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Bound
A reluctant con artist and a professor with too many secrets are bound together in Ali Hazelwood’s intoxicating new dark academia romance—available only in audio!
Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle.
It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her—politely—and makes an unusual forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him.
Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?
Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle.
It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her—politely—and makes an unusual forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him.
Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?
Audible Audio
First published November 11, 2025
1778 people are currently reading
17771 people want to read
About the author
Ali Hazelwood
28 books174k followersI'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,133 reviews
Want to read
September 27, 2025ali I'M BEGGING YOU, you have to release both the audiobook and the paperback version 😭🙏🏻
December 22, 2025
i love the messy girlfriend/ clean boyfriend dynamic duo 😭✨💖
1000+ year old inexperienced british vampire/revenant and alt girl scammer human mortal… ali hazelwood has saved 2025
god he is so poetic… i love him your honor ✨✨✨
1000+ year old inexperienced british vampire/revenant and alt girl scammer human mortal… ali hazelwood has saved 2025
god he is so poetic… i love him your honor ✨✨✨
November 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐
I enjoyed this much more than I was hoping I would, I didn't realise this was what it was and I very much loved that!!
Ali is and always will be one of my favourite writers and I will never not devour her books. It's addiction at this point tbh..
Viktor was so controlled and serious and I was loving every second of it. Seeing him blush and be amused around Veronica was so precious.
Veronica was so funny, I adored her. She was an amazing artist, even if her art was forgery. She was such a unique character and she really matched Viktor so well.
They were so cute together, I loved all of their moments while they were forging the book, the banter, how he was protective of her, how she always affected him. All those moments led to them falling in love and it was everything. He told her so much of his past, much more than he ever did and seeing him completely open up to her about everything was absolutely amazing. I wish it was longer though..
I also really loved all the secondary characters, they were a great addition. Hope we get more of them.
It was fast paced and I really enjoyed the story, it had everything I wanted.
I do wish the ending was handled better, it was honestly a mess, but I didn't mind that much. I did absolutely loved the epilogue though!!
I enjoyed the audiobook, but I do feel like the male narrator should've been younger. I get what they were going for, but I don't think that was all that successful..
I would have a lot more to say, but I don't want to spoil certain elements, I always feel bad when I spoil something, so this is all you're getting, just know I had so much fun reading this!!
.·:*¨ ¨*:·.
Since I finally finished my re-read, it's time for the new Ali Hazelwood! Hopefully my good streak continues 🤍
I enjoyed this much more than I was hoping I would, I didn't realise this was what it was and I very much loved that!!
Ali is and always will be one of my favourite writers and I will never not devour her books. It's addiction at this point tbh..
Viktor was so controlled and serious and I was loving every second of it. Seeing him blush and be amused around Veronica was so precious.
Veronica was so funny, I adored her. She was an amazing artist, even if her art was forgery. She was such a unique character and she really matched Viktor so well.
They were so cute together, I loved all of their moments while they were forging the book, the banter, how he was protective of her, how she always affected him. All those moments led to them falling in love and it was everything. He told her so much of his past, much more than he ever did and seeing him completely open up to her about everything was absolutely amazing. I wish it was longer though..
I also really loved all the secondary characters, they were a great addition. Hope we get more of them.
It was fast paced and I really enjoyed the story, it had everything I wanted.
I do wish the ending was handled better, it was honestly a mess, but I didn't mind that much. I did absolutely loved the epilogue though!!
I enjoyed the audiobook, but I do feel like the male narrator should've been younger. I get what they were going for, but I don't think that was all that successful..
I would have a lot more to say, but I don't want to spoil certain elements, I always feel bad when I spoil something, so this is all you're getting, just know I had so much fun reading this!!
.·:*¨ ¨*:·.
Since I finally finished my re-read, it's time for the new Ali Hazelwood! Hopefully my good streak continues 🤍
Read
September 27, 2025ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Does this woman ever rest?? Not complaining tho because I’ll be devouring it ofc 🤭
November 12, 2025
4.25 ★— Very controlled, very respectful, and self-serious men have always been hotter to me than any of the growly, posturing types that dominate the alpha male MMC lineup in fantasy romance. So the fact that Ali Hazelwood decided to feed me that exact trope in Bound? I was instantly in.
This novella was pure entertainment. A fast-paced, fun story with that signature Hazelwood humor mixed into paranormal elements that slowly unfold. The heroine, Veronica, was a refreshing mix. She's tall, pierced, and shaped by a tumultuous past that gives her grit and a really interesting edge.
I’ve realized I like Hazelwood’s paranormal and fantasy stories more than her contemporary romances, and Bound just underlined that belief. In a few short hours, she manages to build a world that’s familiar — sure, if you’ve read one paranormal romance, you’ve probably seen the setup of a human woman falling for a mysterious, ultra-wealthy supernatural man — but it works. It works well for the story she wants to tell.
