We Shouldn't

by Holly Guy

A dark, erotic reverse Harem romance novel.

Rebecca, a struggling smut author, finds herself falling back in love with her dad's best friend after a chance re-encounter with him eight years after he goes missing. He introduces her to the sex club he owns to help her with her novel. There, she meets his two handsome brothers. Little does she know, one of them is her stalker that she's grown fond of, and the other is a murderer who would do anything for a taste of her sin.

The brothers make a pact: they can each play with Rebecca but no one is allowed to go all the way until she chooses the winning brother.

But when the lines blur between desire and sin, who will be the first to crack and take what they believe to be theirs?

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, BDSM, Dark, Romance, Smut, Polyamory

370 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2023

About the author

Holly Guy is usually lost in a world of dark and forbidden romance novels. She battles with dark-antiheroes and sinful or forbidden desire.
Join the thousands of readers who are obsessed with her wicked words and follow her forbidden steps into the depths of romance!


Tik Tok: @Hollyguyauthor
Instagram: Hollyguyauthor

Reviews

[Megan Coggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This was my first true reverse harem and I’m not opposed. I definitely had my favorite “brother” I would’ve picked…
This had: dads best friend, age gap, stalker, morally grey men doing good, a sex club/kinks and a smutty author 🥵

I think the thing that brought it down was some of the dialogue from the male characters felt feminine, and I wanted more context and history with the boys.

[Joseline Caquias · Rating 3 out of 5]

….

🌶️🌶️🌶️
Honestly is ok read
I felt no connection with the characters like they just there.
Is sexy hot wish there where more to it, feel like something was missing…

[tanya c · Rating 5 out of 5]

now this is a book u all need to read fr. like asap. whn i tell u all i wasn’t breathing for ab 75% of this book. i freaking ate this book up y’all🔥

we have rebecca , a girl who moved away from her abusive ex to a new city to start afresh. needing help for new book she turns to her dads bff (who she has a major crush on) who owns a sex club. whilst getting her inspo there she meets dags & vixen who are brandon’s best friends.

vixen is one of the best stalker boyfs out there for sure, like he’s so hot. whn i read tht he was stalking rebecca from behind a tree i jus knew he was such an amazing man. urgh there are jus no words🤭
brandon is jus so ugh❤️‍🔥. he has a way w words alr. he’s caring, he’s compassionate. and he’s dirty.
dagger = daddy. he’s crazy. he’s unhinged. he’s beautiful. his story rly pulls at ur heart strings. but boy is he rough & we are here for it🤌🏽

rebecca is such a strong girl. who is blessed to have so many beautiful men surrounding her🥲

the plot was literally insane. it was so beautiful seeing how one person can make every1 come alive. the characters were all different but freaking amazing & the spice, my gosh the spice was *chefs kiss*🤌🏽

- a dark reverse harem romance
- age gap
- stalker x dads bff x unaliver
- lots of unaliving
- breath & primal play
- voyeurism
- plenty of smut🫶🏽
- multiple pov

rating: 4.5/5⭐️
spice: 3/5🌶

[Hannah Blankenship · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very smutty, gave me den of vipers vibes

[Rebecca Drepaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We Shouldn’t” by Holly Guy is a captivating blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt emotion that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The story masterfully combines wit and vulnerability as it explores the complexities of love, trust, and self-discovery. Guy’s ability to craft deeply relatable characters and witty dialogue makes this book an absolute delight.

The chemistry between the protagonists is electric, and their banter is both hilarious and endearing. The push-and-pull dynamic keeps the tension alive, making every interaction between them feel charged with genuine emotion. The characters' growth throughout the story is beautifully written, adding layers of depth to their journey.

Holly Guy’s writing style is engaging and effortless, drawing you into the story with vivid descriptions and a perfect balance of lighthearted moments and emotional depth. Whether you’re laughing at a clever one-liner or tearing up during a poignant scene, the story delivers an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible.

