Crushed by Love

by Nina Verona

I’m not his Juliet. Ethan’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. He’s also the meanest.As the new housekeeper for the King family’s beach estate, I’m here to work while Ethan and his brother enjoy a final summer of debauchery after graduate school.Reckless and arrogant, they’re everything I’m not, and I grow to hate them both. But hate’s a heartbeat away from passion, and the heat between me and Ethan is as unpredictable as the coming storm.

Crushed by Love is the first in the Devious Delights series of contemporary romance standalones inspired by William Shakespeare's timeless tragedies. One-click today! Please A partial/early version of this book was previously published on Kindle Vella.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Spicy

474 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2024

Reviews

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read about Cooper and Sybil's story so bad in book 2!!

What a really fun stand a lone! I've been off of social media more in the past week, and I've been reading so much more. This book totally kept my attention! I spent the majority of my evening/night yesterday reading this book and just finished today!

Romeo and juliet retelling! There are very few authors who can pull off bullyish style romances for me, and this book had me hooked! I loathed the MMC and then fell hard for him!!

I'd highly recommend for a fun summer read because this book gives off great summer vibes!!

[Rebecca Wooden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book!! I was flattered to be chosen to read this ARC and I’m so glad I did it. This book made me feel so many things. I loved the FMC’s inner dialogue and how in-depth you got explore her mind.. I hated the MMC… then I loved him beyond belief😂 his part in the book is *chefs kiss*. There’s so many components to this story.. I made so many guesses while I was reading as to what was going to happen.. I was wrong 😂 I did NOT see the plot twists coming. I feel like I really got to know Arden and connect with her throughout the book. I fell in love with Ethan. The ending was a shock.. but in the most beautiful way. Absolutely recommend this book!!!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can think to say is wow!! Absolutely loved this book!! I was hooked at the end of chapter one and I couldn’t tell you the last time that happened. This book was full of so many twists and turns. I adored the play on Romeo and Juliet and the way it played into the plot. I stayed up until 5am to binge the first half of this book because it’s simply that addictive. Highly, highly recommend!!

[caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Actually, I saw you in the pool earlier that day,” I confess. “That was the first time for me. The beach was the second.
“Such a fucking shame I didn’t see you then too because I’d die for one more memory of you.”

Such a good read! I was a little confused as to why Ethan acted the way he did despite liking Arden but he more than made up for it in the end. The way he treated her and supported her and always chose her was swoon worthy. And when he forgave her just like that after she came out to Nantucket… I was a goner. Literally obsessed. This was so cute! The added drama and spin on Romeo and Juliet made this even more entertaining.

[ryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina the two years you spent with these character really pulled off and you did a spectacular job at writing this book. 👏👏👏This book made me not want to put it down. I fell in love with the characters, cried with them and smiled with them. Throughout the book you really do feel Arden’s emotions with her.
It had plot twists that made me dive into the book even more than I already had. The Romeo and Juliet retelling of this book was beautiful and engaging. Everything clicked by the end of the book, that makes you feel even more connected to these characters.
Arden and Ethan’s relationship had me smiling and kicking my feet. Their love for each other really is all-consuming.

[Nichole Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannot wait for book 2 to read about Cooper and Sybil, and to hopefully hear updates about Arden and Ethen's stories.

I enjoyed this book and could not put it down. There were a lot of comparisons to Romeo & Juliet, but I don't know if I'd say it was a retelling. Arden and Ethen cannot stay apart no matter how hard they try. It starts as lust, a way to get over someone else, a way to be wanted. Ethen even tries to put her need for a family over the need and want of being with her. But, as the book progresses they know that they belong together no matter how hard they try to fight it.

Arden's life is so different from Ethen's, that its hard to trust certain acts or things people say. Being bounced around foster homes and group homes, having no family, no one to care, and having to do everything on her own for herself, she's full of anxiety and the want to belong. She has nothing and no one. And as much as she tries not to, she gravitates towards Ethen. He seems hard and cold, yet also always seems to be there when she needs it.

Ethen and Cooper start as bullies but I'm not sure if I'd fully call them that. That have moments where they act bullish but they do not do anything to actually hurt Arden. And at times they seem like they care. They act friendly from time to time, try to include her in things, save her/take care of her, watch over her.

Ethen's father and the Uncle she meets near the middle of the book are so manipulative to her. They think that she's weak and easy to control, but she pushes them, or at least tries to. She tries to stand her ground with her employers, the King's friends/family, her own family when she finds out she has one. And she wants a family so much, to belong, that she's willing to push away someone she loves because she thinks she has to.

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not his Juliet.

Ethan’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. He’s also the meanest.



As the new housekeeper for the King family’s beach estate, I’m here to work while Ethan and his brother enjoy a final summer of debauchery after graduate school.



Reckless and arrogant, they’re everything I’m not, and I grow to hate them both. But hate’s a heartbeat away from passion, and the heat between me and Ethan is as unpredictable as the coming storm.

“Crushed” is Nina’s debut novel and I loved it - could not put it down. I love the way that it has been written, a contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare - a timeless tragedy, plus the expected feuding families! The story is full of various twists - love, hate, passion, heat 🔥🔥, drama, fun and of course, tragedy 😊 You cannot help but fall in love with Ethan and Arden, as well as his “manwhore” brother, Connor.

This story will make you cry, it will make you laugh and most of all, believe in love at first sight with a few speed bumps along the way. I was totally engrossed from the start and could not put it down! I cannot wait for the next book in the series “Collateral Damage” - Connor and Sybil’s story.

A thoroughly enjoyable read from one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. You will fall in love with Ethan and Arden, hoping that everything with work out for them and they have a future together. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

476 pages… essentially starts as an orphan ages out and has a summer to work before heading off to college on a scholarship. She gets hired as a housekeeper for a rich family. The rich family is stereotyped billionaire father, 2nd wife, and adult twin sons.

The tropes listed below kind of lay out the storyline so don’t read past this paragraph if you want to go in blind. Also I did enjoy this book. There’s a bit of redundancy in the self doubt and anxiety of the main character. As someone who struggles with anxiety I get how all consuming it can be but as stated, it was a bit redundant. I started off with 5 stars, but in truth after sitting with the finished book for a few hours before writing this I changed it to 4 stars. I would recommend this to friends, especially anyone that appreciates the Romeo/Juliet, star crossed lovers, pulled apart/drawn together romance novels. Definitely has some spice, I give it 🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, rich/poor, secrets come to light, definitely a retelling of Romeo & Juliet, found family, chosen family, love/hate/love/“hate”/love, toxic family dynamics.

I’ll add that the foreshadowing for the next book definitely has me anxiously waiting for December. I thought we’d get something of substance in this book to set up for the next but nothing tangible… at least not until reading the pre-order blurb. So there’s more secrets to unfold in the next.

[Cheree Duhon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crushed by Love by Nina Verona is one of my very first bully romance reads and I have to say that I am not disappointed!!! This is the first book in a series of standalones from the Devious Delights series. 🥵

Arden (FMC) coming from foster families and having no living relatives takes a job as a live in housekeeper for the Kings family at their summer home in Nantucket to make enough money to travel to Boston and begin a new life in college. When hired by Mallory, the Mrs. of the home, she has very specific instructions to stay away from the twins. But does she?

The King twins are vacationing at the summer home in Nantucket to get any wildness out before starting their lives in Manhattan by taking over the family business. These boys are not tame to say the least and they have Arden in their sights. 👀

Tropes:
- Bully romance
- Billionaire
- Forced Proximity
- Forbidden Love
- Plot twists ( ALL OVER THE PLACE… you’ll never see it coming..)
- Thriller / Action aspects
- Enemies to Lovers? (Swoonnnnnn)
- Slow burnnnnnn 🔥🔥🔥

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5 ( SO GOOD YALL)

Romeo and Juliet Retelling…. Are you kidding🫠😍


I cannot tell you how good this book was… yall are gonna have to read it for yourself!!! Can’t wait for the second book!!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Romeo and Juliet then this is the perfect story for you. Our sweet girl never felt any real love, felt so lost and alone. Did what she could just to survive the wicked world and living with anxiety and abandonment.

18 years of age time to become her own person, first step, taking a job as an housekeep for a very wealthy and snobby family. Falling instantly for that families arrgant but drop dead gorgeous son, who happened to have an equally hot playboy twin brother.

Well welcome to adulthood 'juliet'. Pulled into a family fued, jealous women and boat load of emotional baggage. The two lovers fight with one another, breaking eachothers hearts over and over again. All for the sake of their families.

This was sweet, super spicy and emotional as hell as we watch their love unfold and battle for their happily ever after.

I fell in love with this story and the powerful and relatable characters.

