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Skin of a Sinner
No one tells you what to do when the boy who shattered your heart comes back to steal it.
Roman Riviera was my everything once upon a time. I found my knight in shining armor in the form of a fellow foster kid. He protected me and promised to stand by my side forever.
But Roman Riviera is a liar.
He left me with monsters.
Three years later, I found him in the middle of the night, soaked in my family’s blood and carving his initials into my foster brother’s skin. He tied me up and dragged me away from the life I had made without him.
I tried to run, but he chased me. I wanted to scream, but the sound never came out.
He says that I’m never getting away from him. He says he’s back for good. I don’t believe him.
Roman Riviera was my everything once upon a time. I found my knight in shining armor in the form of a fellow foster kid. He protected me and promised to stand by my side forever.
But Roman Riviera is a liar.
He left me with monsters.
Three years later, I found him in the middle of the night, soaked in my family’s blood and carving his initials into my foster brother’s skin. He tied me up and dragged me away from the life I had made without him.
I tried to run, but he chased me. I wanted to scream, but the sound never came out.
He says that I’m never getting away from him. He says he’s back for good. I don’t believe him.
392 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 2023
7155 people are currently reading
68319 people want to read
About the author
Avina St. Graves
9 books4,463 followersFrom an early age, romance author Avina St. Graves spent her days imagining fantasy worlds and dreamy fictional men, which spurred on her introverted tendencies. In all her day dreaming, there seemed to be a reoccurring theme of morally grey female characters, love interests who belonged in prison, and unnecessary trauma and bloodshed.
When she isn't reading, writing, doom scrolling, or figuring out how to make red flags look green, you can find her holed up in bed, combating the three Ps: back pain, neck pain, and knee pain.
When she isn't reading, writing, doom scrolling, or figuring out how to make red flags look green, you can find her holed up in bed, combating the three Ps: back pain, neck pain, and knee pain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,026 reviews
December 27, 2025
HELP. Someone said romance isn’t dead but her family sure is 😭
December 7, 2023
my love language is brutally killing my horrible and abusive family in the middle of the night but then apologizing for waking me up. 🥹 isn’t he just so dreamy?! 🥰
March 8, 2024
roman riviera might be a walking red flag but i’m colourblind so he’s a green flag to me 😍😍
May 2, 2024
➳
1/5 stars
✶࿐
"To all the self-proclaimed good girls who want to be chased through the forest, then fucked by a masked man"
First of all, i just wanna say that im never like never trusting booktok for book recs bc what the hell was this mess??? seriously this is one of the worst books I've ever read. Writing??? Bland literally it felt like it was written by a teenager who woke up one day and decided to be an author the very next day. Characters??? Both of them were so insufferable and absolutely pathetic istg i have never read such poorly written characters in my damn life. Chemistry??? it was as nonexistent as my patience by the end of this mess.
Literally i just couldn't decipher how in the world people enjoyed this or did i just read a different book. It is the classic "bad boy meets good girl and becomes obsessed" trope. How original. It's like the author took a page out of every cliche romance novel ever written. I mean, come on, can we get some originality here? It is a tale as old as time, where our brooding bad boy, known for more trips to detention than the average school year, meets his polar opposite: the human embodiment of a warm hug. Can you say "opposites attract" with a side of eye-rolls? Prepare yourselves for a romance so predictable, even the characters are checking their watches for the next plot twist.
╰┈➤ Roman Riviera
Let's give a standing ovation to this guy, because he literally carried the whole book and made it little easy for me to tolerate this chaotic mess. But even with his noble efforts, I couldn't bring myself to like him. I mean, seriously??He's so obsessed with this girl that he gives her a dress code in which he asks her to cover her damn shoulders why bc apparently, its the new aphrodisiac and if that wasn't enough he asks her to cover her goddamn ankles as well like wow who tf get's turned on by ankles?? sir there's certainly something wrong with your fucking head. Someone needs to remind him that we're in the 21st century, not the Victorian era
“On that note, no skirts, no shorts, no low-cut shirts, and—I never thought I’d agree with the teachers— no shoulders. For God’s sake, you better put away the shoulders. They’re too tempting. And those thin little tank top straps? So breakable. Actually, cover the
ankles, too."
He is the classic case of overprotective boyfriend syndrome taken to a whole new level. I mean, sure, we all want a partner who's fiercely loyal, but this guy takes it to an extreme. Killing anyone who even dares to glance in his girl's direction? Talk about possessive much! But hey, I'll give him credit for killing her abusive foster dad and also his creepy ass son. As for Bella, well, let's just say her contribution seems to be limited to reminding us of her petite stature at every turn. Thanks for the reminder, Bella. We wouldn't have known otherwise!
He's supposed to be dark and morally grey, but ends up being a total obsessive, impulsive psychopath who couldn't care less about anything besides his own ego. Dude knows he's putting his girl in danger with his stupidity, yet he keeps on doing it. There was a brief moment where I thought, 'Hey, maybe he's not so bad,' but that moment vanished in the thin air and never came back. And don't even get me started on the repetitive dialogue—like, seriously, how many times can you say 'my girl' before it just gets cringey? Instead of being steamy, it just gave me the 'ick' factor. Fr characters in this book need some serious diversity in their vocabulary.
"She’s a breathtaking peacock or a flamingo with her long legs and delicate curves proudly on display. In comparison, I’m a common, everyday, trash-living pigeon; loose-fitting jeans, an oversized hoodie, and red chucks."
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS????
╰┈➤ Isabella Garcia
She's literally the epitome of naivety, stupidity, and annoyance all rolled into one. And don't even get me started on how the author keeps hammering in how tiny, dainty, and fragile she is—I mean, are we reading about a person or a porcelain doll? Reading her point of view felt like a chore, I'm not gonna lie. It's like I had to drag myself through her pages.
If you know me you know that i hate doormat and dumb fmcs more than anything. She was an absolute mess literally she did nothing but create more mess for roman to clean. Istg there were times when she could've avoided the bloodbath knowing damn well that the guy is batshit crazy she didn't do you know why?? Because, apparently, she's got a PhD in stupidity. Instead of standing up for herself, she's constantly playing the helpless victim, expecting Roman to swoop in and save the day and the cherry on the top was that she always like always blamed roman for everything she did wrong. Between all the tears, unnecessary trouble and all the self-deprecating remarks she made it's a wonder she even remembers her own name.
Oh, let's talk about the reunion from hell, shall we? So, our dear mmc spends three lovely years behind bars, all because he wanted to play hero and defend his lady love. And what does he get for his troubles? A big, fat blame game from Miss Ungrateful. I mean, come on, lady, he practically sacrificed himself for you, and you have the nerve to whine about him leaving? Talk about being an ungrateful piece of shit and then she have the audacity to say that she loved him. ABSOLUTE FUCKING BULLSHIT
"Because I want him, too, more than anything else in the world. Not want. Need. I need him more than I need air. If he leaves, I won’t survive. There’s nothing else in this world that could compare to him. I’m his, and there’s a Roman-shaped hole in my heart that is perfectly made to fit him."
And, let's talk about the nickname disaster so, our dear fmc decides it's perfectly normal to call her man "Mickey" during the most intimate moments. I mean, seriously, what the actual fuck? see i know some people might find this cute but i just couldn't like it and found it extremely annoying. Ngl I've endured enough to deserve an award for getting through this mess of a book 🤦🏻♀️
"This is who we are; predator and his prey; Mickey and his mouse"
°˖➴ Overall, if you enjoy wasting your time on lackluster reads, this one's for you! 💌
౨ৎ QUOTES ✧˖°.
⚘ “Go to Hell.”
“You’ll be right there with me.You’re my favorite sin.”
⚘ “Don’t worry. If you break, I’ll put you back together. If you run, I’m running right behind you. If you burn, I’ll burn with you.”
⚘ “Who do you pray to?”
“I don’t pray.”
“You’d get on your knees for me if I asked. Does that make me your god, Princess?”
⚘ “The easiest thing I’ve ever done is love her. If I could do it all again, I would do it the exact same way. I would pick her. Every time."
⚘ "My religion starts with “Isa” and ends with “Bella,” and I’d worship at her altar every night."
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
꒰🌷⊹ ࣪ pre-read review —
well let's see what's all this hype was about?? 😙💘
"To all the self-proclaimed good girls who want to be chased through the forest, then fucked by a masked man"
First of all, i just wanna say that im never like never trusting booktok for book recs bc what the hell was this mess??? seriously this is one of the worst books I've ever read. Writing??? Bland literally it felt like it was written by a teenager who woke up one day and decided to be an author the very next day. Characters??? Both of them were so insufferable and absolutely pathetic istg i have never read such poorly written characters in my damn life. Chemistry??? it was as nonexistent as my patience by the end of this mess.
Literally i just couldn't decipher how in the world people enjoyed this or did i just read a different book. It is the classic "bad boy meets good girl and becomes obsessed" trope. How original. It's like the author took a page out of every cliche romance novel ever written. I mean, come on, can we get some originality here? It is a tale as old as time, where our brooding bad boy, known for more trips to detention than the average school year, meets his polar opposite: the human embodiment of a warm hug. Can you say "opposites attract" with a side of eye-rolls? Prepare yourselves for a romance so predictable, even the characters are checking their watches for the next plot twist.
