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The Forbidden
Never Back Down
Theodore Moore was never meant to get a second chance at love, but when Blake Adams walks back into his life, will he find it again, or will he destroy everything she’s worked so hard to achieve?
Ten years ago, the woman who owned my heart, body, and soul destroyed me.
I became lost in my own mind, surrounded by demons of old.
Sure, I laughed, smiled, and joked around, but underneath, I was drowning, suffocating.
And now she’s back.
Blake Adams is the new junior associate in my office, and guess who’s her mentor… me.
I’ve waited a long time for this. To bestow upon her the same world of hurt she left me with.
I’m going to burn her career to the ground and bask in her tears.
Aren’t I?
Never Back Down is an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance, featuring a heavy mental health representation and dark themes.
Please check TW’s before reading.
Ten years ago, the woman who owned my heart, body, and soul destroyed me.
I became lost in my own mind, surrounded by demons of old.
Sure, I laughed, smiled, and joked around, but underneath, I was drowning, suffocating.
And now she’s back.
Blake Adams is the new junior associate in my office, and guess who’s her mentor… me.
I’ve waited a long time for this. To bestow upon her the same world of hurt she left me with.
I’m going to burn her career to the ground and bask in her tears.
Aren’t I?
Never Back Down is an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance, featuring a heavy mental health representation and dark themes.
Please check TW’s before reading.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
16 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 10, 2026
Another great standalone dark romance. Great captivating storyline that took me on an emotional rollercoaster.
Looking forward to the next book.
Noah is very extra but finding out more about his past broke my heart a little, it helps explain his personality.
Good strong well described characters which have you emotionally invested.
Looking forward to the next book.
Noah is very extra but finding out more about his past broke my heart a little, it helps explain his personality.
Good strong well described characters which have you emotionally invested.
May 7, 2026
Blake and Theo were once deeply in love. Two people from broken homes and painful pasts who found comfort and salvation in each other…until something tore them apart. Now, years later, they’re forced back into each other’s lives as partners at Theo’s law firm. But being together again means finally confronting the past, uncovering truths they never knew, and realizing that maybe everything they believed about each other wasn’t the full story.
Going into this, I thought I was getting an enemies to lovers second chance romance, maybe a prank here, some jealously there…but I had NO idea the level of emotional damage this book was about to cause me. Theo and Blake both went through absolute hell ten years ago, and watching them come back together while all those buried truths slowly surfaced genuinely had me SOBBING, CRYING, KICKING. Like seriously, load up on the tissue boxes because y’all are not ready for this one. Luna, where do I submit my reimbursement request for emotional distress and all the tissues I used up crying over these people? Drop the form please!
Theo…where do I even start with this man? Sweetheart of the century is one way to describe him. A full cinnamon roll of a man despite carrying so much pain inside him is another. My heart genuinely ached for him throughout this book because he’s just been through so much. And I loved that Luna Peters allowed him to be emotional without ever taking away from his masculinity, I just felt like a lot of MCs don’t get that and this is where he truly shined. He felt raw, vulnerable, and incredibly real…I love an MMC who isn’t afraid to feel deeply and Theo absolutely delivered that.
“You light me up from the inside out.”
And Blake was my fiery, spunky girl. On the surface she comes across strong and sharp, but underneath all that was someone carrying so much hurt and unresolved pain. There were moments where I just wanted to reach into the book and hug her. She’s so strong for surviving everything she did without completely losing herself in the process.
Honestly, it’s been a long time since I’ve related this hard to an MMC. Usually I connect more with FMCs, but Theo’s insecurities and inner demons were hitting me right in the chest so kudos to Luna Peters for really making that happen. And I can’t review this without talking about the Forbidden boys because I just LOVE them so darn much. The support system between these men is honestly one of the best parts of the series. They’re affectionate, emotionally open, willing to hug it out and lean on each other, and it’s so refreshing to see in an MC friend group. It gives this series such a unique warmth underneath all the angst and heartbreak.
At the end of the day, every bit of pain and suffering in this book felt worth it because of how deeply Theo and Blake loved each other. Luna Peters truly delivered the most heartfelt and emotional book in the series yet. Her writing always has so much depth to it, and she creates characters that feel so lovable and human that you can’t help but become completely attached to them.
Going into this, I thought I was getting an enemies to lovers second chance romance, maybe a prank here, some jealously there…but I had NO idea the level of emotional damage this book was about to cause me. Theo and Blake both went through absolute hell ten years ago, and watching them come back together while all those buried truths slowly surfaced genuinely had me SOBBING, CRYING, KICKING. Like seriously, load up on the tissue boxes because y’all are not ready for this one. Luna, where do I submit my reimbursement request for emotional distress and all the tissues I used up crying over these people? Drop the form please!
Theo…where do I even start with this man? Sweetheart of the century is one way to describe him. A full cinnamon roll of a man despite carrying so much pain inside him is another. My heart genuinely ached for him throughout this book because he’s just been through so much. And I loved that Luna Peters allowed him to be emotional without ever taking away from his masculinity, I just felt like a lot of MCs don’t get that and this is where he truly shined. He felt raw, vulnerable, and incredibly real…I love an MMC who isn’t afraid to feel deeply and Theo absolutely delivered that.
“You light me up from the inside out.”
And Blake was my fiery, spunky girl. On the surface she comes across strong and sharp, but underneath all that was someone carrying so much hurt and unresolved pain. There were moments where I just wanted to reach into the book and hug her. She’s so strong for surviving everything she did without completely losing herself in the process.
Honestly, it’s been a long time since I’ve related this hard to an MMC. Usually I connect more with FMCs, but Theo’s insecurities and inner demons were hitting me right in the chest so kudos to Luna Peters for really making that happen. And I can’t review this without talking about the Forbidden boys because I just LOVE them so darn much. The support system between these men is honestly one of the best parts of the series. They’re affectionate, emotionally open, willing to hug it out and lean on each other, and it’s so refreshing to see in an MC friend group. It gives this series such a unique warmth underneath all the angst and heartbreak.
