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The Darkest Parts of Me

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Five years ago, a tragic accident turned Maven’s life upside down, forcing her to leave the small mountain town where she spent most of her childhood. Ready to leave the past behind, Maven has decided to return to Solitude Ridge in search of the closure she didn’t get all those years ago. And while everything seems to have remained the same in the quaint little mountain town, there’s one thing that’s different: Renn. A new resident who is irresistibly charming and equally mysterious.

For the last five years, Renn has maintained a quiet existence in Solitude Ridge where the locals don’t ask questions and accept him as part of their small town. Despite the fact that he’s become a beloved member of the community, as time goes on, he finds himself looking over his shoulder, waiting for the events of his past to finally catch up with him. But when Maven comes to town, he finds himself wanting to share his most closely guarded secret: he’s not from this world.

As Renn and Maven start spending more time together, they find themselves faced with the darkness of their pasts, bringing them closer than ever as they struggle to fight for the one thing they value above all else. But when their secrets finally begin to surface and decisions must be made, will Renn and Maven lean on each other to weather the storm? Or will this tear them apart forever?

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2024

60 people are currently reading
644 people want to read

About the author

Shandy Mandarino

2 books26 followers
Shandy Mandarino is an avid reader, Dr. Pepper addict, and mom. Shandy’s dream of being an author started around the same time she fell in love with reading—when she was a child. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Utah and was born and raised in Utah where she still lives with her husband and son. If she’s not writing or reading you can find her spending time with family, playing games, or baking.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Profile Image for Nicole Simkins.
72 reviews5 followers
June 15, 2024
Small town romance meets Space. Renn is so mysterious and swoon worthy. Maven is recovering from her traumatic past. I love their love story. I love that they understand each other in a way that others don’t. Being able to confide in one another. You know when you meet someone and you click in a way that you can’t put into words? That’s how I would describe the connection between these two.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book. It was a cute cozy read that when it was over, it just ended. I was left wanting so much more!

I enjoyed this book because the plot wasn’t super complicated. The first half of this book was very much Renn and Maven getting to know each other. (I loved when they went on that hiking retreat) About 60-70% of the way in, things started to pick up. Reading about Renn’s past was so good! And from that point on, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

If you’re a fan of Small town romance, mysterious MMC, and two people helping each other accept the darkest parts of themselves, then you should read this book.
Profile Image for DaniFoundBooks.
28 reviews
May 29, 2024
4/5 ⭐
1/5 🌶️

I was very grateful to be offered an ARC copy of this book!
Prior to reading "The Darkest Parts of Me", I had never read anything with any sci-fi type themes. That part is what intrigued me the most to want to read. As the story unfolds, it's clear there are so many gems to this book.

The characters are lovable, relatable and easy to picture. You get this small town romance vibes, with a good selection of secondary characters that really enrich the story. The entire plot is romantically driven, but there is a touch of growth from both our FMC and MMC. Both Maven and Renn have their own darkness, and they truly did find light within each other. At first, I did find the connection between the two of them rather rushed, but as the story unfolded, it was clear that they clung to each other based on their respective past traumas.

Spice was kept to a minimum, at least to my standards! It was very wholesome and done in an easy way to read. If you are new to spice of any kind, this is certainly a good read to start off slow, while still getting good pay off.

I will say, the last half of the book, more specifically the last 20-30% is where things really pick up, theres more actions and a more fruitful storyline. And the plot twist! I was not expecting it AT ALL, and it was just the right amount of impact to keep me hooked and needing more.

To top everything off, Shandy Mandarino is such a likable person. she is incredibly interactive with her team and her followers. This makes supporting Shandy so effortless and I can't wait to see where this journey will take her. I volunteer to read anything else she puts out there!!

Overall, this was a great read. I could see myself picking this up again, and recommending to family and friends! Here are a list of tropes/themes in this book;

- strangers to lovers
- dual POV & timeline
- small town vibes
- secret & traumatic pasts
- sci-fi theme
- entry level spice(but good pay off!)

"The Darkest Parts of Me" is available for pre-order now at Barnes and Noble i believe, and you will be able to purchase your copy on June 14th!!
Profile Image for Misa.
55 reviews1 follower
September 16, 2024
Long overdue review: This book is a page-turner! It’s a perfect mix of sci-fi, adventure, and romance. The main characters are flawed but humble heartthrobs (which got me hooked), but the overall themes of friendship, love, overcoming tragedy, and finding the good in each other won me over. Highly recommend!!!
Profile Image for Jasmine Poppovich.
28 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2024
Maven is still healing, physically and emotionally from an accident that caused her father’s death. The accident took place in the town where her family’s cabin stood, Solitude Ridge, a small town nestled in the mountains. She returns to start a fresh chapter in her life, and to help herself move on from her trauma and pain.

Renn is a rugged man, he lives in a cabin in the woods, has a sweet dog named Shy, and drives a truck and motorcycle, need I say more….? Renn is quiet about his past and why he moved to Solitude Ridge, but the locals love him anyways for his kind demeanor and willingness to drop everything to help someone.

Maven’s best friend, Tasha brings her on a backpacking retreat, and as they’re about to leave, Renn pulls up on his motorcycle announcing he’s joining the group. During the trip friendship blooms between Maven and Renn as he helps her face her fears.

The book just gets better from there, you’ll have to read for yourself to find out the rest! The character development is insanely good, the tension is top tier, and I found myself up way past my bedtime to get further into this story.

✨ Read this if you like ✨
🪐 sci-fi romance & star crossed lovers
🪐 mutual attraction & slow burn
🪐 adventure in a mountain town

Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Trust me when I saw you’re gonna want to get your hands on this one!!
Profile Image for Chelsea.
2 reviews
August 10, 2024
An awesome debut novel by a wonderful author! I've never read a cozy Sci-fi romance novel before. This book was totally unique and impossible to put down. And the twist was completely unexpected! I can't wait to read whatever Shandy writes next☄️🌙✨
Profile Image for Kelly | theliterarydruid.
259 reviews6 followers
August 22, 2024
Really loved the ending 🥹 this was a great book, I loved the characters and the setting! If I had a small complaint, I craved more of the sci-fi aspect. However, GREAT plot twist!!!
Profile Image for Shelby.
68 reviews5 followers
June 27, 2024
I loved the small town romance! Gave me a Virgin River vibe which was 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
🌶️The spice was very easy to skip for those who aren’t looking for that too. (Near the end) which was also nice for the character development!

Overall a very cute very unique story that was easy to get sucked into!
Profile Image for brazenandbookish.
976 reviews33 followers
June 14, 2024
Thank you to Shandy Mandarino for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so much more than I was expecting! Shandy really knocked it out of the park for her debut. Renn and Maven have my heart. I was honestly rooting for both of them individually, and as a couple, the entire time. This book was an emotional journey. One full of pain, healing, grief, friendship, and love. I love how grief and trauma were explored throughout this book. The plot was slower, which really allowed you to dig deep into these characters and appreciate them for who they are. The sci-fi twist totally got me; I wasn’t expecting the plot to go in the way it did and when the reveal happened my jaw was on the floor! It was so unique and refreshing. The side characters in this were really fun; I love how they added enough to the story to keep you engaged but didn’t take away from the focus of our main characters. The last 20% was probably my favorite part of the entire book. I loved the reveals, I loved the emotions, and I loved the little epilogue like last chapter. So good!
Profile Image for Hannah Mogard.
84 reviews15 followers
June 15, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are instantly lovable, their backstories are intriguing to say the least (looking at you Renn), and the story itself is so unique and entertaining.

If you like small town, swoony romance with both MCs overcoming their past and becoming stronger because of it—this is the one! Also, there’s a bit of sci-fi thrown in which was so interesting to me!?
Profile Image for Rachel.
395 reviews15 followers
April 13, 2024
The Darkest Parts of Me is a small town romance with super interesting sci-fi themes, great characters, and a plot that will pull you right in. The FMC is capable and lovable, and the MMC is skilled and swoony (those winks?? 🫠). And that plot twist?? Definitely add this one to the TBR!

✨ dual POV & timeline
✨ strangers to lovers
✨ secret & traumatic pasts
✨ action
✨ spice
✨ heart-touching
✨ plot twist!
Profile Image for Sara Anderson.
423 reviews17 followers
November 10, 2024
Didn’t want Renn & Maven’s story to end! This was such a cozy, feel-good sci-fi romance. I am not an avid sci-fi reader, but LOVED the sci-fi elements this one had.

I loved Renn and Maven! Maven was fun to get to know. She dealt with so much grief, and I absolutely love the mental health representation her character had. Renn has been such a fun new book boyfriend to get to know. AND he is modeled after Dean Winchester?? My Supernatural loving heart was thrilled! He is so loyal and protective and I could read a million books about him.

I love how much this book reminded me of places in Utah. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE TWIST AT THE END???? Definitely didn't see that coming. Can't wait to see what other books Shandy writes!
Profile Image for ♡Shelthebookaddict♡ Shelbie.
147 reviews32 followers
April 18, 2025
So happy I picked this book up!

Oh my word. This was so beautiful. I need a minute to recover. I was skeptical at first because I hadn't read many sci-fi romances, but I was pleasantly surprised with how well this book was done! It was just a touch of sci-fi and the twist came at me at 1am last night and my jaw dropped. I then was up until 2am reading the rest of the book.

I related a lot to Renn. Even though both characters had their own trials, Renn's feelings of needing somewhere where he felt safe and belonging hit hard. I also thought this book was going to hurt me with a slow burn, but honestly, it wasn't that bad. Giving it 5 stars because I can see myself rereading Renn and Maven ❤️ it was so cute.
Profile Image for Holly Kenny.
367 reviews7 followers
June 16, 2024
*4.5 stars rounded up*
This novel was completely out of my comfort zone, yet the plot intrigued me so much that I gave it a go, and I'm so glad I did! I never would have imagined I would adore a small town, slow burn romance story, yet here I am, absolutely obsessed!

The Darkest Parts of Me follows Renn and Maven, two souls with dark and tragic pasts, who the universe has brought together in the most unlikely of circumstances. A small town romance story, with a sci-fi twist and a loveable and badass dog called Shy. An absolutely enjoyable and wholesome read!

This novel was fast paced, adorable, hilarious and heartbreaking, all wrapped in one! The slow burn romance was written so wonderfully, building the perfect amount of tension to keep the reader hooked. The character's are so incredibly loveable that you want nothing more than to be their best friend and you're rooting for them the entire time. Did I mention our brave, hero, Shy the dog, who is not so shy, but the star of the show?

Not only do we get sci-fi, romance, new found family, but we also got some action and heartbreak! This novel literally had everything and it was so beautifully blended into this story. Many emotions were felt throughout this read, and I could not put it down! I binged this in two sittings, losing out on so much sleep just to find out where the story would take me next.

The sci-fi aspect of this novel was so well written, clear and descriptive, which many author's tend to fall short on unfortunately. Often times the world building can get overlooked when there is a romance plot, but Mandarino has the perfect balance of world building, plot and romance within their novel. Also, the plot twist!!!! That is all I will be saying.

The only reason I didn't rate The Darkest Parts of Me the full five stars was I felt like we needed just a little more background on Renn and his journey through space as well as some smidge of information or update regarding how things went down when he had to fulfil his final duties as caption (I'm trying so hard to avoid spoilers!!) To be truthfully honest, I'm hoping for a 1.5 novella with some political updates as well as some more happy couple scenes.. A girl can dream.

Overall, I genuinely cannot express my love for this novel and the joy I felt going on this journey with Maven and Renn. I'm so glad I took a chance and left my comfort zone and I couldn't have picked a better book. If wholesome, small town romance is your thing, please give this novel a chance, you won't regret it!!
This was a wonderful debut novel and I cannot wait to see what other works Shandy Mandarino may bring us in the (hopefully near) future!

Thank you so much to the author for this ARC in exchange for a completely honest review.
Profile Image for Cayli Johnson.
145 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2024
📖The Darkest Parts of Me 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5
🔥 2/5
🫶🏼 Spoiler Free
🪐 Sci-Fi/ Romance

I am not a sci fi girly but I absolutely loved this book. It hit me on an emotional level. I really connected to Mavens story and her journey with grief. There’s a few times I broke down because when your in the throws of grief it feels really lonely. Even if you are grieving with others, grief is so incredibly personal and so much of Mavens thoughts resonate with me. Renns as well. He says a beautiful quote I will include in the photos. I adore this book.

In this story you follow two POVs. Maven and Renn. Maven is back to the small town she would travel to with her family. It’s been years since she’s been back. Still grief stricken she goes on a journey to connect with her Dad, her grief, and eventually herself. I love Maven. She embodies strength and vulnerability. She’s just such an amazing character, I love how her growth is so beautifully written in this story.

Renn is another book boyfriend you get to fall in love with. People say he gives golden retriever energy, I disagree. He gives German shepherd energy. Protective and Loyal to the end. Which is funny because Shy his dog is indeed a German Shepherd. And remains unharmed in this book. You know my beef with books that kill off dogs. I hate it.

It’s cute because some of the places in this book remind me of places here in Utah. Mirror Lake is a lake my family and I know and love. Solitude is a beautiful place as well I travel to frequently. The Main Street reminded me a lot of Park City. I pictured Tash living above a book store there that I love to go to called “Dollys”.

Loved this book, and I hope Shandy writes a million more.
Profile Image for Trish.
68 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2024
“𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶?…𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴. 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩?”

This book is a sci-fi romance with a touch of spice. I enjoyed the story and the mystery of this other world that Renn has traveled so far away from on his mission to explore space. The chemistry between Renn and Maven is definitely out of this world. And Maven’s relationships with her mom and best friend are so endearing. One of my favorite scenes was the hiking and camping trip! It was a beautiful way to bring everyone together and showcase Maven’s struggle and strength.

To be honest, there were times when I got misty eyed and pulled through without a tear, but by 80% I was tense and my expectation was a dire ending. At 90% I was crying my eyes out. How can you do that to us Shandy?! Somehow, SOMEHOW, this story turned into a happy ending. And I am so thankful for it!

I’m also thankful for Shandy’s Acknowledgment to readers that felt like it was just for me:
“𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮, 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.”

The Darkest Parts of Me is a stand alone novel. Releasing on June 14, 2024!
.
Profile Image for Laural | The Book Dragon.
102 reviews20 followers
June 14, 2024
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘴, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰.

| 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲 |
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow. Just wow. You all have seen me hyping this book up for months now. Sharing Shandy’s reels, posts, etc. Doing all of this before I ever got a copy in my hands to read. I was lucky enough to get an ARC and I was BLOWN away by this read. I haven’t read any book like this before. It truly is so unique!

Renn is every part the mysterious MMC that we all love. His past is hidden and we find out pieces as the story goes on. He’s so friendly and gentle, you can’t help but fall in love with him.

Maven is struggling to still cope with the loss of her father. And returning to the town where it happened makes it that much harder. Her best friend tries to help, but Renn begins to become the one she turns to and find comfort in.

I loved the story line and how the characters grew and developed. A standalone story, unique in its own world and writing! My friends who love sci-fi or small town romances, this is a must! Or, if you trust my recommendations and love supporting indie authors, add this to your TBR!
Profile Image for Farrah.
35 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2025
This book is heavily advertised as having a Dean Winchester inspired MMC, and I didn't feel like that was the case at all. I didn't get any Dean feelings from him. Many of the characters' dialogue was super cheesy, and the chemistry between FMC and MMC was weird. For example, there is one part where Maven and Renn run into each other at a bar. The author goes to great lengths to convince us that when the conversation ran dry, they "fell into a comfortable silence" (paraphrased). I... did not feel that at all. I almost felt some secondhand awkwardness/embarrassment from them. And that's just one example. There were many times that the conversation ran dry and it was like the author didn't know what to do with the characters.
At the end *slight spoiler* Renn has to do something that puts their relationship to the test, and Maven's just like "Dang bro, okay." I expected her to at least be a little more resistant to such a big wrench thrown into their new relationship.
And the winking. OMG, sooo much winking. 🤣

All in all, this book was good enough to finish. There was a plot twist toward the end that I enjoyed. But yeah... it didn't really do it for me
Profile Image for Kellie Jordan.
5 reviews
July 3, 2024
"The Darkest Parts of Me" is an enthralling read that captivated me from beginning to end. The story is masterfully crafted by Shandy, who weaves a tale that kept me on the edge of my seat, especially in the last 80 pages. The dynamic between the main characters, Renn and Maven, is electric and deeply engaging. Renn, in particular, has quickly ascended to the top of my list of favorite fictional characters and book boyfriends. His complexity and charm are wonderfully portrayed, making every scene with him a delight to read.

Shandy's ability to create suspense and deliver a satisfying ending is commendable. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, keeping readers guessing and fully invested in the outcome. The setting of Solitude Ridge is beautifully described, providing a calming and picturesque backdrop to the intense narrative. It has become my go-to mental escape, a serene place I envision when I need to relax.

Overall, "The Darkest Parts of Me" is a book that will remain on my re-read list for a long time. Its compelling characters, gripping storyline, and evocative setting make it a standout novel that I highly recommend to fellow readers.
Profile Image for Sabelle C.
433 reviews8 followers
December 24, 2024
3.75 Stars ⭐️
I have never read a sci-fi novel before this one but I’m so happy to have crossed paths with the author and to have taken a chance and read her book!

• Slow burn (verrrrrrry slow)
• A dash of spice
• Excellent character development

The first 70(ish)% of the book was definitely slow paced but had just enough intrigue to keep me reading

The last 30(ish)% was extremely fast paced with so much happening all at once my head was spinning

The only tailspin I found myself in was discovering that the entire story was taking place on a planet called Aetherium where the MFC, Maven, is native.
Our MMC, Renn, is actually from planet Earth
Also, the entire story takes place in the year 2269
The above mentioned tailspin happened in the last 5%-10% of the book

I’m really hoping that author writes a follow up story where Nate chooses to live on Aetherium with Renn and that Maven’s BFF, Tash, ends up with Nate!
Total full circle! I’d love to hear about what happened when Renn returned to Earth.
Profile Image for Chelsey Brand.
8 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2024
💜 The Darkest Parts of Me 💜

💫💫💫💫💫

I did not fully understand what I was getting myself into when I was given the opportunity to read this debut contemporary romance! I was expecting a slow-burn, contemporary romance set in a small mountain town, complete with a golden retriever MMC. I did get every single one of those things and OH SO MUCH MORE!!

The sci-fi twist was unexpected, but PERFECT! It was written into the story so well and was incredibly refreshing!!! I love that this is not your run-of-the-mill romance. It has depth, yearning and is full of heart-wrenching and soul-searching moments!

If you love:

💫 Small Mountain Towns
💫 Dual POV
💫 Strangers to Lovers
💫 Spice
💫 Mutual Pining
💫 Mysterious Pasts

Oh…. and did I mention that it is full of ACTION and the plot is a roller coaster ride?! Just when I thought I would have everything figured out… I was wrong!

Don’t miss out y’all!!!
Profile Image for Georgina Prince.
193 reviews8 followers
June 7, 2024
I love the idea of a romance suffused with sci-fi a not often seen mix of genres it worked well and while it’s firmly in the romance genre for the most part I did really enjoy it.

It has great small town vibes, coffee, community and great friendships. I liked the relationship between Maven and Renn although it felt like they were instantly drawn to each other but without ever really having spoken, I get lust but this was supposedly a deeper connection I just didn’t feel. The beginning half of the book was a little bit too much of a slow burn for me, maybe I’m used to too much spice at this point 😂🙈!

The last third of the book was the best and I felt that’s where the pacing was at its best. There was very minimal spice but a nice romance once it got going. It was written well and I always like a dual POV in a romance, it worked really well.
Profile Image for Mandy.
105 reviews5 followers
June 8, 2024
I had the most beautiful experience meeting Renn and Maven.

I read this book in a single day. It is a touching, small-town romance with a sci-fi theme. It covers a wide range of topics with such finese - traumatic experiences, loss of a parent, loneliness, friendships, and healing journey. I am in awe of Shandy's writing and how beautifully she wove the words.

Renn is such a lovable character. He says things that will melt your heart. And Maven? My heart goes out for her. Her journey is so close to me personally that I cried reading about her.

The sci-fi is not heavily infused in the story, and I like that a lot. It is just a theme, and the focus is entirely on the characters' journey.

Here are my reasons why you should read this:

♡ You like small town romances.
♡ You like strangers to lovers.
♡ You like raw, heart-wrenching stories.
♡ You like cinnamon roll MMC.
♡ You like minimal sci-fi theme.
Profile Image for J.J. Stone.
Author 8 books7 followers
July 21, 2024
I was so happy to support a fellow indie author chasing her dreams, and was especially excited that her MMC was based off of the same actor as my series’ MMC is.

As this is the author’s first book, I gave her a lot of grace as I read it. The dialogue was very underdeveloped and most of the characters were very cheesy. (Felt like I was reading a Hallmark movie…) The FMC was OK but kind of stereotypical. The MMC was slightly more interesting but again, nothing super memorable or engaging.

The best part of the book, in my opinion, is the last 4-5 chapters. But again, the story was definitely not one that drew me in.

Excited to see what else this author cooks up! This was a good debut book.
Profile Image for Rachel Hanks.
36 reviews10 followers
March 9, 2025
“Tell me something about space, Renn.”

I stand by my earlier thoughts, this was definitely a “cozy” and “ethereal” scifi-lite romance, with the quaintest small town Virgin River vibes. Exactly the romance I was in the mood to read. 💕

I really enjoyed Renn, humble and very likeable. Maven, a woman of grit and perseverance. And hard luck—for the both of them. They face some very relatable relationship obstacles, and some very out-of-this-world ones.

And the twist—oh boy the twist. Beautifully written.

The setting was just stunning, a literal mountain breath of fresh air. I was hiking along through Solitude Ridge with Renn, Maven and friends.

I’d recommend this to sci-fi, romantasy, and contemporary romance readers alike!

Spice level: 🌶️
Profile Image for Antonia | antonia_tbrinfinity.
141 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2024
When I first came across this book, the word “sci-fi” kind of intimidated me, but once I read the synopsis, it gave me Roswell, NM vibes and that was my favorite show!
From the first chapter to the last, I was HOOKED! It was so easy to fall in love with Maven and Renn and their friendship turned love! The last 4 chapters had me BAWLING the entire time!
My only complaint would be that the ending felt a little rushed. I would’ve like to know more about what happened with Renn and Nate at the end (don’t want to spoil it) before the story’s conclusion, but other than that, I LOVED it!! I would definitely reread this book!
Profile Image for Fable Mae.
7 reviews
June 14, 2024
The Darkest Parts of me is a really cute small-town romance story. With an exciting scifi twist. The representation of mental health struggles after experiencing a traumatic event is amazing and very well done. It's a sweet, feel-good story with a sweet romance.

I loved how transparent the characters were about their struggles. I also really liked how the different relationships were represented between the male characters. The best friend relationship is so underrated, and it was nice to dive into one.

Tropes you'll find in this book:
🏠 Small Town vibe
💪 She's stronger than she thinks
💧holding her while she breaks
❤️ carrying her to bed
❄️ the power went out

This was a perfect, easy read. It's a great reading slump buster. It's a great first novel and I can't wait to watch Shandy grow as an author and will be keeping an eye out for whatever she creates next.
Profile Image for McKenna Johnson.
700 reviews24 followers
June 19, 2024
ARC Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Small town romance meets space in all the best ways! Renn and Maven had a love that just clicked. I really enjoyed the book when it went into Renn’s back story. As for the spice, there were multiple open door scenes, they weren’t too spicy but still open door. The sci-fi thrown in was just right and really enhanced the book! Here is what you can expect:

🗝️ Secrets
🌶️ Open door spice
🏘️ Small town
❤️‍🔥 Slow burn
🪐 Sci-fi twist
‼️ Dual POV
🌪️ Plot twist
🐕 Aminal sidekick

Best quote:
“Everyone has some version of darkness in them. Some more, some less. It's not about removing the darkness, but how we learn to live with it. How to accept it as a part of us, and what you do next."

Thank you to the author Shandy Mandarino for the electronic advanced copy of the book.
Profile Image for Sally.
204 reviews3 followers
June 22, 2024
🚀 Space Travels
🌌 Strangers to lovers
💫 Golden Retriever MMC
🌟 Mysterious Pasts
✨️Meant to be

Maven & Renn meet as strangers and certainly don't stay that way for long. I love the way their story unfolded. From their meeting, the retreat, the storm, to the sharing of their pasts felt natural and real as they shared their feelings.

Shy 🐶 was obviously the hero of this story and I may have audibly cheered for her a few times.

Overall, a new style of romance with some sci-fi and space travel thrown in but not overly complicated for the readers like me who can't handle that much space talk 😅 (unless it's star wars of course)
Profile Image for Salina Petersen.
46 reviews8 followers
July 21, 2024
“It’s unfair that these tragic events take a piece of our souls from us. And for some of us, instead of filling those missing parts with something to make us whole again, the grief only settles in and leaves us broken and incomplete.”

I’ve never quite read a book like this, but when a friend recommended it to me I knew it was going to be good. There was so many elements of the story I fell in love with. Between the main characters, Tasha Maven’s best friend, and Shy (Renn’s dog.) Also, the emotional trauma that both MCs have been through is heartbreaking 😭

This book was absolutely what I needed right now. Renn and Maven will always hold a special place in my heart🥹

“If I were braver, I would tell her that her eyes remind me of a nebula. I’ve witnessed so many, ranging in intensity and brightness, but the color of her eyes is one of a kind, even in comparison to the universe.”🪐💫🌖🌌
Profile Image for Lex fullybookedbabe.
409 reviews26 followers
May 31, 2024
This book was beautiful, raw, and honest. A contemporary romance with a sci fi twist. It was the perfect blend.

I started reading for the romance and stayed for the twisty plot. The sci-fi parts were accessible for a newbie sci-fi reader.

I absolutely loved how both Renn and Maven had their dark messy parts. And as soon as they accepted their imperfections, leaned on each other, forgave themselves, they found love. It was relatable and beautiful to read.

Read if you like:
🏘️Small towns
🤫Secrets
🪵Cabin life
🏍️Motorcycles
😏Flirting
🪐Space
😉Winks
🐶Dogs
👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏽Mom daughter duos
❤️‍🔥Slow burn
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