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Freeing Adalyne
High school teacher Jazmin Valencia has survived heartbreak by constructing walls—unfeeling, remote, and strictly in control, she refuses to let the world close enough to wound her again. But her detachment shatters when she takes notice of a student who seems as lost and hurting as she once was. Determined to save the girl from darkness, Jazmin throws herself into her care, all the while battling a dangerous attraction that threatens to consume them both. Jazmin is forced to keep her heart barricaded, or risk utter ruin for a taste of something forbidden.
She may lose the very fortress she's built to survive... but what if losing herself is the only way to truly live?
She may lose the very fortress she's built to survive... but what if losing herself is the only way to truly live?
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2025
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17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 2, 2025
4.5 stars!
The synopsis of the book does not prepare you for what you are about to get into! Our two main characters, Adalyne and Jazmin are both living very different lives, and we get to see how their relationship develops once Jazmin starts reaching out to a hurt and abused Adalyne. There were many ups and downs, moments of frustration and moments of adoration, but they all made sense, bringing a very intriguing story to life.
Personally, in the beginning I was a bit skeptical due to the soap opera feeling it gave, but thanks to the writing style I persevered, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I also haven't picked up a dark romance in quite some time, making this read a bit harder to adjust to at times. I did find myself questioning a couple of parts within the story (how does Jazmin have so much money, she's a teacher??), but I am a big fan of how this first book ended, and how the communication between all the characters, not just the protagonists, was approached. It felt at times more realistic than I expected!
Lastly, I'd like to say that the main "problem" in the story felt like it got solved very quickly, which confused me. It threw me off because I reached the end of the 3rd quarter of the book, finding myself concerned with that more could possibly happen... Nonetheless, I found out, and I actually really appreciated the turn of events, and I can't wait to read the next novel!!
PS: Len, I have read the afterword, and I am very glad you said that we can be friends! Looking forward to your next works <3
(Thank you Saphly for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!)
The synopsis of the book does not prepare you for what you are about to get into! Our two main characters, Adalyne and Jazmin are both living very different lives, and we get to see how their relationship develops once Jazmin starts reaching out to a hurt and abused Adalyne. There were many ups and downs, moments of frustration and moments of adoration, but they all made sense, bringing a very intriguing story to life.
Personally, in the beginning I was a bit skeptical due to the soap opera feeling it gave, but thanks to the writing style I persevered, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I also haven't picked up a dark romance in quite some time, making this read a bit harder to adjust to at times. I did find myself questioning a couple of parts within the story (how does Jazmin have so much money, she's a teacher??), but I am a big fan of how this first book ended, and how the communication between all the characters, not just the protagonists, was approached. It felt at times more realistic than I expected!
Lastly, I'd like to say that the main "problem" in the story felt like it got solved very quickly, which confused me. It threw me off because I reached the end of the 3rd quarter of the book, finding myself concerned with that more could possibly happen... Nonetheless, I found out, and I actually really appreciated the turn of events, and I can't wait to read the next novel!!
PS: Len, I have read the afterword, and I am very glad you said that we can be friends! Looking forward to your next works <3
(Thank you Saphly for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!)
October 5, 2025
"You don't get to choose; love chooses for you"
"Well, love can choose to fuck off"
Something that I loved about this book was its sarcastic cynic humour. It was very enjoyable to read through it.
I don't usually read books with these kinds of themes, but thanks to the Saphly team I decided to give it a try. The plot involves some bold themes like age gap, power dynamics, religious stuff, love and heartache. All woven in a beautifully tragic way.
It was refreshing to read something new. I could see all the feels and get involved in the struggles the characters went through. Although I feel like I couldn't connect as much with the characters, that might be just me.
We see it all through Jazmin's eyes, a very complex character. A teacher torn between wanting to help her student from an impossible situation and struggling with her forbidden feelings.
Adalyne's character seems plain at first. But that's a show of everything that she's had to restrain due to her upbringing. It's very satisfying to see her come out of her shelf and start figuring out who she is.
The plot line of the lab and the android was interesting. I loved the novelty of it. It certainly wasn't something that I expected. I would like to see more of it in the next installments. Maybe the next time we see Jazmin she's working with them.
I definitely wasn't expecting the whole cult story line. Kudos to the author for daring to write about it. I especially liked that Jazmin tried to hear Adalyne and respect her beliefs. That way we got to really see what the mindset of the cult was and how it is that someone gets roped in them, feeling like they can never leave. I hope that in other installments we can see Adalyne's pov so that we can get further into it.
I didn't adore the love story line. But that's mostly because it'll grow and develop in the next installments. Right now, it's a love born out of need. Both characters start feeling like they are all alone, stuck in their own hell and feeling like they can't get out. So when they meet each other, it's only natural that they fall in love.
While very tragic and hurtful, it was the right choice for them to part. So that they can both find each other, grow, and then choose each other because they want to, not because it's their only choice.
This was overall a wonderful work and I hope to see soon more of this author.
"Well, love can choose to fuck off"
Something that I loved about this book was its sarcastic cynic humour. It was very enjoyable to read through it.
I don't usually read books with these kinds of themes, but thanks to the Saphly team I decided to give it a try. The plot involves some bold themes like age gap, power dynamics, religious stuff, love and heartache. All woven in a beautifully tragic way.
It was refreshing to read something new. I could see all the feels and get involved in the struggles the characters went through. Although I feel like I couldn't connect as much with the characters, that might be just me.
We see it all through Jazmin's eyes, a very complex character. A teacher torn between wanting to help her student from an impossible situation and struggling with her forbidden feelings.
Adalyne's character seems plain at first. But that's a show of everything that she's had to restrain due to her upbringing. It's very satisfying to see her come out of her shelf and start figuring out who she is.
The plot line of the lab and the android was interesting. I loved the novelty of it. It certainly wasn't something that I expected. I would like to see more of it in the next installments. Maybe the next time we see Jazmin she's working with them.
I definitely wasn't expecting the whole cult story line. Kudos to the author for daring to write about it. I especially liked that Jazmin tried to hear Adalyne and respect her beliefs. That way we got to really see what the mindset of the cult was and how it is that someone gets roped in them, feeling like they can never leave. I hope that in other installments we can see Adalyne's pov so that we can get further into it.
I didn't adore the love story line. But that's mostly because it'll grow and develop in the next installments. Right now, it's a love born out of need. Both characters start feeling like they are all alone, stuck in their own hell and feeling like they can't get out. So when they meet each other, it's only natural that they fall in love.
While very tragic and hurtful, it was the right choice for them to part. So that they can both find each other, grow, and then choose each other because they want to, not because it's their only choice.
This was overall a wonderful work and I hope to see soon more of this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2025
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC! I’m always grateful for the chance to read more sapphic stories early.
This one was a mixed bag for me. I flew through it in under six hours and stayed entertained the whole time, which says a lot. The mix of smut and plot progression was solid (and not always easy to find in WLW romances). I also know I’d probably pick up a sequel because I’m invested in where the characters end up.
That said, some areas felt rushed while others dragged, and the lack of character descriptions made it hard to fully picture them. A few plot choices also felt brushed over when they could have used more weight, which left things feeling a bit chaotic at times. And personally, the teacher–student trope just isn’t my thing.
Overall, a decent and engaging read, but not without its flaws.
This one was a mixed bag for me. I flew through it in under six hours and stayed entertained the whole time, which says a lot. The mix of smut and plot progression was solid (and not always easy to find in WLW romances). I also know I’d probably pick up a sequel because I’m invested in where the characters end up.
That said, some areas felt rushed while others dragged, and the lack of character descriptions made it hard to fully picture them. A few plot choices also felt brushed over when they could have used more weight, which left things feeling a bit chaotic at times. And personally, the teacher–student trope just isn’t my thing.
Overall, a decent and engaging read, but not without its flaws.
October 4, 2025
3.75/5
I want to thank Saphly for providing me a copy of Freeing Adelyne!