╰┈➤ Roman Riviera
Let's give a standing ovation to this guy, because he literally carried the whole book and made it little easy for me to tolerate this chaotic mess. But even with his noble efforts, I couldn't bring myself to like him. I mean, seriously??He's so obsessed with this girl that he gives her a dress code in which he asks her to cover her damn shoulders why bc apparently, its the new aphrodisiac and if that wasn't enough he asks her to cover her goddamn ankles as well like wow who tf get's turned on by ankles?? sir there's certainly something wrong with your fucking head. Someone needs to remind him that we're in the 21st century, not the Victorian era
“On that note, no skirts, no shorts, no low-cut shirts, and—I never thought I’d agree with the teachers— no shoulders. For God’s sake, you better put away the shoulders. They’re too tempting. And those thin little tank top straps? So breakable. Actually, cover the
ankles, too."
He is the classic case of overprotective boyfriend syndrome taken to a whole new level. I mean, sure, we all want a partner who's fiercely loyal, but this guy takes it to an extreme. Killing anyone who even dares to glance in his girl's direction? Talk about possessive much! But hey, I'll give him credit for killing her abusive foster dad and also his creepy ass son. As for Bella, well, let's just say her contribution seems to be limited to reminding us of her petite stature at every turn. Thanks for the reminder, Bella. We wouldn't have known otherwise!
He's supposed to be dark and morally grey, but ends up being a total obsessive, impulsive psychopath who couldn't care less about anything besides his own ego. Dude knows he's putting his girl in danger with his stupidity, yet he keeps on doing it. There was a brief moment where I thought, 'Hey, maybe he's not so bad,' but that moment vanished in the thin air and never came back. And don't even get me started on the repetitive dialogue—like, seriously, how many times can you say 'my girl' before it just gets cringey? Instead of being steamy, it just gave me the 'ick' factor. Fr characters in this book need some serious diversity in their vocabulary.
"She’s a breathtaking peacock or a flamingo with her long legs and delicate curves proudly on display. In comparison, I’m a common, everyday, trash-living pigeon; loose-fitting jeans, an oversized hoodie, and red chucks."
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS????
╰┈➤ Isabella Garcia
She's literally the epitome of naivety, stupidity, and annoyance all rolled into one. And don't even get me started on how the author keeps hammering in how tiny, dainty, and fragile she is—I mean, are we reading about a person or a porcelain doll? Reading her point of view felt like a chore, I'm not gonna lie. It's like I had to drag myself through her pages.
If you know me you know that i hate doormat and dumb fmcs more than anything. She was an absolute mess literally she did nothing but create more mess for roman to clean. Istg there were times when she could've avoided the bloodbath knowing damn well that the guy is batshit crazy she didn't do you know why?? Because, apparently, she's got a PhD in stupidity. Instead of standing up for herself, she's constantly playing the helpless victim, expecting Roman to swoop in and save the day and the cherry on the top was that she always like always blamed roman for everything she did wrong. Between all the tears, unnecessary trouble and all the self-deprecating remarks she made it's a wonder she even remembers her own name.
Oh, let's talk about the reunion from hell, shall we? So, our dear mmc spends three lovely years behind bars, all because he wanted to play hero and defend his lady love. And what does he get for his troubles? A big, fat blame game from Miss Ungrateful. I mean, come on, lady, he practically sacrificed himself for you, and you have the nerve to whine about him leaving? Talk about being an ungrateful piece of shit and then she have the audacity to say that she loved him. ABSOLUTE FUCKING BULLSHIT
"Because I want him, too, more than anything else in the world. Not want. Need. I need him more than I need air. If he leaves, I won’t survive. There’s nothing else in this world that could compare to him. I’m his, and there’s a Roman-shaped hole in my heart that is perfectly made to fit him."
And, let's talk about the nickname disaster so, our dear fmc decides it's perfectly normal to call her man "Mickey" during the most intimate moments. I mean, seriously, what the actual fuck? see i know some people might find this cute but i just couldn't like it and found it extremely annoying. Ngl I've endured enough to deserve an award for getting through this mess of a book 🤦🏻♀️
"This is who we are; predator and his prey; Mickey and his mouse"
°˖➴ Overall, if you enjoy wasting your time on lackluster reads, this one's for you! 💌
౨ৎ QUOTES ✧˖°.
⚘ “Go to Hell.”
“You’ll be right there with me.You’re my favorite sin.”
⚘ “Don’t worry. If you break, I’ll put you back together. If you run, I’m running right behind you. If you burn, I’ll burn with you.”
⚘ “Who do you pray to?”
“I don’t pray.”
“You’d get on your knees for me if I asked. Does that make me your god, Princess?”
⚘ “The easiest thing I’ve ever done is love her. If I could do it all again, I would do it the exact same way. I would pick her. Every time."
⚘ "My religion starts with “Isa” and ends with “Bella,” and I’d worship at her altar every night."
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
꒰🌷⊹ ࣪ pre-read review —
well let's see what's all this hype was about?? 😙💘
June 10, 2024
5 stars
I need a masked man — more specifically ROMAN RIVIERA — because he's so ridiculously unhinged that I'm in love with him. He's the BEST PART of this book. He's the hottest mmc ever. 🥵 If he asked me to bark, I'll definitely bark! I'll gladly do anything. BELLA DOESN'T DESERVE HIM. I DO. I devoured this book, It's the best dark romance book I've read this year. I haven't felt this addicted to a book this whole year. I'd devour anything by this author atp 😭
I'll gladly wake up with a sore throat, but the latter option isn't too bad either. 😭 fuck If I'm not down badly.
Imagine a book opening to this scene where he's murdering your foster family but immediately apologizes because he woke you up? YES, I'M OBVIOUSLY DOWN BADLY. 🧎♀️The author seriously messed with my head by adding the hottest fanart ever, him drenched in blood and sweat? Yup, MY DEATH.
TROPES:
Childhood friends to lovers (with being enemies for a little bit)
Captive/captor (not really)
Touch her, you die (Literally)
Mutual pining
Second Chance romance.
➤ Roman aka Mickey and Isabella met each other when they were 8-6 years old, on the first day of school! Isabella was getting bullied and went to sit near the corner where Roman was. He was hungry and judging Bella harshly when she gave half of her food to her toy MICKEY MOUSE. But then she shared her sandwich with him, and he took it reluctantly. The next day, he beat her bullies up, took their lunch, and shared half with her. It's then he realized he likes her smile and hates when she's in tears. THERE. THE OBSESSION BEGINS.
They're friends. THE BESTEST FRIENDS, and there was nothing sexual in the past POVs. I would've loved more past POVs, and Roman was just so down for Bella that he would've done anything for her. They didn't do anything, but he took responsibility for her as they both didn't have anyone to look after them. They both lived with abusive foster families their whole lives and were each other's light in the darkest days.
Roman — is the most dramatic character ever! His inner monologue made me laugh a lot, he was ridiculously and effortlessly funny. Thankgod he's literally just a BAD BOY and not a psychopath. He's aiming to be a sociopath tho. He literally just laughed, grinned, or smirked every time he would kill someone, and he was so unapologetic for everything. He's so pathetically smitten with Bella that he dedicated his whole life to her. He's so thoughtful and beyond perfect for her.
❝There are only two reasons I’m willing to accept why she’s happy to stay in my arms. Firstly, she loves me and never wants to leave me. Secondly, I fucked her so well that she, again, never wants to leave me. I’m not even going to entertain the possibility that it’s just because she’s tired.❞
He's so delusional but he prefers to call himself realist. Roman literally 24/7 thinking about Bella:
❝Maybe I could cuff us together so she can never leave my side (aka, she’ll have no choice but to shower with me). I’m a genius. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?❞
He's so nonchalant about everything and basically just grinned or hummed after every reckless thing. The way he'd give Joe Goldberg a run for his money when he chased the man following her and killed him 🥹💀
✨ He beats her bullies on a daily basis, and if they even glance at her wrongly, they have a meeting with his fists.
✨ He carries her inhaler with him because she constantly forgets it.
✨ He murderously glares at her PIGTAILS because they annoy him with how unsymmetrical they are, but he still RE-DOes them.
✨ Reads books to her and gifted her wolfish smut book.
✨ He makes sure she's fed and buys her favorite snacks and learns to cook for her.
✨ He gifts her gifts related to Mickey Mouse because she loves it so much and the last gift by her mom was a mickey mouse toy.
✨ He gifts her different animal toys because her favorite animal changes every year.
✨ He picks her up to and from school every day and is her personal 'SEXY TAXI DRIVER'.
✨ Sets up a shag with fairy lights, cozy blankets, and a projector for her birthday.
✨ Has 'bella' tattooed above his heart.
✨ Has everything she ever liked tattooed on his skin so that she'll like him (barnhouse, her fav animals, the places she liked).
✨Took her to Disneyland because the last time she went was with her mom.
✨ Saved money while in prison for her if she decides to go to college.
✨ Bought a caravan just for both of them.
✨ Gifts her art supplies, stationery, and a locket with his name on it.
✨ he's not religious but would worship her.
✨ is a virgin for her.
I can literally write more and more because I'm damn sure I'm OBSESSED with him. He's so freaking gentle with her, I wanted to bawl my eyes out. 🥺
❝Just know that I haven’t left you, and I’ll be back to being your loyal bodyguard/ man- servant/ chef/ hair stylist/ guinea pig/ art supply dealer/ soulmate/ human heater/ sexy taxi driver in three years.❞
➤ NOW HE WASN'T A GOOD GUY. Not at all. He's so reckless and impulsive that he had to PAY for his actions. He got shot when he went to beat her bullies and eventually served 3 years in prison, and she thought that he abandoned her. He spent 3 years fantasizing in jail about her and drawing her sketches because he didn't want to forget her face (not that he could) and writing her letters even though she never received them.
I actually didn't mind him going to prison because seriously, his actions deserved consequences because he didn't take precautions and just went in for the kill. He's neither rich nor a mafia boss with connections to get out of everything. He was just a random boy with a god complex, but damn do I love the shit out of him. If he loves, he'll do anything to protect you, and he did protect Bella a lot! He's extremely possessive about her, and never once did he direct his rudeness towards her, but he'd beat the other person into a pulp.
• After his release, with careful planning, he annihilated her family, took Bella with him, and went to live in an abandoned house which he fixed with the help of GOOGLE 😂 He just randomly told her gruesome stories, his time in prison, the books he read while making jokes about them, and chased her in the forest with a MASK. 🥵
❝You forgot Mr. Mickey Mouse.❞ He holds up the doll my mother gave me and sticks his bottom lip out in a pout. ❝I can’t believe you were going to forget about me, Isabella,❞ he mimics Mickey Mouse.❞
➤ Now the killing scene:
When he killed her abusive foster father and that motherfucker foster brother who used to harass and assault her? I FELT SO GOOD. And that whole scene was so chaotic in his POV! 😭
❝I loom over him, just gazing at him as if I were God looking at his creations. Damn, he’s so ugly I almost feel bad for Millie. There’s no way I’d survive if I had to see his face on top of me or willingly pop out a baby with his genetics.❞
I died hahahsjsjs 😭 The way he was making fun of both of them again and again had me choking abhaha! It was too funny to read.
❝Then slap him in general, just for fun.❞
Hahahahahahaha before whipping the shit out of Greg 💀💀💀 he slapped him wbshhwhshs! I can imagine this scene, and it's hilarious wtf!
❝Fuck baby steps. Why isn’t she madly obsessed with me yet?❞ — Hsjshsjsh she was, but not as much as him.
I LAUGHED SO MUCH WHEN HE SHOUTED AT THE OLD WOMAN AT THE BUS STATION 😭 The way she told him that 'no wonder she (bella) left him.' hejzhshsw poor lady 😂💀
❝Tell me what buses left this morning.❞
She scowls and opens her mouth like she’s about to protest. ❝Tell me!❞ I roar.
She jolts in her chair but raises her chin. ❝Manners.❞
My lips peel back in a snarl. ❝Are you fucking kidding me?❞
The old woman looks at me defiantly in an almost grandmotherly way. ❝Boys who don’t mind their manners don’t get what they want.❞
❝Fucking tell me!❞ I snarl, slamming my hand on the counter.
She blinks at me, bored and waiting. For fuck’s sake.
❝Tell me what buses left this morning,❞ I grit out. ❝Please.❞
• Roman when a random blondie is touching him while he's kissing Bella 💀:
Bella — now she was okay but not as perfect as roman! Not in the least! Roman literally deserves the world, and even though she's everything to him and he just DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE THAN HER, her character was kind of boring! She did put up a nice fight with him and had a great deal of traumas because of abusive families. She was just.... pathetic. You would think that she'd finally have a character growth but nope she didn't! Roman saved her from the start, and he's still probably doing it right now because she couldn't! She now coped with everything, and she was selfless, but she never stood up to her bullies and looked for Roman to save her.
Her accusing him that he left her to die and abandoned her, and she had to face everything (the abuse from her family) really grated on my nerves. I was glad she was self-aware enough to know it was not his fault, but it was easier to pin blame on someone else. All she did was fend off his obsession, fight him, run away from him, but Towards the end, I actually loved how she acknowledged that Roman was the only person who's ever done something for her, always took care of her, saved her from things that hurt her, and took care of her needs. He was the only person there for her to make her days lighter, and that he also deserves someone to make his days better. She also apologized to him 🥺 and he being the cutie he is, reassured that he just needs her and nothing else. 💓 I would've been pissed if she didn't realize her mistakes sooner.
➤ She was actually right with everything being so suffocating and toxic. She was put in danger twice in a week because of him. He owed money and just thought BRATVA was HARMLESS. 🤡 He did everything to protect her and even apologized again and again and promised to make things right. He was afraid that she'd run away from him and when she actually did, he became unhinged and just drove the car above limits to find her. He was DESPERATE and just begged her to come with him.
I'm kinda worried about them 🥹 because how will they or their kids will survive when they'll get older because they're clearly enjoying their life now living in a caravan and doing commissions or random small jobs to earn. Have fake IDs and living their life, just the two of them! They're content with each other! I actually thought that they'd go to college and study and get richer, but nope.
I'm all for Damien and Connie's book! While nothing beats Roman's charm, Damien was literally a psychopath and giving big boy vibes 🥹 Connie was screaming FEMINIST thoroughly, and If the author writes a book about them! I'll kill for it! Rico's book ughhh he was aggravating but cool. 😭
i might've pissed Jennie by cheating on her 🤧 and finishing this book early but seriously THIS BOOK IS SO ADDICTING SHJSHS! I just couldn't stop reading it! 😭 BR ARE FRUSTRATING hehdhehe thankss J for tolerating my shit ✨🤡💕
I need a masked man — more specifically ROMAN RIVIERA — because he's so ridiculously unhinged that I'm in love with him. He's the BEST PART of this book. He's the hottest mmc ever. 🥵 If he asked me to bark, I'll definitely bark! I'll gladly do anything. BELLA DOESN'T DESERVE HIM. I DO. I devoured this book, It's the best dark romance book I've read this year. I haven't felt this addicted to a book this whole year. I'd devour anything by this author atp 😭
❝Scream if you want me to keep going. Tell me you love me if you want me to stop.❞
I'll gladly wake up with a sore throat, but the latter option isn't too bad either. 😭 fuck If I'm not down badly.
❝I’M SORRY, PRINCESS. I didn’t mean to wake you.❞
Imagine a book opening to this scene where he's murdering your foster family but immediately apologizes because he woke you up? YES, I'M OBVIOUSLY DOWN BADLY. 🧎♀️The author seriously messed with my head by adding the hottest fanart ever, him drenched in blood and sweat? Yup, MY DEATH.
TROPES:
Childhood friends to lovers (with being enemies for a little bit)
Captive/captor (not really)
Touch her, you die (Literally)
Mutual pining
Second Chance romance.
➤ Roman aka Mickey and Isabella met each other when they were 8-6 years old, on the first day of school! Isabella was getting bullied and went to sit near the corner where Roman was. He was hungry and judging Bella harshly when she gave half of her food to her toy MICKEY MOUSE. But then she shared her sandwich with him, and he took it reluctantly. The next day, he beat her bullies up, took their lunch, and shared half with her. It's then he realized he likes her smile and hates when she's in tears. THERE. THE OBSESSION BEGINS.
They're friends. THE BESTEST FRIENDS, and there was nothing sexual in the past POVs. I would've loved more past POVs, and Roman was just so down for Bella that he would've done anything for her. They didn't do anything, but he took responsibility for her as they both didn't have anyone to look after them. They both lived with abusive foster families their whole lives and were each other's light in the darkest days.
Roman — is the most dramatic character ever! His inner monologue made me laugh a lot, he was ridiculously and effortlessly funny. Thankgod he's literally just a BAD BOY and not a psychopath. He's aiming to be a sociopath tho. He literally just laughed, grinned, or smirked every time he would kill someone, and he was so unapologetic for everything. He's so pathetically smitten with Bella that he dedicated his whole life to her. He's so thoughtful and beyond perfect for her.
❝There are only two reasons I’m willing to accept why she’s happy to stay in my arms. Firstly, she loves me and never wants to leave me. Secondly, I fucked her so well that she, again, never wants to leave me. I’m not even going to entertain the possibility that it’s just because she’s tired.❞
He's so delusional but he prefers to call himself realist. Roman literally 24/7 thinking about Bella:
❝Maybe I could cuff us together so she can never leave my side (aka, she’ll have no choice but to shower with me). I’m a genius. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?❞
He's so nonchalant about everything and basically just grinned or hummed after every reckless thing. The way he'd give Joe Goldberg a run for his money when he chased the man following her and killed him 🥹💀
❝I do whatever you ask every day of the year. I don’t need an excuse for it.❞
✨ He beats her bullies on a daily basis, and if they even glance at her wrongly, they have a meeting with his fists.
✨ He carries her inhaler with him because she constantly forgets it.
✨ He murderously glares at her PIGTAILS because they annoy him with how unsymmetrical they are, but he still RE-DOes them.
✨ Reads books to her and gifted her wolfish smut book.
✨ He makes sure she's fed and buys her favorite snacks and learns to cook for her.
✨ He gifts her gifts related to Mickey Mouse because she loves it so much and the last gift by her mom was a mickey mouse toy.
✨ He gifts her different animal toys because her favorite animal changes every year.
