Cutthroat

by Octavia Grant

Eden Shelton was once told that you can’t spell embarrassment without MEN. She never believed it because according to her there was nothing better than being a wife to a loving and appreciative man. Marrying her college sweetheart seemed to make everything in her life better. But, when her rose colored glasses are removed, Eden discovers that the man she planned to walk through life forever with has secrets. Secrets that will change who she is forever.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Novella, Mystery, African American, Suspense, Audiobook

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2025

About the author

Octavia Grant discovered her passion for creative writing in 2002 during her junior year at Georgetown High School in Georgetown, South Carolina. She began writing professionally in 2016 and, two years later, took full ownership of her literary career by becoming an independent author. A bestselling black thriller author and the bestselling author of Cutthroat, Octavia has penned more than 30 novels known for their psychological depth and gripping suspense.
Her work and voice have earned national recognition, including speaking on the Thrilling Tales Author Panel at ESSENCE Fest, Thriller Panelist at National Book Club Conference (NBCC), interview with Narrator iiKane, literary reviewer and film commentator Tamara Walker of Tam Telling Tales, and features in WYB Lifestyle, VoyageJacksonville, Canvas Rebel, and Bold Journey. She has also been honored as one of 160 Black Women in Horror and received multiple accolades for her psychological thriller novella Dear Vicky, including the Black Girls Who Write It’s Lit Award for Best Black Mystery/Suspense, the Audio in Black North Star Award, and the AAMBC Award for Mystery/Thriller Book of the Year.
In addition to these achievements, Octavia has been named Best Thriller/Suspense Horror Author by the Literary Gem Awards and Best Female Author by the Get Caught Up Podcast. Her storytelling continues to push boundaries within the thriller genre, centering bold narratives that captivate, challenge, and resonate with readers worldwide.

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now, you won't hear me say this too often considering the reading choices I make but every single character in this book, yes, every last one of them, needs Jesus and therapy, lots of it. I doubt there's enough holy water or therapists in this world to fix any of their delusional asses but yeah, therapy and Jesus.

My thoughts while reading this book (in no particular order):
1. "🎵Est-ce que les hétérosexuels vont bien?🎶 -Non." (iykyk). Repeated many, many times.
2. "Wait wasn't she the woman's sis? Are all these people siblings somehow?"
3. "For someone who talks about praying you don't have nearly enough Jesus"
4. "Therapy, go to therapy"
5. "You say his unhealed ass as if yours was healed"
6. "Note to self, never touch a straight person ever again"
7. "Baby goes yeeeeeet" (NGL that's the only moment I laughed cause that was so figgin stupid).
8. "Direct dans la Fontaine, all of them, direct dans fontaine."

The only character I had some small modicum of sympathy for was the "evil" sister, she at least had the excuse that no one ever did right by her.

All of that wouldn't have been ground for a 2 stars rating, my real problem with this book is that the writing just isn't good. Every character sounds and thinks the same, there's nothing distinctive between them. Stylistically it's profoundly boring. The amount of time between events is kinda wack and downright nonsensical in some instances. Several passages make it sound like the author changed her mind on where the story was going or on who the characters were but didn't do a full reread to fix the issues the change caused.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

If “I’m gone get my lick back” was a person, it would be Eden. Octavia Grant does it again, and per usual she did not disappoint. This story was truly mind blowing and kept me hooked from start to finish.

Eden & Jermaine are happily married, living their best life. When Jermaine commits the ultimate betrayal, Eden is determined to show him that she is NOT the one to be toyed with, as “Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned!” As Jermaine steps into the “Garden of Eden,” read to see if he will escape Eden’s wrath, or will this be his demise.

And if this wasn’t a proud mama moment, I don’t know what is lol. ⬇️
"Bring him into the Garden of Eden, baby girl," Marie said proudly as she bit into her apple.”

Overall, a very solid 5 ⭐️ read. Highly recommend for anyone that loves jaw dropping, wtf moments!!!

[scthoughts · Rating 1 out of 5]

"He had never thought about that before, mainly because he never thought about it."


"I’m about to call Eve over here to drink with me. You know how we get. So, if I’m passed out drunk when you get here; Fuck me anyway.”


When that man literally went
in the delivery room

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
- I will literally read anything this author writes because it’s so unhinged!! Her writing keeps you wanting more and on the edge of your seat.
- If you’re ever feeling a book slump coming on. Please pick up one of her books. She’s such an underrated author! If you like Freida McFadden’s writing, you’ll love her books.
- Love that this book and most of her books have a romance element to them. Love a good thriller with a romance conflict!

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
✮⋆˙ This was unhinged!
✮⋆˙ This was fast paced!
✮⋆˙ This was messy!
✮⋆˙ This was pure comedic entertainment!
✮⋆˙ This is not one to be taken seriously!

[Tanya T. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stars: 1 Star
Start Date: 5/8/25
Ending Date:05/10/25
Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Form: E-Book
Page Count: 178
Publishing Date: 4/20/25
Point of View: 1st and 3rd person
Setting:
Content Warning: Sexual Content, Sexual Assault, Mention of Abortions, Domestic Violence, Murder, Mention of Child Pornography (CP), Child Abuse, Generational Trauma

My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2...

OG Review May 8th 2025
Everyone needs to go to therapy.

Everyone needs to go to therapy. This book was a waste of time and felt like a low budget tubi movie. I seen this book on a couple FB reading pages hyping it up and decided to give it a try. Everyone felt one Dimensional and plagued with trauma that everyone need multiple therapy sessions. The revenge felt over the top because why go through great lengths to get your lick back over a dude that is so damn dumb and has so much trauma in his life that doesn't understand the consequences of his actions. You would have done better divorcing and move on instead of putting that much energy into getting your lick back.

Extended Review June 24 2025

I just have to add more to this since this book as still been on my mind. Spoilers

I have to pose a question.

How can we break the cycle of generational trauma when revenge is used to get more generational trauma?

Hurt people Hurt people and innocent people pay for it.

It was a lot of hurt people in this book.

Because the ending is what really got me since Eden got her revenge but at what cost?

You get your " lick back" from being cheated on by your husband with your half sister ( which was an outside child from your father cheating on your mom ( which your mom was abused by your dad) which the sister didn't even know until the end) by bring a child in this world from your husband father who is in jail from killing his mom who was cheating on him and expect that child to have a good life in the foster care system?? While you ride in the sunset in your new job while you frame you husband for killing your half sister but his father actually did it?

What kind of fuck up shit is this?

I just can't with this book and the fact it is being so hyped up..

[Keith Book Korner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is unhinged….
Very good book will definitely recommend.. The name says it all.. Cutthroat really means cut Throat I mean that I was definitely not expecting what I had just finished reading.. the FMC is off the chain.. If you are looking for a revenge story this is it.. would definitely read another book from the author


Personally note:
Please when reading a book do not to take the words in each book you read as real life it’s just a book meant to entertain and cause amusement not to be taken to serious that’s why they are called fiction.. if you want real life or facts please stick with nonfiction books please..

PLEASE read for the joy of reading…

Just a thought

[Jahda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eden could have left did all that for nothing.

[Asia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I hate giving books bad reviews because I respect the authors, but this one just wasn’t it. You have to look past plenty of grammatical, punctual, and plot hole errors for one.

I predicted most of the ending…which okay, that’s no biggie, sometimes that happens… but unfortunately, this was just all over the place. This is my first Octavia Grant book and I just don’t think this author is for me…at least right now. The whole book was just basically telling and no showing. The character felt flat and one dimensional. A lot of things were there just for the story and didn’t do anything plot wise. I wanted to like this, and gave it a fair go, but it’s just not my speed.

If you’re looking for something quick and perhaps entertaining and unhinged, then by all means, choose this. But if any of the things I mentioned above bother you, maybe try something else.

[Papillon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Real rating: 0.25 stars

All I can do is shake my head and laugh.

[Brianka Jenkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never in my life did I think I’d read a book like this. And I will never again read a book like this. This shit was too crazy and dumb. I’m thinking she gonna boss up on him and get someone better.

[Alison JJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

No way this book is rated so highly. It’s basically the SHEIN of books. It’s so bad that it’s not even interesting

[Bianca C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book read like a Tubi movie gone wrong. Started off well but went downhill fast and very unbelievable things happening in the story.

[Sassha Reads❤️❤️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jermaine’s punishment didn’t fit his crimes. It’s NOT okay to send someone to prison for murder because they cheated on you with your sister. Jermaine had DV trauma after witnessing his father unalived his brother and mother right in front of him and Eden was truly an evil, disgusting, diabolical person to use that trauma against him for cheating. Eden spoke like it was okay for Jerry to unalive Andrea and Josiah because she cheated with his brother. It’s sad that hurt people, hurt people and that EVERYONE in this book REALLY needed much counseling. It’s also sad what was done to Baby JJ by Eden discarding him away like he’s trash. This could have been a 5 star book in my opinion if certain aspects were left out.

[Trissina McDonald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did we all read the same book? It was all over the place, too much was happening, it gave Tyler Perry I wrote this in 5 hours and released it. I am disappointed.

[Amber V. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is proof that some folks recommending books on BookTok are simply reading for the plot and not paying attention to the actual writing. This had the potential to be a better book if it was written well. An author not knowing the difference between the possessive ‘s’ and the plural ‘s’ is wild. The character names changing within the same page?? The plot holes?? Not knowing that it’s spelled Hades and not “Haiti’s”?!? Wtf?? I want to say this book gave Wattpad but that feels like an insult to Wattpad and I’ve read some horrible sh*t on there. The writing in this book was lazy and felt like it was written in 45 mins🥴😒

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not feel good reading this.

[Gabby Penn Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:
Cutthroat was THEE perfect title for everything that happened in this book! OCTAVIA!! Your brain needs to be studied, because how do you come up with this stuff! I start off reading your books with my mouth open because I know eventually my jaw is going to drop and stay that way. You do not disappoint when it comes to twists and WTF moments.

[kiriahsbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
This was crazy as hell. Locked in from the beginning. The end fell short to me but good af. That sister tho. 0/10

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready for a wild ride

I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends. Don't be fooled by the cover. This story will have you on the edge of your seat.

[Latazia · Rating 5 out of 5]

wth did I just read!! I am so scared of the Merci women. Eden was definitely the definition of cutthroat. My jaw dropped so many times while reading this book. I was definitely entertained through the whole read and Eden definitely shocked me with that baby. OMGGG! This author definitely knows how to write a story that will scare you and intrigue you at the same time. Jermaine really thought he was safe!!!

[bree ✰ · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was so deeply and profoundly unfuckinserious 💀

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but no. This book was unhinged - and not in a good way. Eden didn't have to do any of the dumb stuff she did, because at the end of the day, none of it made a lick of sense.

Reading this book I felt like the author was just thinking of the most out of pocket things she could and threw them together, hoping to have a cohesive story and thrilling plot. Unfortunately, it was just a hot mess.

Along with confusing sentence structure and plot holes galore, I just could not get into these characters for the life of me.

I didn't care what happened to them; in my opinion they all need therapy and Jesus.

One star for the stellar cover.

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so ass to the point it became funny.

[Luciluvsbooksandbags · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story puts Helen’s character from Diary of a mad Black Women to shame…completely UNHINGED…damn!

[Chamar brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

………… you can’t be serious

this book seems like it was written by a 12 year old with a wattpad account and way too much access to the internet. Even down to the names. First of all. The mom had 2 different names just 2 pages apart. And Envious Lilith, how creative!

[Jayce Blevins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars and I’m only docking .5 star because I didn’t need that many pages with this man’s pov 🤢

THIS SHIT WAS INSANE. My JAW WAS DROPPED holy crap. This was ruthless!!!! Do not cross a woman if you do, read this book and you’ll know what the consequences will be 😫

This is not a romance and it’s about an FMC that will do anything for revenge. And god, was the revenge sweet and terrible 😩

[Tiffani Pyburn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reminded me of a Tyler Perry tv show

I did not like this book at all. At first I thought it was getting where. But Eden having sex with Jermaine’s father and having his baby which ended up being her husband’s (Jermaine) lil brother was just too sick and disgusting for me. I was done with the entire book after that plot. 2 out of 10 for me.

[amerie ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ngl this was giving tubi movie.. but i still liked it though nonetheless!

[Arlinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRAVO! 10/10.