At the end of the day, every bit of pain and suffering in this book felt worth it because of how deeply Theo and Blake loved each other. Luna Peters truly delivered the most heartfelt and emotional book in the series yet. Her writing always has so much depth to it, and she creates characters that feel so lovable and human that you can’t help but become completely attached to them.
May 11, 2026
MF Age Gap / Second Chance Romance
Great read!! This was super emotional, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, yet it was also sweet, inspiring, angsty and funny. It was a slow burn and not much spice to it but the story leading up to it was well worth it.
Both Blake and Theo are ‘broken’ with tragic pasts… and even though they were together years ago, they don’t know the full story of each other’s pasts. Watching Theo deal with his mental health issues, breaking down and getting the help he needed was truly beautifully written and made me feel all the feels. And once they decided to move on from the past and start new, Blake was so understanding and compassionate towards Theo and his needs.
No cheating, no OWD, no third act breakup with a HEA
I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a bit of a forbidden read that takes you through nearly every emotion possible while watching two people who never truly hated one another find their way back to each other and deal with their hardships together.
* Enemies to Lovers
* Second Chance
* Age Gap 28 / 36
* Workplace Romance
* Forced Proximity
* Pranks/ Banter
* Single Mom
* Borderline Personality Disorder Rep
* Tatted & Pierced 🍆 MMC
* Good Boy / Good Girl
“Because my needy Viking needs reassurance, and I’m more than happy to give that to you,”
“I care about you, big guy, so I want to do everything I can to support you. I’ll also have to work extra hard to make you see that those voices have no meaning here. They don’t hold any power over you. Only I do.”
“I’ll always let you be you, firefly. You’re the calm to my crazy, and I don’t ever want to be without you again,”
“You light me up from the inside out, Blake Adams. I don’t have to ask with you, you just know. You remember all the small details, all the things that could easily trigger me, and remove them without batting an eyelid. You pay attention to me, you make me smile, and when I’m quiet, you ask if I’m okay. You understand me without me having to explain, and I’m so grateful for that. Actions speak louder than words, firefly, and you speak my love language.”
“I know there are going to be hard days, big guy. I know you’re going to struggle, but I’m here. I’m going to be the rock to keep you standing, and if you fall, I’ll be right there with you, guiding you back. Your mental health doesn’t define you, Theo,” she says, cupping my cheek. “You are who you are, and I love every single broken thing about you. Some people will say you need fixing, but you don’t. You’re perfect as you are. You just need a bit more attention than most.” She chuckles, and I chuckle with her, knowing she’s not wrong.
Great read!! This was super emotional, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, yet it was also sweet, inspiring, angsty and funny. It was a slow burn and not much spice to it but the story leading up to it was well worth it.
Both Blake and Theo are ‘broken’ with tragic pasts… and even though they were together years ago, they don’t know the full story of each other’s pasts. Watching Theo deal with his mental health issues, breaking down and getting the help he needed was truly beautifully written and made me feel all the feels. And once they decided to move on from the past and start new, Blake was so understanding and compassionate towards Theo and his needs.
No cheating, no OWD, no third act breakup with a HEA
I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a bit of a forbidden read that takes you through nearly every emotion possible while watching two people who never truly hated one another find their way back to each other and deal with their hardships together.
* Enemies to Lovers
* Second Chance
* Age Gap 28 / 36
* Workplace Romance
* Forced Proximity
* Pranks/ Banter
* Single Mom
* Borderline Personality Disorder Rep
* Tatted & Pierced 🍆 MMC
* Good Boy / Good Girl
“Because my needy Viking needs reassurance, and I’m more than happy to give that to you,”
“I care about you, big guy, so I want to do everything I can to support you. I’ll also have to work extra hard to make you see that those voices have no meaning here. They don’t hold any power over you. Only I do.”
“I’ll always let you be you, firefly. You’re the calm to my crazy, and I don’t ever want to be without you again,”
“You light me up from the inside out, Blake Adams. I don’t have to ask with you, you just know. You remember all the small details, all the things that could easily trigger me, and remove them without batting an eyelid. You pay attention to me, you make me smile, and when I’m quiet, you ask if I’m okay. You understand me without me having to explain, and I’m so grateful for that. Actions speak louder than words, firefly, and you speak my love language.”
“I know there are going to be hard days, big guy. I know you’re going to struggle, but I’m here. I’m going to be the rock to keep you standing, and if you fall, I’ll be right there with you, guiding you back. Your mental health doesn’t define you, Theo,” she says, cupping my cheek. “You are who you are, and I love every single broken thing about you. Some people will say you need fixing, but you don’t. You’re perfect as you are. You just need a bit more attention than most.” She chuckles, and I chuckle with her, knowing she’s not wrong.
Review of advance copy received from Author
that opening prologue absolutely wrecked me, like luna really said let’s make you cry immediately and it worked, and then we jump into Blake starting her new job at a law firm only to come face to face with Theo Moore after ten years and the tension is instant and so thick you can feel it, there’s so much history there and you just know it’s going to explode into something, Theo being his chaotic prankster self and constantly messing with Blake should feel light but underneath it you can feel how much he’s actually struggling with her being back and it honestly hurt to watch because his pain runs so deep, and their dynamic is just this mix of sharp banter, unresolved hurt, and something that clearly never went away, they both refuse to back down, she’s not happy to see him either and goes right back at him, but the more you read the more you see how broken he’s been since she left, and when everything about what happened ten years ago finally comes out it completely shattered me, like heart in pieces on the floor kind of pain, but also relief because finally there’s a chance for them to understand each other again and rebuild that trust, and through all of it the friendships were everything, Theo, Caleb, Noah, and James have this bond that just feels so real, the way they show up for each other, especially James with Theo, letting him be exactly who he is while still holding him up when he’s struggling, those group chats and moments of support just added so much warmth to such a heavy story, and the way Luna wrote Theo’s mental health, especially with the borderline personality disorder elements, felt so raw and real, like you could feel the weight of it, the constant battle in his mind, and it made it impossible not to empathise with him because there really are pieces of that struggle that feel universal, and at its core this is such an emotional second chance, enemies to lovers, age gap story where love, pain, resentment, and longing are all tangled together, Theo convincing himself he wants revenge, to hurt Blake the way he was hurt, but underneath it all he’s still that guy who never stopped loving her, and watching that unravel was heartbreaking and addictive all at once, just make sure you check the trigger warnings because this one goes deep.
May 11, 2026
📖 Book Review: Never Back Down
Enemies-to-lovers | Second chance | Workplace romance
⸻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Never Back Down delivers a heavy, emotional second-chance romance that leans deep into pain, resentment, and unresolved love.
Theodore Moore is a man shaped by heartbreak. Ten years ago, Blake Adams destroyed him—and even now, he’s still carrying the weight of that loss. When Blake suddenly reappears as the new junior associate in his office, the power dynamic shifts instantly… and not in a good way. Theodore becomes her mentor, but instead of guidance, he’s fueled by bitterness and a desire for revenge.
What unfolds is a tense, emotionally charged story where past and present constantly collide.
⸻
💭 My Thoughts:
This book thrives on angst. Theodore’s inner turmoil feels raw and realistic—he’s not an easy character to love, and honestly, that’s what makes him compelling. His pain bleeds into everything, and at times, it’s hard to tell if he wants to hurt Blake… or himself.
Blake, on the other hand, brings a quiet strength to the story. She’s worked hard to rebuild her life, and watching her stand in the face of Theodore’s hostility adds another layer to the emotional tension.
Their chemistry?
Undeniable.
But it’s tangled up in hurt, pride, and years of unresolved feelings, making every interaction feel intense and unpredictable.
⸻
✨ What I Loved:
• Strong emotional depth and mental health representation
• Tension-filled workplace dynamic
• Messy, complicated characters
• The slow unraveling of their past
⸻
⚠️ Keep in Mind:
This story explores darker themes and heavier emotional struggles, so definitely check trigger warnings before reading.
⸻
📚 Overall:
Never Back Down is a gripping, angst-heavy romance that doesn’t shy away from the darker side of love and healing. If you enjoy flawed characters, emotional intensity, and second-chance romances that hurt before they heal, this one is worth picking up.
Enemies-to-lovers | Second chance | Workplace romance
⸻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Never Back Down delivers a heavy, emotional second-chance romance that leans deep into pain, resentment, and unresolved love.
Theodore Moore is a man shaped by heartbreak. Ten years ago, Blake Adams destroyed him—and even now, he’s still carrying the weight of that loss. When Blake suddenly reappears as the new junior associate in his office, the power dynamic shifts instantly… and not in a good way. Theodore becomes her mentor, but instead of guidance, he’s fueled by bitterness and a desire for revenge.
What unfolds is a tense, emotionally charged story where past and present constantly collide.
⸻
💭 My Thoughts:
This book thrives on angst. Theodore’s inner turmoil feels raw and realistic—he’s not an easy character to love, and honestly, that’s what makes him compelling. His pain bleeds into everything, and at times, it’s hard to tell if he wants to hurt Blake… or himself.
Blake, on the other hand, brings a quiet strength to the story. She’s worked hard to rebuild her life, and watching her stand in the face of Theodore’s hostility adds another layer to the emotional tension.
Their chemistry?
Undeniable.
But it’s tangled up in hurt, pride, and years of unresolved feelings, making every interaction feel intense and unpredictable.
⸻
✨ What I Loved:
• Strong emotional depth and mental health representation
• Tension-filled workplace dynamic
• Messy, complicated characters
• The slow unraveling of their past
⸻
⚠️ Keep in Mind:
This story explores darker themes and heavier emotional struggles, so definitely check trigger warnings before reading.
⸻
📚 Overall:
Never Back Down is a gripping, angst-heavy romance that doesn’t shy away from the darker side of love and healing. If you enjoy flawed characters, emotional intensity, and second-chance romances that hurt before they heal, this one is worth picking up.
Review of advance copy
The dedication alone gave me chills — and I knew this book would hit straight in the soul. The prologue nearly took me out, and that’s exactly the energy the entire book carried. I read it in under 24 hours because there was simply no way to put it down.
The book deals with mental health, and Luna does something incredibly important here specifically for men’s mental health. This story highlights the everyday challenges of BPD — the uncertainty, the self‑blame, the fear of abandonment, the constant question of “am I enough” — and does it from a male perspective. Men’s mental health isn’t talked about nearly enough, so this book will undoubtedly play a meaningful role in someone’s survival.
Before you dive in, check the triggers — because the mental health themes in this book are heavy, heartbreaking, and absolutely gutting. But yes, it does have a happy ending.
And then — these four men. God, I loved their banter. And the way they constantly pour love and reassurance into Theo, reminding him he’s loved and worthy. Even the small things they notice about what matters to him — that’s real friendship. Still, I have to say: this book made me love my Grumpy even more, and I cannot wait for his story.
Theo’s mischief and antics had me laughing, screaming in rage, wanting to strangle him, and throwing my Kindle at the wall. The way he teases his friends — well, I might know someone exactly like that. And Blake is the perfect counterpart for him. Their back‑and‑forth had me ripping my hair out and yelling “just talk to each other already.” It was also great to see both couples from the previous books again.
And I know — because Luna promised — that the next book is finally my Grumpy’s book. And yes, I had already figured out the twist for that next book long before it was revealed at the end. But buckle up and hand me that story already.
The book deals with mental health, and Luna does something incredibly important here specifically for men’s mental health. This story highlights the everyday challenges of BPD — the uncertainty, the self‑blame, the fear of abandonment, the constant question of “am I enough” — and does it from a male perspective. Men’s mental health isn’t talked about nearly enough, so this book will undoubtedly play a meaningful role in someone’s survival.