✨ He picks her up to and from school every day and is her personal 'SEXY TAXI DRIVER'.
✨ Sets up a shag with fairy lights, cozy blankets, and a projector for her birthday.
✨ Has 'bella' tattooed above his heart.
✨ Has everything she ever liked tattooed on his skin so that she'll like him (barnhouse, her fav animals, the places she liked).
✨Took her to Disneyland because the last time she went was with her mom.
✨ Saved money while in prison for her if she decides to go to college.
✨ Bought a caravan just for both of them.
✨ Gifts her art supplies, stationery, and a locket with his name on it.
✨ he's not religious but would worship her.
✨ is a virgin for her.
I can literally write more and more because I'm damn sure I'm OBSESSED with him. He's so freaking gentle with her, I wanted to bawl my eyes out. 🥺
❝Just know that I haven’t left you, and I’ll be back to being your loyal bodyguard/ man- servant/ chef/ hair stylist/ guinea pig/ art supply dealer/ soulmate/ human heater/ sexy taxi driver in three years.❞
➤ NOW HE WASN'T A GOOD GUY. Not at all. He's so reckless and impulsive that he had to PAY for his actions. He got shot when he went to beat her bullies and eventually served 3 years in prison, and she thought that he abandoned her. He spent 3 years fantasizing in jail about her and drawing her sketches because he didn't want to forget her face (not that he could) and writing her letters even though she never received them.
I actually didn't mind him going to prison because seriously, his actions deserved consequences because he didn't take precautions and just went in for the kill. He's neither rich nor a mafia boss with connections to get out of everything. He was just a random boy with a god complex, but damn do I love the shit out of him. If he loves, he'll do anything to protect you, and he did protect Bella a lot! He's extremely possessive about her, and never once did he direct his rudeness towards her, but he'd beat the other person into a pulp.
• After his release, with careful planning, he annihilated her family, took Bella with him, and went to live in an abandoned house which he fixed with the help of GOOGLE 😂 He just randomly told her gruesome stories, his time in prison, the books he read while making jokes about them, and chased her in the forest with a MASK. 🥵
❝You forgot Mr. Mickey Mouse.❞ He holds up the doll my mother gave me and sticks his bottom lip out in a pout. ❝I can’t believe you were going to forget about me, Isabella,❞ he mimics Mickey Mouse.❞
➤ Now the killing scene:
When he killed her abusive foster father and that motherfucker foster brother who used to harass and assault her? I FELT SO GOOD. And that whole scene was so chaotic in his POV! 😭
❝I loom over him, just gazing at him as if I were God looking at his creations. Damn, he’s so ugly I almost feel bad for Millie. There’s no way I’d survive if I had to see his face on top of me or willingly pop out a baby with his genetics.❞
I died hahahsjsjs 😭 The way he was making fun of both of them again and again had me choking abhaha! It was too funny to read.
❝Then slap him in general, just for fun.❞
Hahahahahahaha before whipping the shit out of Greg 💀💀💀 he slapped him wbshhwhshs! I can imagine this scene, and it's hilarious wtf!
❝Fuck baby steps. Why isn’t she madly obsessed with me yet?❞ — Hsjshsjsh she was, but not as much as him.
I LAUGHED SO MUCH WHEN HE SHOUTED AT THE OLD WOMAN AT THE BUS STATION 😭 The way she told him that 'no wonder she (bella) left him.' hejzhshsw poor lady 😂💀
❝Tell me what buses left this morning.❞
She scowls and opens her mouth like she’s about to protest. ❝Tell me!❞ I roar.
She jolts in her chair but raises her chin. ❝Manners.❞
My lips peel back in a snarl. ❝Are you fucking kidding me?❞
The old woman looks at me defiantly in an almost grandmotherly way. ❝Boys who don’t mind their manners don’t get what they want.❞
❝Fucking tell me!❞ I snarl, slamming my hand on the counter.
She blinks at me, bored and waiting. For fuck’s sake.
❝Tell me what buses left this morning,❞ I grit out. ❝Please.❞
• Roman when a random blondie is touching him while he's kissing Bella 💀:
Bella — now she was okay but not as perfect as roman! Not in the least! Roman literally deserves the world, and even though she's everything to him and he just DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE THAN HER, her character was kind of boring! She did put up a nice fight with him and had a great deal of traumas because of abusive families. She was just.... pathetic. You would think that she'd finally have a character growth but nope she didn't! Roman saved her from the start, and he's still probably doing it right now because she couldn't! She now coped with everything, and she was selfless, but she never stood up to her bullies and looked for Roman to save her.
Her accusing him that he left her to die and abandoned her, and she had to face everything (the abuse from her family) really grated on my nerves. I was glad she was self-aware enough to know it was not his fault, but it was easier to pin blame on someone else. All she did was fend off his obsession, fight him, run away from him, but Towards the end, I actually loved how she acknowledged that Roman was the only person who's ever done something for her, always took care of her, saved her from things that hurt her, and took care of her needs. He was the only person there for her to make her days lighter, and that he also deserves someone to make his days better. She also apologized to him 🥺 and he being the cutie he is, reassured that he just needs her and nothing else. 💓 I would've been pissed if she didn't realize her mistakes sooner.
➤ She was actually right with everything being so suffocating and toxic. She was put in danger twice in a week because of him. He owed money and just thought BRATVA was HARMLESS. 🤡 He did everything to protect her and even apologized again and again and promised to make things right. He was afraid that she'd run away from him and when she actually did, he became unhinged and just drove the car above limits to find her. He was DESPERATE and just begged her to come with him.
I'm kinda worried about them 🥹 because how will they or their kids will survive when they'll get older because they're clearly enjoying their life now living in a caravan and doing commissions or random small jobs to earn. Have fake IDs and living their life, just the two of them! They're content with each other! I actually thought that they'd go to college and study and get richer, but nope.
I'm all for Damien and Connie's book! While nothing beats Roman's charm, Damien was literally a psychopath and giving big boy vibes 🥹 Connie was screaming FEMINIST thoroughly, and If the author writes a book about them! I'll kill for it! Rico's book ughhh he was aggravating but cool. 😭
i might've pissed Jennie by cheating on her 🤧 and finishing this book early but seriously THIS BOOK IS SO ADDICTING SHJSHS! I just couldn't stop reading it! 😭 BR ARE FRUSTRATING hehdhehe thankss J for tolerating my shit ✨🤡💕
December 19, 2023
"To all the self proclaimed good girls who want to be chased through the forest, then fucked by a masked man."
So this ended up being pretty average and kinda meh. Am disappointed cause the first half was so interesting and the second half just fell apart.
I liked Roman. He was an intriguing personality. I loved how much he loved Bella and how he would kill her for her. Bella on the other hand, she was okay-ish. She didn't really stand out and was overpowered by Roman a lot. I guess the author focused too much on creating a charming and sexy book boyfriend, and kind of overlooked the fmc altogether.
The plot execution was immensely weak and messy. I expected much more out of it but it was repetitive and told in a very bland manner too. There were things happening which made no sense in the actual moments at times. The flashbacks were adorable at first but got old soon.
"The easiest thing I've ever done is love her.
If I could do it all again, I would do it the exact same way.
I would pick her. Every time."
So this ended up being pretty average and kinda meh. Am disappointed cause the first half was so interesting and the second half just fell apart.
I liked Roman. He was an intriguing personality. I loved how much he loved Bella and how he would kill her for her. Bella on the other hand, she was okay-ish. She didn't really stand out and was overpowered by Roman a lot. I guess the author focused too much on creating a charming and sexy book boyfriend, and kind of overlooked the fmc altogether.
The plot execution was immensely weak and messy. I expected much more out of it but it was repetitive and told in a very bland manner too. There were things happening which made no sense in the actual moments at times. The flashbacks were adorable at first but got old soon.
"The easiest thing I've ever done is love her.
If I could do it all again, I would do it the exact same way.
I would pick her. Every time."
May 30, 2024
✨Roman plotting to kill anyone who touches or goes near Bella✨
While the premise of him killing her family as she slept sounded so messed up—I understood. This was dual pov/dual timeline. Childhood friends to lovers but make it dark romance (although it wasn't so dark imo).
“I'm her loyal servant, always have been, and always will be. She's my purpose, my home.”
The embodiment of touch her and you die would be Roman and you couldn’t speak or touch Bella without facing his wrath as more than once he acted on his deranged impulses. He’s unhinged, hot as hell, a softie for the one girl he’d kill for but I was not at all expecting to be met with him lowkey being a comedian?! this man had me giggling with his nonchalant demeanor and his inner monologue was ridiculously silly. Roman was so down bad and obsessed with being of service to Bella that it was impossible not to swoon and want the same princess treatment he was giving her. idk what Roman saw in her but he deserved way better
Bella I found her mostly childish in an annoying way and I understood why she acted how she did given the mistrust Roman unknowingly instilled in her from going MIA for sometime while dealing with her own struggles as is but it still irked me. Not to mention, the codependency that exists between them went crazy so it’s self explanatory. After some time I was waiting on her character development to happen and it didn’t until the last 10% when she suddenly became aware of her behavior and selfishness towards him. I practically skimmed the end with how insufferable she was
My issues with this: some of the dialogue was cringe at times but i ignored it as I was enjoying it, the third act towards the end which felt so unnecessary and the pacing keeping me hooked until it began to drag. Not to mention, the Mickey & Minnie nicknames and I kid you not was so repetitive (Mickey primarily). it was initially cute but annoying. This began as a fun time until I didn’t care anymore and believe this could’ve been shorter
Some quotes/scenes
“I want takeout with you at midnight. Sleep-ins and sleepless nights. I want you crying, and I want you smiling, no matter the reason for either of those two things. I just want you, Isabella, whether it's on an unmade bed or the forest floor. You're all I need."
