Petty AF

Petty AF #1

by Asha Mara

He flew her out. Then ghosted. So she got petty.

A revenge hookup with his best friend? Call it messy. She calls it self-care.

Sienna James went to Miami expecting yachts, romance, and a man who’d finally act right.
What she got instead was blocked, humiliated, left on read.

So she did what any unbothered baddie with a business plan and body butter would do.

She hit up the best friend.

Apollo Morris was supposed to be off-limits. Loyal. Lethal when crossed. Fine as hell. And absolutely the wrong man to touch.

But when he shows up where Malik didn’t... and takes his time like he’s got forever?

She forgets why this was revenge. And how to keep her voice down.

Now she’s glowing, thriving, and stacking wins. While Malik watches the one he ghosted become the woman he can’t outrun.

This isn’t just revenge. It’s a rebrand.

And Apollo? He’s making damn sure she never has to ask twice.


PETTY AF is a STANDALONE, but a part of the Petty AF series.

Perfect for fans of the he-fell-first trope, messy glow-ups, and heroines who never settle for less.

Genres: African American Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Erotica

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

Reviews

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew with a title like this, that I would have a wild ride. Cause who don’t like a lil messy sometimes right? Some good get back too. Sign me up! 🤣 This read was all of that and so much more.

Sienna had her mind set on this Miami getaway, and her heart set on the man. But when he does the ultimate fboy move, she is livid, and ready to retaliate! 🤬 Enter best friend Apollo!

Apollo has been cleaning up Malik’s messes for years, and he is finally tired of it. Especially when he sees the aftermath of his wrongdoings where Sienna is concerned. He shouldn’t care or be checking for this woman, but he can’t help himself. Malik pushed her away, and now…

They agree to a night, as an in your face for Malik, but it quickly spirals into more. Apollo was the man, and Malik forgot who he was messing with! Malik, Malik, Malik… the audacity sir! 😤You were really that butt hurt when you caused all the mess in the first place? Ughhh…. Sienna and Apollo turned their revenge into a win, and I was here for it. Enjoyed this! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book more than lived up to its title. I love a petty MC and I adored the way these two MCs came together and then ended up catching feelings. It was fun and sexy and I'm eager to read more of this author's work.

[Shawnte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok WOW! This book resonated with me in so many ways! You know what they say, everybody plays the fool sometimes and I've definitely been hurt and discarded before just like Sienna. But with living comes hard truths and lessons and the determination not to let them break you. I saw myself in Sienna. I loved that she was fierce and pissed enough not to let a man dim her light. Enter the very god like Apollo, just walking, dripping perfection and every woman's dream. Who didn't swoop in to save the damsel but gave her the support when she needed it to rescue herself. This book was EVERYTHING! It was hilarious, gritty, unapologetically wild at moments with enough passion to burn down my Kindle library🔥. It left me with a sense of empowerment and reminded me to keep pushing in my own life. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book is definitely on my favorites list now… I loved every page of it; I was hooked from the very first page and I can't wait to read more in the rest of the series. This author has a new fan for life… So many stars 😍❤️

[Tang “Lovie” Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

🫦🫦🫦🫦.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

“One night with him, I forgot why Malik ever mattered.”

Petty AF is for the baddies who know their worth, the romantics who crave dirty devotion, and anyone who’s ever wanted to burn it all down just to rise hotter. It’s messy. It’s sexy. It’s revenge you can moan to.


Come for the drama. Stay for the man who never makes you ask twice.

Ate this book up in one sitting…

Vibes

#PettyAFBook
#SpicyReads
#RomanceWithHeat
#BookTokAfterDark
#SteamyBookRecs
#MessyRomance
#HighHeatRomance
#SpicyBlackRomance
#FakeFriendRealFling
#HeFellFirs

[Curves Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so much reading this book. We've all been ghosted and wanted revenge at some point. Don't miss out on reading this book there's romance and so much comedy. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cameo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the fact that she went straight to the point. It did not start like the other books where the characters probably went on their way and met up at a party or at the club. Sometimes bad things have to happen for great things to begin, I enjoyed from beginning to end!

[Drew London · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all the Books Playlist is Emaculate..... the way Sienna navigated through the whole book was so realistic... it was very intriguing ,kept my attention , not to mention the steamy parts... I loved it ..

[Tee Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to read this early as an ARC and it hits. That high on a boat chapter? Loved it! Sienna had me laughing out loud a few times. Also the heat level (blush).

[Daryn Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petty AF by Asha Mara completely blew me away in all the best ways! This was my second ARC read, and as soon as I cracked the book open it got straight to it; all gas no brakes! lol I can honestly rate this book as a five-star read and the spice!? OH. EM.GE 5+ stars for me personally--A book with a great storyline and spice level will always be a great read for me. Also, the duology POV how the story is told from both Sienna and Apollo’s perspective is a bonus. Sienna’s get-back and level of pettiness towards Malik was wild af and very entertaining, and I loved how Apollo put his foot down, stopped allowing Malik to treat him like a doormat/ clean up crew behind his shenanigans and finally said enough was enough and stood on business for not only himself but behind Sienna as well.
But all pettiness aside, I admired how bold and resilient Sienna was as a person despite everything she faced, and even though her pettiness was at an all-time high she wasn’t just doing it ruffle Malik’s feathers, after a while she did it for herself in the sense of a constant reminder, she is that girl and wanted to reclaim/ rebrand her identity. I loved how she followed, planned and executed her dreams and everything she manifested for herself. Apollo was a gentleman from start to finish, the way he stood by Sienna in support and like a bodyguard, and didn’t treat her like she needed saving, while she reclaimed herself was beautiful, and when he told her he would burn the world down behind her… I’m yelling “DON’T LET HIM GO GIRLLL!!”
My favorite part about the book is how it became more than just a get-back/ pettiness, it evolved into black romance. I have zero complaints about this book as a whole, only just towards the character Malik lol, he got on my nerves doing the most after he was the one the one that fumbled… really bad.
To end this review on a high note…10/10 recommend, if any of my book besties ask me for their next book recommendation, I will gladly tell them don’t walk but run and get them a copy of Petty AF by Asha Mara.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. I am so happy that I found this author. I will be reading anything she publishes in the future. Ms. Mara's writing style will have readers feeling like they are watching a tv show or a movie. Everything is just so real. Sienna James is a popular influencer. She has made herself a brand and does the work to keep her brand growing. She finally decided to step out of her comfort zone and give a guy a real try. They had been talking on the phone. This trip should have been smooth sailing. After flying to Miami, Sienna found out nothing was as it seems. Not only that, the man ghosted her. Thankfully, his best friend, Apollo Morris saved the day. Petty thoughts were definitely running through Sienna's head when she told Apollo that she wanted to spend some time with him. The clapback was real. Malik, the ghoster, did not take the news well.

This book takes readers on a wild ride full of pettiness and audacity. Can Sienna and Apollo really create a relationship out of this mess? Will Malik go gently into that good night? Sienna has goals. A man is just an additional piece to the puzzle she is creating. Both Apollo and Sienna have baggage that might prevent them from having forever together. This fast-paced book will have readers enthralled. Get ready for the ride.

[Boniswa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, so I started reading this morning around 5 am and by 12pm I was done. So, this book is a quick read, the storyline is interesting enough to keep reading. It is a great idea, just a slight failure in execution. I was not a big fan of the writing style in terms of the sentence structure. The sentences felt and read choppy. There is a lack of real character and scenic description. It moves too quickly from one point to another, without real flow. I did enjoy the option to write from two point of views, but it just didn't gel for me. I get where it's going, but I'm not 100% happy with how we get there. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I enjoyed the little text bubbles and the direct dialogue, that was well written. There's room for improvement, it's not a complete train smash.

[dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glad to get some concepts of how the MMC Apollo looked, very helpful in creating visuals that a reader can latch onto-your book boyfriend, Sienna, not so much. I was kind of confused as to who Sienna was in general. I felt the independent, confident woman gettin her “get back.” I think she was supposed to be layered in her personality, but she became overly messy, young/immature, and just as toxic as her villain ex. While the storyline and plot was kind of obvious and straight to the point, it was still confusing to read and follow the story. I didn’t understand what was going on with her, her back story was spotty and kind of confusing. The storyline, pacing and flow lost its way. It became as choppy and inconsistent as the characters. MCs Sienna and villain Malik felt like some toxic, trendy Gen Z-ers that communicate in one liners, trendy references and tweets the whole book that you may need translation for. Meanwhile, MC Apollo is more mature, made more sense, although questionable taste in women- he grounded the story and seemed more like the adult in the triangle. He was more lovable as a character. Though it was a contemporary story, I wish there was more romance, character/relationship building, and pacing for a good romance/love story…not just sexual chemistry. But it may just be me and you may love it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petty AF!

This was so much fun! Sienna and Apollo yummy licious short but sweet story and very steamy. All I’m gonna say is it’s definitely worth reading if you love revenge storylines but with black girl magic sprinkled in and divine masculine energy. I love that Apollo ensured that his woman was taken care of. The way that sienna let herself be loved even when they really weren’t sure that it was love was so good. It was done really well sometimes it’s worth it to let your guard down and I love someone to take care of you. I highly recommend this book and I’m gonna go see if the author has more books.

[Leneé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I loved this one. The writing style is so different from anything I’ve read before - but it totally worked. The short, punchy chapters kept me hooked the entire time (I love a short chapter moment 🩷). It was the perfect length, super engaging, and honestly just fun.

And can we talk about Apollo for a second? 😮‍💨 I love an Apollo who can swoop in and be everything needed. Plus, revenge really is sweet, and this book delivered it in the most satisfying way. A quick, bold, and refreshingly different read that I flew through in no time.

[Dawnann Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. The FMC and the MMC have such great chemistry. The pages were hot, hot,hot. Just enough spice and plot to keep me reading. I liked the storyline. I loved the comeback with the FMC. I love how the MMC supported her once he realized she wasn’t after his mom. I love the bad @$$ and bad b!tch mentality that the FMC had. She was so great and I would love to know her in real life.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yehaziel Espinal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes taking the high road is not enough.
I love how a plan for revenge turns into building a bond with your future man.
I could not put this book down because between the amazing character development and hot scenes I could not get enough. 😜😏🌶️🥵

Will for sure be recommending to everyone.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Sienna and Apollo are definitely my top MCs of the year. Sienna handled getting ghosted amazingly and bounced back better than ever! I loved the way Apollo stood on business and did not play about Sienna. He showed up in every way that counts. Looking forward to more from Asha Mara!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Audrey Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

First 5 this year...

Well edited, yes edited, lately editing has taken a back seat and that at times causes nonsense sentences.

Now this book if it was there it was between the laughter lines and the OMG he did it, and relief he didn't do it.

She is scary and he is loyal.

Have a go you won't regret.

[Tia Esque · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a fun ride

I love a revenge story and this did not disappoint. The book was delivered to my kindle 3 hours ago (I preordered) and I finished it so fast. Can’t wait for the next one

[Marian Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book I would recommend ,love a good strong female lead..

[Latosha Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I could not put it down! I read it in two days. I am new to this author but she has quickly became one of my favorites. She now has a forever reader.

[Notyourmomsshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing is better than revenge served on a cold silver platter. This was a fun quick read. I normally don't like instalove books but the revenge aspect of it set it just right.

[Ya-Nais · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ARC reader here! Thank you for this early read!
This book was a fun time enjoyed the characters the fmc annoyed me at times cause i hate a miscommunication trope but we love an emotionally intelligent man. Love the spice i don’t mind insta lovey wish the book was longer in aspects of developing each character but enjoyed length of the book. Found family was good and made me excited to see what comes next

[Ava Ly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick spicy read! Our fmc is stood up and ghosted by a man that flew her out to a romantic getaway, leading her to cross paths with his best friend. The two decide not to let the weekend go to waste and things quickly turn messy- and Petty😌

[The Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petty AF by Asha Mara is exactly what the title promises—a deliciously bold, revenge-fueled, steamy Black love romance that radiates confidence, chaos, and clapbacks. It’s the kind of novella that doesn’t just enter the room—it struts in wearing heels, smudged eyeliner, and a silk robe with nothing underneath.

The story follows Sienna, a confident, body-butter entrepreneur who finds herself stranded in Miami after being ghosted by Malik—the man who flew her out and then vanished without a return ticket or a courtesy text. But Sienna doesn’t mope—she gets even. Enter Apollo, Malik’s best friend, a former military bodyguard with morals, muscles, and a thirst for justice (and maybe for Sienna, too). What begins as a petty power move turns into something way messier, sexier, and surprisingly heartfelt.

The dual POV works perfectly, giving readers insight into Sienna’s raw hurt and rage-turned-radiance, while Apollo simmers as the unexpected hero we didn’t know we needed. Their chemistry? Ridiculously hot. The sex scenes are intense, explicit, and inventive—this book earns every ounce of its "extreme spice" label with commanding dirty talk, degradation kink, and power dynamics that toe the line between filth and finesse. Yet it never feels gratuitous—the heat always feeds into the emotional stakes.

Beyond the steam, Mara delivers sharp writing packed with quotable lines, viral energy, and genuine character development. Sienna's transformation from hurt to healed is empowering, and Apollo’s slow burn from clean-up man to main character is deeply satisfying. Malik—the fuckboy ex—serves as the perfect antagonist, embodying all the reasons why we root even harder for Apollo and Sienna.

Petty AF is revenge romance done right: sexy, smart, and emotionally layered. With its fierce heroine, alpha-but-soft hero, and scorching chemistry, this novella is a must-read for fans of messy hookups, he-fell-first tropes, and heroines who never settle. It’s got bite, beauty, and a hell of a lot of bedroom steam.

Tropes & Tags:
He Falls First
Fake Dating (turned real)
Revenge Hookup
Best Friend’s Enemy
Black Love
Possessive MMC
Dual POV
One-bed energy (and kitchen, and booth…)
High Heat / Extreme Spice
HEA with a petty flourish

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny, spicy, wild ride 😂❣️ My favorite romance book I read this year.