The Muse

The Muse Trilogy, Book 1

by Isabel Antonio

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Book 1 of The Muse

Pub Date Dec 06 2025 | Archive Date Jan 12 2026

ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction

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Description

She’s older, untouchable and off-limits. He wants her anyway… badly.

She prosecutes dictators and war criminals.

He sells out stadiums and has the world at his feet.

But she’s the only one who brings him to his knees.

The Muse is a high-heat, tension-heavy reverse age gap (33F/21M) where a younger man who falls first becomes boy-obsessed fast.

Olivia Ambrosia is an international human-rights prosecutor whose reputation is everything.

Curtis Goodwin is a 21-year-old pop star drowning in celebrity chaos—until the night he sees her, and everything in him shifts.

Their connection is instant. Forbidden. Dangerous to her career.

And Curtis wants everyone—especially the powerful, men in her world—to know she belongs to him.

But when her need for absolute privacy collides with his need to claim her publicly, something has to break.

Tropes:

• Reverse Age Gap (33F / 21M)

• He Falls First

• Forbidden Secret Romance

• Powerful Woman × Pop Star

• Boy-Obsessed MMC

• High Heat + High Stakes

The Muse: Book 1 is the explosive start to a trilogy filled with glamour, obsession, and a love that refuses to stay hidden.

She’s older, untouchable and off-limits. He wants her anyway… badly.

She prosecutes dictators and war criminals.

He sells out stadiums and has the world at his feet.

But she’s the only one who brings...

Available Editions

EDITION	Ebook
ISBN	9798272711816
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Additional Information

Average rating from 5 members

Featured Reviews

May P, Reviewer

Olivia is a 33 yr old international human-rights prosectuor. Curtis is a 21 yr old pop star who falls in love with her.... She can't be with him publicly or risk her career. He wants everyone to know that she belongs to him...

Love that it's a reverse age gap. Lots of tension, chemistry and drama. Love Curtis a lot.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

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Sita P, Reviewer

Incredible debut novel with so much potential and the plot was super-hot and interesting, but not without issues.
The plot of a hot young 21 year old something pop star (“Curtis”) a la Harry Styles falling in love with a 30-something divorced human rights lawyer (“Olivia”) a la Amal Clooney was cute and reminded me of “The Idea of You”, however I did not feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine, and the focus on inner dialogue was a little too much.
At times the hero came across as quite petulant and immature, and the heroine’s insistence on complete secrecy was laughable and not achievable – especially in the day and age of BackGrid/Deuxmoi/TMZ/Daily Mail – as very little is a secret in the world of celeb gossip with the tabloid press.
That said I absolutely LOVED the fact that the heroine was a kick-arse accomplished lawyer getting a second chance at love – and the fact that she was not some airhead 20-something. Kudos for the author for creating (what for me) was such a grown-up competent heroine!
This debut also ends with a cliff hanger, which I didn’t think was needed.
That said it was an incredible debut novel, and this author has so much potential. I will be looking forward to checking out her future novels!!
Thank you NetGallery and the publisher for the ARC

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M T, Reviewer

Wow, wow, wow!! How have more people not read & raved about this book????

This one was an emotional read for me....so much tension, angst, love.... ups & downs.... and a HUGE cliffhanger!!! (UGH!!! Frustrating, but understandable since it's the 1st book in a trilogy. Can't wait to read the next book!)

I had a hard time putting the book down & look forward to reading it again. Loved their chemistry, great SPICE level.

It's rare to read a book like this where the FMC is so much older (12 years may not be that much...but when he's only 21, it seems a lot more) & the MMC falls first. Definitely the first book I've read like that (and I've read A LOT of books!! Hope it's not the last! ;)

Thanks to the author, narrators, publisher & Netgalley for the ARC read. All opinions are my own.