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A Star-Cursed Heart
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Two women are cursed to be mortal enemies, despite their love for each other, in this queer, fantastical novel by Annie Mare.
In the lead-up to the Salem witch trials, a desperate man made a deal with the devil—a deal that would drag two families down with him. Now, over 400 years later, the Steadfasts and the Prynnes remain caught in a curse that sentences both families to an existence of rigid rules, torturous consequences, and half-lives.
Lucy Prynne and Ashes Steadfast are the latest to take on the mantle of this centuries-old deal: Lucy, born to try to reap the souls of the hopeful; and Ashes, born to stop Lucy, no matter the cost. But before they inherited their respective curses, it sure felt like Ash’s purpose was Lucy. Her best friend, her closest confidant, her true love.
Ash knows the rules. She keeps her head down, her emotions in check, and she fights Lucy, no matter the personal cost. They are doomed to an incessant battle between good and bad, self-righteous and carnal.
Or so Ash thinks. But when she resists her instincts to fight Lucy and finally starts to fight the curse instead, she realizes there might just be a way to end this once and for all. If not in this timeline, then the next. As generational secrets begin to unravel, Ashes and Lucy join forces against the true threat that has haunted their families for centuries, even if it costs them their lives—and their love.
In the lead-up to the Salem witch trials, a desperate man made a deal with the devil—a deal that would drag two families down with him. Now, over 400 years later, the Steadfasts and the Prynnes remain caught in a curse that sentences both families to an existence of rigid rules, torturous consequences, and half-lives.
Lucy Prynne and Ashes Steadfast are the latest to take on the mantle of this centuries-old deal: Lucy, born to try to reap the souls of the hopeful; and Ashes, born to stop Lucy, no matter the cost. But before they inherited their respective curses, it sure felt like Ash’s purpose was Lucy. Her best friend, her closest confidant, her true love.
Ash knows the rules. She keeps her head down, her emotions in check, and she fights Lucy, no matter the personal cost. They are doomed to an incessant battle between good and bad, self-righteous and carnal.
Or so Ash thinks. But when she resists her instincts to fight Lucy and finally starts to fight the curse instead, she realizes there might just be a way to end this once and for all. If not in this timeline, then the next. As generational secrets begin to unravel, Ashes and Lucy join forces against the true threat that has haunted their families for centuries, even if it costs them their lives—and their love.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 19, 2026
11 people are currently reading
7318 people want to read
About the author
Annie Mare
8 books104 followersAnnie Mare (she/they) writes queer contemporary mystery and romance. If you enjoy their books, check out the novels they co-author with Ruthie Knox, including both queer romances (as Mae Marvel) and mysteries (as Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare). Annie's romances have been critically recognized and bestselling. Annie lives with her wife, two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 6, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’m struggling with my review for this book.
2.75 ⭐️ rounded to 3 ⭐️
The premise for this book sounded really good and immediately captured my interest and when it is excited to read it, but that was short-lived unfortunately.
It took about 45% of the way through the book for things to start making a little bit of sense and for things to flow-which IMO is far too long into the novel for that.
The story is just extremely convoluted and overly complex bc of how disjointed it is. It doesn’t flow well and I can see quite a few readers becoming confused or, unfortunately, giving up on this story because of it.
I liked the FMCs and was rooting for them the entire story. The author definitely has some original ideas, I just don’t think it was executed well, is all.
I’m struggling with my review for this book.
2.75 ⭐️ rounded to 3 ⭐️
The premise for this book sounded really good and immediately captured my interest and when it is excited to read it, but that was short-lived unfortunately.
It took about 45% of the way through the book for things to start making a little bit of sense and for things to flow-which IMO is far too long into the novel for that.
The story is just extremely convoluted and overly complex bc of how disjointed it is. It doesn’t flow well and I can see quite a few readers becoming confused or, unfortunately, giving up on this story because of it.
I liked the FMCs and was rooting for them the entire story. The author definitely has some original ideas, I just don’t think it was executed well, is all.
Did Not Finish
May 5, 2026Huge thank you to Ace/Berkley Pub for the arc!
I wish I could say that I loved this, but unfortunately A Star-Cursed Heart just wasn't for me. The premise of ASCH sounded right up my alley, but I struggled to follow and make sense of the plot and ultimately DNF.
I wish I could say that I loved this, but unfortunately A Star-Cursed Heart just wasn't for me. The premise of ASCH sounded right up my alley, but I struggled to follow and make sense of the plot and ultimately DNF.
April 27, 2026
Unfortunately, just didnt work for me. The premise sounded so interesting and up my alley, but it took way too long for the plot to make sense and that will pull too many readers out of the book, especially YA reader.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a NetGalley eARC of this book.
A Star-Cursed Heart is the story of Ashes (Ash) Steadfast and Lucy Prynne, two young women who are living a present-day iteration of good vs. evil passed down through their ancestors. Although they shared a love affair in their youths, they are now fated to fight to the death every time they meet. Questions abound as to how the curse functions, as both of them have missing memories and their fathers, who fought for their generation, refuse to give them answers. When Ash and Lucy decide to team up to stop the curse, they get a second chance at their relationship and their lives.
This story was a cool modern take on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each chapter started with an excerpt from The Scarlet Letter, which helped remind me of the language and plot of the original story (it's been years since I've read it). Ash is a compelling main character, as she had a colorful personality and big dreams before the curse inserted itself into her life and longs to return to a normal life. Her ideas about how the curse works are flipped upside down as she learns more about Lucy, her father, and her ancestors, and is a good reminder that circumstances that seem immovable may look completely different from another perspective. It was also interesting to review the story of Hester Prynne from a more modern/feminist viewpoint and how unconventional lifestyles were viewed then vs. now.
My only issue with the story was how many questions remained regarding the curse even after Ash and Lucy seemingly got the answers they were looking for. The girls' fathers are revealed to have powers which they used throughout their lives, which neither girl had ever noticed. They learned the history of their grandparents, but the bulk of the curse is still shrouded in mystery (Did anyone else ever seriously try to end the curse? Why did their fathers attempt to hide so much from them, when a few answers would have saved so much confusion? Why didn't Lucy ever try to speak with Ash about their different perspectives during their umpteen fights?) In the final showdown, both girls go with one ancestor to try to end the curse while their fathers/friends go to the other ancestor, and the reader is only given the perspective of the ancestor that is with the girls. I wish that we would have seen what the conversation was like with the other ancestor, because they are the one that ultimately ends the curse: how were they ultimately able to convince the ancestor to change their mind?
Overall, I enjoyed this story and was happy with the pacing and resolution. If you enjoyed The Scarlet Letter and are interested in a modern take of it, you'll definitely like this one!
A Star-Cursed Heart is the story of Ashes (Ash) Steadfast and Lucy Prynne, two young women who are living a present-day iteration of good vs. evil passed down through their ancestors. Although they shared a love affair in their youths, they are now fated to fight to the death every time they meet. Questions abound as to how the curse functions, as both of them have missing memories and their fathers, who fought for their generation, refuse to give them answers. When Ash and Lucy decide to team up to stop the curse, they get a second chance at their relationship and their lives.
This story was a cool modern take on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each chapter started with an excerpt from The Scarlet Letter, which helped remind me of the language and plot of the original story (it's been years since I've read it). Ash is a compelling main character, as she had a colorful personality and big dreams before the curse inserted itself into her life and longs to return to a normal life. Her ideas about how the curse works are flipped upside down as she learns more about Lucy, her father, and her ancestors, and is a good reminder that circumstances that seem immovable may look completely different from another perspective. It was also interesting to review the story of Hester Prynne from a more modern/feminist viewpoint and how unconventional lifestyles were viewed then vs. now.
My only issue with the story was how many questions remained regarding the curse even after Ash and Lucy seemingly got the answers they were looking for. The girls' fathers are revealed to have powers which they used throughout their lives, which neither girl had ever noticed. They learned the history of their grandparents, but the bulk of the curse is still shrouded in mystery (Did anyone else ever seriously try to end the curse? Why did their fathers attempt to hide so much from them, when a few answers would have saved so much confusion? Why didn't Lucy ever try to speak with Ash about their different perspectives during their umpteen fights?) In the final showdown, both girls go with one ancestor to try to end the curse while their fathers/friends go to the other ancestor, and the reader is only given the perspective of the ancestor that is with the girls. I wish that we would have seen what the conversation was like with the other ancestor, because they are the one that ultimately ends the curse: how were they ultimately able to convince the ancestor to change their mind?