Before you dive in, check the triggers — because the mental health themes in this book are heavy, heartbreaking, and absolutely gutting. But yes, it does have a happy ending.
And then — these four men. God, I loved their banter. And the way they constantly pour love and reassurance into Theo, reminding him he’s loved and worthy. Even the small things they notice about what matters to him — that’s real friendship. Still, I have to say: this book made me love my Grumpy even more, and I cannot wait for his story.
Theo’s mischief and antics had me laughing, screaming in rage, wanting to strangle him, and throwing my Kindle at the wall. The way he teases his friends — well, I might know someone exactly like that. And Blake is the perfect counterpart for him. Their back‑and‑forth had me ripping my hair out and yelling “just talk to each other already.” It was also great to see both couples from the previous books again.
And I know — because Luna promised — that the next book is finally my Grumpy’s book. And yes, I had already figured out the twist for that next book long before it was revealed at the end. But buckle up and hand me that story already.
May 7, 2026
Never Back Down by Luna Peters is the third book in The Forbidden Series, and honestly, this might be my favorite one yet. While each book in the series can stand on its own, this story feels deeper emotionally and more intense than the previous installments. If you love forbidden workplace romance, emotionally damaged heroes, explosive chemistry, and redemption arcs that actually hurt in the best way, this book delivers all of that perfectly.
Theodore Moore completely stole this story for me. He isn’t your typical smooth, perfect romance hero. He’s stubborn, emotionally guarded, frustrating at times, and carrying so much weight on his shoulders that you can feel it in every interaction. Watching his walls slowly crack throughout the story was one of the strongest parts of this book. The emotional tension between the characters felt constant, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic had just the right amount of angst, banter, and vulnerability.
What I loved most was how emotional this romance felt beneath all the chemistry. This wasn’t just attraction for the sake of drama. Both characters felt like real people trying to survive their own emotional battles while fighting the connection growing between them. Some scenes genuinely made my chest ache, while others had me smiling like an idiot.
The writing also felt very addictive. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” and suddenly I was halfway through the book. The pacing balanced emotional moments, tension, and romance really well without feeling rushed.
This book felt raw, emotional, messy, and beautifully human. Theodore’s journey especially stayed with me long after I finished reading, and I already know this is going to become a favorite Forbidden Series book for a lot of readers.
Theodore Moore completely stole this story for me. He isn’t your typical smooth, perfect romance hero. He’s stubborn, emotionally guarded, frustrating at times, and carrying so much weight on his shoulders that you can feel it in every interaction. Watching his walls slowly crack throughout the story was one of the strongest parts of this book. The emotional tension between the characters felt constant, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic had just the right amount of angst, banter, and vulnerability.
What I loved most was how emotional this romance felt beneath all the chemistry. This wasn’t just attraction for the sake of drama. Both characters felt like real people trying to survive their own emotional battles while fighting the connection growing between them. Some scenes genuinely made my chest ache, while others had me smiling like an idiot.
The writing also felt very addictive. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” and suddenly I was halfway through the book. The pacing balanced emotional moments, tension, and romance really well without feeling rushed.
This book felt raw, emotional, messy, and beautifully human. Theodore’s journey especially stayed with me long after I finished reading, and I already know this is going to become a favorite Forbidden Series book for a lot of readers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved an arc from the author and these are my honest reviews.
This is the story of Theo and Blake. A forbidden age gap love story with so many emotional back stories.
Blake broke Theo’s heart years ago. His heart was never fully healed. Blake comes back into his life as someone he has to train at work. He will not just let her come in and let her be happy. So he will sabotage her at every chance he gets.
Blake isn’t happy to see Theo either. He left without even a goodbye. She’ll go toe to toe with him.
I cannot get over the banter between Theo and Blake. It makes me cry and then it makes me laugh. Not getting over it but trying to be over it. Gosh their whole tension and pranks was so entertaining.
The bromance between Theo and James is just perfect. It also makes me appreciate James even more. The way he is there for Theo and understands him perfectly. James lets Theo be Theo but will have his back. Their friendship is just too cute. The whole bromance between the 4 friends was too cute and those group messages were so fun to read. Caleb, James, and Noah banded together to support Theo. Love them!
I don’t know much about borderline personality disorder but I feel for Theo so much. I couldn’t imagine living everyday with those thoughts that Theo has. The emotional toll it can take on a person. The way Luna wrote Theo and his thoughts is relatable to people. There’s a little bit of Theo in all of us.
There was no boring moments in this book. I cried. I laughed. I got angry. Everything I wanted to read in a book. I will not get over this book for a while. Will definitely be a re read for me over and over again.
This is the story of Theo and Blake. A forbidden age gap love story with so many emotional back stories.
Blake broke Theo’s heart years ago. His heart was never fully healed. Blake comes back into his life as someone he has to train at work. He will not just let her come in and let her be happy. So he will sabotage her at every chance he gets.
Blake isn’t happy to see Theo either. He left without even a goodbye. She’ll go toe to toe with him.
I cannot get over the banter between Theo and Blake. It makes me cry and then it makes me laugh. Not getting over it but trying to be over it. Gosh their whole tension and pranks was so entertaining.
The bromance between Theo and James is just perfect. It also makes me appreciate James even more. The way he is there for Theo and understands him perfectly. James lets Theo be Theo but will have his back. Their friendship is just too cute. The whole bromance between the 4 friends was too cute and those group messages were so fun to read. Caleb, James, and Noah banded together to support Theo. Love them!
I don’t know much about borderline personality disorder but I feel for Theo so much. I couldn’t imagine living everyday with those thoughts that Theo has. The emotional toll it can take on a person. The way Luna wrote Theo and his thoughts is relatable to people. There’s a little bit of Theo in all of us.
There was no boring moments in this book. I cried. I laughed. I got angry. Everything I wanted to read in a book. I will not get over this book for a while. Will definitely be a re read for me over and over again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Luna Peters absolutely delivered with Never Back Down and I am still thinking about this story long after finishing it. This is book three in The Forbidden series and it hits hard in the best way. It is raw, emotional, and packed with intensity from the very first chapter.
Theodore and Blake’s history pulls you in immediately. You can feel the pain, the resentment, and everything left unsaid between them. Their reunion is not soft or easy. It is messy and complicated and honestly so real. Theodore’s mindset had me hooked because you can see how deeply he is still affected by the past, even when he tries to mask it. His internal struggles add so much depth to his character and make every interaction with Blake feel heavier.
Blake brings this quiet strength that I loved. She does not just fold under pressure and watching her stand her ground while facing someone who once meant everything to her was powerful. Their dynamic is intense in a way that keeps you turning pages because you need to know what happens next. The tension, the emotional push and pull, and the slow unraveling of everything between them was done so well.
This book dives into heavy themes and mental health in a way that feels honest and impactful. It is not sugarcoated and that is what makes it stand out. You feel the weight of their experiences and the way it shapes their choices.
The enemies to lovers aspect here is everything I want in this trope. It is not just tension for the sake of it. It is layered with history, pain, and unresolved feelings that refuse to stay buried. When things start to shift between them, it feels earned and incredibly satisfying.
Luna Peters created something powerful with this story. It is emotional, intense, and completely consuming. If you love dark, angsty romances with real depth and complex characters, this one is a must read.
Theodore and Blake’s history pulls you in immediately. You can feel the pain, the resentment, and everything left unsaid between them. Their reunion is not soft or easy. It is messy and complicated and honestly so real. Theodore’s mindset had me hooked because you can see how deeply he is still affected by the past, even when he tries to mask it. His internal struggles add so much depth to his character and make every interaction with Blake feel heavier.
Blake brings this quiet strength that I loved. She does not just fold under pressure and watching her stand her ground while facing someone who once meant everything to her was powerful. Their dynamic is intense in a way that keeps you turning pages because you need to know what happens next. The tension, the emotional push and pull, and the slow unraveling of everything between them was done so well.
This book dives into heavy themes and mental health in a way that feels honest and impactful. It is not sugarcoated and that is what makes it stand out. You feel the weight of their experiences and the way it shapes their choices.
The enemies to lovers aspect here is everything I want in this trope. It is not just tension for the sake of it. It is layered with history, pain, and unresolved feelings that refuse to stay buried. When things start to shift between them, it feels earned and incredibly satisfying.
Luna Peters created something powerful with this story. It is emotional, intense, and completely consuming. If you love dark, angsty romances with real depth and complex characters, this one is a must read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 5, 2026Never Back Down by Luna Peters, Book 3 of The Forbidden Series. This is an Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden, Workplace Dark Romance following Theodore “Theo” Moore and Blake Adams. 🚩🚩This is for adult readers only (18+) as it has mature content and not suitable for underage readers. There are dark and heavy themes that can be triggering so please check out the content warning before you dive in 🚩🚩
My thoughts 💭
I said this in my book 2 review for this series last and I’ll say this again….READ THIS BOOK, READ THIS SERIES!! Theo, oh my heart broke for him. This book hit way closer to home than I expected, it’s very heavy and I absolutely recommend reading the content warning because it’s warranted. Book 3 focuses on Theo and Blake and the banter is brilliant. I giggled so much because Blake does not let him win. They both have great chemistry and after everything is out in the open, the love they have for each other, even after all the time wasted on the heartache and the hate, outlasted it all. I can’t finish this review without mentioning James, Caleb and Noah because they really showed up for Theo in this book. He’s hands down the biggest teddy bear of them all and just wants to love and be loved in return 💙 I LOVE THIS WHOLE SERIES BUT DARE I SAY THIS IS THE BEST ONE!! Read it, you won’t be disappointed.
✨I would like to thank Author Luna Peters for the opportunity to read and review Never Back Down.
My thoughts 💭
I said this in my book 2 review for this series last and I’ll say this again….READ THIS BOOK, READ THIS SERIES!! Theo, oh my heart broke for him. This book hit way closer to home than I expected, it’s very heavy and I absolutely recommend reading the content warning because it’s warranted. Book 3 focuses on Theo and Blake and the banter is brilliant. I giggled so much because Blake does not let him win. They both have great chemistry and after everything is out in the open, the love they have for each other, even after all the time wasted on the heartache and the hate, outlasted it all. I can’t finish this review without mentioning James, Caleb and Noah because they really showed up for Theo in this book. He’s hands down the biggest teddy bear of them all and just wants to love and be loved in return 💙 I LOVE THIS WHOLE SERIES BUT DARE I SAY THIS IS THE BEST ONE!! Read it, you won’t be disappointed.
✨I would like to thank Author Luna Peters for the opportunity to read and review Never Back Down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I tell you that this is my favourite book of the year, even that doesn't do my guy Theo justice!!
This is such a raw, emotional, heartbreaking, heart-warming, heart repairing, beautiful book. I laughed, cried, had anxiety, you name the emotion I felt it. This book broke me and fixed me.
This book follows Theo and Blake. 2 college ex-lovers turned enemies who are forced to work together.
We follow Theo's daily struggles with his BPD and how he navigates his life.....and how he copes with the return of Blake entering his life again.
Blake is not willing to take any crap and stands up for herself despite being nervous about a secret she is keeping.
This book also has lots of jokes, pranks and laughs throughout which had me laughing along with them. We also return to the friendship of the 4 men and shown how beautiful their friendship really is and how supportive they are no matter what happens.
Luna has absolutely outdone herself with this INCREDIBLE book. This story is one that will stay with me.
As this book has some heavier themes including, MH rep (BPD) and talks of SA, please make sure to read the trigger warnings.
This is such a raw, emotional, heartbreaking, heart-warming, heart repairing, beautiful book. I laughed, cried, had anxiety, you name the emotion I felt it. This book broke me and fixed me.
This book follows Theo and Blake. 2 college ex-lovers turned enemies who are forced to work together.
We follow Theo's daily struggles with his BPD and how he navigates his life.....and how he copes with the return of Blake entering his life again.
Blake is not willing to take any crap and stands up for herself despite being nervous about a secret she is keeping.
This book also has lots of jokes, pranks and laughs throughout which had me laughing along with them. We also return to the friendship of the 4 men and shown how beautiful their friendship really is and how supportive they are no matter what happens.
Luna has absolutely outdone herself with this INCREDIBLE book. This story is one that will stay with me.
As this book has some heavier themes including, MH rep (BPD) and talks of SA, please make sure to read the trigger warnings.
May 11, 2026
You are not alone. Ever!
I have read all the books in this series so far and I have loved them all, but this book has blown me away!
Theo is the most adorable MMC I think I have ever read and I want to wrap him up in cotton wool, take him home and hug him!
Theo has BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and I knew nothing about it until I read this book. Luna Peters disclosed at the beginning of this book that Theo's journey is based on her own mental health and you can feel the reality of it oozing from the pages.
Authors that take the time to research their subject well write amazing books. But nothing eclipses an author who writes about their own personal experiences, trauma or diagnosis, and without a doubt these are the best books to become absorbed in, because it may be fiction but it is based on someone's reality and Luna has knocked this out of the ball park!
I also loved the friendship between the 4 main guys that these books are based on Caleb, James, Theo and Noah, these absolute big, beautiful alpha men do not have any issues with telling and showing how much they love each other and I think this was my favourite thing about this book.
I have read all the books in this series so far and I have loved them all, but this book has blown me away!
Theo is the most adorable MMC I think I have ever read and I want to wrap him up in cotton wool, take him home and hug him!
Theo has BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and I knew nothing about it until I read this book. Luna Peters disclosed at the beginning of this book that Theo's journey is based on her own mental health and you can feel the reality of it oozing from the pages.
Authors that take the time to research their subject well write amazing books. But nothing eclipses an author who writes about their own personal experiences, trauma or diagnosis, and without a doubt these are the best books to become absorbed in, because it may be fiction but it is based on someone's reality and Luna has knocked this out of the ball park!
I also loved the friendship between the 4 main guys that these books are based on Caleb, James, Theo and Noah, these absolute big, beautiful alpha men do not have any issues with telling and showing how much they love each other and I think this was my favourite thing about this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dare i say this is my favorite Luna drop EVER?!?!
Before I get started I just want to say the mental health aspect of the story is fantastic. It’s empowering and inspiring. We didn’t only read what Theo was going through. We FELT it. We EXPERIENCED it along side him. We SEEN him. Not the Theo the world knows, but the real Theo. The one who is messy, unconditional, who feels unworthy of love and we traveled alongside of him through his trauma and watched him not only grow but BLOSSOM into more than just the jokester- we read and watched him become a man. A man worthy of love. Worthy of happiness. Worthy of himself. It was truly beautiful. And I thank Luna for that.
The character development was phenomenal. Their love story wasn’t pretty. It was ugly and filled with so many ups and downs but their love prevailed.
I cried more times than I laughed… and that’s saying something with how hilarious Theo is.
The ending was beautiful and I’m excited to see how everything unfolds with the next!
Before I get started I just want to say the mental health aspect of the story is fantastic. It’s empowering and inspiring. We didn’t only read what Theo was going through. We FELT it. We EXPERIENCED it along side him. We SEEN him. Not the Theo the world knows, but the real Theo. The one who is messy, unconditional, who feels unworthy of love and we traveled alongside of him through his trauma and watched him not only grow but BLOSSOM into more than just the jokester- we read and watched him become a man. A man worthy of love. Worthy of happiness. Worthy of himself. It was truly beautiful. And I thank Luna for that.
The character development was phenomenal. Their love story wasn’t pretty. It was ugly and filled with so many ups and downs but their love prevailed.
I cried more times than I laughed… and that’s saying something with how hilarious Theo is.
The ending was beautiful and I’m excited to see how everything unfolds with the next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The representation in this book was everything! I really connected with the way Theo's thoughts tended to spiral and how he was just constantly moving from one thing to the next. Blake was also a really relatable character, she takes the information she has and makes the best of her situation. The banter and office pranks that wage back and forth bring some levity to an otherwise high emotion tense standoff between our MCs. The balance between heavy topics and just enough to lighten the mood was very well executed and though there were definitely tears, there was also some giggles and super sweet moments. It does take a while to get to the spice, but what's there is a little intense and well worth the wait. Check your triggers before heading into this, your mental health matters! Overall I would recommend this to anyone who loves a high emotion, tense read sprinkled through with pranks and surprises.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an intense enemies to lovers workplace romance with a strong emotional core. The history between Theodore and Blake immediately sets the tone, and you can feel the unresolved hurt and tension from the start.
The dynamic leans heavily into emotional conflict, especially with Theodore’s mindset and the way he initially approaches their reunion. His internal struggles add depth to his character, while Blake’s presence challenges that in ways that keep the story engaging.
The workplace setting adds another layer of tension, especially with the power imbalance and close proximity. The story does not shy away from heavier themes, particularly around mental health, which gives it a darker and more introspective tone.
Overall, this is a character driven romance that focuses on healing, confrontation, and whether love can survive past pain. Best suited for readers who enjoy emotionally heavy, tension filled second chance stories.
The dynamic leans heavily into emotional conflict, especially with Theodore’s mindset and the way he initially approaches their reunion. His internal struggles add depth to his character, while Blake’s presence challenges that in ways that keep the story engaging.
The workplace setting adds another layer of tension, especially with the power imbalance and close proximity. The story does not shy away from heavier themes, particularly around mental health, which gives it a darker and more introspective tone.
Overall, this is a character driven romance that focuses on healing, confrontation, and whether love can survive past pain. Best suited for readers who enjoy emotionally heavy, tension filled second chance stories.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one had a really strong emotional hook and didn’t shy away from the darker side of love, resentment, and mental health. Theodore’s internal struggle felt raw and believable, and the tension between him and Blake carried a lot of weight—especially given their past. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic worked well here, with just enough bite to make the eventual shift feel earned rather than rushed. once they finally reconnect and begin rebuilding their relationship, the other plot elements kind of just… disappear. The workplace tension, the revenge angle, and some of the deeper conflicts that were set up early on lose their presence, which makes the second half feel less layered than the first. It’s not that the romance isn’t engaging—it is—but it starts to overshadow everything else in a way that feels a bit unbalanced. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Theo and Blake, I love their love story. Both of them had gone through some of the worst traumatic experiences in their lives. They were in love once, and after 10 years they unexpectedly find each other again, but it isn't a happy reunion. This book and series has wonderful characters and the 2 previous books main characters make several appearances in this book. The immense bond that Theo has with James, Caleb, and Noah is incredible. They each will drop everything at a moments notice if one of them needs the others. Blake, with a surprise of her own and thinking she would never see Theo again, and Theo's deep pain and anger from how they ended things 10 years prior make for an explosive start to being in each other's lives again. Can they forgive each other and move forward?? You'll have to read it to find out. I highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Theo + Blake
Never Back Down is heavy. Before you even open the book I highly suggest you read the TW because prologue is going to knock you off your feet. With that said, mental health and support systems are a huge theme in this book. Along with characters you want to root for AND arcs that will make your heart melt.
Luna, this is my favorite out of the series. Why? Because the care that it took to write Theo and then you've got Blake who is headstrong, witty, and quippy to the point of.. he has met his match.
Even though at times it felt like a lot this story was well written AND the progression felt natural. I love a good age gap, second chance with a little bit of redemption in the mix.
Theo + Blake
Never Back Down is heavy. Before you even open the book I highly suggest you read the TW because prologue is going to knock you off your feet. With that said, mental health and support systems are a huge theme in this book. Along with characters you want to root for AND arcs that will make your heart melt.
Luna, this is my favorite out of the series. Why? Because the care that it took to write Theo and then you've got Blake who is headstrong, witty, and quippy to the point of.. he has met his match.
Even though at times it felt like a lot this story was well written AND the progression felt natural. I love a good age gap, second chance with a little bit of redemption in the mix.
May 7, 2026
4⭐️
Never back down is Blake’s and Theo’s story. It’s a work place romance, second chance along with enemies to lovers vibes. And I absolutely loved it.
The banter and the hate between these two is amazing, because between that hate there is chemistry and attraction. They have a rocky past and a lot of miscommunication between them but the emotions and the feelings are still there for each other after all these years.
The story itself was well written. And luna really captured the mental health part of this book so amazing and beautifully with so much emotion. Some elements of this book is heavy and emotional but it was all wrote so well.
The whole story was absolutely incredible, a heartfelt story; emotional elements and fantastic characters.
Looking forward to the next book.
Never back down is Blake’s and Theo’s story. It’s a work place romance, second chance along with enemies to lovers vibes. And I absolutely loved it.
The banter and the hate between these two is amazing, because between that hate there is chemistry and attraction. They have a rocky past and a lot of miscommunication between them but the emotions and the feelings are still there for each other after all these years.
The story itself was well written. And luna really captured the mental health part of this book so amazing and beautifully with so much emotion. Some elements of this book is heavy and emotional but it was all wrote so well.
The whole story was absolutely incredible, a heartfelt story; emotional elements and fantastic characters.
Looking forward to the next book.
May 7, 2026
Never back down
Potential spoilers
THEO! I CANT BELIEVE he is finally out in the world! Easily my favourite book in this series. Theo was my number 1 before I even read him. The way this story unravels is just perfection. The tension. The pranks, the jokes. All just next level. Currently living rent free in my head. Blake's story is also one to shout about. Single mum fighting for her place in the world with every ounce of strength she has. And everything she does is for her son. I absolutely adore this book and it very quickly moved its way to the top of my favourites. There aren't enough stars or words to describe how I love this.
**Please check your triggers though before you read as there are some very deep topics and themes throughout.
Potential spoilers
THEO! I CANT BELIEVE he is finally out in the world! Easily my favourite book in this series. Theo was my number 1 before I even read him. The way this story unravels is just perfection. The tension. The pranks, the jokes. All just next level. Currently living rent free in my head. Blake's story is also one to shout about. Single mum fighting for her place in the world with every ounce of strength she has. And everything she does is for her son. I absolutely adore this book and it very quickly moved its way to the top of my favourites. There aren't enough stars or words to describe how I love this.
**Please check your triggers though before you read as there are some very deep topics and themes throughout.
Review of advance copy received from Author
- Enemies to Lover
- Age Gap (28/36)
- Workplace Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Borderline Personality Disorder Rep.
- Second Chance
- Pranks/Banter
This book was emotional. It had my heart from the beginning. 10 years, that's all I'm going to say cause I don't want to give anything away. But my heart broke.
Theo deserves the world for what he has to live with everyday of his life, a constant battle with his mind. He deserves so much love.
Blake was the perfect person for him in everyway. I loved her. She is such a strong person.
True Enemies to lovers.
Thank you Luna Peter's for the ARC. This book was, honestly, amazing.
- Age Gap (28/36)
- Workplace Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Borderline Personality Disorder Rep.
- Second Chance
- Pranks/Banter
This book was emotional. It had my heart from the beginning. 10 years, that's all I'm going to say cause I don't want to give anything away. But my heart broke.
Theo deserves the world for what he has to live with everyday of his life, a constant battle with his mind. He deserves so much love.
Blake was the perfect person for him in everyway. I loved her. She is such a strong person.
True Enemies to lovers.
Thank you Luna Peter's for the ARC. This book was, honestly, amazing.
May 10, 2026
Wow wow wow! Luna’s done it again! Phenomenal writing, great story telling and thank you to Luna for normalising men’s mental health and the stigma around men not being ok! Theo and Brooke have a past and when they’re thrown back into each other’s worlds they have their fists ready to fight! A slightly different side to one of the 4 male best friends, a different story and phenomenal character building! I loved EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of reading never back down! The third installment into the forbidden series and I CANNOT wait to read all about Noah’s story! Phenomenal! If you haven’t read Luna’s books yet I highly highly recommend reading them! 10/10 one of my favourite series!!
Review of advance copy
You took my emotions with this one right here Theo was really going through it he really didn't know how to channel his emotions 😔 😭 and Blake she didn't deserve what had happened to her 😔💔 they both had to overcome the thing's that had happened an order for them to develop a relationship and little Oscar be was so cute 🥰🥰 he loved Theo the moment he met them 🥹 I was happy both of them got the happy ending they deserved and that bonus chapter with Noah lol 🤣🤣 i know she's gonna give him a run for his money lol this book was a 10 outta 10 and 10
May 8, 2026
Age gap (28/36)
Single mom
Enemies to lovers
Romantic forbidden romance
Second chance
Forced proximity
Mental illness rep (bad rep)
Pranks and banter
Work place romance
Please check the TW page!
“I hate that I still love her. I hate that she broke me, but could be the only one to fix me. I hate her so much.”
Starting up heavy, I was wrecked! Getting ripped apart, later Blake starts her job comes in the face with Theo and his tension is palpable. The banter on point! To see the struggles the bases and goes through with BPD the struggle C face is in his mind. It felt so raw and real such an emotional journey. Then James Caleb and Noah show up for Theo was beautiful. Did Theo hurt in point where he wanted to take revenge on Blake my heart broke for Theo. But Theo and Blake chemistry was undeniable. My favorite part was their banter absolute perfection. I love seeing Theo blossom and with character development. I love their story so many ups and downs. Please check the TW page. Get ready to grab your ticket because I 100% recommend this series!!
Single mom
Enemies to lovers
Romantic forbidden romance
Second chance
Forced proximity
Mental illness rep (bad rep)
Pranks and banter
Work place romance
Please check the TW page!
“I hate that I still love her. I hate that she broke me, but could be the only one to fix me. I hate her so much.”
Starting up heavy, I was wrecked! Getting ripped apart, later Blake starts her job comes in the face with Theo and his tension is palpable. The banter on point! To see the struggles the bases and goes through with BPD the struggle C face is in his mind. It felt so raw and real such an emotional journey. Then James Caleb and Noah show up for Theo was beautiful. Did Theo hurt in point where he wanted to take revenge on Blake my heart broke for Theo. But Theo and Blake chemistry was undeniable. My favorite part was their banter absolute perfection. I love seeing Theo blossom and with character development. I love their story so many ups and downs. Please check the TW page. Get ready to grab your ticket because I 100% recommend this series!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Never Back Down is book three of The Forbidden Series.
Blake and Theo have a past together which both have misinterpreted the ending of their relationship to different reasons. This book does touch on some very serious topics, which help to explain how Theo and Blake became the people they are today. Even though there is a lot of resentment between the two, we still see the chemistry and underlying love that is still there. There are a lot of emotions you feel throughout this story and it shows how good of a writer Luna Peters is that you feel everything they are feeling.
Blake and Theo have a past together which both have misinterpreted the ending of their relationship to different reasons. This book does touch on some very serious topics, which help to explain how Theo and Blake became the people they are today. Even though there is a lot of resentment between the two, we still see the chemistry and underlying love that is still there. There are a lot of emotions you feel throughout this story and it shows how good of a writer Luna Peters is that you feel everything they are feeling.
May 7, 2026
This one was emotional and got me emotional as well more than once. However just like the other books on this series it grabs you, pulls you in and won’t let go. Blake is a strong FMC and I’m glad she didn’t just take how Theo was treating her when she first showed up at his job. Speaking of Theo that man had a childhood that tried to break him and forever leaves scars to his mental health. I applaud him for being honest about his struggles, his emotions when he needed to, continuing to get help when he needs it, and admitting his wrongs to Blake. I’m glad they were able to forgive and rebuild their relationship together because they are beautiful together inside and out.
May 7, 2026
Theo was a very interesting character, golden retriever vibes, until he decided to treat the female he loved with grumpy hateful words and actions, must say I really disliked him after I found out why he was treating her that way and the truth behind what happened that night.
I enjoyed seeing a lead male character deal with mental health issues.
Do check the trigger warnings.
Fast-paced, well-written read that engaged me from the start, and my love hate relationship with Theo just added another layer to my love of this book.
I enjoyed seeing a lead male character deal with mental health issues.
Do check the trigger warnings.
Fast-paced, well-written read that engaged me from the start, and my love hate relationship with Theo just added another layer to my love of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC. This is the third book in this series. This one featured Theo’s story and it’s so good. He has some issues he is dealing with and then a woman from his past shows up and he has to deal with her at work. Things aren’t always as they seem and it soon gets complicated. As with the other books in this series, this one is great. I have loved each and every one and can’t wait for the last book in this Forbidden Series!
May 9, 2026
Loving this series! This one follows Theo from the man group who suddenly finds himself working with the girl who broke his heart ten years earlier, Blake. I just wanted to give Theo a big hug and omg when him and Blake had their confession talk I may or may not have shed some tears. This book was so well done with the mental health issues surround our mmc. The spice wasn’t as high as the previous book, this was definitely more plot driven which I loved and I can’t wait to read book four!
May 11, 2026
I adore these best friends (James, Caleb, Theo, and Noah) and the forbidden relationships they find themselves in. This book was heavy on the emotion and does not shy away from showing the struggles that Theo and Blake go through.
Age gap ~ Second chance ~ Lovers to enemies to lovers ~ Workplace romance ~ Childhood trauma ~ Mental heath rep
I was waiting for a Harper conclusion and then I thought wait a minute… Can’t wait for Noah’s book!
Age gap ~ Second chance ~ Lovers to enemies to lovers ~ Workplace romance ~ Childhood trauma ~ Mental heath rep
I was waiting for a Harper conclusion and then I thought wait a minute… Can’t wait for Noah’s book!
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