Victor is the tweed-wearing, smart, and responsible man I love to see. He’s sharp, composed, and dedicated, and that control is hot. His Edward Cullen-level restraint was absolutely doing it for me, and while the story is predictable, it’s the best kind of predictable: the kind written by Ali Hazelwood, who knows exactly how to make familiar tropes feel entertaining and fun. This is pure, satisfying escapism and I enjoyed myself thoroughly!
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Duet
The only thing that threw me off a little here was the male narrator. He just didn’t fit. Victor is supposed to be intelligent and sophisticated, but also someone who looks to be in his late twenties. The voice actor sounded closer to his early fifties. It sort of matched Victor’s energy, but not his physicality, so it pulled me out of the illusion. The female narrator, though, was fantastic and carried the story so well! With a better male voice, this would have hit even harder for me.
This novella was pure entertainment. A fast-paced, fun story with that signature Hazelwood humor mixed into paranormal elements that slowly unfold. The heroine, Veronica, was a refreshing mix. She's tall, pierced, and shaped by a tumultuous past that gives her grit and a really interesting edge.
I’ve realized I like Hazelwood’s paranormal and fantasy stories more than her contemporary romances, and Bound just underlined that belief. In a few short hours, she manages to build a world that’s familiar — sure, if you’ve read one paranormal romance, you’ve probably seen the setup of a human woman falling for a mysterious, ultra-wealthy supernatural man — but it works. It works well for the story she wants to tell.
Victor is the tweed-wearing, smart, and responsible man I love to see. He’s sharp, composed, and dedicated, and that control is hot. His Edward Cullen-level restraint was absolutely doing it for me, and while the story is predictable, it’s the best kind of predictable: the kind written by Ali Hazelwood, who knows exactly how to make familiar tropes feel entertaining and fun. This is pure, satisfying escapism and I enjoyed myself thoroughly!
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Duet
The only thing that threw me off a little here was the male narrator. He just didn’t fit. Victor is supposed to be intelligent and sophisticated, but also someone who looks to be in his late twenties. The voice actor sounded closer to his early fifties. It sort of matched Victor’s energy, but not his physicality, so it pulled me out of the illusion. The female narrator, though, was fantastic and carried the story so well! With a better male voice, this would have hit even harder for me.
November 25, 2025
+1 star for writing a thousand year old virgin vampire mmc who whimpers. 😋
November 9, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc!
4.5 stars — HOORAY MY ALI HAZELWOOD CURSE IS OVER!! i’m so relieved omg
this was much better than problematic summer romance and whatever the mess mate was…
while bound still had the trademark ali hazelwood cringey millennial humor, the plot for bound was her best in a while! this novel gave early 2000s YA paranormal romance but in the best way — young woman has a skill that intrigues a man that hasn’t been human in many, many years. plus that cliffhanger teased another novel… and i’m actually not that mad!
as for the audio, there was a duet narration, which i absolutely loved! i think duet narrations are better than duel, because the narrators are speaking to one another
——
beyond shocked i got approved for the alc!! manifesting it’s better than mate…
4.5 stars — HOORAY MY ALI HAZELWOOD CURSE IS OVER!! i’m so relieved omg
this was much better than problematic summer romance and whatever the mess mate was…
while bound still had the trademark ali hazelwood cringey millennial humor, the plot for bound was her best in a while! this novel gave early 2000s YA paranormal romance but in the best way — young woman has a skill that intrigues a man that hasn’t been human in many, many years. plus that cliffhanger teased another novel… and i’m actually not that mad!
as for the audio, there was a duet narration, which i absolutely loved! i think duet narrations are better than duel, because the narrators are speaking to one another
——
beyond shocked i got approved for the alc!! manifesting it’s better than mate…
November 12, 2025
Thoughts
At this point I think it's clear that Ali Hazelwood is an all time favourite author of mine -- biased level (?) Yes maybe 😂 but seriously paranormal and dark academia in ONE? Easily sold as they my favourite genres especially dark academia! So needless to say I loved every second of this! The characters and plot development - I didn't want the audiobook to end! This is something completely different for Ali and she DELIVERED! Best 7hrs spent on a Spotify audio and the easiest five stars!
Plot Summary
Veronica “Vero” Mercer, an art history grad student with a grifter’s upbringing, starts forging artwork to cover her debts. But when her talent attracts the attention of the enigmatic Dr. Viktor Ashworth, he doesn’t expose her—he politely kidnaps her and offers a deal: forge a lost manuscript for him.
Working side by side in secret, their partnership turns dangerously magnetic. Yet as the job grows riskier, Vero realises Viktor’s interest in her—and the manuscript—runs far deeper than he’s admitting
My Bookstagram
At this point I think it's clear that Ali Hazelwood is an all time favourite author of mine -- biased level (?) Yes maybe 😂 but seriously paranormal and dark academia in ONE? Easily sold as they my favourite genres especially dark academia! So needless to say I loved every second of this! The characters and plot development - I didn't want the audiobook to end! This is something completely different for Ali and she DELIVERED! Best 7hrs spent on a Spotify audio and the easiest five stars!