If you enjoy romances with well-rounded characters, sharp humor, and a sprinkle of angst, We Shouldn’t is a must-read. Holly Guy has delivered a truly memorable book that will leave you smiling long after you turn the last page. Highly recommended!

[TBR Land (Chrissy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3.50
CAWPILE: 7.54
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 7.5
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 7
Spicy: 4.25
Contains: Why Choose, Dad's BFF, Stalker W/ a Crush, Serial Killer, Age Gap, Alpha Male, Anti-hero, Forbidden, Rescue
Kinks: BDSM, NonCon, Breath Play, Impact Play, Orgasm Control, Primal, Praise Kink, Degradation, Blood Play, CNC, Collaring, DP, Masks/Muzzles
TW: Domestic Violence, Grooming, Mental Illness, Murder, Physical Abuse, PTSD

Interesting storyline, love the forbidden vibes with Dad's friend. Dags was given me major Den of Viper vibes, but not in a bad way. There were times that after his episodes that his mannerisms came off very childlike. Which is a normal trauma response, but that type of regression was hard to mix with the sexual aspects of the book for me. I loved the different relationships Rebecca had with each brother, but I think Vixen's was my favorite. Love a good pleasure Dom 🖤

[Adri Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

🫠 yes sir

This book was seriously hot AF 🥵

I don’t know why or how I waited so long to read this book! This story line was great and the spice was HOT! I have never been more jealous of a MFC in my life than I am of Rebecca.

This book is a RH that has a hot stalker, hot older/ dads best friend and a hot psycho killer. I mean if you was not sold to read this before that comment you should be now that I tell you that they are brothers (not by blood but they might as well be because of how close they are and how much they love each other ) and they own sex club and know exactly what you need and what you want.

The book is a S L O W burn 🔥 but when I tell you it was definitely worth the wait .. it was definitely worth the wait. This book had my emotions all over the place and I loved every second of it.

I cannot wait to read the rest pf Holly’s books!!!!!

[Vee’s Bookish Adventure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spicy & Entertaining!!

My Synopsis
As Rebecca heals and deals with a writing funk in her secluded home a dinner with her father sets in motion some of her wildest and wettest dreams. With help from her Fathers best friend, her stalker, and a killer she not only gets back into writing but grows into her most erotic self.

My Review
This was one book that started unique from the very beginning. It was a great combination is spice, action, and mystery. Not only was this book well written and exciting it had various twist and turns that left me wanting more!

Tropes:
Dark Romance
Fathers Best Friend
Age Gap
Stalker
Murderer
Sex Club
Kinks
(Degradation, praise)
Dads Bestfriend
Trauma

[Invisible fairy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lush book, and it is burning hot. The book opens with a hot scene, starts strong, and just grows from there.

Rebecca is a young author who writes smut and knows she is kinky and embraces it. Especially when Brandon is back in her life, plus he has 2 brothers, Vixen and Dagger. Dagger is just this adorable, psychotic puppy that is impossible not to love, slightly scary, but you know he is not to Rebecca. The book is dark, and it hurts to know what has happened, but I always hope for sweet vengeance.
It is brilliant, watching how Rebecca's relationship with each of the men starts and how it grows. We get some kind of smut consistently. It is fantastic. If you love, Dark, Romance, Reverse Harem and smut with a good story. Read this, you won't regret it.

[Amy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

....

A week to play with each brother & then I must choose! Or could I have them all?
A woman's dream brought to life

This has got to be the most dark but fun read this year. This book is literally dripping in suspense in more ways than one.
I couldn't put it down but definitely not a book you can read with children running around 😅

The brothers are so different but each one bring something so different to Rebecca's life, but ultimately she finally feels safe again.

Need a sequel please Holly!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a 6 star. It’s really good. I would definitely read again. This book got me out of my 3 month book slump. It’s so dark and good. I can go on and on about this book. I wish I can erase my brain and read it for the first time. 😫😫

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This is a dark romance with age gaps and dads best friend. I usually only read pnr or dark PNR but I found myself unable to put this down. It is also why choose which I love. I don’t really have any trigger warnings, but if you do make sure to read them first. 10/10 reccomend, very spicy.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book was perfection in my personal opinion.

The smut was immaculately written. The plot was amazing. The book kept you on your toes, and the plot twist was amazing I never seen it coming.

It’s a dad’s bestfriend, stalker, murder romance.

Follows:
Rebecca
Brandon(dad’s bestfriend)
Vixen (stalker)
Dagger (murder)

[Amanda LaFour · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would have been so good if there wasn’t so many typos. I’m some places i couldn’t get into the story because the sentences didn’t make any sense. I couldn’t get past it.

[jo :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

there aren’t really spoilers but j in case

this book is haunting adeline meets yes, sirs(a wattpad book). it reads better than a wattpad book, but still giving “i don’t have an editor i do this all myself” which honestly. go you girl. get yours. i’ve read 5sos smut written by 16 year olds so this is gold compared to that.

my real complaints are as follows

1. the men? they’re written inconsistently. especially dagger. sometimes he acts and talks like a teenage girl and a child all at once (i know his trauma has stunted his mental abilities in some sense but like….)
2. i feel like the author used “my dads hot best friend” as bait. girl there’s like one scene with them together and it’s mentioned like two other times and that’s it. i feel like she totally forgot to include it and make it an actual big deal. and they keep saying “best mates”. yall. they haven’t talked in like 8+ years. my ex best friend stopped taking to me three weeks ago and i wish that bitch death we are not best friends
3. the blurb was so fucking painful to read i almost didn’t go through with the book. thank god for tiktok and instagram or else i would’ve never read this book


all in all, if wattpad and occasional bad grammar/spelling/punctuation(why are there so many exclamation marks!) and inconsistent story don’t bother you, read this book

the smut though? fantastic. amazing. slow burn meets edging. i devoured this book and looked past all of the above points bc the smut was pure art

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars! ★★★
I have mixed emotions about this book. While I loved the hot & steamy intimate scenes. Dagger was an annoying character. He kept coming across either autistic or down right retarded. I couldn’t develop any connection or attraction to his character. Vixen and Brandon were hot and I’d be down for both any day of the week. Rebecca was okay. Even though if I was put in her shoes, I would never react or act upon things the way she did.

The whole 3 brothers hunting down pimps and guys who force girls into human sex trafficking seemed a little ….been there, done that. After Zade from Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton did the hero thing, saving girls from sex trafficking, I can’t say I want to read about that story line again. Once was enough.

One star is Vixen. His relationship with Rebecca was hot and could be made into a book on its own. The second Star is for Brandon, which again has its own base to build a whole story. The last star is for the sexy scenes, and boy were there many. ***

Another small gripe. The book title and cover DO NOT match what the book is about. At all. It’s just confusing. We shouldn’t…what? Bang 3 guys that own a sex club? And tiaras? What?

[Jordan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this book there are four main characters Rebecca, Brandon, Dagger and Vixen. All three of these men become obsessed but and in love with Rebecca. But all of these men aren’t as what they seem, two are brothers while one is there not biological brother but none the less they are still family. Dagger is a murder, Vixen is an obsess stalker and Brandon owns a Bdsm club. Rebecca can’t help but have a thing for all three of them so why choose when she can have all three brothers. 🫣

Rebecca the protagonist she’s running from someone but who? But ends up reconnecting with a man she once liked and two other men who she thinks are very attractive, You gotta read this book to figure out who it is….

Do you think Rebecca will choose one man or all three of them?

Will Rebecca ever face enemy head on or will she run?

Will the brothers do anything to keep her safe?

Warning: All of them are very toxic. Not in a great way either. They care for Rebecca but have a hard time communicating that to her. Stalking, Anger, Murder, BDSM, Toxicity

[Emma King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vixen, Dagger and Brandon MMC's all fall for the same woman, Rebecca, an erotic romance author. Vixen is a stalker by nature, Dagger a Serial unaliver and Brandon is her dad's best friend, and they all happen to be brothers.

Oh My Goodness! Is all I can say. The spice hits from the first few pages and I was obsessed. I could not put it down! This book has everything plot, spice and story and it is all so well written. Holly has created a beautiful book full of twists and turns, as well as some of the spiciest scenes I think I've ever read!

Each character has their own back stories that are well written into the plot and you're not jumping from past to present which I really like. The relationship development between the main characters had me devouring the words on the page, I needed to know what happend next!

What to expect: Dark Romance, Reverse Harem, Age Gap, Stalker, Dad's Best Friend, Voyerism, Dark Themes, HEA, DP, TP, Forbidden Romance, Threesome, Sex Club,

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Gemma Fairway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark reverse harem

I quite enjoyed the dynamic of this reverse harem; the character traits and personalities different from most that I’ve read. Also what i found enjoyable was how many different romance tropes there were in this book and yet they all seem to work together; age gap, stalker, reverse harem, daddy’s best friend, taboo romance etc without it being too confusing. The harem doesn’t actually fully come together until nearer the end of the book but the individual spice scenes throughout are very gripping.
Daggers personality and history were for me the highlights of this story, he seemed the most thought about character and you can’t help but sympathise with the psycho.

The only negative I found when reading this book which became quite jarring when trying to immerse in the story were the amount of grammatical errors I found, I’m not sure if it’s just the KU version or not, but if this was fixed it would be a much smoother read. All in all a good story for its length.

[Lucipurr’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to try something from a new author that seemed to be interesting. The reverse harem aspect drew me in. It was a good length! Not too short or too long. It concluded the plot points easily. Three brothers united by the same goal and then the same woman. A romance writer with a difficult romantic history and trying to rebuild herself. She struggles with her own sexuality in a way because of what she likes kink wise versus what people would think about it. Her ex was horrible and I'm so happy he got what he deserved especially after that HUGE plot twist. I'm also happy Dagger got his revenge too! They all got the girl in the end. The end was happy and perfect for them. I'm going to try Death's New Pet at some point so l'm hoping I like that one too.

Favorite quote:
"I will always be addicted to something; I just switch my poison. You are my drug at the moment. I am fucking obsessed with you. I'm always thinking about you, stalking you, fucking you. I can't get enough, and truthfully, I don't think I ever will get bored. You're my one addiction that I don't want to get over and I don't think I ever can."

[Meenal · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book by this author, definitely not my first RH book so was expecting something new to happen as of spicy scenes-wise. Nothing I haven't read before except for the new bond “Brothers RH”.

Rebecca is a strong character and a cheering person to me. The fantasies, she has might I say are not for me 🤭 it was fun reading a book about writing it. I appreciate authors even more now knowing how much pressure it would be for them.

The boys, Dagger, Brendon, and Vixen are hot body shots any girl would love to have.
Have a personal favorite though(shhh). I would have liked to see more of Dagger's crazy side, Brendon’s possessive side, Vixen’s loving side, and altogether more of all three emotional sides.

Spicy scenes to me were mild, except for the part about stalking cause this was my stalking genre reading and won't be the last but not to this extent cause I felt uncomfortable at some point.

TW✅
RH ✅
HEA✅
FC trauma& abuse✅
Blood and rape✅

Spicy 🌶 2/5
Book 📖 3/5

[Sakinz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an electrifying and enthralling read that dives deep into the intricate world of kinks and fetishes. Each character is meticulously crafted, providing a unique and captivating journey into their complex personalities and desires. The gradual bonding between the characters is skillfully developed, leading to an intense and satisfying narrative that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

This book masterfully embraces the reverse harem/why choose genre, presenting a compelling dynamic of three males and one female. The chemistry among the characters is palpable, making their interactions both tantalizing and emotionally resonant. It's a perfect blend of fantasy and fetish, catering to those who seek a more intense and immersive reading experience.

