and the other gentle; Owen (21), the golden-retriever athlete; Aidan (20), the broody musician; Lucas (20), the genius hacker; and Elias (18), the reckless youngest. They used to guard you from playground bullies and bad dates. Now, as you all stand on the precipice of adulthood, they’re guarding you from each other. Every stolen glance, every casual touch, every whispered secret is a new crack in the foundation of your friendship, threatening to shatter everything you’ve ever known.