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Member Reviews

This series is so good. I absolutely loved the audio of Lights Out. I was thoroughly looking forward to the second book, Caught Up, and it did not disappoint. I'm such a sucker for all of the tropes in the Into the Darkness Trilogy, and can't wait to see what the final installment is all about. We got a little taste of Nico in the first book, and his and Lauren's story definitely lived up to my expectations. I highly recommend this one for those looking for a little bit of the wild side!

Always check trigger warnings!

What to expect:
- Morally Grey MMC
- Stalker Rom Com
- Play Club Kink
- Second Chance
- Online- to- IRL
- Stalker romance
- Masked stalker
- He falls first
- Kink friendly
- Found family
- Touch her and d1e

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ICONIC!! This book was an absolute WINNNN!!!! The fact that this was a dark romance that had me giggling, kicking my feet, twirling my hair & GAVE ME BUTTERFLIES (& 🐱 ones too) speaks volumes. And it doesn’t hurt that there are more legendary spicy scenes in this book that I can count on one hand—it makes me downright giddy!!

A cam girl & mobster reunite in a very unconventional way after having a little something something during their high school years…what a unique tale 👏🫦 oh, and did I mention there’s also a sex club?!!! And some light stalking but in like a romantic, I’ll take care of any of your problems & make sure you are always safe, way!

Listen…if there is one that you take away from this review its that you may want to get some holy water ready to douse yourself in because you’ll need it after reading about a scene that may or may not take place in a confessional…at church. CAN I GET AN AMEN?????? Especially when those praying hands actually turn into a lovely hand necklace 🫦

“You make people feel seen and accepted, no matter who they are or what kind of hell they’re stuck in.”

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Second Chance
Mafia Romance
JUST THE TIP 🍆
Dark romcom
Sex club
Stalker
Touch her & die
Voyeurism

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NAVESSA
NAVESSA
NAVESSA
This book is SPICY AND FIREY AND EVERYTHING I NEEDED. I always get nervous that the second book won't live up to the first but I should know Navessa will never let me down because this book was amazing. The spice was spicing, the banter and tension was amazing and I loved all the different topics it touched on.
-Biker MMC
-Mafia Romance
-Second Chance Romance
-Dark RomCom
-Touch Her and Die
-Voyeurism

Thank you to Zando Projects, Slowburn Reads, NetGalley and Navessa Allen for sending this book along for me to read!

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The first few pages had me completely hooked! Caught Up was incredible and definitely had a different vibe from Lights Out! It's still a mix of romance and tension, with a lot of spice and chaos in the best possible way! I absolutely loved Nico (Junior) and Lauren!! Their second chance romance had all the angst, trust issues, and healing that everyone is going to love. If you haven't added this to your June TBR, definitely recommend picking it up on June 10th!

If you want a Dark Romance with:
• Mafia ties
• Stalker rom-com
• Online to IRL
• Second chance
• Forced Proximity
• Possessive + Protective MMC
• Mask Kink
Definitely add this one to your list!

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3.5 stars

Ok, so I know we're not reading these books for "the plot", but I had a hard time finding any plot in this one. Besides the very tenuous theme of Junior trying to go legit from the mob, this was mostly just spicy scenes. Which is fine if that's what you're here for, but compared to Lights Out, it didn't have the same humourous elements or personality. The second chance romance between Nic and Lauren had all the potential of a modern day Romeo and Juliet being from warring Mafia families, and I would have enjoyed this one better if it felt more like a Mafia romance, but that aspect was played down. Instead, it really just focused on Lauren's camgirl career and her involvement in a play club, as Nic reconnects with her as a secret sub to her account and then joins her in exploring his own desires at the club. Nic was described as a "walking red flag", which I'm usually into, but his personality was dour. I could appreciate Lauren's spirit, and with the bank she makes, it made me wonder if maybe I'm in the wrong line of business after all, but this was her entire personality and she felt one dimensional. The bright spots of the book for me were the cameos from Josh, since those were the only moments of comic relief, and the confessional booth scene, because I'm not totally made of ice 😏. The story ended on a sweet found family note, but I'm not sure how I feel about the hint of the next installment featuring finance douche Tyler, and would have preferred to see one of the other Trocci brothers featured in a true Mafia romance style.