If you've been yearning for a story that pushes boundaries while maintaining a strong emotional core, this one checks all the boxes. It's a must-read for fans of dark romance and intricate, multi-character relationships.

[Lindsey Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished my 3rd book of the year. It is We Shouldn't by Holly Guy.

This book threw me for a loop. The first few chapters were a little tough to get through but after I did it got so much better.

Back story with it Rebecca the FMC left an abus!ve relationship. She is having dinner with her dad one night and his fiance when she sees her dad's best friend Brandon sitting that she hadn't seen in several years.

She finds out he owns a s3x club with his 2 brothers. She ends up meeting his 2 brothers at the s3x club but doesn't know those are his brothers. The brothers are Dags and Vixen.

Dags is a serial unaliver but only to bad people and Vixen is her stalk3r. But she doesn't know these things about them.

Her ex ends up coming back towards the end in a shocking way and the ending was done good in my opinion.

Please read your trigger warnings.

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only slightly longer than it should have been and vaguely alike to something else I was reading. However, the unique roles and personalities assigned to the brothers help soften the similarities. I love how going from oldest to youngest, their personalities get more intense. We go from forbidden father’s best friend to a stalker, to a straight-out crazed murderer, very fun. A couple of misspellings in the digital edition had me rereading some sentences to make sense of them, and honestly, the not main characters were cardboard cutouts. If it’s your kind of kink I would give it a try but if not the flaws might hit a little harder.

[Bailey (Myveinsbleedink) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This book is spicy! I love a good why choose and this one doesn't disappoint. I'm not really into the whole pain/pleasure thing but I did enjoy reading this book. I was a big fan of the unhinged giant of Dags, there was something about him that I definitely couldn't get enough of. But honestly all 3 men were pretty irresistible. Like honestly what is it with stalkers and the major hotness of the situation...cuz you know if this was happening in real life we'd be losing it. But reading it...ugh!!!!
Definitely worth the read. Thanks Holly!!

[Aly Skinner · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing wasn't great. In the first half, I enjoyed reading and seeing how the characters and story were developing. I liked the characters, the sex club scenes, and the FMC stories. However, in the last 150 pages, it felt like the story was lacking luster. It felt rushed, and the author didn't stay consistent with the characters anymore. What she built them up to be as their personality and characteristics just vanished, in my opinion. I felt like all the work she did to set up a great story was all for nothing.

[Victoria Readman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I recognise a broken soul when I see one."
... "Every little dove needs a predator with sharp teeth to slice through the restraints wrapped around your beautiful wings."

Dad's best friend, a stalker and a murderer ... you cannot ask for more crazy in a reverse harem romance. 'We Shouldn't' is very erotic, dark and it's a really great time! Honestly, nothing about this book makes sense but I LOVED IT. Holly Guy is the Queen of Smut 🔥 there is barely a plot, the possession and craving these guys have for Rebecca Jones is insane. Devoured this book in a couple days, it's not for the weak ...

[Emily Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was HOT. I just wish I felt some sort of connection to any of the characters.

It was dark, there was a plot and plenty of smut to keep you on the edge of your seat. I read this in one sitting and I knocked it off my TBR list. I wish I had something insightful to add, but if you want a smut driven book with dark characters that teeter on the morally grey line, then this is the book for you.

[Pageturner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this started ok however it was so surface level you never really had any depth to the characters. Brandon, Vixen and Dagger were on a mission to rid the area of human trafficking however this was never explained as to how they started, how their relationship came out etc. Rebecca is fleeing an abusive ex but again not much is explained especially not her hatred of an alarm? Shame a bit of depth could have helped this story. The ending also felt rushed.

[Haribo · Rating 3 out of 5]

great but let down with continuity errors

Really intense build up from the get go. The slow burn was painful but satisfying. However I noticed several continuity errors like her being in jeans then switching to a skirt mid scene ??? Also where people were positioned changed mid scene with no explanation. Just kinda threw you out the story. Also the ‘big reveal’ was somewhat obvious