A forbidden desire. An unethical experiment. I was supposed to study deviant minds, not lose myself to one.
For four years, Dr Braithwaite has been my secret obsession. He's twice my age, the most respected academic on campus, and utterly unattainable. Off-limits. Yet, every minute under his tutelage feeds my hunger to be more than his student.
As a psychology post-grad, I study the minds of deviants, dissecting their urges, their compulsions – the reason for their depraved desires. I've never seen myself as one.
But Dr Braithwaite has a theory, and he wants me to be his willing subject.
He believes deviancy isn't learnt. It’s innate. Buried inside me. Waiting for his firm hand. And he intends to prove it to me.
This experiment may destroy our academic careers. It may also unravel me completely. Because the real question isn't how far he’ll push me... It’s how far I’ll let him.
Teach Me is a fast-burn, forbidden romance with an age gap, a dominant hero, and a strong female lead. This novella has adult themes and explicit content. It is meant for a mature audience only. Please check the author’s website for CWs. Series HEA guaranteed. The books should be read in order.
Dina Hawthorn is a dark romance writer with a keen interest in psychology, tea, and long walks in the countryside. She lives in Suffolk, England, and is often found writing dark, gritty stories with a ginger cat on her lap.
This story was no time getting into the core points. Form an author who is known for writing long, rich stories of depth, it is nice to see that she can write in many different styles.
This is a short book filled with big moments. After a quick buildup where you learn who the main characters are and come attached to them the heat gets cranked!
Chapter after chapter, this book will have you saying oh damn! If you like steamy and spicy stories, this is for you. If you have never read any of Dina‘s work before and are unsure if you want to try one of her longer works, this shorter one is for you. If you want to push your limits on how spicy a store we can get, this one is for you.
Basically, if you like good stories, this one is for you!
Teach Me is smart, sexy, and beautifully written. The plot delivers a forbidden academic romance layered with tension, emotional pull, and psychological intrigue. I devoured it in one sitting and need the second book immediately.
The story explores a fictional Dom/sub relationship with intelligence, care, and raw hunger. The dynamic between main characters is magnetic and their chemistry burns through the pages.
The supporting characters are just as intriguing, and I’ll definitely be reading the Harpies books to dive deeper into their stories.
Dina Hawthorn writes in a way that is enticing, thoughtful, and utterly captivating. I can’t wait to explore more of her work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
For four years, Dr. Braithwaite has been my secret obsession—older, untouchable, and off-limits. As a psych post-grad, I want to study deviants, never seeing myself as one—until he suggests otherwise. He believes desire like mine is innate, waiting to be unleashed. And he wants to prove it, no matter the cost. This could ruin us both. But the real danger isn’t how far he’ll go—it’s how far I’ll let him.
This was a quick, spicy read! As a psychology major, I really enjoyed that element woven into the story. I also appreciated the introduction of Dan—it gave Ophelia a chance to explore different Dom dynamics. The ending teases more to come for Emmerson and Ophelia, and I’m definitely looking forward to it. Fingers crossed for a Dom/Sub happily ever after!
Student X Teacher Dom X Sub Praise & Degradation Sex Club Kink Exploration
This takes the words Teach Me to new levels crossing the student/teacher boundaries. Ophelia gets a completely different education than the ones she's paying for as her professor introduces her to the BDSM world.
A very fun and spicy read that just kept getting better and better! A psychology professor teaches Ophelia more than just theories, and the dynamic between them was so engaging.I thought the BDSM aspect was handled really well, and honestly, I didn’t mind one bit that the plot took a back seat because the smut carried it perfectly!
I liked the premise of this book but I found the FMC and the professor very emotionally lacking. I couldn’t connect with Ophelia at all and I didn’t felt like her negative experience with Luke was equal to the grudge she had against BDSM based pornography, I expected that something really bad had happened (not to dismiss how different people experience trauma but I didn’t feel like she was haunted by it like you’d expect either). Dr Braithwaite was a little better but not by much, he felt like the outline of a Dom but he wasn’t fleshed out. The spice was decent but the lack of emotional depth of the characters put me off really enjoying it, and I didn’t feel like there was enough depth for a cliffhanger ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved this story. However, before I delve deeper into my experience with it, I want to let you know that this is an ARC review. I am part of this experience because I read the first drafts of this book in Dina Hawthorn's REAM group, titled "The Experiment," and it was THAT GOOD! It was still in development when I read it, but the story captivated me from page one. When I learned Dina was going to publish it as a proper book, I wanted to be part of it. So, having clarified my relationship with this book, let me tell you why I enjoyed the story of Ophelia and Emerson's journey of love and trust. ** SOME SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS** Because, yes, it is a love story. Not the conventional one. A deviant one. A divergent one. And I can tell you, as a newcomer to the BDSM/ Dark Erotica genre, I have read numerous ebooks that follow similar plots over the past two years, but only a few have truly resonated with me. "Teach Me" is one of them because of the underlying issue of when trust is broken and the right people, dynamics, and setting must be in place for it to be restored. In my opinion, it is as challenging to maintain the intensity and interest throughout BDSM/Dark Erotica literature as it is to keep the mystery in a crime story or the drama in a romance. That is what I like about the dynamic in "Teach Me." The blurb of the book tells you exactly what to expect: BDSM. What it doesn't tell you is how the protagonist's mindset evolves and how the "teacher" provides her with the tools and resources do to it. It is as much an emotional journey for her as it is for him. I love it when the power couples in the stories I read evolve together. Like its draft title, this story is an experiment. One that goes right because it perfectly balances the amount of bondage, discipline, dominance, and submission. Its explanation of what BDSM is and how it works, including when it's right and when it's wrong, and how emotions play a role in this dynamic, provides a great introduction to this genre and leaves me wanting to learn more about the characters' personal stories. I wish to know more about Ophelia's past and future, and why Emmerson is the way he is. And how they will continue their story in "Twist Me." Without giving too much detail, I recommend paying close attention to the underlying question of this story. Is deviancy born or created? The author's approach to the subject is respectful and logical. It made me question why and when divergence is considered wrong or right. As a final note: If you are new to Dina's literary work, this book is a great introduction. If you wish to delve deeper, I recommend continuing with "The Harpies" saga.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This novella dives headfirst into forbidden territory and does so with unapologetic intensity. Ophelia has long harbored a fascination with her enigmatic professor, Dr. Braithwaite, and when he agrees to supervise her post-grad dissertation, her intellectual curiosity and secret desires collide in a deliciously dangerous way. Their academic discussions, focused on sexual deviance and Ophelia’s theory that submission stems from past trauma, quickly evolve into something far more personal. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall during those exchanges. When Dr. Braithwaite challenges her thesis and proposes a hands-on experiment to dismantle her assumptions, it’s clear that Ophelia has no idea just how deeply he intends to unravel her. Watching Dr. Braithwaite systematically dismantle Ophelia’s boundaries was both mesmerizing and unsettling. He offers her a space that is, paradoxically, both confrontational and safe. A crucible in which she begins to discover the hidden contours of her own desires. As a Dominant, Dr. Braithwaite is unyielding and, at times, abrasive, especially considering Ophelia’s novice status in the BDSM realm. His approach occasionally felt jarring, lacking some of the D/s negotiation and clarity I’ve come to expect in stories set in this space. Still, there’s an unspoken trust between them, built on their intellectual connection, that allows the dynamic to unfold with a raw, edgy authenticity. There were moments when the ethical lines blurred, particularly in the absence of explicit consent rituals or clearly defined boundaries, which might be uncomfortable for some readers. And yet, the taboo nature of their relationship as professor and post-grad student adds a heady layer of tension that’s hard to look away from. Given the novella’s brevity, the focus is firmly on the spice and it is intense, no doubt. But with this being the first in a series, I’m hopeful that future installments will dive deeper into the emotional and intellectual layers of Ophelia and Dr. Braithwaite’s relationship, giving us more moments outside the bedroom to balance the heat. All in all, this is a provocative, psychologically charged read that walks a razor-thin line between dominance and discomfort, obsession and awakening. A bold, intriguing start to what promises to be a very compelling series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to the author for the ARC via BookSirens! I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my first from this author, which means I haven’t read any other books in the Harpies universe.
I understand the general point of the book, and I love the professor/student trope, but it felt like the professor was manipulative, taking advantage of her attraction to him and the fact that she needed this for her dissertation, and pushing himself and his desires on to her while trying to convince her that it was what she really wanted. She would lay out boundaries, telling him when things made her uncomfortable, and he would continue to cross them and just tell her it was for the sake of her experiment. On multiple occasions, she would cry, and he would make her feel guilty about it.
I’m not a stranger to dark romance, but it just felt like the dynamic between these two wasn’t really as consensual as he kept trying to convince her it was. He and his friends just seemed to prey on impressionable young women and that gave me the creeps.
This version did not use double quotation marks for quotes, using only single quotation marks, which initially drove me bonkers. Is this a British thing?
There was a minor continuity error when Dan at the bar ordered a port wine but then paragraphs later took a sip of his beer. I think I only noticed a typo or two (the one I remember was "waving" instead of "waiving").
This was well-written, and it definitely elicited a response from me. It was just an angry and cringey one, not an entertained one. Given the other rave reviews, I’m in the minority here, so I guess I was not the right audience.
Spicy, intense, and everything I love about the professor/student trope
Okay, if you're into taboo dynamics, steamy tension, and a dominant professor who knows exactly what he's doing, Teach Me is going to hit all the right spots. The spice in this book? So good. Like, blush-while-reading kind of good. But it’s not just heat for heat’s sake. The way he slowly introduces her to the world of BDSM felt thoughtful, controlled, and actually kind of beautiful. You can tell the author put care into how that dynamic was written.
I loved the push and pull between them, the growing trust, and the way their chemistry practically jumped off the page. And yes, the whole professor/student thing definitely adds to the tension in the best way.
Why not five stars? I think there was a little room for more emotional depth or exploration of the characters outside the bedroom. I loved what was there, but I would have loved even more insight into their backgrounds or inner worlds to really get fully hooked on a deeper level. Just that little extra layer would’ve made the connection feel even more powerful.
Still, this was a super fun, spicy read that totally delivered on its promise. If you’re looking for something steamy with a forbidden edge and a Dom who actually cares about his submissive’s boundaries and growth, definitely give this one a shot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When I first saw the professor x student tag, I braced myself for the usual dynamic - but this story turned that expectation completely on its head, and I actually loved it. The relationship between Ophelia and Dr. Emmerson Braithwaite was far more nuanced and emotional than I anticipated.
While it’s definitely a fast burn, there were moments that felt a little too rushed. Still, the chemistry between the two was undeniable, and the spice? Absolutely perfect - enough to leave me wanting more without overshadowing the story itself.
What really hooked me was Ophelia. She’s such a relatable character - constantly questioning herself, her desires, and the labels she’s internalized. Watching her learn about her sexuality, explore the intricacies of BDSM, and unlearn her skewed “deviant” views was fascinating. The story dips into darkness without ever going too far, making it a perfect entry point for readers who enjoy dark romance with depth.
And of course, this book features one of my favorite tropes - “Who hurt you?” - though I wish it had been explored just a little more.
All in all, Teach Me is a beautifully written and refreshingly thoughtful take on self-discovery, vulnerability, and unconventional love. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to dive deeper into the Deviant Players world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
Teach Me starts off with a lot of promise. The setup is intriguing—a dark, forbidden romance between a professor and student, layered with psychological tension and taboo themes. The opening chapters definitely pulled me in and had me curious to see where things would go.
But somewhere in the middle, it started to lose its grip. The pacing became scattered, and what could’ve been a dark, addictive story turned a bit flat. The professor’s "experiment", trying to prove that women without trauma can enjoy degradation, was a bold idea, but it wasn’t handled in a way that felt grounded or engaging. Instead, it came off more clinical than emotional, and the characters didn’t evolve in a way that kept me invested.
There was potential here. The premise had the chance to be daring and gripping, but the execution fell short. I wish it had leaned deeper into the emotional stakes or gone more all-in on the dark elements; it just stayed in a weird middle ground for me.
Still, credit where it’s due: the opening is strong, the concept is unique, and I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy power dynamics and edge-pushing romance. It just didn’t fully work for me.
Okay besties, "Teach Me" by Dina Hawthorn? Whew—this book did not come to play. Book 1 in the Deviant Players series introduces us to Ophelia, a bold grad student, and Emmerson, her dangerously intense dissertation professor. Yeah… you already know we’re diving deep into taboo territory—and I lived for it.
But what really impressed me was how Dina handled BDSM and kink with such clarity and respect. She tackles common misconceptions in a way that’s honest, empowering, and super approachable. If you’ve ever been curious but insecure about exploring sexual openness, this is your soft (but spicy AF) landing. 🔥
The tension? Seductive. The spice? HOT AF. Emmerson had me saying 'Yes, Sir' more times than I care to admit. And don’t skip those trigger warnings—they matter.
This is 1000% a must-read, and I am counting down the days for Book 2. Bonus: sign up for Dina’s newsletter and get Theo & Jack’s novella—side characters that totally deserve their own spotlight!
Let’s just say… class is officially in session. 👀💋
Teach Me is a scorchingly provocative dive into forbidden academia, where intellect clashes with desire in the most salacious ways. Dr. Emmerson Braithwaite, enigmatic and unyielding, isn’t just a professor, he’s a Dom with every intention of being the architect behind Ophelia’s transformation. Their age gap simmers with tension, pushing boundaries from whispered lectures to punishing lessons after dark.
Ophelia, once naive and defiant, tumbles headfirst into a world of emotional upheaval and intense erotic exploration. Braithwaite introduces her not just to the pleasures of control and surrender, but to the twisted beauty of degradation, reshaping her understanding of power, autonomy, and desire.
With unapologetic BDSM elements, raw vulnerability, and scenes that border on the decadent, this book doesn’t just deliver spice—it redefines it. It’s a chaotic, addictive journey into deviancy that lingers long after the final page.
A huge thank you to the author, Dina Hawthorn, and Book Sirens for the early copy! Can’t wait to see what these two deviants are up to next ;)
Teach me is about a taboo student / professor romance.
Ophelia is a student and has a thing for her dissertation supervisor, Dr. Emmerson Braithwaite. Her dissertation is about porno, but they both have different views on that. Dr. Braithwaite challenges and pushes Ophelia to think outside the box. He rejects her paper and challenges her to an experiment. Ophelia accepts and that's where their intimate relastionship starts.
Emmerson introduces Ophelia to sex clubs, BDSM elements, submission and derogatory comments.
It's a fast read, maybe a bit too fast for my likings, which left the characters a bit flat. I like a bit more time for emotional building. But ... If smut was a plot, this book is it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was really interested to see how this book would play out from the academic perspective in the description, and I think it was done well. It was interesting to see how Ophelia’s views shifted throughout the book in a way that didn’t feel rushed for the purpose of moving the plot along. This would be an interesting book for readers who enjoyed Gabriel’s Inferno as well! The author represents academia in an interesting way that reflects throughout the plot, when thinking about Ophelia’s research, I think the plot lines up really well with everything she is interested in writing about and re-wiring her thoughts and beliefs without the original bias. The ending has made me really interested to see what happens in book two!
Thank you to Dina Hawthorn and BookSirens for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review!
Are you interested in a SUPER spicy read - full of tension and heat? This quick read is full of it. The SPICE is definitely the PLOT here, and I’m not complaining about it at all! I enjoyed the characters and the pacing of the story between scenes. Make sure you check the triggers on this one because it is a DARK romance and there are definitely some power dynamics going on between this professor/student romance.
If you like the following you’ll enjoy his book: -BDSM (Dom/Sub) -Professor x Student -Power dynamics -MF and MFM -Spicy club -”Eyes on me” -He teaches her as an “experiment”/for research -Exhibitionism
A great short story with a teacher/student trope. The FMC is about to start her dissertation work on human sexuality, and her dissertation supervisor is challenging her assumptions around what makes people "deviants" who pursue alternative types of sexual expression (e.g., BDSM). The relationship begins from there, and it's fun and spicy.
I appreciated the BDSM rep here and found that the depictions of the club and scenes were pretty accurate (although we all wish we had these types of clubs near us, and they seem few and far between - but this is a fantasy, so I'll let it slide).
As a short story, there isn't a whole lot of plot other than the spice, and that's ok. The spice is smoking hot and really fun to read. Definitely one I'll revisit for a pick-me-up later on.
Ophelia has always had a thing for her professor, Dr Braithwaite. He may be a couple of decades older than her, but he's always in her fantasies. He challenges and pushes her, but she is annoyed that her paper keeps getting refused by him. When he proposes an experiment, is she willing to go down that route? Will all her reasoning, her data, be shown to be flawed? Will this show that past hurt may have coloured how she views the subject matter? Also, will she be surprised by the person she is when the right incentives are placed before her? The professor not only opens up her mind but also her body to new experiences.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ok this book completely exceeded my expectations. It encompassed so many of my kinks/tropes… forbidden romance, teacher/student relationship, BDSM, sex clubs, age gap, submission, derogatory comments, threesomes!
The spice is out of this world. The only bad thing is I can’t wait for Book 2!
Dina’s writing is so descriptive that you can picture her scenes! I am excited to read more of her work in the future!
The spice level is 5/5 🌶️
Characters are 5/5
I NEED more!!!! Ophelia and Emerson’s story is everything!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was my first time reading Dina Hawthorn, and I found her voice bold, erotic, and confident. The story centers around a dominant, enigmatic professor who wants to explore a very specific theory… using his student as the subject. 😳
While this was mostly smut-forward (which I expected and enjoyed), there’s just enough psychological intrigue to keep it interesting. It’s a quick read, but it packs a punch. If you like a strong heroine, a cold and calculated older man, and don’t mind your romances a little on the ethically messy side, this is a one-sitting kind of book.
Looking forward to checking out more from this author! Especially if the taboo vibes stay this strong. 😏
The blurb of this book called to me so beautifully and I don't regret reading this. Psychology ✅️ S*xuality ✅️ 🐝D$M ✅️
I loved everything about this book. It's a short read with a 150 pages count, but sometimes, It's nice to have a quicky!
I loved the s*xology aspect of this, the learning that the FMC did and the unraveling of her biaised views of the female se*uality.
I will definitely read other books by Dina Hawethorn, as it was my first one! And now that I know that it will a second book, I will wait patiently for it, as Sir Emerson would like too.
I am leaving this review voluntarily as an ARC reader.
When I tell you my jaw was on the floor with this story. As if a forbidden romance isn't enough we have the element that they've basically been pinning for one another 🥰🥰 Naughty naughty Ophelia but man do I love it. The attention to detail that Dr. Braithwaite has to Ophelia's feelings is just adorable 🩷 I was eating this story up! Don't even get me started on the amount of smutty scenes and details added into them🥵🥵 All I can really say is Ophelia is one lucky girl 😋 I can't wait to see how much their story unravels because trust me when I say, I'll be back for more 🫀
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When it comes to smutty, dark romances, I am easy to please, and Teach Me tingled the right parts of my brain.
Hot professor, wonderful smut, bdsm, a sex club, the worshipping of women's bodies?? What more could you want. Literally take it as it is, a fun little sexy, smutty novel where you will wish you were in our protagonist's shoes.
At times, our female main was a little annoying and whiny, but you can look past that once our hot professor puts her in her place.
OBSESSED is an understatement.
Thank you so much to BookSirens for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow This book had me in a chokehold! Like ive not read such an explicit, smutty read in ages and I bloody loved it! I found the subject of the phycology and BDSM and Dom /sub world fasinating and was written so well. The spice be spicing in this one! I loved the ending and love how Ophelia and Emmersons relationship evolves its a complex situation and relationship but im here for it. I can not wait to see what happens next for Emmerson and Ophelia. Im hooked and whole heartly invested in them both . Id forgotten how much I love a good dark romance! Who does love a good smut slut read. 5 🌟 read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is about the deliciously forbidden relationship between Ophelia, a post grad student, and Emmerson, a professor. Ophelia has a theory about deviancy, and Emmerson is there to teach her why her theory is incorrect. Emmerson and Ophelia take a deliciously forbidden, explicit journey into the world of BDXM and their own personal kinks. The always excellent Dina Hawthorn has written another thrilling novel that is definitely worth the read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Talk about hands on learning. Teach me is a very taboo student professor romance (if we even call it that) book. We have a much older professor and a student who is working on her dissertation / these in sexual psychology.
The book reinforces that desires can be both pleasurable both parties. The fmc believes that isn’t the case. Throughout the novella the professor gives her homework assignments and lessons and it gets spicer and spicer. I don’t believe the syllabus prepared us for this.