Why Don't You Keep Me?

Why Don't You? #3

by Rae Knight

When I told the guys I wanted to go back—to learn from my father—I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I knew Diablo wouldn’t approve of the fact that I have three men at my side. But I didn’t expect him to tear us apart piece by piece.

He doesn’t need to kill Blaze, Ryder, and Thorne to take them from me. He just has to make me doubt them. And he knows exactly how to do it.

He separates us, tests their loyalty, and throws temptations in their path. He wants to push them until they fail—until I see them as weak, until I believe they’re not worthy of standing by my side. One crack in our foundation is all he needs to destroy everything we’ve built.

But Diablo underestimates us.

Because we don’t break.

And when this is over, he won’t have an empire left to rule.

🔥
- Why-Choose Romance (MFMM)
- Mafia Princess & Crime Empire Heir
- Possessive, Protective, & Obsessive Love Interests
- Heroine Who Bites Back (Literally and Figuratively)
- Dark, Gritty, & Explosive Spice
- Multiple POV
- Bodyguard

⚠️ Trigger
This book contains graphic violence, murder, torture, explicit sexual content (including group dynamics and power play), psychological manipulation, gaslighting.

Genres: Reverse Harem, Why Choose, Dark Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2025

About the author

Growing up as a young child Rae Knight used to hate reading, but as she grew into her adolescent years it all chnaged. It was this love of reading, mixed with her vivid imagination, that had her begin her writing career. The first books she ever wrote were at the age of fifteen scribble in the pages of a spiral notebook. Now a days, you can find her trying hard to write these bios in third person, which she doesn't even do in her books. When she's not teaching, she's mothering three small children. Her writing is mainly done once her littles have fallen asleep for the night.

Rae loves to interact with her readers the most, messaging back any who are willing to speak with her. So, be sure to follow her social media pages and reach out to her. The characters of her books are constantly living in her mind, missing them like dear friends when their stories end.

Instagram: @rae.knight.author
Facebook: Rae Knight
Reading Group: The Knightly Page Turners
Tiktok: raeknightauthor

Reviews

[sydney 𓇼 (reading slump) · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ 4 ★

Remember my review for book 2 and I said I didn’t think it could get any crazier? Well, say hello to book number 3 😂

Why Don’t You Keep Me? was wiiiiild. Full of action and plot twists and spicy scenes GALORE!!! If you want an easy, fun and quick series to read? This is it guys!! If you’re into Why Choose?, start reading this series RIGHT NOW!! You don’t need to use any brain cells while reading these books, they were so fun to read and I just let my brain chill after heavy fantasy/fiction books. I feel like I can’t say much without giving away the previous books, so do yourself a favour and just dive in deep with Why Don’t You Make Me?


Thank you to Rae Knight for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S OVER!!!!

If you've made it to this book, I would hope you've already read the first 2 books!! Tori learns a lot in this book and decides the fate of herself and the three boys (Blaze, Ryder, Thorne). Does she join her father Diablo or not?? Guess you should start reading to find out!! I adored this entire series and absolutely love the ending!!! So what are you waiting for???? Grab it as soon as you can!! This book releases next month, so be ready for it by reading the first 2!!!

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ 3🌶️

📝 Review & thoughts:
This was a fun and pretty lighthearted book (for a book with gangs ya know).

I always appreciate the short chapters that Rae writes with. It really helps keeping a fast pace in the story.

The main characters were lovable and I really liked Gabe too, even though I was sure things would’ve turned out different lol

Ryder continues being his silly charming self, but we love him haha

As far as plot, I found everything a little too easy to be solved in favor of the mcs, and that is why I say this book is pretty lighthearted. Like we’re talking about a mafia king essentially who’s run his gang for years. Felt a bit too easy for me and not very realistic.

The romance was nice, a bit too cheesy and ott for me at times. I was hoping for some more 1 on 1 scenes with the three guys. But all in all the romance and spice were still nice!

All in all it’s a nice ending to this trilogy!

Thank you Rae for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for Why Don’t You Keep Me.

🏷️ Tropes & tags (possible spoilers):
MFMM why choose
Gangs
Fast paced
Touch her/him and d!e
Morally gray characters
Sassy fmc
Possessive and protective boys
Found family

POV: 1st person, multi
Angst: low
Pet names: doll, KitKat, sweetheart
HEA: yes

🌶️ Spice & k!nks (possible spoilers):
No particular k!nks except for group scenes, an*l and DP, sharing the fmc (inside the group) pretty standard for why choose/RH
Heat: 4 scenes, medium heat

⚠️ Content warnings (spoilers!!):
Dubcon: no
Noncon: no
Physical v!olence, attempted k!dnapping, drugging and attempted SA, gang v!olence, guns, pregnancy, s*x scenes

😤 Little rant (spoilers!!):
I’ll be honest that by the end I was just a little annoyed at how Tori is the center of everyone’s world and seems to be everyone’s queen.

I wasn’t expecting the pregnancy trope at the end and I personally didn’t like it for this book. It was still a nice and fun ending, but I dunno, I didn’t like how it was executed. I hardly ever like pregnancies as the epilogue, so there’s that to consider. I still respect the author’s choice for the ending, all in all it’s a nice ending :)

Also we got promised bondage scene that didn’t arrive :(

* Fyi about 🌶️ levels: I rate spice on a combination of quantity, quality, length, intensity and explicitness of the scenes. K!nks are listed separately and generally do not directly affect the steam level to keep it fair for non k!nky books.

[Courtney Blancett · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Blaze is driving, his grip tight on the wheel, his whole body radiating tension I know has his asshole puckered.” -Ryder

“Don’t worry, Juan. You’ll be the daddy. I’ll let you ground me, and if you do a good job, I might even let you spank me.” -Ryder

Ugh I love Ryder and these are just a few quotes that make me crack up 😂😂 you can always count on him to break the heavy tension


I devoured this book. I am so sad to be finished with this series 😭😭 but this book was amazing I loved every part of it. When tori saw Thorne and rider “kissing” Lila and Mia I was about ready to jump through my kindle and beat them up. I should have known those boys would never willingly hurt our girl tori. (Lila you are awful). Also tori being pregnant?!?! Definitely wouldn’t have guessed that was gonna happen but they make An amazing family 🥹🥹


All in all this book/series broke my heart and then kissed it all better I am in love with tori and all her boys and these characters will not be easily forgotten 🩷🩷

[Sinead O'leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to ARC read all 3 of these amazing books in the series and WOW!!! I've loved every single one of them! but this one truly took the top spot, getting to watch the growth with all the characters from book one to three has been incredible and watching Tori becoming the badass FMC that she is in this book has been the most amazing journey! but not only her each of the three men have grew so much and come such a long way both individually and together, seeing the family they have created and the love they share is beyond amazing, i cannot recommend this series enough Torie,Blaze,Ryder&Thorne will forever hold a special place in my heart ❤️ Ryder though is still by far my all time favourite his cockiness and arrogance just makes him shine

[Heather Angeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trilogy is complete! And it couldn't have had a more perfect ending. Tori deserves everything she got. This spicy high-stakes, why choose romance captures everything you could want in a story. A dark romance that delves into themes of trauma, revenge, and forbidden attraction. The story follows a strong-willed protagonist who must confront her past and navigate complex relationships.

Tori has 3 men that vow to do ANYTHING for her, even newcomer Gabe, vows to help protect her in a new way. With her family by her side, Tori forges a new path for them and Diablo finally gets what is coming to him. Honestly, this series is giving morally grey, why choose, and enemies to lovers its rightful path. I absolutely love how intense Ryder, Blaze, and Thorne are with their feelings for Tori- each unique in their own way.

Why Don’t You Keep Me is a gripping tale that challenges perceptions of love and power. With its complex characters and intense emotional depth, it offers a thought-provoking read for fans of dark romance and character-driven narratives.

Highly recommend this series!

[Lindsay Pape · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this was probably my favorite of the three from the series and was the perfect ending. Love all three of the guys and Ryder was my favorite here but Thorne is still my overall favorite. You met new characters and I knew I was not going to like most of them but loved Gabe and hope there will be a spinoff for him. The book kept you wanting to read and not put it down. If you love a why choose and mafia book and haven’t read the why don’t you series you need to.

[Alice Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the end of the series, this one almost gave me everything I wanted and hoped for from the conclusion. It was an excellent continuation of sturdy writing and consistent characterization.

The character arcs definitely developed and we got new characters that were so easy to like. Knight also didn’t forget the characters we got in the last book; dovetailing them beautifully into the finale and tying everything together well.

Her writing stayed super consistent and this one was just as easy to read as the last two, thought the character development does mean some of the things that made the characters and dialogue fun shifted. It was a gorgeous evolution that fit with where she was taking them and the fact that everyone was actually growing as people.

However, two tropes landed just slightly off here. They’re just personal icks for me, so they took away from the ending a bit, but not enough that I wouldn’t recommend this series to others. It was satisfying to see everything closed and leave us without questions.

[Ashley Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rae has done it again, I have been able to read the first books in this series and this one is my favorite so far. I absolutely love how she tells a story and keeps you wanting more

[Bexs Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm gutted that this series is over but this book was perfection and I love how it was ended.

There was so much drama and the twists kept me hooked from the start. The writing is as hysterical as ever and I'll never tire of Tori's or Ryder's POV.

I thought the previous books were spicy but damn, Rae outdid herself with this one, absolutely delicious.

I loved every minute of this entire series and I can't wait to see what Rae has planned next.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts off where book two ended, Tori and her guys are going to Diablo for Tori to learn the family business. When they get there, Diablo separates them to build on their strengths, as he says. They guys and Tori know it's just a test and a way to pull them apart. Tori and the guys learn more about Diablo and his men. When things start going sideways, they plan on leaving or taking over. Fighting starts but can Tori end it? Will she be the next leader?

[Jen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rae absolutely nailed this. It was the perfect conclusion to this relationship that we have fallen in love with. Tori is incredible and so strong and her three men are so strong and supportive of her. When they are thrown into test after test by Diablo and his minions, the group have to stand up for each other before they lose everything. This book had me in all my feelings. The spicy was SPICY and the love was off the charts. It was amazing.

[Laina Leighann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️/4🔥

Mafia Queen!!

Why Don't You Keep Me is book #3 in the Why Don't You Trilogy and boy, oh boy, was this a wild ride! Tori finally meets her father, but can she play the game? Can she keep her Triad by her side? Is she ready for this dangerous life? We start the last leg down this path with her and watch this FMC handle the business in only the way she can; with stubbornness and fierceness. We love a strong, but relatable FMC, and Tori meets that mark. The spice is, of course, spicing and we enjoy the banter between our MMCs and FMC.

[Ashley Stringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I am happy to oblige!

Since this book is the third (and final, sadly) installment of The Iron Triad series, I took a little time to read the first two in order to ensure I had a clear understanding of the characters and storyline that was previously established. While the first two books weren’t as polished as the third, I’m happy to have gotten the full context and became invested in finishing the story! I definitely recommend others to read the first two as well.

This is a “why choose” romance novel with crime undertones due to the gang-related subplot. FMC has a lot of trauma and acts accordingly; there’s a bullies to lovers dynamic that kicks off the series and culminates with a surprise at the end. Trigger warnings and smut are in abundance- proceed with caution or turn around if those aren’t for you! If you are okay with that though, the whole series is an easy read, with this final book in particular leaving you wishing for a spinoff series at the very least!

[Haste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:
- I don’t appreciate that each chapter cover page has a bright white square which COMPLETELY BLINDS ME every time I am sitting in the dark reading

- This series is a breath of fresh air. The bullying and the mention of OW/manwhores is minimal, the FMC is strong, and the communication between characters is upfront and clear . I LOVE that early on we see vulnerability and remorse as the men admit why the bullying happened and that they love Victoria.

- I was worried about Sadie but I LOVE that Victoria immediately asks Thorne if he slept with her and he says he never would. The good communication and lack of drama is SO REFRESHING. Even when Nico tries to manipulate Diablo.. we see Tori march right up to Diablo to set the record straight the next chapter

- I find it weird that we have a chapter about Nico (the antagonist) and how he is developing feelings for Tori. It’s even grosser he has a scene kissing Alicia and states “she’s always ready for me” 🤢

- I’m sad Diablo turned out to be awful. He seemed so promising when he was first helping Tori

- I get Ryder is supposed to flirt with Lila but why does he call her babe? I also do hate the forced ow drama onto Ryder and Thorne but I love that Blaze rushes in and punches them and everything is figured out quickly.

- I also don’t understand why Tori made it seem like Gabe was their “missing puzzle piece” like he was meant to join the harem but then didn’t?


📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘

Summary:
After accidently catching the eyes of her old highschool bullies (The Iron Triad: Thorne, Blaze & Ryder), Victoria is forced to reinstate her old “deal” with them to save her date Bren when the Triad attack him. It is later revealed that Bren had intended to sell her to the Niners gang (led by Nico) to clear a debt.

Through flashbacks we learn that Tori and Thorne met in a foster house before losing contact until she enrolled at his school. After seeing Blaze and Ryder interested in her, Thorne panicks and begins bullying her, causing his friends to follow his lead (therefore preventing them from pursuing her).

After revealing he killed Bren, Nico forces Tori to accompany him to meet with another boss Valen and his woman Katie. Chaos errupts leading to Ryder killing Katie when she attempts to shoot Tori, enraging Valen who also aims at Tori which Ryder blocks with his body.

Ryder survives, and the Iron Triad and Tori walk into a trap when attempting to save Alicia (Tori’s old roomate) from Nico. Nico reveals that Tori is the lost daughter of Diablo (a big crime boss), so wants to keep her to have Diablo under his control. The Triad eventually save Tori, revealing that Nico had manipulated Alicia and she was helping him all along.

The Triad and Tori eventually kill Nico (with help from Diablo’s men) before setting women he trafficked free. Tori decides she wants to move in with her father to learn more about him, so her and the men leave to Roseburg.

Diablo pairs each of them up with a “temptation” of the opposite sex, trying to get Tori to leave her men so she can inherit his empire alone. She eventually weakens him and takes his men to California with her and her men. Diablo is vulnerable and then killed by another gang a year later. Our harem gets its HEA


𝕳𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊 .

[Mercedesss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why don't you keep me is book three in the Why dont you trilogy!! it was an amazing conclusion to the series. This series absolutely drew me in from the start. The book starts where the last one left off;
Tori finally gets what she wants from her father, and her men. But her father wants to take them from her and knows exactly how to attempt this, but will they let him, they need to push through these attempts to destroy them.

This is a why choose romance, with possessive, obsessive love interests, but she will not choose between them, but there are also many trigger warnings to this story, graphic violence, torture, psychological manipulation, etc. Please check out the full list before you start.

This story is amazing, of course you need to start from book one, but it is worth the read soo much. The way the characters grow and develop throughout the story is amazing.

The love between them is amazing, and need this world to continue for the other characters ❤️

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat the whole fucking time. These characters faced some shit in this book and I was just rooting for them the whole time.

This book dealt with the strength of Tori’s relationship with her guys and man I was crying with her at certain parts. They get put through the wringer but thank god it ends happily.

It was the perfect ending to this series and I’ll be sad to see these characters go.

[Shelby Wysong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well worth the 5 stars. The characters? AMAZING. The plot? Had me INVESTED. The spice? Toe curling

When I thought I could not fall in love more with the series, I was proven wrong.

[Chiara · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 42%

[Audi Walbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to Beta read it and let me tell you Rae wrapped this trilogy up beautifully.

It picks up from where we're left in book two. Tori and her men are off to live with Diablo, and whatever craziness that sends their way.

Tori truly bloomed into the badass we knew she'd become.

Blaze, Ryder, and Thorne swoon worthy as always.

You're going to hard-core judge some new characters. You're going to end up really liking one new character.

There was action, character growth, twists and turns, things I didn't see coming, stuff I guesstimated, and the spice was hot.

I don't want to give anything away but if you read books 1 and 2 you absolutely need to read book 3. If you haven't read any dear god go get book one now and fall in love with this trilogy!

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori taking over for Diablo screams red flags to everyone including her. What is the end game for her and her long lost dad? Is it legit or a setup? The process she goes through and then the things her dad sets her up to see are heartbreaking but the comeback is amazing. This series is nothing short if amazing and I will always crave more of Tori and her three monsters.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily my favorite book in the trilogy. I am so grateful to have gotten to serve as a beta reader once again for this series. Yet again, Rae Knight does a superb job of balancing spice and plot. The new characters we meet in this installment are fantastic. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I cried, I gasped multiple times. I highly recommend this book and the entire trilogy.

[Brita Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tori knew from the get-go that it wasn't going to be easy when she told the guys that she wanted to go back – that she wanted to learn from her father. And Tori knew that Diablo wasn't going to like or approve that she had three men standing by her side. What Tori didn't expect was that Diablo was going to rip them apart, piece by piece.

Diablo knows that he doesn't need to kill Blaze, Ryder, and Thorne to take them away from Tori. All he really has to do is whisper doubts in her ear, he just has to get in Tori's head, and all Diablo has to do is make her doubt the three men who would do anything for her. Diablo knows exactly knows what he's doing and he knows just how to get in Tori's head and how to make her doubt Blaze, Ryder, and Thorne.

Diablo masterfully separates Tori, Blaze, Ryder, and Thorne, pushing and pulling and testing their loyalties to their limits. He puts temptation after temptation in their paths, wanting to push each one of them to their limits until they finally fail and Tori finally sees them the way Diablo sees them, as weak and pitiful. He wants Tori to see them as unworthy of standing at her side. All Diablo needs is that one single crack in the foundation that they have built together, once he's found that crack in their foundation he believes he can destroy everything Tori, Blaze, Ryder, and Thorne have built together.

But, Diablo is underestimating the bond and foundation we have built together.

We don't crack, we don't break, and we don't fall.

And when all this is over, Diablo isn't going to have an empire left to rule.

YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and take the trigger warnings seriously. Some of the trigger warnings include but are not limited to: graphic violence, murder, torture, explicit sexual content (including group dynamics and power play) psychological manipulation, and gaslighting. Please take these trigger warnings seriously as your mental health is always the most important thing and must be protected at all costs.

I love the tropes that Ray Knight has used in this book. I love the tropes that she uses in all her books though, but in this book, they include: Why Choose Romance (MFMM), Mafia Princess & Crime Empire Heir, Possessive, Protective & Obsessive Love Interests, Heroine Who Bites Back (Literally and Figuratively), Dark, Gritty, & Explosive Spice, Multiple POV, and Bodyguard.

Why Don't You Keep Me is the 3rd and final book in the Why Don't You series by Rae Knight. And while I am sad that this is the last book in the series, I have loved every moment of this series, I love these characters, and this series has been everything that I have ever I have wanted in a dark romance.

Why Don't You Keep Me has to be my favorite book out of the entire series, it was everything that I was hoping it was going to be and oh so much more. This book just took my breath away. The pacing was just spot on and perfect, the roller-coaster of emotions with all the twists and turns was stunning and this entire book just came together perfectly that was satisfying and I feel like we all earned this book. How Rae balanced everything that is in this book, the chaos, all the tension, angst, and overwhelming amount of emotion without making it feel overwhelming, I just don't know how she did it.

Throughout the entire series, Tori has just been amazing and such a standout. We have seen such growth and development in her character. But in this installment, in this installment Tori just steps up and grabs her place as an absolute badass and absolute mastermind. I loved the way she managed to navigate every manipulation she had to face, each and every betrayal and she still managed to come out the other side standing stronger than she was before.

I can honestly say that I just admire Tori so much. She's fierce, intelligent, and determined, and you can feel just how much Ryder, Thorne, and Blaze love her and how much she loves them in return and there is no way that you can deny that love in this book. Even though all four of them walk through hell in this book Blaze, Ryder and Thorne prove over and over to Tori that they would walk through fire or go to the depths of hell for her. And really, that's exactly what Diablo put them through.

Gabe was one of those characters who took me by surprise. I wasn't sure what to think of him before this. I was really on the fence with him and for most of the book I really wanted him to just leave Tori and the guys alone, but by the end of the book my opinion changed and I really hoped that Gabe would end up a part of their group permanently. He's proven that he's protective of Tori and that he'll show up when it matters and I honestly think he really did love and care about Tori in his own way he just had trouble putting it into words and was intimidated because of the other guys.

I loved seeing Juan, Marcus, and even Keagan again. This was a full circle moment in the series and made it feel like it was complete and everything was being tied together.

I loved Ryder's sass, the growth that we saw Blaze show, and Thorne's constant and quiet worry never changed and it all brought so much more depth to the final book of the series. I loved the way Ryder, Blaze, and Thorne each brought something unique and yet so essential to this series. And you know from book 1 to this book that no matter how loud or quiet they may be, they love and care about Tori and they just want to protect her in their own way.

Diablo heightened all the emotions and raised the stakes and put Tori and all the guys through anything and everything possible. Through everything there were moments that I was left screaming into my pillow, laughing, and I lost count of the number of times that I had to stop, take a deep breath, and remember this was just a book. But, every moment in this book mattered in the storyline and thankfully Rae never rushed a moment of it. She intricately crafted each plot and sub-plot point without it being too mind-boggling or intense, and it was so easy to remain engrossed in the story never wanting to waver and leave the story.

The conclusion of this book was so perfect and delicious. I didn't expect how it was going to end, this ending was bold, and honest and it was just perfect for Tori, Ryder, Blaze, and Thorne. After the last three books, I feel like they were all a part of my family and now suddenly they are all missing and I feel like a part of my family is missing and I miss them. But, I am so glad that I got to know them all, and that I can visit them whenever I want when I re-read the series.

I highly recommend this series if you love a strong, intelligent, kickass heroine, her found family of three men who adore and love and worship her, and a story, plot, and sub-plot that puts you through all the emotions you could ever imagine and ensures you go on the roller-coaster ride of your life then this is the series for you. And if you are looking for an author to follow and adore, then Rae Knight is the author for you. She will ensure you feel everything in any and every book she writes.

[Julie Bartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌪️💔 Why Don't You Keep Me by Rae Knight 💔🌪️

I am DECEASED, DESTROYED, and DELIGHTFULLY DEVASTATED. 😭 How... HOW am I supposed to say goodbye to the Iron Triad?! Rae Knight, you menace, you miracle, you literary sorceress—you’ve officially ruined me for all other book boyfriends. I’m unwell. Emotionally compromised. Spiritually spiraling. And yes, I’d do it all over again.

Let’s talk writing style. Rae doesn’t just write—she weaves. Her word choice? Surgical. Her figurative language? Chef’s kiss. It’s like she has a direct line to your soul and just yanks on every string at the exact right moment. 🎻✨

And the Studio Ghibli references? BABYYYYY. As someone whose childhood was shaped by those films, seeing Spirited Away casually pop into the narrative like it owns the place? And then Ryder—goofy, chaotic, perfect Ryder—drops,

"How is this frog guy the one in charge? He's got the leadership skills of a wet napkin."

I wheezed, yall. Full body laughter.

Now let’s get to the heart-shattering perfection that is Blaze, Thorne, and Ryder. Their POVs in this book? EXQUISITE. The love. The absolute devotion to Tori? This isn't romance—this is RELIGION. I’m about to start building a shrine. Real men, take notes. 📝🔥👑

And Tori? Queen of inner monologue and LOL chaos. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to crawl into the book and just hug her. That woman deserves the world, and Rae made sure she got it—three times over. 💅💋👑

Favorite quotes that ended me:

🖤 "God is the one you pray to. I'm the one you need to yell for, Doll."
— Blaze. HOT. ACTUALLY IN FLAMES. 🥵

🖤 "Look who's screaming whose name now, boys."
— Tori. BOW DOWN. 🔥

🖤 "And fire isn't meant to burn alone. So let me be here to fan your flames when they start to get small."
— crying sobbing inconsolable 😭💔

🖤 "Besides, bathrooms are basically our brand now. You wanna disappoint the fans?"
— No. No, I do NOT. And this fan? Is feral and fulfilled. 🚿💘

And don’t even get me started on the cameos. Seeing Juan, Marcus, and Keagan again felt like that perfect surprise visit from your favorite people.

Rae Knight, you did it again. No—you outdid yourself. This series finale wasn’t just satisfying. It was sacred. I’m mourning, celebrating, and possibly starting a support group. “Hi, my name is Julie and I don’t know how to move on from the Iron Triad.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would sell my soul to experience it for the first time again.

Final thoughts:
I don’t want to say goodbye. So I won’t. I’ll just say: “Keep me.”

Rae, thank you for the ride. For the love. For the laughs. For the tears.

[Jennelle Glassburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 5/5⭐
This book was everything I needed and more. Easily my favorite in the trilogy, it completely blew me away. The pacing, the twists, the emotions, it all came together in a way that felt so satisfying and completely earned. I don’t know how Rae managed to balance this much chaos, tension, and emotion without making it feel overwhelming, but she nailed it.

Tori has always been a standout, but in this final installment? She absolutely solidified her place as a mastermind. The way she navigated every manipulation, every betrayal, and still came out standing strong, I was in awe of her. She’s fierce, intelligent, and so deeply loved by the men around her, and that love is undeniable in this book. Every single one of them went through hell, but it was clear they would’ve walked through fire for her. And honestly? They did.

I especially have to say Gabe really surprised me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him at first, but by the end, I was lowkey hoping he’d somehow become a permanent part of their dynamic. His protectiveness, the way he showed up when it mattered, I felt it.

And seeing Juan, Marcus, and Keagan again made my heart happy. It felt like such a full-circle moment and a perfect way to tie the series together. Ryder’s sass, Blaze’s growth, and Thorne’s quiet worry all brought so much depth. Each of these men brings something unique and essential to the table, and you can feel how much they care about Tori, in the loud and quiet ways.

The emotional stakes were high, Diablo really put everyone through it. There were moments I wanted to scream, moments I laughed out loud, and plenty where I just had to pause and take a deep breath. But every moment mattered, and nothing ever felt rushed. It was intricate without being convoluted, intense but still easy to stay immersed in.

This finale wrapped things up in the most satisfying way. The ending was unexpected, bold, and honestly perfect for this group. I already miss them all, but I’m so grateful I got to follow them from start to the end.

If you're into a strong heroine, a found family of men who worship her, and a story that pulls you through every emotion possible, this is the series for you. What a ride.

*I received an advance review copy of all 3 books for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[C_C · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Why Don't You Keep Me

This is book 3 and final of the ‘Why Don’t You’ series

by Rae Knight

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You had me on the dedication page:

"
Now spread those pages and take it all in like a good girl.
"

WOW! I knew immediately I was in :)

What a freaking ride this series has been, Rae! Being able to watch the character's growth and the story development along the 3 books was a must!

I totally understand this series is not for everyone, as we are dealing with a RH, but if you love mafia romance, tension, action, super possessive and protective MMCs, a super-badass FMC, great banter and plenty of spice-spicy-hotspice , then this entire trilogy is for you, trust me.

Great way to finish this.

p.s.: I think Gabe was a fabulous character, and he deserved a sequel on his own :)


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My favorite quotes from this book 3:

“We haven't always treated you the way you deserve, Doll. But I promise you have nothing to worry about. We love you, and we'd burn this world down if you asked. You’re the only thing we want.”

“You enjoy your dinner,” Ryder says, his tone light but laced with finality.
“I’m going to go enjoy mine.”
Then, with zero warning, he strides toward me, scoops me up, and slings me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.

The way he’s looking at me sends a shiver down my spine—like I’m the only thing that matters in the world.

“I've been waiting for my dinner all day, KitKat. You can't keep a man starved like this,” I say, my voice low as I kneel in front of her.

"This world isn’t kind to women who hesitate. We have to be five steps ahead just to be considered competent. Ten
steps if we actually want respect."

“Not all stories have happy endings.”
“Maybe not. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve one.”

“Everyone has dreams,” he says simply. “Even if they don’t talk about them.”

"You’ve always been like fire, Ryder. And fire isn’t meant to burn alone. So let me be here to fan your flames when they start to get small."

I know Tori can never be mine, not in the way I really want her, but she can still be the light in my darkness.

[Kass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why Don't You Keep Me is book three in the Why Don't You series and is the final installment in Tori, Ryder, Blaze and Thorne's story. This is a mafia, why choose, bully romance with dark themes, possessive and protective men and a heroine who fights back and protects those she loves.

As Tori takes her place as Diablo's daughter and next in line to rule his empire, she and her men do not anticipate Diablo trying to destroy them from the inside. Testing thier loyalty to Tori, Diablo throws temptation into each man's lap hoping to show Tori that she can't trust them. Diablo underestimates Ryder, Thorne and Blaze's love for Tori and the connection they share.

This was a fantastic final installment of this series and I am sad that it is over. Rae Knight knows how to write a compelling character full of faults, emotional depth and the way she writes the backstory of each character is truly amazing. You can feel the love the guys have for Tori and how they work through their emotions individually and as a group. To see the progression from the relationship of Tori, Ryder, Thorne and Blaze from book one to book three is fantastic and the growth in each character from bully/victim to love of their lives makes my heart happy for all four of them. While their initial bullying was misguided and mean, their love for Tori from a young age and maturing into burning the world for her, literally was great to read. Also adding the twist of the unrequited love of the bodyguard and how he fits into their life was intersting. The storyline of Diablo and the twists and turns were well thought out and many I did not expect or see coming.

If you love a good why choose romance with over the top possessive men who will stop at nothing to protect the woman they love, all while surviving the mafia world, this series is absolutely for you. There is a lot of spice in this series but no sword crossing, just three gorgeous men worshipping the woman thay all love. There are a lot of dark themes in this book/series so please read your content warnings and take heed. Great job Rae, can't wait to read more from you!

[M Janee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.

Whilst this trilogy is dark romance, this is probably the 'lightest' of the three, with the second one being the 'darkest'. The first was mostly, bullies to lovers, the second one gangs and this one was mafia setting although it focuses more on the guys just running errands that are designed to try and get them to cheat on Tori. So the mafia scene didn't really feel front and centre.

In book two, I really wanted more scenes with Tori and Diable together and I have to say...I feel the same way in this one. I think they only had maybe three scenes and again it was very...stiff. There wasn't a single moment where he even gave off vibes that he thought of Tori as his child.

All four of our main characters have grown quite (as individuals but also their relationships) a lot since book one and I love that. We actually got to see them come into their own.

[Sort of Spoilers Below]
There is a character that is introduced in this book and we do get one chapter pov from him where he reveals he has a crush on Tori. I am glad he doesn't join the harem, however, I didn't think the crush was necessary and I hope he gets his own spin off book/series in the future. I'm thinking Marcus, Keagan and Gabe with an fmc. I'm digging those vibes.

Now, If I'm being picky:
There were two points where I was a little...unsure how I felt. At 88% in, Tori mentions a daydream/fantasy (minor spoiler) she wanted to see Thorne and Ryder kiss. Despite there being no hint of any attraction between them but okay cool, we've all had that fantasy but I didn't quite like the 'if you want sex, I demand a kiss' (being between the guys) - yes this was a 'bluff' but idk..

The second was at 93%. Now, I did like the ending where they start a family. It felt like a good growing moment for them given their histories with their own families, so it did suit for me. However, it again came out of the blue. I would have personally liked some sort of foreshadowing but there's no hint. She just wakes up to Thorn next to her holding a pregnancy test and then suddenly her symptoms start.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why Don’t You Keep Me was a really satisfying end to Rae Knight’s trilogy. It’s honestly one of the more unique conclusions I’ve read in a mafia or gang romance. Everyone deciding to go legit at the end was unexpected. I’m not totally sure how realistic that would be, especially considering everything they’ve been through, but it added a sense of hope and growth that felt earned in its own way. I’m curious if we’ll get more stories in this world to explore how that actually plays out.

Ryder’s trauma arc stood out the most to me. We already knew what he went through, so I didn’t need more detail there, but I really wanted to see how it affected his relationships with Tori and the boys. There were glimpses, but it felt a little rushed. I would’ve loved more depth in how he was coping emotionally, especially in terms of trust and connection.

Blaze also had a strong emotional thread. He kept talking about needing to make up for not saving her, and I really thought he’d get that big, redemptive moment. It felt like the buildup was there, but the payoff never fully landed. A moment where he really proves himself would’ve added something powerful to his arc.

This book was clearly the FMC’s time to shine, and she definitely stepped into that. Still, I missed seeing the guys get their chance to show what they could do. It felt like every time something went wrong, they were reacting instead of stepping into the strength we saw from them earlier in the series.

One thing I struggled with a bit was her saying that her father wouldn’t come after her for stealing his top men. Based on how he was written in the previous books, that didn’t seem believable. He’s been shown as ruthless and controlling, so it felt a little off that he’d just let that go.

Even with those small issues, I really liked this book. It was emotional, intense, and wrapped up the series in a way that felt different and refreshing. If you’ve followed the trilogy from the start, this final book gives a strong sense of closure while still leaving you curious for more.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I will always read Rae Knight and anything she writes! Her Why Don’t You trilogy has come to an end, but this series is definitely worth reading and it will keep you hooked. I was ready to find out what our characters had in store for them and for many questions from books 1 and 2 to be answered. Rae has definitely captured morally gray in these books and has delivered characters that are hard to walk away from. If you haven’t started this series, you must read the first two books before you read the final book.

As each book has progressed, our characters have undergone so much. The growth they have all gone through to not only fulfill their own potential, but the way they grow together is done perfectly. Rae has written each character with so much passion and depth, it is easy to tell how much each one means to her.

Tori, Blaze, Ryder, and Thorne continue to hold center stage in this story, but at the same time don’t take away from any of the new characters that Rae has introduced. Our four main characters stole my heart from the beginning and I loved watching them figure out their dynamic of all wanting to be with Tori. The devotion they show to her is awe inspiring and Tori is finally loved the way she deserves to be loved.

Rae’s writing is perfect in this series. She captures morally grey, raw emotion, and endless love in a way that pulls readers in and doesn’t let go. I have always enjoyed her as an author, but watching her grow as an author has been a joy. She is an author that truly cares about her characters and their story. She involves readers in the development of the stories, wanting their input and how they see the characters. I highly recommend this series and Rae as an author that should be on your TBR. Why Don’t You is a completed trilogy that you won’t be able to put down!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🖤Why Choose
🔥MFMM
🖤Mafia Vibes
🔥Dark Romance
🖤Bully Romance
🔥Multiple POV
🖤Possessive, Protective, and Obsessive