I Love You Too Much

by Jessica Watkins

A husband’s deadly affair sets off a chain of deception, obsession, and unraveling truths in this twisted domestic thriller where love becomes a weapon, the past won’t stay buried, and the truth is more dangerous than the lie.

Jovian Clarke is a man with everything to lose—and even more to hide. To the world, he’s a devoted husband and father, but behind closed doors, he’s keeping an explosive his affair with his wife’s best friend, Mia, ended in tragedy. Now, he’s desperate to erase the evidence, bury the truth, and preserve the illusion of a perfect life—no matter the cost.

Aviana suspects Mia is out to destroy her, unaware the real threat lies much closer to home. As her marriage begins to unravel, she turns to Mythic—her first love and longtime confidant—rekindling feelings she thought she’d buried. Torn between past and present, and with her sense of reality slipping, Aviana inches closer to a truth that could shatter everything.

As Jovian sinks deeper into guilt and delusion, and Aviana untangles the lies tightening around her, the truth erupts—warping love into control and exposing the wreckage left by secrets too dangerous to stay buried.

272 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Natarsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is being advertised as a domestic thriller, but while reading it felt more like a twisted romance with thriller elements. I really enjoyed the plot development of this story. I was hooked by the beginning, it’s messy, jaw dropping and downright scandalous. Damar was a man that was only interested in ensuring he maintained control over Avianna. He was willing to do anything to ensure his secrets remained a secret. Mia, Avianna’s best friend, is just a pawn in Damar’s plan to have it all. Mythic, Avianna’s best friend/first love, is still in love with Avianna and willing to do anything to protect her.
Overall, this book was good.

Thank you Black Odyssey for the ARC!

[Cin (cinsnextchapter) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying that I LOVE the cover for this book! I thought I had set myself up for a domestic thriller based on the cover and description, but found I Love You Too Much leaned hard on the drama with a love story entwined in all the mess. Unfortunately I wasn’t rooting for any of the characters, because I found them all to be terrible people I couldn’t relate to. EVERYONE was either lying, cheating, stealing, or killing! I did still find the story interesting and entertaining, but not my usual read.

[Brea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love You Too Much by Jessica N. Watkins is feral, volatile, and unapologetically uncomfortable—and the brilliance of this book lives entirely in the writing. Watkins doesn’t rush, soften, or rescue the reader from the emotional damage unfolding on the page. Her prose is deliberate and sharp, letting tension coil slowly until it feels suffocating, and she trusts the reader enough to sit in that discomfort without hand-holding. Through Arielle and Malik, she dismantles the illusion of romantic safety, showing how easily love mutates when secrecy, guilt, and fear are allowed to fester. Every choice they make is frustrating, messy, and deeply human, and the emotional logic behind those choices is so clear it hurts. Watkins excels at writing obsession not as spectacle but as erosion—the quiet paranoia, the internal justifications, the way control disguises itself as protection and possession masquerades as devotion. The pacing keeps tightening the screws, not through constant twists, but through the slow collapse of trust, where intimacy becomes a weapon and vulnerability turns dangerous. This is not a feel-good romance or a story interested in redemption arcs wrapped in bows; it’s character-driven chaos that understands emotional wreckage is the point. By the end, you’re not shocked—you’re shaken, because the fallout feels earned and disturbingly real. Thank you to Jessica N. Watkins, NetGalley, and Black Odyssey Media for the opportunity to read and review

[Crissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Love You Too Much is not my first book from this author but it's the first book that I didn't really care for. It wasn't the worst story I've read but this is definitely a one-time type of read story for me. There were things I liked and disliked about this story. I liked the suspense and I enjoyed Mythic's character a lot. I liked Aviana and Mia in the beginning and enjoyed their friendship, but their characters went downhill for me. Mia's betrayal with Damar and Avi weakness was a lot. It was hard for me to get into the story when the characters really started to work on my nerves. The story flowed at a slow pace but there were never really any peaceful or calm moments in the story until the very end. Between the repetitiveness, fraud, planning, plotting, scheming, betrayal, vandalism, murders, craziness, arrest, kidnapping, threats and gangs it was all too much too fast. There was no moment to let things settle before something else was thrown in there and it didn't work for me when it came to this story. I've read dark and dirty, nitty and gritty reads with a lot more than what happened in this story and loved it however, story was just okay. I say okay because I don't think this story is worth giving a two-star rating to, just because it wasn't my favorite doesn't mean it deserves two stars. I would tell other readers to just give the story a try and see if it's the story for them.

[TellsOfABibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

What originally drew me in was the cover and the author. This definitely gave more of a suspense vibe than a full-on thriller, in my opinion. I gotta admit, some parts were predictable. Once I got acquainted with the characters, I started to piece together what was gonna happen. Therefore, I wasn’t shocked with some events that took place. Still, there was drama, and the twists and turns were enough to keep me reading to the end.

Overall, this was messy, tense, and emotionally charged the kind of story that has you side-eyeing characters and questioning everybody’s motives. For me, this wasn’t a favorite read. While it had its moments and did keep my attention at times, it just didn’t fully hit the way I hoped it would. Still, if you enjoy suspense with drama woven all through it, this one will definitely hold your attention.

Thank you Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for this ARC; all thoughts are my own.

[Myrrowyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not what I was expecting based on the blurb. I would not have read it knowing what I know now.

I have never seen more shitty people in one book. I love morally grey characters but not a single person here had even one thing likable about them. They just all sucked in one way or another.

You’ve got a cheating door mat, a cheating street thug, a cheating manipulator, a POS liar, and a betrayer and thief. And let’s throw in murder with one of the people mentioned above.

I’m not even mad about all that, I read dark romance, none of that is shocking to me. My issue was I hated the writing and some of the verbiage was off putting.

I don’t think I’m the target demographic.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story dives headfirst into the emotional wreckage left behind when a marriage begins to crumble under the weight of hidden betrayals. Instead of relying on big shocks, the author builds tension through the slow peeling back of each character’s carefully maintained façade. What emerges is a portrait of a family caught in a cycle of mistrust, where every revelation deepens the sense that loyalty is far more fragile than anyone wants to admit. I found the story engaging enough to keep me reading, but I never really connected with the characters, so it didn’t leave a strong impression on me. It was an enjoyable read overall, just not one that stood out in a big way.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars (rounded to 4 on Goodreads)

The cover was what initially got my attention. It is absolutely gorgeous and it has you wondering what this book is about. Although this is considered a thriller, it gives more of a romantic suspense feel. The characters in the story definitely made me scratch my head and wonder what the heck was I reading. There were parts that were very messy, but it definitely kept me entertained as a reader. The ending was something that I saw coming, but nonetheless was satisfied as a reader.

Thank you to Black Odyessy Media and Netgalley for this ARC. All thoughts are of my own based on my own reading experience.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Jessica Watkins, and I am genuinely impressed. Her novel, I Love You Too Much, is both gripping and evocative.
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I was captivated from the opening and eager to discover the characters' fates. The characters are deeply flawed, but I found several relatable. The plot and subplots unfold skillfully, making this a strongly plot-driven book. This approach serves the story well.
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Again, I enjoyed reading this book. I give this a 4-star rating. It’s a fantastic read.

[Brandy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lengths people go to for love is crazy. This book shows you that you really need to use that word friend loosely because money can change even the strongest friendship. The betrayals were crazy, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm glad Aviana was able to get the love she truly deserved in the end. Also, glad that Damar didn't get away with the things he did all for the sake of not wanting to let Aviana flourish in life and live the life she really deserved. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

[Dannelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cover drew me in the first time I saw it. The intro to the book is suspenseful and I read this book in one sitting. I loved the characters and how they were portrayed in the book. "What a tangle web was weaved" in this book. Jessica N. Watkins lets you explore the city with not over detailing everything. She makes you laugh, cry, and want to throw your e-reader across the room.