“Look at me and tell me every single time you were hurt because I wasn’t there, and the people who will never hurt you again because I stepped in.”
“We never used to be able to high-five without one or both of us flinching, so when she hugged me for the very first time two years ago on my birthday, it was like I saw the light. Then, when she hugged me last year, I’m pretty sure I understood why people find religion.”
“My religion starts with "Isa" and ends with Bella," and I'd worship at her altar every night. Blessed be the meal I'm about to eat and all that.”
“Would you like me to refresh your memory on what a good girl you were for me?” Shit. This is just a recipe to make me harder. “You ran when I told you, moaned my name, begged me to fuck you, came on my—” “Okay, okay. I get your point,” she interrupts my list. I finish saying the rest in my head. 🫦 Roman riviera everyone
She stills when she does exactly what I sug-gested. "Aren't you tired?" she gasps.
"Spread your legs and find out." lol
-
I just realized this will be my 100th book so please don’t disappoint
-
It’s been awhile since I’ve read dark romance and now here I am all because I need to know how this girl forgives the mmc for killing her family? Plus the fan art 😮💨
December 28, 2024
★ . . . 2.5 stars !
January 7, 2024
2.5 stars
A modern day Bonnie and Clyde gone wrong.
It started okay, the flashback moments were kinda sweet, but then it lost direction? Roman was delusional. He might appear like the perfect morally grey hero, but to me he was just so delusional. The heroine was kinda insignificant? The book was all about the hero, she was a side character. The plot was nonexistent and all over the place at the same time. Like things were being made up while writing. I don’t know, I thought I could love this more, but I didn’t.
A modern day Bonnie and Clyde gone wrong.
It started okay, the flashback moments were kinda sweet, but then it lost direction? Roman was delusional. He might appear like the perfect morally grey hero, but to me he was just so delusional. The heroine was kinda insignificant? The book was all about the hero, she was a side character. The plot was nonexistent and all over the place at the same time. Like things were being made up while writing. I don’t know, I thought I could love this more, but I didn’t.
May 28, 2024
🎧✩˖°✨🌷 PRE-REVIEW ♡
HE– HE TATTOOED EVERYTHING SHE LIKED ON HIS SKIN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE 😭😭😭 IF HE WANTED TO HE WOULD
🐋🐚☾⋆⁺₊ PRE-READ ♡
Roman Riviera is giving me unhinged vibes and I'm here for it
HE– HE TATTOOED EVERYTHING SHE LIKED ON HIS SKIN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE 😭😭😭 IF HE WANTED TO HE WOULD
🐋🐚☾⋆⁺₊ PRE-READ ♡
Roman Riviera is giving me unhinged vibes and I'm here for it
April 19, 2024
No wonder the description says foster kids. Their parents probably fled from the amount of 'cringe' emanating out of their mouths.
December 2, 2023
4 Fuck Roman Riviera Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
There is "obsessive MMC" and then there is Roman Riviera. He is what you think of when you take the psychotic killer instinct from Natural Born Killers and merge him with a slightly concerning overly cute sweetheart...
This was the perfect book to cure my reading "funk", not exactly a slump as I was still managing to read; but everything I was picking up seemed to lack that draw and spark...something was missing and this book had it in droves! It managed to hook me from page one and make me obsessed to see the story of Bella and Mickey unfold.
Bella and Mickey (Or Isabella and Roman) have been friends since they were children, both growing up in the harshness of the foster system, Mickey becomes Bella's saviour, protecting her from bullies, beating up boys who are mean to her and being a general sweetheart by looking out for her needs above his own. It's adorable to see how the friendship of these two blossom into love. Until on Bella's 17th Birthday when she finally kisses Roman, he breaks her heart and disappears for 3 years without a word or trace. Flashforward to now, where Roman has come back for Bella and he isn't afraid to get blood on his hands, serving a deathly judgement to the Foster father and Brother who abused her for the three years he has been gone...and he isn't leaving without Bella in tow.
I really loved how this book was broken up between flashbacks of the past and present, it gave this side to the characters that was innocent, charming and loveable. The characterisation was done well as you could feel the mind-shift change from child to adult, but also see how their personalities were formed from the glimpses into their childhood, in the present scenes.
Bella was definitely my favourite character between the two. She's had a difficult life having to endure the harsh reality of being a girl growing up in the foster system as her mother died too soon and her father didn't want her. The trauma she experiences as she grows up is heartbreaking and sad and is a terrible reminder of the reality that some children really do grow up in an awful foster family that emotionally and physically abuses them. She has never felt safe alone, even in her own home and only finds that solace of safety when in the presence of Mickey. She does tend to be extremely emotional and I did sometimes get a little annoyed at her towards the end as it felt like she was always crying. But I know she's had a hard life so who could really blame her given all that she has gone through and goes through in this book? Let's just say if I were in her shoes I'd probably be a permanent puddle of snotty tears too.
Roman is an interesting character as he takes everything to the extreme. If he loves, he loves A LOT almost to the point of suffocating. If he's angry, God help you that it is not directed at you as he will see red and will most likely beat you to a pulp with his hands until you're dead. If he is sorry, he won't stop apologising and trying to make it right. Being in his head is like being on a constant thrill ride but you never come down. He is obsessive and possessive and probably the most extreme side of that spectrum I have ever seen. Almost to the point that is sickly sweet how much this man loves and adores Bella and will, in this twisted way do anything he can to care for and look out for her. A true epitome of "Touch her you die". His internal narrative is sometimes quite juvenile and naive but given his situation and how he grew up, it almost makes sense for why aspects would seem stunted. This was also in a complete juxtaposition for how much he cares about Bella at times being super mature in ensuring her wellbeing is looked after. I found him an intriguing character but I'd be scared shitless of him if I met him.
The relationship between the two of them has years and years of foundation and the craftsmanship that went into creating this was a pure work of art. The redemption and re-romance that happens when they are older is a whirlwind but exciting. Even though this feels like a weird movie and they might be boring and on the verge of serial killeresque behaviour (well at least Mickey) It was still sweet to see how they found each other again.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was exciting and sexy and gave me that thrill I needed, while still delivering really complex and well-formed characters. This is the second book from Avina St. Graves that I have read but I can say I truly love her writing style and love seeing what unique thing comes out of her head!
Basically...If you love the idea of a man chasing you barefoot through the woods and then punishing you with an orgasm, then this book is definitely for you!
The Summary of Tropes include:
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Dual POV
▶ Dual Timelines
▶ Possessive and Obsessive MMC who is so caring and thoughtful
▶ Stalker Romance
▶ Captive/Captor (kinda)
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ Touch her You die
▶ Bonny and Clyde Vibes
So many thanks to Avina St. Graves (Zian) for the gifted ARC!
All thoughts and feelings in this review are my own
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
There is "obsessive MMC" and then there is Roman Riviera. He is what you think of when you take the psychotic killer instinct from Natural Born Killers and merge him with a slightly concerning overly cute sweetheart...
This was the perfect book to cure my reading "funk", not exactly a slump as I was still managing to read; but everything I was picking up seemed to lack that draw and spark...something was missing and this book had it in droves! It managed to hook me from page one and make me obsessed to see the story of Bella and Mickey unfold.
Bella and Mickey (Or Isabella and Roman) have been friends since they were children, both growing up in the harshness of the foster system, Mickey becomes Bella's saviour, protecting her from bullies, beating up boys who are mean to her and being a general sweetheart by looking out for her needs above his own. It's adorable to see how the friendship of these two blossom into love. Until on Bella's 17th Birthday when she finally kisses Roman, he breaks her heart and disappears for 3 years without a word or trace. Flashforward to now, where Roman has come back for Bella and he isn't afraid to get blood on his hands, serving a deathly judgement to the Foster father and Brother who abused her for the three years he has been gone...and he isn't leaving without Bella in tow.
I really loved how this book was broken up between flashbacks of the past and present, it gave this side to the characters that was innocent, charming and loveable. The characterisation was done well as you could feel the mind-shift change from child to adult, but also see how their personalities were formed from the glimpses into their childhood, in the present scenes.
Bella was definitely my favourite character between the two. She's had a difficult life having to endure the harsh reality of being a girl growing up in the foster system as her mother died too soon and her father didn't want her. The trauma she experiences as she grows up is heartbreaking and sad and is a terrible reminder of the reality that some children really do grow up in an awful foster family that emotionally and physically abuses them. She has never felt safe alone, even in her own home and only finds that solace of safety when in the presence of Mickey. She does tend to be extremely emotional and I did sometimes get a little annoyed at her towards the end as it felt like she was always crying. But I know she's had a hard life so who could really blame her given all that she has gone through and goes through in this book? Let's just say if I were in her shoes I'd probably be a permanent puddle of snotty tears too.
Roman is an interesting character as he takes everything to the extreme. If he loves, he loves A LOT almost to the point of suffocating. If he's angry, God help you that it is not directed at you as he will see red and will most likely beat you to a pulp with his hands until you're dead. If he is sorry, he won't stop apologising and trying to make it right. Being in his head is like being on a constant thrill ride but you never come down. He is obsessive and possessive and probably the most extreme side of that spectrum I have ever seen. Almost to the point that is sickly sweet how much this man loves and adores Bella and will, in this twisted way do anything he can to care for and look out for her. A true epitome of "Touch her you die". His internal narrative is sometimes quite juvenile and naive but given his situation and how he grew up, it almost makes sense for why aspects would seem stunted. This was also in a complete juxtaposition for how much he cares about Bella at times being super mature in ensuring her wellbeing is looked after. I found him an intriguing character but I'd be scared shitless of him if I met him.
The relationship between the two of them has years and years of foundation and the craftsmanship that went into creating this was a pure work of art. The redemption and re-romance that happens when they are older is a whirlwind but exciting. Even though this feels like a weird movie and they might be boring and on the verge of serial killeresque behaviour (well at least Mickey) It was still sweet to see how they found each other again.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was exciting and sexy and gave me that thrill I needed, while still delivering really complex and well-formed characters. This is the second book from Avina St. Graves that I have read but I can say I truly love her writing style and love seeing what unique thing comes out of her head!
Basically...If you love the idea of a man chasing you barefoot through the woods and then punishing you with an orgasm, then this book is definitely for you!
The Summary of Tropes include:
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Dual POV
▶ Dual Timelines
▶ Possessive and Obsessive MMC who is so caring and thoughtful
▶ Stalker Romance
▶ Captive/Captor (kinda)
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ Touch her You die
▶ Bonny and Clyde Vibes
So many thanks to Avina St. Graves (Zian) for the gifted ARC!
All thoughts and feelings in this review are my own
November 17, 2023
Have I read this book yet? No.
Is it 5 stars? Yes.
**I read it, and can confirm 5 stars.
Two books in and I’m already obsessed with the little dark fairy goddess that is Avina St. Graves. She gives just the right amount of awwwwtf.
Roman Riviera. The complete and utter psychopath golden retriever I didn’t know I needed. This sweet, terrifying man would (and does) any and everything for his beloved, Isabella.
After a small mishap, our poor Roman disappears leaving Isabella not just heart broken but grief stricken. 3 years later her knight in shining armor (Mickey covered in her foster families blood) comes to save her.
And honestly Bella was uncool there for a little bit.
No worries, she comes to her senses. Not that she really had a choice. But I mean, come ON. Roman is basically the perfect man. She’s the crazy one.
*I know this hasn’t even came out yet, but I’m totally waiting for Damien’s book. Something’s up with him and the tiny aspiring demon and I want to know what it is.
Is it 5 stars? Yes.
**I read it, and can confirm 5 stars.
Two books in and I’m already obsessed with the little dark fairy goddess that is Avina St. Graves. She gives just the right amount of awwwwtf.
Roman Riviera. The complete and utter psychopath golden retriever I didn’t know I needed. This sweet, terrifying man would (and does) any and everything for his beloved, Isabella.
After a small mishap, our poor Roman disappears leaving Isabella not just heart broken but grief stricken. 3 years later her knight in shining armor (Mickey covered in her foster families blood) comes to save her.
And honestly Bella was uncool there for a little bit.
No worries, she comes to her senses. Not that she really had a choice. But I mean, come ON. Roman is basically the perfect man. She’s the crazy one.
*I know this hasn’t even came out yet, but I’m totally waiting for Damien’s book. Something’s up with him and the tiny aspiring demon and I want to know what it is.
November 29, 2023
Skin of a Sinner is a dark second-chance romance featuring childhood friends to lovers and lots of fun stuff including kidnapping, stalking, somnophilia, and dubcon. The story follows Roman and Isabella who grew up in foster care together and were absolutely inseparable. When Roman disappears for 3 years and turns up out of nowhere to bring Isabella with him and away from her miserable life; things do not go as planned when she wants nothing to do with him after he abandoned her. With no other choice, Roman decides to take matters into his own hands and forcibly takes Isabella away to live out the rest of their lives together.
I am but a simple girl, give me an obsessed man who will worship the ground you walk on but treat you like filth in the bedroom and I'm happy. While there are quite a few dark scenes, the story and romance between Roman and Isabella is perfectly balanced! Roman himself was absolutely dark and depraved, and Isabella was sweet and light; the two worked so well together. I loved how Roman is completely obsessed and wants for nothing in life but Isabella. The way one minute he would be feral and the next he would be so soft for her was so cute. The two had a romance spanning years and I loved how the dual POV and time jumps helped me put together their relationship and history.
~Many thanks to Avina St. Graves and The Nerd Fam for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love a deranged man! RTC.
I am but a simple girl, give me an obsessed man who will worship the ground you walk on but treat you like filth in the bedroom and I'm happy. While there are quite a few dark scenes, the story and romance between Roman and Isabella is perfectly balanced! Roman himself was absolutely dark and depraved, and Isabella was sweet and light; the two worked so well together. I loved how Roman is completely obsessed and wants for nothing in life but Isabella. The way one minute he would be feral and the next he would be so soft for her was so cute. The two had a romance spanning years and I loved how the dual POV and time jumps helped me put together their relationship and history.
~Many thanks to Avina St. Graves and The Nerd Fam for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love a deranged man! RTC.
December 18, 2023
Oh, shut up Bella! Why you gotta be so annoying?
And Roman, man do your shoulders hurt from carrying the whole book?
And Roman, man do your shoulders hurt from carrying the whole book?
Read
July 25, 2024dnf
BYEEEEE ALMOST 3 MONTHS LATER WE STOPPED BEING A CLOWN AND DECIDED TO DNF🤡🤡 bye roman we will never know how unhinged you exactly are😔💔
~~~
i said let’s read something trashy and obviously my precious Hoda said yes 🤭 we’re ready for something unhinged 🤝🏼😮💨
ps we haven’t read a single page because we’re constantly yapping and gossiping 🤪
BYEEEEE ALMOST 3 MONTHS LATER WE STOPPED BEING A CLOWN AND DECIDED TO DNF🤡🤡 bye roman we will never know how unhinged you exactly are😔💔
~~~
i said let’s read something trashy and obviously my precious Hoda said yes 🤭 we’re ready for something unhinged 🤝🏼😮💨
ps we haven’t read a single page because we’re constantly yapping and gossiping 🤪
May 5, 2024
3.50!
Roman 🛐.🛐.🛐.🛐. that man really wore a mask told his best friend to run threw a forest at night and if he caught her he'd fuck her yeah🛐.🛐.🛐.🛐. ISTG something is wrong with us or just the people who read dark romance because i shared a quote from this book to one of my friends who does not read dark romance and he said "WHAT ARE YOU READING?? THATS NOT ROMANCE ITS TOXICITY." and i sent the same quote to my other friend who read dark romance books who in turn replied "THATS WHAT I CALL ROMANCE". im not gonna go into much detail about isabella because she was there yes but ROMAN carried that book but truth be told idk how isabella didnt bolt the minute she got roman distracted.. man literally murdered her family..yes who was absuive but still...
the romance was pretty nice for a dark romance. it was overall a very enjoyable story that id recommend to people who are okay with reading books with dark themes, vibes and a twisted romance.
___
Hes a 10 and he also brutally murders her entire abusive family!
+
He apologizes for disturbing her sleep amidst brutally murdering her family 🫡
Roman 🛐.🛐.🛐.🛐. that man really wore a mask told his best friend to run threw a forest at night and if he caught her he'd fuck her yeah🛐.🛐.🛐.🛐. ISTG something is wrong with us or just the people who read dark romance because i shared a quote from this book to one of my friends who does not read dark romance and he said "WHAT ARE YOU READING?? THATS NOT ROMANCE ITS TOXICITY." and i sent the same quote to my other friend who read dark romance books who in turn replied "THATS WHAT I CALL ROMANCE". im not gonna go into much detail about isabella because she was there yes but ROMAN carried that book but truth be told idk how isabella didnt bolt the minute she got roman distracted.. man literally murdered her family..yes who was absuive but still...
the romance was pretty nice for a dark romance. it was overall a very enjoyable story that id recommend to people who are okay with reading books with dark themes, vibes and a twisted romance.
___
Hes a 10 and he also brutally murders her entire abusive family!
+
He apologizes for disturbing her sleep amidst brutally murdering her family 🫡
January 24, 2024
woman who continues to trust booktok and bookstagram is shocked the books she reads are shit (it's me. i'm the woman)
February 21, 2024
2.5/5 ⭐
3/5 🔥
My religion starts with “Isa” and ends with “Bella,” and I’d worship at her altar every night. Blessed be the meal I’m about to eat and all that.
Did I enjoy this? yes
But, like, was it good? NO..?
This was addicting until the second part of the book. I see why people like Roman; I GET it, really but then he was so like all those other dark boyfriends, nothing about him stood out to me, he kills her abusive family I love that, SM. I love how much he loves Bella and the things he would do for her. That was the best freaking thing. Even when they were young, I adored how cutely protective he was. (is that even a thing?).
Her smile is bright enough to stop the sun, and with it, maybe even my plans of escaping this place
Bella was so dumb, bland, and annoying. I think the author took him as her focus in this book nothing else, no plot, or other characters at all. I was kind of expecting the character development of Bella, which never happened, so there is nothing to like about her except that when she was young, I loved her so much.
The best thing in his book were the past memories which I devoured so fast. They were so cute and attached that it made me want to jump off a building.
The main problem was the lack of depth in this book. There was no plot, and no side characters; the writing was also sloppy, and the dialogues were sometimes cringeworthy.
Overall, this was enjoyable i finished it fast; the pacing is what kept me going. If you want a quick dark romance read with almost no attachments, this is a perfect pick for you<3
QUOTES=
“I can’t live with you. I can’t share a bedroom with you. I can’t—"
“Why not?” he asks, lining up another chunk of wood.
“We’re just—" The ax comes down, splitting the trunk in two, then his searing eyes snap up to mine.
“Call us friends. I dare you.”
"We all have demons. He happens to be mine."
------
Spoiler alert: he did not become my Roman Empire. 😪
Roman Rivera better become my Roman Empire 🗡️
3/5 🔥
My religion starts with “Isa” and ends with “Bella,” and I’d worship at her altar every night. Blessed be the meal I’m about to eat and all that.
Did I enjoy this? yes
But, like, was it good? NO..?
This was addicting until the second part of the book. I see why people like Roman; I GET it, really but then he was so like all those other dark boyfriends, nothing about him stood out to me, he kills her abusive family I love that, SM. I love how much he loves Bella and the things he would do for her. That was the best freaking thing. Even when they were young, I adored how cutely protective he was. (is that even a thing?).
Her smile is bright enough to stop the sun, and with it, maybe even my plans of escaping this place
Bella was so dumb, bland, and annoying. I think the author took him as her focus in this book nothing else, no plot, or other characters at all. I was kind of expecting the character development of Bella, which never happened, so there is nothing to like about her except that when she was young, I loved her so much.
The best thing in his book were the past memories which I devoured so fast. They were so cute and attached that it made me want to jump off a building.
The main problem was the lack of depth in this book. There was no plot, and no side characters; the writing was also sloppy, and the dialogues were sometimes cringeworthy.
Overall, this was enjoyable i finished it fast; the pacing is what kept me going. If you want a quick dark romance read with almost no attachments, this is a perfect pick for you<3
QUOTES=
“I can’t live with you. I can’t share a bedroom with you. I can’t—"
“Why not?” he asks, lining up another chunk of wood.
“We’re just—" The ax comes down, splitting the trunk in two, then his searing eyes snap up to mine.
“Call us friends. I dare you.”
"We all have demons. He happens to be mine."
------
Spoiler alert: he did not become my Roman Empire. 😪
Roman Rivera better become my Roman Empire 🗡️
December 21, 2023
I don't know where all the good dark romance authors have fucked off to, cuz dark romance isn't hitting the way it used to
December 26, 2023
roman riveria is so dreamlike 🥰
the author's note is questionable but i'm not complaining 👀
the author's note is questionable but i'm not complaining 👀
is the love interest a problematic, obsessive, walking red flag that belongs in prison? yes.
would he chase you through the woods, blow your back out and tell you to take it like a good girl? also yes.
December 22, 2023
I'm not a fan. Why? Because Isabella is a FMC that should die.
Bella (waste of space, foster kid) makes friends with outcast, Roman (foster kid, anti-hero with anger issues), when they're just 8yo and attending the same school. He can't stand her at first because he thinks she's weird. They become the bestest of friends and Roman is always protecting her and beating anyone that hurts her. Their feelings eventually turn from friendship to crushes to love. When she's about to turn 18 and he's ready to finally make her his, he gets arrested and sent to prison for three years after he beat up two guys that were bullying Bella. Oh - he also gets shot during that arrest. Bella assumes he just left her, despite them being so close for the past ten years. She decides she hates him and never wants to see him again because he abandoned her and there's just no way he would disappear without contacting her unless he wanted to. She decides this despite the fact that she herself had disappeared for an ENTIRE YEAR and was unable to contact Roman. She left him without a trace. So she did the same thing, but now she hates Roman for it??? Fuck her.
Plus, she's got the unappreciative foster brother, Jeremy, she wants to protect. Her foster family is abusive and she stays with them even though she's now 21yo. It's implied several times that she was sexually abused by her older foster brother, but then she's somehow still a virgin?
She also calls Roman a monster when he kills the foster parents who abused her because that's the only home she's ever had and doesn't want things to change.
Man I hate this girl. I quit at 50%. I couldn't handle it anymore. She's just awful. Poor Roman for loving this awful girl.
Bella (waste of space, foster kid) makes friends with outcast, Roman (foster kid, anti-hero with anger issues), when they're just 8yo and attending the same school. He can't stand her at first because he thinks she's weird. They become the bestest of friends and Roman is always protecting her and beating anyone that hurts her. Their feelings eventually turn from friendship to crushes to love. When she's about to turn 18 and he's ready to finally make her his, he gets arrested and sent to prison for three years after he beat up two guys that were bullying Bella. Oh - he also gets shot during that arrest. Bella assumes he just left her, despite them being so close for the past ten years. She decides she hates him and never wants to see him again because he abandoned her and there's just no way he would disappear without contacting her unless he wanted to. She decides this despite the fact that she herself had disappeared for an ENTIRE YEAR and was unable to contact Roman. She left him without a trace. So she did the same thing, but now she hates Roman for it??? Fuck her.
Plus, she's got the unappreciative foster brother, Jeremy, she wants to protect. Her foster family is abusive and she stays with them even though she's now 21yo. It's implied several times that she was sexually abused by her older foster brother, but then she's somehow still a virgin?
She also calls Roman a monster when he kills the foster parents who abused her because that's the only home she's ever had and doesn't want things to change.
Man I hate this girl. I quit at 50%. I couldn't handle it anymore. She's just awful. Poor Roman for loving this awful girl.
January 16, 2024
We need to stop letting Disney adults write dark romance books.
February 9, 2025
I love a book with a bloody beginning, but overall this storyline was too long and messy for no reason. It didn’t live up to the hype and after that explosive start, I was expecting so much more.
I’ve stumbled into my dark romance era, so I was eager to read this one. As mentioned, the first chapter was 5 stars. I’m a fan of revenge and retribution so seeing karma in full effect was great !! I am also a fan of the ‘touch her and die’ hero, so his level of delusion and obsession worked for me.
However, if you took out the first couple of chapters, I could only describe it as ‘meh’. The story flips between the characters as young children/ teenagers and the present. I’m assuming to establish the character's relationship and how it was built over time. I found the past paragraphs boring and they dragged for far longer than needed. The past was important to touch on, but it could have been shortened.
I’m also not the biggest fan of multiple POVs describing the same situation. E.g. A situation was told in the first chapter by the FMC and then later in a past chapter by the MMC. It might just be me, but I don’t need multiple perspectives describing the same thing. Yes, the inner monologues are different, but I can guess how you felt. It was like watching a movie and then rewatching it.
After the 50% mark, I left the book for 2 days because it felt like a chore to continue it. I did start reading it again, but I wasn’t rooting for the character. There wasn’t a palpable sexual tension and despite their shared history, they didn’t seem right for each other.
I mean the FMC was in a constant state of denial (that irked me) and kept hating the MMC based on principle, not on fact. It felt unreasonable and made it hard to relate to her.
I made it up to 53%, so I will give it 3 stars (rounded from 2.5) as I went over the 50% mark (barely).
I’ve stumbled into my dark romance era, so I was eager to read this one. As mentioned, the first chapter was 5 stars. I’m a fan of revenge and retribution so seeing karma in full effect was great !! I am also a fan of the ‘touch her and die’ hero, so his level of delusion and obsession worked for me.
However, if you took out the first couple of chapters, I could only describe it as ‘meh’. The story flips between the characters as young children/ teenagers and the present. I’m assuming to establish the character's relationship and how it was built over time. I found the past paragraphs boring and they dragged for far longer than needed. The past was important to touch on, but it could have been shortened.
I’m also not the biggest fan of multiple POVs describing the same situation. E.g. A situation was told in the first chapter by the FMC and then later in a past chapter by the MMC. It might just be me, but I don’t need multiple perspectives describing the same thing. Yes, the inner monologues are different, but I can guess how you felt. It was like watching a movie and then rewatching it.
After the 50% mark, I left the book for 2 days because it felt like a chore to continue it. I did start reading it again, but I wasn’t rooting for the character. There wasn’t a palpable sexual tension and despite their shared history, they didn’t seem right for each other.
I mean the FMC was in a constant state of denial (that irked me) and kept hating the MMC based on principle, not on fact. It felt unreasonable and made it hard to relate to her.
I made it up to 53%, so I will give it 3 stars (rounded from 2.5) as I went over the 50% mark (barely).
September 21, 2023
know i’m gonna eat this book up
January 28, 2024
Un Dark childhood bestfriends to lovers. Non mi riconosco nemmeno più. 3,75/5
I protagonisti sono entrambi orfani e passano da una famiglia affidataria all’altra in una comunità estremamente malfamata. Si conoscono a scuola quando lui, 8 anni, vede lei, 6 anni, stretta ad un peluche mentre viene presa di mira da due ragazzi più grandi. Non interviene, ma il giorno dopo, durante l’ennesima pausa pranzo senza niente da mangiare, la bambina si avvicina e gli offre metà del suo panino raffermo.