Freeing Adelyne is the first book of a trilogy and told in first-person, singular POV (I know this matters to some people). So, onto it!
Other than checking the tropes tags and trigger warnings, I jumped into this blind. This book defies expectations. And not that I expected to dislike the book or anything. But early on, I made several assumptions about where I believed this story was headed and where the inevitable finish would come in. And then what I thought would be the finish came about and pressed on. At first, I was a bit confused, but I realized I had the story all wrong.
This is a story about a girl in a box.
This is a story of Adelyne and you would be remiss to forget it.
I admit, I am still reeling from the last rollercoaster I feel I have been on over the past few days. There are highs and there are withdrawals. There are loves and there are aches. There is chaos and there is purity. We have two women that save and ruin one another in turn.
If you cannot tell, I really enjoyed this book. Our leads, Jazmin and Adelyne feel like real people making the best of the choices they are given and the actions they take always feel within character, which is really important to me. The prose itself was easy to read and the plot kept me thoroughly engaged throughout.
There is one scene in particular where I could only suspend disbelief so far. Without giving too many details, it involves a certain Office other readers will know. It felt like it was included just to sour the taste in your mouth and didn’t really add anything to the story.
I did find it curious that this was labeled as a “slow burn”? To me that feels a bit disingenuous. Things, to me anyway, developed fairly quickly, but maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Adelyne and Jazmin in Being Adelyne!
I want to thank Saphly for providing me a copy of Freeing Adelyne!
Freeing Adelyne is the first book of a trilogy and told in first-person, singular POV (I know this matters to some people). So, onto it!
Other than checking the tropes tags and trigger warnings, I jumped into this blind. This book defies expectations. And not that I expected to dislike the book or anything. But early on, I made several assumptions about where I believed this story was headed and where the inevitable finish would come in. And then what I thought would be the finish came about and pressed on. At first, I was a bit confused, but I realized I had the story all wrong.
This is a story about a girl in a box.
This is a story of Adelyne and you would be remiss to forget it.
I admit, I am still reeling from the last rollercoaster I feel I have been on over the past few days. There are highs and there are withdrawals. There are loves and there are aches. There is chaos and there is purity. We have two women that save and ruin one another in turn.
If you cannot tell, I really enjoyed this book. Our leads, Jazmin and Adelyne feel like real people making the best of the choices they are given and the actions they take always feel within character, which is really important to me. The prose itself was easy to read and the plot kept me thoroughly engaged throughout.
There is one scene in particular where I could only suspend disbelief so far. Without giving too many details, it involves a certain Office other readers will know. It felt like it was included just to sour the taste in your mouth and didn’t really add anything to the story.
I did find it curious that this was labeled as a “slow burn”? To me that feels a bit disingenuous. Things, to me anyway, developed fairly quickly, but maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Adelyne and Jazmin in Being Adelyne!
October 2, 2025
I am thankful to author/publisher for sending me this ARC. I am truly grateful. On to the review I guess 😏
I truly loved the premise of this book. The protagonist Jas (Is it pronounced Yasmin or Jasmine?) had her heart broken and has decided to say no thank you to love and yes please to one night stands. Then we meet cute little Adalyne who’s is struggling with some real issues ( I don’t peddle spoilers ladies). And Jas falls for her.
Let me tell you this… You give me forbidden love I will forever be biased to love it so definitely no objection on this end. I read this in like 3 ish hours and I liked it for sure. The issue however stemmed from the pacing of the book, some parts dragged on and on but the most important parts? The parts which I felt were really important to delve into was just like a narration kinda telling (You know tell and not showing). We never get to experience how Jasmine got affected by the cheating of this partner she was slowly losing her identity with, we are told about it. Like you know that story you hear about a friend of a friend getting divorced and then you move on the second the story ends? That’s how it felt like. We weren’t there with her we didn’t go through the aftermath with her and those instances tend to happen not just with Jas but with other characters too…
This, to me makes the characters one dimensional and not really human enough to let them stay with me throughout the book. Either way this was a good attempt at a genre that makes my knees buckle and I start drooling 😂 For that, deep thanks to the author for making that happen
I truly loved the premise of this book. The protagonist Jas (Is it pronounced Yasmin or Jasmine?) had her heart broken and has decided to say no thank you to love and yes please to one night stands. Then we meet cute little Adalyne who’s is struggling with some real issues ( I don’t peddle spoilers ladies). And Jas falls for her.
