You Wound Me

by Alair Novak

Young love dies hard.

My high school crush is everything to me. Under normal circumstances, you’re ready to graduate and get away from your overbearing family. I hated leaving her behind to pursue my college career, and honestly, I’ve been lonely as hell since. Missing her smile, her voice, her sharp as hell tongue—everything.

It’s been a few years but I waited like a good boy. Waited for her to turn eighteen, choose to leave her abusive father behind, and run away with me.

Now?

I’m back for her. If I have anything to say about it, she’ll put this damn town in the rear view mirror and never look back.

Unfortunately, some things don’t work out.


WARNING : This is a romantic tragedy.

Genres: Dark Romance

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 30, 2026

Reviews

[Kalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story broke me in so many ways and also in ways I didn't know were possible. Alair has always been able to get me in my feels with her stories. This one was no different it was intense, heartbreaking, and showed me a side I didn't think was possible for the fmc. I am beyond grateful to have picked this up and read it holy hell and amazing job! can't wait for what's next!!!!!! (More heartbreak probably but I'm here for it)

[Danni Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Wound Me
Darkwater Correctional Institute Book 1
By Alair Novak

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

🖤 Romantic Tragedy
🚘 Bad Boy Street Racing MMC
🖤 Fierce FMC
🚘 Small Town
🖤 Novella

I adored the hell out of this short read the story between Kaleb (MMC) and Nadia (FMC) answered questions out of the Lito Duet and gave closure along with heartbreak and of course ugly tears because let's be honest Kaleb was just a beautiful first love story in her small town trying to save her and show her there was more to life 😢
He almost had it all too! But noooo Alair had to go and rip our hearts out, but without the heartbreak for not only ourselves but Nadia we wouldn't have the Lito Duet so I suppose its forgivable, I look forward to seeing what's coming next.

You Wound Me releases January 30th 😘🖤

#romantictragedy #smalltownromance #firstlove #bookreview #booktok

[Chasity Trimble]

Review to come

[Stormy Shadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
Source: Author
Star Rating: 3.75⭐️
Pub Date: Jan 30th, 2026
Genre: Romance/Small Town
Format: Digital

This was a short and fast read. This was also a multicultural small town romance. I didn’t see much of that, it was there but not as bold as it was stating I guess. I did like Caleb and his love for Nadia and I absolutely loved my girl Nadia, she’s a baddie and she is hard as nails but has her vulnerable moments within the other books. This didn’t hit for me too much, even though we do get to see Nadia and her young love with Caleb I just wanted more from her POV. The ending was pretty sad I didn’t see it coming. It was entertaining in Caleb’s POV as well as he loved racing and he was just a “rebel” type of guy but he really loved Nadia. Some of the characters were annoying though. Overall a good read, I just personally wanted more of a deeper connection to Nadia.

[Mina Sandate · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/ 5

Alair Novak is the ONLY AUTHOR that can make me cry during her books. The is a Romantic Tragedy, so a MC does met their fate unfortunately. I can’t say who the characters are because that will ruin a lot of the story. When I found out who they were?! I lost it and I knew it was going to hurt. I guess when a new book comes out that Alair Novak writes, I will have to prepare to cry and feel all the emotions 😭🖤 The very, very, veeerrrryyyy last page is what ended me 🥲🥲🥲🥲
I loved the side characters! I want to find out more about all of them! I really hope each of them have their own book. Especially Zap. That’s all I’m going to say lol 😆
You must read Babalon and Judas BEFORE reading YWM. Why? Well, I guess you’re going to have to read to find out for yourself damn self. Alright. BRB while I continue to cry my tiny heart out 😭💔❤️‍🩹

KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK WARDEN 😍😍😍

[Megan Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Alair that I didn't want to finish just for the pure fact I didn't want the book to end. I discovered Alair's Lito duet last year and when I tell you I fell in love with these books so much, so she quickly became one of my favorite authors so when the opportunity to read You Wound Me came about I had to do it and man she doesn't disappoint when she writes a book. Her characters are raw and real and this story and characters were no different. You feel the love the MMC has for the FMC and vice versa and you are so immersed into their love story as tragic as it is. I laughed, held my breath, gasped and cried throughout this book and loved every moment of it!! This will be another book I will be recommending to all of my book besties.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Alair was deciding what to write next, she gave the team an option on what they wanted the story to be. 63% of the team voted for a romantic tragedy.

Alair more than delivered on that with You Wound Me! This story gives every feeling possible when you are reading about the MMC and FMC.

With every book Alair puts out, she shows why she needs to be an International Best Selling Author!

This story will leave you with a heavy and broken heart! It answered a few questions I had in The Lito Duet and had me stuck on my feelings for some characters that I didn't like already.

I can not WAIT until the next one!

[Ashlee Tharman · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC READ**

"Lose em."

A promised not HEA, if you've read the Lito Duet, you'll know immediately on page 1 that you are in for a heartbreak. If you haven't, well, you're in for a heartbreak (I also cannot recommend reading Babalon and Judas enough prior to this book). I went in expecting to be sad. What I was not prepared for was emotional detonation. I should have been - that's on me. It was everything I have come to expect from Novak - riveting, captivating, hot as heck, emotional. Grab yout tissues, read the Lito Duet, grab another box, and be prepared to be emotionally damaged with the rest of us!

[Torie Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still at a loss for words trying to describe how heartbreakingly beautiful You Wound Me is. I’m honestly still processing it.

This book messed me up in the best way. I loved it so much I didn’t know what to do with myself. It broke my heart, fixed it, and then broke it all over again. I am still a mess and when I finished I was just sitting there afterward, staring at the wall and processing the damage. It is worth every second.

Alair let the Discord choose what we wanted, and we went full tragedy (yes, I voted for it because I enjoy pain). And wow, she delivered. The writing is amazing, the emotions hit hard, and the ending hurt in the best way. Dark, devastating, and perfect. I’d willingly suffer again.

[Jonnica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh we're do I even begin with this one! First off im not going to reveal who the characters are in this book because that would give you a spoiler. The love story behind this book is amazing just the emotions the two had for one another and as you do know its not a happily ever after so it will break your heart because one of them has already experienced a hard life. This was such an amazing read and it was a good read after the lito duet!

[K.L Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea what to say apart from this broke me. If you are planning on reading this make sure you have your tissues ready!

Alair, thank you for letting me read this short masterpiece in advance. It tugs at your heartstrings in many different ways and yet still keeps you coming back for more.

My only complaint is it is short and I needed more 🤣. Plus I'm not really a big car person and this book does go into detail about the cars.

Definitely be in my rereads list 🖤🖤

[Adeselna · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the author
“You Wound Me” is a story of hope, especially in places where hope and happiness is hard to find. It’s about how even when everything around you feels broken, you have hope that you can fight and good things will come for you. It doesn’t matter how you find yourself unworthy of being safe, being loved and being at peace. Those things you could only afford in dreams can be days away from being a reality.

“You Wound Me” reminds ourselves that those things are dreams for a reason.
And by the end of the book, it’s time to wake up.

[ashp_reads1875 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voting for Alair’s next book to be a romantic tragedy may have been a massive mistake on my part because this book broke me. I knew it would. Alair knows exactly how to write the best books you’ve read while you are thanking her for breaking your heart. I couldn’t put it down. The love between the FMC and MMC is beautiful and the story is gripping. There is no HEA here. Prepare to sob your heart out.

[Danielle stories_and_coffee_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooh lord. Take this title seriously, this ending will hurt. It's written beautifully, and I loved getting to see the "before" Nadia and getting to know her through somebody else's eyes. You feel all the emotions with the narrator in this story, and Alair will break you but will just as smoothly put you back together after. I'm anxious to see what else comes from the DWCI series next!

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before you go into this blind you need to know it is a tragedy. It is going to rip out your heart, and if you haven't read Babalon and Judas before it, you really should because it helps so much.

Beautiful tragedy written from the mmc pov almost the entire book and you feel the love he has for the fmc the entire time.

[Kyra Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This honestly pieced together broken pieces of my heart from reading Babalon. Getting to see a more in depth glance of the impact Kaleb left for Nadia moving forward was worth every page read. In understanding his POV when it came to Nadia and how desperately he wanted to be there for her and help her. This story tugged the heart strings in more ways than one.

[Kelsy Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am utterly speechless. That ending, everything, just I have no words. I wanna say I wish this didn't have to end that way, but then again if it didn't, the events of Babalon and Judas(The Lito Duet)wouldn't have happened. I still absolutely loved this story though. It's a phenomenal read. I highly recommend.

[♥︎Obsidian°Scorpio°Reads♥︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh how this hit me hard!.

This held me captive the whole way through & in an absolute choke hold, from the literal twists and turns of events along with that cliffhanger will have you throwing your kindle kicking your feet while cursing 🤬 the MMC at times.

please for the love of Triggers please "HEED THE WARNINGS ⚠️" before reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/½/5
💔💔💔/5

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read the Lito Duet, then you will definitely want to jump into this novella! There were so many questions answered, and I felt like I got to know the characters a little better.

This is a romantic tragedy that does NOT have a HEA. I did shed some tears, especially with the extended epilogue.

Very much looking forward to where we head next with this series!

[Christie Wilcox]

You Wound Me by Alair Novak
If you haven't read Babalon and Judas before starting this, please consider going back & starting there. You should because it helps understand more. This is a romantic tragedy.

[Miranda Orton · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:

A nice short story about Kaleb and Nadia (from the Lito Duet). No HEA and tragic but a great story. Really enjoyed this and just had to finish in one sitting

[daddysbabygirlreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book broke me. No hea here. Be prepared before you read it to have ice cream and tissues handy! Can’t wait to read the next book!!!!!

[Brandy Blalock · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing quite like an adrenaline rush, and there’s nothing quite like the aftershocks of pure heartbreak. This book has both. Experience life in the fast lane, Alair Novak style.

[heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh! be prepared for a romantic tragedy that'll leave you swooning and crying! Alair did amazing with this addition to the DWCI universe and you get to see your favorite Delinquent.