Overall, I enjoyed this story and was happy with the pacing and resolution. If you enjoyed The Scarlet Letter and are interested in a modern take of it, you'll definitely like this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really debated with what to write in this review. I read other reviews before I began reading the book, and during the first few chapters, I'd assumed I would be writing this and telling people not to listen to the negative reviews but alas. I didn't hate A Star-Cursed Heart, but I also don't think it lived up to its potential.
The idea is good. I mean, who doesn’t want to read a book about cursed ex-girlfriends? And I really liked both Ash and Lucy as characters. I also always love enemies to lovers stories (or in this case, lovers to enemies to lovers). My problem with the book is the execution.
The story just doesn't flow well. Some things are too repetitive while others aren't explained well at all and things are far too convoluted most of the time. I have no idea how they reach some of the conclusions that they do based on the information they have. They'll have some revelation, but like where did it come from? And this wasn't a problem with me not paying attention or anything like that; the writing just didn't do a good job of explaining a lot of things. Even the end was a bit disappointing to me. I thought it was rushed and very anticlimactic. It almost felt like I had accidentally skipped multiple pages and it left me going, “That’s it?”
I also wasn't a huge fan of the side characters. It's said that Hector is a good friend to Ash and Lucy, but I did not get that from their interactions. I also didn't really get Cal; mostly because I didn’t feel like they were integrated into the story very well. The only side character I truly liked was Helegar, who was a very good boy.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Like I said, I didn't hate it and there was definitely some good there, but there was also quite a bit that sadly didn't work for me. If I could, I would give this 2.5 stars, but since I can’t, I’ve rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The idea is good. I mean, who doesn’t want to read a book about cursed ex-girlfriends? And I really liked both Ash and Lucy as characters. I also always love enemies to lovers stories (or in this case, lovers to enemies to lovers). My problem with the book is the execution.
The story just doesn't flow well. Some things are too repetitive while others aren't explained well at all and things are far too convoluted most of the time. I have no idea how they reach some of the conclusions that they do based on the information they have. They'll have some revelation, but like where did it come from? And this wasn't a problem with me not paying attention or anything like that; the writing just didn't do a good job of explaining a lot of things. Even the end was a bit disappointing to me. I thought it was rushed and very anticlimactic. It almost felt like I had accidentally skipped multiple pages and it left me going, “That’s it?”
I also wasn't a huge fan of the side characters. It's said that Hector is a good friend to Ash and Lucy, but I did not get that from their interactions. I also didn't really get Cal; mostly because I didn’t feel like they were integrated into the story very well. The only side character I truly liked was Helegar, who was a very good boy.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Like I said, I didn't hate it and there was definitely some good there, but there was also quite a bit that sadly didn't work for me. If I could, I would give this 2.5 stars, but since I can’t, I’ve rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for this gifted ARC!
This was such a unique story, I don't think I've ever read a book that was inspired by The Scarlet Letter and it was so interesting. I loved the queer romance representation too, their love story was honestly probably my favorite part of the entire book.
Lucy and Ashes are both from cursed bloodlines stemming from the puritan era. One is cursed to "take souls" and the other is cursed to essentially stop her. So they are constantly at a battle with one another, which is incredibly complicated because they love each other intensely. Their struggle with trying to end the curse and find their way to being able to truly be with one another (without trying to kill the other) is a really good journey. Their friends are really interesting as well, I loved the side characters and what they add to the magic and overall plot line. There is also an animal that I think everyone will just love.
I will say that the plot line did seem a bit complicated at times. I wrote down in my reading journal around 45% that I was still a bit confused by the background and what happened in the past that created the current struggles. It bounces a bit between timelines, and there were moments where I would get Lucy and Ashes and their pasts confused as well. This is definitely a story that I think you need to really pay attention to in order to grasp the whole thing. The ending did feel a bit rushed too, it made me wonder if the author got a word count constraint and had to cut some things. But the ending was overall satisfying, so I don't think it was detrimental to the story.
