Rival Hearts: The Sovereign Four

by Leila Matthews

I never wanted to stand out.

But at Albright University, a world ruled by wealth and power, being different is dangerous. I only wanted to keep my head down and survive. Instead, I caught the attention of the Sovereign Four—campus royalty with enough influence to make or break anyone.

Alexander Ravenscroft is their leader. Cold, brilliant, and untouchable. He thrives on control, and when I dared to defy him, I became his new obsession.

He says I don’t belong in his world. Maybe he’s right.

But the harder he pushes, the harder I push back—and the line between hate and something far more dangerous starts to blur. Every glance is a warning. Every touch feels like a threat I can’t resist.

The harder I fight him, the more he unravels—and the more I risk losing myself to the enemy I swore to hate. He was supposed to ruin me. Instead, he made me his favorite sin.

Welcome to Albright University—where the wealthy rule, the weak disappear, and love is the most dangerous game of all.

491 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2025

Reviews

[Deidra Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rival Hearts is a story of the rich vs the poor, survival, rivalry and, throughout, the acceptance of falling in love with someone you didn't expect. The MMC is Alexander (Axel) Ravenscroft. A cold, controlling, and rich student at Albright University. The MFC is Charlotte Johnson who loves art and painting and wants to help her parents out, financially, by getting a scholarship to a University. Charlotte's best friend, Lily, talks her into applying to Albright University, a very prestigious university that only takes the best. They both get accepted, and so starts their saga at Albright. At the university, she meets three other "scholarship" girls, Madeline, Hope and Eleanor. They soon band together to help one another. Charlotte and the others soon run into Julia and her two friends, Brittany and Penelope, all very rich and very rude, bullies. Julia torments the five constantly, but focuses on Charlotte the most. Alexander sees Charlotte and is intrigued by her tenacity. He likes how she doesn't back down to Julia and her friends. He also becomes intrigued with her when she doesn't fall prey to any of the bullying that he and his three friends, Elijah, Caleb and Noah dish out. But they are The Sovereign Four. Everyone is supposed to bow to them and know their place.
Throughout the story, there are constant battles that Charlotte and Alexander have to face. Will the two let their differences overshadow what could be? Or will they stand up against everyone that opposes them?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐/🌶️🌶️
.
First of all I want to thank the writer for this ARC. I really enjoyed reading it.

This book is definitely an enemies to lovers trope with heat and lots of tension. It delivers even though it doesn't always suprise. 

This book is written in a way that makes this an easy read. One of the strengths of this book is the emotional tension between Axel and Charlotte. They have a lot of frustration countered with the attraction between them. They have fun banter and the chemistry is of the charts. 

That said, the story can feel a bit predictable at times and repetitive. The side characters are really side characters, because we don't get to know them that well. There is little character development. I'm missing depth. The plot is resolved a little to nearly for my taste and the encounters between the characters feel as repetitive as Julia is in the books. 

But overall this was a satisfying pleasant read. Not ground breaking, but entertaining enough. If you like books that have character driven tension, classic romantic tropes with a competitive twist. This is the book for you!
.
"You were supposed to be my enemy. Instead you became my everything." 

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 in The Sovereign Four series is Rival Hearts. This is Alexander and Charlotte's story. The Sovereign Four is campus royalty at Albright University. Their leader is Alexander Ravencroft and he's not exactly the nicest person. Charlotte and her friend Lily got a scholarship to the University. They knew going in that they would be with a very different element of people. Charlotte just didn't realize how much her life would change while at Albright University.

"He was supposed to ruin me. Instead, he made me his favorite sin."

Rival Hearts is a fantastic story with incredible characters that'll completely consume very quickly. I can't wait for more! And of course I have favorite quotes!

“I choose you here, I choose you when it’s quiet and when it’s loud and when it’s inconvenient. I choose you when the board glares and when the donors sniff and when my mother says she’s disappointed, I choose you even if this turns into work, because it will. I choose you because you make it worth it.”

“You were supposed to be my enemy, Instead, you became my everything.”

[Isa Soto · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sé ni por dónde empezar con este libro. Me ha tenido completamente enganchada de principio a fin — con giros, tensión, secretos y una relación de esas que son tan intensas que no sabes si quieres abrazarlos o gritarles 😅.

Charlotte entra en Albright University pensando que será una nueva etapa en su vida, pero pronto se ve envuelta en un mundo lleno de poder, apariencias y mentiras. Entre los Sovereign Four, Alexander se convierte en su mayor tormenta y refugio al mismo tiempo. Su relación es un vaivén constante entre lo prohibido, lo tóxico y lo inevitable.

Lo que más me ha gustado es cómo mezcla el romance con el misterio del arte, las falsificaciones y el peso de las familias poderosas. Hay traiciones, manipulación y momentos de verdadera tensión, pero también crecimiento y esa sensación de que el amor puede ser caótico y, aun así, necesario.

Si te gustan los dark academia con secretos, tensión y relaciones intensas, este libro te va a atrapar tanto como a mí 🤎

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The push and pull between the main characters and the emotional development had me yelling at my book at times. I was so sucked into the "haves vs have nots" of the school and the mean girls. You really got to hate them fast. The banter between the characters and the biting comments between rivals was fun to read, though sometimes a little repetive. The development of the characters was great and you could really feel how they wanted to stay where they were supposed to, but they kept getting thrown together. Every time you thought things couldn't get worse, they do. But the friendships in the books stay strong, even if the loyalties don't, and it makes for a wild ride.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MCrawDRKRead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off fine, however quickly took a turn for me. Was supposed to be college, however felt VERY high school. The bullying was really annoying. It happened like every fucking chapter- the walking, the courtyard, the stares, the meet up to talk the same exact shit and empty threats by the fountain. REPETITION ugh 😑 painful for real painful. Like at least someone could have been thrown in the fountain 😆 The scenes were legit copy and paste every chapter. By the end I was skimming and I can’t believe I finished the book.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 of The Sovereign Four series. It is a great read. The world building was outstanding and the plot was intriguing and well paced. The characters drive the storyline and were very well written. Complex and completely captivating. Cannot wait for more from this world. Recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold from page one! The author’s mind? Absolutely brilliant — I’m obsessed. The spice, the tension, the chaos… it had everything. Charlotte and Alexander’s chemistry is unreal, and the way they fight it? Pure torture (in the best way). Between Julia’s drama, the lies, the mystery, and the nonstop suspense, I couldn’t look away.

If you love dark, spicy romance with a side of chaos and emotion, you need this book in your life. Easily my top read of the year!

[Dawn Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic dark college romance . Charlotte is my absolute favorite her undying strength and courage throughout everything she endured in this story with her head healed high. Alexander's growth throughout the story was also great to see and his major decision between truth and blood. I truly love when the bad guys get put in thier place and learn lessons not from lies but from truth. This story will have your head spinning and you on the edge of your seat.

[Kelly Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold in the best possible way! This author has a brilliant mind that I am now obsessed with. The spice, the tension, the chaos. This book had everything you needed and more! I love the tension between Charlotte and Alexander. The crazy chemistry they have even as they try to fight it. The chaos and bullying from Julia and her gang. The lies, the mystery, the suspense!
I highly recommend this book if you love spicy dark romance books that also have suspense in the best possible way! It truly has it all and is truly the best book I’ve read this year

[Amber Falleaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about Alexander and Charlotte.
Charlotte was a scholarship student. Alexander was a rich boy and the leader of sovereign four.
“You were supposed to be my enemy. Instead, you became my everything” -charlotte
I can’t wait to read the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book served it, with a side of wanting more. Charlotte and Alexander were hot. The tension between them was undeniable. Hell, I was wrapped up in them. The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat. This book throws spice, chaos, and emotions at you like they’re trying to embed themselves in your soul. I couldn’t put this book down.