[Nicky Grewal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't bad and I totally see what the author was trying to do with the Romeo and Juliet vibes. There are some really good moments in this book that I loved, but I found the FMC to be annoying at times and the MMC says and does questionable things in the beginning that are hard to forget. The FMC is younger and obviously going through a lot tho, you appreciate her character arc and can see how she is just naive but growing. But the MMC is mid to late 20's, his initial brooding and asshole act is honestly really deranged. He does super sweet things as his character progresses but I wasn't able to really get over his initial character. I'm not sure if I'm the only one but I found the ending to be rushed, her grand gesture seems to be cut short with a really quick convo and I would've loved to see a bit more detail.

I also found a few details were just randomly thrown in without real context. For example, it's randomly mentioned that the FMC is conscious of her body while being intimate because she gained weight. Fair enough, but it's just one quick line and nothing else alludes to her adding on weight when describing how she's dressing or anything. I get that it was just meant to give the MMC an opportunity to lift her up but meh. Also, the FMC tells the MMC to not use protection and that she's on birth control in one scene which was just a weird moment. I feel like if that wanted to be added, it could've been more appreciated if it was cushioned with a bit more build up. Again, just felt a bit random.

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crushed by Love by Nina Verona is a book I have absolutely no idea why there are so many high ratings. Did they read the same book I did? I wanted to give up on this book so many times. My eyes couldn’t stop rolling at the characters.

Arden is a foster kid now 18 and gets a job as a housekeeper for the summer. The family has twin brothers. This isn’t really a love triangle but she is hot/cold with both men for the beginning of the book. I really do not understand or feel the connection but somehow she falls for Ethan. There is absolutely no connection. No emotional connection whatsoever. This is seriously the most ridiculous “romance”. I only kept reading because I was waiting or something to happen but this just kept going like an awful soap opera.

I give Crushed by Love by Nina Verona 1 star.

[Deb V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me late for work this morning and I have been slamming coffee all day since. I stayed up all night to finish it because it was THAT good. It's been a while since I have done that. A modern day retelling of a Romeo and Juliet romance, this book had me on edge! Nina is amazing at weaving this tale and making you fall in love with the characters in the story. I am shocked this is her debut spicy contemporary romance genre novel, it is amazing and WOW what a way to start! I will HIGHLY recommend this book to all my romance novel lovers and will likely be purchasing it when it comes out as this is definitely worth another read. Can't wait for the 2nd book. 😍

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 ALL THE FEELS

[Bookishbecs.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Let’s start off with, WOW, for a debut book this was fantastic! The time and effort that went into these characters (including the secondary ones) was worth it! Nina provided us with well rounded characters with over doing it.

This was a perfect modern day take on Romeo and Juliet with feuding families down to a tee.

I love that Ethan and Arden started out as what seemed to be enemies but then became lovers.

The twists throughout the book were completely unexpected and perfectly executed! I did not want to put this down, needing to know what happened next!

Without spoiling anything for anyone all I say is: THE DRAMA!!!! 🤯🤯🤯

I cannot wait to see what you have in store for Cooper and Sybil! They will definitely have an uphill battle!

[Maci Petrolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my GOD!

I don’t even know how to start this. I was an arc reader for this amazing book and I’m so sad it’s over. I can’t wait for book two!

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. It was such a good plot with many twists and turns I was not expecting and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book. I am going to purchase this book because I need it on my shelf and I will be recommending it to everyone who loves romance and spice!

Nina did amazing with this debut novel and I cannot wait to see what she does with the other books she writes. Her writing style is so easy to fall into and be completely immersed in the world she created.

[Danielle Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read. The Romeo & Juliet vibes are definitely there. Normally I hate a third act break up but this one only kept me up late reading to find out exactly what happens! I honestly couldn’t put it down, I felt so many emotions. There are so many twists and turns that left my jaw on the floor. This isn’t as spicy as I anticipated but the spicy scenes are very good. The chapters are short, which makes this an easy read for a mom who is always interrupted every few pages! This is the perfect summer beach read.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of I would like to give the author @NinaVerona a round of applause 👏 the way she goes into detail with how the characters feel is amazing! I felt every emotion they felt as I read. This is a great read if your into a “enemies to lover” “forbidden love” type of reading. I love how this book is related to the love story of Romeo & Juliette in its own way. I honestly enjoyed reading this book so much I cannot wait to have a physical copy of it, I 100% recommended it! Thank you Nina for sharing this book with us. 🖤🖤🖤

[Jacob Heinrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, this book was a wild ride. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The love scenes were amazing and the twist and turns around every corner. It took me four days to read this book because I couldn’t put it down. Pleaseeeeee do yourself a favor and read if you won’t regret it. The writing is amazing A+++ to Nina Verona because dam it just kept getting better and better and better. There wasn’t a part in this book where I got bored and I have ADHD haha, the way she wrote was just wow AMAZING!!!!! Good luck and have fun with this book 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[Jordan Schwefel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one go!!! WOW doesn’t even begin to cover how I’m feeling about this book. I was hooked from the beginning and the attitude back and forth between the characters feels so real when you’re reading it. I can’t wait for her next book because I am so invested in how these characters develop.

