Abigail Winslow has spent her entire life trapped in a gilded cage—bound by the expectations of her powerful family, the weight of perfection, and the suffocating pressure to conform. Beneath her polished exterior lies an artist yearning to break free, to find her true self. But rebellion has a price, and Abigail is about to learn that freedom isn’t always as simple as it seems.
Enter dark, dangerous, and unapologetically himself. His sharp wit and raw intensity clash with Abigail’s carefully crafted world, unraveling her control one searing glance at a time. Drawn to his chaos, she begins to crave the fire he ignites within her—a fire that threatens to burn everything she’s ever known.
As their connection deepens, so do the secrets, betrayals, and forbidden desires that threaten to destroy them both. In a world where loyalty is currency and appearances are everything, Abigail must decide how far she’s willing to go to follow her heart—and if Zeke is the salvation or the ruin she’s been waiting for.
Reflecting Hearts is the first book in The Broken Mirrors Duet, a Romeo & Juliet-inspired dark romance that will leave you breathless, heartbroken, and desperate for more. Perfect for readers who love forbidden love, sharp banter, and dangerous chemistry.
“Not every love story is meant to save you.” And Reflecting Hearts by Cassie Monroe doesn’t try to—it sets you on fire instead.
This book completely consumed me. It’s a slow-burn romance that creeps up on you until you realize you’re knee-deep in something intense, messy, and beautifully dark. Abigail and Zeke have the kind of connection that doesn’t feel safe—it feels necessary. Addictive. The kind of bond that builds quietly, then crashes down like a wave you never saw coming.
And just when you think you’ve figured it out? Boom. That twist hits like a slap in the chest. I sat there stunned.
But what really stuck with me—what made this book unforgettable—was the way love is shown. It’s not soft or sweet. It’s wild. It’s sharp-edged and deep and real. The kind of love that wants all of you—the broken, the bruised, and the buried parts.
“Every scar, every flaw, every piece of you—you think they ruined you, but they make you more beautiful. Your mind, to paint, to worship, to break if I have to, until you see what I see when I look at you.” I’m sorry, but how do you recover from that line?!
This is not a story about healing in the usual sense. It’s about being cracked open and slowly learning how to take your power back—piece by jagged piece. It’s raw. It’s gothic. It’s a little bit obsessive. And it’s everything I needed.
If you love morally gray characters, slow-burns that explode, and a romance that leaves you a little breathless and a little broken… this one’s for you.
If your a fan of Romeo & Juliet retellings, have a love for dark romance, some light stalking, troubled main characters, an love a good emo vibe, then you'll enjoy this debut novel by Cassie Monroe
Our main characters Zeke & Abigail come from complete opposite sides of the tracks. Abigail is gorgeous & born from money, while Zeke is a tattoo covered bad boy born from poverty.
So naturally Abigails dad hates him but being as though he's a sh*t father, she doesn't care and dates him anyway. An I'm here for it👏
They both are attending the same college, have a love for art, end up taking the same art class together. Then they get assigned partners for a project and thats when their love story starts to unfold. Their love of art ends up playing a big part in their love story and I absolutely love that.
This is a classic case of falling in love with someone you know you shouldn't and doing it on purpose anyway. 🤷♀️
Their love story is beautiful, its dark, its tragic, it's toxic and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Fair warning, this does have some themes that may be difficult for you to read about if you have triggers. So check your trigger warnings!⚠️
Also, this does not have an HEA, an that's not a spoiler, Cassie makes it very clear in her book before you get to the prologue. Plus if you know the basis of Romeo & Juliet then you already know it doesn't end well.
Wow. This story gave me all the star-crossed, forbidden romance feels I didn’t know I needed. Abigail’s world is picture-perfect on the outside, but inside she’s suffocating under the weight of family expectations. Enter Zeke—rough, scarred, and the kind of guy who shouldn’t fit into her life but somehow becomes the only one who really sees her.
Their connection? Intense. The slow burn? Torturous in the best way. Every stolen glance and quiet moment pulled me deeper in. I loved watching Abigail struggle between duty and desire, and Zeke’s raw edges made him the perfect contrast to her polished cage.
This book doesn’t just tell a love story—it makes you feel it. The longing, the rebellion, the ache of wanting something you’re not supposed to have. By the time I finished, I wasn’t just invested in Abigail and Zeke, I was rooting for them like my own friends.
If you’re into emotional slow burns, star-crossed lovers, and romances that refuse to let you go, this book is absolutely for you.
You had me at Romeo and Juliet feel! Abigail, I felt for deeply. Her family made her be one person while she was dying inside to be someone else. That included how she carried herself, job, friends, and boyfriend. There was a part in this book that infuriated me regarding her art and her father! Then enters Zeke. Rough around the edges, and his home life isn't ideal. He watches her and wants her. A bad boy in every way, shape, and form. But he's like a moth to a flame for her and an escape from the pretty life her family wants her to have. This book drags you into these two and won't let you go. I absolutely recommend this book.
2 star crossed lovers. Ooo the slow burn! There is great character development. Everytime i had to set the book down i was constantly thinking about both Abigail and Zeke and what they were up to. You have 2 characters living both completely different lives (opposite sides of the tracks if you will) but attraction and fate drives them together. I was heavily invested and these characters became like a family to me! I cannot wait for book 2 to come out!!!
"Reflecting Hearts" by Cassie Manor is a beautifully written story that captures the essence of love and self-discovery. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to get lost in their journey.
This book was heartbreaking and amazing! The trauma both characters have endured opens them up to new levels of vulnerability that most books dont have! The betrayals are mind blowing and unexpected and it left me wanting more. Book 2 cant come soon enough😂
I couldn't put this book down, stalker vibes, watching from afar. self-worth dark romance not every ending is happy. the end of this book was great! the last line stuck with me. I related a lot to it. the last 100 pages just ate up in recommend this book 100%
I really enjoyed this book. Definitely one I will be recommending to my friends. Inspired by Romeo and Juliet so do you really expect a happy ending? I loved it!
From the very beginning you are hooked! This is a true coming of age, finding yourself story! There are some turns that you never see coming. I was laughing, screaming, and giddy throughout the story and I can not wait for the next book!
Romeo and Juliet, yes please! I absolutely loved this book. The banter was amazing. I was sucked me in from the first page. I adored the characters and can not wait for book two!