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BY FAR. One of my favorite books this year. Super grateful to have been given the honor to read and review this book in advance. Continuing from Lights Out we get more background from Aly’s family but from Juniors eyes. Not only do we get amazing family drama, but also I love Lauren, Junior’s love interest and her family dynamics. She was a fresh character who offered and gave so much to the story. Dark romance but with humor, found family, healing, and finding out who you are while dealing with people trying to make you be someone you are not. So well written and an overall amazing story. Also loved the animal lovers moments and the spicy scenes which always deliver. Can’t wait to finally own this book and share it with everyone!

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I am so obsessed with this series it’s not even funny. Lights Out was already a blast — packed with dark vibes, sharp banter, and humor laced through the chaos — but Caught Up somehow topped it. I love a dark, borderline-obsessive, second chance romance and Navessa Allen delivered it so well.

Junior is every bit the ruthless, walking red flag I crave in a morally gray MMC, and Lauren? She’s the perfect mix of bold, playful, and self-aware, which made watching these two collide so much fun. Their chemistry was insane. The tension, the buildup, the slow-burn obsession? Chef’s kiss.

I also appreciated how Navessa weaves humor and banter through the darker moments — it keeps things addictive and fast-paced without losing that gritty edge. And let’s be real… the club scenes and the online flirting? Whew. Love a little danger and anonymity mixed in with my romance.

I cannot wait to see what Book 3 brings. If it’s anything like the first two, I already know I’m gonna devour it in one sitting.

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Good sequel to Lights Out. Ladies if he wanted to he would. Junior did whatever he needed to do to be with Lauren. I enjoyed seeing their dynamic change throughout the book and watch their relationship grow. It really wouldn’t be dark romance if the MMC wasn’t obsessed with the FMC. It was nice that Josh and Aly’s story continued into this book

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I was introduced to the wonderful Navessa Allen last year when I was randomly selected to receive an arc for Lights Out and I absolutely loved it. So imagine my surprise when Zando reached out to me again to offer me an arc for Caught Up *𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘢𝘭*!

“𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴; 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨. 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳.”

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥
✦ Caught Up hits different than Lights Out! Less romcom, more emotion, more tension, and way more plot/character driven. I was hooked.
✦ Nico “Junior” and Lauren’s chemistry? Off the charts. Their second chance romance had all the angst, trust issues, and healing I love.
✦ Navessa nailed that mix of dark and tender! She balanced heavy themes with just enough lightness and hope to keep me fully invested.
✦ Give me an MMC obsessed with the FMC any day! Junior is SO gone for Lauren. Plus, the friendships? Iconic. That “we ride at dawn” scene had me cackling.
✦ This was the perfect follow-up to Lights Out. Still spicy, but deeper, messier, and totally unforgettable. Might’ve loved it even more than book one 👀🔥
✦ And let’s not forget that stairwell scene 🥵🫠

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Lights Out is one of my favorite books of all time so of course Caught Up was going to be one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it had big shoes to fill and let me tell it 1000% did!!! This book is so damn good!!!!

The story, the spice, the plot and these characters ate! Navessa killed it with this and her amazing ability to write a story that completely draws you in from the first page and keeps you hooked the entire time. Junior and Lauren are perfection. I have absolutely no notes!!!

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I loved Lights Out and had such high hopes for Caught Up.

And Navessa DELIVERED. I love this book more than I thought I would!!! The spice was balanced perfectly with the plot and I loved Lauren sm. I loved everything. Ugh.

Thank you so much to Navessa Allen, Zando Projects/Slowburn and NetGalley for an early copy!

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When I say the spice is SPICING in this book… I mean it. I read Caught Up right after finishing Lights Out. While I really enjoyed the plot in Lights Out, the spice wasn’t quite my preferred flavor. So I went into Caught Up a little hesitant—but wow, this one delivered! Where Lights Out leans darker with the spice, Caught Up is more adventurous, bold, and there’s a lot more of it. It was giving heat and heart.

Now let’s talk about Junior who is the MMC in this book. He’s Aly’s cousin from Lights Out—yes the cousin from the mafia family. Now I wasn’t sure he’d work as a romantic lead, but I was so surprised at how much I actually liked him in this book. He’s layered, complex, and actually a really great MMC.

So for the romance we’ve got a second chance romance—Junior reconnects with an old high school fling Lauren, who’s now a confident, independent camgirl. She’s bold, knows what she wants, and doesn’t take any of Junior’s nonsense. Their chemistry is off the charts.

Beyond the spice, the plot kept me hooked. I genuinely cared about what happened next, and the quality writing had me flying through the chapters.

If you’re into extra spicy reads that also deliver on strong characters and a solid storyline, I definitely recommend giving Caught Up a read.

A huge thank you to Zando and NetGalley for the gifted ARC!

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Navessa has done it again with her signature blend of brilliance, humor, and steam! Caught Up is a wildly entertaining ride packed with laugh-out-loud moments, sizzling scenes (iykyk), and a twist of thrilling mafia drama. If you were obsessed with Lights Out, prepare to devour Caught Up!

Lauren is an absolute queen in every sense of the word. She’s fierce, independent, and completely in tune with who she is—especially when it comes to her sexuality. Honestly, I aspire to her level of confidence and self-awareness! Despite her sharp wit and hilarious nature, Lauren is also deeply grounded. She’s Nico’s anchor through his struggles with the mob and his complicated relationship with his father. A woman who can keep her man steady deserves to be worshipped—and let’s just say Nico definitely gets that memo (wink wink).

I was also thrilled to see cameos from Josh and Aly! I miss them constantly, so catching up with them felt like a breath of fresh air—and brought a ton of happy giggles too. The supporting characters in this story are nothing short of hilarious. Every single one—main or side—adds something special, making this book absolute gold.

A HUGE thanks to Navessa, the amazing team at Zando/Slowburn, and the NG crew for giving me early access to Caught Up. I can’t wait for everyone else to fall in love with this story too!

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I’m completely hooked - I read this within 24 hours and the urge to read this again is real (also kinda bummed I can’t experience it for the first time again). This book reminded me exactly why she’s one of my favorite dark rom-com authors—honestly? She might’ve just claimed the #1 spot.

If you’re craving a spicy (and I do mean SPICYYY 🌶️) second chance romance with a pinch of mafia drama, a morally gray biker MMC, found family feels, and electric chemistry—this is your next favorite read.

For fans of Lights Out, Caught Up hits different. It keeps the playful banter and all the heat (yes, somehow spicier 😳), but also digs deeper—offering a powerful, tension-filled love story rooted in vulnerability and redemption.

Let’s talk Nic and Lauren. Their chemistry? Off. The. Charts. The confessional scene lives in my mind rent free 🥵 - forgive me Father cause I have sinned. Their reunion is so iconic and I still laugh just thinking about it. I loved watching them rebuild trust and grow together—while Nic may be a brooding biker, he turns into a total golden retriever around Lauren. And his unwavering support for her Onlyfans type of work and sexual preferences? We love emotionally mature kings 👑 Lauren, on the other hand, was made for him. She doesn’t just complete Nic—she inspires him. There’s something so beautiful about a love that makes someone want to be better simply by existing next to them.

And yes. It’s dark. There’s stalking, murder, manipulation… but hey—we love the color red❤️‍🔥

Tropes I lived for:
🖤 Dark Romance (Mafia)
🖤 Biker x Camgirl
🖤 Second Chance Romance
🖤 Childhood Friends to Lovers
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Kink Exploration

Huge thanks to @slowburn.reads for the ARC!

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Overall this fell flat for me versus Lights Out. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, I thought it wasn't quite as funny as Lights Out and majority of the plot fell flat for me as well. I loved the first book! I wish there was more mafia vibes and I was expecting more from the plot with that aspect. With a second chance I would expect more chemistry between the characters as well and I just didn't feel any chemistry between the two. Overall this one just wasn't for me unfortunately :( Will continue to read the rest of the series and love Navessa Allen! Just fell flat for me.

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Loved this one! I really enjoyed the relationship between Nico (Junior) & Lauren and more about Nico’s family. The twist was definitely something I didn’t see coming. And the spice was A YES FROM ME. I cannot wait for the 3rd! A huge thank you to Navessa Allen and the publisher for this e-arc!

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*Thank you to Zando/Slowburn and NetGalley for access to the advanced reader copy for this book!

This book completely sucked me in! I really enjoyed Lights Out and even though I did, I was not expecting to like Caught Up so much! This book is a wild, fun, slightly disturbing, and steamy ride - All in the best ways possible!
I think what makes this book work so well is the talent that Navessa Allen brings when developing complex characters. Both our female and male main characters have challenging backstories, aspects of which are intertwined, and through her writing, Allen makes us care deeply for these characters through exploration of their pasts, while also diving into their current fears and concerns. While these characters are harboring much trauma, the openness of our male main character and the development of our female main character to meet his honesty is done stunningly and really adds to the heart of this story.
I'm thoroughly impressed that Allen was somehow able to maintain tension between our two main characters for more than half of this story despite there being multiple steamy scenes throughout. And those steamy scenes.. Wow!
It was really fun to spend some time with characters from Lights Out and feel a family unit form between all of our favorite characters from this universe. I'm actually sad that this is a trilogy because there are so many more characters that I find intriguing and who's story I'm interested in exploring!
I thought this book was so much fun and definitely recommend it if you're looking for a bit of a darker romance!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

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I’m struggling with what to rate this. It just wasn’t for me at all. I loved book one so much and now I’m wondering if it was the audiobook that made me love it as much as I did.

I didn’t connect with the characters or what little storyline there was.

The spice was spicey and not bad.

I love the authors writing I just didn’t vibe with this book.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nic and Lauren have me feral.

This second chance romance was everything. Nico Jr. brought the pining, the groveling, the loverboy energy. Ten years apart and still completely gone for her.

Lauren was a riot. Smart, loyal, unhinged in the best way. That taser? Iconic. Their banter had me grinning the entire time.

Loved the flipped dynamic. She had the experience. He had the heart. No ego, no judgment, just two people showing up for each other.

The emotional payoff hit hard and the ending tied everything together in the best way. I’ll be thinking about these two for a while.

Thank you Zando & NetGalley for the ARC! I love this series!

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Thank you to Zando for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Nico 'Junior' Trocci has been protecting Lauren Marchetti for a decade, starting by breaking her heart back in high school. With her father finally out of the way, Junior is ready to make his intentions known. Lauren doesn't know that Junior was the first subscriber to her paid camgirl channel or that he's been working behind the scenes to make things easier for her over the years. So when he tries to get back into her life, her mind is uninterested, but her body certainly has the opposite reaction. And when Junior shows up at her play club, resisting him proves more difficult than ever. But Lauren isn't sure she can forgive Junior, especially as new secrets come to light. And Junior is still struggling to escape his father's influence, which proves more difficult than imagined. Can these two make it for the long haul, or are they just caught up in an infatuation?

This was a great follow-up to Lights Out! Josh still has my heart, but Junior certainly wedged his way in, too! As the rumors say, this book is spicier than Lights Out! Yes, really! Make sure you read with the air conditioner on because the room will start getting HOT. It is great fun to read, and the sex-positive attitude is fantastic. It is also SUPER refreshing to read a dark romance where the MMC is completely supportive of the FMC and even tells her, "I'd never clip your wings." Plus, he apologizes right away when he makes a mistake. Amazing! I loved the little cameos from Aly and Josh. I was also a big fan of the side characters, especially Lauren's roommates. They were so funny and had the most beautiful friendship. I am SO EXCITED for the third book (you will know who it's about by the end). Reading this book before everyone was an honor, but it's also been hard because I want to talk about it! I can't wait for this one to hit the shelves!

Follow me on Instagram @smorebooksplease for more bookish fun!

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