Scopre che anche lei è vittima di abusi simili ai suoi.
Roman Riviera non è un sottone. È il comandante dell’esercito di coloro che esprimono amore attraverso l’act of service.
Roman capisce che l’unico momento della giornata che non vede l’ora di vivere è quello in cui riesce a vedere Bella e da allora dedica la sua vita a proteggerla perché lei è l’unica persona che non lo vede come un “bambino problematico che ricerca attenzioni” quando denuncia ciò che succede a casa. A 15 sa che lei sarà la donna della sua vita e a 19 non la sfiora perché vuole aspettare che sia maggiorenne.
Roman fa lavori di dubbia moralità per assicurarsi che Bella abbia un inalatore sempre in borsa, impara a fare le trecce quando vede che le sue sono storte perché a casa nessuno si preoccupa di pettinarla, la passa a prendere tutte le mattine e controlla che il suo pranzo non consista solo in un cracker, a differenza del suo.
Roman rischia di morire e l’unica cosa che lo manda in panico è l’idea che lei rimanga da sola, che potrebbe dimenticare di prendere le sue medicine, che non potrà mai portarla a fare il viaggio dei suoi sogni e che non potrà vederla diventare madre.
Roman è psicopatico e risolve i problemi come vuole lui.
Le scene in cui viene spiegata la negligenza parentale mi hanno distrutta.
Gli abusi mi hanno spezzato il cuore. «You’ll never go back in a box, Mickey»… SOS 118
Le scene in cui vengono “risolti i problemi” sono surreali e la scrittura a volte risulta troppo grezza.
I trigger warning sono TANTI e vanno letti tutti. Nonostante le cose dette sopra, non c’è dubbio che sia Dark.
Spezzati, ma non fragili.
La protagonista è estremamente traumatizzata ed è molto più sensibile, ma anche lei può vantare una moralità tutta sua. Non compie nulla direttamente, ma è consapevole di cosa comporta dire a Roman che qualcuno l’ha importunata.
La loro è un’ossessione reciproca data da un vissuto comune, e per quanto non possa essere giustificata, mi sento di dire che è comprensibile.
Il primo libro Dark che scelgo di leggere e mi è piaciuto parecchio. La componente romance è preponderante e, se amate il dark non sdolcinato, questo non è il libro per voi.
Per i/le primogenit3 che hanno portato sulle spalle responsabilità e che oggi, da adult3, sognano di essere quell3 coccolat3 e accudit3, questo invece è decisamente per voi.
Ps: le lettere OMFG
I protagonisti sono entrambi orfani e passano da una famiglia affidataria all’altra in una comunità estremamente malfamata. Si conoscono a scuola quando lui, 8 anni, vede lei, 6 anni, stretta ad un peluche mentre viene presa di mira da due ragazzi più grandi. Non interviene, ma il giorno dopo, durante l’ennesima pausa pranzo senza niente da mangiare, la bambina si avvicina e gli offre metà del suo panino raffermo.
Scopre che anche lei è vittima di abusi simili ai suoi.
Roman Riviera non è un sottone. È il comandante dell’esercito di coloro che esprimono amore attraverso l’act of service.
Roman capisce che l’unico momento della giornata che non vede l’ora di vivere è quello in cui riesce a vedere Bella e da allora dedica la sua vita a proteggerla perché lei è l’unica persona che non lo vede come un “bambino problematico che ricerca attenzioni” quando denuncia ciò che succede a casa. A 15 sa che lei sarà la donna della sua vita e a 19 non la sfiora perché vuole aspettare che sia maggiorenne.
Roman fa lavori di dubbia moralità per assicurarsi che Bella abbia un inalatore sempre in borsa, impara a fare le trecce quando vede che le sue sono storte perché a casa nessuno si preoccupa di pettinarla, la passa a prendere tutte le mattine e controlla che il suo pranzo non consista solo in un cracker, a differenza del suo.
Roman rischia di morire e l’unica cosa che lo manda in panico è l’idea che lei rimanga da sola, che potrebbe dimenticare di prendere le sue medicine, che non potrà mai portarla a fare il viaggio dei suoi sogni e che non potrà vederla diventare madre.
Roman è psicopatico e risolve i problemi come vuole lui.
Le scene in cui viene spiegata la negligenza parentale mi hanno distrutta.
Gli abusi mi hanno spezzato il cuore. «You’ll never go back in a box, Mickey»… SOS 118
Le scene in cui vengono “risolti i problemi” sono surreali e la scrittura a volte risulta troppo grezza.
I trigger warning sono TANTI e vanno letti tutti. Nonostante le cose dette sopra, non c’è dubbio che sia Dark.
Spezzati, ma non fragili.
La protagonista è estremamente traumatizzata ed è molto più sensibile, ma anche lei può vantare una moralità tutta sua. Non compie nulla direttamente, ma è consapevole di cosa comporta dire a Roman che qualcuno l’ha importunata.
La loro è un’ossessione reciproca data da un vissuto comune, e per quanto non possa essere giustificata, mi sento di dire che è comprensibile.
Il primo libro Dark che scelgo di leggere e mi è piaciuto parecchio. La componente romance è preponderante e, se amate il dark non sdolcinato, questo non è il libro per voi.
Per i/le primogenit3 che hanno portato sulle spalle responsabilità e che oggi, da adult3, sognano di essere quell3 coccolat3 e accudit3, questo invece è decisamente per voi.
Ps: le lettere OMFG
December 19, 2023
2.5 stars🖕🏻🙏🏽
wannabe bella whiny poarch👶 x sexy psycho🫦 was not a good combo3
wannabe bella whiny poarch👶 x sexy psycho🫦 was not a good combo3
December 26, 2023
3 😱🐭😱⭐️s❗️
Roman/Mickey/Ares
An astonishingly deranged character who had my full enthralment.
Limits were an unknown concept to him. He would do more than everything for Bella, the one and only love of his life!
While Roman was the shining star in this story, Bella stayed in the backstage. I did not find either her personality or her behaviour to be fascinating.
Their journey wasn’t easy. Whether apart or together.
Overall, the whole story needed a lot more work (plot wise) and after a point it was dragging and left me indifferent. I finished it though!! 😉
Roman/Mickey/Ares
An astonishingly deranged character who had my full enthralment.
Limits were an unknown concept to him. He would do more than everything for Bella, the one and only love of his life!
While Roman was the shining star in this story, Bella stayed in the backstage. I did not find either her personality or her behaviour to be fascinating.
Their journey wasn’t easy. Whether apart or together.
Overall, the whole story needed a lot more work (plot wise) and after a point it was dragging and left me indifferent. I finished it though!! 😉
August 30, 2024
dear isabella, there are approximately 1,010,300 words in english language, but i could never string enough words together to properly express how much i want to hit you with a chair.
December 16, 2023
dnf @ 64% because ew
It’s like straight out of Wattpad—though I’ve read books on there better than whatever this is—and just so, so cringey. No plot, no pacing, shitty characters, and mediocre writing at best.
Exhibit one:
Self-obsessed much? Roman’s inner dialogue is like watching a ten-year-old trying to fit the world’s pieces just how he likes them, only this guy’s 20-something and a raging narcissist with an unhealthy god complex.
Also, where’s the Oxford comma, and what’s with the alliteration?
Exhibit two:
I’M SORRY?!?! Somebody knock some sense into him. Not me, though, I don’t want to come near this man with a ten-foot pole. Did I mention he masturbated with her used panties next to her while she was sleeping? Yeah.
Exhibit three:
You guess? Wow, self-aware king here, ladies and gentlemen.
Mind you, this is said over the span of two pages. Two pages. Feel free to envision the first 60%. Or don’t—that’s probably the smartest choice.
It’s like straight out of Wattpad—though I’ve read books on there better than whatever this is—and just so, so cringey. No plot, no pacing, shitty characters, and mediocre writing at best.
Exhibit one:
“Bella looks exhausted, flushed and freshly fucked. I bet I look like a god right now.”
Self-obsessed much? Roman’s inner dialogue is like watching a ten-year-old trying to fit the world’s pieces just how he likes them, only this guy’s 20-something and a raging narcissist with an unhealthy god complex.
Also, where’s the Oxford comma, and what’s with the alliteration?
Exhibit two:
“There are only two reasons I’m willing to accept why she’s happy to stay in my arms. Firstly, she loves me and never wants to leave me. Secondly, I fucked her so well that she, again, never wants to leave me. I’m not even going to entertain the possibility that it’s just because she’s tired.”
I’M SORRY?!?! Somebody knock some sense into him. Not me, though, I don’t want to come near this man with a ten-foot pole. Did I mention he masturbated with her used panties next to her while she was sleeping? Yeah.
Exhibit three:
“She’s still a bit sensitive about the whole murder and kidnapping thing, which makes sense, I guess.”
You guess? Wow, self-aware king here, ladies and gentlemen.
Mind you, this is said over the span of two pages. Two pages. Feel free to envision the first 60%. Or don’t—that’s probably the smartest choice.
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