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The Plunge
How could I have known where it would end, or even begin? That’s not true: how could I not have known.
Following the death of her disgraced fiancé, Liv returns to New York City where she finds shelter in the apartment of a former mentor. Lonely and isolated, Liv ventures to a party and encounters an intriguing duo: Damon, a charismatic jewelry designer, and Isabel, a beguiling older woman who’s infatuated with him. Liv attempts to escape her own despair and enmeshes herself in Damon and Isabel’s provocative dynamic, replacing solitary nights with their glittering parties.
Until Rex, a sadistic journalist, invades Liv’s new social circle, threatening to expose compromising details from her past. As Liv begins to unravel, she embarks on an all-consuming affair with Damon, propelled by desire and denial of the truth that haunts her. But her growing bond with Isabel complicates matters. As their lives dangerously intertwine over the course of one scorching summer, taking them from the East End of Long Island to Lake Como in Italy, Liv discovers that the most shattering secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves.
The Plunge is a spellbinding, sensuous psychological thriller that plumbs the depths of obsession and betrayal, while offering an unflinching examination of loss and longing. Told in a distinctive lyrical voice laced with razor-sharp wit and striking emotional complexity, Lila Raicek makes an electrifying debut in this book of the summer everyone will be talking about. Perfect for readers of Emma Cline’s The Guest and Raven Leilani’s Luster.
Following the death of her disgraced fiancé, Liv returns to New York City where she finds shelter in the apartment of a former mentor. Lonely and isolated, Liv ventures to a party and encounters an intriguing duo: Damon, a charismatic jewelry designer, and Isabel, a beguiling older woman who’s infatuated with him. Liv attempts to escape her own despair and enmeshes herself in Damon and Isabel’s provocative dynamic, replacing solitary nights with their glittering parties.
Until Rex, a sadistic journalist, invades Liv’s new social circle, threatening to expose compromising details from her past. As Liv begins to unravel, she embarks on an all-consuming affair with Damon, propelled by desire and denial of the truth that haunts her. But her growing bond with Isabel complicates matters. As their lives dangerously intertwine over the course of one scorching summer, taking them from the East End of Long Island to Lake Como in Italy, Liv discovers that the most shattering secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves.
The Plunge is a spellbinding, sensuous psychological thriller that plumbs the depths of obsession and betrayal, while offering an unflinching examination of loss and longing. Told in a distinctive lyrical voice laced with razor-sharp wit and striking emotional complexity, Lila Raicek makes an electrifying debut in this book of the summer everyone will be talking about. Perfect for readers of Emma Cline’s The Guest and Raven Leilani’s Luster.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
82 people are currently reading
1466 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 29, 2026
I was instantly intrigued by the story of a (not really) widow living through her grief and trying to find her place between NY and somewhere new and making new connections after her fiancés untimely death.
Her reconnection with her old neighbor Damon, who kept pursuing her in both past and present, felt magnetic and something like fate with them constantly being pulled back together but the circumstances of their relationship made me feel a bit uneasy. The FMC’s friendship with Isabel and Damon, and the love triangle aspect, felt like a lot of toxic and unhealthy power exchanges and initially I picked this book up hoping it’d be a bit more suspenseful and a thriller but it fell as bit short in that area. It had more of a mystery vibe to it, especially considering someone does die and the main character does find herself in trouble with the law more times than once.
Overall the book was ok and I thought it was an interesting read but sadly it fell a little short in the suspense and romance and more unhinged/manipulative and toxic. However it’s a great book for a debut novel from this author, the audiobook was easy to follow and I got through it fairly quickly. I liked the narrator a lot but did expect a little more out of the end of the story. The author does a great job of capturing some of the characters entitlement and showing how being more well off and in a position of higher status can lead to some being more manipulative and constantly playing games to hold power with important information.
Her reconnection with her old neighbor Damon, who kept pursuing her in both past and present, felt magnetic and something like fate with them constantly being pulled back together but the circumstances of their relationship made me feel a bit uneasy. The FMC’s friendship with Isabel and Damon, and the love triangle aspect, felt like a lot of toxic and unhealthy power exchanges and initially I picked this book up hoping it’d be a bit more suspenseful and a thriller but it fell as bit short in that area. It had more of a mystery vibe to it, especially considering someone does die and the main character does find herself in trouble with the law more times than once.
Overall the book was ok and I thought it was an interesting read but sadly it fell a little short in the suspense and romance and more unhinged/manipulative and toxic. However it’s a great book for a debut novel from this author, the audiobook was easy to follow and I got through it fairly quickly. I liked the narrator a lot but did expect a little more out of the end of the story. The author does a great job of capturing some of the characters entitlement and showing how being more well off and in a position of higher status can lead to some being more manipulative and constantly playing games to hold power with important information.
May 10, 2026
(3.5)
This is a fun and salacious drama for summer. I thought it was well written and immersive and while I don’t always have to like the characters in a book, every single one of these characters irritated me (except Sam, I liked him) which I think might have hampered my enjoyment a bit. But if you’re looking for a dramatic read for summer, summer is the perfect time to read it!
This is a fun and salacious drama for summer. I thought it was well written and immersive and while I don’t always have to like the characters in a book, every single one of these characters irritated me (except Sam, I liked him) which I think might have hampered my enjoyment a bit. But if you’re looking for a dramatic read for summer, summer is the perfect time to read it!
September 15, 2025
"The Plunge" is a dark, luscious novel about duplicity, betrayal, and the consequences of neglecting unresolved aches in pursuit of fleeting, but blissful, distraction.
This story follows Liv, who is a woman adrift, by her own doing and to her own dismay, after the dramatic death of her repudiated fiancé. She is resurrected into New York society after a seemingly random call from Damon, a charming and much-desired older man. Though their paths had previously crossed, they were deprived of the opportunity to enmesh. Still, Liv, in her grief and loneliness, is intrigued by the possibility of reigniting their previous spark.
Until Isabel enters the fold. Isabel is grace and impact, and her immense presence further relights Liv's desire to escape the shoebox she has put herself in (literally and figuratively). However, her blossoming friendship with Isabel puts Liv squarely in a precarious position between Isabel and Damon, a position where no possible outcome bodes well for Liv. Not to mention, there is also Rex, an investigative journalist hell bent on unearthing secrets that Liv has long kept buried.
Where this novel fell short for me was in its focus on a stereotypical, elitist New York circle full of erudites from whom friendship must, at all times, be self-serving. Several of the main characters, Liv's elderly roommate excluded, are the most insufferable types of people, which made it difficult to engage with them as characters and their roles in the story.
While I do believe the draw of a gradual dissemination of information, which is characteristic of a thriller and is often how the uncertainties of the story are interwoven, is that these gaps can lead the reader to anticipate, to dread, and to postulate on what is to come. However, when the story is based on pretentious characters for whom it is difficult to establish any connection, this literary device just led to an eagerness for the story to advance so the pieces could finally be put together.
There is an audience who will love this novel. It is sensuous, scandalous, and full of deception, set in all the characteristics of highbrowed New York. Additionally, it touches on the turmoil of grief and loss quite tastefully. I, unfortunately, am just not part of the intended audience. I couldn't get past my inability to connect with or care about these characters, nor the stilted and at times theatrical dialogue. Furthermore, I ended up anticipating the ending, which diluted the shock of the reveal.
Overall, while this novel fell short for me, it could be a thrilling read for fans of its setting, scandal, or the author's particularly histrionic prose.
Thank you to Lila Raicek and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
This story follows Liv, who is a woman adrift, by her own doing and to her own dismay, after the dramatic death of her repudiated fiancé. She is resurrected into New York society after a seemingly random call from Damon, a charming and much-desired older man. Though their paths had previously crossed, they were deprived of the opportunity to enmesh. Still, Liv, in her grief and loneliness, is intrigued by the possibility of reigniting their previous spark.
Until Isabel enters the fold. Isabel is grace and impact, and her immense presence further relights Liv's desire to escape the shoebox she has put herself in (literally and figuratively). However, her blossoming friendship with Isabel puts Liv squarely in a precarious position between Isabel and Damon, a position where no possible outcome bodes well for Liv. Not to mention, there is also Rex, an investigative journalist hell bent on unearthing secrets that Liv has long kept buried.
Where this novel fell short for me was in its focus on a stereotypical, elitist New York circle full of erudites from whom friendship must, at all times, be self-serving. Several of the main characters, Liv's elderly roommate excluded, are the most insufferable types of people, which made it difficult to engage with them as characters and their roles in the story.
While I do believe the draw of a gradual dissemination of information, which is characteristic of a thriller and is often how the uncertainties of the story are interwoven, is that these gaps can lead the reader to anticipate, to dread, and to postulate on what is to come. However, when the story is based on pretentious characters for whom it is difficult to establish any connection, this literary device just led to an eagerness for the story to advance so the pieces could finally be put together.
There is an audience who will love this novel. It is sensuous, scandalous, and full of deception, set in all the characteristics of highbrowed New York. Additionally, it touches on the turmoil of grief and loss quite tastefully. I, unfortunately, am just not part of the intended audience. I couldn't get past my inability to connect with or care about these characters, nor the stilted and at times theatrical dialogue. Furthermore, I ended up anticipating the ending, which diluted the shock of the reveal.
Overall, while this novel fell short for me, it could be a thrilling read for fans of its setting, scandal, or the author's particularly histrionic prose.
Thank you to Lila Raicek and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
April 30, 2026
"And he talked to me about stones: malachite, carnelian, bloodstone, leopardite. I repeated them aloud, turning their names over in my mouth like sour candy... His words were transporting, the way he dimmed my darkness and replaced it with shades and shapes, the refuge of bright stones. I didn’t know it then, but this was the beginning of my education; so that later, I would think back to this hour in a quiet room, and realize that our beginning, like so many others, had crept up on me unrecognizably, almost treacherously, until it was too late."
ALERT! THIS IS YOUR HOT PROFOUND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BRILLIANT GIRL SUMMER READ !!!
This is what I *wanted* The Guest by Emma Cline to be, and instead Raicek is delivering Minghella's Talented Mr. Ripley and Ozon's La Piscine in literary suspense form. It's giving binge-able psychosexual intrigue that lures you into its lurid, luscious web of erotic tension, but then cracks open and deepens to reveal immensely complex and bone-chillingly universal emotion truths about ourselves.
When does a debut novel nail grief AND desire, lust AND deception? All the while spinning us into a web of gorgeous, gem-like poetic prose that made me want to underline every single sentence.
At the heart of this novel is the twisted triangle between our girl LIV, Damon, and Isabel. Liv, in many ways, fits into the classic trope of literary interloper, which almost reminded me of Anita Brookner's 'Look at Me.' She is entranced and pulled into this dazzlingly perverse duo, but it is, to quote brilliant Raicek, "merely a grotesque mask, a pentimento obscuring the more malignant layer underneath."
You will be obsessed with this novel as much as I was. An exquisite debut. TAKE THE PLUNGE!!!
ALERT! THIS IS YOUR HOT PROFOUND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BRILLIANT GIRL SUMMER READ !!!
This is what I *wanted* The Guest by Emma Cline to be, and instead Raicek is delivering Minghella's Talented Mr. Ripley and Ozon's La Piscine in literary suspense form. It's giving binge-able psychosexual intrigue that lures you into its lurid, luscious web of erotic tension, but then cracks open and deepens to reveal immensely complex and bone-chillingly universal emotion truths about ourselves.
When does a debut novel nail grief AND desire, lust AND deception? All the while spinning us into a web of gorgeous, gem-like poetic prose that made me want to underline every single sentence.
At the heart of this novel is the twisted triangle between our girl LIV, Damon, and Isabel. Liv, in many ways, fits into the classic trope of literary interloper, which almost reminded me of Anita Brookner's 'Look at Me.' She is entranced and pulled into this dazzlingly perverse duo, but it is, to quote brilliant Raicek, "merely a grotesque mask, a pentimento obscuring the more malignant layer underneath."
You will be obsessed with this novel as much as I was. An exquisite debut. TAKE THE PLUNGE!!!
May 1, 2026
I just finished The Plunge, a smart, sophisticated psychological thriller by Lila Raicek.
We’re dropped into Liv’s life at a point where everything has already fallen apart. After a devastating accident and loss, she’s moving through the world in a haze, disconnected and struggling to find any real sense of joy or purpose. Her emotional state is a core aspect of the story and of the reading experience.
Then Isabel enters the picture, along with Damon, who is charming, handsome, and undeniably magnetic. Liv is quickly pulled into their world, one filled with wealth, beauty, and allure. It’s a life she feels like a stranger in, yet one she can’t help but crave.
There’s a quiet sense of foreboding that lingers throughout the story. As Liv gets swept up in the glitz and glamour, there’s an underlying tension that never quite lets you settle. You can feel something building beneath the surface while watching Liv navigate her grief, her desires, and her increasingly complicated reality.
For me, the thriller elements leaned more toward a slow burn. The uneasiness is definitely there, but it builds gradually rather than hitting with fast-paced intensity. If you prefer high action, fast paced thrillers, this may not be the best fit. I tend to prefer a quicker pace, so that stood out to me.
That said, I really appreciated how thoughtful and intelligent the story felt. It felt introspective and deep, which I can appreciate.
This a slow building, atmospheric psychological thriller that focuses more on mood and character than action. While the pacing wasn’t fully aligned with my personal taste, I found it to be a smart and compelling read that will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy a more subtle, sophisticated kind of suspense.
Thank you to HTP Books and the author for this gifted copy. All the thoughts are my own.
We’re dropped into Liv’s life at a point where everything has already fallen apart. After a devastating accident and loss, she’s moving through the world in a haze, disconnected and struggling to find any real sense of joy or purpose. Her emotional state is a core aspect of the story and of the reading experience.
Then Isabel enters the picture, along with Damon, who is charming, handsome, and undeniably magnetic. Liv is quickly pulled into their world, one filled with wealth, beauty, and allure. It’s a life she feels like a stranger in, yet one she can’t help but crave.
There’s a quiet sense of foreboding that lingers throughout the story. As Liv gets swept up in the glitz and glamour, there’s an underlying tension that never quite lets you settle. You can feel something building beneath the surface while watching Liv navigate her grief, her desires, and her increasingly complicated reality.
For me, the thriller elements leaned more toward a slow burn. The uneasiness is definitely there, but it builds gradually rather than hitting with fast-paced intensity. If you prefer high action, fast paced thrillers, this may not be the best fit. I tend to prefer a quicker pace, so that stood out to me.
That said, I really appreciated how thoughtful and intelligent the story felt. It felt introspective and deep, which I can appreciate.
This a slow building, atmospheric psychological thriller that focuses more on mood and character than action. While the pacing wasn’t fully aligned with my personal taste, I found it to be a smart and compelling read that will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy a more subtle, sophisticated kind of suspense.
Thank you to HTP Books and the author for this gifted copy. All the thoughts are my own.
April 28, 2026
READ THIS BOOK!
THE PLUNGE, or as I like to call it, “to all the (fuck)boys I’ve liked before”, was a frustratingly therapeutic story that left me mesmerized. I could not stop reading it, desperate to find minutes in my day to sneak in a chapter. I was committed to Liv and Damon’s world and I did not want to leave them.
In its simplest form, THE PLUNGE is about a thirty-one year old woman who becomes entangled in a torrid affair with a grown man, who (personal opinion!) preys on her vulnerabilities to his advantage, timeline, and whimsy. It is infuriatingly relatable. I felt protective of Liv, annoyed at Damon and curious about Isabel, an older woman who is also vying for Damon’s attention.
Damon was a jeweler, yet he couldn’t make her a necklace, he couldn’t take her out to dinner, he called her at midnight “to go on a walk”. Damon was predictably disappointing, yet I still clung onto the hope that maybe, MAYBE, he would change his ways, keep his promises, or just be a decent guy. I fell for his charm alongside Liv, and deeply felt her disappointment as my own because I’ve known a Damon, you know a Damon, hell, you might be one. :) BUT, their rocky romance held me in a chokehold, seeing so much of younger me in Liv, hoping for a better outcome.
THE PLUNGE, or as I like to call it, “to all the (fuck)boys I’ve liked before”, was a frustratingly therapeutic story that left me mesmerized. I could not stop reading it, desperate to find minutes in my day to sneak in a chapter. I was committed to Liv and Damon’s world and I did not want to leave them.
In its simplest form, THE PLUNGE is about a thirty-one year old woman who becomes entangled in a torrid affair with a grown man, who (personal opinion!) preys on her vulnerabilities to his advantage, timeline, and whimsy. It is infuriatingly relatable. I felt protective of Liv, annoyed at Damon and curious about Isabel, an older woman who is also vying for Damon’s attention.
Damon was a jeweler, yet he couldn’t make her a necklace, he couldn’t take her out to dinner, he called her at midnight “to go on a walk”. Damon was predictably disappointing, yet I still clung onto the hope that maybe, MAYBE, he would change his ways, keep his promises, or just be a decent guy. I fell for his charm alongside Liv, and deeply felt her disappointment as my own because I’ve known a Damon, you know a Damon, hell, you might be one. :) BUT, their rocky romance held me in a chokehold, seeing so much of younger me in Liv, hoping for a better outcome.
May 3, 2026
4.5⭐️ what a tantalizing and darkly hedonistic debut! Lila Raicek had me in a trance from start to finish with this psychosexual thriller in which a grieving young woman finds herself pulled into a seductive yet dangerous liaison.
As our protagonist infiltrates a new social circle against the glamorous yet secretive backdrop of New York and The Hamptons — before culminating at Lake Como — we follow our main character Liv as she descends into a downward spiral brought on by betrayal, trauma and obsessive desire.
Like Liv, we get sucked into the erotic intrigue, which Raicek cleverly presents as a mirror of our own sadistic voyeurism. And I, for one, am guilty as sin. We watch the scandal unfold and savor the melodrama, delighting in every sharp quip and gem metaphors thrown onto the page.
The story reads as if it was unfolding on a screen: like binging an erotic thriller in the warm late summer night. Which should come as no surprise given the author’s background as a playwright and screenwriter. And if it feels deeply personal, it’s because it is. The self-awareness woven into the page, reads as both damaging and cathartic.
This will undoubtedly be the cool girl’s summer read of 2026. Sensual, dark, unnerving, scandalous & deeply addictive.
As our protagonist infiltrates a new social circle against the glamorous yet secretive backdrop of New York and The Hamptons — before culminating at Lake Como — we follow our main character Liv as she descends into a downward spiral brought on by betrayal, trauma and obsessive desire.
Like Liv, we get sucked into the erotic intrigue, which Raicek cleverly presents as a mirror of our own sadistic voyeurism. And I, for one, am guilty as sin. We watch the scandal unfold and savor the melodrama, delighting in every sharp quip and gem metaphors thrown onto the page.
The story reads as if it was unfolding on a screen: like binging an erotic thriller in the warm late summer night. Which should come as no surprise given the author’s background as a playwright and screenwriter. And if it feels deeply personal, it’s because it is. The self-awareness woven into the page, reads as both damaging and cathartic.
This will undoubtedly be the cool girl’s summer read of 2026. Sensual, dark, unnerving, scandalous & deeply addictive.
May 4, 2026
Messy, messy, messy—I love it 🙂↕️
The Plunge is a story love, grief, drama, secrets and longing so everything I enjoy.
It feels character-driven and plot-driven at the same time, and it had me addicted to the story from the first few chapters.
Also, one of my favorite things a book can have is a morally grey character that I cannot figure out and this really gave me the feeling of being torn between loving and hating a character.
The writing was stunning, the plot was perfectly paced and had me captivated the entire time.
I genuinely loved this one, gorgeous debut and if you enjoy stories about messy characters being messy this one is for you!!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
The Plunge is a story love, grief, drama, secrets and longing so everything I enjoy.
It feels character-driven and plot-driven at the same time, and it had me addicted to the story from the first few chapters.
Also, one of my favorite things a book can have is a morally grey character that I cannot figure out and this really gave me the feeling of being torn between loving and hating a character.
The writing was stunning, the plot was perfectly paced and had me captivated the entire time.
I genuinely loved this one, gorgeous debut and if you enjoy stories about messy characters being messy this one is for you!!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
April 21, 2026
Attention, attention. The beach read of the season has been located.
Liv returns to NYC, haunted by the death of her husband and takes up residence in the postage-stamp size maid quarters of a former mentor’s home. One night she finds herself at a party, drawn like a moth to flame to an unlikely duo. Damon, a young jewelry designer whose personality can captivate an entire room. Isabel, a wealthy older woman hanging on his every word. Liv becomes obsessed and enmeshes herself into their social circle.
The one thing she did not expect…someone in that circle has dirt on her - and she will do anything in her power to make sure nothing becomes unearthed.
A twisted tale you can sink your teeth into with morally gray characters, power dynamics, lust, obsession…and a secret threatening to destroy a house of glass.
The layers of this story peel away revealing human behavior in its rawest form. Written with a gritty tone that is all too reminiscent of being an impulsive 20 something.
Liv returns to NYC, haunted by the death of her husband and takes up residence in the postage-stamp size maid quarters of a former mentor’s home. One night she finds herself at a party, drawn like a moth to flame to an unlikely duo. Damon, a young jewelry designer whose personality can captivate an entire room. Isabel, a wealthy older woman hanging on his every word. Liv becomes obsessed and enmeshes herself into their social circle.
The one thing she did not expect…someone in that circle has dirt on her - and she will do anything in her power to make sure nothing becomes unearthed.
A twisted tale you can sink your teeth into with morally gray characters, power dynamics, lust, obsession…and a secret threatening to destroy a house of glass.
The layers of this story peel away revealing human behavior in its rawest form. Written with a gritty tone that is all too reminiscent of being an impulsive 20 something.
April 29, 2026
The Plunge by Lila Raicek had me hooked almost instantly. I’m talking one chapter in and I’m already yelling at my phone like Liv can hear me. Liv is such a messy, compelling protagonist that I couldn’t look away, even when I knew she was making the worst possible decisions. The tangled dynamic between Damon, Isabel, and Liv is intoxicating and unsettling in equal measure, building this slow, glossy tension that feels like it could crack at any moment. And the audiobook? Absolutely phenomenal. The narration amplifies every bit of obsession, denial, and unraveling in a way that makes it impossible to pause. I found myself completely pulled into the heat and chaos of that summer, from New York City to Lake Como. It’s sharp, seductive, and just a little unhinged in the best way. 4.5 stars because I couldn’t stop listening, even when I wanted to scream.
April 26, 2026
This is one incredibly spellbinding, racy thriller with razor sharp writing and psychologically complex characters. I was captured by the emotionally charged love triangle and transported by the lyrical descriptions of NYC, North Fork and Italy. Town and Country magazine featured this book as their "season's book club winner" and absolutely agree! Fascinated and intrigued to read about the author's background and the depth of her writing skills as a playwright and screenwriter. Such a fabulous, gripping, well-written novel. I couldn't put it down and recommending it to all my friends!
April 26, 2026
Raicek sure can write a sentence. I kept reading almost entirely for the gems she dropped throughout
April 30, 2026
"How could I have known where it would end, or even begin?
That’s not true: how could I not have known. I wanted to be dis-
tracted by the brilliant glare of things, like everyone else, obscuring
the black inclusions at its core like little rotted seeds."
There are books you read, and then there are books that rearrange your interior life—The Plunge is unmistakably the latter. GET YOUR SUMMER READ BEFORE EVERYONE PRETENDS THEY DISCOVERED IT!!!
In her arresting debut, Lila Raicek delivers something increasingly rare: a novel that is at once fiercely intelligent, dangerously seductive, and compulsively readable. Set against a backdrop that glides from Manhattan glitter to the sun-struck languor of Lake Como, The Plunge doesn’t just transport you—it implicates you. You feel its pull in your bloodstream.
At its center is Liv, a woman hollowed out by grief and quietly undone by her own appetites, who finds herself drawn into the orbit of a mesmerizing couple. What begins as a refuge becomes something far more destabilizing: a charged, erotic triangulation of power, desire, and control. But Raicek is doing something deeper—and far more unsettling—than spinning a glamorous thriller. She is dissecting the psychology of longing itself: the way we confuse danger for intimacy, obsession for meaning, self-erasure for love.
The prose is blade-sharp and hypnotic, with a theatrical precision that reflects Raicek’s background as a playwright. Every glance feels staged, every silence loaded. The novel moves with the sleek inevitability of a fall you sense coming long before impact—and cannot stop. Critics have already called it “smart, sexy, [and] scandalous” and “tantalizingly sexy and explosively unnerving” —and yet even that undersells the experience. This is a book that simmers, then scorches.
What makes The Plunge extraordinary is its refusal to comfort. It asks: What if your worst impulses are also your truest? What if the life you’re drawn to is the one that will destroy you? And most chillingly—would you choose it anyway?
By the final pages, Raicek leaves you with that rarest of literary sensations: not closure, but a kind of electrified unease. You don’t finish The Plunge so much as emerge from it, altered, a little breathless, and not entirely certain you’d resist its seduction if given the chance again.
This isn’t just a summer read—it’s the summer read. The one passed between friends with a conspiratorial smile. The one you devour in a single sitting, then immediately want to discuss, dissect, and maybe even keep a little secret.
Dark, glamorous, and psychologically piercing, The Plunge announces a formidable new voice in fiction—and dares you to follow it into the deep end.
That’s not true: how could I not have known. I wanted to be dis-
tracted by the brilliant glare of things, like everyone else, obscuring
the black inclusions at its core like little rotted seeds."
There are books you read, and then there are books that rearrange your interior life—The Plunge is unmistakably the latter. GET YOUR SUMMER READ BEFORE EVERYONE PRETENDS THEY DISCOVERED IT!!!
In her arresting debut, Lila Raicek delivers something increasingly rare: a novel that is at once fiercely intelligent, dangerously seductive, and compulsively readable. Set against a backdrop that glides from Manhattan glitter to the sun-struck languor of Lake Como, The Plunge doesn’t just transport you—it implicates you. You feel its pull in your bloodstream.
At its center is Liv, a woman hollowed out by grief and quietly undone by her own appetites, who finds herself drawn into the orbit of a mesmerizing couple. What begins as a refuge becomes something far more destabilizing: a charged, erotic triangulation of power, desire, and control. But Raicek is doing something deeper—and far more unsettling—than spinning a glamorous thriller. She is dissecting the psychology of longing itself: the way we confuse danger for intimacy, obsession for meaning, self-erasure for love.
The prose is blade-sharp and hypnotic, with a theatrical precision that reflects Raicek’s background as a playwright. Every glance feels staged, every silence loaded. The novel moves with the sleek inevitability of a fall you sense coming long before impact—and cannot stop. Critics have already called it “smart, sexy, [and] scandalous” and “tantalizingly sexy and explosively unnerving” —and yet even that undersells the experience. This is a book that simmers, then scorches.
What makes The Plunge extraordinary is its refusal to comfort. It asks: What if your worst impulses are also your truest? What if the life you’re drawn to is the one that will destroy you? And most chillingly—would you choose it anyway?
By the final pages, Raicek leaves you with that rarest of literary sensations: not closure, but a kind of electrified unease. You don’t finish The Plunge so much as emerge from it, altered, a little breathless, and not entirely certain you’d resist its seduction if given the chance again.
This isn’t just a summer read—it’s the summer read. The one passed between friends with a conspiratorial smile. The one you devour in a single sitting, then immediately want to discuss, dissect, and maybe even keep a little secret.
Dark, glamorous, and psychologically piercing, The Plunge announces a formidable new voice in fiction—and dares you to follow it into the deep end.
May 1, 2026
I just finished the The Hotel Guest and I feel like The Plunge achieved what The Hotel Guest did not for me. Both are based around elite social groups and what people will sort of do to stay "in" with those groups.
Liv is a young woman fresh off a breakup...well sort of. She and her fiancé were in a car wreck where she was the only survivor. The fiancé however was not a good guy and everyone knew it. While in a haze of grief, injury, and general hopelessness, Liv runs into her old neighbor Damon and gets sucked into his world of luxury, lust and power. Liv is not a very likeable character but no one else is either! Liv finds herself in awkward predicaments and an affair that will make you scream, "girl! Run!".
Raicek kept this story MOVING! At first I was a little lost but towards the middle, once I felt I really knew the characters, I was INTO IT! Really enjoyed the ending as well.
Liv is a young woman fresh off a breakup...well sort of. She and her fiancé were in a car wreck where she was the only survivor. The fiancé however was not a good guy and everyone knew it. While in a haze of grief, injury, and general hopelessness, Liv runs into her old neighbor Damon and gets sucked into his world of luxury, lust and power. Liv is not a very likeable character but no one else is either! Liv finds herself in awkward predicaments and an affair that will make you scream, "girl! Run!".
Raicek kept this story MOVING! At first I was a little lost but towards the middle, once I felt I really knew the characters, I was INTO IT! Really enjoyed the ending as well.
May 7, 2026
I adored this sexy, dark, thrilling novel. The comp to Les Liaisons Dangereuses on the cover feels spot on. I cannot wait to read whatever Lila Raicek writes next. Thank you Park Row Books for my copy!
April 22, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!
📖 Book Review 📖 Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? Liv is not just pondering existential life questions, she is grappling with the death of her soon-to-be-husband and the ramifications of the choices made. The Plunge is a fitting title because this one hits you like that first dip in the pool on a hot summer day. It’s jarring yet the overall experience is nothing short of perfection. Twisty, edgy, and fast-paced…Raicek gives readers a book they will be talking about all summer long.
📖 Book Review 📖 Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? Liv is not just pondering existential life questions, she is grappling with the death of her soon-to-be-husband and the ramifications of the choices made. The Plunge is a fitting title because this one hits you like that first dip in the pool on a hot summer day. It’s jarring yet the overall experience is nothing short of perfection. Twisty, edgy, and fast-paced…Raicek gives readers a book they will be talking about all summer long.
April 30, 2026
When I saw Sarah Jessica Parker mention "The Plunge" as her vacation read, I was already sold—the cover alone has the cinematic allure that promises glamour with an undercurrent of darkness, of voyeurism. But reading it in a single, breathless night, I realized the aesthetic pull is only the surface of something far more profound and deeply unsettling. THIS IS THE READ OF THE SUMMER, I CALLED IT NOW!
At the center is a love triangle that feels intoxicatingly dangerous, in the vein of "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Liv, Isabel, and Damon are drawn with such precision that their desires clash in ways that feel both inevitable and tragic. Raicek resists easy archetypes: Liv is not merely the observer, Isabel not just the widow, Damon not simply the object of desire. Instead, each character exists in a constant state of becoming—and undoing—revealing uncomfortable truths about grief, intimacy, and self-deception.
What elevates The Plunge beyond a compulsively readable page-turner is its psychological depth. The novel lingers in that fraught, liminal space between desire and betrayal, asking how far we can follow our impulses before they fracture our sense of self. Raicek is particularly incisive about grief—not as a quiet, contained emotion, but as something volatile and embodied and pervasive. The book draws, at times almost explicitly, on Freudian undercurrents, exploring how eros and thanatos—sex and death—coil around each other in ways that are both destructive and generative.
And yes, it is undeniably steamy—but the sensuality here is never gratuitous. It’s charged with meaning, often serving as a language for what the characters cannot articulate otherwise. Intimacy becomes both a refuge and a weapon, a way to feel alive and a way to escape the unbearable.
Raicek’s prose deserves its own praise: it’s sharp without being brittle, lush without tipping into excess. There’s a confidence to the writing that makes even the most emotionally raw moments feel controlled and intentional. Lines linger; scenes echo. You don’t just read this book—you absorb it.
On top of this, Raicek moves us effortlessly from the electric pulse of Manhattan to the windswept austerity of the North Fork, and then to the golden, almost unreal stillness of Lake Como. Each setting isn’t just a backdrop but an emotional register—mirroring the characters’ shifting states of longing, denial, and unraveling.
By the end, I didn’t just feel entertained; I felt unsettled in the best possible way. The Plunge is about reinvention, but it refuses to romanticize starting over. Instead, it asks what we carry with us when everything falls apart—and whether we can ever truly outrun ourselves.
I fell completely under the spell of Liv, and was equally captivated—and disturbed—by Isabel and Damon. This is a novel that seduces you, then quietly destabilizes you.
Absolutely throw this in your beach bag as your "summer must-read"—but don’t be surprised if you emerge from it a little undone and indelibly changed.
At the center is a love triangle that feels intoxicatingly dangerous, in the vein of "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Liv, Isabel, and Damon are drawn with such precision that their desires clash in ways that feel both inevitable and tragic. Raicek resists easy archetypes: Liv is not merely the observer, Isabel not just the widow, Damon not simply the object of desire. Instead, each character exists in a constant state of becoming—and undoing—revealing uncomfortable truths about grief, intimacy, and self-deception.
What elevates The Plunge beyond a compulsively readable page-turner is its psychological depth. The novel lingers in that fraught, liminal space between desire and betrayal, asking how far we can follow our impulses before they fracture our sense of self. Raicek is particularly incisive about grief—not as a quiet, contained emotion, but as something volatile and embodied and pervasive. The book draws, at times almost explicitly, on Freudian undercurrents, exploring how eros and thanatos—sex and death—coil around each other in ways that are both destructive and generative.
And yes, it is undeniably steamy—but the sensuality here is never gratuitous. It’s charged with meaning, often serving as a language for what the characters cannot articulate otherwise. Intimacy becomes both a refuge and a weapon, a way to feel alive and a way to escape the unbearable.
Raicek’s prose deserves its own praise: it’s sharp without being brittle, lush without tipping into excess. There’s a confidence to the writing that makes even the most emotionally raw moments feel controlled and intentional. Lines linger; scenes echo. You don’t just read this book—you absorb it.
On top of this, Raicek moves us effortlessly from the electric pulse of Manhattan to the windswept austerity of the North Fork, and then to the golden, almost unreal stillness of Lake Como. Each setting isn’t just a backdrop but an emotional register—mirroring the characters’ shifting states of longing, denial, and unraveling.
By the end, I didn’t just feel entertained; I felt unsettled in the best possible way. The Plunge is about reinvention, but it refuses to romanticize starting over. Instead, it asks what we carry with us when everything falls apart—and whether we can ever truly outrun ourselves.
I fell completely under the spell of Liv, and was equally captivated—and disturbed—by Isabel and Damon. This is a novel that seduces you, then quietly destabilizes you.
Absolutely throw this in your beach bag as your "summer must-read"—but don’t be surprised if you emerge from it a little undone and indelibly changed.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the gifted ALC of this audiobook, to Park Row Books & HTP @htphive for the early finished copy and e-ARC of the book, and Netgalley for both the e-ARC & ALC...this is my honest review.
🎧📱The Plunge📱🎧
Author: Lila Raicek
Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Audiobook Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Narrator: Dylan Moore
Length: 11 hours, 36 minutes
Publisher: Park Row Books | HTP
MY RATING: 4.75/5⭐
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)
Scintillating and seductive, The Plunge is the literary thriller and must-read debut from author Lila Raicek that everybody will be talking about this summer! This tantalizing story was such an addictive read that I could not put down.
The Plunge is part literary thriller, part story about grief and trauma, and part illicit love story of a teetering-on-the-edge and forbidden love affair. I read this immersively between the early finished copy and advanced audiobook from the publisher. Narrator Dylan Rose was nothing short of phenomenal in the way she conveyed the multi-faceted layers of these characters. Her narration was easy to listen to and she perfectly enhanced the beautiful prose of this read.
In the wake of her fiancé’s shocking death, main character Liv flees to New York City where she seeks refuge in the apartment of an old mentor. Broken and lonely, she ventures out one night to attend a party and reconnects with Damon, her charismatic former neighbor. At his side is Isabel, a beguiling older widow who intrigues Liv. She's drawn into the charged dynamic between Damon & Isabel, and quickly becomes entangled in their dazzling lives and their social circle. A social circle that includes an investigative journalist who knows a big secret about Liv's past, which could completely up-end her life as she knows it.
The twists in this literary thriller didn't really hit until the final few chapters of this book, but it doesn't mean the entire story didn't captivate me! I was completely immersed in this read. I was spellbound by these characters, the setting, the sensuality, the longing, the loss, the grief, the mystery. The secrets within these pages strummed like a forlorn and forbidden guitar, but their pulsing rhythm directed my attention to the deeply compelling literary prose surrounding their slow-burning reveals.
If you're a fan of slow-burning literary thrillers that draw you into their stories with compelling characters and intriguing plotlines you can't stop reading, you're going to want to read The Plunge. I genuinely think everyone's going to be talking about this book -- and you will want to be a part of that conversation.
#ThePlunge #LilaRaicek #HTP #partner #ParkRowBooks #HTPHive #HarlequinAudio #audiobook #ARC #Netgalley #debutauthor #fiction #literarythriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
🎧📱The Plunge📱🎧
Author: Lila Raicek
Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Audiobook Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Narrator: Dylan Moore
Length: 11 hours, 36 minutes
Publisher: Park Row Books | HTP
MY RATING: 4.75/5⭐
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)
Scintillating and seductive, The Plunge is the literary thriller and must-read debut from author Lila Raicek that everybody will be talking about this summer! This tantalizing story was such an addictive read that I could not put down.
The Plunge is part literary thriller, part story about grief and trauma, and part illicit love story of a teetering-on-the-edge and forbidden love affair. I read this immersively between the early finished copy and advanced audiobook from the publisher. Narrator Dylan Rose was nothing short of phenomenal in the way she conveyed the multi-faceted layers of these characters. Her narration was easy to listen to and she perfectly enhanced the beautiful prose of this read.
In the wake of her fiancé’s shocking death, main character Liv flees to New York City where she seeks refuge in the apartment of an old mentor. Broken and lonely, she ventures out one night to attend a party and reconnects with Damon, her charismatic former neighbor. At his side is Isabel, a beguiling older widow who intrigues Liv. She's drawn into the charged dynamic between Damon & Isabel, and quickly becomes entangled in their dazzling lives and their social circle. A social circle that includes an investigative journalist who knows a big secret about Liv's past, which could completely up-end her life as she knows it.
The twists in this literary thriller didn't really hit until the final few chapters of this book, but it doesn't mean the entire story didn't captivate me! I was completely immersed in this read. I was spellbound by these characters, the setting, the sensuality, the longing, the loss, the grief, the mystery. The secrets within these pages strummed like a forlorn and forbidden guitar, but their pulsing rhythm directed my attention to the deeply compelling literary prose surrounding their slow-burning reveals.
If you're a fan of slow-burning literary thrillers that draw you into their stories with compelling characters and intriguing plotlines you can't stop reading, you're going to want to read The Plunge. I genuinely think everyone's going to be talking about this book -- and you will want to be a part of that conversation.
#ThePlunge #LilaRaicek #HTP #partner #ParkRowBooks #HTPHive #HarlequinAudio #audiobook #ARC #Netgalley #debutauthor #fiction #literarythriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
April 25, 2026
okay so The Plunge is going to find its people and those people are going to be RABID for it, i can already tell.
lila raicek is doing a very specific thing here and she's doing it well — this is high-society new york distilled into book form. sensuous, scandalous, dripping with duplicity, the kind of novel where every character is glittering and slightly poisoned. liv stumbling into damon and isabel's orbit at a party and just… letting herself get folded into their dynamic? that's the whole tonal mission statement right there. the east end to lake como pipeline is also extremely "book of the summer" of it all and i mean that as a compliment.
what genuinely impressed me is how raicek handles grief. liv is processing the death of her disgraced fiancé and the novel never lets you forget it, even when she's sliding into something glamorous and self-destructive. the loss is the engine. the affair, the parties, the entanglement — all of it is grief wearing a silk slip dress. that's hard to pull off without tipping into melodrama and raicek mostly threads it.
this is a literary thriller in the truest sense, which is to say: the thriller is doing background vocals. the focus is firmly on psychology, interiority, the slow unspooling of a woman who is lying to herself with extraordinary commitment. rex as the threatening outside force works structurally but the real tension is internal — what liv won't let herself know. very The Guest, very Luster, those comps are EARNED for once (publishing pls take notes).
the prose is lyrical and the wit is sharp. raicek can write a sentence.
so why four and not five? honestly it's a vibe thing more than a flaw thing. the deliberate slowness and psychological priority is the entire point of the book, and i respect it, but there were stretches where i wanted the screws tightened a little harder. the dynamic between liv, damon, and isabel is so compelling that i sometimes wished the novel trusted itself to lean into the messier, more volatile beats sooner. it's a book that simmers when occasionally i wanted it to boil. but that's a personal preference and not a craft issue — raicek clearly knows exactly what novel she's writing.
a strong, assured debut. if you loved The Guest, if you're still thinking about Luster, if you have a soft spot for hot girls unraveling in beautiful settings — this one's for you.
lila raicek is doing a very specific thing here and she's doing it well — this is high-society new york distilled into book form. sensuous, scandalous, dripping with duplicity, the kind of novel where every character is glittering and slightly poisoned. liv stumbling into damon and isabel's orbit at a party and just… letting herself get folded into their dynamic? that's the whole tonal mission statement right there. the east end to lake como pipeline is also extremely "book of the summer" of it all and i mean that as a compliment.
what genuinely impressed me is how raicek handles grief. liv is processing the death of her disgraced fiancé and the novel never lets you forget it, even when she's sliding into something glamorous and self-destructive. the loss is the engine. the affair, the parties, the entanglement — all of it is grief wearing a silk slip dress. that's hard to pull off without tipping into melodrama and raicek mostly threads it.
this is a literary thriller in the truest sense, which is to say: the thriller is doing background vocals. the focus is firmly on psychology, interiority, the slow unspooling of a woman who is lying to herself with extraordinary commitment. rex as the threatening outside force works structurally but the real tension is internal — what liv won't let herself know. very The Guest, very Luster, those comps are EARNED for once (publishing pls take notes).
the prose is lyrical and the wit is sharp. raicek can write a sentence.
so why four and not five? honestly it's a vibe thing more than a flaw thing. the deliberate slowness and psychological priority is the entire point of the book, and i respect it, but there were stretches where i wanted the screws tightened a little harder. the dynamic between liv, damon, and isabel is so compelling that i sometimes wished the novel trusted itself to lean into the messier, more volatile beats sooner. it's a book that simmers when occasionally i wanted it to boil. but that's a personal preference and not a craft issue — raicek clearly knows exactly what novel she's writing.
a strong, assured debut. if you loved The Guest, if you're still thinking about Luster, if you have a soft spot for hot girls unraveling in beautiful settings — this one's for you.
September 10, 2025
Particularly engrossing for me, with how I'd recently had a similar health scare myself, was a scene in Lila Raicek’s more writerly than realistic literary thriller, “The Plunge,” in which her narrator, Liv, is told by a doctor to go immediately to an ER. Not something you’d ever want to hear, of course, and scary enough in my own case that it had me pushing stoplights to get to my local trauma center but in Liv’s case had her unfathomably putting off the doctor’s counsel – this despite her affliction being an eye condition with the very risk it posed of her losing her sight.
But more a writerly device denoting partial metaphorical blindness than an actual physical condition her affliction seemed to me – no actual person, after all, would hesitate a second in heeding the doctor’s exhortation – in a novel whose New York literariness fairly screams itself with every word out of its characters’ mouths. This, for instance, from Liv’s ailing older writer roommate:
“As writers, we live two concurrent lives. We live in multiple autobiographies. We are driven by the tension between our desire to reveal and our desire to hide, by the push and pull between our exterior life and our interior one.”
But for all the pomposity of his pronouncement, he’s the most likeable character in a novel populated by largely unlikeable characters, starting with Liv, who’s trying to get over the death of her fiance, Graham, in a car accident the full details of which the reader will get only in dribs and drabs as Liv navigates her way through a landscape of distinctly New York types including the man she becomes sexually obsessed with to the point of self-debasement, and an older woman, Isabella, who’s every bit as sexually charged as Liv in a novel so libido-infused as to seem almost anachronistic in our current climate in which we’re told that young people in particular are turning away from sex.
But, again, more figurative than realistic for me, both the sexual and relational vibes in a novel that’s being touted as a propulsive thriller and indeed was satisfying enough for me on that count, though not as overall compelling as I might have hoped, with its distinctly literary aspect.
But more a writerly device denoting partial metaphorical blindness than an actual physical condition her affliction seemed to me – no actual person, after all, would hesitate a second in heeding the doctor’s exhortation – in a novel whose New York literariness fairly screams itself with every word out of its characters’ mouths. This, for instance, from Liv’s ailing older writer roommate:
“As writers, we live two concurrent lives. We live in multiple autobiographies. We are driven by the tension between our desire to reveal and our desire to hide, by the push and pull between our exterior life and our interior one.”
But for all the pomposity of his pronouncement, he’s the most likeable character in a novel populated by largely unlikeable characters, starting with Liv, who’s trying to get over the death of her fiance, Graham, in a car accident the full details of which the reader will get only in dribs and drabs as Liv navigates her way through a landscape of distinctly New York types including the man she becomes sexually obsessed with to the point of self-debasement, and an older woman, Isabella, who’s every bit as sexually charged as Liv in a novel so libido-infused as to seem almost anachronistic in our current climate in which we’re told that young people in particular are turning away from sex.
But, again, more figurative than realistic for me, both the sexual and relational vibes in a novel that’s being touted as a propulsive thriller and indeed was satisfying enough for me on that count, though not as overall compelling as I might have hoped, with its distinctly literary aspect.
May 8, 2026
If I had to use just a handful of words to describe THE PLUNGE by Lila Raicek, they would be sexy, juicy, mysterious, and intoxicating. This book was a pleasant surprise. I must admit that I only gave the synopsis a quick glance. I was so drawn to the cover, that I didn’t even really care what it was about—I just knew that I had to read it.
𝘈 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦. 𝘈𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.
I found it difficult to pull myself away from this story. I went back and forth between the physical copy and the audiobook, just trying to sneak in as much as I possibly could. I will say that I wasn’t a huge fan of Liv, the female protagonist, but I was a little obsessed with finding out which moves she’d make next. She’s a little reckless and a tad dangerous—the opposite of myself—so she fascinated the heck out of me.
I especially loved that I didn’t have a clue where this story was headed. There’s a constant hint of mystery throughout regarding Liv’s past, her fiancé’s death, and her part in it. Yet, the toxic love affair/triangle that she gets herself involved in will get your heart racing more than the mystery/thriller aspect to this novel! Wow! Prepare yourself for some gritty and scandalous behavior!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Literary suspense novels
- Hint of mystery
- Sexy and spicy scenes
- Love triangles and affairs
- Complicated relationships
- Reflections on loss and grief
- Rich people behaving badly
- Secrets and betrayal
- Travel and adventure
- Slow-burning storylines
Overall, I found this debut quite mesmerizing. I absolutely LOVED Raicek’s lyrical and atmospheric writing style, and can’t wait to read whatever she writes next! 4/5 stars!
𝘈 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦. 𝘈𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.
I found it difficult to pull myself away from this story. I went back and forth between the physical copy and the audiobook, just trying to sneak in as much as I possibly could. I will say that I wasn’t a huge fan of Liv, the female protagonist, but I was a little obsessed with finding out which moves she’d make next. She’s a little reckless and a tad dangerous—the opposite of myself—so she fascinated the heck out of me.
I especially loved that I didn’t have a clue where this story was headed. There’s a constant hint of mystery throughout regarding Liv’s past, her fiancé’s death, and her part in it. Yet, the toxic love affair/triangle that she gets herself involved in will get your heart racing more than the mystery/thriller aspect to this novel! Wow! Prepare yourself for some gritty and scandalous behavior!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Literary suspense novels
- Hint of mystery
- Sexy and spicy scenes
- Love triangles and affairs
- Complicated relationships
- Reflections on loss and grief
- Rich people behaving badly
- Secrets and betrayal
- Travel and adventure
- Slow-burning storylines
Overall, I found this debut quite mesmerizing. I absolutely LOVED Raicek’s lyrical and atmospheric writing style, and can’t wait to read whatever she writes next! 4/5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Sultry Literary Thriller, 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑷𝑳𝑼𝑵𝑮𝑬 𝒃𝒚 𝑳𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒌 & 𝑵𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑫𝒚𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒆, was my nightly read from @parkrowbooks @htpbooks, but when I saw the audio offered by @htpbooks_audio I couldn't resist finishing the last half with it today!
This novel is a deeply compelling and darkly sexy suspense that had me staying up way too late for that one more chapter. It felt a bit weird to feel so entranced with this novel, as it had many components that are not my usual fare. The relationships within are unconventional, and the open door scenes are not usually my thing, but it did feel that both gave the darker atmosphere of desire and passion that would have been hard to convey otherwise.
Liv heads to NYC after the complicated death of her fiancé and is confronted with an old neighbor with whom a flame had been felt. The heat is still there, but his circle and her secrets are on a collision course, and they won't all make it out unscathed.
This is a slow burn suspense, with a deeper exploration of how complicated grief, regret, fear, and loss can push people into situations where the red flags would possibly have deterred in another state of mind. It is also a debut, which I find quite impressive.
The audio was a great addition, even though I was a bit surprised by how one or two characters sounded from what I had in my head! They weren't unpleasant surprises, however, so I would recommend either format if this sounds intriguing to you too! This comes out April 21st, so be sure to add it to your watch list.
This novel is a deeply compelling and darkly sexy suspense that had me staying up way too late for that one more chapter. It felt a bit weird to feel so entranced with this novel, as it had many components that are not my usual fare. The relationships within are unconventional, and the open door scenes are not usually my thing, but it did feel that both gave the darker atmosphere of desire and passion that would have been hard to convey otherwise.
Liv heads to NYC after the complicated death of her fiancé and is confronted with an old neighbor with whom a flame had been felt. The heat is still there, but his circle and her secrets are on a collision course, and they won't all make it out unscathed.
This is a slow burn suspense, with a deeper exploration of how complicated grief, regret, fear, and loss can push people into situations where the red flags would possibly have deterred in another state of mind. It is also a debut, which I find quite impressive.
The audio was a great addition, even though I was a bit surprised by how one or two characters sounded from what I had in my head! They weren't unpleasant surprises, however, so I would recommend either format if this sounds intriguing to you too! This comes out April 21st, so be sure to add it to your watch list.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I appreciated how controlled and intentional this story felt from start to finish. It leans heavily into atmosphere and psychology, and that worked for me. The tension doesn’t come from fast twists but from watching grief, desire, and denial slowly collide, which made the reading experience quietly unsettling in a way I enjoyed.
Liv is not an easy character to like, but she is compelling. Her choices are messy and often uncomfortable, yet they feel rooted in her emotional state rather than shock value. The relationships around her, especially the dynamics with Damon and Isabel, are layered and deliberately uneasy. Power, attraction, and vulnerability blur together, and the story never rushes to make any of it feel safe or resolved.
The pacing is slow and deliberate, but it suits the tone. I liked that the book trusts the reader to sit with discomfort and ambiguity instead of spelling everything out. The writing itself is sharp and immersive, very focused on interiority and mood, which made the psychological elements feel more convincing than a purely plot-driven approach would have.
While the characters kept me at a slight emotional distance, I didn’t see that as a flaw. It felt intentional and appropriate for the story being told. Overall, this was a solid, engaging read for me, especially if you enjoy literary thrillers that prioritize character psychology over constant action.
Liv is not an easy character to like, but she is compelling. Her choices are messy and often uncomfortable, yet they feel rooted in her emotional state rather than shock value. The relationships around her, especially the dynamics with Damon and Isabel, are layered and deliberately uneasy. Power, attraction, and vulnerability blur together, and the story never rushes to make any of it feel safe or resolved.
The pacing is slow and deliberate, but it suits the tone. I liked that the book trusts the reader to sit with discomfort and ambiguity instead of spelling everything out. The writing itself is sharp and immersive, very focused on interiority and mood, which made the psychological elements feel more convincing than a purely plot-driven approach would have.
While the characters kept me at a slight emotional distance, I didn’t see that as a flaw. It felt intentional and appropriate for the story being told. Overall, this was a solid, engaging read for me, especially if you enjoy literary thrillers that prioritize character psychology over constant action.
May 8, 2026
The Plunge is the kind of novel that completely consumes you—seductive, unsettling, emotionally raw, and impossible to put down. Lila Raicek delivers a stunning debut that blends psychological suspense with razor-sharp literary prose, creating a story that feels both intoxicating and deeply haunting.
From the very first page, I was pulled into Liv’s world of grief, obsession, glamour, and unraveling desire. The chemistry between Liv, Damon, and Isabel crackles with tension, and Raicek masterfully builds an atmosphere that is equal parts luxurious and dangerous. Every interaction feels loaded, every secret simmers beneath the surface, and the suspense tightens with each chapter.
What truly elevates The Plunge is its emotional intelligence. Beneath the scandal and seduction is a profound exploration of longing, self-deception, trauma, and the messy ways people try to escape themselves. Raicek writes with extraordinary precision and style—her prose is lush without being overwritten, sharp without losing emotional depth.
This book feels cinematic in the best way: glamorous New York nights, simmering summer heat, emotionally charged confrontations, and a sense of impending disaster you can’t look away from. Fans of dark literary thrillers and psychologically complex character studies will devour this.
A mesmerizing, sophisticated, and wildly compelling debut. The Plunge is easily one of the most unforgettable novels I’ve read in a long time.
From the very first page, I was pulled into Liv’s world of grief, obsession, glamour, and unraveling desire. The chemistry between Liv, Damon, and Isabel crackles with tension, and Raicek masterfully builds an atmosphere that is equal parts luxurious and dangerous. Every interaction feels loaded, every secret simmers beneath the surface, and the suspense tightens with each chapter.
What truly elevates The Plunge is its emotional intelligence. Beneath the scandal and seduction is a profound exploration of longing, self-deception, trauma, and the messy ways people try to escape themselves. Raicek writes with extraordinary precision and style—her prose is lush without being overwritten, sharp without losing emotional depth.
This book feels cinematic in the best way: glamorous New York nights, simmering summer heat, emotionally charged confrontations, and a sense of impending disaster you can’t look away from. Fans of dark literary thrillers and psychologically complex character studies will devour this.
A mesmerizing, sophisticated, and wildly compelling debut. The Plunge is easily one of the most unforgettable novels I’ve read in a long time.
May 8, 2026
OMFG!! Lila Raicek’s The Plunge is a sumptuous dive into the exquisite tension between longing and surrender. From the very first page, desire simmers beneath the surface, pulling the reader into a world where every glance, every brush of skin, feels charged with electricity. Raicek writes with a sensuous precision that makes the heat between her characters almost tangible, and the emotional stakes make each intimate moment feel impossibly potent.
The characters themselves are beautifully realized—flawed, magnetic, and achingly alive. Their connection is not merely physical; it is a delicate dance of vulnerability and trust, a slow unraveling of walls that leaves them exposed and yearning. Raicek balances passion with insight, giving the reader both the thrill of forbidden closeness and the satisfaction of emotional depth. It’s a story that lingers in the mind, a heady mixture of heart and heat.
What sets The Plunge apart is the prose itself—elegant, lyrical, dropping gems, and vividly charged. Every sentence seems designed to draw the reader closer to the pulse of the story, where temptation and tenderness collide.
This is an erotic thriller that seduces the intellect as much as it awakens the senses, a literary embrace that leaves you breathless, satisfied, and craving more.
The characters themselves are beautifully realized—flawed, magnetic, and achingly alive. Their connection is not merely physical; it is a delicate dance of vulnerability and trust, a slow unraveling of walls that leaves them exposed and yearning. Raicek balances passion with insight, giving the reader both the thrill of forbidden closeness and the satisfaction of emotional depth. It’s a story that lingers in the mind, a heady mixture of heart and heat.
What sets The Plunge apart is the prose itself—elegant, lyrical, dropping gems, and vividly charged. Every sentence seems designed to draw the reader closer to the pulse of the story, where temptation and tenderness collide.
This is an erotic thriller that seduces the intellect as much as it awakens the senses, a literary embrace that leaves you breathless, satisfied, and craving more.
April 23, 2026
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥: slow-burning literary thriller, seductive affairs, toxic relationships, exploration of grief and trauma, secrets, and obsession.
This is being tagged as a literary debut, and I concur that this falls into that category. It has a strong character-driven plot where the focus isn’t so much on what the characters are doing but why they do what they do. The crackling tension and suspense are built through psychological and emotional aspects; here, specifically, the toxic sexual liaisons, looming grief, and secrets used as leverage.
While the pace is measured, the author does a fantastic job of keeping you on edge. These people, their entanglements, and their obsessions teeter on the brink of disaster, and you won’t know who to trust. From New York to Lake Como, Italy, this is a complex, sensuous, and dark look at secrets and betrayals of friends and lovers.
Put this on your summer sizzle list!
🎧 Dylan Moore’s narration added a layer of suspense and tension to this unique narrative. Not only did she give the characters excellent distinction, but it was sultry, with a tautness that hung in the air throughout.
Thank you @htpbooks @htp_hive @parkrowbooks @lilafein and @harlequinbooks for the gifted book and audiobook.
This is being tagged as a literary debut, and I concur that this falls into that category. It has a strong character-driven plot where the focus isn’t so much on what the characters are doing but why they do what they do. The crackling tension and suspense are built through psychological and emotional aspects; here, specifically, the toxic sexual liaisons, looming grief, and secrets used as leverage.
While the pace is measured, the author does a fantastic job of keeping you on edge. These people, their entanglements, and their obsessions teeter on the brink of disaster, and you won’t know who to trust. From New York to Lake Como, Italy, this is a complex, sensuous, and dark look at secrets and betrayals of friends and lovers.
Put this on your summer sizzle list!
🎧 Dylan Moore’s narration added a layer of suspense and tension to this unique narrative. Not only did she give the characters excellent distinction, but it was sultry, with a tautness that hung in the air throughout.
Thank you @htpbooks @htp_hive @parkrowbooks @lilafein and @harlequinbooks for the gifted book and audiobook.
May 6, 2026
3.5. A propulsive novel about a young woman grieving a loss and processing trauma, vulnerable to the overtures of Damon, the jeweler love interest, and Isabel, the older woman who takes Lila under her wing. The writing is lovely and the complicated portrait of Lila and of grief was effective. The tone was quiet and evocative, permeated by a rather dark but conceivable perspective on people and life.
On the downside, I found the peripheral characters to be a bit inconsistent and confusing. If the goal was to keep the reader ungrounded, unable to trust anyone, it was achieved. It was an effective device for pulling me through the book but it left me exhausted and at times, frustrated. I wanted to understand why a protagonist would continue to subject herself to such deeply fraught relationships and profoundly unlikable people.
The central conflict that climaxed at the end felt at once like too much and not enough, though it was necessary to allow Liv to break free from the hold these miserable people had on her. Sam was a highlight of the book. I wanted more genuine, good people to remind me of the world outside the traumatized, wealthy elite that the book centered upon.
Lila is a lovely writer and the book was highly readable, just less memorable than I wanted. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing and Lila Raicek for the early review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
On the downside, I found the peripheral characters to be a bit inconsistent and confusing. If the goal was to keep the reader ungrounded, unable to trust anyone, it was achieved. It was an effective device for pulling me through the book but it left me exhausted and at times, frustrated. I wanted to understand why a protagonist would continue to subject herself to such deeply fraught relationships and profoundly unlikable people.
The central conflict that climaxed at the end felt at once like too much and not enough, though it was necessary to allow Liv to break free from the hold these miserable people had on her. Sam was a highlight of the book. I wanted more genuine, good people to remind me of the world outside the traumatized, wealthy elite that the book centered upon.
Lila is a lovely writer and the book was highly readable, just less memorable than I wanted. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing and Lila Raicek for the early review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 1, 2025
This is a very complex book, but also a short and easy to digest book, so I think a lot of people will like this.
Our main character has a lot going on in her life, she is mourning the death of her fiancé and is trying to get her life back together. She ends up in New York with a man who she has previously met, and she explores that possibility of feeling and being in a relationship again.
She also makes new friends, drama is made, and people are digging through secrets.
These are complex characters with a lot going on inside of them, but they weren't particularly likable. I don't know if that was on-purpose or not, but I really didn't care for most of them. I do think they were supposed to represent something about society and how we view certain situations and people, but I still couldn't tell what I was supposed to feel for them.
I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, I just don't know if it was necessarily for me. I really like to like the characters in the books I'm reading. I want someone to relate to or someone to root for.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Our main character has a lot going on in her life, she is mourning the death of her fiancé and is trying to get her life back together. She ends up in New York with a man who she has previously met, and she explores that possibility of feeling and being in a relationship again.
She also makes new friends, drama is made, and people are digging through secrets.
These are complex characters with a lot going on inside of them, but they weren't particularly likable. I don't know if that was on-purpose or not, but I really didn't care for most of them. I do think they were supposed to represent something about society and how we view certain situations and people, but I still couldn't tell what I was supposed to feel for them.
I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, I just don't know if it was necessarily for me. I really like to like the characters in the books I'm reading. I want someone to relate to or someone to root for.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
May 9, 2026
Dark, glamorous, and emotionally intense, this book completely pulled me into Liv’s messy and unraveling world. The writing is beautifully lyrical while still feeling sharp and unsettling, creating the perfect atmosphere for a psychological thriller filled with obsession, secrets, and complicated relationships.
Liv is such a flawed and fascinating character, and watching her become tangled in Damon and Isabel’s glittering, toxic world was impossible to look away from. The luxurious settings, summer parties, and emotional tension gave the story a dreamy quality, but underneath it all was this constant feeling that everything was about to fall apart.
This is definitely more of a slow-burn, character-driven thriller, but the emotional depth and creeping tension made it incredibly addictive. Perfect for readers who love messy characters, unreliable narrators, and beautifully written psychological fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: grief, toxic relationships, emotional manipulation, infidelity, substance use, mental health struggles, and emotional abuse.
Liv is such a flawed and fascinating character, and watching her become tangled in Damon and Isabel’s glittering, toxic world was impossible to look away from. The luxurious settings, summer parties, and emotional tension gave the story a dreamy quality, but underneath it all was this constant feeling that everything was about to fall apart.
This is definitely more of a slow-burn, character-driven thriller, but the emotional depth and creeping tension made it incredibly addictive. Perfect for readers who love messy characters, unreliable narrators, and beautifully written psychological fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: grief, toxic relationships, emotional manipulation, infidelity, substance use, mental health struggles, and emotional abuse.
April 27, 2026
Some novels you read. The Plunge you submit to. "As writers, we live two concurrent lives," Raicek writes — "driven by the tension between our desire to reveal and our desire to hide." Her debut puts that tension on the page and lets it burn. A love triangle on its surface, The Plunge is really a novel about the stories we tell ourselves to keep our exterior and interior lives from touching — and what happens the moment they finally do. Three people, three wants, a dread that thickens page by page. It's a rare pleasure to read a thriller this propulsive that also has a real intellectual voice behind it. The prose is lush, watchful, and alive to the small betrayals beneath the larger one. Raicek understands that the most interesting infidelity is the one her characters are committing against their own self-image. A debut that pulls you in and refuses to let you look away. A must-read and an author to have on all your watch lists!
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