The Ring

by Pao Ramos

She is London's It girl, jewellery obsessed, with high-functioning OCD.
He is London's party boy, whose whole world once revolved around her... until he shattered it by doing something she couldn't forgive.
Four months later, all she wants is to move on.
And all he wants... he doesn't know everything he wants, but he knows he wants her back.

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2026

Reviews

[beca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s kind of like Magnolia Parks, except instead of the MMC cheating on the protagonist with her best friend, he sleeps with her mother. It’s insane, but it creates a really compelling plot, and the twists at the end made this read totally worth it

4.5⭐️

[P P · Rating 5 out of 5]

First ARC, and I couldn’t have gotten a better one. Amazing book, extremely Gossip Girl coded. I love Cornelia. She’s hilarious but also self-aware, and the ending OMG I was shocked! I didn’t see it coming. I can’t wait for the second book!

[chiara]

3.75 ⭐️

happy release day!

thank you so much to the berry agency and the author for this arc!

i really enjoyed the premise of this book! the gossip girl/magnolia parks of it all was so fun to read about. the characters were all incredibly fleshed out and interesting to read about; without overshadowing one another. tj and cornelia were so messy and complicated, but i was fully engrossed in their story. i loved the descriptions of all of cornelia's outfits and jewelry. i loved how tj worshipped the ground that cornelia walked on throughout the story. additionally, i really liked how these characters were not necessarily relatable or even likeable. the heptad society was born into money, so it is not that surprising that they act the way that they do. it was a purposeful addition to the story that i really appreciated. my only critics of this book were that the pacing was a little off, it felt a bit slow in the middle and the ending felt a little rushed. to me, there were also certain instances where random details were added that felt unnecessary, and were just added as exposition. other than that, this was such an enjoyable experience and i really enjoyed it. looking forward to the next one! thank you again to the author and the berry agency!

[Tormina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great read and one that surprised me far more than I expected. It is very easy to read and initially feels like your typical Gossip Girl style story with wealthy friends and their drama, but it quickly becomes clear that there is much more depth beneath the surface.

What really stood out to me was how emotionally layered the book is. It explores heavy and important topics such as mental health and sexual assault, themes that many authors tend to steer clear from. These topics are handled with care and purpose rather than being used for shock value, and they add a sense of realism and weight to the story.

I appreciated how the author used an accessible, engaging storyline as a way to draw the reader in before gradually revealing the darker and more confronting aspects of the characters’ experiences. The impact of trauma and the way it shapes behaviour and relationships felt honest and believable.

Overall, this book is far deeper than it first appears. It is entertaining, confronting at times, and thoughtfully written, making it a read that stays with you long after you finish.

Can't wait for the next one and to see what else this author has on offer!

[Shahaf Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

First thing First the book was soo good I read it in one siting...
It took me some time to start reading the book because this is my first time bing an ARC reader and I was scared that the book will not be good BUT the book was soo good the story line was amazing and the plot twist at the end was like WTF....

I love Cornelia and TJ soo mach I can't wait to read more about them and I wish there will be more books about everyone in their group...

This book has nothing I can compare to it no other book that I can think about is like this, if it the story line or anything else in the book...
I LOVE IT ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for picking me to be your ARC reader.

[Brittney Janson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC READ

I’m speechless, that twist, i had no idea we would end there for real…. i thought i knew exactly how this book would end but i was very wrong…

And that’s what I love about this book, it’s so gossip girl/magnolia parks coded but with a focus on deeper topics like sexual assault and OCD.

I love Cornelia’s character and loved the friendship between herself and Annabelle! I do feel the other side characters could have been explored more so the reader feels more invested in them, but i’m hoping this will occur in the next book! I will be keeping an eye out for the next release in this series for sure!!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ~ Socialites, preppy heartthrobs, high fashion and “it girl” energy with high society London as a backdrop.

The Ring is such a great read and definitely channels a Gossip Girl vibe which is so much fun. Think angsty romances, “poor little rich kids” and lavish parties.

The ending was such an unexpected twist and I can’t wait for book 2! I’m absolutely crossing my fingers for many more books to come and a chance to get to know every member of “The Heptad society” and take a dive into their life and love stories.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ☀️☀️☀️☀️✨️ (4.5/5 Suns)
If you love Blair from Gossip Girl, with high society, drama and scandal; this is the next book for you! Following a London high society found family navigating through scandal and life. With two POVs, we get to experience friendship, love and yearning through the perspectives of TJ and Cornelia. One of my favourite parts of this book was experiencing the genuine friendship between Cornelia and Annabelle. Watching their friendship bloom and being truly genuine, even in hard times was so refreshing to read.

If you need a fun, easy read, look no further!

[Lou Holliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s giving Gossip Girl & I’m here for it 🤌🏽 The Ring by Pao Ramos was a fun read 👏🏽

The escapism was real with this one. This closed door romance is incredibly character driven & what started as a tale of ‘it girl’ privilege, high society & opulence developed into a story with levity & nuance that I really enjoyed.

Although I had a pretty good idea of where the story was going I did not see THAT twist coming. Brava 👏🏽

This was a 4 ⭐️ read for me. Would recommend 👏🏽

Thank you to Pao & The Berry Agency for the opportunity to read & review this ARC 🫶🏽

[Jessica Ungar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Ring by Pao Ramos thanks to The Berry Agency. This book sat consistently at a 2.25 star rating through the majority of the book, but the ending pushed the book to a 3 star for me. While this book was a bit too gossip girl meets the Kardashians for me, it may still be the book for you. The MMC did not have enough of a redemption arc in my mind, but I will be reading book two to find out what happens. If you love drama, London socialites, high society, and plot twists I would recommend this book.

[Rachel Gilmour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the Berry Agency, and I’m so happy I did!!!

I went into this thinking of Gossip Girl, and honestly loved it so much. It was layered with so much emotion and such authentic characters. They were all layered with real flaws - which is so refreshing for a book. Everyone had their own issues and did not always act perfect. Which is so real.

I was not expecting it to end on such a cliffhanger, and I neeeeeed the rest of it now!! I need to see what happens with Cornelia and TJ!!!

[Cortney Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. If you are a fan of Gossip Girl you will love this. I’m not a fan of books with OWD usually but I decided to push through it with this one and I’m very glad I did. That ending was insane. I thought I had already guessed what the truth would be and I was right, but also completely unprepared. Thank you so much to the Berry Agency for the opportunity to arc read this! I can’t wait to see how the story continues in book 2

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ ARC

What a great debut release !
The storyline and suspense is incredible and makes you keep wanting to go back for more !
TJ and Cornelia, despite what they have been through persevere and come out stronger than I expected and it is so relieving !

Cannot wait to see the next instalment !!

[Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really amazing book from a brand new indie author! This is a very innovative book in the genre which touches on some really serious topics with a lot of tactfulness and grace. I’m super excited to see what the author will put out in the future!

[Yellowww · Rating 5 out of 5]

So obsessed that I spent Christmas dinner with my Kindle under the table, reading it.