Simone has lived in Briarwood Hollow for as long as she can remember, measuring time in books, and the quiet rhythm of her inherited bookstore.
She knows the weight of memory, the hush of turning pages, and the ache of yearning she cannot quite name. Her life has been a gentle solitude—until the day a mysterious woman steps through her door.
Nyssa has been searching for her across lifetimes.
Centuries of hunger, of almosts and nearlys, have brought her to this moment. And when she finds Simone—alive and radiant, tucked away in Briarwood—she knows she won’t let her slip away again. Not this time.
What follows is a sensual, haunted unraveling of fate, desire, and devotion. A love that remembers. A hunger that refuses to be forgotten.
this read so sensually... like sapphic pleasure poetry. a perfect balance of desire & curiosity. nyssa said so many things RIGHT. i had no expectations & was so pleasantly surprised & intrigued. the wash room? i saw that play in my head in 4k. lots and lots of kinky things i love. 10s across the board. in less than 80 pages no less.
“I’ll always stay, as long as you want me. Through every dawn and every death. Through every lifetime you forget me.”
I did not expect to be sobbing while reading this spicy sapphic Halloween novella, but oh boi did I sob! And frankly how could I not? Through her words Lily breathed life into this story, she gave us not just a story, but an experience. Her writing is magical, lyrical and above all incredibly enchanting. I need to get myself a physical copy so I can annotate the ever living sh*t out of it. It's that good.
"Even when the world ends and begins again, I will find you."
“Every wound, every ache, every lonely night pressed into this single act of recognition—of being seen, kept, and anointed all at once.“
Lyrical, sensual, and atmospheric, Velvet Hunger captures the yearning and reverence of lost loves finding their way back to each other. In less than a hundred pages, Flowers transports readers into the lore-filled world of The Hollow, a place that feels like autumn, from the crunch of leaves and air that smells like smoke and spice. Simone and Nyssa’s connection is electric and familiar, pulsing yearning that feels eternal and inevitable.
I loved the lush, vivid details of their surroundings and the chemistry between them that practically hums off the page.
✨If you love romance that crackles with chemistry and longing, Velvet Hunger should be on your reading list!
CW: parental abandonment, death of a loved one, graphic sexual content
🌟 Halloween novella
🌈 Sapphic FMCs
🌶 Wax play 🌶 Light knife play 🌶 Chasing 🌶 Clamps
My god, this was gorgeous. The setting and how it was described was at once both eerie and beautiful. An air of mystery hanging over a small town, with our FMCs, destined for each other with enduring love that lives through lifetime after lifetime.
Even the intimate scenes were so beautifully displayed in the language used to describe the lighting, the scent in the air, and the experience itself. It wasn't just smut, it was lush and fascinating.
I am devastated that this was just a novella. But on the same subject, it still felt like a fully rounded story with a start, middle, and end. I just wished I could've stayed in thr book with the characters longer.
As far as I'm concerned, that S in Lily S. Flowers stands “Sensuous”!
Lily’s writing is so incredibly lyrical that you can’t help but feel what her characters are feeling. From routine to quiet loneliness to immeasurable yearning, I felt like I was a resident of Briarwood Hollow, observing Simone through the chilly and foggy nights. I was a guest at the party, eyeing them as they moved around the space. I WAS THERE! There is such reverence in the way these characters and their interactions are written. The chemistry is palpable as though I’d walked in on a private moment but couldn’t bear to leave.
If you’re looking for a lovingly haunting read that feels like a warm fire in autumn and includes a delightful bounty of spice (read: pink skittle kisses), then this novella is exactly what you need.
this was one of those reads where i could see what the author was going for — soft, atmospheric, poetic — but the style just didn’t sit right with me personally. the writing was pretty, but it leaned so heavily into vibes that it lost a little of the emotional depth i wanted. simone and nyssa had an interesting setup with the whole past-lives, destined-lovers thing, and the sensuality was actually really well done. the spice delivered. but the connection between the characters never fully gripped me, and the pacing felt more dreamy than impactful. even with that, i’m not done with lily flowers at all. this was my first read from her, and i definitely want to try a few more because i can tell she has a pen — this one just wasn’t my ideal match.
Unfortunately, this was written in the writing style of ChatGPT. And it does not understand the power of yin as much as yang. There are some great concepts. The energy and references can make it a classic. It can really be powerful if it gets a rewrite. It was hot, but still superficial... I know you did not intend that. I love the intent and the hints of the style. Also, nothing truly celebrates Zami (Sapphic) connection. I am hopeful to read your work again after some time to see if AI influence/style is replaced with your own style. That repetitious, comparison narrative style will make all writing generic as it tries to mimic great writers.
Hot pockets will be weeping, and don’t we love to see it. 🥰Lily does so many things well, and ethical smut is at the top. She’s responsible with your feelings. She’s not just taking you through the motions; she’s giving you a 1200-count goose down comforter to rest your bonnet cover head against. Real and relatable depictions of grief and its lasting hold we can all relate to, but now my undies are wet. How did that happen? Nothing will be dry after you finish this. 🤭All jokes aside, she DOESN’T miss—a must-read.
I enjoyed this so much I smiled the whole way through. I found it touching and the scenery described made me feel like I was right there watching the story unfold under a lamp post. It was a vibe and hot. 10/10 recommend if you want something quick fun and full of passion with a little sprinkle of spooky you’ll love this. It was my winding down for bed read and I finished in 2hours
Hauntingly poetic, Velvet Hunger, a sapphic Halloween novella, lures the reader in with stunning imagery. With a cozy setting, a transcendental love, and glorious prose, author Lily S. Flowers weaves a tale filled with healing and reverence. This was a beautiful read and I look forward to reading more by this author!
I’m a sucker for a love story that extends through many lifetimes. There are a few elements of a story that has my attention instantly. If there is everlasting love, southern Gothic woo woo vibes, and a reverence for past classic black literature, I’m going to read it. And, I mean it.
While Simone enjoys her solitude, she’s lonely. She no longer has an intimate connection with anyone. Nyssa reveals herself and her intentions exactly when Simone needs it the most.
Some people complain about the lack of yearning and romance novels. Lily didn’t disappoint. Simone and Nyssa’s chemistry transcends the pages of the novella.
I loved this quick, spicy read. I was pleasantly surprised by what happened. Simone was lonely and grieving until she ran into Nyssa. Nyssa was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted, and that was Simone. I loved the aspect of them being soul mates in each lifetime. I'm a sucker for soul mates, and this one hit the mark. The spicy in this book was HOT. The chase scene was hands down my favorite. This author always doesn't disappoint me with her books.