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Verity's Game
A lovers-to-enemies lesbian romantic thriller which proves killing is hard, but falling in love might be a death sentence.
Two elite, undercover, rival assassins are drawn to each other after meeting at a nightclub to unknowingly carry out a hit on the same man.
For lone wolf American assassin Verity, their connection is so intense she thinks she might want to risk falling for gorgeous Mexican translator Reina.
Too bad Reina’s next contract is to kill Verity—a woman Reina is so attracted to it scares her to her core.
In this fast-paced scramble through the dark clubs, cafes, and gleaming art galleries of Mexico City, their lethal game becomes about far more than just saving their lives.
Two elite, undercover, rival assassins are drawn to each other after meeting at a nightclub to unknowingly carry out a hit on the same man.
For lone wolf American assassin Verity, their connection is so intense she thinks she might want to risk falling for gorgeous Mexican translator Reina.
Too bad Reina’s next contract is to kill Verity—a woman Reina is so attracted to it scares her to her core.
In this fast-paced scramble through the dark clubs, cafes, and gleaming art galleries of Mexico City, their lethal game becomes about far more than just saving their lives.
Unknown Binding
First published August 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 29, 2024
4⭐️
The premise that the two assassins, the American Verity and the Mexican Reina, are supposed to eliminate the same person and get in each other's way in the process, promises action. However, the fact that the two are also very much attracted to each other complicates matters many times. The icing on the cake is that Reina is given the task of eliminating Verity. A real game of cat and mouse begins as to who will kill whom, or not. Then, they are actually a perfect team.
In addition to the action and suspense, art plays a major role, and social issues are also addressed. The sparks fly between Verity and Reina, whether as opponents in a fight or playing sports in bed.
Although both women are assassins, which is not the most likable profession, I liked both from the start. The sexual tension is tingling and I also enjoyed the banter between them. The only thing I would have liked was a bit more backstory.
The pace is fast and some situations are a little unrealistic, but it's fun to follow their bumpy road, even if sometimes the air is too leaden. If you like reading stories where the protagonists make the world a better place, but not always in a legal way, you should read this book.
Thanks to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
The premise that the two assassins, the American Verity and the Mexican Reina, are supposed to eliminate the same person and get in each other's way in the process, promises action. However, the fact that the two are also very much attracted to each other complicates matters many times. The icing on the cake is that Reina is given the task of eliminating Verity. A real game of cat and mouse begins as to who will kill whom, or not. Then, they are actually a perfect team.
In addition to the action and suspense, art plays a major role, and social issues are also addressed. The sparks fly between Verity and Reina, whether as opponents in a fight or playing sports in bed.
Although both women are assassins, which is not the most likable profession, I liked both from the start. The sexual tension is tingling and I also enjoyed the banter between them. The only thing I would have liked was a bit more backstory.
The pace is fast and some situations are a little unrealistic, but it's fun to follow their bumpy road, even if sometimes the air is too leaden. If you like reading stories where the protagonists make the world a better place, but not always in a legal way, you should read this book.
Thanks to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
August 12, 2024
3.5⭐️ This is an action packed book about two rival women assassins. Verity is an ex military Army Ranger who is now a contract killer living in Mexico City. Reina grew up an orphan who was adopted by a very wealthy woman running an international conglomerate. Reina is sent to finishing school and is taught martial arts. And she is tasked to eliminate anyone causing problems for the corporation.
Verity and Reina meet up in a club each trying to kill the same man. Afterwards they hook up even though they both know it’s a bad idea, neither can resist the immediate attraction that they have for each other. Early the next morning trouble starts with their handlers and the police looking for them . Here’s where the action starts with them avoiding the police and other bad guys and hunting each other as well
I liked both characters and all the action in this book. It was an entertaining and different read than most sapphic fiction. I would have liked to know the character’s thoughts better and have had more emotion and dialogue in the book. Especially more background on Verity and how she chose to be an assassin.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Verity and Reina meet up in a club each trying to kill the same man. Afterwards they hook up even though they both know it’s a bad idea, neither can resist the immediate attraction that they have for each other. Early the next morning trouble starts with their handlers and the police looking for them . Here’s where the action starts with them avoiding the police and other bad guys and hunting each other as well
I liked both characters and all the action in this book. It was an entertaining and different read than most sapphic fiction. I would have liked to know the character’s thoughts better and have had more emotion and dialogue in the book. Especially more background on Verity and how she chose to be an assassin.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
August 6, 2024
I loved The Art of the Chase and Jennifer Giacalone did not disappoint with this action packed adventure involving Mexican cartel figures from two organizations. For our mains, we first met Verity, a black daughter of a U.S. Army Ranger who had strength and skills from her time in Afghanistan. Her assignment was from the business, Mexilógico, to kill Senator Emilio Guzman, a high profiled and corrupt politician involved in shady deals.
Little known to Verity was that she was not the only one with that assignment. At an evening in a gay club, Verity, the beautiful lesbian hooked up with Reina, a beautiful Mexican lesbian who was carrying out her assignment for Sophia Fortunada and her Global Foundation. Verity and Reina shared a lust-filled chemistry and thus, their relationship and their many adventures together began on the dance floor at that club. Unbeknownst to each other, Guzman did die that night, but the actual job was botched and Verity found that she had become a target, with Reina assigned the task of doing away with her.
The story was as electrifying as was the attraction between the two. They played a cat and mouse game as they had multiple chances to kill each other, but would they ever do it? Throughout the story there were chases, guns, bullet wounds and injuries. At times they were two stooges with a taste of the vibe between Thelma and Louise. There were happy times and sad moments. So compelling!
I appreciated the romance, humor and the goodness that was the ultimate goal that guided both of these ladies. The book was a wonderful reading experience that I highly recommend. My thanks to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest opinions.
Little known to Verity was that she was not the only one with that assignment. At an evening in a gay club, Verity, the beautiful lesbian hooked up with Reina, a beautiful Mexican lesbian who was carrying out her assignment for Sophia Fortunada and her Global Foundation. Verity and Reina shared a lust-filled chemistry and thus, their relationship and their many adventures together began on the dance floor at that club. Unbeknownst to each other, Guzman did die that night, but the actual job was botched and Verity found that she had become a target, with Reina assigned the task of doing away with her.
The story was as electrifying as was the attraction between the two. They played a cat and mouse game as they had multiple chances to kill each other, but would they ever do it? Throughout the story there were chases, guns, bullet wounds and injuries. At times they were two stooges with a taste of the vibe between Thelma and Louise. There were happy times and sad moments. So compelling!
I appreciated the romance, humor and the goodness that was the ultimate goal that guided both of these ladies. The book was a wonderful reading experience that I highly recommend. My thanks to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest opinions.
August 14, 2024
This was a fun, fast paced book. Verity, the MC lives out-loud and does nothing gently. Reina is the opposite and incredibly thoughtful and articulate in every move. Separately, they are deadly. Together they are an entertaining good time. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Definitely worth the read.
November 13, 2024
Pace: warp speed.
Body count: high.
Writing: excellent!
Body count: high.
Writing: excellent!
July 22, 2024
This was an enjoyable thriller-romance, perfect for a quick read if you don't mind the main characters being assassins for hire.
The main characters are Verity and Reina. Verity is on a mission to carry out a hit on a politician when she meets a woman she's immediately taken with. It's not until the next day when said woman, Reina, holds her at a gunpoint that Verity realises they were hired to get rid of the same man.
I think the characters have a fun chemistry and there's enough drama going on to make the story interesting and fast paced enough for a thriller. There's probably some suspension of disbelief when it comes to some plot points (I mean one of the characters literally sucks a bullet out of the other, which made me stop reading for a long minute just to wonder... Why) but that comes with every book in this particular genre.
It's a good book for a a bit of mindless relaxing.
The main characters are Verity and Reina. Verity is on a mission to carry out a hit on a politician when she meets a woman she's immediately taken with. It's not until the next day when said woman, Reina, holds her at a gunpoint that Verity realises they were hired to get rid of the same man.
I think the characters have a fun chemistry and there's enough drama going on to make the story interesting and fast paced enough for a thriller. There's probably some suspension of disbelief when it comes to some plot points (I mean one of the characters literally sucks a bullet out of the other, which made me stop reading for a long minute just to wonder... Why) but that comes with every book in this particular genre.
It's a good book for a a bit of mindless relaxing.
November 2, 2024
Action packed like a kick-ass movie with humor in it! I enjoyed it very much...
I finished it while my wife in driving us to a restaurant!
I recommend it for when you want to feel the adrenaline and read about two real badasses characters.
I finished it while my wife in driving us to a restaurant!
I recommend it for when you want to feel the adrenaline and read about two real badasses characters.
September 4, 2024
Exciting and Dangerous!
Verity and Reina meet while undercover at a nightclub and targeting the same hit. When each of them discovers who the other is, the next morning things are messy, but it gets even more complicated when Reina is tasked with killing Verity, who has somehow got under her skin that she can’t help but be attracted to.
This was super exciting and right from the beginning carried an element of danger in everything that was happening. It was quick, everything happening fast, emotions, feeling for one another, orders to kill, all to throw both Verity and Reina off their game. They were both really strong, determined women, and they put up a fight for one another that was both equal and scary, but it only strengthened this attraction between them in one of the hottest ways. Knowing they were rivals almost fuelled their determination to outsmart those giving the orders and play them, to get the result they both wanted.
Eventually, when they worked out they might be stronger as a team, I adored how they came together and worked out a plan to put the bad guys in their place, and potential to get away with a happiness that neither of them had ever dreamed they could have. It really add to the thrill of the story, just how powerful they were both individually and together. In a way, they were kind of unstoppable, so I was rooting for them and amazed by how they actually ended up using their smarts.
There was a lot packed into this story, everything from emotional and feelings, to action, adventure, and that enemies to lovers type relationship that can only be built by people like Verity and Reina. Their personalities is what made the story for me, and I loved it.
Verity and Reina meet while undercover at a nightclub and targeting the same hit. When each of them discovers who the other is, the next morning things are messy, but it gets even more complicated when Reina is tasked with killing Verity, who has somehow got under her skin that she can’t help but be attracted to.
This was super exciting and right from the beginning carried an element of danger in everything that was happening. It was quick, everything happening fast, emotions, feeling for one another, orders to kill, all to throw both Verity and Reina off their game. They were both really strong, determined women, and they put up a fight for one another that was both equal and scary, but it only strengthened this attraction between them in one of the hottest ways. Knowing they were rivals almost fuelled their determination to outsmart those giving the orders and play them, to get the result they both wanted.
Eventually, when they worked out they might be stronger as a team, I adored how they came together and worked out a plan to put the bad guys in their place, and potential to get away with a happiness that neither of them had ever dreamed they could have. It really add to the thrill of the story, just how powerful they were both individually and together. In a way, they were kind of unstoppable, so I was rooting for them and amazed by how they actually ended up using their smarts.
There was a lot packed into this story, everything from emotional and feelings, to action, adventure, and that enemies to lovers type relationship that can only be built by people like Verity and Reina. Their personalities is what made the story for me, and I loved it.
August 9, 2024
The romance is a kind of insta-love with reluctance between these two rival assassins. It gives one assassin the core motivation for the plot, which is then filled with action set after action. It's a quite entertaining story. Easy to read, lots of dry humor, proper violence, a good spice scene and a little angst.
August 4, 2024
That was fun read! A fast paced thriller told the story of two assassin met unknowingly during the same mission and fall for each other, when the outside forces forced them to kill each other, it was up to the two of them to decides was it still worth it to kept doing the mindless dirty works ordered by the higher up.
Throughout the story we began to understand some backstory of the two of them, but it would be nice to know more.
Their chemistry were off the chart, banter between the two of them were witty and hilarious, I do hope the ending wasn't tidy up so cleanly that left no question the author wasn't interested of making a sequel because I would love to read more of them.
Special thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the arc.
Throughout the story we began to understand some backstory of the two of them, but it would be nice to know more.
Their chemistry were off the chart, banter between the two of them were witty and hilarious, I do hope the ending wasn't tidy up so cleanly that left no question the author wasn't interested of making a sequel because I would love to read more of them.
Special thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the arc.
April 11, 2025
3.5
Verity’s game is a blend of romance and crime/mystery. Verity and Reina get to know each other on a hot night out. Little do they know that they were both there to kill the same man. When Reina gets the assignment to kill Verity, their chemistry becomes a cat-and-mouse game. However, they are both struggling with their assassin life and find in each other a person that genuinely understands their life.
The book is thrilling, with things going south all the time. I liked their chemistry, but I would have liked them to spend more quiet/easy time together instead of being in action all the time. I loved that Verity and Reina were black and latina instead of white.
Thank you NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the advanced reading copy.
Verity’s game is a blend of romance and crime/mystery. Verity and Reina get to know each other on a hot night out. Little do they know that they were both there to kill the same man. When Reina gets the assignment to kill Verity, their chemistry becomes a cat-and-mouse game. However, they are both struggling with their assassin life and find in each other a person that genuinely understands their life.
The book is thrilling, with things going south all the time. I liked their chemistry, but I would have liked them to spend more quiet/easy time together instead of being in action all the time. I loved that Verity and Reina were black and latina instead of white.
Thank you NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the advanced reading copy.
August 10, 2024
A fast paced and engaging lovers to enemies romantic crime thriller. I enjoyed The Art of the Chase by this author and this book did not disappoint!
Verity is a 35 yo, ex military, now turned assassin for hire, and is hired to eliminate Senator Emilio Guzmán while he is partying at a gay nightclub in the Zona Rosa district of Mexico City. She is told to make it look like “gay sex gone wrong”. While scoping out the scene, she eyes “Sirena”across the room. Their eyes meet and soon Sirena is next to her. They have an immediate chemistry, but Verity is there to do a job first. After, she goes home with Sirena who shares her real name, Reina. They soon discover they were hired for the same hit and had both completed their task. After Verity escapes from Reina’s apartment a game of cat and mouse across Mexico City ensues.
With Reina’s next contract to kill Verity, the chase is on. Will their feelings for each other prevail or will they stay true to their profession and fight to the death?
This story is filled with thrills and the author skillfully gives us a glimpse into each of their histories so we gain an understanding of how their lives led them to where they are now. It fascinates paced and exciting with characters I felt torn to choose between. A good read and I look forward to more from Giacalone!
I received an arc from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing. I leave this review voluntarily.
Verity is a 35 yo, ex military, now turned assassin for hire, and is hired to eliminate Senator Emilio Guzmán while he is partying at a gay nightclub in the Zona Rosa district of Mexico City. She is told to make it look like “gay sex gone wrong”. While scoping out the scene, she eyes “Sirena”across the room. Their eyes meet and soon Sirena is next to her. They have an immediate chemistry, but Verity is there to do a job first. After, she goes home with Sirena who shares her real name, Reina. They soon discover they were hired for the same hit and had both completed their task. After Verity escapes from Reina’s apartment a game of cat and mouse across Mexico City ensues.
With Reina’s next contract to kill Verity, the chase is on. Will their feelings for each other prevail or will they stay true to their profession and fight to the death?
This story is filled with thrills and the author skillfully gives us a glimpse into each of their histories so we gain an understanding of how their lives led them to where they are now. It fascinates paced and exciting with characters I felt torn to choose between. A good read and I look forward to more from Giacalone!
I received an arc from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing. I leave this review voluntarily.
August 15, 2024
Sometimes you pick up a book in a genre you never read and, 18 hours later, you just need to scream about it. My deepest gratitude to Jennifer Giacalone, author of Verity’s Game, and Ylva Publishing for an ARC of this fun, queer, and action-packed assassin novel!
Verity and Reina don’t know it, but they’ve got a hit out on the same guy. The next morning, when they wake up together, they’re hit with the news: their hits were botched, and now Reina needs to take Verity out. This begs the question: how do you take someone out when you’ve found a connection unlike any other with them?
Once I got into the story, I struggled to put this one down. It honestly felt like a movie, and I bet it would make a great one! It wasn’t only that the action didn’t slow down, but the dynamics between the characters, especially Reina and Verity. Their witty one-liners and constant pull-and-push were addicting. The cat-and-mouse game, all while death was constantly lurking around the corner, had me tearing through the book.
Descriptions were never lingered on for too long, but I still could imagine everything that was happening constantly. I even felt the impact of moments that touched on Verity’s struggle with PTSD, with Reina trying to reconcile who she wanted to be versus who she had been groomed into. The depth of the characters was just heavy enough to add additional dynamics but without dragging the plot down.
Overall, a killer read! (hah.) For my tastes and preferences, Verity’s Game by Jennifer Giacalone was a five star read for me. :) Thank you again to Jennifer and Ylva Publishing for the ARC! This was a surprise delight.
Verity and Reina don’t know it, but they’ve got a hit out on the same guy. The next morning, when they wake up together, they’re hit with the news: their hits were botched, and now Reina needs to take Verity out. This begs the question: how do you take someone out when you’ve found a connection unlike any other with them?
Once I got into the story, I struggled to put this one down. It honestly felt like a movie, and I bet it would make a great one! It wasn’t only that the action didn’t slow down, but the dynamics between the characters, especially Reina and Verity. Their witty one-liners and constant pull-and-push were addicting. The cat-and-mouse game, all while death was constantly lurking around the corner, had me tearing through the book.
Descriptions were never lingered on for too long, but I still could imagine everything that was happening constantly. I even felt the impact of moments that touched on Verity’s struggle with PTSD, with Reina trying to reconcile who she wanted to be versus who she had been groomed into. The depth of the characters was just heavy enough to add additional dynamics but without dragging the plot down.
Overall, a killer read! (hah.) For my tastes and preferences, Verity’s Game by Jennifer Giacalone was a five star read for me. :) Thank you again to Jennifer and Ylva Publishing for the ARC! This was a surprise delight.
August 19, 2024
For a book about two contract killers, it was kinda boring and very little drama. I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if the book was longer because there would be more time to build the relationship up more slowly and the thriller/mystery aspect. Verity and Reina had chemistry but their relationship was not really believable to me because they barely knew each other. I couldn’t understand how two people who should be very careful with other people because of their illegal jobs would be so trusting and cavalier so early on.
The final confrontation with Sofia was very anticlimactic and disappointing. I thought there would be more planning and finesse to outwit such a so-called powerful and scary character. It was solved neatly in a single chapter. I had the same issue with the cop character and how easily Verity and Reina’s problems with the police were dealt with.
The final confrontation with Sofia was very anticlimactic and disappointing. I thought there would be more planning and finesse to outwit such a so-called powerful and scary character. It was solved neatly in a single chapter. I had the same issue with the cop character and how easily Verity and Reina’s problems with the police were dealt with.
August 25, 2024
Two assassins are sent to kill the same guy by different people. And they're both hot, so obviously fall into bed together. This book doesn't quite work as a romance (don't feel the chemistry) or an action thriller (too many plot holes).
July 23, 2024
Another hit from Jennifer Giacalone!
After reading Jennifer Giacalone's first book, Art of the Chase, I was eager to read more of her stories. Verity's Game has a cat and mouse dynamic where both main characters are evenly matched in skill sets, there's loads of action and humor, and it's set in Mexico City. I loved getting to see parts of Mexico City thru the story, experience the energy of certain neighborhoods and really appreciate the choice of this location. Similar to Art of the Chase, art does feature in Verity's Game as well, with artists and artwork that may be new to readers; the artwork itself is nearly a character, as is an unusual vehicle that may stir emotions and become a favorite for some readers for its use and meaning. I anticipated the plot reveals ahead of time but the fun was in getting to them, seeing what happened in the meantime. I suspect this book might have been intentionally written to be somewhat less complex than Art of the Chase in terms of the plot, but it does have lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged and interested in order to see how all the pieces fit together. Both books have a cinematic feel to them that enlivens your imagination and feeds your senses like only a truly great masterpiece of a movie can do.
Part of the winning combination in Giacalone's writing so far is that you'll be entertained but also educated about art and social issues among other things along the way, without any of it being preachy or too deep in the weeds for none but the most ardent nerds to happily immerse themselves in. You'll get incendiary chemistry between main characters and it will come out in every interaction no matter where they are (yes, in the bedroom too); you'll laugh and chuckle and smile and smirk while reading, possibly tear up; and you'll get to the end feeling so satisfied that the only downside is having to wait for her to publish another book to put you thru this kind of rollicking good time rollercoaster all over again.
I highly recommend both of her books and suggest planning your reading so you have leeway to read longer than you originally scheduled, so the feel gooded-ness this story will give you (from your brain to your funny bone and other places too) can be prolonged as much as possible. Be sure to give both books your full attention so you can take in all the details and clues. And check out the art mentioned in both books so it can be seen, known and appreciated by a larger audience.
I look forward to reading her next book whenever it's published.
After reading Jennifer Giacalone's first book, Art of the Chase, I was eager to read more of her stories. Verity's Game has a cat and mouse dynamic where both main characters are evenly matched in skill sets, there's loads of action and humor, and it's set in Mexico City. I loved getting to see parts of Mexico City thru the story, experience the energy of certain neighborhoods and really appreciate the choice of this location. Similar to Art of the Chase, art does feature in Verity's Game as well, with artists and artwork that may be new to readers; the artwork itself is nearly a character, as is an unusual vehicle that may stir emotions and become a favorite for some readers for its use and meaning. I anticipated the plot reveals ahead of time but the fun was in getting to them, seeing what happened in the meantime. I suspect this book might have been intentionally written to be somewhat less complex than Art of the Chase in terms of the plot, but it does have lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged and interested in order to see how all the pieces fit together. Both books have a cinematic feel to them that enlivens your imagination and feeds your senses like only a truly great masterpiece of a movie can do.
Part of the winning combination in Giacalone's writing so far is that you'll be entertained but also educated about art and social issues among other things along the way, without any of it being preachy or too deep in the weeds for none but the most ardent nerds to happily immerse themselves in. You'll get incendiary chemistry between main characters and it will come out in every interaction no matter where they are (yes, in the bedroom too); you'll laugh and chuckle and smile and smirk while reading, possibly tear up; and you'll get to the end feeling so satisfied that the only downside is having to wait for her to publish another book to put you thru this kind of rollicking good time rollercoaster all over again.
I highly recommend both of her books and suggest planning your reading so you have leeway to read longer than you originally scheduled, so the feel gooded-ness this story will give you (from your brain to your funny bone and other places too) can be prolonged as much as possible. Be sure to give both books your full attention so you can take in all the details and clues. And check out the art mentioned in both books so it can be seen, known and appreciated by a larger audience.
I look forward to reading her next book whenever it's published.
August 21, 2025
Few novels capture the intoxicating mix of romance and danger as skillfully as Verity’s Game. Jennifer Giacalone has crafted a story that pulses with adrenaline while never losing sight of the tenderness at its core. The central tension, two assassins drawn together despite knowing their attraction could mean death, is both heartbreaking and thrilling, making every encounter between Verity and Reina electric.
The characters are beautifully drawn. Verity, with her lone-wolf detachment, is forced to confront desires she never thought she would entertain. Reina, with her seemingly innocuous cover as a translator, hides both vulnerability and ruthless determination. Their dynamic is equal parts explosive chemistry and aching vulnerability. You feel their attraction in every word, but you also feel the danger that shadows it, reminding the reader that in this world, love can be as deadly as a bullet.
Mexico City itself is rendered with breathtaking detail. Giacalone takes us from gritty clubs to refined art galleries, weaving atmosphere into every scene. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a vital force that heightens the tension and beauty of the story. Each location feels alive, a reflection of the duality at the heart of the book, light and darkness, love and death, intimacy and betrayal.
The writing is sharp, cinematic, and immersive. The pacing never falters, keeping readers on edge as Verity and Reina navigate the collision of their professional obligations and personal desires. When the devastating revelation comes, that Reina’s contract is to kill Verity, the story pivots into a breathtaking dance of love and survival.
Verity’s Game is more than just a lesbian romantic thriller. It is a celebration of queer love in all its complexity: fierce, flawed, and resilient. It challenges genre conventions while delivering a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling. Readers looking for representation, romance, and riveting suspense will find all three here in abundance.
The characters are beautifully drawn. Verity, with her lone-wolf detachment, is forced to confront desires she never thought she would entertain. Reina, with her seemingly innocuous cover as a translator, hides both vulnerability and ruthless determination. Their dynamic is equal parts explosive chemistry and aching vulnerability. You feel their attraction in every word, but you also feel the danger that shadows it, reminding the reader that in this world, love can be as deadly as a bullet.
Mexico City itself is rendered with breathtaking detail. Giacalone takes us from gritty clubs to refined art galleries, weaving atmosphere into every scene. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a vital force that heightens the tension and beauty of the story. Each location feels alive, a reflection of the duality at the heart of the book, light and darkness, love and death, intimacy and betrayal.
The writing is sharp, cinematic, and immersive. The pacing never falters, keeping readers on edge as Verity and Reina navigate the collision of their professional obligations and personal desires. When the devastating revelation comes, that Reina’s contract is to kill Verity, the story pivots into a breathtaking dance of love and survival.
Verity’s Game is more than just a lesbian romantic thriller. It is a celebration of queer love in all its complexity: fierce, flawed, and resilient. It challenges genre conventions while delivering a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling. Readers looking for representation, romance, and riveting suspense will find all three here in abundance.
August 20, 2024
I loved this novel more than I thought that I would. The writing was excellent, the pacing rapid and compelling, and the characters were surprisingly well developed and genuine feeling. This novel was a lot of fun, quite the thrill ride, while also being surprisingly sympathetic to some serious issues along the way. The author managed to take a premise that was fundamentally unrealistic and present it as a genuine and grounded story. This was a fast read without any sticking points, and enjoyable from start to finish.
High Points:
-Both protagonists had well developed backstories, clear motivations, and a lot of personality. The premise of this novel was quite fantastical however the realistic and grounded characters resulted in a realistic (enough) experience.
-The author did a great job fitting a lot of chemistry between the protagonists into a very small amount of time. On top of their initial attraction was stacked a lot of subtle but meaningful connections and ways in which the characters complimented each other. The first scenes of this novel would make an excellent starting point for any romance novel.
-I liked how the author managed to make assassins (for capitalistic corporate entities no less) likable and sympathetic somehow. I was afraid I wouldn’t really connect with the characters, but that wasn’t the case in the end.
-Both protagonists had their own clear and very reasonable motivations for their actions in the novel, aside from the romantic entanglement. I appreciated this a lot because as much fun as it is for someone to made drastic changes or major decisions for “love”, its honestly unrealistic and eye-roll inducing sometimes. The plotline and character motivations in this novel worked well.
Nitpicks:
-There was not a lot of romance or relationship development beyond the characters instant attraction. This was primarily an action novel, so it makes sense, but the romantic relationship was pivotal to the plotline so I wish we saw a bit more. The rapid timeline didn’t really allow for a lot of slower-paced scenes together so I understand why it was the way it was, I just want more!
-Some parts are unrealistic, but that’s simply what you get with an action flic!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
High Points:
-Both protagonists had well developed backstories, clear motivations, and a lot of personality. The premise of this novel was quite fantastical however the realistic and grounded characters resulted in a realistic (enough) experience.
-The author did a great job fitting a lot of chemistry between the protagonists into a very small amount of time. On top of their initial attraction was stacked a lot of subtle but meaningful connections and ways in which the characters complimented each other. The first scenes of this novel would make an excellent starting point for any romance novel.
-I liked how the author managed to make assassins (for capitalistic corporate entities no less) likable and sympathetic somehow. I was afraid I wouldn’t really connect with the characters, but that wasn’t the case in the end.
-Both protagonists had their own clear and very reasonable motivations for their actions in the novel, aside from the romantic entanglement. I appreciated this a lot because as much fun as it is for someone to made drastic changes or major decisions for “love”, its honestly unrealistic and eye-roll inducing sometimes. The plotline and character motivations in this novel worked well.
Nitpicks:
-There was not a lot of romance or relationship development beyond the characters instant attraction. This was primarily an action novel, so it makes sense, but the romantic relationship was pivotal to the plotline so I wish we saw a bit more. The rapid timeline didn’t really allow for a lot of slower-paced scenes together so I understand why it was the way it was, I just want more!
-Some parts are unrealistic, but that’s simply what you get with an action flic!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2025
Jennifer Giacalone’s Verity’s Game is a razor-sharp romantic thriller that grips from its opening scene and refuses to let go until the final page. The book begins with an electrifying premise: two elite assassins, Verity and Reina, unknowingly assigned to kill the same target, cross paths in a Mexico City nightclub. The chemistry between them is immediate, undeniable, and dangerous, an intoxicating combination that Giacalone writes with exquisite control. Each interaction is infused with tension, as though every flirtatious word is a step closer to an explosion neither can avoid. When Reina receives her next contract, to kill Verity, the tone shifts from dangerous attraction to high-stakes survival, but the emotional thread between them never frays.
The real triumph of Verity’s Game lies in how Giacalone refuses to separate adrenaline from intimacy. This is not a romance that pauses for action, or an action story that sprinkles in romance, here, each fuels the other, raising the stakes until the reader is as invested in their survival as they are in their growing bond. The setting of Mexico City is crafted with an artist’s eye: smoky nightclubs thrum with low bass and whispered deals, sunlit cafes offer moments of deceptive calm, and sleek art galleries become arenas of silent, calculating observation.
Every scene carries weight, from breathless escapes to the quieter moments where walls begin to fall. Giacalone’s prose is tight yet textured, her pacing impeccable, allowing the story to breathe without ever losing its edge. By the end, Verity’s Game is more than a love story wrapped in danger, it is a meditation on the risks we take for connection, the lines we cross for loyalty, and the question of whether love can truly survive in a world built on betrayal. Unputdownable and unforgettable, this is a masterclass in romantic suspense.
The real triumph of Verity’s Game lies in how Giacalone refuses to separate adrenaline from intimacy. This is not a romance that pauses for action, or an action story that sprinkles in romance, here, each fuels the other, raising the stakes until the reader is as invested in their survival as they are in their growing bond. The setting of Mexico City is crafted with an artist’s eye: smoky nightclubs thrum with low bass and whispered deals, sunlit cafes offer moments of deceptive calm, and sleek art galleries become arenas of silent, calculating observation.
Every scene carries weight, from breathless escapes to the quieter moments where walls begin to fall. Giacalone’s prose is tight yet textured, her pacing impeccable, allowing the story to breathe without ever losing its edge. By the end, Verity’s Game is more than a love story wrapped in danger, it is a meditation on the risks we take for connection, the lines we cross for loyalty, and the question of whether love can truly survive in a world built on betrayal. Unputdownable and unforgettable, this is a masterclass in romantic suspense.
August 21, 2025
What makes Verity’s Game unforgettable is its ability to hold contradiction in balance. It is a love story built on danger, a thriller driven by intimacy, and a queer narrative that embraces both vulnerability and violence. Jennifer Giacalone refuses to simplify her characters or their circumstances, and the result is a novel that feels both deeply personal and exhilaratingly unpredictable.
Verity’s perspective is captivating: she is hardened by her past, trained to kill, and used to being alone. Meeting Reina at a nightclub feels like a collision with destiny, a moment that disarms her in ways bullets never could. Their connection is so powerful, it destabilizes not just their missions but their very identities. Reina’s conflict, torn between desire and duty, is equally compelling, giving the story its emotional core.
What follows is a breathtaking scramble across Mexico City, where danger lurks in every shadow and passion simmers in every glance. Giacalone writes action sequences with cinematic flair, but she also writes intimacy with aching beauty. The tension between Verity and Reina is not just physical, it’s emotional, psychological, existential. When Reina is ordered to kill the very woman she cannot stop loving, the stakes soar to impossible heights.
The novel’s brilliance lies in its refusal to choose between romance and thriller. It delivers both, fully and unapologetically, showing that love stories can be pulse-pounding and that thrillers can be deeply romantic. This is the kind of representation queer fiction deserves: bold, complex, and utterly captivating.
Verity’s Game is a love story like no other, dangerous, devastating, and unforgettable. It’s a book that makes you turn the pages quickly while leaving you breathless long after the last word.
Verity’s perspective is captivating: she is hardened by her past, trained to kill, and used to being alone. Meeting Reina at a nightclub feels like a collision with destiny, a moment that disarms her in ways bullets never could. Their connection is so powerful, it destabilizes not just their missions but their very identities. Reina’s conflict, torn between desire and duty, is equally compelling, giving the story its emotional core.
What follows is a breathtaking scramble across Mexico City, where danger lurks in every shadow and passion simmers in every glance. Giacalone writes action sequences with cinematic flair, but she also writes intimacy with aching beauty. The tension between Verity and Reina is not just physical, it’s emotional, psychological, existential. When Reina is ordered to kill the very woman she cannot stop loving, the stakes soar to impossible heights.
The novel’s brilliance lies in its refusal to choose between romance and thriller. It delivers both, fully and unapologetically, showing that love stories can be pulse-pounding and that thrillers can be deeply romantic. This is the kind of representation queer fiction deserves: bold, complex, and utterly captivating.
Verity’s Game is a love story like no other, dangerous, devastating, and unforgettable. It’s a book that makes you turn the pages quickly while leaving you breathless long after the last word.
August 12, 2025
In Verity’s Game, Jennifer Giacalone delivers a seductive lovers-to-enemies thriller that pulses with both sensuality and danger. Verity, the American assassin with a fiercely guarded heart, is all confidence and precision until she meets Reina, a gorgeous, magnetic Mexican translator whose allure is matched only by her deadliness. Their meeting is pure narrative electricity, and Giacalone’s ability to translate attraction into action is remarkable. What begins as a night of chance encounter quickly turns into an entangled web of contracts, shifting loyalties, and emotional peril.
Giacalone’s writing thrives on contrast. Verity is pragmatic, calculated, and disciplined; Reina is emotional, intuitive, and unpredictable. Together, they form a volatile partnership where affection is as much a weapon as any blade or bullet. The Mexico City setting hums with authenticity, not as a mere backdrop but as a living, breathing force in the story. Neon lights wash over rain-slick streets, while the heat of the day lingers in alleyways where secrets are traded for cash.
One of the novel’s standout qualities is how it balances its two genres so flawlessly. The action sequences, chases through crowded streets, tense stand-offs in unexpected places, are choreographed with cinematic precision. Yet, the romance remains central, heightened by stolen glances, unguarded admissions, and the constant awareness that one of them may have to end the other’s life.
By the final chapters, Giacalone forces readers to consider whether love is ever possible when trust itself is a luxury. Verity’s Game is at once thrilling, deeply romantic, and morally complex, a rare combination that keeps the reader hooked long after the last page is turned.
Giacalone’s writing thrives on contrast. Verity is pragmatic, calculated, and disciplined; Reina is emotional, intuitive, and unpredictable. Together, they form a volatile partnership where affection is as much a weapon as any blade or bullet. The Mexico City setting hums with authenticity, not as a mere backdrop but as a living, breathing force in the story. Neon lights wash over rain-slick streets, while the heat of the day lingers in alleyways where secrets are traded for cash.
One of the novel’s standout qualities is how it balances its two genres so flawlessly. The action sequences, chases through crowded streets, tense stand-offs in unexpected places, are choreographed with cinematic precision. Yet, the romance remains central, heightened by stolen glances, unguarded admissions, and the constant awareness that one of them may have to end the other’s life.
By the final chapters, Giacalone forces readers to consider whether love is ever possible when trust itself is a luxury. Verity’s Game is at once thrilling, deeply romantic, and morally complex, a rare combination that keeps the reader hooked long after the last page is turned.
August 12, 2025
In Verity’s Game, Jennifer Giacalone crafts a story as stylish as it is dangerous, weaving romance and suspense into a seamless whole. Verity is a study in contradictions: a lethal operative who lives by precision and detachment, yet finds herself disarmed by Reina’s beauty, wit, and emotional intensity. Reina, for her part, is caught between her undeniable attraction to Verity and the lethal order she’s been given, a tension that fuels every interaction between them.
Mexico City provides a vibrant, unpredictable stage for their cat-and-mouse dynamic. Giacalone captures its rhythms with a journalist’s accuracy and an artist’s flair, from the electric pulse of its nightlife to the quiet menace of its alleyways. This sense of place grounds the story, making every chase, every meeting, and every near miss feel vividly real.
The action sequences are impeccably crafted, tense, purposeful, and always inextricable from the emotional stakes. Giacalone understands that the most thrilling scenes are not those with the highest body count but those where the characters have the most to lose. Here, that means each mission is a test not only of skill but of loyalty, affection, and self-preservation.
What makes Verity’s Game exceptional is its refusal to offer easy answers. Love in this world is a gamble, and every hand could be the last. Yet, the novel dares to suggest that connection, even fleeting, even dangerous, is worth the risk. The result is a rich, fast-paced, and emotionally charged reading experience that will satisfy fans of both romance and thriller genres in equal measure.
Mexico City provides a vibrant, unpredictable stage for their cat-and-mouse dynamic. Giacalone captures its rhythms with a journalist’s accuracy and an artist’s flair, from the electric pulse of its nightlife to the quiet menace of its alleyways. This sense of place grounds the story, making every chase, every meeting, and every near miss feel vividly real.
The action sequences are impeccably crafted, tense, purposeful, and always inextricable from the emotional stakes. Giacalone understands that the most thrilling scenes are not those with the highest body count but those where the characters have the most to lose. Here, that means each mission is a test not only of skill but of loyalty, affection, and self-preservation.
What makes Verity’s Game exceptional is its refusal to offer easy answers. Love in this world is a gamble, and every hand could be the last. Yet, the novel dares to suggest that connection, even fleeting, even dangerous, is worth the risk. The result is a rich, fast-paced, and emotionally charged reading experience that will satisfy fans of both romance and thriller genres in equal measure.
August 12, 2025
Jennifer Giacalone’s Verity’s Game is that rare romantic thriller where both halves of the genre are given equal care and intensity. From the opening pages, readers are thrust into a Mexico City that’s alive with contrasts, velvet-lined nightclubs where whispered deals are struck in shadow, sunlit courtyards where danger waits just beyond the arches, and refined art galleries where elegance masks deadly intent. Against this backdrop, Verity and Reina’s story unfolds, each woman drawn to the other in ways neither can control nor fully understand.
Verity is the consummate professional, focused, disciplined, and accustomed to working alone. Reina, though equally skilled, brings a poetic sensibility to her role, and it’s in these quiet, introspective moments that Giacalone’s prose truly shines. Their connection builds not from grand declarations, but from layered exchanges where attraction is tempered by suspicion, and trust is rationed like oxygen in a sealed room.
The lovers-to-enemies premise is handled with remarkable subtlety. Instead of relying solely on the shock of betrayal, Giacalone explores the emotional fallout, how desire lingers even when self-preservation demands its denial, and how affection complicates every tactical decision. The action scenes are fluid and precise, always in service to the characters’ arcs rather than spectacle for its own sake.
In the end, Verity’s Game is more than an expertly executed romantic thriller, it’s a study in duality: love and violence, intimacy and isolation, loyalty and survival. Giacalone has crafted a narrative that lingers like the aftertaste of a strong drink, bold, burning, and impossible to forget.
Verity is the consummate professional, focused, disciplined, and accustomed to working alone. Reina, though equally skilled, brings a poetic sensibility to her role, and it’s in these quiet, introspective moments that Giacalone’s prose truly shines. Their connection builds not from grand declarations, but from layered exchanges where attraction is tempered by suspicion, and trust is rationed like oxygen in a sealed room.
The lovers-to-enemies premise is handled with remarkable subtlety. Instead of relying solely on the shock of betrayal, Giacalone explores the emotional fallout, how desire lingers even when self-preservation demands its denial, and how affection complicates every tactical decision. The action scenes are fluid and precise, always in service to the characters’ arcs rather than spectacle for its own sake.
In the end, Verity’s Game is more than an expertly executed romantic thriller, it’s a study in duality: love and violence, intimacy and isolation, loyalty and survival. Giacalone has crafted a narrative that lingers like the aftertaste of a strong drink, bold, burning, and impossible to forget.
September 7, 2025
Jennifer Giacalone’s Verity's Game is a masterclass in tension, emotional, romantic, and deadly. From the very first chapter, readers are thrown into the dangerous, glittering underworld of Mexico City, where two rival assassins cross paths on a shared hit and find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. What begins as a case of mistaken allegiance evolves into a searing, lovers-to-enemies narrative that had me breathless until the final page.
What sets Verity’s Game apart from typical romantic thrillers is how deeply layered the two leads are. Verity, the American assassin, is calculating, disciplined, and jaded, but unexpectedly vulnerable in the presence of Reina. Reina, tasked with killing Verity, is just as complex: a professional killer whose emotional walls are no match for the chemistry she shares with her would-be target. Their connection feels real, electric, and beautifully dangerous.
Giacalone doesn’t just give us an action-packed romance; she gives us moral ambiguity, ethical conflict, and a deep exploration of what it means to want something, or someone, you know you can’t have. The story moves at a breathless pace through neon-lit clubs, quiet cafés, and opulent art galleries, yet still allows for poignant moments of self-reflection and intimacy. The prose is sharp, stylish, and cinematic, with scenes that would shine on screen as much as they do on the page.
Verity’s Game is more than a thriller or a romance, it’s a bold, pulse-pounding ode to queer passion and the dangerous freedom of being truly seen. Highly recommended for fans of fast-paced storytelling with emotional grit and unapologetic queer representation.
What sets Verity’s Game apart from typical romantic thrillers is how deeply layered the two leads are. Verity, the American assassin, is calculating, disciplined, and jaded, but unexpectedly vulnerable in the presence of Reina. Reina, tasked with killing Verity, is just as complex: a professional killer whose emotional walls are no match for the chemistry she shares with her would-be target. Their connection feels real, electric, and beautifully dangerous.
Giacalone doesn’t just give us an action-packed romance; she gives us moral ambiguity, ethical conflict, and a deep exploration of what it means to want something, or someone, you know you can’t have. The story moves at a breathless pace through neon-lit clubs, quiet cafés, and opulent art galleries, yet still allows for poignant moments of self-reflection and intimacy. The prose is sharp, stylish, and cinematic, with scenes that would shine on screen as much as they do on the page.
Verity’s Game is more than a thriller or a romance, it’s a bold, pulse-pounding ode to queer passion and the dangerous freedom of being truly seen. Highly recommended for fans of fast-paced storytelling with emotional grit and unapologetic queer representation.
September 7, 2025
I went into Verity's Game expecting a good lesbian thriller, but what I got was so much more, a raw, fearless, and emotionally charged journey that left me deeply moved. Jennifer Giacalone doesn’t just flirt with danger; she dives headfirst into it, bringing readers a romance that is as emotionally resonant as it is action-packed.
The central relationship between Verity and Reina is intoxicating. On paper, they're each other’s worst nightmare: professional killers trained to work alone, manipulated by those who pull the strings. But once they meet, that mutual recognition, of shared loneliness, strength, and longing, makes their connection feel inevitable. The slow unraveling of their trust, desire, and fear is exquisitely done, with each moment of intimacy carrying the threat of betrayal.
What I found especially compelling was the emotional realism embedded in such a heightened, stylized story. Giacalone doesn’t shy away from the moral murkiness of her characters’ lives, and that complexity elevates the romance. Both women are tough, dangerous, and skilled, but it’s their emotional armor that becomes their true vulnerability. Watching them wrestle with what they feel for each other, while knowing that their missions could end in death, adds a layer of suspense that is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling.
The setting of Mexico City is also used brilliantly, not just as a backdrop but as a living, breathing part of the narrative. It’s vibrant, elegant, chaotic, and mysterious, just like Verity and Reina themselves.
This book left me aching in the best way. A fierce, smart, unforgettable story.
The central relationship between Verity and Reina is intoxicating. On paper, they're each other’s worst nightmare: professional killers trained to work alone, manipulated by those who pull the strings. But once they meet, that mutual recognition, of shared loneliness, strength, and longing, makes their connection feel inevitable. The slow unraveling of their trust, desire, and fear is exquisitely done, with each moment of intimacy carrying the threat of betrayal.
What I found especially compelling was the emotional realism embedded in such a heightened, stylized story. Giacalone doesn’t shy away from the moral murkiness of her characters’ lives, and that complexity elevates the romance. Both women are tough, dangerous, and skilled, but it’s their emotional armor that becomes their true vulnerability. Watching them wrestle with what they feel for each other, while knowing that their missions could end in death, adds a layer of suspense that is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling.
The setting of Mexico City is also used brilliantly, not just as a backdrop but as a living, breathing part of the narrative. It’s vibrant, elegant, chaotic, and mysterious, just like Verity and Reina themselves.
This book left me aching in the best way. A fierce, smart, unforgettable story.
September 7, 2025
Verity’s Game is the kind of novel that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page. Jennifer Giacalone has crafted a gorgeously tense romantic thriller where love doesn’t just complicate the mission, it becomes the mission.
At the heart of the story are Verity and Reina, two women who are, by design, enemies. Verity is a lone wolf assassin who’s never let her guard down, while Reina is a brilliant, beautiful translator with a dangerous secret and an even more dangerous job. When their paths violently intersect, what unfolds is a slow-burning, high-stakes relationship that’s drenched in longing, suspicion, and reluctant hope.
What makes this book soar is its emotional intelligence. Giacalone understands the thrill of danger, the weight of betrayal, and the fragile beauty of human connection. The push and pull between Reina and Verity is breathtaking, they circle each other like wolves, always wary, always drawn in despite themselves. Their dialogue crackles with tension, and their chemistry is palpable without ever feeling forced.
Stylistically, the book is elegant and cinematic, with richly detailed settings that make you feel like you’re right there, watching shadows fall across a gallery wall, feeling the pulse of music in a darkened club, or listening to a lover’s breath catch in the silence before a confession.
Verity’s Game is both a thrilling cat-and-mouse tale and a poignant exploration of what it means to trust, to feel, and to fall. It’s a rare and beautiful thing: a queer romance that doesn’t flinch in the face of darkness, but finds its light anyway.
At the heart of the story are Verity and Reina, two women who are, by design, enemies. Verity is a lone wolf assassin who’s never let her guard down, while Reina is a brilliant, beautiful translator with a dangerous secret and an even more dangerous job. When their paths violently intersect, what unfolds is a slow-burning, high-stakes relationship that’s drenched in longing, suspicion, and reluctant hope.
What makes this book soar is its emotional intelligence. Giacalone understands the thrill of danger, the weight of betrayal, and the fragile beauty of human connection. The push and pull between Reina and Verity is breathtaking, they circle each other like wolves, always wary, always drawn in despite themselves. Their dialogue crackles with tension, and their chemistry is palpable without ever feeling forced.
Stylistically, the book is elegant and cinematic, with richly detailed settings that make you feel like you’re right there, watching shadows fall across a gallery wall, feeling the pulse of music in a darkened club, or listening to a lover’s breath catch in the silence before a confession.
Verity’s Game is both a thrilling cat-and-mouse tale and a poignant exploration of what it means to trust, to feel, and to fall. It’s a rare and beautiful thing: a queer romance that doesn’t flinch in the face of darkness, but finds its light anyway.
August 21, 2025
Jennifer Giacalone’s Verity’s Game is a refreshing, bold addition to the thriller-romance genre, offering not only representation but also depth, intensity, and artistry. The novel doesn’t relegate its queer characters to the margins, it places them at the very center of a thrilling, high-stakes narrative.
Verity and Reina are two of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in recent queer fiction. Their romance is fiery, fragile, and deeply moving, made all the more urgent by the fact that their loyalties threaten to destroy them. Verity’s stoicism and Reina’s conflict create a push-and-pull dynamic that is irresistible. They are equals in strength and danger, which makes their bond all the more believable and their conflict all the more devastating.
The setting of Mexico City is a triumph in itself. Giacalone’s descriptions are so vivid that readers are transported into the smoky heat of nightclubs, the tension-filled elegance of art galleries, and the intimacy of shadowed cafés. The city becomes a metaphor for their relationship, alive, dangerous, and filled with contradictions.
Beyond the suspense and romance, Verity’s Game is a story about identity and choice. Can love survive betrayal? Can two people defined by violence find intimacy without destruction? These questions elevate the novel beyond genre conventions and make it linger in the mind long after finishing.
This is a book that proves representation doesn’t need to compromise excitement, it can heighten it. Verity’s Game is sharp, sexy, and unforgettable.
Verity and Reina are two of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in recent queer fiction. Their romance is fiery, fragile, and deeply moving, made all the more urgent by the fact that their loyalties threaten to destroy them. Verity’s stoicism and Reina’s conflict create a push-and-pull dynamic that is irresistible. They are equals in strength and danger, which makes their bond all the more believable and their conflict all the more devastating.
The setting of Mexico City is a triumph in itself. Giacalone’s descriptions are so vivid that readers are transported into the smoky heat of nightclubs, the tension-filled elegance of art galleries, and the intimacy of shadowed cafés. The city becomes a metaphor for their relationship, alive, dangerous, and filled with contradictions.
Beyond the suspense and romance, Verity’s Game is a story about identity and choice. Can love survive betrayal? Can two people defined by violence find intimacy without destruction? These questions elevate the novel beyond genre conventions and make it linger in the mind long after finishing.
This is a book that proves representation doesn’t need to compromise excitement, it can heighten it. Verity’s Game is sharp, sexy, and unforgettable.
August 8, 2025
From the opening chapter, Verity’s Game grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go. The premise, a lovers-to-enemies romance between two rival assassins, is irresistible on its own, but what makes Jennifer Giacalone’s execution so captivating is how she blends the deadly with the deeply personal.
Verity is a lone wolf, a woman who’s built walls around her heart for survival. Reina is her opposite in some ways, charismatic, magnetic, and unafraid to step into the light, but just as dangerous. Their meeting feels fated, their connection undeniable. And yet, the cruel twist of fate that makes Reina’s next job the assassination of Verity turns that attraction into an impossible dilemma.
The pacing is masterful. There’s no wasted page, every chapter moves the story forward, building tension as the two women navigate both the criminal underworld and the minefield of their feelings. The stakes are not just about survival, but about whether love can exist in a life built on lies, violence, and mistrust.
The writing is elegant without sacrificing intensity. The romance is sensual and emotionally resonant, while the action scenes are taut and breathless. I loved how the city is woven into the narrative, not as a backdrop, but as part of the texture of the story, grounding it in a sense of place that feels authentic and lived-in.
This is more than a thriller. It’s a story about two women who see each other’s shadows and still find themselves reaching for the light.
Verity is a lone wolf, a woman who’s built walls around her heart for survival. Reina is her opposite in some ways, charismatic, magnetic, and unafraid to step into the light, but just as dangerous. Their meeting feels fated, their connection undeniable. And yet, the cruel twist of fate that makes Reina’s next job the assassination of Verity turns that attraction into an impossible dilemma.
The pacing is masterful. There’s no wasted page, every chapter moves the story forward, building tension as the two women navigate both the criminal underworld and the minefield of their feelings. The stakes are not just about survival, but about whether love can exist in a life built on lies, violence, and mistrust.
The writing is elegant without sacrificing intensity. The romance is sensual and emotionally resonant, while the action scenes are taut and breathless. I loved how the city is woven into the narrative, not as a backdrop, but as part of the texture of the story, grounding it in a sense of place that feels authentic and lived-in.
This is more than a thriller. It’s a story about two women who see each other’s shadows and still find themselves reaching for the light.
September 4, 2025
Verity's Game is a stunning, genre-bending triumph that masterfully blends the visceral intensity of a high-stakes thriller with the emotional complexity of a deeply felt romance. Jennifer Giacalone delivers not only a compelling story, but one that is unapologetically queer, authentically intimate, and breathtakingly cinematic.
At the heart of this novel are Verity and Reina, two elite assassins whose chemistry ignites the moment they cross paths. Giacalone does an extraordinary job of humanizing both women, allowing the reader to peel back the layers of their pain, vulnerability, and hardened pasts. Their connection is immediate, magnetic, and terrifyingly real. The emotional stakes are as high as the physical ones, especially when love becomes the one thing more dangerous than the bullets they dodge.
Set against the sultry, noir-tinged backdrop of Mexico City’s nightclubs, cafés, and art galleries, the book pulses with atmosphere and tension. The pacing is pitch-perfect, relentless yet poetic, and the prose is laced with an elegant grit that elevates every twist, betrayal, and moment of longing.
Verity’s Game isn’t just a romance, or a thriller, it’s a meditation on trust, identity, and the impossible choices we make when love and survival collide. An absolute must-read for fans of LGBTQ+ fiction who crave authenticity, representation, and edge-of-your-seat storytelling.
At the heart of this novel are Verity and Reina, two elite assassins whose chemistry ignites the moment they cross paths. Giacalone does an extraordinary job of humanizing both women, allowing the reader to peel back the layers of their pain, vulnerability, and hardened pasts. Their connection is immediate, magnetic, and terrifyingly real. The emotional stakes are as high as the physical ones, especially when love becomes the one thing more dangerous than the bullets they dodge.
Set against the sultry, noir-tinged backdrop of Mexico City’s nightclubs, cafés, and art galleries, the book pulses with atmosphere and tension. The pacing is pitch-perfect, relentless yet poetic, and the prose is laced with an elegant grit that elevates every twist, betrayal, and moment of longing.
Verity’s Game isn’t just a romance, or a thriller, it’s a meditation on trust, identity, and the impossible choices we make when love and survival collide. An absolute must-read for fans of LGBTQ+ fiction who crave authenticity, representation, and edge-of-your-seat storytelling.
August 13, 2024
Verity and Reina, two skillful assassins cross paths at a club in Mexico. They are both there for a hit but dancing and flirting with each other is a great cover. After an amazing night together the pair realize the other’s identity. The hit gets messy when it comes to the attention of authorities. And now there is a price on Verity’s head and Reina is tasked to eliminate her.
This was off and running right from the start. The fast paced story takes place over only a few days. But in that time the pair play cat and mouse with each other and learn they are stronger together. There are flashback glimpses of Verity’s time as an Army Ranger and how Reina came into her job. I like that they are people of color with Verity being black and Reina Mexican. I got a little lost in the Mexican cartels and government corruption but it brings some plausibility to the storyline. I do wish their one night together wasn’t off the page. If the assassinations and body count are described I think showing more of their chemistry together would have enhanced why they find it so hard to get rid of each other.
This was a fun and creative storyline. Who knew I would be rooting for romance between killers. Thank you to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
This was off and running right from the start. The fast paced story takes place over only a few days. But in that time the pair play cat and mouse with each other and learn they are stronger together. There are flashback glimpses of Verity’s time as an Army Ranger and how Reina came into her job. I like that they are people of color with Verity being black and Reina Mexican. I got a little lost in the Mexican cartels and government corruption but it brings some plausibility to the storyline. I do wish their one night together wasn’t off the page. If the assassinations and body count are described I think showing more of their chemistry together would have enhanced why they find it so hard to get rid of each other.
This was a fun and creative storyline. Who knew I would be rooting for romance between killers. Thank you to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
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