Book: Show Me How by Ashleigh Reeds
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 3.5/5
ARC REVIEW
Show Me How by Ashleigh Reeds
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.75/5)
There is truly nothing I love more than a well-done reformed bully romance, and Jaxon absolutely delivered on that front.
Back in high school, Jax made Savannah’s life miserable with constant teasing and cruel pranks. Now, years later, Savannah suddenly needs a fake boyfriend to survive three straight weeks of wedding events… because her cousin is marrying Savannah’s ex-fiancé. Brutal. Naturally, the last person she wants to rely on is Jaxon. Unfortunately for her, he is very determined to prove he’s not the same guy he used to be—and honestly? Watching him try to earn her trust was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I really liked Savannah. She’s ambitious, intelligent, and unapologetically focused on her future as a law student. Her ex cheating on her because she prioritized her goals honestly just made me root for her harder. I love an FMC who refuses to shrink herself or compromise her dreams for a man. And while she’s definitely bookish and driven, the story never boxes her into the “uptight nerd” stereotype—she’s confident, sexy, and fully capable of holding her own against Jax.
And Jax? Extremely my type, unfortunately. Former football player turned tattooed, motorcycle-riding bad boy is already dangerous enough, but making him secretly obsessed with Savannah? Fatal. Savannah’s grandmother calling him a “tall glass of champagne” honestly deserves its own award because yes. That is exactly the vibe.
What really worked for me, though, is that his redemption feels genuine. The book doesn’t excuse his past behavior, and Jax himself fully acknowledges how badly he treated Savannah. A traumatic experience forced him to reevaluate who he was, and therapy became a meaningful part of his growth rather than a throwaway detail. But the best part? This man is absolutely down bad for her. From the very beginning, Savannah is completely under his skin, and every moment of yearning, protectiveness, and barely-contained devotion ate me alive.
Overall, this was fun, swoony, and packed with the kind of emotional payoff I want from a bully-to-lovers romance.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC!