What do you think?
Rate this book
Villalargos University #1
Play Dirty
“We’re the face of the university.
The polish on its rot.”
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘴?
𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂. 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒂. 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚.
Their worlds were never meant to collide. But obsession doesn’t follow rules. And some games were never meant to be played clean. In this elite university, power is currency and silence is survival. Playing dirty might be the only way to win.
𝖣𝖠𝖱𝖪 𝖲𝖯𝖮𝖱𝖳𝖲 𝖱𝖮𝖬𝖠𝖭𝖢𝖤 𝖤𝖭𝖤𝖬𝖨𝖤𝖲 𝖳𝖮 𝖫𝖮𝖵𝖤𝖱𝖲 𝖲𝖤𝖢𝖱𝖤𝖳 𝖲𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖤𝖳𝖨𝖤𝖲 𝖫𝖠𝖳𝖨𝖭𝖮 𝖬𝖬𝖢
𝖬𝖴𝖱𝖣𝖤𝖱 𝖬𝖸𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖱𝖸
The polish on its rot.”
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘴?
𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂. 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒂. 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚.
Their worlds were never meant to collide. But obsession doesn’t follow rules. And some games were never meant to be played clean. In this elite university, power is currency and silence is survival. Playing dirty might be the only way to win.
𝖣𝖠𝖱𝖪 𝖲𝖯𝖮𝖱𝖳𝖲 𝖱𝖮𝖬𝖠𝖭𝖢𝖤 𝖤𝖭𝖤𝖬𝖨𝖤𝖲 𝖳𝖮 𝖫𝖮𝖵𝖤𝖱𝖲 𝖲𝖤𝖢𝖱𝖤𝖳 𝖲𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖤𝖳𝖨𝖤𝖲 𝖫𝖠𝖳𝖨𝖭𝖮 𝖬𝖬𝖢
𝖬𝖴𝖱𝖣𝖤𝖱 𝖬𝖸𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖱𝖸
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
September 9, 2025
Play Dirty was so good i was hooked on it. i didn't even stop reading this at all . nico, my poor nico 😢 he didn't deserve all that I wanted to fight so many people .
he has my heart, my tears. I just wanted to comfort him so badly.
the way the entitlement of those rich students and the parents I hated them even more cause all they care about is protecting themselves.
Thiago he cracked me up and understood nico when he had panic attacks he knew .
I honestly didn't trust tati through it all she is a snobby rich girl . I did like her at all .
shiloh man, I was fighting for my life trying to defend her in the beginning, like girl be for real . but she grew on me, and she been through some shit . nico has been worse the way he was treated omg I cried .
Asher can kick rocks. I didn't like him. I definitely didn't like Brad he gave me the creeps .
the epilogue had me wilding!!!!!
he has my heart, my tears. I just wanted to comfort him so badly.
the way the entitlement of those rich students and the parents I hated them even more cause all they care about is protecting themselves.
Thiago he cracked me up and understood nico when he had panic attacks he knew .
I honestly didn't trust tati through it all she is a snobby rich girl . I did like her at all .
shiloh man, I was fighting for my life trying to defend her in the beginning, like girl be for real . but she grew on me, and she been through some shit . nico has been worse the way he was treated omg I cried .
Asher can kick rocks. I didn't like him. I definitely didn't like Brad he gave me the creeps .
the epilogue had me wilding!!!!!
August 30, 2025
Only Luna could make me love a soccer romance of all things. All my favorite tropes secret society, dark college romance, slow burn, hate to love, murder mystery, but add in a little soccer!
Shiloh, oh I have some fighting words for her, spoiled, elitest, and self absorbed. She did my baby Nico so dirty, while I’d still punch her on sight…she did redeem herself at the very end there. When Shiloh accidentally bumps into Nico he’s hoping to make the elite Sirens soccer team on a scholarship, while she has ulterior motives for calling her dad to make sure he gets it, asking her dad to sponsor him, he is also there for other reasons as well. Only Shiloh might as well have dug Nico a grave, because nothing comes for free at Villalargos.
Nico grew up on the wrong side of town, after losing his parents his grandmother raised him and his siblings. After another tragedy, Nico not only wants to better his families future, but also get answers as to what happened. Only he definitely bit off more than he could chew, and he may find himself the center of a murder investigation. The one girl he can’t stop thinking about, is also the same girl he can’t even stand to look in the eyes.
This was dark romantic suspense at its finest! This will keep you guessing until the very last page, but even then you still won’t have all the answers, because everyone at Villalargos is a liar.
Thank you so much to Luna K Wicked for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.
Shiloh, oh I have some fighting words for her, spoiled, elitest, and self absorbed. She did my baby Nico so dirty, while I’d still punch her on sight…she did redeem herself at the very end there. When Shiloh accidentally bumps into Nico he’s hoping to make the elite Sirens soccer team on a scholarship, while she has ulterior motives for calling her dad to make sure he gets it, asking her dad to sponsor him, he is also there for other reasons as well. Only Shiloh might as well have dug Nico a grave, because nothing comes for free at Villalargos.
Nico grew up on the wrong side of town, after losing his parents his grandmother raised him and his siblings. After another tragedy, Nico not only wants to better his families future, but also get answers as to what happened. Only he definitely bit off more than he could chew, and he may find himself the center of a murder investigation. The one girl he can’t stop thinking about, is also the same girl he can’t even stand to look in the eyes.
This was dark romantic suspense at its finest! This will keep you guessing until the very last page, but even then you still won’t have all the answers, because everyone at Villalargos is a liar.
Thank you so much to Luna K Wicked for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.
May 22, 2026
Genuinely concerned about these characters! So many questions and im so invested in june. The mmc is going through so much abuse and i liked the fmc i just need her to ask more questions because we are left here wondering who is behind the blogs, who is the murder? Hello? But its only book 1 so😭
May 29, 2026
🎧audiobook review
This was giving me a gritty, bingeable CW show on crack. Way darker, way sexier, way spicier, but somehow just as addicting.
I absolutely loved the combination of the college sports setting, the secret society, and the murder mystery. It felt like there was always something going on, and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. The twists and turns kept coming, and every time I thought I had something figured out, the story threw something else at me.
The trauma definitely does not take a backseat in this one. It shows up right from the beginning, and I was cringing a little because some of it was rough. Please check your trigger warnings going into this one. But also… this is a secret society romance, and if there’s one thing secret society people are gonna do, it’s be absolutely nasty.
What really worked for me was the atmosphere. Think everything you love about Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars: the drama, the betrayal, the secrets, the mystery, the rich elite who think they’re untouchable, and the people from the wrong side of the tracks trying to survive in their world.
Our FMC comes from money, while our MMC is very much from the opposite side of that divide, and I loved the tension that created. Between the class differences, the secrets, and all the shady shit happening behind the scenes, there was never a dull moment.
I also have to give a shoutout to the audiobook because it was fantastic. There are so many characters in this story, and the narrators did an incredible job making each voice feel distinct. It was easy to follow, easy to get invested, and honestly made the whole experience even more entertaining.
I had an absolute blast with this one. It was messy, dramatic, addictive, and full of the kind of twists that make you keep saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly i’m running out of things to clean around my house because I’m trying to finish the audiobook to find out what the fuck happens🤣
This was giving me a gritty, bingeable CW show on crack. Way darker, way sexier, way spicier, but somehow just as addicting.
I absolutely loved the combination of the college sports setting, the secret society, and the murder mystery. It felt like there was always something going on, and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. The twists and turns kept coming, and every time I thought I had something figured out, the story threw something else at me.
The trauma definitely does not take a backseat in this one. It shows up right from the beginning, and I was cringing a little because some of it was rough. Please check your trigger warnings going into this one. But also… this is a secret society romance, and if there’s one thing secret society people are gonna do, it’s be absolutely nasty.
What really worked for me was the atmosphere. Think everything you love about Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars: the drama, the betrayal, the secrets, the mystery, the rich elite who think they’re untouchable, and the people from the wrong side of the tracks trying to survive in their world.
Our FMC comes from money, while our MMC is very much from the opposite side of that divide, and I loved the tension that created. Between the class differences, the secrets, and all the shady shit happening behind the scenes, there was never a dull moment.
I also have to give a shoutout to the audiobook because it was fantastic. There are so many characters in this story, and the narrators did an incredible job making each voice feel distinct. It was easy to follow, easy to get invested, and honestly made the whole experience even more entertaining.
I had an absolute blast with this one. It was messy, dramatic, addictive, and full of the kind of twists that make you keep saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly i’m running out of things to clean around my house because I’m trying to finish the audiobook to find out what the fuck happens🤣
May 26, 2026
Shiloh + Nico
-dark elite university
-murder mystery
-secret society
-enemies to lovers
-soccer player
-rich girl x poor boy
-slow burn
one thing i can appreciate (& also i feel hits so differently, hardly) is when the cliche dark romance past sa trauma plot line…is a part of the mmc’s story instead of &/or along with the fmc. it just creates even more lingering tension & makes the conflict crazier! i’m not quite sure how i feel about the set up of this book/series yet….i don’t think this couple got a whole lot of resolution or closure quite yet & we’re supposed to get a different couple each book so far soooo i just hope we kind of circle back to them or some kind of resolution at least.
-dark elite university
-murder mystery
-secret society
-enemies to lovers
-soccer player
-rich girl x poor boy
-slow burn
one thing i can appreciate (& also i feel hits so differently, hardly) is when the cliche dark romance past sa trauma plot line…is a part of the mmc’s story instead of &/or along with the fmc. it just creates even more lingering tension & makes the conflict crazier! i’m not quite sure how i feel about the set up of this book/series yet….i don’t think this couple got a whole lot of resolution or closure quite yet & we’re supposed to get a different couple each book so far soooo i just hope we kind of circle back to them or some kind of resolution at least.
November 15, 2025
Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t follow along. My brain just couldn’t get into it untill part lll
Before that it just didn’t keep my attention.
I usually love Luna’s stories but I didn’t love this one.
But it probably a me thing so if you love sports/dark romance/secrete socially reads, this might just be for you.
Before that it just didn’t keep my attention.
I usually love Luna’s stories but I didn’t love this one.
But it probably a me thing so if you love sports/dark romance/secrete socially reads, this might just be for you.
August 17, 2025
•beta review•
Damn, I don’t know even know where to start with Play Dirty. Being able to have the opportunity to beta read this was a dream. Luna you are fucking AMAZING. I loved being able to watch your mind work. Thank you for every opportunity to read one of your stories and be apart of your team 🖤🦇
This book is EVERYTHING. If you’re looking for Gossip Girl meets Elite then this is the one to read. Play Dirty is a dark romance and the themes are DARK. Luna is known for her erotic horror and darker romances which makes Play Dirty a little different from what she’s usually written. Play Dirty shows just how much range Luna has as an author. A literal 5 star read.
We have a soccer team,the golden girl and a murdered girl,secrets and lies, betrayals, AND everything is not what it seems at Villalargos University.
Play Dirty is definitely a slower burn but it’s so worth it for Shi and Nico. Once you get to the spice, fuck yea it’s spicy. Masquerade masks anyone? 👀 And my god the fucking tension, the yearning, it’s all so fucking delicious.
You’re getting dark academia, secret societies and a best friend’s boyfriend forbidden romance.
Play Dirty is one of those books that make you feel something and draw you into a forbidden world that you don’t want to leave. Even though this is only a 263 page book there is so much depth and background to each character that appears on page. Every character has a story and each story is crucial to the very end.
10/10 - 5 ⭐️ read and you will not regret it!
Damn, I don’t know even know where to start with Play Dirty. Being able to have the opportunity to beta read this was a dream. Luna you are fucking AMAZING. I loved being able to watch your mind work. Thank you for every opportunity to read one of your stories and be apart of your team 🖤🦇
This book is EVERYTHING. If you’re looking for Gossip Girl meets Elite then this is the one to read. Play Dirty is a dark romance and the themes are DARK. Luna is known for her erotic horror and darker romances which makes Play Dirty a little different from what she’s usually written. Play Dirty shows just how much range Luna has as an author. A literal 5 star read.
We have a soccer team,the golden girl and a murdered girl,secrets and lies, betrayals, AND everything is not what it seems at Villalargos University.
Play Dirty is definitely a slower burn but it’s so worth it for Shi and Nico. Once you get to the spice, fuck yea it’s spicy. Masquerade masks anyone? 👀 And my god the fucking tension, the yearning, it’s all so fucking delicious.
You’re getting dark academia, secret societies and a best friend’s boyfriend forbidden romance.
Play Dirty is one of those books that make you feel something and draw you into a forbidden world that you don’t want to leave. Even though this is only a 263 page book there is so much depth and background to each character that appears on page. Every character has a story and each story is crucial to the very end.
10/10 - 5 ⭐️ read and you will not regret it!
August 30, 2025
OH MY GOSH!!!!!
I freakin loved this book!!!! This book shows that not only women can go through some sexual trauma at the hands of others. Most dark romances have the girl being broken down and this was such a mix of trauma, trauma bonding and pure need pouring through these characters. It was written so amazingly well that it emphasized all the tropes pretty damn equally!!! Another amazing book for Luna! Seriously Add This Book To Your Cart Now!!!
Shiloh and Nico met Freshman year and tension between them and the secrets built for years before we find out all the secrets they have both been hiding. This f’d up University seriously makes the students understand the meaning of “nothing comes for free” even for the rich students. These parents and donors are all corrupt pos’s.
This is like Tell Me Lies meets Gossip Girl and throw in some soccer and a depraved secret society who run it all. She is the rich IT girl and Nico is the poor soccer player on scholarship. They had so much tension between them but their reasons hidden deep why they stayed apart. What an explosive come together when they started finding out these secret though. The way they were finding things out? Just WOW!!! You won’t know who you can really trust in this one. You will be mad at them at them all at times but grateful at others. The perfect mix of it all
I cannot recommend this book enough or push for everyone to read it enough!!! It’s so damn good!!!
Enemies to Lovers
Dark Academia
Secret Society
Sports Romance
It Girl / Poor Boy
Forbidden Romance
Murder Mystery
Best Friends BF
I freakin loved this book!!!! This book shows that not only women can go through some sexual trauma at the hands of others. Most dark romances have the girl being broken down and this was such a mix of trauma, trauma bonding and pure need pouring through these characters. It was written so amazingly well that it emphasized all the tropes pretty damn equally!!! Another amazing book for Luna! Seriously Add This Book To Your Cart Now!!!
Shiloh and Nico met Freshman year and tension between them and the secrets built for years before we find out all the secrets they have both been hiding. This f’d up University seriously makes the students understand the meaning of “nothing comes for free” even for the rich students. These parents and donors are all corrupt pos’s.
This is like Tell Me Lies meets Gossip Girl and throw in some soccer and a depraved secret society who run it all. She is the rich IT girl and Nico is the poor soccer player on scholarship. They had so much tension between them but their reasons hidden deep why they stayed apart. What an explosive come together when they started finding out these secret though. The way they were finding things out? Just WOW!!! You won’t know who you can really trust in this one. You will be mad at them at them all at times but grateful at others. The perfect mix of it all
I cannot recommend this book enough or push for everyone to read it enough!!! It’s so damn good!!!
Enemies to Lovers
Dark Academia
Secret Society
Sports Romance
It Girl / Poor Boy
Forbidden Romance
Murder Mystery
Best Friends BF
August 29, 2025
I could NOT put this book down! I’m going to start off by saying this: if you like dark romance, add this to your TBR, especially if you enjoyed the LORDS series. Dark academic, secret society, enemies to lovers, and a lot of sexual tension and spice.
I loved the main characters and how their relationship changed throughout the story. There was SO much angst and tension (if you love a good enemies to lovers, this is for you). This is also dual POV, which was a major bonus, and the spicy scenes were 10/10.
There was SO much going on in this book and SO many secrets. There was definitely a good balance of spice and plot. The suspense was killing me, which was the main reason I couldn’t put this down (that’s all I’m going to say about that so I don’t spoil anything).
Overall, another amazing book by Luna K. Wicked! All dark romance fans needs to add this to their TBR! 🫶🏻
I loved the main characters and how their relationship changed throughout the story. There was SO much angst and tension (if you love a good enemies to lovers, this is for you). This is also dual POV, which was a major bonus, and the spicy scenes were 10/10.
There was SO much going on in this book and SO many secrets. There was definitely a good balance of spice and plot. The suspense was killing me, which was the main reason I couldn’t put this down (that’s all I’m going to say about that so I don’t spoil anything).
Overall, another amazing book by Luna K. Wicked! All dark romance fans needs to add this to their TBR! 🫶🏻
October 18, 2025
Buckle up for this one buttercup. This is definitely one the darker romance books I’ve read, so be prepared if you go in blind. I don’t really know what to say about this one without giving some spoilers so I’ll just say I’ll definitely be anxiously waiting for the next book to see what happens though.
August 1, 2025
a soccer team. a murder mystery and a whole lotta feelings.
okay so when i say dark. dark yes. by luna standards? nope she's actually lowkey beautiful & i can't quite believe how much has unfolded in such a short story. from the bottom of my heart i am obssesed like no other with everything about this story. written to perfection. character development is immense but particularly on nico (our main MMC) is wow. some of the best development i have seen. the story has a murder mystery feel but also contemporary elements and let me tell you a lot of conversation starters. please talk to me about all of the beautiful things in here. wether it is rep for male victims,greif rep.. luna truly has it covered in a sensetive yet very authentic way and i can't quite believe i would ever love a sports romance but this isn't a typical sports romance i would say.
not only will you be questioning the main characters intentions but also the side characters. angsty but also highly emotional. i don't honestly know how you can do both at the same time but here we are. i do honestly think this story is one that will keep you on your toes. from beginning to end it has you feeling like you are IN THE STORY not just reading it? think like an immersive game? the story although a slow burn picks up pace so fast towards the end,sheeshhh i love!
my fave scenes were defintely the studio scenes, the locker room too.. SPOILER FREE FROM ME. something about it just really was so immersive and so visual for me,feels super contemporary to me and has a great undertone to be considered as such,like murder mystery is the forward facing plot,but it defintely has a contemporary feel underpinning the story.. shit man i'm speechless and that doesn't happen often,i also didn't think nico would be so loveable to me,i usually don't vibe with mmc's that well but this one really struck me,nico's story is super personal and similar to my own and i feel like he is going to be VERY relatable to men who read this story,so defintely highly suggest men to read this too. it's approached in such a beautiful way & a very considerate way of victims,specifically male victims😭
anyways.. ratings? whilst i stop crying
plot first this time? 5⭐️ the plot is one of the best plot lines i have read.. AND also my first sports romance - the plot is HEAVILY focused in this and it is not a spicy story by nature. think gossip girl. it has a murder mystery forward facing plot but a contemporary sub plot with darker elements. it's a very heartfelt plot i feel. it feels very sensetive to a lot of the darker underbelly of the secret society world and it's actually really eye opening.. it's not secret society like mafia,it's like life of higher society,rich & poor kinda thing? the pacing is my favourite though,a slow burn novella? sign me up. it's gripping but yet slow enough to really understand the world building needed. as this is the first in a series,we have a LOT of world building but honestly i've cried a 1000x and got twists for DAYS! the plot is also very digestible,it feels like you don't have the pull from gossip girl to understand the meanings,
loving the poetry esk elements - very very well written - feels very full on but also luna be giving us IMMERSIVE like the description of the setting,the description of the clothing,the lighting. SO IMMERSIVE something luna does best!
characters? 5⭐️ literally don't know how to describe the characters without giving too much away but ill try hehe. very very loveable characters but also characters that evoke very strong emotions,like me i hate one of the female characters lol,the main characters.. shiloh and nico. my heart can't take any of it,nico is the most loveable mc i have ever read about. ever. he comes from hard hard times and holy shit does luna put him through it. real fucking bad. imo he is the most loveable character of the whole story,shiloh is a love or hate,she's an ice queen and she does some questionable things throughout but she is pretty loveable if you're like
down bad and understand why she does what she does. side characters don't usually strike me but a lot of these characters.. brad,wyatt,tati all evoked such strong hatred for me,which i mean is a good thing because you will become invested in this. i'm so sure of it. and you'll love the characters too.
spice?? 🌶️🌶️🌶️ the spice is beautifully written but she is NOT a smutty spicy story. this is a slow burn and the spice is actually quite sad for a lot of it. it shines a light heavily on SA and more specifically male victims and this has been written in such a way,i feel like it is approached very sensitively and considerately (check your tw's obvuously) but as somebody who has read a lot of MC's with SA & have direct irl expierence,this is written very authentically and a lot of the spice in this does blur the line between non-consensual and dubious consent but when you get to the spice between the main mc's it all makes sense,and the scenes,the locker room and the studio (no spoilers here) they are beautiful. so fucking beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. the spice is built on lust,hatred and turmoil for most of this but shit, it's a very eye opening read and i feel like male victims will find some healing in this story,and will find they can get their power back🩶
overall?? ♾️⭐️ luna will forever blow me out of the water with how incredibly talented she is with multi faceted writing of different genres, this is not dark by luna standards but yet underpinning it all is some dark dark elements and you feel it. you feel everything with the characters. not only do you feel how the characters feel you feel truly in shock and awe most way through this. a sports romance yes. but something more. a healing story of victims of SA,power and money and how two different worlds collide. the most beautiful story i've ever read all year,every single tear was worth it. everything. i will love this story till the dawn of time😭
and i will forever be shi-co's #1 fan😭🩶
okay so when i say dark. dark yes. by luna standards? nope she's actually lowkey beautiful & i can't quite believe how much has unfolded in such a short story. from the bottom of my heart i am obssesed like no other with everything about this story. written to perfection. character development is immense but particularly on nico (our main MMC) is wow. some of the best development i have seen. the story has a murder mystery feel but also contemporary elements and let me tell you a lot of conversation starters. please talk to me about all of the beautiful things in here. wether it is rep for male victims,greif rep.. luna truly has it covered in a sensetive yet very authentic way and i can't quite believe i would ever love a sports romance but this isn't a typical sports romance i would say.
not only will you be questioning the main characters intentions but also the side characters. angsty but also highly emotional. i don't honestly know how you can do both at the same time but here we are. i do honestly think this story is one that will keep you on your toes. from beginning to end it has you feeling like you are IN THE STORY not just reading it? think like an immersive game? the story although a slow burn picks up pace so fast towards the end,sheeshhh i love!
my fave scenes were defintely the studio scenes, the locker room too.. SPOILER FREE FROM ME. something about it just really was so immersive and so visual for me,feels super contemporary to me and has a great undertone to be considered as such,like murder mystery is the forward facing plot,but it defintely has a contemporary feel underpinning the story.. shit man i'm speechless and that doesn't happen often,i also didn't think nico would be so loveable to me,i usually don't vibe with mmc's that well but this one really struck me,nico's story is super personal and similar to my own and i feel like he is going to be VERY relatable to men who read this story,so defintely highly suggest men to read this too. it's approached in such a beautiful way & a very considerate way of victims,specifically male victims😭
anyways.. ratings? whilst i stop crying
plot first this time? 5⭐️ the plot is one of the best plot lines i have read.. AND also my first sports romance - the plot is HEAVILY focused in this and it is not a spicy story by nature. think gossip girl. it has a murder mystery forward facing plot but a contemporary sub plot with darker elements. it's a very heartfelt plot i feel. it feels very sensetive to a lot of the darker underbelly of the secret society world and it's actually really eye opening.. it's not secret society like mafia,it's like life of higher society,rich & poor kinda thing? the pacing is my favourite though,a slow burn novella? sign me up. it's gripping but yet slow enough to really understand the world building needed. as this is the first in a series,we have a LOT of world building but honestly i've cried a 1000x and got twists for DAYS! the plot is also very digestible,it feels like you don't have the pull from gossip girl to understand the meanings,
loving the poetry esk elements - very very well written - feels very full on but also luna be giving us IMMERSIVE like the description of the setting,the description of the clothing,the lighting. SO IMMERSIVE something luna does best!
characters? 5⭐️ literally don't know how to describe the characters without giving too much away but ill try hehe. very very loveable characters but also characters that evoke very strong emotions,like me i hate one of the female characters lol,the main characters.. shiloh and nico. my heart can't take any of it,nico is the most loveable mc i have ever read about. ever. he comes from hard hard times and holy shit does luna put him through it. real fucking bad. imo he is the most loveable character of the whole story,shiloh is a love or hate,she's an ice queen and she does some questionable things throughout but she is pretty loveable if you're like
down bad and understand why she does what she does. side characters don't usually strike me but a lot of these characters.. brad,wyatt,tati all evoked such strong hatred for me,which i mean is a good thing because you will become invested in this. i'm so sure of it. and you'll love the characters too.
spice?? 🌶️🌶️🌶️ the spice is beautifully written but she is NOT a smutty spicy story. this is a slow burn and the spice is actually quite sad for a lot of it. it shines a light heavily on SA and more specifically male victims and this has been written in such a way,i feel like it is approached very sensitively and considerately (check your tw's obvuously) but as somebody who has read a lot of MC's with SA & have direct irl expierence,this is written very authentically and a lot of the spice in this does blur the line between non-consensual and dubious consent but when you get to the spice between the main mc's it all makes sense,and the scenes,the locker room and the studio (no spoilers here) they are beautiful. so fucking beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. the spice is built on lust,hatred and turmoil for most of this but shit, it's a very eye opening read and i feel like male victims will find some healing in this story,and will find they can get their power back🩶
overall?? ♾️⭐️ luna will forever blow me out of the water with how incredibly talented she is with multi faceted writing of different genres, this is not dark by luna standards but yet underpinning it all is some dark dark elements and you feel it. you feel everything with the characters. not only do you feel how the characters feel you feel truly in shock and awe most way through this. a sports romance yes. but something more. a healing story of victims of SA,power and money and how two different worlds collide. the most beautiful story i've ever read all year,every single tear was worth it. everything. i will love this story till the dawn of time😭
and i will forever be shi-co's #1 fan😭🩶
September 1, 2025
3.5 stars
This was my first book by this author, check your trigger warnings for sure. This story is dark, but I can definitely see why she says it’s not the darkest. You get some dark themes, but they are never described in graphic detail. And yes, there are some spicy moments, but the majority of the story focuses on the mystery behind the school and what happened.
I was surprised with the premise and did get sucked in to the beginning of the story. You get thrown in quick with heavy moments. What these characters go through to be in this college. The messed up logistics of how they run things. I always love a secret society and my gosh the secrets were there.
I just felt like there was a lot going on in such a short time. It definitely kept my mind reeling. The pages turning. But it also felt like I needed so much more context. And then the ending happened and everything was just fine so quick. Almost like it was rushed. We did get a little cliffhanger if the reader continues to the short epilogue. It makes you want to continue the series.
Thank you to the author for the ebook arc in exchange for my review!
This was my first book by this author, check your trigger warnings for sure. This story is dark, but I can definitely see why she says it’s not the darkest. You get some dark themes, but they are never described in graphic detail. And yes, there are some spicy moments, but the majority of the story focuses on the mystery behind the school and what happened.
I was surprised with the premise and did get sucked in to the beginning of the story. You get thrown in quick with heavy moments. What these characters go through to be in this college. The messed up logistics of how they run things. I always love a secret society and my gosh the secrets were there.
I just felt like there was a lot going on in such a short time. It definitely kept my mind reeling. The pages turning. But it also felt like I needed so much more context. And then the ending happened and everything was just fine so quick. Almost like it was rushed. We did get a little cliffhanger if the reader continues to the short epilogue. It makes you want to continue the series.
Thank you to the author for the ebook arc in exchange for my review!
September 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
💚Dark academia
⚽️Enemies to lovers
💚Morally grey love interest
⚽️Forbidden romance
💚Forced proximity
⚽️Rich girl/ Poor boy dynamics
Omg Luna you did it again!! I’m obsessed with this book!!! It’s like a mix of pretty little liars and gossip girl but darker and add secret society with arranged marriage I loved every minute of it!! Shiloh and Nico were definitely put through the wringer they get suck a dark twisted world. It broke my heart to read what Nico was put through. They definitely have a it always been you relationship going. The tension between Shiloh and Nico was everything!! Luna always delivers with the perfect balance of spice and plot!!
Whenever I review Luna’s book always trying to keep it vague and not spoil anything I would recommend going in blind if you don’t have any TW it makes it so much better!! ‼️IF YOU DO PLEASE CHECK TW‼️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
💚Dark academia
⚽️Enemies to lovers
💚Morally grey love interest
⚽️Forbidden romance
💚Forced proximity
⚽️Rich girl/ Poor boy dynamics
Omg Luna you did it again!! I’m obsessed with this book!!! It’s like a mix of pretty little liars and gossip girl but darker and add secret society with arranged marriage I loved every minute of it!! Shiloh and Nico were definitely put through the wringer they get suck a dark twisted world. It broke my heart to read what Nico was put through. They definitely have a it always been you relationship going. The tension between Shiloh and Nico was everything!! Luna always delivers with the perfect balance of spice and plot!!
Whenever I review Luna’s book always trying to keep it vague and not spoil anything I would recommend going in blind if you don’t have any TW it makes it so much better!! ‼️IF YOU DO PLEASE CHECK TW‼️
March 17, 2026
4.5!
Omg I couldn’t put this down!
It’s so dark! And the mystery had me turning the page!
Definitely check triggers. This academia secret society dark romance was soo good! Think nightshade and Lola kings silver falls series! But darker!
My only “oof” about this book, would be we didn’t get enough of the characters together intimately. They had this strong hate towards each other. And then once truths started to come out they became obsessed. Nothing wrong with it, there just wasn’t any down time of them being together to “fall in love”. I just wish we had more of that. That’s why it’s a 4.5 for me.
Other than that, LOVED IT! The vibes! All the characters, the mysteries! I was here for it!
Can’t wait for the next books!
Omg I couldn’t put this down!
It’s so dark! And the mystery had me turning the page!
Definitely check triggers. This academia secret society dark romance was soo good! Think nightshade and Lola kings silver falls series! But darker!
My only “oof” about this book, would be we didn’t get enough of the characters together intimately. They had this strong hate towards each other. And then once truths started to come out they became obsessed. Nothing wrong with it, there just wasn’t any down time of them being together to “fall in love”. I just wish we had more of that. That’s why it’s a 4.5 for me.
Other than that, LOVED IT! The vibes! All the characters, the mysteries! I was here for it!
Can’t wait for the next books!
August 19, 2025
~ Beta Review ~
Play Dirty by Luna K Wicked is a Dark Academia packed full of secrets, lies, trauma, a little bit of murder mystery, and lots of emotion that you can literally feel coming from the characters. I don’t know how Luna was able to pack SO MUCH into the pages of this book, but she did and boy was it a lot to unpack!
I loved this book! I love Luna’s writing style in all of her books. But she did really great with this one. The characters and their personalities were put together very well. You can literally feel their emotions come straight off of the pages. You can tell when an author puts a lot of effort into their characters and their stories, and with this one you can tell Luna worked really hard to give these characters life.
The plot in this book is so thick! There were so many twists and secrets that kept coming into the light that I was stuck in the book so I could figure out who did what, or who did who, or what happened! All of the questions were asked. Whether or not those questions were answered, well you’re just going to have to read and find out! Because that is a journey I am not going to spoil for anyone!
I am definitely excited for the rest of this series to come out. This one is going to be one heck of a series that I think anyone should get their grubby little hands on and read! I 10/10 recommend it! 5 Stars from me.
Play Dirty by Luna K Wicked is a Dark Academia packed full of secrets, lies, trauma, a little bit of murder mystery, and lots of emotion that you can literally feel coming from the characters. I don’t know how Luna was able to pack SO MUCH into the pages of this book, but she did and boy was it a lot to unpack!
I loved this book! I love Luna’s writing style in all of her books. But she did really great with this one. The characters and their personalities were put together very well. You can literally feel their emotions come straight off of the pages. You can tell when an author puts a lot of effort into their characters and their stories, and with this one you can tell Luna worked really hard to give these characters life.
The plot in this book is so thick! There were so many twists and secrets that kept coming into the light that I was stuck in the book so I could figure out who did what, or who did who, or what happened! All of the questions were asked. Whether or not those questions were answered, well you’re just going to have to read and find out! Because that is a journey I am not going to spoil for anyone!
I am definitely excited for the rest of this series to come out. This one is going to be one heck of a series that I think anyone should get their grubby little hands on and read! I 10/10 recommend it! 5 Stars from me.
September 9, 2025
This book 😍😍 While it wasn’t quite as dark as Luna’s offerings that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check the trigger warnings because it has its moments!
Tha pain and trauma both Nico and Shiloh both carried around with them was heartbreaking. There are secrets between the two. I will admit it took me a while to warm up to Shiloh but I got there and I’m glad I did. This isn’t an easy read. You can’t just skim it otherwise you will miss important things that really matter! As usual from Luna the spice was really spicing and I loved it. Every page is important and has something meaningful on the page and kept you hooked right from the beginning. I had to put the book down and remind myself to sleep/eat and hydrate.
I will always buy anything Luna writes
Tha pain and trauma both Nico and Shiloh both carried around with them was heartbreaking. There are secrets between the two. I will admit it took me a while to warm up to Shiloh but I got there and I’m glad I did. This isn’t an easy read. You can’t just skim it otherwise you will miss important things that really matter! As usual from Luna the spice was really spicing and I loved it. Every page is important and has something meaningful on the page and kept you hooked right from the beginning. I had to put the book down and remind myself to sleep/eat and hydrate.
I will always buy anything Luna writes
October 2, 2025
ARC Review
This was so different than Luna's other books and it had me hooked! Full of secrets, corruption, mystery, and twists! If dark academia, secret society, best friends boyfriend, forced proximity, sports, angst, and spice check your boxes then check out Play Dirty!
This was so different than Luna's other books and it had me hooked! Full of secrets, corruption, mystery, and twists! If dark academia, secret society, best friends boyfriend, forced proximity, sports, angst, and spice check your boxes then check out Play Dirty!
May 15, 2026
There was so much happening at Villagros University!
From the trauma, the secrets and the secret society. All of it broke my heart!! Every book Luna writes I immediately get sucked in and traumatized, I love it😭
From the trauma, the secrets and the secret society. All of it broke my heart!! Every book Luna writes I immediately get sucked in and traumatized, I love it😭
September 26, 2025
"𝖂𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖉𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖒𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖆𝖞? 𝕿𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖊𝖞𝖊𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖉 𝖒𝖊 𝖉𝖚𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖗𝖐𝖊𝖘𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖒𝖞 𝖑𝖎𝖋𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖒𝖊 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖆𝖙 𝖔𝖓𝖈𝖊? 𝕿𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝕴 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖘𝖔 𝖇𝖆𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖉𝖗𝖎𝖛𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖜𝖆𝖞? 𝕿𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝕴 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉𝖓'𝖙 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓 𝖋//𝖐 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖒𝖆𝖓 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖌𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖒𝖊 𝖘𝖔 𝖒𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊, 𝖘𝖔 𝖒𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖕𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊?"
LUNA!!!! This is hands down my FAVORITE Luna K. Wicked book! I don't even know where to begin with this review, there is SO MUCH to unpack!! The first thing I will say is, this book is dark and HEAVY! So please, please, PLEASE...read your trigger warnings!! Luna has given them all to you, there is no excuse...as always, your mental health comes first...so please take that into account before diving in.
This review is going to be pretty vague, because as with most of Luna's books, its better to dive in with as little information as possible and buckle up for the ride. This is a DARK sports romance...and while the soccer is there, it definitely takes a back seat to the other tropes that are here. We have romantic suspense, shmurder, betrayal, SECRET SOCIETIES!!! You know how I feel about the secret society men 😍😍😍. Forbidden love and so many secrets that you will be questioning YOURSELF while reading this book...no one can be trusted.
This book gave me a lot of gossip girl vibes, but on a deadlier and more elite level. Nico is our MMC and Shiloh is our FMC...and while the story absolutely centers around them, the side characters aren't so side...they are absolutely just as prominent, and at times I almost forgot who the MC's actually were 😂 but I loved it!!
Classic tale of rich girl meets poor boy...but much darker. I will admit....Shiloh was not my favorite...In fact I hated her for the majority of the book...but as you get to the halfway point and learn more about whats ACTUALLY going on, she does redeem herself. Now...NICO!?!?!?! 😭😭😭 I wanted to reach through my kindle and hug him so bad. The things he had to go through and endure were so painful to read. I could feel his pain through Lunas writing...I found myself shedding a tear on more than one occassion.
The burn for these two is slow...they start off as sort of enemies who eventually find their way to love...it was definitely touch and go for them and my heart stopped multiple times while reading trying to figure out what would happen and if they would allow themselves to give in to the feelings brewing between them...but when they did??😮💨😮💨😮💨 The spice was SPICING in a way that is VERY LUNA...and I loved every minute of it!
There's so much I want to say about this book, that I want to share and scream about but I DO NOT WANT TO SPOIL IT! I want you guys to be stuck to your kindle and diving into this dark and chaotic world just like I was...so go...read...enjoy...fall in love...in anger...in frustration...and buckle up because this series is only getting crazier!! 🖤🖤
Thank you SO MUCH to Luna K. Wicked for the INCREDIBLE opportunity to ARC read this phenomenal book!🖤🖤🖤
⚽️Dark Sports Romance
🖤Secret Society
⚽️Dark Academia
🖤College Setting
⚽️Forbidden
🖤Forced Proximity
⚽️Rich Girl x Poor Boy
🖤Betrayal
⚽️Gossip Girl Vibes
🖤SECRETS
⚽️Slow Burn
🖤Trust NO ONE
⚽️Enemies to Lovers
🖤Primal Play
⚽️Trauma (Both MC’s)
🖤SA
⚽️Blackmail
🖤Abuse of Power
⚽️Morally Grey MC’s
🖤Strong Side Characters
⚽️Romantic Suspense
🖤Shmurder Mystery
⚽️ANGST
🖤Best Friends Boyfriend
⚽️Touch Aversion
🖤Secret Past
⚽️Dual POV
🖤HEA
LUNA!!!! This is hands down my FAVORITE Luna K. Wicked book! I don't even know where to begin with this review, there is SO MUCH to unpack!! The first thing I will say is, this book is dark and HEAVY! So please, please, PLEASE...read your trigger warnings!! Luna has given them all to you, there is no excuse...as always, your mental health comes first...so please take that into account before diving in.
This review is going to be pretty vague, because as with most of Luna's books, its better to dive in with as little information as possible and buckle up for the ride. This is a DARK sports romance...and while the soccer is there, it definitely takes a back seat to the other tropes that are here. We have romantic suspense, shmurder, betrayal, SECRET SOCIETIES!!! You know how I feel about the secret society men 😍😍😍. Forbidden love and so many secrets that you will be questioning YOURSELF while reading this book...no one can be trusted.
This book gave me a lot of gossip girl vibes, but on a deadlier and more elite level. Nico is our MMC and Shiloh is our FMC...and while the story absolutely centers around them, the side characters aren't so side...they are absolutely just as prominent, and at times I almost forgot who the MC's actually were 😂 but I loved it!!
Classic tale of rich girl meets poor boy...but much darker. I will admit....Shiloh was not my favorite...In fact I hated her for the majority of the book...but as you get to the halfway point and learn more about whats ACTUALLY going on, she does redeem herself. Now...NICO!?!?!?! 😭😭😭 I wanted to reach through my kindle and hug him so bad. The things he had to go through and endure were so painful to read. I could feel his pain through Lunas writing...I found myself shedding a tear on more than one occassion.
The burn for these two is slow...they start off as sort of enemies who eventually find their way to love...it was definitely touch and go for them and my heart stopped multiple times while reading trying to figure out what would happen and if they would allow themselves to give in to the feelings brewing between them...but when they did??😮💨😮💨😮💨 The spice was SPICING in a way that is VERY LUNA...and I loved every minute of it!
There's so much I want to say about this book, that I want to share and scream about but I DO NOT WANT TO SPOIL IT! I want you guys to be stuck to your kindle and diving into this dark and chaotic world just like I was...so go...read...enjoy...fall in love...in anger...in frustration...and buckle up because this series is only getting crazier!! 🖤🖤
Thank you SO MUCH to Luna K. Wicked for the INCREDIBLE opportunity to ARC read this phenomenal book!🖤🖤🖤
⚽️Dark Sports Romance
🖤Secret Society
⚽️Dark Academia
🖤College Setting
⚽️Forbidden
🖤Forced Proximity
⚽️Rich Girl x Poor Boy
🖤Betrayal
⚽️Gossip Girl Vibes
🖤SECRETS
⚽️Slow Burn
🖤Trust NO ONE
⚽️Enemies to Lovers
🖤Primal Play
⚽️Trauma (Both MC’s)
🖤SA
⚽️Blackmail
🖤Abuse of Power
⚽️Morally Grey MC’s
🖤Strong Side Characters
⚽️Romantic Suspense
🖤Shmurder Mystery
⚽️ANGST
🖤Best Friends Boyfriend
⚽️Touch Aversion
🖤Secret Past
⚽️Dual POV
🖤HEA
September 15, 2025
2.5 I’d say. (Wish Goodreads allowed half stars)
A 3 is usually a book I liked but it fell flat in areas. I don’t know if I enjoyed this one at all, so it has to be less than that, but 2 is too low. This was supposed to be a quick read, but it took me a short while just because I couldn’t connect to it.
I wanted to love it, but unfortunately a lot of it just felt repetitive in scenes and I found it hard to like most of the characters. FMC was just awful, almost from start to finish. Nico (MMC) was probably my favourite, but I wish the story of his sister was expanded on as it seemed to be leading to a big plot point and then dropped off.
I’m no newbie to dark romance, but this just didn’t really click with me, and that’s not because of the themes or triggers, I think it’s more to do with the confusing story with little resolve. There was a small epilogue that seemed to promise more, but this hasn’t intrigued me enough to want to continue reading if more is written in the series.
It won’t put me off reading more Luna K Wicked’s work. I’ve heard some great things. This was my first, but this just wasn’t for me. Some work, some don’t. 😊
A 3 is usually a book I liked but it fell flat in areas. I don’t know if I enjoyed this one at all, so it has to be less than that, but 2 is too low. This was supposed to be a quick read, but it took me a short while just because I couldn’t connect to it.
I wanted to love it, but unfortunately a lot of it just felt repetitive in scenes and I found it hard to like most of the characters. FMC was just awful, almost from start to finish. Nico (MMC) was probably my favourite, but I wish the story of his sister was expanded on as it seemed to be leading to a big plot point and then dropped off.
I’m no newbie to dark romance, but this just didn’t really click with me, and that’s not because of the themes or triggers, I think it’s more to do with the confusing story with little resolve. There was a small epilogue that seemed to promise more, but this hasn’t intrigued me enough to want to continue reading if more is written in the series.
It won’t put me off reading more Luna K Wicked’s work. I’ve heard some great things. This was my first, but this just wasn’t for me. Some work, some don’t. 😊
April 27, 2026
If you love dark romance, this is a great book! I read this as an arc and you are instantly hooked from the first page. Luna does an amazing job with engaging you as the reader and following the story. This is dark so please check the triggers as there moments and parts that are emotional. The way both the FMC and MMC come together in the end was satisfying and meeting other characters too added to added to the experience of reading this. I recommend reading if you’re into dark romance, secret society vibes, enemies to lovers, a slow burn that’s so worth it!
December 15, 2025
This was a pretty quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We had some mystery and a lot of emotions! For this being my first Luna K wicked book I’m not mad at it at all! I’d recommend
May 26, 2026
ALC provided by Blue Nose audio
📖⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎙️⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Play Dirty was one of those audiobooks that kept me fully locked in, even while I was mentally arguing with some of the story choices.
What worked most for me was the atmosphere. Villalargos University feels polished on the surface and deeply rotten underneath, which gave the entire story a constant sense of unease. Between the elite campus setting, secret society dynamics, corruption, and layered mystery, there was always something shifting beneath the characters’ feet, and that tension carried the story beautifully.
The romance itself was intense, messy, and built on years of unresolved tension. Nico was easily the standout for me. He brought emotional depth and vulnerability that grounded the story, especially against the darker themes. Shiloh was harder for me to connect with at times, and there were moments where her choices tested my patience, but the dynamic between them still held my attention.
My biggest issue was pacing. There’s a lot happening in a relatively short book, and while that keeps the story moving, it also means some plot points and emotional beats needed more room to breathe. In particular, I wanted more development around Nico’s sister and her storyline. Her situation is such a significant part of Nico’s pain, motivation, and the sacrifices he makes, but I felt we needed more time with that thread to fully connect with the weight of his suffering and understand the emotional depth behind his choices. The ending also wrapped a little too quickly after so much buildup.
That said, the audiobook elevated the experience. Shiloh James and Anthony Palmini delivered exactly what this story needed. Their performances added emotional weight, tension, and edge, especially in the quieter, more vulnerable moments and the charged scenes between Nico and Shiloh. They brought more nuance to the characters than the page alone sometimes managed, and that absolutely strengthened the story for me.
Overall, this wasn’t a flawless listen, but it was undeniably addictive, dark, and compelling enough to keep me invested from beginning to end.
📖⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎙️⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Play Dirty was one of those audiobooks that kept me fully locked in, even while I was mentally arguing with some of the story choices.
What worked most for me was the atmosphere. Villalargos University feels polished on the surface and deeply rotten underneath, which gave the entire story a constant sense of unease. Between the elite campus setting, secret society dynamics, corruption, and layered mystery, there was always something shifting beneath the characters’ feet, and that tension carried the story beautifully.
The romance itself was intense, messy, and built on years of unresolved tension. Nico was easily the standout for me. He brought emotional depth and vulnerability that grounded the story, especially against the darker themes. Shiloh was harder for me to connect with at times, and there were moments where her choices tested my patience, but the dynamic between them still held my attention.
My biggest issue was pacing. There’s a lot happening in a relatively short book, and while that keeps the story moving, it also means some plot points and emotional beats needed more room to breathe. In particular, I wanted more development around Nico’s sister and her storyline. Her situation is such a significant part of Nico’s pain, motivation, and the sacrifices he makes, but I felt we needed more time with that thread to fully connect with the weight of his suffering and understand the emotional depth behind his choices. The ending also wrapped a little too quickly after so much buildup.
That said, the audiobook elevated the experience. Shiloh James and Anthony Palmini delivered exactly what this story needed. Their performances added emotional weight, tension, and edge, especially in the quieter, more vulnerable moments and the charged scenes between Nico and Shiloh. They brought more nuance to the characters than the page alone sometimes managed, and that absolutely strengthened the story for me.
Overall, this wasn’t a flawless listen, but it was undeniably addictive, dark, and compelling enough to keep me invested from beginning to end.
August 24, 2025
This book was incredible. It’s a thrilling murder mystery with so many twists, it was truly unpredictable. If you like dark academia, secret societies, sports teams, best friends boyfriend, classism, and angsty tense romance that turns into really well written thigh clenching spice, this is the book for you. Shiloh is a freshman from an affluent family who goes to college to be exactly who her parents groomed her to be. Her path is chosen…. Her future husband, her sorority, all of it. Nico is a boy from the hood who has busted his ass (and sculpted his body) to become an elite soccer player and earn himself a scholarship at a university he could otherwise never attend. He’s got secrets. A murder occurs on campus and things aren’t what they seem. The skeletons in all of the cast’s closets are getting exposed, unexpected alliances are formed, promises are broken, and there’s betrayal after betrayal. Who can they trust? Who’s behind it all? You have to read to find out!
I will say Nico is a top tier book boyfriend. He’s an ♾️/10. I could feel his emotions seeping out of my kindle during the chapters written in his POV. I’m obsessed. It’s a slow burn. There’s so much tension that I wish y’all could’ve heard the scream I scrum when the spice hit.
This book makes me want to dive into the deep end of sports romance, which isn’t really my thing. But I’m concerned I’d be disappointed because this is so much more than a sports romance. It’s a mystery, a character study. It’s triggering and dark and suspenseful. It’s beautiful. Huge huge fan. Only allowed to give five stars, so I’ve settled for that. But I’d give it more if I could.
I will say Nico is a top tier book boyfriend. He’s an ♾️/10. I could feel his emotions seeping out of my kindle during the chapters written in his POV. I’m obsessed. It’s a slow burn. There’s so much tension that I wish y’all could’ve heard the scream I scrum when the spice hit.
This book makes me want to dive into the deep end of sports romance, which isn’t really my thing. But I’m concerned I’d be disappointed because this is so much more than a sports romance. It’s a mystery, a character study. It’s triggering and dark and suspenseful. It’s beautiful. Huge huge fan. Only allowed to give five stars, so I’ve settled for that. But I’d give it more if I could.
September 9, 2025
Lunaaaaaaaa!!!!! Omgggggg, I have always loved her work, this was something a little different than the norm, but omggggg, AMAZING. It was dark, it was delicious, it was spicy, it had some murder mystery, it had secret society vibes and I ATE IT UP!
Villalargos University is full of secrets and darkness. This book had twists at every turn that I did not see coming. Shiloh helps her Daddy scout new recruits for the soccer team and literally bumps into the newest recruit for him, Nico. And while Nico thinks he is getting a scholarship of a lifetime, nothing comes for free at Villalargos, but he has no idea just what they will take from him.
When Shiloh’s best friend and Nico’s girlfriend turns up dead everyone is now playing, who did it? And now it’s time for all the secrets to start to unfold and let me tell you, there are A LOT! They are dark and some of them are downright sickening! And while everyone is looking for answers, someone is also watching everything! The suspense in this book has me on edge.
Nico…oh my poor Nico, he was just born on the wrong side of town and this school did him wrong. And of course he had to go and fall in love with Shiloh. The longing between them was intense and the chemistry was explosive and spicy.
This story was an emotionally roller coaster, full of pain, betrayal, secrets, and darkness.
Villalargos University is full of secrets and darkness. This book had twists at every turn that I did not see coming. Shiloh helps her Daddy scout new recruits for the soccer team and literally bumps into the newest recruit for him, Nico. And while Nico thinks he is getting a scholarship of a lifetime, nothing comes for free at Villalargos, but he has no idea just what they will take from him.
When Shiloh’s best friend and Nico’s girlfriend turns up dead everyone is now playing, who did it? And now it’s time for all the secrets to start to unfold and let me tell you, there are A LOT! They are dark and some of them are downright sickening! And while everyone is looking for answers, someone is also watching everything! The suspense in this book has me on edge.
Nico…oh my poor Nico, he was just born on the wrong side of town and this school did him wrong. And of course he had to go and fall in love with Shiloh. The longing between them was intense and the chemistry was explosive and spicy.
This story was an emotionally roller coaster, full of pain, betrayal, secrets, and darkness.
May 25, 2026
ALC review --------------
Performance 5⭐
Story 4⭐
Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, but make it soccer AND DARK ⚽
Listen, my boy Nico didn't deserve to go through all that... Luna has the habit of writing swoon-worthy MMCs that suffer way too much. Bratty Shiloh is not worthy of him, I said it.
Everyone in this book (but Nico) is so petty and self-centered. But I find this to be another unique characteristic of Luna's writing. Only she can deliver a good story with unlikable characters. Once you dive into all the secrets and messed up sh! that goes down... You understand why everyone is like that.
I loved the murder mystery aspect... I did not expect it to be who it was at the end! I also loved how she incorporated bits of Latino culture with popular sayings or phrases translated to English - I picked up on those really fast, being Dominican 🇩🇴 like Luna, and Nico's relationship with his grandma? It hit too close to home. And her music selection throughout the story? Chef's kiss!
On to the performances... now I love Anthony Palmini like the next girl BUT Shiloh James? GIRL! She brought this book to life! Shiloh was perfection: her pace, vocal range, and dramatization. She delivered a complete package. Every character she played had its own distinctive voice - never disliked a teacher as much as Ms. Medina lol
And Anthony was the perfect narrator to interpret Nico. The chemistry between him & Shiloh during the spicy scenes was just... ugh, it made me feel things. This book is not too spicy but for me, given the context of the story, it was perfect. A slow burn that was executed well.
Thank you, BNA, for the ALC! As always, my opinions are my own and 100% honest.
Performance 5⭐
Story 4⭐
Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, but make it soccer AND DARK ⚽
Listen, my boy Nico didn't deserve to go through all that... Luna has the habit of writing swoon-worthy MMCs that suffer way too much. Bratty Shiloh is not worthy of him, I said it.
Everyone in this book (but Nico) is so petty and self-centered. But I find this to be another unique characteristic of Luna's writing. Only she can deliver a good story with unlikable characters. Once you dive into all the secrets and messed up sh! that goes down... You understand why everyone is like that.
I loved the murder mystery aspect... I did not expect it to be who it was at the end! I also loved how she incorporated bits of Latino culture with popular sayings or phrases translated to English - I picked up on those really fast, being Dominican 🇩🇴 like Luna, and Nico's relationship with his grandma? It hit too close to home. And her music selection throughout the story? Chef's kiss!
On to the performances... now I love Anthony Palmini like the next girl BUT Shiloh James? GIRL! She brought this book to life! Shiloh was perfection: her pace, vocal range, and dramatization. She delivered a complete package. Every character she played had its own distinctive voice - never disliked a teacher as much as Ms. Medina lol
And Anthony was the perfect narrator to interpret Nico. The chemistry between him & Shiloh during the spicy scenes was just... ugh, it made me feel things. This book is not too spicy but for me, given the context of the story, it was perfect. A slow burn that was executed well.
Thank you, BNA, for the ALC! As always, my opinions are my own and 100% honest.
September 17, 2025
What can I say about this book in this series? Luna certainly knows how to write a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This dark academia romance is next level. It’s full of mystery, lies, secrets, murder and betrayal and starts off with a bang right from the beginning. Chapter two has a trigger warning, setting the dark stage for the remainder of the book. As you go through the book, each chapter captures your attention more, dragging you into the suspense and making you question yourself. Every character you meet is one you’ll be asking yourself about and taking notes on. Just when you think you have something figured out, Luna hits you with something else to throw you off. Another detail in the story gets revealed, and you’re truly saying, “What the heck?!? I didn’t see that coming!” Like all of Luna’s books, it’s dark, and nothing is ever what it seems. So, you’ll constantly be on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s next. Nico and Shiloh’s story is beautifully illustrated with twisted chaos.
I can’t wait for the next book. Would I recommend this book? Definitely, if you are into dark twisted college romances.
Please check your trigger warnings as your mental health matters.
I can’t wait for the next book. Would I recommend this book? Definitely, if you are into dark twisted college romances.
Please check your trigger warnings as your mental health matters.
May 15, 2026
ALC Review
📖:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Duet Narration: @Shiloh James Narrator & @AntPalmini
Dark romance? Soccer? Secret society? Secrets? University? Gossip girl vibes? And SUSPENSE?
Yes pleaseee!🔥🔥🔥
I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to speed listen to this audio!😍🔥 It was amazing and I was hooked !
This book was an emotional and suspenseful ride.
Mi corazon broke so much for Nico🥺 he deserved better in life. I liked the FMC. She definitely redeemed herself at the end for me. I liked their chemistry along with the tension. They were both so possessive and the hate was real. There was a lot of push and pull that was done so well. They deserved each other.
OMG the narrators did a phenomenal job! I could literally feel all the emotion because it did have some heavy topics and they did it so well🥹 among the side characters ! Great job to the narrators !
You can preorder 05/20
Release date is 05/27
Book available on KU!
“Not when everything in my life feels dead. And she’s the only thing that makes me feel alive.”
“I want to kiss Shiloh. I want to crawl inside her and make a home out of her heart. I’ve wanted Shiloh from the moment I laid eyes on her.”
“Breeding her because she’s mine to fill. To use. To ruin. To love.”
📖:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Duet Narration: @Shiloh James Narrator & @AntPalmini
Dark romance? Soccer? Secret society? Secrets? University? Gossip girl vibes? And SUSPENSE?
Yes pleaseee!🔥🔥🔥
I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to speed listen to this audio!😍🔥 It was amazing and I was hooked !
This book was an emotional and suspenseful ride.
Mi corazon broke so much for Nico🥺 he deserved better in life. I liked the FMC. She definitely redeemed herself at the end for me. I liked their chemistry along with the tension. They were both so possessive and the hate was real. There was a lot of push and pull that was done so well. They deserved each other.
OMG the narrators did a phenomenal job! I could literally feel all the emotion because it did have some heavy topics and they did it so well🥹 among the side characters ! Great job to the narrators !
You can preorder 05/20
Release date is 05/27
Book available on KU!
“Not when everything in my life feels dead. And she’s the only thing that makes me feel alive.”
“I want to kiss Shiloh. I want to crawl inside her and make a home out of her heart. I’ve wanted Shiloh from the moment I laid eyes on her.”
“Breeding her because she’s mine to fill. To use. To ruin. To love.”
May 23, 2026
I received this ALC from Blue Nose Audio and Luna K. Wicked and I want to thank them for it... This audiobook was performed in duet by Shiloh James and Anthony Palmini. I was blown away by how perfectly suited their voices were for these characters. I don’t think anyone else could play Shiloh and Nico.
This is the 1st book in the Villalargos University series, and I honestly can’t wait for the next book. This book follows Shiloh, who is the IT Girl at Villalargos who seemingly has it all, but does she? She is a complete contrast to Nico, who is the scholarship kid from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s a rising star on the soccer team, but there is more behind their scholarships and positions on the team. Shiloh and Nico have something underlying that, on the surface, seems to be pure disdain for each other; but there’s always more to the story.
Beneath all of the secret society and murder mystery, lies a romance. A romance surrounded by abuse, power and secrets. The spice in this book is perfect and in true Luna K. Wicked style, AND there is a good blend between the spice and the plot. Nothing falls short in this book.
If you like the following, you should give this book a read:
⚽️Hate to lovers
⚽️Dark academia
⚽️Secret society
⚽️Murder mystery
⚽️Forbidden romance
⚽️Forced proximity
⚽️It-rich girl FMC
⚽️Wrong side of the tracks MMC
⚽️Morally grey love interest
Rate: 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration Rate: 5/5 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧🎧
📅 Releases on May 27th
You can watch my full review on:
TT -https://www.tiktok.com/@the.book.devo...
IG – https://www.instagram.com/p/DYfAD26xaUF/
This is the 1st book in the Villalargos University series, and I honestly can’t wait for the next book. This book follows Shiloh, who is the IT Girl at Villalargos who seemingly has it all, but does she? She is a complete contrast to Nico, who is the scholarship kid from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s a rising star on the soccer team, but there is more behind their scholarships and positions on the team. Shiloh and Nico have something underlying that, on the surface, seems to be pure disdain for each other; but there’s always more to the story.
Beneath all of the secret society and murder mystery, lies a romance. A romance surrounded by abuse, power and secrets. The spice in this book is perfect and in true Luna K. Wicked style, AND there is a good blend between the spice and the plot. Nothing falls short in this book.
If you like the following, you should give this book a read:
⚽️Hate to lovers
⚽️Dark academia
⚽️Secret society
⚽️Murder mystery
⚽️Forbidden romance
⚽️Forced proximity
⚽️It-rich girl FMC
⚽️Wrong side of the tracks MMC
⚽️Morally grey love interest
Rate: 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration Rate: 5/5 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧🎧
📅 Releases on May 27th
You can watch my full review on:
TT -https://www.tiktok.com/@the.book.devo...
IG – https://www.instagram.com/p/DYfAD26xaUF/
May 21, 2026
✨𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
🎧: Play Dirty (Villalargos University Book 1)
🎙️: Shiloh James & Anthony Palmini
In an elite university riddled with scandal and depravity without bounds, the Ice Queen and the soccer scholarship student are forced to play the game or diē trying. Will they survive the twisted games and corruption?
Tropes:
🎙️Dual POV/duet narration
💞Best friend’s ex
❤️🩹Trǟuma and scars
🤫Secret society
🕵️♀️M^rdwr mystery
🏫Dark academia
⚠️Check TW
🌶️Open door
With the society dictating their worth and future, Shiloh and Nico know they can never be together. Shared grief brings them into a fragile alliance but what will be left when they find the answers they seek?
The narrators bring this Gossip Girl meets romantic suspense to life. The obsession, grief, and longing is palpable. Every scene is emotionally-charged and each reveal had my head spinning. I was completely swept away by this dark and twisted tale!
Huge thanks to the author and @bluenoseaudio for the listening copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
🎧: Play Dirty (Villalargos University Book 1)
🎙️: Shiloh James & Anthony Palmini
In an elite university riddled with scandal and depravity without bounds, the Ice Queen and the soccer scholarship student are forced to play the game or diē trying. Will they survive the twisted games and corruption?
Tropes:
🎙️Dual POV/duet narration
💞Best friend’s ex
❤️🩹Trǟuma and scars
🤫Secret society
🕵️♀️M^rdwr mystery
🏫Dark academia
⚠️Check TW
🌶️Open door
With the society dictating their worth and future, Shiloh and Nico know they can never be together. Shared grief brings them into a fragile alliance but what will be left when they find the answers they seek?
The narrators bring this Gossip Girl meets romantic suspense to life. The obsession, grief, and longing is palpable. Every scene is emotionally-charged and each reveal had my head spinning. I was completely swept away by this dark and twisted tale!
Huge thanks to the author and @bluenoseaudio for the listening copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews