Okayyyyy 🤭😮‍💨

This one was Fun!!! If you loved lights out (the first book of the series) you’re gonna LOVE Caught up .

I think I loved it even more than lights out! 🙊

I laughted out loud many times while reading it but also the spice 😮‍💨❤️‍🔥 this one was hottt

One thing I love in romance books is when the mmc is Obsessed with the fmc and Junior is OBSESSED with Lauren🤭

I also loved the relationship between Lauren & her friends. The “we ride at dawn” scene was so funny 🤣

I’m already super excited for the next one !!!
Thank you so much Zando for the arc 🥹❤️🫶🏼

Read this if you love

Dark rom-com
Second chance romance
Mafia romance
Man obsessed
Spicyyyy 🌶️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🌶️🌶️.5

5 STARS 5 STARS 5 STARS

After the well deserved love and hype for Lights Out, I never once doubted that Navessa would deliver the same kind of magic in Caught Up.

The character development, the tension, spice, dialogue. I couldn’t get enough of it!!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC!

***Early ARC Review***

Read if you like:

Second Chance
High School relationship to enemies to lovers
Cam Girl x Mobster
Hidden Identity
Masks
Man Obsessed
He stalks her (lovingly!😅)
Touch her & 💀
Ride-or-💀 Friendships
LGBTQIA+ Rep
Voyeurism/Exhibitionism
Getting Naughty in Church
k!nk Exploration
She makes him beg
"Grab the headboard"
He'll risk it all for Her

⚠️Check content warnings!

This book focuses on Nico "Junior" Trocci, Aly from Lights Out's cousin, and his obsession with his high school girlfriend, Lauren Marchetti. Junior is (begrudgingly) a part of his dad's criminal empire, and Lauren is now a cam girl (think Only Fans). They had a falling out in high school and they haven't had contact since. (Except, unbeknownst to Lauren, Junior is secretly her #1 subscriber, and they've been talking for years!) Yes, he may have been moderately stalking her all these years, but now he's looking to reconnect IRL! Let's just say that Lauren is not receptive to this and needs some convincing...

This book is a whole different vibe from Lights Out but was good in its own right. This book is dark and steamy and morally grey. It's not laugh-out-loud funny like Lights Out, as Junior's personality could not be more different than Josh's, but they are similar in their intensity and obsession over their women! I'm excited for the final book in the trilogy to come!

4.5⭐ 3🌶️

I read an advanced copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts. A HUGE thank you to author Navessa Allen and Zando Projects Slowburn for the early review copy via NetGalley!

Hold on tight, y’all, because Caught Up by Navessa Allen is wild in all the best ways!

Before digging in, I just want to thank Navessa Allen, Zando, Slow Burn, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Caught Up early. So honored. So lucky. Soooo impressed!

The second installment of the Into Darkness Trilogy was just as phenomenal but wholly different from its predecessor. While set in the same universe with cameos from characters in book one, Caught up follows Nico (Junior), the mafia’s right hand man, and Lauren, successful cam girl, through their push and pull love affair. It’s hot, it’s sexy, it’s emotional, it has masks AND motorcycles - it’s entertainment at its finest.

The characters were so well done! Lauren’s confidence in herself really stood out. She owns who she is unapologetically and it’s spectacular. Nico’s devotion to Lo swept me off my feet. The groveling? Pls 🥵🥵🥵 Their character arcs and growth from beginning to end, ugh, just chef’s kiss! 🤌🤌 I loved their whit and banter together, how inclusive and open minded they were, and how multifaceted their personalities were. And can we have a moment for the side characters, who were so good that they nearly outshone Junior and Lo, please? “Found family” just doesn’t do it justice when describing the dynamic. I truly could not love a group of characters more.

The plot plotted. The comedy ate in ways I was unprepared for. The spice was hot and delicious. Caught Up is officially in my Dark RomCom Hall of Fame, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it in June!

goshhh this book was EPIC! After reading and obsessing over Josh and Aly in Lights Out, I was so curious about the next book in the series and Junior & Lauren did not disappoint!! I am a Nico "Junior" Trocci stan through and through. This man would let Lo do whatever she wanted and then thank her for allowing him the honor of even being in her presence. He was SO gone for her! I love the boy obsessed trope and this book served it in spades!! Lauren was such an iconic fmc as well. I loved how independent and confident in herself she was, the way she was completely unapologetic and did not care what anyone thought of her was everything. I was rooting for her from the start.

The found family aspects had me ON THE GROUND!! Thank you times a million to Navessa for the JoshAly crumbs, each time they were mentioned I'd immediately squeal! *and Fred, the most iconic fictional fur baby LOL*

I loved this book so much honestly, I highlighted so many lines and I keep going back to reread because it was just that good.

Also, Josh and Junior getting together to 'watch a game' but it just being an excuse for them to hang out. PLS I CANT HANDLE THE CUTENESS!

Lauren and Junior as a couple were so HOT. There was k!nk exploration and I loved their dynamic so much. THE CONFESSIONAL SCENE IS IMPRINTED IN MY BRAIN AND NOT EVEN HOLY WATER CAN RID ME OF IT. SO. GOOD. (there were so many others iconic moments but trying to avoid spoilers hehe okay bye)

What you can expect to find in Caught Up:
-MMC biker with ties to the mafia
-FMC who has something akin to an only fans page
-second chance romance
-lots of spicy scenes

Caught Up was my first book by Navessa Allen. I knew to expect a spicy romance, but....🫠. This author knows how to bring the heat.

I was hooked immediately from the beginning. An MMC who has mafia ties, has been wanting a second chance with the girl that slipped away AND he wants to be a better man for her - oof! And I loved how independent Laura was. She was willing to give Nico a second chance, but kept her guard up because she's been burned in the past.

I really enjoyed Caught Up and I'm looking forward to more from this author!

Spoiler Alert 🚨 5/5 stars no notes. Really though, I loved this book. It was just as good as Lights Out. I loved how the characters grew and developed, I loved how she normalized sex and sex work, and I loved the happily ever after. Nic/Junior is everything you want and more in a hot/biker/mob/kink story where he gets his HEA that you are rooting for. Lauren/Lo is a boss babe who advocates for those who are usually not able to or seen as less than and she gets her HEA in all senses. I love the growth and support of the support characters and how there is representation for LGBTQ+ community.

I knew I was going to love this book regardless because of how much I loved Lights Out.

N.A really went ‘hold my drink’ with the spice and kicked it up a few notches and all I can say is thank you so damn much.

I loved the story, the spice, the characters and everything in between. So excited for this to be available to everyone so I can talk about my favorite moments!


I was given an advanced copy by Zando/Slow Burn

Caught Up was a 6-star read for me. This book had everything I needed and more. If you've read Lights Out, you already know Navessa's writing and this book revved it up a couple notches. Do not go expecting a carbon copy of Lights Out, rather the dynamics between Nico 'Junior' Trocci and Lauren Marchetti are in a league of their own. You still get to have some of the Aly and Josh magic but that adds to the fun of this book. THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK EVER TO PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AROUSE ME WHILE READING IT. There is history between these two individuals and the exploration and kink play is INSANE. This book will take you to church! Ultimately it is about decimating patriarchy, severing generational chains and setting up the foundations for found family. Check it out!

She was my match, my queen, and I would spend the rest of my life worshipping her like one if she let me.
_
Lo and Nic’s chemistry was palpable throughout the story, and I love a man obsessed. I appreciated how supportive they were of one another.

Things did get a bit repetitive with Nic apologizing and Lo forgiving him over and over, and the ending felt a tad rushed. I also wanted more resolution one way or another from the confrontation with Lo’s sister. Will they ever speak again or is it just over?!

Overall an enjoyable and quick read. Oh, and I haven’t read Lights Out, so I can’t compare the two against each other.
—

this and that:
♡ bdsm
♡ cam girl x mafia boy
♡ dark romance
♡ dual pov
♡ groveling
♡ he’s obsessed
♡ morally grey mmc
♡ play club
♡ second chance
♡ voyeurism

triggers:
☞ absentee parents
☞ abusive parent dynamic
☞ blood x gore
☞ toxic family relationships
☞ s3x shaming
☞ violence

Ok Navessa did it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book had me blushing and giggling all at the same time. Junior's and Lo's chemistry was 🥵 The spice was spicing! I really enjoyed reading this book.

Oh my gosh I needed a cold shower after reading this one! 🤭🤭🥵🥵 I loved Lights Out and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book in the series. This second chance romance book was done so well. Navessa is such an amazing storyteller and has a way of drawing you in and getting lost in the pages and world of the characters. I love a strong, independent FMC, and Lauren was exactly that. I couldn’t get enough of Nico’s bad boy but also super sweet demeanor. There’s so many hot and spicy scenes and I enjoyed getting glimpses of the characters from the first book. I’m so looking forward to the third book.

Read if you like:
🖤Second chance romance
🖤 Stalker vibes
🖤Complex family dynamics
🖤Mafia men
🖤Diverse characters

Caught Up, the second book in the Into Darkness Trilogy, follows Nico "Junior" Trocci, a morally grey biker caught in an endless cycle of violence due to his mafia ties, and Lauren "Lo" Marchetti, his ex-high school crush.

This book exceeded all my expectations. I absolutely loved Nico and Lauren’s journeys, both as a couple and individually. The author gave us just enough insight into their worlds to make their stories even more impactful on the reader, without losing my attention. Also, growing up in a primarily Italian-American neighborhood, the subtle details woven throughout the story felt like a personal trip down memory lane. This book had the perfect balance of spice and plot twists (I audibly gasped twice in this one), which had me wanting MORE. I loved Lights Out, so it was a real treat to see some familiar faces (including Fred!), along with a few new ones, like a sassy grandma who might just be my favorite character.

Navessa does a fantastic job taking trends (MaskTok, BikeTok) and turning them into enjoyable stories with great plots, likable characters and fun banter.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much to Navessa Allen and her team for providing the ARC of her book and giving me the chance to read and review it. Honestly, the scream I let out when I got the email probably scared the life out of my boyfriend—and I have zero regrets! I loved everything about this book: the characters, the plot, the cameos, and the Easter eggs hinting at a possible book 3. It was the perfect follow-up to Lights Out. This book centres on Ali’s cousin, Nico 'Junior' Trocci, and Lauren Marchetti. Junior knows Lauren is off-limits—she’s everything he’s not. While Lauren embodies sweetness and laughter, Junior’s life is filled with violence and depravity. Men like him don’t get to have women like her, which is why he pushed her away back in high school and has kept his distance ever since. But when Junior looks Lauren up online, he’s shocked to see the shy, bookish girl he remembers has been replaced by a strikingly beautiful woman. Her social media is filled with sultry pictures and ties to a nearby play club. What starts as innocent curiosity quickly escalates into an all-consuming obsession. Watching Lauren from afar isn’t enough; Junior needs to make her his. The book delves deep into themes of stalking, obsession, and "touch her and die" vibes. And the grovelling... oh, the grovelling! Junior messed up in high school, and now he’s begging for another chance. I was a mess reading this, constantly picking myself up off the floor. Lauren, on the other hand, is intrigued by the mysterious man who keeps showing up at her club—masked, arriving on a motorbike (A FUCKING MOTORBIKE!!!). I’m just saying, there’s nothing hotter than a man on a motorbike. He tempts her with white-hot desire. Lauren’s a cam-girl, and she’s been chatting with her favourite subscriber, someone who’s been there from day one. As their flirty exchanges grow more intense, Lauren starts wondering if she’s developing real feelings for this brooding stranger. As their chemistry heats up, the question becomes: who will seduce whom? And will they survive the fall? I adore Lauren—she’s a total badass with an amazing friend group and a dog that’s just as great. I saw a lot of myself in her friend Taylor, and I love the diversity Navessa brings to her books. I can’t wait until this book is physically in my hands. The cam-girl and mafia man combo? Absolutely amazing. You’ll fall in love, guaranteed. Plus, with cameos from Josh and Ali, I was laughing, crying, swooning… the list goes on. The spice was spicing, the scenes were emotional and intense, and some… well, passion-filled. I’ll never look at a church’s confessional booth the same way again (just a heads up). The kink exploration? Incredible. 😉 You can tell these two have chemistry and were made for each other. I’m still a Josh stan, but Nico... you’re a close second. 10/10 recommend!

As a dog > cat person I may have loved this book even more 😉 Everything I wanted as a follow up to Lights Out 🙌🏼 Mafia MMC (Junior - Aly’s cousin) and childhood love turned cam girl / OF made for such a perfect pair. PLUS play club scenes (like the Salacious Players Club series 🥵 ) , confessional booths, and more

📹 masks & biker helmets
📹 she opens his world to kink
📹 MMC actually a cinnamon roll
📹 mafia men
📹 sex worker

Navessa Allen does not miss.

Caught up follows Aly's cousin Junior and his mob affiliations. I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but I really did love it.

This book was SPICY (yes in all capitals) our FMC is a cam girl and frequents a kink club, so things get hot and heavy af, but omg it was so much fun. Lauren & Junior hooked up when they were younger and it ended poorly- so now after ten years, Junior is ready to rekindle the flame with the girl who got away. But Lauren is not on the same page.

This had so many of my favourite things :second chance romance, forbidden love, he falls first and hard. Junior gives off massive Touch her and Die vibes too.

This is a DARK Romance so of course check your TWs first, but I swear you won't be disappointed.

Another hit from Navessa Allen! This was such a fun and spicy ride. Junior/Nic seems like your typical alpha mafia man but the more you learn about him, the more you love him. Is he undoubtedly obsessed with Lauren? Absolutely. Is it incredibly hot, albeit slightly disturbing? Totally. He is a giant softy for his woman underneath all of that power. Lauren is a badass in her own right and takes crap from no one, including Nic. She is such a force and I loved watching her let her walls down.

Now onto the spice… THE SPICE! I was blushing and kicking my feet all of the way through this book. There is so much heat and a whole lot of kink. I loved how Navessa clearly did her homework and wrote about kink exploration in such an honest and respectful way. She made it fun and sexy while still outlining the importance of safety and consent. The confessional scene will live rent free in my brain forever!

This book was such a great read and equally enjoyable to Lights Out even though the story is very different. You may even get some fun cameos from your favorite Lights Out characters! I cannot wait to listen to this when the audio releases as I just know it is going to be epic.

Thank you so much to Navessa, Zando-Slowburn, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Beyond thankful to have received an early ARC of this! Anna at @zandoprojects is the real MVP!

Lights Out was my top top top read of 2024. A masked stalker romance that was full of comedy, spicy spice and had a cast of lovable characters - @navessa.allen is a genius for pulling it all together. I knew that Book 2 in the Into the Darkness series, Caught Up, had a lot to live up to.

Aside from my high expectations, Caught Up was not due to be released until June of this year. June! So, imagine my utter delight when I found this ARC in my inbox as I was doing my morning scroll through emails. I may have contemplated quitting my job just so I could immediately dive into it.

Let me tell you – Caught Up was everything we hoped it would be. Slightly obsessed and extremely protective stalker MMC who stepped right off the screen of Bikertok and with strong Mafia ties. Kinky and ultra-confident cam girl who also owns a members-only Play/BDSM club FMC. Fantastic side characters. Cameos from Josh and Aly.

And enough spice to burn a hole through your book! Whew 🥵

There are still 4 months or so until Caught Up releases so no spoilers here, but prepared to keep Navessa Allen as your top author for this year too!! And go get your preorders in! There’s no point in waiting and chancing getting your copy late.

I KNOW there will be a 3rd book and that the wait is going to crush me!!

After finishing Lights Out, I could not wait to read this book and it lived up to everything I had hoped for! I love Navessa’s writing style - it’s dark, funny, and sexy, and will have you unable to put the book down!

Caught Up is a second chance semi-dark romance between Nico “Junior” and Lauren “Lo”. They had a brief thing in high school, which ended terribly. To the point where Lauren’s life was turned upside down and into adulthood, she has a very hard time trusting people.

Nico had good reason for what he did back in high school and ten years later, he’s ready to get Lauren back. He didn’t ever realllyyy let her go though, because he’s done some serious stalking over those years. I forgot to mention Lauren is a cam girl and Nico is her #1 sub 😉

That church confessional scene 🥵🥵 that will live rent free in my head forever! The spice took a bit to fully heat up but once it got there.. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I was OBSESSED with Lauren’s roommates, Ryan and Taylor. They were so funny and the dynamic between all three was one I am envious of! When Taylor came out with the dildo as a “weapon” I cackled 🤣 also loved Walter and his wiggle butt! 🐶 I can’t forget to mention the Aly and Josh appearances.. so happy to see them in Caught Up!!

While I really enjoyed this book, I couldn’t get over the constant miscommunication and the back and forth with Nico doing something to upset Lo, and him groveling for another chance. There was a certain point where I was hoping she WOULDN’T take him back.. but then he somehow redeemed himself again 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’d have loved to see more development between them while actually together versus so much fighting.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley! I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to get one!! 🖤

Navessa became one of my top five favorite authors in absolutely no time at all with LIGHTS OUT. As soon as we met Junior, I was intrigued by him, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on his book! And Navessa delivers with everything that was incrdible about her first book even more! The relationship dynamic was different but satisfying. I love the Mafia angle, all with the irreverant humor that makes you momentarily forget how dark some of the themes are.