What do you think?
Rate this book
Being Adalyne
She has freedom at last—but freedom doesn’t mean forgetting.
Adalyne should feel liberated. After breaking away from the crushing grip of her family’s cult and the marriage of convenience that bound her to Jazmin Valencia, she finally has the life she once only dreamed her own choices, her own body, her own future. But independence is lonelier than she imagined. Navigating a world of possibility—women who adore her, nights filled with promise, and a heart desperate to belong—Adalyne discovers that freedom also means facing the ache she cannot outrun. Because no matter how many arms she finds herself in, one truth she is still married to Jazmin, the woman who both saved and shattered her.
Caught between the lure of new beginnings and the ghost of a love that refuses to fade, Adalyne must confront a question she has long can she truly become her own if her heart has never stopped belonging to someone else?
Adalyne should feel liberated. After breaking away from the crushing grip of her family’s cult and the marriage of convenience that bound her to Jazmin Valencia, she finally has the life she once only dreamed her own choices, her own body, her own future. But independence is lonelier than she imagined. Navigating a world of possibility—women who adore her, nights filled with promise, and a heart desperate to belong—Adalyne discovers that freedom also means facing the ache she cannot outrun. Because no matter how many arms she finds herself in, one truth she is still married to Jazmin, the woman who both saved and shattered her.
Caught between the lure of new beginnings and the ghost of a love that refuses to fade, Adalyne must confront a question she has long can she truly become her own if her heart has never stopped belonging to someone else?
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2025
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 6, 2025
This was quite a lot to process, and not what I expected after reading the first book. It was interesting to finally see the point of view of Adalyne, and how the next part in her story unveils. But as I have already mentioned, this was a crazy ride, and I think I'm more scared than thrilled about the next book (I didn't think there was going to be another book after this one when I picked it up, so that was a surprise too).
What felt a bit off was the pacing, which made it hard for me to fully immerse in the story, although I could blame that on the fact that I am still recovering from a different series. Nonetheless, this was still a unique read, and if you like dark romance... you're in the right spot.
(Thank you Saphly for providing me with an e-ARC!)
What felt a bit off was the pacing, which made it hard for me to fully immerse in the story, although I could blame that on the fact that I am still recovering from a different series. Nonetheless, this was still a unique read, and if you like dark romance... you're in the right spot.
(Thank you Saphly for providing me with an e-ARC!)
November 9, 2025
5/5
Gods, where does one even begin?
Firstly, thank you, Saphly, for giving me the opportunity to dive into Being Adalyne. Secondly, I have totally come to the realization that I misspelled Adalyne all throughout my review of Freeing… (Sorry, Len).
As is my tendency, I jumped into this blind without reading the blurb.
I had anticipated that Being would pick up around the end of Freeing but once again, this series subverts my expectations. Shunted FIVE YEARS into the future, Adalyne is living it up in the Big Apple as an artist with new friends and even grander opportunities. Cue Blink 182’s “I Miss You [Jaz]”.
I just want to say that as much as I enjoyed the first book, this second entry of The Tragedy of Adalyne [*TM] is a huge step up. From pacing to emotional depth to the “Yo, What the Fuck?” moments, Being simply does it better. I cannot even complain about my one minute gripe about how everything seems to just work out and fall into place, because Len’s got that covered too!
This book is rude to you emotionally. It breaks my wee little Grinch heart and slaps a bit of Scotch on there. This book has me consciously self-evaluating how often I hum when I am talking. This book was a ride and a half. At least three.
I am deeply saddened that some of these voices will never hound Adalyne again, however unhealthy they might have been. I am immensely excited, however, to see what the future holds in Keeping Adalyne. We’d better not be fast-forwarding several years after that cliffhanger!
Gods, where does one even begin?
Firstly, thank you, Saphly, for giving me the opportunity to dive into Being Adalyne. Secondly, I have totally come to the realization that I misspelled Adalyne all throughout my review of Freeing… (Sorry, Len).
As is my tendency, I jumped into this blind without reading the blurb.
I had anticipated that Being would pick up around the end of Freeing but once again, this series subverts my expectations. Shunted FIVE YEARS into the future, Adalyne is living it up in the Big Apple as an artist with new friends and even grander opportunities. Cue Blink 182’s “I Miss You [Jaz]”.
I just want to say that as much as I enjoyed the first book, this second entry of The Tragedy of Adalyne [*TM] is a huge step up. From pacing to emotional depth to the “Yo, What the Fuck?” moments, Being simply does it better. I cannot even complain about my one minute gripe about how everything seems to just work out and fall into place, because Len’s got that covered too!
This book is rude to you emotionally. It breaks my wee little Grinch heart and slaps a bit of Scotch on there. This book has me consciously self-evaluating how often I hum when I am talking. This book was a ride and a half. At least three.
I am deeply saddened that some of these voices will never hound Adalyne again, however unhealthy they might have been. I am immensely excited, however, to see what the future holds in Keeping Adalyne. We’d better not be fast-forwarding several years after that cliffhanger!
November 11, 2025
Firstly thank you to Saphly for a copy of this book.
From start to finish I had no idea where this book was going to go in the best way possible. This book is beautifully written with well fleshed out characters that had me feeling for them at every turn. I loved being able to read from a mature Adalyne’s perspective. However the pacing felt off towards the middle of this book and felt like it was taking a while for anything to happen, it wasn't until closer towards the end that I realised how important this build up was and made me appreciate the slowness. There is amazing attention to detail regarding the art work created by Adalyne and helps to understand her character more. Overall this was a beautiful rollercoaster of emotions and I cannot wait for the final book in this series
From start to finish I had no idea where this book was going to go in the best way possible. This book is beautifully written with well fleshed out characters that had me feeling for them at every turn. I loved being able to read from a mature Adalyne’s perspective. However the pacing felt off towards the middle of this book and felt like it was taking a while for anything to happen, it wasn't until closer towards the end that I realised how important this build up was and made me appreciate the slowness. There is amazing attention to detail regarding the art work created by Adalyne and helps to understand her character more. Overall this was a beautiful rollercoaster of emotions and I cannot wait for the final book in this series
October 27, 2025
Reading this book gave me anxiety. lol as did the first one. Again the roller coaster of emotions is unreal. C’mon book 3.
November 26, 2025
What a beautiful whirlwind this has been!
First of all, thank you to Saphly for the copy. I appreciate the support they give to the authors and the opportunity for us readers to immerse in such amazing stories.
This was quite different from the first installment, Freeing Adalyne, and well fitting given that the first book gave us the perspective of Jazmin, and now here we delve into the mind of the enigmatic Adalyne.
I was surprised, and at first a little disappointed, that the book didn't pick up right after the end of the first, but five years later. While I would've liked to see what was going on in Adalyne's mind with the sudden break-up and how she struggled to adjust to this new world, It was quite interesting and grapling to see the mind of a more adjusted and mature Adalyne.
She's finally on her feet, life's stable, her life, the one she build from the ground, and there come's the whirlwind of emotions that ride this story. Definitely enthralling.
The pace was different from the first book. While the first book rushed to cover around more than three years, this one's taking us along a few months of Adalyne's new life in the main part of the book. It can take you aback at first, but once you get immersed in it, it's easy to follow. It makes sense as it's two different stories to tell.
I love the great attention to detail of the art world and Adalyne's painting. They're a key to understanding her, and it's so well thought.
I think this part is very important. To see Adalyne find her new life and her new people. To be her own and be allowed to make her own choices. And to even try to fall in love again.
And through it all, the ghost of Jazmin is still haunting her.
First of all, thank you to Saphly for the copy. I appreciate the support they give to the authors and the opportunity for us readers to immerse in such amazing stories.
This was quite different from the first installment, Freeing Adalyne, and well fitting given that the first book gave us the perspective of Jazmin, and now here we delve into the mind of the enigmatic Adalyne.
I was surprised, and at first a little disappointed, that the book didn't pick up right after the end of the first, but five years later. While I would've liked to see what was going on in Adalyne's mind with the sudden break-up and how she struggled to adjust to this new world, It was quite interesting and grapling to see the mind of a more adjusted and mature Adalyne.
She's finally on her feet, life's stable, her life, the one she build from the ground, and there come's the whirlwind of emotions that ride this story. Definitely enthralling.
The pace was different from the first book. While the first book rushed to cover around more than three years, this one's taking us along a few months of Adalyne's new life in the main part of the book. It can take you aback at first, but once you get immersed in it, it's easy to follow. It makes sense as it's two different stories to tell.
I love the great attention to detail of the art world and Adalyne's painting. They're a key to understanding her, and it's so well thought.
I think this part is very important. To see Adalyne find her new life and her new people. To be her own and be allowed to make her own choices. And to even try to fall in love again.
And through it all, the ghost of Jazmin is still haunting her.
December 13, 2025
Being Adalyne is def not what I expected, but a good read nonetheless. I am happy life looked different for her in this book. Just buckle up for the emotional rollercoaster!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews