Thank you NetGalley and Quercus for this ARC!

The story felt off at times and the plot felt scattered. It felt like too many plot lines were being executed at once. The “big” reveals didn’t really land emotionally, there was no intrigue, didn’t even feel like reveals, which was disappointing. Then there was the secrets Nico was keeping from Lauren and even those, once revealed, felt underwhelming. The big secret about the FMCs father was made out to be a huge deal at the start of the book but once the truth was revealed it was super anticlimactic.

Now, the characters themselves were interesting. I loved that the MMC wasn’t the usual typical tall alpha stereotype, and the FMC’s role as a sex worker added depth and complexity. Plus, the gender-neutral representation was refreshing and done early on, so it didn’t feel like it was trying to shock or surprise the reader.

There was definitely potential there though, especially If the masked biker angle had been drawn out more, with a slow burn reveal, it could’ve been so much more impactful. But the way it was written just didn’t leave a mark, and perhaps it wasn’t meant to, and I was expecting it would? Perspective, perhaps. The potential was there, but the execution just didn’t follow through.

All in all, the book had good intentions and some standout ideas, but it felt like it was trying to tell too many stories at once and lost its focus along the way. Not a total miss, but not quite a win for me either.

Thank you for the Arc to this utterly outstanding read of a book!!
Did I expect anything to top Lights out???…. no !!! Did Caught up exceed that expectation??? … Hell yeah.
What an amazing story. Lauren and Nic working through issues of trust and hurt, the intensity of the relationship and all that comes with that and oh the spice 🌶️
Navessa’s writing style keeps me hooked from start to finish and I cannot wait for the next !!

Caught Out was a thoroughly enjoyable read! It is such a a funny, spicy, and character-driven story that kept me hooked from start to finish. I'm a sucker for a dark romcom and I flew through this book in two days.

I loved the characters as much as I did with Josh and Aly but I enjoyed how different and resh their dynamic felt and I loved the surprising twists that kept them from ever feeling predictable. The chemistry was off the charts, and the humor added a perfect balance to the heat.
I have to give an honourable mention to the best boy Walter for being a loveable rouge!

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved seeing some familiar faces, I didn't love it as much as I did with Lights Out. Still, it’s a super entertaining ride and a great continuation of the series. Definitely worth the read if you’re a fan of a dark, funny and sexy romance.

First of all thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

"𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠, 𝐿𝑜. 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑙𝑦.”

Navessa Allen has done it again! Lights Out was amazing, Josh was everything, but the second book somehow manages to top it (and yes, Josh is back 🥵). I especially loved the dynamic between Junior and Lauren. Their relationship was intense, messy, and full of that irresistible push and pull.

This was such an easy read, yet completely captivating—I couldn’t put it down. The chapters felt shorter, which made it even more addictive, and I flew through it. I seriously can’t wait for book three! No pressure, but I’m beyond hyped for what’s next!

🖤Interconnected standalone
🖤 Dark romance/rom com
🖤 Second chance
🖤 Stalker
🖤 MMC with mob ties
🖤 FMC is a camworker

Nico “Junior” has wanted Lauren forever. She’s been off-limits… until now. He’s done waiting and he’s changing the game to ensure he can have her.

If Lights Out was Hallmark dark romance, this is the real deal: spicier, darker, and even more fun.

The church scene? The arcade scene? 🥵 I’m still thinking about them.

I still can’t believe I got an ARC for this book! It was one of my anticipated read for the year thank you @netgalley and @quercusbooks

Holy f##k🫦

Bit of a different experience for me as I listened to book 1 and wasn’t sure how I would fair reading book 2.

Turns out book 2, for me, was everything book 1 was and more. The little parts I didn’t love about book 1.✨ poof gone ✨ I don’t think I can say anything negative about this book. Only way it can get better is Jacob Morgan voicing him in the audiobook and you bet I will be waiting for it to be released and relive again.

This was absolutely brilliant. I loved the decision to continue this world by focusing on Junior, Aly’s eldest cousin on her mob side of the family and Lauren was such a great fmc!! Definitely more darkish romance than romance with dark settings that book 1 sometimes felt.

If Josh was a golden retriever, Junior he’s more grumpy cat, which he would hate cause he isn’t a cat person. Also I like how Aly and Josh were part of the story but not too much either, a nice balance

I’m still shocked I even got an e-arc so a massive thank you to netgalley and the publishers!

Navessa Allen has done it again. I absolutely loved Lights Out, and was a little scared that this sequel wasn't gonna live up to the hype (the hype being josh 🥵🥵) but oh my gosh - Caught Up is such a sexy, dark and fast paced companion to Lights Out, weaving effortlessly into the world that has already been built while still giving us a fresh, intimate perspective that stands completely on its own. Seeing overlapping events and characters from a new angle added so much depth to the story, it felt like peeling back emotional layers I didn’t know were there.

Can we just talk about Nico for a second? Cause Josh was hot, but Nico has that whole 'she's mine' 'touch her an you die' attitude and damn 🥵. These books and those characters compliment eachother so well.

Amazing sequel, absolutely loved the characters and the story line, already in line waiting for book 3!! 😂

thank you @netgalley for my ARC. I was over the moon to be selected for this!!

5⭐️

✨4.5 stars ✨
🌶️ 5 spice 🌶️

"I don’t want to clip your wings, Lo. I want to see you fly.”

Navessa Allen has done it once again. This book consumed my life.

First off, thank you to Quercus Books for approving me for this arc on netgalley! here is my honest review as always

What to expect in this
* Dark romance/rom com
* Stalker
* Past betrayal
* Second chance
* MMC mob ties
* FMC camworker
* Spicy as hell
* Funny side characters

What a ride this was. I am absolutely LOVING this series. I will say that I think I loved this one even more than Lights Out which is saying a lot because I adored it.

I found this to be so easy to read. It was simply written but was so entertaining that you did not want to put it down.
I was loving the relationship with Junior and Lauren. A lot of push and pull and not an easy relationship. It was built originally on a lot of distrust that they had to rebuild. I thought it was nicely done. And the spice. Oh my lord I needed to fan myself. This got kinky my friends. I loved the way that it was explored in this.

I loved the side characters and seeing Aly and Josh again. Lights out I felt was a lot more comical where this one has the humour and more emotion to it.
I had so much fun reading this. I highly recommend reading this series!!

Check TWs and CWs
Happy reading 🩶

Someone at NetGalley thinks I am a very good girl 😏

I got approved for the ARC of Caught Up by Navessa Allen and I haven’t recovered.

We’re talking knife-carrying mob men, ten years of stalker-level devotion, and the spiciest second-chance romance you’ve ever seen. Junior said “if I can’t have her, I’ll just subscribe to her OF for a decade” and y’know what? Respect.

Back in high school, Junior and Lauren were in love - until her dad beat him bloody, his mob boss dad (think Tony Soprano but without the therapy) threatened her, and Junior ghosted to keep her safe. But ofc he was watching her from afar for ten years as her top OF subscriber (and occasional stalker). Now her douchebag dad’s gone, and Junior’s ready to win her back. Problem is: she’s pissed, and he’s obsessed. And I’m EATING IT UP.

This book is HOT. We have an FMC who is a sexually liberated queen and I loved the dynamic that it was HIS comfort zone being left and HIS new experiences rather than the usually MMC-led spice.

But it’s not just spice, it’s smart! There’s thoughtful sex worker rep, non-binary characters who feel fully real, and a chef’s kiss exploration of Catholic guilt and community shame.

Also Lauren is hilarious, and I would die for her dog.

Only complaint? He’s described as 5’10. Be serious. That man is 6’4 in my mind and that’s canon.

Navessa does it again. Bring on book three. 🔥

Caught Up by Navessa Allen is a dark romance that delivers! 🌟 While the plot was mostly predictable, it was satisfying to see the characters' journeys unfold. I loved the representation of sex workers and the advocacy for their rights - it's so important to see these themes explored in literature. The diverse cast, including characters using they/them pronouns and same-sex relationships, added depth and authenticity to the story. The setting was perfectly woven into the narrative, and the appearances by familiar characters from the previous book were a lovely touch. With its steamy content and complex characters, this book is a must-read for fans of dark romance. 🔥

After finishing Lights Out, which completely stole my heart, I honestly thought, “No way the sequel can live up to this.” And yet… Caught Up said, “Hold my wine.”

I adored Lights Out for its humor (and let’s be real – Josh 😂). But Caught Up? Oh, Caught Up came in hot. Less chaos, more spice. Way more “OMG where’s my vibrator” moments. And I was here for EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

Navessa Allen continues to bless us with characters that feel so real, I genuinely forget they’re fictional. Junior and Lauren? Just as addictive, hilarious, and swoon-worthy as Josh and Aly. And the moment Junior called her Lo? I melted into a puddle of emotional goo. 🫠
(Side note: I have a thing for the nickname Lo – one of my all-time fave books has characters called High and Lo, so I took that as a sign from the romance gods.)

This book gave me steam, giggles, butterflies, and a TBR hangover. I loved every second. I’m now officially obsessed with Navessa Allen’s storytelling. Her banter? Top tier. Her characters? Unfairly lovable. Her pacing? Chef’s kiss.

If you loved Lights Out, Caught Up will catch you up in ALL the best ways (yes, I said it, no regrets). I’m already counting the days till her next book drops.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5⭐ I didn't realise how much I missed Aly and Josh until they turned up in this book.

Caught Up was a really enjoyable read and there are several moments in this book where it really shines (the confessional scene, oh my god). However in my opinion the characters and the vibes of the book are not as strong as the first.

Mainly because at it's heart it's a second chance romance meaning things are already messy. Junior and Lauren have a very intense relationship, filled with a lot of differing emotions which sets a very different mood for the book compared to the first.

Lights Out was very fun and silly. Caught Up does have those simmering away in the background but at the forefront it's angry and filled with dark drama.

I still had a great time reading it, I'm just not obsessed with this one as I was the first.

However the set up for the third book. Yes please!! I need to see that chaos!!

This book was amazing. i loved the first book in this series but this one was soo much beter!
The spice and romance got me from the first page!
i will reread this book many times!

This was... fine? After loving the first book, I went into Caught Up with high expectations, especially since I usually love mafia romances. Nico "Junior" Trocci had the setup to be a compelling morally grey character, "a walking red flag", and Lauren’s transformation from sweet and bookish to confident and bold had potential. The beginning definitely grabbed me — I was totally hooked for the first 80 pages or so.

But somewhere along the way, the spark dimmed. I found myself missing the gritty tension, danger, and darker action that usually make mafia romances so addictive. The chemistry between Junior and Lauren was definitely there, but it didn’t leave a lasting impact. I kept waiting for something bigger to happen, but it never quite delivered.

Overall, the characters were okay, the story was okay, but it just didn’t hit as hard as I’d hoped. I wanted more intensity, more stakes, more emotions. Still, not a bad read — just not one I’ll be obsessing over.

This book was everything I didn’t even know I needed. I have never felt so seen by a story before. Navessa really hit it out of the park for this one.

This book was so good at exploring kinks, so good at addressing the issues that sex workers face, but also so good at showing it’s a career path worth celebrating.

I absolutely loved everything about Lauren and Junior and their story. If I could rate this infinite stars, I truly would.

Big thank you NetGalley, Quercus books and Navessa Allen for the opportunity to read this ARC!

If you loved Lights Out, you’ll enjoy this one too! This book was spicy 🌶️ funny and fast over, but also delves into some other topics which I personally think really pushed this book to have more depth than the first one.

Lauren and Junior are vastly different to Josh and Ali, they’re more serious and the stakes are higher, with many a red flag 🚩 but Junior goes above and a little too far beyond making sure Lauren is safe all whilst trying to find ways to start his own second chance at life and with Lauren.
I loved the chemistry between these two, the spicy scenes were fast and furious and just WOW.

Lauren has the BEST friends in the world and I loved their banter, and how much they care for one another.

I absolutely loved seeing Josh and Ali from Lights Out from Junior and Lauren’s POV’s!
The first book was probably my absolute favourite but Caught Up just takes it to a whole new level and Navessa really stepped up the game and made the second book so much more well rounded.

I think I smell a third book in the works?! If so, count me IN!

I somehow managed to get an arc of this book and I loved every minute of reading it! I was skeptical of it living up to Lights Out but it was just as fun and such a different story!

Navessa Allens writing is witty, fun, spicy, heart warming and had me giggling and kicking my feet throughout!

Did I love Nico (Junior) as much as Josh? No! But I loved that he had a completely different more serious personality. We love a moody man that is OBSESSED with his woman. 🤭

I loved Laurens roommates and the scene with the baseball bat/questionable ‘weapon’ had me laughing out loud 😆 Everyone needs a Ryan and Taylor in their lives!

I loved the FMC and MMCs backstories and the second chance love story mixed in with the mafia storyline was just *chefs kiss. 🤌🏼 The topic of sex work in a dark romance book was done incredibly well and loved that it dipped into those darker topics without changing the characters personality for the sake of the relationship!

I cannot wait for the next one! Thanks Navessa Allen and Quercus Books for the digital arc! 🙌🏼

This was so fun! Way to up the ante after Lights Out, I was emotionally invested in both characters, I loved the relationship between Lauren and her flatmates. It was inclusive, sexy, and a riot to read. 4.5!

After absolutely devouring lights out I was so excited to be sent the arc for caught up!
Nico is part of the mafia but wants to get out. Lauren is a sex worker/ cam girl that had her heart broken by Nico a decade ago and swears she’ll never fall for him again…. Nico has been protecting and watching Lauren for the last 10 years and wants to make up for all the time they lost.
We have a very high stakes, stalker energy, crazy plot and I was here for it!
I really liked Lauren as a character, she was strong and confident but I felt she folded so so quickly for Nico every time he did something she didn’t like. I feel like the ending was quite rushed, it didn’t have the same energy that lights out had and I felt some plot was missing. The scene in the church however will live rent free in my head.
Loved the moments we had Josh and Aly in the chapters and it was interesting getting to know Nico more in this book and his motivation.
It didn’t quite hit the same as lights out but I still really enjoyed it!
3.5 stars!

I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own .

Oh my goodness she’s done it again! Another 5 star masterpiece from Navessa Allen!

I thought I couldn’t love anyone as much as I loved Josh and Aly but Lauren and Nico are just as good. There’s just something about the way she writes these relationships that make them realistic but captivating. The plot has drama and twists, but not in a way that will break your heart.

Spicy, funny and just perfect, couldn’t put it down and read it in a day including most of a night…sleeps not essential anyway right?

Camgirl, Mob man, stalker, protective MMC, kickass unapologetically herself FMC, voyeurism, bondage, public scenes (that confession scene was hot - you’ll understand when you get there) this thing has it all. Especially loved the cameos from our favourite lights out couple!

Never stop writing!