[Lei Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a dark bully romance and Leila Matthews delivered with this book. I read this quickly because I couldn't put it down. The bullying is on a whole new level in this book and the spice is sexy AF. If the next book is as toxic as this I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a LONG book but it's soo good. There are some parts that seem to go over and over the same topics. I love how the main FMC is srong and stands up for herself and others. I'm glad I was able to snag an arc copy of this book. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

[brenda hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book I thought it was well written and I enjoyed the characters and storyline. I can’t wait to read more from Leila Matthews.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rival Hearts is the first book in The Sovereign Four series. The story is intense, interesting dark Mafia romance. The characters were intense and enjoyable to read about. I can't wait to read more of the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sammye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Sovereign Four series. It’s a dark, spicy enemies to lovers, mafia romance. The twists and turns kept me engaged in the intense plot. The characters are captivating and interesting. A great read.

[Thee_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte & Axle
Wow!
This was a total enemy to lover story.
Gosh! It was totally complicated & pretty spicy. So many twist and turns in the story.
Worth the read.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Artemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited to Rival Hearts!!

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read story. It doesn't disappoint. The characters arecaptivating. It's dark ,twisted, spicy, thrilling, it was worth reading.

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just wow. This book will keep you chained to it and it makes you want to finish it in one sitting. So good.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christie Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sovereign Four is campus royalty at Albright University. The leader is Alexander Ravencroft and he's feared by many. Charlotte and her friend Lily got a scholarship to the University. They knew life for them would change by accepting this invitation.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this book.

Readers that have also watched the Korean drama Boys Over Flowers will jump right into this, except set in college rather than high school and there are actual spice scenes. Well, college starts out a little like high school, more about that in a minute.

If you've watched Boys Over Flowers, you'll follow along here:

The scholarship girl has more friends. She's also a little smarter. She's an artist rather than a swimmer in this. The best friend is a little bit smarter and a whole lot more bold.

The Sovereign 4 are just like the F4. The rich guy is also a little smarter and less funny.

I think the mean rich girls are even meaner, but less violent.

The bullying here is less violent until the end when it gets more murderous.

The overbearing mother is not quite as murderous or bad.

We've even almost got an arranged fiancé, except she's not nice. She's one of the mean girls.

We've even got the shopping, the fancy parties, and all of the crazy. All that was really missing was the crazy trips, the crazy competitions, the amnesia, the forced separation, and of course, the OST. If you know, you know.

At least the instructors existed, but they might as well have been invisible like in BOF.

No one got roofied, thank goodness.

At least the end went off on its own plot trail.

The beginning of the college experience was a little cringe. The poor girls get to college and have to go pick up their schedules. Anyone that goes to college knows that's not how it works. Also, as a freshman, poor girl walks into a painting class and starts painting whatever she wants from her imagination. In other scenes, she's painting landscapes from her imagination. She also gets offered an internship as a freshman at an art museum, as well as has an art show at the end of her semester. Anyone that knows anything about an art curriculum knows that's not how it works and any artist knows that is not how you paint landscapes.

The romance was really toxic. The sex scenes were fast and dirty and unprotected. The bullying was fairly realistic type bullying. Those mean girls sure did like to pour drinks out.

There were some continuity issues and circular scenes and plot. I feel it could use some developmental editing.

Not a lot of issues with grammar or spelling, so that was in good shape. Good editing on that part.

The friendships worked?

I can't love it but it's not as horrible as I sound. I just think this is super derivative, and I’m trying to be nice about saying that – I’ll put it this way plot has been done better in manga, book, and film, and that colors my objectivity.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I guess this book wasn't for me, I was really excited by the blurb. I thought it was going to be different than it was. I had quite a few problems with this book, in the beginning I was really into it before any of the actual plot started, I found it to be so incredibly repetitive in certain aspects like the same things would occur as far as the bulling went and the same empty threats of if you dont stop then somethings going to happen. ut seemed like this book could've done with being shorter and not needing so many (what felt like filler chapters) pages. Also, the relationship it just felt out of place the entire time.... like this didn't feel like an enemies-to-lovers, it felt like im going to bully you until you love me? I felt like the whole scandal at the end also felt out of place or maybe that it just wasn't done, right?? I feel like this book could've been better. I struggled to finish this one, and the intimate pages were incredibly hard to read. I don't think ive ever wanted to skip over pages before because I had zero interest in reading what was happening. Things I liked the idea of the book, and I think the friendship was there ( it was also a little cringe). It's also a pretty cover. The only reason I did end up giving it 2 stars is because it was okay in the beginning.