Thank you, NetGalley and Zando Projects, for the ARC of this book. Creepy, gothic, dark academia, a complicated love story and the Scottish Highlands - this one is just delicious. Ophelia's tragic life and the mystery that surrounds it are a storyline that is interesting enough on its own. But when you add the attraction of the guy she knows she should hate but can't seem to stay away from, it makes the story a page-turner.

The ultra rich students at the uber exclusive Sorrowsong University have lives most people couldn't even begin to imagine. But when Ophelia gets a special scholarship to attend, she could really care less about anyone other than the son of the man she holds responsible for the tragedy of her life. She doesn't realize the scholarship comes with a stalker set on driving her mad and making her disappear. But what she really doesn't count on is falling for the son of the man she despises and him falling for her even harder.

This is just the first part of their story but I already can't wait for the second part to be published.

A dark academia that has romance and suspense. The pace slowly builds up to a creedence of fast pace mystery. I loved everything about this book. It kept me entertained with it's easy banter and enthralling mystery. I also really liked the characters even the not so nice ones.

Ophelia Winters, a compelling and resilient outcast, arrives at Sorrowsong seeking justice for her parents' suspicious death. The university itself is a character in its own right, steeped in gothic grandeur and shrouded in an unsettling aura of hidden dangers. Woods masterfully crafts a world that feels both alluring and menacing, creating a palpable sense of unease
The central romance between Ophelia and Alex Corbeau-Green is the beating heart of the story. Alex, the son of Ophelia's prime suspect, is initially presented as a cold and untouchable figure, a cruel reflection of his powerful father. However, as Ophelia begins to see through his carefully constructed facade, she discovers a vulnerable and surprisingly gentle soul beneath. The push and pull between them is electric, filled with undeniable chemistry and a constant struggle between their families' legacies and their growing feelings. Their connection feels genuine, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stand in their way.
With its captivating plot, complex characters, and atmospheric setting, it's a perfect escape for fans of dark academia romance and thrilling mysteries.

A great dark academia romantic suspense that had intense raw emotions, authentic insecurities, angst, and hilarious email banter. The pacing was great and the writing was very descriptive and definitely set the mood for the creepy/eerie setting in Sorrowsong University. This book may be slightly predictable or cliché for some, but I was still hooked and couldn't put this down (ended on a cliffhanger and I need book 2).

My heart hurt for both Alex and Ophelia—a boy who struggles to feel, and a girl who feels too much. They struggled with their own demons and were complicated in their own messy ways, but I absolutely loved their relationship from the very beginning. Alex's depression and Ophelia's grief were well-written and executed. I loved how their characters complemented each other and how they felt alive in each other's presence. I also loved their relationships with Vincenzo—he was the perfect comedic relief in the midst of all the heavy emotions and tension of the mystery/suspense.

"Until midnight, a hundred years from now"

4.75

I was able to get this ARC through NetGalley.

Holy smokes!! What did I just devour like it was a last meal?? I cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s dark, mysterious, evil, sexual and a slow burn romance all in a dark pretty package. I’m going to be on pins and needles waiting for the second book to come out.

Ophelia is at her wits end. Her parents were murdered and she needs to get out the facts that have been buried for years. Getting into Sorrowsong University is just the ticket she needs. As long as she puts in the hard work to keep her scholarshop she can dig deeper into what really happened to her parents on the fateful night their helicopter crashed near campus.

Meeting Alex and falling for the son of her parents potential murderer was not in her plans. Can Ophelia actually trust Alex and the way that he brings her happiness and warmth? Or is he just a version of his father?

I enjoyed this dark academia book a lot! It had all the elements I wanted from a gothic toned dark academia romance. I enjoyed the bantering and some of the flirting was hot! And while I ate up the grumpy x grumpy duo, once they opened up to each other, they really seemed to find their stride. And so while the characters are younger, there seemed to be more casual dialogue going on sometimes but the character development was done well and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for book two to be announced!

✨𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓫𝔂 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓶𝓷 𝓦𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨

I loved the begging - I really like how the university was described, it was spooky and gave me the creeps (which I’m pretty sure was the intention). So the world building I really enjoyed.

The plot itself, I liked the murder mystery.

I think this book/series has a lot of potential though I think I lost my interest in the romance around the 50-60% mark so I skimmed a lil. I felt the romance to be a lil…. cringe…? Like the ily was really quick, some of the dialogue wasn’t my fav. I know people go feral for the things MMC say like I’ll always take care of you kinda vibes and I felt like the dialogue had this but it just wasn’t for me.

The characters, they’re in uni around 20s but it felt like they acted and spoke much younger.

The last chapter or so is a cliffhanger and I do wonder how the story will progress so I am curious and will maybe read the next book.

*I received this as an arc on NetGalley. Thank you for the advanced copy.
**this review is of my own and honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sandi publishing for this ARC!

I have no words. I am devastated at the ending…I need to know they are going to be okay 😭

This was one of the most unique and refreshing books I have read in a long time. We see a headstrong female protagonist who had her own goals outside of the other main characters. She was also realistic in her reactions to the incidents that shifted her worldview to that point, needing time to breathe but not staying stuck in her preconceived ideas. It was also incredible to see a male main character who is set up to seem like the antagonist but play out to be fully redeemed while still holding onto that darkness he portrayed from the get go. All in all, this book was a 5/5 stars across the board and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series or by Autumn Woods!

Nightshade took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. Despite the start being a little slow, I really got into the dark academia vibes, the setting, and getting to know Ophelia better.

What this book really nailed was character development. It was fascinating to see how Ophelia and Alex slowly started to have feelings and trust each other. They found someone they could truly rely on, which they hadn't had before. The banter between Ophelia and Alex was one of the best things I've read in this book; they really matched each other's freak (lol), and I enjoyed every part of it.

Alex wasn't what I expected at all, he was actually super funny, kind, and selfless. I totally fell for him as fast as Ophelia did. Ophelia was so strong and determined, and in the end, she was just a girl trying to get justice for the most traumatic thing that ever happened to her. Like I said, their development was pretty amazing.

The side characters were the best for comedy relief, and I also found myself wanting to know more about them. I have to say, I kind of figured out who the stalker was, but even so, I really liked how the author handled those last scenes.

All in all, if you want a slow-burn with mystery, plot twists, and characters you'll love, Nightshade is definitely the book you're looking for.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | five stars

𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬
~ 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝑶𝑹𝑹𝑶𝑾𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑮 𝑼𝑵𝑰𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑰𝑻𝒀 𝒅𝒖𝒆𝒕

Ophelia Winters accepts a scholarship to Sorrowsong University, to find the truth about her parents' murder and to prove that Cain Green orchestrated their murder. Her plan goes off to a rock start when Alex Corbeau-Green almost kills her on her first day --- later to only become her partner in a project and each other's alibi at a murder. She begins to fall for his soft heart hidden beneath the mask of his hard exterior. Tormented by a stalker and growing close to Alex, Ophelia needs to choose to keep Alex safe or execute her revenge that will destroy a family into two.

Nightshade was well plotted and we'll paced. The storyline was emotionally enthralling --- which had me hooked from the very beginning. The diverse and unique set of cast had it's on grip on the narrative, putting difficulty on who trust. The storyline was seamlessly woven into the story, without any breaks or slowed pacing. The emotional stakes were more evident that the physical stakes. The constant nervousness that this book led to be on the edge of my seat. The narrative was woven with twists and turns that you would never expect.

The romantic suspense in the book was very heavy. The book was marketted as a romantic suspence from the very beginning (even when it was independently published). The tragic backstory of Ophelia's parents and the well hidden past of Alex Corbeau-Green unraveling had to be the most heartbreaking moments in the book. Stalking, cryptic emails, eerie noises in the night and a murder on campus suddenly becomes Ophelia's reality as she struggles with finding the right person to turn to for help. The twists and turns left me constantly feeling on edge as I struggled to determine who Ophelia could trust and what characters she had to watch her back against. I genuinely couldn't pinpoint who I suspected the stalker to be until I neared the end of the story when all of the missing pieces began to connect. Every single page had a new piece of information that would seemingly make it impossible to skip a single page.

Ophelia Winters is extremely misunderstood. Underneath that grumpy and irritated persona is a girl who is missing her parents because they were taken away from her too soon. Deep down, she had a heart of gold and warm natured. She is initially firm in her beliefs and is very suspicious of everyone and everything and uwnllint to consider them other that with acts of hate but she slowly shifts her stance and recognition towards them. Her flaws and insecurities make Ophelia a deeply vulnerable and relatable character for the reader to connect with. Ophelia craving connection and companionship whilst also worrying about befriending the wrong crowd of people, which is likely going to be explored more in the next time installment.

Alex Corbeau-Green is such an amazing character. He's a soft and kind-hearted soul who is solely driven by the goal to keep his family safe. He will do anything and everything to keep them safe from everyone. He has risen so many healthy standards all throughout the book for both real and fictional men that i don't think anyone will be able cross. He's a broken soul who is in charge of making sure the rest of his family aren't going to be broken like him. He might seems arrogant and a jerk at the first few sights but the more you get to know him, the more you see through the little cracks of his mask that he is indeed someone who is looking for genuine love. He is a multi-layered and complex character who is always putting family above all everything.

Their relationship started out in a very murderous yet grumpy start. They both fiercely hated each other so much. Their banter and wit was absolutely hilarious and sorely needed during the many moments. Their email correspondence was written to perfection and left me wheezing with laughter during several occasions. The organic growth of love between them was something i really throughout the book and the soft and vulnerable moments on display truly put their love on the test.

The cliffhanger at the end left me reeling in shock. I don't think I will be able to handle the wait for the next book. This is such an amazing book and I cannot wait grand finale. Autumn Woods' books always hit hard and different. Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read this book! Nightshade is definitely one of my top reads for this year!

Nightshade was a pleasantly immersive read—moody, atmospheric, and just eerie enough to keep me turning the pages. The autumn setting is gorgeously written; you can practically hear the crunch of leaves underfoot and feel the chill creeping in with each chapter. It struck the perfect seasonal tone, like a quiet walk through a haunted forest right before sunset.
The plot moves at a steady pace, pulling you in with whispers of mystery and subtle danger rather than loud twists or action. I appreciated the way the tension simmered rather than boiled—never too overwhelming, but always there, waiting.
The characters were solid, though I wouldn’t say any of them completely stole my heart. Still, they felt believable, and I was invested enough to care about what happened to them. The writing itself had a quiet lyricism that suited the mood beautifully.
If you enjoy stories that lean into atmosphere and subtle suspense, Nightshade is a great pick—especially with a warm drink in hand and a storm rolling in outside.

MY GOD, WHAT A RIDE!
I finished this book in one sitting and morphed into a truly obsessed individual over the course of this story.

The setting was so deliciously dark and haunting, making my skin crawl and my heart yearn for a moody autumn night in Scotland. Beautiful descriptions of Sorrowsong University almost made it feel like I was walking the dimly lit halls besides Ophelia and Alex. I was so immersed in this story that i momentarily forgot to eat or do anything really.

Speaking of Ophelia and Alex, I loved them from the beginning. Ophelia carved out a piece of my heart and build a home inside it. Just like Alex, I wanted to comfort her and tell her that everything will be alright in the end - even though my girl can't seem to catch a break. The depiction of her grief and her all-consuming anger at the world was something a lot of people will (sadly) relate to and every scene where she felt helpless and not worthy of love felt like a punch to the gut. She is a nuanced character with many layers and I was rooting for her from the beginning.

I had to get used to Alex in the very beginning. The author did a fantastic job into making me believe he was just an arrogant prick living off of daddy's money, but every chapter we got to know what was hidden behind the irritatingly good looking facade and in the end, my heart ached for him just as it did for Ophelia. These two throughly are my ride or die. (Can you follow fictional characters into battle? Asking for a friend.)

The overall storyline was interesting and gripped my attention from the very first chapter. I predicted some of the plot twists, but the way they were revealed still left me speechless and THE ENDING??? Diabolical.

Give me Book 2 right now, Miss Woods. I beg you.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an eARC!

Nightshade by Autumn Woods is a dark academic romance at an isolated, prestigious Scottish university. The story follows Ophelia Winters who is investigating her parents’ death. She knows her parents death is caused by Cain Green, an American aviation tycoon. She just needs to prove it.

When she arrives at Sorrowsong, she meets his son, Alex. She wants nothing to do with him and believes he’s exactly like his father, a monster. Despite that, she keeps crossing paths with him and their sharp banter slowly turns into something much more.

Alongside her investigation, Ophelia begins receiving anonymous threats. As the threats escalate, Ophelia finds herself unsure of who to trust, not even Alex. Yet, their connection deepens, rooted in shared pain and dark secrets, and turns her world upside down.

*Nightshade* blends suspense, mystery, and romance into a story with a gothic setting, witty banter, and morally grey characters. Autumn Woods keeps the reader on edge until the very last page with a heartbreaking twist. This is a must-read for fans of slow-burn romance with a sinister edge.

This was such a fun and emotional read! This was my first time reading a book in the dark academic subgenre, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The beginning was a little slow, but once the plot picked up, it was impossible to put down. I loved all the details about the university and the gothic setting. The main and side characters were all very interesting, especially the children of influential mob families.

I especially appreciated the mental health representation. The fmc struggles with deep-rooted grief and abandonment issues, while the mmc deals with depression; both were portrayed with care and nuance. I loved the way their relationship evolved, and how Ophelia had to truly learn to trust Alex.

I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because certain plot elements felt underdeveloped and could have been explored in more depth. For example, the investigation Ophelia conducted before arriving at Sorrowsong, as well as how it continued throughout the story. Besides that, there were moments when Ophelia uncovered information for her investigation, but it often felt unstructured and a bit too convenient.

The first twist at the end didn’t come as a surprise, but the second one caught me off guard. After this ending, I’m desperately in need of the second book in the duet. I’m also a little traumatized and in need of someone to talk to about this ending.

Some quotes I loved:
“𝙃𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚, 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨. 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩? 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.”

“𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙗𝙮’𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮. 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙮 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙮. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚.”

“𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙤, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.”

“𝙊𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩. 𝘼 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧.”

“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚?”

“𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙨, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.”

I was not ready to love this book as much as I did. Total dark academia vibe, with that mix of drama, tension, and just the right amount of chaos. Alex and Ophelia, pls that yearning, like the way they look at each other like they want to fight and kiss at the same time. I was obsessed. Their banter had me smiling like a fool, and the slow burn was perfect. I kinda guessed a few twists but didn’t see that ending coming the way it hit. I loved the messy emotional moments, higly recommend. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. I’m sharing my thoughts voluntarily and with genuine appreciation

5 ⭐️ an amazing read. loved the whole vibe of this book, why haven't i read more dark academia yet?
it is also one of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers).
However the FMC has a total hatred towards Alex in the beginning. but he fell first at the moment he saw autumn before going to school together.
Autumn did not want to engage in anything. to do with Alex due to his family but this soon then changed.

The other background characters in the are soooo funny in the book and i hope that they will make a return in the other book.

THE NEXT RELEASE FOR 2 IS IN 2025
i am so ready for this next book 🤩

thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author of this book for the ARC!

This book is filled with tropes you’ve seen before—moody girl, rich mysterious guy, elite school drama—and at first, it all feels very predictable. But somewhere along the way, it hooks you. What starts as a cliché setup slowly unravels into something surprisingly gripping, with just enough twists and mystery to keep the pages turning.

Ophelia and Alex may seem like stock characters at first, but they evolve into more complex, messy individuals as the story progresses. Their chemistry is undeniable, especially in the buildup before they actually get together—arguably the most fun part of the romance. The cast of supporting characters is equally entertaining, even if they fall into familiar archetypes.

Despite a few overly convenient plot points, the pacing is tight, and the story takes some genuinely unexpected turns. Just when it feels like you know exactly where it’s headed, the drama escalates and the twists start landing. It’s the kind of guilty pleasure that’s hard to walk away from—even if you roll your eyes a few times along the way.

And yes, the book ends on a juicy cliffhanger that sets things up perfectly for a sequel. If you're into angsty, over-the-top drama with a touch of mystery, this is a ride worth taking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Autumn Woods for being able to read this advanced copy.

Normally I don’t read many books where the characters are in their early 20s, however, this one pulled me in.

The initial banter between the characters instantly got my attention. I like how you almost get this gothic Harry Potter with “Gossip Girl” type wealthy students, vibe in the beginning.
Mix in some “whodunnit” and intrigue.

I enjoyed watching the FMC, Ophelia, really kind of come out of her shell and find what she has been looking for. The slow burn was chefs kiss.

While I didn’t instantly know “who it was” right as we neared finding out, I had a sneaking suspicion that turn out to be correct. I didn’t see the plot twist with her mom though.

That ending though 😲

Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it. So glad this is a duet!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT’S HOW IT ENDS?!?

I can’t get over the fact that that’s where it ends. I just stared at the words “to be continued” in silence for a few minutes, then stared at the wall. I don’t accept that ending! I wish I didn’t read an ARC of this book simply so that I could wait until right before the next book comes out to read this one. I’m in despair waiting for the next book, and only a few minutes have passed since I finished it.

Alex and Ophelia are some of my favorites now. I need an Alex in my life. The enemies aren’t enemies for long, but the tension between the two of them is soooo good. I ate it up. There were few points where I literally squealed which was horribly embarrassing but I loved it.

This is dual pov but first person, with the pov alternating between the fmc and mmc. They’re both so incredibly broken and real, and it made me love them even more. They each need someone who really sees and understands them, and I want to give them both a hug.

So, with the plot, I figured out the ending from the beginning, but I was wrong until very close to the end about how it would go down. The mystery of who the stalker was stayed a mystery to me for almost until right before it’s revealed, and I was a little shocked and yet not. It made so much sense. Until my jaw dropped open at the surprise.

Alex, don’t you dare do what you’re thinking about doing.

Now, a collection of some of my favorite quotes:

“Forget dying for her. I'd live for her. I feel like I could overcome all the darkness inside if only it meant I'd get a life in her company in return.”

"Wherever you want, love. It's home if we're there."

"You can repay me by not strangling me again."

“He looks at me like I've asked him to pluck the moon from the sky and bottle it for me.”

Thank you to Zando Projects and NetGalley for an ARC of what is now one of my favorite books of the year. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received it.

This book is an absolute blast, fast-paced, addictive, and genuinely hard to put down. I was hooked early on and totally invested in the main couple from the start. Vin is a standout side character who adds a fun, dynamic layer to the story.

I think the story has so much potential to shine even brighter with more immersive, original imagery.

The ending leaned a little predictable—but honestly? I loved it anyway. It hit the right emotional beats and left me excited for what’s next. I’ll definitely be grabbing book two, and I have a good feeling about it being even better.