Let me tell you this… You give me forbidden love I will forever be biased to love it so definitely no objection on this end. I read this in like 3 ish hours and I liked it for sure. The issue however stemmed from the pacing of the book, some parts dragged on and on but the most important parts? The parts which I felt were really important to delve into was just like a narration kinda telling (You know tell and not showing). We never get to experience how Jasmine got affected by the cheating of this partner she was slowly losing her identity with, we are told about it. Like you know that story you hear about a friend of a friend getting divorced and then you move on the second the story ends? That’s how it felt like. We weren’t there with her we didn’t go through the aftermath with her and those instances tend to happen not just with Jas but with other characters too…
This, to me makes the characters one dimensional and not really human enough to let them stay with me throughout the book. Either way this was a good attempt at a genre that makes my knees buckle and I start drooling 😂 For that, deep thanks to the author for making that happen
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2025
I really was excited for the concept of this book: a brutal cult, a love story and an age gap. I loved the beginning of this book. The way it feels and flows the writing really is beautiful. It deals with some heavy topics and I believe it is done respectfully. I was 100% on board with this book and was ready to rate it really high until about half way through when things felt rushed and the main issue of the story got solved really fast. Some parts dragged but I really enjoyed the intimacy this created. I did really enjoy the character development throughout the book. The ending was also beautifully written. The start and the ending of the book felt really fleshed out but the middle felt rushed.
I am really excited for more of this story to see what happens to our female main characters!!
Thank you to the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book.
I am really excited for more of this story to see what happens to our female main characters!!
Thank you to the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book.
October 1, 2025
I loved the premise of the book. Teacher helps student escape brutal cult while falling in love. I feel like the main character is way too harsh on herself sometimes. I was 100% on board until about 2/3 of the way through. After that point everything feels rushed, character development, plot, etc. I think the author had some great ideas but somethings, like the random sentient android with government contacts, needed to be fleshed out way more.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher to review.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher to review.
October 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this story! While I wish Adalyne and Jazmin had been described a bit more so I could picture them clearly, the book was still entertaining and engaging. Some plot points felt like they might have been bigger deals in real life, but in the story, they ended up not mattering much—which left me a little curious about the author’s choices.
Even so, I’m excited to keep reading sapphic ARCs. Representation matters, and it’s always a treat to see these stories being told. Not my absolute favorite, but definitely a fun and worthwhile read!
Even so, I’m excited to keep reading sapphic ARCs. Representation matters, and it’s always a treat to see these stories being told. Not my absolute favorite, but definitely a fun and worthwhile read!
October 13, 2025
Freeing Adalyne by Len Beeson is a dark wlw romance with emotional depth and steamy scenes that shine—especially in the second half. While the sex scenes were engaging and the story picked up momentum later on, the first half felt clunky. The cult depiction was heavy-handed, and the writing leaned too much on telling rather than showing. Adalyne’s perspective was sorely missed, which could’ve added richness to the narrative. Overall, a decent read with moments that pulled me in and others I skimmed past.
September 27, 2025
Boy howdy what a roller coaster of emotions!! Just wow!! Please tell me there will be a book 2.
November 5, 2025
This book is a page turner!! The whole series is good. Highly recommend!!
November 28, 2025
why would you end it like that. i don’t want to read the next one but you’ve ended it like that.
October 20, 2025
Didn't know what to expect but I loved it. The end was a twist I didn't expect but it came back full circle to freeing her.
Appreciated the different povs and beliefs, especially in the name of love. A good read, I promise!
Appreciated the different povs and beliefs, especially in the name of love. A good read, I promise!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews