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Sarah Baker is a paralegal in a law firm in modern-day Brooklyn. Her life is bouncing between her abusive lawyer boyfriend, the voices she hears in her head and her soul-sucking work at the law firm. On a New York spring day, she meets Caio as he plays basketball on a street court.

He is alluring, intriguing and young. Yet that’s the least of his mystery, for Caio was beaten, thrown into a hole and left to die. In 1905.

Sarah tries to understand this enigmatic stranger while juggling the dubious ethics of her law firm and the ghosts in her head. As she struggles with loss, grief, love, beauty… and lawyers, she will need to summon the strength to break all of society’s rules, save several lives and step into a new and potentially magical life.

Caio is the opening book of a new series of supernatural romantic thrillers that will pull on your heartstrings, challenge your perceptions and lead you on a singular journey of discovery and revelation.

Book 1 of the Limerent Series

296 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2023

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About the author

L.S. Delorme

7 books69 followers
Lexy Delorme was born in San Diego, California. After graduating from the University of North Carolina School of law, various internships and years working in risk, tax, family, and international law, she now classifies herself as a recovering attorney.

With a father who served in the US Military, Lexy had a wandering lifestyle from her earliest days and in her time has been a pop musician, a science geek and a writer for magazines like Bonjour Paris and Playtimes. Throughout all of her different careers, her love of fiction has been a mainstay.

Within this eclectic life, she was also one of the first employees at 23andMe, a genomics and biotechnology company based in Mountain View, California and that experience influenced the genetic aspects of her Limerent Series, of which Caio is the first book.

For as long as she can remember she’s had characters in her head. As a child, these were the friends she wished to have. As a young woman, the lovers she wanted to find or the people she wanted to become. Writing fiction novels allows her the chance to give these characters a background, a story and a voice.

Having lived in in 3 continents, 9 US states, and 21 cities around the world, including London and Hong Kong, Lexy now lives in Paris with her French husband and two very cool sons. She is currently working on the next books in the Limerent Series.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for made_for_reading.
160 reviews8 followers
June 4, 2025
This book was insanely good and blew my mind!
Please please take heed and read the trigger warnings and they should absolutely not be taken lightly. This book is dark but it is a book that fights the darkest parts of the world that we live in and touches subjects that are not brought to light often. This book also has a paranormal twist on it that I thoroughly enjoyed! The main character Sarah is 1000% my new hero!
Sarah is just a woman that has been trying her best to live her life as normal as possible but has had multiple men in her life dictate her lifestyle. After the death of her husband she struggled with life and Karl (who deserves the biggest punch in the face by the way) ‘helped her’ get her life back on track and got her a job at a law firm and helped sort out her finances.
Low and behold after a matter of time she starts to dislike Karl and comes across a young man called Caio, but Caio isn’t who she expects and there is so much more to his soul than she could ever expect. Sarah herself has a secret that she’s kept secret from the rest of the world and uses it to her advantage throughout the book. Time goes on and life at the firm is not all as it seems and there’s something much darker afoot and the more Sarah uncovers the more danger she finds herself in and the world she once knew will never be the same again.
I was thoroughly impressed with this book and I can’t wait to see where this goes!
Profile Image for Nicola Doyle.
552 reviews24 followers
June 2, 2025
The book was such a varied range of genres and they worked together. I enjoyed this book. The premise was strong and interesting.

The cover is stunning. They're so simple but so visually pleasing. The colours are excellent and work well together. This design was an excellent piece of work.

The book is well written and flows easily. All genre elements are perfectly done. Especially the time travel - sometimes this isn't easy to get right. But this definitely a job well done.

The characters are good and I thought they fit perfectly into the story. I felt sorry for Sarah. I liked her a lot. Caio was very interesting and I loved his story and how these two interacted.

The book is in third person from Sarah's perspective and this worked well.

I recommend this and can't wait to read more of the series!
Profile Image for Karen Siddall.
Author 1 book130 followers
April 21, 2025
Dark, shocking, and exciting debut for the Limerent series!

Caio is the first book in author L.S. Delorme’s Limerent dark fantasy series and really sets the tone, pace, and a high bar for what’s to come in the following novels. With its engaging, sympathetic main character and compelling plot, I was completely drawn into the protagonist’s life and couldn’t look away if I wanted.

Sarah Baker is the main character and is a paralegal by trade, though a fully qualified attorney before the story even starts. Hers is a tale of a depressing, downtrodden life, the result of the abuse of those who should have had her best interests at heart and known better. She is a doormat, and her gradual growth after Caio enters her life is ultimately a story of redemption and success. However, there are several tough topics encountered along the way that readers sensitive to these issues should be aware of.The author’s writing is compelling and so easy to read, and I was absorbed by this story and this very realistic heroine. The supernatural and magical elements were creative and elevated Sarah’s tale to one that was even more special and unpredictable. The scene descriptions were vivid, and I could practically see the action unfolding as I read. I am still somewhat surprised by how I sank into this story, and time passed by without me realizing how long I’d been reading before I needed to take a break. Of course, I must read the next in the series as soon as I can!

I recommend CAIO to readers of dark fantasy and tales of the paranormal.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.
Profile Image for Kez Marie.
1,360 reviews80 followers
May 25, 2025
This was fascinating and a unique mix of genres. It explores a lot of dark themes including secret societies, corruption, grooming, abuse, manipulation, and the lengths people will go to for power and greed. It also follows the mysterious Caio, a teenager who is trapped in a mysterious cycle, and who knows impossible things beyond his years.
There are several plots without the story, the relationship developing between Caio and Sarah, trying to escape her toxic and abusive boyfriend Karl, understanding the voices Sarah hears and the impossible facts she knows, and the mystery behind the legal case she's working on.
It's a gripping mix of the paranormal, sci-fi fantasy, romance and thriller, and keeps you intrigued with it's layers of mystery and suspense. It tackles difficult topics, but shows the bravery behind doing the right thing and Sarah's actions to expose corruption and risk her life for others.
It's a fascinating world that explores immortality, ghosts, soul mates and destiny.
Profile Image for AMY (cosycornishchapters).
86 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2026
Gripping, tense and thrilling.

Caio intrigued me from the moment I read the blurb, and this story was so much more than I ever imagined it to be. This type of genre is fairly new to me but the romantic suspense was fast paced and engaging. It really grabs you right from the beginning and shines a light on hard hitting topics.

I loved Sarah as a character, she had so much to deal with but she was fierce, flawed and lovable. Caio was also a great character. And all the other characters in between had their part in the story.

If you want something unique, yet real and raw this is for you. This book weaves romantic suspense, fantasy/magical realism and psychological thriller all together to bring us a story full of depth and emotion. I love a book that brings a lot of emotion and Caio certainly did this for me.
Profile Image for Melissa.
148 reviews7 followers
April 14, 2026
Caio is one of those books that made me have to sit and process after finishing it because I was struggling to describe how I had felt while reading. There was definitely curiosity about how this story was going to play out. I honestly felt a little ick due to multiple things that were happening in the story, although one of those things started clearing for me as more was revealed. I was heartbroken, disgusted, intrigued, proud, all the feelings! And I hope the lingering loose ends will be tied up in the subsequent books in the series, or I’m going to be really sad.

Caio was a great book! 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Meg Rose.
120 reviews9 followers
May 29, 2025
Wow. An incredible read.
This book deals with several different difficult topics and they are written and handled very well. The author is incredible at making you feel uncomfortable! I was hooked on the intrigue and could not put it down. I had to know what was going on. At times, it was a difficult read that really made you think. Along with this the supernatural element of the book was SO interesting! I also loved the law firm side of things. The ethics and such were portrayed very well and felt authentic.
Thankyou to love books tours and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Janet.
18 reviews2 followers
April 22, 2023
Fantastic novel - compelling story & characters!

I’m a lover of novels that have supernatural elements, a hint of romance, and a gripping, mystery-driven storyline. Caio hit all of those marks. Can’t wait for the next book in the series. Congratulations on your debut novel, LS Delorme! You have a fan!
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
2,065 reviews147 followers
March 31, 2026
BOOK REVIEW

Review for 'Caoi' by LS Delorme

'Caio'' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book L.S. Delorme discusses/includes physical assault, psychological trauma, abuse and domestic violence but does so in a sensitive manner and weaves it into an addictive storyline.

This is the first book in Delorme's absolutely fantastic 'The Limerent Series'.

Another fantastic book in this brilliant and addictive series!

The first thing I want to point out is that although this is a science fiction/ paranormal/ fantasy book, if you are not a fan of these genres PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS PUT YOU OFF!! I am not a massive fan of science fiction or fantasy at all but OMG THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS AND BOOK SERIES I HAVE EVER READ!!! Honestly I genuinely cannot remember the last time I was so addicted to a book and was so devastated to come to the end of a book!!! I was absolutely gutted when the book finished and I had to say Goodbye to the characters. I must admit that I have read these books in an extremely random order but it really does not matter which order you read them as they can all be read as standalones. Personally I started with 'Bright Midnights' which is the second book, then read 'Ghosting Academy' which is the fourth book, I then read 'Fighting Fireflies' which is the third book before reading and finishing this book which is the first book! I have no idea how I managed that to be honest but it has made no difference to my reading experience reading them in the most strangest order!! If you haven't read any of these beauties yet though it would be easier to just start with this one as I did meet Caio in 'Ghost Academy' before I met him in this one and learned more of his story. There is also a fifth book available in this series and is called 'Limerence'. Grab your copy of this absolutely epic book to find out more about this brilliant book for yourself. I promise that you will not regret it!!! I absolutely loved the completely unique storyline and characters which is extremely hard to come by. I have read hundreds and hundreds of books so to find something as unique as this is a breath of fresh air and extremely difficult to come by so a MASSIVE thank you to Delorme!! I was completely mesmerised and invested throughout in the characters and the storyline and I completely devoured it in one sitting of several hours. I genuinely could not put it down. At the start I attempted to tell myself just one more chapter before doing some actual work but I was absolutely itching to pick it up again so I did and gave up trying to put it down as Delorme had me hook, line and sinker!!! Her absolutely stunning, vivid and evocative writing skills and descriptions ensured the settings, characters and storyline all came to life in front of the readers eyes ensuring you can feel the danger and see and feel absolutely everything that that characters are feeling and seeing. With a storyline filled with mystery, history, danger, fantasy, dreams, romance, heartache, friendship, lust, ghosts and absolutely everything that you could ask for and much, much more in a page turner then what on Earth are you waiting for?!?! Grab your copy today but clear your schedules first as you will NOT be able to put it down. On the few occasions where I looked up from the book it took me a few moments to work out where I actually was as I was so absorbed in the storyline. Delorme also covers topics such as physical assault, psychological trauma, abuse and domestic violence but does so in a sensitive manner and weaves it into an addictive storyline. She covers all different spectrum of human behaviour ensuring that although this book is predominately paranormal and fantasy it is also realistic and believable at the same time and that ladies and gentleman screams true writing talent!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into the next books in this series. I genuinely could go on and on about this amazing book but words cannot describe how addictive, unique and mesmerising this book and its characters are so instead I am just going to tell you to pick up your copy and you can Thank me later!!

CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES BEFORE PICKING UP THIS ABSOLUTE PAGE TURNING MUST READ AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN.

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to LS Delorme who wasn't afraid to create such a unique, addictive and mesmerising must read!! AN absolute breathe of fresh air! This is the exact reason that you are on my favourite author list!! Here is to what is guaranteed to be your next explosive success 🥂!!

Overall an unforgettable, mesmerising, unique and addictive must read!!!

#Caio #TheLimerentSeries #lexyshawdelorme #LS_Delorme #lsdelormeauthor #LSDelorme #LimerentPublishing #LoveBooksTours #LBTCrew #Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview

@LSDelorme @lexyshawdelorme @lsdelormeauthor @LimerentPublishing @LS_Delorme @LoveBooksTours @LBTCrew @KellyALacey
Profile Image for Leah.
177 reviews43 followers
June 17, 2025
L.S. Delorme’s Caio, the first in the Limerent Series, is a moody and gripping supernatural thriller that weaves psychological trauma with a haunting sense of mystery. Set in the heart of Brooklyn, the novel follows Sarah Baker, a paralegal trying to hold her life together while surviving an abusive relationship. From the very beginning, Delorme draws us into Sarah’s fractured world where the voices of the dead blur with the harsh realities of the living.

When Sarah meets Caio, a beautiful, otherworldly young man, her life begins to unravel in ways she never expected. Their bond is immediate but laced with unease. Who, or what, is Caio? Is he real, a ghost, or a figment of a traumatized mind seeking connection? There's something haunting about him…something eternal. Caio carries the eerie weight of someone who’s seen centuries but still looks impossibly young, calling to mind a darker, more enigmatic Peter Pan figure, one who never grows old, yet isn’t quite innocent.

What stands out most in Caio is its atmosphere; equal parts dark, dreamy, and emotionally raw. Delorme’s prose is immersive and lyrical, and her ability to craft complex, believable characters makes the emotional stakes feel incredibly real. Sarah isn’t just a damsel in distress, she’s a survivor, and her slow reclaiming of power and agency is one of the most rewarding arcs in the book.

While Caio ventures into supernatural territory, its core is deeply human. It explores the psychological impact of abuse, the longing for safety, and the fragile hope of healing. It’s not always an easy read, Delorme doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of trauma, but it is a powerful one.

For readers who love gothic romance with a twist, Caio is an unforgettable start to what promises to be an intense and emotionally rich series. It’s perfect for fans of Alice Sebold, V.E. Schwab, or anyone drawn to stories where the line between reality and fantasy feels beautifully, chillingly blurred.

I do feel it’s important to add that readers may find the dynamic between Caio and Sarah to be uncomfortable due to the age gap. However, it’s clarified in the book what else is at play and how all is not as it seems. That being said, I did find some scenes a tad uncomfortable but enjoyed the overall story.

TW; abuse (physical, mental and sexual of adults and children).
Profile Image for April.
514 reviews28 followers
March 19, 2025
This is Book 1 of The Limerent Series.

⚠️ First of all, before reading this book... check the trigger warnings carefully (see carousel). I 100% agree that this book IS NOT for the faint of heart ⚠️

The story follows the sad stories of Sarah and Caio and how they meet.

Without giving too much away - within this book, Lexy explores societal norms based on appearance and pushes you to think both philosophically and very much so out the box.

Having read this series in an alternative order, I was already fully prepared for the darkness of this book and I already had an inkling that Lexy would be pushing me to the edge of what I am usually comfortable reading so I was prepared.

If I had started at Book 1, it would have been quite the shock, and I don't think I'd have known how to take the events.

I read the series in this order:
🌙 Bright Mignights
👻 Ghosting Academy
🌟 And now, Caio... I

I had already met Caio, so his book gave me all the background of him that I was desperately needing from Ghosting Academy.

As the reader, I do feel that the order I have read feels like a good order for someone who is new to the series as you get to know some of the wider background of what's happening!

I do really like Lexy's writing style and how she isn't scared of pushing boundaries and making you stop and think - I think those document creators were having a laugh, though with Caio, Lexy!

This is very dark and twisty series and with 4 more on the way (making the series 8 books in total), I can't wait to see which character had a story next and where Lexy takes us next.
Profile Image for Erin Collins.
678 reviews22 followers
May 26, 2025
✨🔮🌞🌕🍄🌕🌞🔮✨
REVIEW - BOOK TOUR

Caio - LS Delorme

4/5⭐️

✨✨✨✨✨✨
This one I did absolutely binge in one sitting! This book starting on page one really starts dark and mysterious. I just had so many questions that I knew there was no stopping till I finished this book. I personally loved how the book was written with a date timeline. Something about those just makes me feel more there with the characters while reading. Sarah I found myself routing really hard for her in many different points because dang that woman had a rough journey. She’s heard voices in her head of people who have passed on but the trauma she was enduring broke my heart. Without giving too much away the character development by the end was so great and I absolutely was smiling by the end. Even though this book totally had me in my feels most of the time. I totally recommend adding this one to your tbrs!

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- Fantasy
- Paranormal
- Paralegal
… You should definitely check this out

📚📚📚

Thank you so much for sending me a copy for an honest review in my own words. #AD
@LS_Delorme @lovebookstours

✨do you believe in the paranormal?

#arc #giftedcopy #books #booklover #smut #booknerd #bookfriend #bookish #booklovers #bookishcommunity #bookloversunite #instabook #bookporn #bookphotography #reviews #igbooks #ilovereading #smutty #bookaddiction #bookhoader #hotnsexy #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecs #yummy #givemeallthebooks #readingthepainaway #booktok
1,201 reviews27 followers
February 11, 2026
This is a beautiful cover, and looking at the rest of the series these would make striking additions to anyone's bookshelf, but be warned, what lies inside is darker and full of more secrets than you might imagine.
This has a real mish-mash of genres, romance, paranormal, crime, thriller, the list goes on. I think readers who enjoy a wide range in their reading tastes will really enjoy this.
I found a lot of the subject matter very disturbing, and I had not felt prepared for that at all. I thought that there was a lot of description around the legal work being researched and taking place though which was really interesting, but could have done with a little explanation on some terms not commonplace in British law.
I thought Sarah was a really interesting character and her story still has so much left to be explored.
Caio was super intriguing to learn more about, and again there is still so much to know, I really hope answers are revealed quickly and not super drawn out through the series.
There are so many smaller players involved here and they all were pivotal in various ways, but I particularly liked those more pivotal in helping Sarah such as the basketball boys and Val.
This really quickly had me hooked into the story, and I could barely put it down. The writing is fast-paced, the tale gritty yet also full of hope. I haven't read anything by this author before but I certainly would like to know more about these characters, the mysteries of the past, the resolution of the multiple current threads being dangled, and hopefully a look into the future and what is in store for all involved.
Profile Image for Bobbi .
207 reviews48 followers
March 30, 2026
── ⋆⋅𖤓 𝓒𝓪𝓲𝓸 𝓫𝔂 𝓛𝓢 𝓓𝓮𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓮 𓊆 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓛𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼, 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝟏 𓊇 𖤓⋅⋆ ──
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 4
𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖: Paranormal Urban Fantasy
𝕃𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕙: 296
ℙ𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕖: November 1, 2024

˖᯽ 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 ᯽ ݁˖
When I read the blurb of this book in the invite email for this read along, I was intrigued. It sounded absolutely wibbly wobbly timey wimey (fellow Doctor Who fans will get that reference) and very unique so of course I was in. 

Sarah has a not so great life. She's working as a paralegal even though she passed the bar exam to become a liar because her husband told her she couldn't hack law. Her boyfriend is openly, and frequently, cheating, and her coworker finds great joy in her suffering. Everything starts to change when she meets Caio.

This is one of those plots that you want to go in blind for. So many things are intricately woven together to make a very compelling story that will have you switching between wondering what on earth is going on and smiling super big. There are some dark and unfortunately timely events in this book so be cognizant of that before reading. If that's something you can deal with, this is a really good read that I definitely recommend if you're looking for a short and surprisingly deep read.

4⭐

Thank you to the author @LS_Delorme and @LoveBookTours for providing me with a copy of this book for the purposes of my review. My opinions are, as always, honest and completely my own.
Profile Image for Kerry.
177 reviews
March 12, 2025
Sarah Baker is a paralegal in a gripping case, she is also in an abusive relationship and constantly hears several voices in her head that can be as equally abusive, which just sucks the soul out of her. One day whilst walking past the basketball court, she catches the eye of one of the teenage boys called Caio but there is something about him.

I felt so sorry and frustrated for Sarah at the start of the story, especially in regards to boyfriend, Karl. His behaviour towards her literally had my jaw dropping. His behaviour is shocking but sadly it happens in society and many get away with it - the author handles this in a sensitive way. However I did enjoy seeing Sarah's character development as the story progresses.

The characters are well developed in particular Sarah and Caio. I found them to both be interesting. I felt Caios past to be a complete mystery, I would of liked more information about that . Some people may find the relationship between a teenager and an older woman to be a bit risky but again this was handled in a sensitive way and remember this is a paranormal story.

Just like the previous work by the author, I absolutely loved this story and cannot wait to read the next book in the series
Profile Image for Lynsey.
778 reviews35 followers
June 1, 2025


‘Caio’ is the first book in the Limerent series and is a mixture of dark fantasy, has a touch of romance and is fueled by themes of power, money, manipulation and corruption. It was compelling and I flew through it in a couple of days. I will be looking out for the next instalment.

Sarah leads a boring life as a paralegal in a high-powered Brooklyn law firm, has a boyfriend she hates and has voices in her head! I truly ended up rooting for her as she slowly began unwinding the control others have over her and gaining some self-esteem. This may have something to do with a teenager called Caio. He might be young but he feels much older than he looks. I loved both of these characters as they were both naive in certain ways but also courageous and brave. Especially, Sarah who has to deal with some dark themes and dangerous people!

The fantasy elements are hidden slightly as without them the story would still work as a thriller but they added something exciting and entertaining to the narrative. However, there are other elements which people should be aware of that may be upsetting but they all are dealt with a great deal of empathy.

This was an entertaining and compelling read and I can't wait to see what happens next in Sarah and Caio’s story.
Profile Image for Lauren.
81 reviews3 followers
March 10, 2025
ONE SENTENCE-ISH SUMMARY: Sarah Baker is living a bland existence. An attorney who could only get work as a paralegal - and an underpaid one at that - after her husband died, she never expected life to turn her into someone weak and afraid. Then she meets a teenage boy who forces her to question literally everything she thought she knew.

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNINGS:
⚠️ Discussion of child SA (I am sensitive to this topic and
for me it was maybe a 4/10 on the upsetting scale)
⚠️ Death
⚠️ Domestic violence

SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
💜 Addie LaRue
💜 Age gap (or is it?)
💜 Paranormal

WOULD I RECOMMEND: Wholeheartedly yes! As mentioned above, this is giving major ALR vibes. I fell in love with these characters right away. Although Sarah seemed weak initially, she was actually quite brave. This is one of the most well-written books l've read this year so far. My only tiny gripe is that I wish we'd gotten more info at the end on how Caio... does what he does (purposely vague to avoid spoilers) and the contents of the letter.

Many thanks to @literallypr and @ls_delorme for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read more!
Profile Image for meghin.
183 reviews24 followers
March 29, 2026
Thank you to Love Books Tours and LS Delrome for the gifted copy of this book! I honestly signed up for the book tour on the premises of reading a “supernatural romantic thriller” that would send me on a “singular journey of discovery and revelation.” (And also, the cover [I’m a Libra]- I love it!) It’s definitely a journey of a story! It’s going to be hard to write my review without giving spoilers. I will start by saying, checking the trigger warnings before jumping in!

I felt a roller coaster of emotions while reading this one. It got a little dark, but I couldn’t put it down. It’s quirky but full of hope. It almost reminded me of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in a way. There was a supernatural romance but also a strong storyline focusing on the law firm. The writing itself was fantastic. There were lots of descriptive moments that pulled me into the author’s world. I was deeply invested in the characters and their development. (Well, other than Karl.) I’m excited to continue the series.
Profile Image for Peggy  Rosina  Edmondson .
58 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2026
This book is the first installment of the Limerent series.

"Caio" starts the series with Sarah, a paralegal, with a complicated past. A widow, now dating a mentally abusive man who is colleague of her deceased husband, she stumbles on a boy named Caio and she starts to wake up to what has been going on around her, including the voices in her head. It explores many dark themes, such as abuse, grooming and manipulation. I was left wanting to strangle Sarah for letting Karl treat her the way he did, but also understanding completely why she put up with the things that were done to her.

It is the first book in the series by the author but not the first that I have read, they do not need to be read in order to undertand the plots, but I loved finally understanding the background of characters that I have grown to love in the other books!
I really enjoyed the mix of normality and supernatural that goes on throughout the story.

I love this author's writing style and find myself hooked to the strange world she has created.
Profile Image for Fatguyreading.
930 reviews42 followers
May 27, 2025
Caio is the first novel in the Limerent Series, and is quite the mix of themes. It's a dark fantasy with a good dose or two of the paranormal. But it also explores themes of corruption, greed, manipulation and secret societies, among others.

There's also a hint or two of romance and a dash or two of the mysterious.

Our main two characters are Sarah, who works for a Boston law firm, and Caio, a mysterious teenager who she meets one day while he's playing basketball on a street court.

There is an instant connection between the two, but not all with Caio is as it seems, and Sarah must try to get to the bottom of it.

Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, this was an enjoyable read. Not exactly my usual type of read, but im glad I gave it a go, as I really did enjoy it. I've always thought it important for authors to have the views of readers that are not their typical target audience, so I read out of my comfort zone as often as I can.

It's a many layered story, filled with mystery and suspense and explores ideas of destiny, fate and the supernatural.

Quite the intriguing read.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Profile Image for Claire Smith-Simmons.
241 reviews12 followers
March 16, 2026
Thank you to the author and love book tours for my copy.

I've been reading this series out of order but I was thrilled to get a chance to go back to the beginning and read about Caio. He is such a fascinating character with hidden depths and emotional maturity. I still can't get enough and need to know more about him. Sarah is a character that quickly grew on me, I felt so protective of her and championed her journey as she discovered so much about herself and her past. The inner voices and the tiny crumbs they left hinted at so much more to come for the reader in the next books. The story is gritty and eye opening, it has you questioning your ethics and morals and the paranormal fantasy side is fascinating and addictive. This book is the first in a jigsaw puzzle of a series, each one slotting into place to give you the much bigger picture that is being hinted at in this first book. I would recommend checking out trigger warnings before you read.

Sarah is an extremely competent paralegal for a law firm that took her on after the death of her husband. She's working on a job for a client that has her senses tingling and not in a good way. Her eyes are opened as she researches the history of the case and finds that the firm is closing ranks around her to shield the client. Add on to this that her boyfriend of six years is abusive and she's hearing voices in her head. Things start to really unravel when she spots a teenager on the local basketball ball court and is drawn to him against her own will. Suddenly she is walking a very dangerous line at work, home and her personal life, with consequences to the research she uncovers and ethical and moral dilemmas to face. She must find the inner strength to make the right choices but she must prepare for the cost when she does.
304 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2026
I was very intrigued from the start and this didn’t stop until way beyond when I finished the last page.

There is so much going on within this story but it’s all so cleverly weaved together.
The characters of both Sarah and Caio grew on me as we found out more and more about them.

I loved the way Sarah’s character evolved throughout the book, how she went from a seemingly meek, over looked, easily manipulated character to being strong and standing up for what is right, despite what the consequences may be.

The author builds suspense throughout and I had trouble putting the last third especially of the book down. In fact I barely did, coming straight back for just one more chapter until I reached the end.

I’d love to know more about Caio, and what happens next for him and Sarah.

There are some difficult topics discussed in this book, so it’s worth noting the authors warning at the start of the book. However, everything was very well written and certainly drew you in.
Profile Image for Jennie.
187 reviews15 followers
March 31, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up. I absolutely loved Caio. This is the first book in the Limerent series. Admittedly, I've read these a bit out of order, but they don't necessarily have to be read in order. I've already read and enjoyed Ghosting Academy and Limerence. Now, getting to go back to book one and read more about Caio was such a treat.

There are some dark themes explored in this story related to the deplorable activities of powerful groups. Unfortunately, some of that is very timely and topical. Check your triggers.

While there is a really well plotted mystery unfolding in this book, at its core this is a story about love. Powerful, transcendent love beyond the bounds of time and space.

The author deftly combines elements of multiple genres. I absolutely love this series and cannot wait to continue.

Thank you to Love Book Tours and LS Delorme for the gifted copy of Caio to read and review as part of the LBT read along! All thoughts expressed are my own.
234 reviews9 followers
April 19, 2025
BIG EMOTIONS

Here is my review about this book. I won’t have any spoilers but I will say that this book had me in my feelings. True to the author note this has major trigger warnings. This book evoked major feelings in me from disbelief, disgust, anger to curiosity, satisfaction and relief with a major feeling of frustration towards the end. She left me wanting with the ending. I even had to take a day to process all these big emotions before writing this review. What I can say is that once got started I couldn’t put it down. It took me less than a day to read it.

Furthermore, Mrs. Delorme background is in law and you can see her experience of being a lawyer in this book. However, that dark sections of this book left me wondering what cases she dealt with. She did say she is a “recovering lawyer.”🤔

So if you are looking for a quick dark romantic thriller with just a touch of the supernatural then this is your book.
Profile Image for Michelle-Louise.
130 reviews5 followers
August 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5
🌶🌶 out of 5

This book is incredible!!!! Nothing is to be taken at face value because nothing is as it seems, and that's sort of the point!

The FMC's life has never been simple and straight forward, from the ghosts in her head as a child, her marriage, her career with a law firm, not even her new crush is who they appear to be! To me, the whole story is a book about one seemingly ordinary woman who feels invisible, worthless, and unimportant. she discovers demons come in all shapes and forms. The ones in your head poisoning you against yourself, convincing you to ignore red flags, the ones you face in society and their expectations, and the worst kind, the evil that use their powerful positions to feed off of the vulnerable. She discovers she is stronger than she thought, more important than she ever imagined, and that only SHE is able to save people just by fighting back.
110 reviews5 followers
March 31, 2026
This is a dark supernatural story following Sarah as she navigates an abusive relationship, has a difficult legal case at work to deal with, has confusing feelings for someone new all whilst listening to the voices in her head.
I felt a connection to Sarah straight away but took am immediate dislike to Karl. To start with I wasn't sure where the story would go, the mystery behind the latest case that Sarah is working on is intriguing. There's a supernatural element as Sarah has some helpful, and not so helpful voices in her head talking to her. I loved hearing from the voices, especially Val.
The story does go to some dark places and I kept wanting to know what would happen next. As the story goes on it just gets murkier and murkier. The Caio storyline reads a bit weirdly though. The ending left me with some questions which I'm hoping might make more sense as the series progresses.
Profile Image for Carly Rushforth.
616 reviews28 followers
March 16, 2025
I was engrossed in this story straight away, the opening chapter was so intriguing and dark I just knew the story was going to be amazing.

The opening chapter had my jaw on the floor I was so shocked and didn’t expect it but it was perfect and set the rest of the book up nicely in my opinion.

I resonated with Sarah straight away, she reminded me of myself a little and of course I felt so sorry for her in lots of ways (trying to keep this spoiler free).

Sarah went through such a transformation as the story progressed and her relationship with Caio progressed, she started off a little meek and downtrodden but towards the end of the book she was just WOW!.

This is a well crafted, riveting story that I’d recommend to all my bookish friends

I’m so excited to read the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Natalie Brown.
676 reviews35 followers
May 23, 2025
This was a quick read that I read it within 24 hours. I really liked the premise of the book and the mystery that surrounded Sarah's voices and Caios origin.
I loved the darker elements of the book that surrounded the court case that Sarah's law firm is dealing with.
Caio's character was intriguing from the beginning. I did find it a little disconcerting that Sarah was so attracted to him when she thought he was a 15 year old child and didn't realise who he actually was.
The story line is very gripping and I was so desperate throughout the book to find out what was going to happen next.
I feel like the ending was very open and there could be more from Sarah and Caio and I really hope there is as I would.love another book about them.
This author is a new to me author but I will definitely be diving into more books from her.
Profile Image for Marcia - itsabookthing2021 .
833 reviews21 followers
March 13, 2025
I really like reading the Limerent Series. First reading Bright Midnights then The Ghosting Academy and circling back round to Caio. I must say this novel is different to the other two I've read and it certainly hits hard subjects.
I really like how LS Delorme writes, she's not afraid to push boundaries so to speak and openly create stories around subjects that aren't always comfortable to read.
Because of the subjects this novel touches upon... child abuse, abuse between adults, s*x with a minor, it's kinda hard to put my review in words. The word enjoy doesn't seem fitting with a novel like this but I did find it intriguing and I liked seeing how Sarah developed within the world she found herself in. I liked how she showed strength towards the end. Caio I knew from previous novels so he wasn't as a mystery as such to me.
I do like my venturing into this series and do look forward to catching up with book 3
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