Arden and Ethan are just amazing!!! Everything they do to try and protect themselves and each other had me angry, laughing, annoyed and at one point in literal tears. 😢😢😢 I could not put this book down and when you pick it up you won’t be able to either.

[kristina miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Reader Review!

I loved the way this book spoke about the effects of anxiety, it was nice to see anxiety written in a way that wasn’t completely romanticized. The way they hated eachother at first was just *chefs kiss*. The characters had so much personality and it felt like you really knew them. The writing itself is amazing, i loved the descriptions and the way the thoughts of the characters were written so beautifully. I definitely recommend if you love enemies to lovers romance🫶🏻

[Kayla Bieker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book it was very beautifully written, and you could feel all the feelings that Arden was feeling throughout the book. I absolutely loved the forbidden Romeo and Juliet vibe that this book was giving, I couldn’t put it down. Nina did a fabulous job writing this book and I will definitely be purchasing the paperback option when release date comes :) thank you so much for allowing me to read

[Dolores Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPECTACULAR!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved absolutely every second of this book! The character development is phenomenal. The romance is breathtaking. I instantly fell in love with Arden and her story. The twists and turns of this book kept me hooked until the very end. I fell in love with the characters, I cried for them, and I felt every emotion within the pages. The other did am excellent job writing this book and I CAN NOT wait for book #2 💃

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WAY I ATE THIS BOOK UP IN 3 DAYS!!!!!

I truly could not put this book down. I have a hard time connecting with female main characters but YALL!!!!! Arden was someone who I connected with and understood.

As a hopeless romantic, I absolutely loved the retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I was gasping, crying, and laughing right along with these characters.

100% worth every second of my time spent reading.

[Jamie Lea (JmeLea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saying I am in love with this story and these characters would not be enough of an explanation! I felt all the emotions just reading Arden and Ethan’s story! Add in the other characters and the family dynamics and I could not put it down! There were a few times I yelled at these characters (like they could actually hear me) but I loved it!! I cannot wait to continue this series with Sybil and Cooper!

[Taylor Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina did not disappoint with this book!
I had the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book and OMG I loved it! I absolutely hated the MMC for so long but then I ended up falling in love with him! I loved the inner dialogue from the FMC and it made me feel seen as someone who does have an anxiety disorder! I also did not see the plot twists! I cannot wait for cooper and Sybil’s book to come out!

[Justyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started with a love hate for the mmcs however I grew to love them so much. There was quite a bit of cringey scenes and I got second hand embarrassment for the fmc but in the best way. The beach scene 🥵. The plot twists had my jaw on the floor and kept coming. I am buying the physical copy so I can have both. Definitely going to read it a second time. Nina outdid herself and I can’t wait for the second book

[Robin Thome · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled finishing this book. Characters are young and can be somewhat immature. I really wasn't a big fan of this book it took me days to read and I'm a fast reader . l gave it 4 stars because it's well written with intrigue, romance and other stuff. I did feel the story was solid and the characters did mature somewhat however, it was not a good fit for me.

[Josie Wilkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow!!! I absolutely ate this book up! It was phenomenal from the beginning, and I could not put it down. I am beyond excited for the next one! I have been in a reading slump lately and this book pulled me right out of it. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an addictive and easy read!

[Angelica Canter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
It takes you through all the love and heartache, the twists, the turns, surprises, and feelings.
Truly loved reading this book, I could not put it down!
And while this is a stand alone, I cannot wait to read the next book from this series.
For those romance readers, this is one for the physical bookshelf!!!!!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To the ones who feel not enough. Or too much.” This quote though!

I have to say I did not see the plot twists coming at all!
I enjoyed this book start to finish I did not want to put this book down!
Romeo and Juliet!!! From the romance to the drama🫣🥵
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading forbidden love stories and bully romances!
I can’t wait for book 2!