If you love queer romance, a book inspired by a classic, and a really unique plot, I think you'll enjoy this for sure! This releases May 19th!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.*
This was such a unique story, I don't think I've ever read a book that was inspired by The Scarlet Letter and it was so interesting. I loved the queer romance representation too, their love story was honestly probably my favorite part of the entire book.
Lucy and Ashes are both from cursed bloodlines stemming from the puritan era. One is cursed to "take souls" and the other is cursed to essentially stop her. So they are constantly at a battle with one another, which is incredibly complicated because they love each other intensely. Their struggle with trying to end the curse and find their way to being able to truly be with one another (without trying to kill the other) is a really good journey. Their friends are really interesting as well, I loved the side characters and what they add to the magic and overall plot line. There is also an animal that I think everyone will just love.
I will say that the plot line did seem a bit complicated at times. I wrote down in my reading journal around 45% that I was still a bit confused by the background and what happened in the past that created the current struggles. It bounces a bit between timelines, and there were moments where I would get Lucy and Ashes and their pasts confused as well. This is definitely a story that I think you need to really pay attention to in order to grasp the whole thing. The ending did feel a bit rushed too, it made me wonder if the author got a word count constraint and had to cut some things. But the ending was overall satisfying, so I don't think it was detrimental to the story.
If you love queer romance, a book inspired by a classic, and a really unique plot, I think you'll enjoy this for sure! This releases May 19th!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.*
April 11, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book has an interesting concept. Two families pass down a curse from generation to generation in which one is supposed to trap souls for the devil and the other is meant to save the souls. The problem is that in the current generation Ashes and Lucy are not only best friends, but also in love with each other. Also, this curse originates from their ancestors Faithful Steadfast and Hester Prynne. Yes, the characters from The Scarlet Letter. The only book in high school I had to use Cliff’s Notes for.
This book definitely has plot issues. It took awhile to figure out what was actually happening in the book. In fact, the characters themselves don’t seem to know what is happening half the time. Their memories, as we come to find out, are not reliable. Plus they seem to have powers dealing with time and being able to see Hester at times. Not to mention a skeleton dog who originally belonged to Hester.
I’m pretty sure this book is supposed to be about the power of women. Hester would not let the scarlet A define her or her daughter and wore it with pride. Lucy and Ashes had dreams and had hoped to overcome the curse with their love. There’s a lot of comparisons to Hester’s situation and how the queer community is perceived. And I’m still not sure what the hell happened at the end for the curse to break (something about going back in time and getting Faithful to feel sorry for Hester instead of cursing them).
All in all, 3.5 stars rounded up. Interesting concept, poor execution.
This book has an interesting concept. Two families pass down a curse from generation to generation in which one is supposed to trap souls for the devil and the other is meant to save the souls. The problem is that in the current generation Ashes and Lucy are not only best friends, but also in love with each other. Also, this curse originates from their ancestors Faithful Steadfast and Hester Prynne. Yes, the characters from The Scarlet Letter. The only book in high school I had to use Cliff’s Notes for.
This book definitely has plot issues. It took awhile to figure out what was actually happening in the book. In fact, the characters themselves don’t seem to know what is happening half the time. Their memories, as we come to find out, are not reliable. Plus they seem to have powers dealing with time and being able to see Hester at times. Not to mention a skeleton dog who originally belonged to Hester.
I’m pretty sure this book is supposed to be about the power of women. Hester would not let the scarlet A define her or her daughter and wore it with pride. Lucy and Ashes had dreams and had hoped to overcome the curse with their love. There’s a lot of comparisons to Hester’s situation and how the queer community is perceived. And I’m still not sure what the hell happened at the end for the curse to break (something about going back in time and getting Faithful to feel sorry for Hester instead of cursing them).
All in all, 3.5 stars rounded up. Interesting concept, poor execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Star-Cursed Heart is one of the most unique stories I have read in a long time. A queer romance inspired by The Scarlet Letter, rooted in the Salem witch trials, and built around a centuries-old curse that forces two women who love each other to be enemies.
Ashes and Lucy are most compelling as a couple. The push and pull of two people who love each other deeply while being cursed to fight is genuinely heartbreaking, and watching them choose to fight the curse instead of each other was the emotional payoff I was rooting for. The manipulation woven through their family histories and the generational weight of what was done to them added real emotional depth to their journey.
The plot does get complicated at times—the shifting timelines and layered backstory require real attention—but it all comes together in the end in a way that felt satisfying. The ending wraps up a little quickly, but the love story at the center of it never loses its impact.
If you love queer romance, a story inspired by a classic, and a truly original premise, this one is worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Ashes and Lucy are most compelling as a couple. The push and pull of two people who love each other deeply while being cursed to fight is genuinely heartbreaking, and watching them choose to fight the curse instead of each other was the emotional payoff I was rooting for. The manipulation woven through their family histories and the generational weight of what was done to them added real emotional depth to their journey.
The plot does get complicated at times—the shifting timelines and layered backstory require real attention—but it all comes together in the end in a way that felt satisfying. The ending wraps up a little quickly, but the love story at the center of it never loses its impact.
If you love queer romance, a story inspired by a classic, and a truly original premise, this one is worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks so much to @acebookspub for the free book!
The interwovenness of the Scarlet Letter was DEEP! It was so moving to have this woven throughout when the themes completly resonate with the themes of A Star-Cursed Heart.
The tension between the two characters was so heartbreaking, especially with the premise that they really tried hard not to fall into what was “destined” for them.
The fantasy was so unique and really magical to experience. It was hard at times to understand what was happening, though I couldn’t tell if that was the magic system itself or if it was the way it was written. I still think overall it was an enjoyable journey between two women struggling with the systems in place, and how we accept what we think is the expected way too readily.
Also, the idea that some of the things are different than the way we automatically assume them to be, just made the story even more meaningful. It was beautiful watching them fight for each other and for a better system.
The interwovenness of the Scarlet Letter was DEEP! It was so moving to have this woven throughout when the themes completly resonate with the themes of A Star-Cursed Heart.
The tension between the two characters was so heartbreaking, especially with the premise that they really tried hard not to fall into what was “destined” for them.
The fantasy was so unique and really magical to experience. It was hard at times to understand what was happening, though I couldn’t tell if that was the magic system itself or if it was the way it was written. I still think overall it was an enjoyable journey between two women struggling with the systems in place, and how we accept what we think is the expected way too readily.
Also, the idea that some of the things are different than the way we automatically assume them to be, just made the story even more meaningful. It was beautiful watching them fight for each other and for a better system.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A beautiful, heart-wrenching story of fighting for a love forbidden by fate.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was completely swept away by the story of Ashes Steadfast and Lucy Prynne. There is something so incredibly moving about two people who were once best friends being forced by a 400-year-old family curse to be mortal enemies.
Watching Ashes struggle to keep her emotions in check while being destined to stop Lucy—even though her heart still belongs to her—was truly heart-wrenching. I loved the moment they finally decided to stop fighting each other and start fighting the curse instead. It’s a powerful, queer story about generational secrets and choosing your own path, even when the 'rules' say you can't. Annie Mare has written a special book that made me root for Lucy and Ash until the very end.
A big thank you to Berkley Publishing/Ace for providing this ARC! It was a beautiful journey to go on, and I'm grateful for the chance to read it.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was completely swept away by the story of Ashes Steadfast and Lucy Prynne. There is something so incredibly moving about two people who were once best friends being forced by a 400-year-old family curse to be mortal enemies.
Watching Ashes struggle to keep her emotions in check while being destined to stop Lucy—even though her heart still belongs to her—was truly heart-wrenching. I loved the moment they finally decided to stop fighting each other and start fighting the curse instead. It’s a powerful, queer story about generational secrets and choosing your own path, even when the 'rules' say you can't. Annie Mare has written a special book that made me root for Lucy and Ash until the very end.
A big thank you to Berkley Publishing/Ace for providing this ARC! It was a beautiful journey to go on, and I'm grateful for the chance to read it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rating: 3 stars
I felt like I was hanging onto the plot of the book by a thread the entire time. I don't think I was ever fully able to weave it all together, which left me feeling disoriented.
But there was also a lot of heart to be found. There's an explicit celebration of queerness and I was always always rooting for Ashes and Lucy even if I didn't understand the shape of what was keeping them apart.
This was definitely an ambitious paranormal romance and I can tell it was crafted with care, but ultimately it left me a bit confused and unsatisfied.
Thank you to Ace for providing me with a copy of the book!
I felt like I was hanging onto the plot of the book by a thread the entire time. I don't think I was ever fully able to weave it all together, which left me feeling disoriented.
But there was also a lot of heart to be found. There's an explicit celebration of queerness and I was always always rooting for Ashes and Lucy even if I didn't understand the shape of what was keeping them apart.
This was definitely an ambitious paranormal romance and I can tell it was crafted with care, but ultimately it left me a bit confused and unsatisfied.
Thank you to Ace for providing me with a copy of the book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved the diversity and representation and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Lots of angst and a little dreary but ultimately satisfying. The story dragged a little in places but in this case, it serves a purpose of showing the reader the FMC's mental state and allowing her to move through it and grow as a character.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the EARC.
(Is it a spoiler to say that...
The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic but thankfully it had an HEA.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the EARC.
(Is it a spoiler to say that...
The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic but thankfully it had an HEA.)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A magical timeline-hopping sapphic second chance romance that is complicated by a generational curse that makes them sworn enemies? Inspired by The Scarlet Letter? Sign me up! Yes, this book has it all and more.
I’m a big fan of Annie Mares writing. This one was filled with beautiful prose, an incredibly unique plot, and an amazing cast of diverse characters. I think by the very nature of the story, it’s meant to be a little hard to follow at times because the characters are confused too. It’s all part of the journey :)
I’m a big fan of Annie Mares writing. This one was filled with beautiful prose, an incredibly unique plot, and an amazing cast of diverse characters. I think by the very nature of the story, it’s meant to be a little hard to follow at times because the characters are confused too. It’s all part of the journey :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a book for fans of historical paranormal fantasies. Two families are cursed - the Pyrnnes and the Steadfasts - that stared around the Salem Witch trials. A man makes a deal with the devil that takes these families with him. It’s 400 years later and these families’s descendants: Lucy Prynne and Ash Steadfast battle each other - but they are star crossed lovers. They soon realize they must defeat the curse into to end the feud. I liked some part of the story - certainly fighting a curse is interesting - but overall the story didn’t resonate with me. The writing was fine but sometimes when reading YA books I find plot and character can be underdeveloped. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
So when I read the synopsis originally to request this book I did not catch that its a play on The Scarlet Letter…
I was pleasantly surprised.
This is such a wild book (complementary).
The romance is tension-filled and definitely hits that lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers. If you require a 🔪 to the throat to call them enemies you’re in luck!
This is a book that gets a little ahead of itself at times, but if you’re down for a wild ride, epic tension, and an all around good time it is absolutely worth a read.
This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last!
4⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I was pleasantly surprised.
This is such a wild book (complementary).
The romance is tension-filled and definitely hits that lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers. If you require a 🔪 to the throat to call them enemies you’re in luck!
This is a book that gets a little ahead of itself at times, but if you’re down for a wild ride, epic tension, and an all around good time it is absolutely worth a read.
This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last!
4⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I so wanted to love this, and while there were a lot of parts of it that worked, overall it was too long and drawn out for me. Which is so sad because I love a long book! This one just needed to be about 100 pages shorter tbh.
This is also why it took me so long to finish it lol.
This is also why it took me so long to finish it lol.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
not sold on my rating yet but this just did not work for me no matter how much i wanted it to. overall confusing and disjointed :/ full rtc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Very cool premise, but the more complicated the plot got, the more I checked out! Just not my kind of story!
March 22, 2026
Honestly, props to the author for having her generational magic fight novel be set in Green Bay, WI, and be based on the Scarlet Letter. And lesbians. Really, this shouldn't have come together as well as it did, but it fucking did! Daughters from rival families fighting against each other and trying to figure out if there's a way to be together like they want to be, plus the past coming back to bite them in the ass. This was a fun read.
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