The Devils They Are

An Academy Enemies To Lovers Romance (Boys of Willowbrook, Book 1)

By: Steph Macca

Narrated by: Maxine Mitchell, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, Anthony Palmini

From bestselling author Steph Macca comes a steamy academy/enemies to lovers romance.

Ridgeview Valley was known for two things.

One: Well before any of us were alive, a chunk of asteroid smashed into the town’s center and left a miniature crater which they celebrate atrociously.

And two: On either side of the town, there are two competing schools that wage war over a long-time feud.

Cedar Heights Academy was clearly the superior winner. But after a mysterious, totally not-suspicious fire temporarily closes it down, we’re all forced to attend the rival Willowbrook Academy.

We frequently take our decades-old feud to the cage and fight it out, but not even that could prepare me to deal with Rylan Astor, Hunter Lannister, and Tai Beckett on a daily basis – the so-called Kings of Willowbrook.

I know one thing for certain: Just because I am walking into enemy territory, it doesn’t mean I’m about to give up my crown.

There’s a reason Cedar Heights only needs a queen to rule… And I’m about to dethrone the kings once and for all.

What better way to bring down an empire than from inside their own castle.

©2025 Steph Macca (P)2026 Blue Nose Publishing

Amazing FMC

The best thing about this book is that Bexley is a badass. She doesn’t cower or just let the head cheerleader get away with being a bully. She takes action and defends people. At times it kind of felt dystopian just with the fire and how it impacted these students who seem to run their own society. I wish the enemies portion lasted longer but that’s just a personal preference. I enjoy the intrigue around the what and why and who and of course that cliffhanger (not that I am worried) The narration was awesome, which was one of the main reasons I was so interested in this book.

Amazing!

5 ⭐️/ 3 🌶️ - 🎧
4.5 ⭐️ - 📚

Okay, I am a sucker for the bully trope, and when you add a full cast Narration by Maxine, Aaron, JF Harding, and Anthony, it made me drool over it, lol. The way these guys brought our MCs to life was just chef's kiss. I especially loved the spicy scenes 🔥 and Maine's comedic timing!

Story-wise - This is my first book by Steph, I think, and I am now a fan! I loved what a baddie our Bexley is! And the best part, although I hated Rylan, Hunter, and Tai sometimes, but I loved how they appreciated Bexley being the queen and didn't try to change her! The banter, the pranks, it was so fun to read!

And now, I am here waiting for book 2 🙃

Tropes: Why-choose, bully romance

Incredibly Diabolical! Amazing Story & Narration🎧

Steph Macca welcomes you to Ridgeview Valley with an amazing enemies-to-lovers romance novel that hooks your attention right from the start and holds it straight to the end. There are two rival schools in Ridgeview Valley: Cedar Heights Academy, a public school, and Willowbrook Academy, the school for the elite. When a fire causes extensive damage at Cedar Heights Academy, the solution is to send all its students to Willowbrook Academy when repairs are being made. A decision none of the students are happy about, especially Bexley “Bex” Spencer, the unofficial Queen of her school, and Rylan Astor, Hunter Lannister, and Tai Beckett, the official Kings of Willowbrook. You could feel the animosity and angst between the two rival schools immediately. Circumstances may have forced Bex and her crew to educate on enemy ground, but she is not about to give any of them any power over her, and that includes the Kings and the cheerleaders. It will be the other way around, and Bex is in it to take their power away, so let the games begin. This is a multi-layered story with depth and complex characters, and it was great watching the push and pull between them and learning more about each of the key players and their backstories. This is a fantastic start to the series, and it lays the foundation for the rest of the series, the drama is non-stop and the slow building of the relationships between the lead characters, complicated relationships filled with angst, tension, and sizzling hot chemistry, is incredible. There are side/secondary characters who are just as amazing as the four leads, too. And let’s talk about that ending, no, maybe not, but Steph Macca, you are incredibly diabolical to end it that way, an ending that leaves you wanting, no scratch that, needing more! Thank you for another amazing story and wild ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the exceptional audiobook listen, a multi-cast production performed in duet by the superbly talented Maxine Mitchell, Anthony Palmini, Aaron Shedlock, and J.F. Harding, whose stellar performances take this already amazing story to another level. I loved how they each took their roles and ran with them, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters would sound. Maxine Mitchell’s Bexley was perfection, showcasing every aspect of her personality, from her wit and fierceness to her more vulnerable moments. The guys were just as amazing in their roles: Anthony Palmini as kind-hearted Rylan, Aaron Shedlock as the humorous nerd and lover of math Tai, and J.F. Harding as the angsty Hunter. They were fantastic covering the roles of side/secondary characters. Their expressive performance conveyed all the characters’ emotions, and they had you feeling them all. It was a pleasure to listen to these entertaining storytellers perform, and it is an enthralling performance that keeps you hooked to the story the entire time.

Steph Macca does it again!

The Devils They Are by Steph Macca is an exciting enemies-to-lovers story that absolutely earned 5 stars from me. The FMC is strong, protective, and full of sharp sarcasm and wit, which she uses to navigate both personal struggles and very public challenges.

The MMCs are all incredibly different from one another, but each of them is impossible not to fall for in their own way.

The story follows a group of high school seniors (all 18) who find themselves thrown together through intense school rivalry and forced proximity after one of the schools is put out of commission by a fire.

I especially loved the full-cast audiobook—it brought the story to life and easily deserves 5 stars as well.

This is book one and it does end on a cliffhanger, but honestly, that just made me even more excited to keep reading!

cliffhanger killed me

I can't, I just can't!!! the cliffhanger has my stomach in a knot. I need book 2 now!!!! this was so good. hard to belive they are in high school but besides that the storyline is really good. it had me hooked from the first chapter. the full cast of narrators made it even better. they are all so awesome at what they do. I need book 2 now K.G. please!