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Midnight Mischief

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A short, steamy read perfect for some Halloween fun. If you're looking for something plot-heavy, you won't find it here.Zoe is stuck partying at her parents' house on Halloween at their annual over-the-top party. But when she meets a flirty stranger, things take a turn for the better. That is, until she realizes the stranger is actually her dad's best friend, Donovan, who doesn't recognize her.Flirting turns to more, and Donovan proposes a way to spice up the a hunt through the woods in the dark of the night. She will run and hide, but when he catches her, nothing is off limits. A night that was once mundane turns into something much more exhilarating than Zoe can imagine.

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2023

192 people are currently reading
1377 people want to read

About the author

Lyla Andrews

12 books88 followers
Lyla is a steamy romance author and loves to write stories involving characters with realistic and complex problems, whether familial, romantic, mental health-related, or otherwise.

She is obsessed with everything cozy: rainy days, candles, blankets, watching the Twilight series on repeat (🐀), and--of course--curling up with a good book.

Raised in the semi-rural Midwest, she spent a few years hopping around after college before settling in North Carolina with her soon-to-be husband and their feisty black cat.

Lyla can be found on all social media platforms @lylaandrewsauthor.

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5 stars
411 (20%)
4 stars
680 (33%)
3 stars
705 (35%)
2 stars
171 (8%)
1 star
36 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
Profile Image for M (hiatus).
297 reviews46 followers
July 10, 2025
LORD HAVE MERCY 😮‍💨🥵

this was so freaking hot. the scene in her room was even better than the primal play (i’m biased because i love degradation). i absolutely loved this!

safety info (possible spoilers):
- no virgins
- no owd/omd
- no condoms
- no sharing
- mmc has long hair (i changed that in my head lol)
Profile Image for High Lady of Delulu.
511 reviews32 followers
October 7, 2024
3.75
While it’s not very Halloween-y, set in the realms of dark romance (despite the fact that it is set at a Halloween party which bears no relevance for the story other than it being a party) it was a good book!
Spicy, intriguing, fun to read. At first I thought it might not stand out much against the sheer amount of dark romance and erotica I consume, but it did end up taking me by surprise a bit by giving the common tropes and kinks special twists.
The age gap and forbidden nature certainly helped too!
Profile Image for Josie Bookstagram.
334 reviews31 followers
October 5, 2025
“You have a flashlight if you need it. The safe word is midnight. Got that?” 🎃

I picked up Midnight Mischief because I wanted something short and Halloween-themed for my reading challenge — and wow, this little novella delivered! 🎃 It’s a quick, spicy and seriously fun read that dives straight into the action. After a run of fade-to-black romances, this one definitely turned the heat back up 🔥 and reminded me just how entertaining a good bit of forbidden chemistry can be.

The Halloween party setting added a perfect dose of atmosphere — all the costumes, tension and that spark of danger that makes the “Dad’s best friend” trope so addictive. It’s bold, cheeky and doesn’t take itself too seriously, which made it a really enjoyable palette cleanser between longer reads.

If you like your stories fast, flirty and a little bit wicked, this one’s a great pick for spooky-season fun!

Tropes / Themes:
🎃 Halloween Party
🔥 Dad's Best Friend
💋 Forbidden Romance
⏳ Novella
✨ Extra Spicy
🏠 One Night Only
💀 Seasonal Read
Profile Image for Peppa.
1,179 reviews97 followers
May 6, 2025
This was a quick, dirty little Halloween treat (the Halloween vibe came a bit short here tbh) and I honestly loved how unapologetically spicy it was.

Zoe's stuck at home while her parents throw a party, thinking she’s in for a boring night with no one her age around. But then she ends up in this heated conversation with one of her dad’s best friends, dressed as a sexy lumberjack, of all things and things escalate fast.

The tension was definitely here. The vibe was filthy in the best way. I loved how their dynamic flipped so quickly from playful to primal. There’s some brat-taming, a little identity hiding that adds a taboo edge, and a whole lot of kink degradation, impact play. CNC, primal play, it had it all and didn’t hold back!!
It was short, intense, and straight-up hot, i only wished it would had been a little bit longer!!

Trops:
🖤dads friend
🖤age gap
🖤brat taming
🖤impact play
🖤pussy slapping
🖤breathplay
🖤chocking
🖤primal play
🖤CNC
🖤degradation
🖤praise
Profile Image for shyra ☾.
178 reviews6 followers
October 23, 2025
basically “test your limits” to see how far you’ll go when you meet your dads best friend at your parents halloween party
Profile Image for Kade.
156 reviews5 followers
September 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐️

FOR A 40 SOMETHING PAGE NOVELLA… THIS WAS GOOD SHIT AND I NEED THE NEXT ONE RN 😭💕
Profile Image for Paige Ray.
1,115 reviews68 followers
October 2, 2024
There was no erotica until 3/4 of the way through. Disappointing.
Profile Image for BrooklynBookworm.
659 reviews11 followers
October 12, 2025
Halloween smut at its finest

It’s Halloween night and it’s time for Zoe’s uber rich parents’ annual Halloween party. Zoe hates attending this party because she feels like she has nothing to do with these people. They’re all older and friends of her parents but she has to go. Things are pretty uneventful for her .. until she meets a mysterious, extremely flirty, stranger who’s dressed as a lumberjack. When the conversation gets hot and heated and they move outside of the party.. Zoe uncovers exactly who her seductive stranger is.. her dad’s (older) best friend, Donovan. But he doesn’t seem to recognize her.

Now it’s time for the real fun.. a tantalizing game of hide-and-seek, where Zoe will run and Donovan will hunt.. a when he catches her? NOTHING is off limits.

Midnight Mischief is exactly what it’s supposed to be. A Halloween treat that offers the hottest spice wrapped in a short little novella. You won’t get an extensive plot or emotional character development but what you will get is erotic tension, a sexy game of hide and seek with tropes such as primal play and CNC. It was definitely a fun & filthy read and I loved it!!
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
436 reviews19 followers
October 11, 2024
I read this because I saw the author post in one of my book groups that it was getting bad reviews so I was like girl I’ll help you out. No problem, I’m for the people! Well, I made an oopsie because I forgot spicy books make me uncomfy 🤣.

I was honestly fine with most of it the story is good, I don’t mind the fantasy of banging it out with an older guy. Bring it on. But, personally I don’t get turned on with the pain element. After that first bite or hit I’d be like omg I’m gonna die here. And ACTUALLY, I thought I was gonna get a murder book and I was 100% in. I got a little excited tbh. Alas, no murder, ‘twas an erotic novella tho if that’s your jam!

But like I said, I’m for the people and I won’t let my issues bring her down. It was a good story.
Profile Image for Salima A..
278 reviews6 followers
October 27, 2024
Tropes:
- Forbidden romance
- Dads best friend
- Halloween erotica novella
- Primal kink

This was short and spicy AF.
Zoe stays home for Halloween where her parents throw a party, worrying that she won’t have anyone close to her age. She ends up talking to one of her dad’s best friends who is dressed up as sexy lumberjack. Their conversation gets sexual & about testing limits, due to her hiding her true identity he decided to show her what happens to bratty little princesses. This contains primal play, degradation and CNC.
Profile Image for Sarah (in Slump mode).
247 reviews2 followers
October 11, 2025
Well... I quite enjoyed that lol for only like 40 pages, that story really packs a wallop! It was my first book by Lyla Andrews, so I think I'll be reading more of her stuff. This is why I like the novellas, especially this time off year, get to sample new writers without a long commitment and find new things/people you like.

🔸️Pros-
🔸️Cons-
🔸️Favorite Character-
🔸️Least Favorite character-
🔸️Would I read it again? Yes
🔸️Would I recommend it? Yes
🔸️Will I continue the series?
🔸️Buy a physical copy?
Profile Image for Taylor.
389 reviews128 followers
October 28, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Honestly, for it being 44 pages, I was pleasantly surprised. To me, there was still a decent amount of plot. I enjoyed their banter at the beginning and then it turned spicy. Also love a good age gap, and even a dads friend. This was a great Halloween novella with a well done primal kink. 🖤
Profile Image for El.
126 reviews36 followers
October 9, 2024
This was a great short read for spicy spooky season and it didn't disappoint, I actually want so much more of this couple! 😜

If you're looking for a 4 chapter spicy read with a chase scene, degradation, consent and kink safety, and don't want to dive into the dark I would highly recommend! You had me at "Crawl." 😎

Spice: 3🌶️
Overall: 4 ⭐ and glad I read it!
Profile Image for Jackie.
1,629 reviews7 followers
October 16, 2023
short and oh so spicy

Short novella perfect for Halloween. Filled with lots of kinks. Jam packed with smutty goodness on all the pages. Once Donovan learns who Zoe really is. You think this might be it and her hopes of adventure with it. But wow so wrong. Donovan knows what he is doing and knows how to hit all the kinks in one swoop. Hot story. Hope for more.
Profile Image for Courtney.
854 reviews
October 30, 2024
This was a quick and easy read. I really wasn't expecting anything to go on at first. Donovan seemed to have second thoughts at first. I also thought they were in deep shit when her parents interrupted them twice. Luck for them they were drunk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tiff Hills.
118 reviews6 followers
September 19, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Perfect smutty novella to get you ready for Halloween. Donavon could chase me through the woods any day. I wish the ending was a little different though. But still really enjoyed it. Definitely reading more.
Profile Image for Crazy4bookscruz.
639 reviews44 followers
October 31, 2023
As it says Short and Spicy

This was so flipping hot! Dads best friend, age gap, dominant man that’s knows how to handle a woman.

Ugh I think we all want a Donovan in our life’s. This was not enough and I want more of their story but I will enjoy this erotic romance for what it was…. 🥵🤤
Profile Image for Natasha Allen.
617 reviews15 followers
October 31, 2023
I enjoyed this! I’m gonna give it 3.75⭐️

Age gap
Dads best friend/business partner
Halloween
Primal
Kink exploration

A hot fun, quick read!
Profile Image for Corrina.
165 reviews13 followers
March 8, 2024
Midnight Mischief

This was a short and spicy Halloween erotica novella. I loved the build up, the sexual tension & the HEA.
Profile Image for Joamy Palma.
187 reviews
April 12, 2024
Fast, easy and didn’t expect to like it that much 3.5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews

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