Plot Summary
Veronica “Vero” Mercer, an art history grad student with a grifter’s upbringing, starts forging artwork to cover her debts. But when her talent attracts the attention of the enigmatic Dr. Viktor Ashworth, he doesn’t expose her—he politely kidnaps her and offers a deal: forge a lost manuscript for him.
Working side by side in secret, their partnership turns dangerously magnetic. Yet as the job grows riskier, Vero realises Viktor’s interest in her—and the manuscript—runs far deeper than he’s admitting
My Bookstagram
November 19, 2025
Buddy read with Ashlyn 🫶🏼 I’m Ali’s newest fan, let’s hope it stays that way 😆
December 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐ I was healed until the las 10% rip
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ i need to heal from this slump i see
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ i need to heal from this slump i see
November 3, 2025
this is nowhere near dark academia i’m not sure why it’s promoted as such.
i had fun reading this and i do think it was a cute book but i felt like it took forever to get to the plot. this is a novella so i think things should’ve moved faster because in the beginning it felt like it took way too long for the love interest to show up. i also think the romance was just meh, it felt kinda insta love to me. i feel like the author should’ve taken out some of the nonsense in the beginning and then focused on giving us some type of romance dynamic. i’ve read enough of ali hazelwood and this moves exactly like her other romances, which i think just move too quickly. i did like the plot though and like i said was fun, i actually do wish this was a bit longer because i think the whole kidnapping and trying to convince her to work with them just moved too quickly.
i had fun reading this and i do think it was a cute book but i felt like it took forever to get to the plot. this is a novella so i think things should’ve moved faster because in the beginning it felt like it took way too long for the love interest to show up. i also think the romance was just meh, it felt kinda insta love to me. i feel like the author should’ve taken out some of the nonsense in the beginning and then focused on giving us some type of romance dynamic. i’ve read enough of ali hazelwood and this moves exactly like her other romances, which i think just move too quickly. i did like the plot though and like i said was fun, i actually do wish this was a bit longer because i think the whole kidnapping and trying to convince her to work with them just moved too quickly.
November 16, 2025
2.5🌟 I know this is a hot take 🫠 I had a hard time feeling any chemistry between the two main characters. It took so long to build for me that it didn’t feel believable. I did love the twists & turns and the unique setting, though!
November 14, 2025
Who can resist a hot & mysterious professor?! ✨ Dark academia ROMANTASY with massive ‘Discovery of Witches’ vibes
✨🖤 🩸🖋️🩸 🖤✨
Veronica is an art history grad student with certain…criminal tendencies. She’s an amazing artist but even better art forger🖋️✨ When a certain mysterious professorkidnapsasks her to forge an encoded manuscript she can’t resist the temptation!
Do I want to go back to grad school OR do I just need a dark entanglement with professor? This story really sucked me in to the cozy academia vibes with a mystery plot & a hint of danger.
🩸 enormous paranormal age gap
🩸 mmc is an OLD SOUL!
🩸 when he loses control protecting her
🩸 fmc that is not afraid of risk & danger
Looking back I can’t believe how similar this book was to plot in ’A Discovery of Witches’ . Full disclosure I’m obsessed with ADOW 🖤🖤 Dark academia setting, encoded manuscript, mysterious new paranormal world & a mmc with conservative upbringing but deep longing for the fmc.
*not sure if I like the mmc’s audiobook voice….it was giving too elderly
short novella
paranormal romance
protective mmc
art history
independent fmc
found family
HEA
✨🖤 🩸🖋️🩸 🖤✨
Veronica is an art history grad student with certain…criminal tendencies. She’s an amazing artist but even better art forger🖋️✨ When a certain mysterious professor
Do I want to go back to grad school OR do I just need a dark entanglement with professor? This story really sucked me in to the cozy academia vibes with a mystery plot & a hint of danger.
🩸 enormous paranormal age gap
🩸 mmc is an OLD SOUL!
🩸 when he loses control protecting her
🩸 fmc that is not afraid of risk & danger
Looking back I can’t believe how similar this book was to plot in ’A Discovery of Witches’ . Full disclosure I’m obsessed with ADOW 🖤🖤 Dark academia setting, encoded manuscript, mysterious new paranormal world & a mmc with conservative upbringing but deep longing for the fmc.
*not sure if I like the mmc’s audiobook voice….it was giving too elderly
short novella
paranormal romance
protective mmc
art history
independent fmc
found family
HEA
Want to read
October 3, 2025just fell to my knees cause wdym only available on audio....that better change or ELSE!
November 15, 2025
ali hazelwood, my lord & savior, your mind never ceases to amaze me
November 20, 2025
“I tried not to want you….it didn’t work.”
I want to give this a 3.5
Dark academia type vibe with A 10000 year old VIRGIN BRITISH VAMPIRE DOWN BAD for a little forgery criminal girl. I LOVE.
Duet style narration
I want to give this a 3.5
Dark academia type vibe with A 10000 year old VIRGIN BRITISH VAMPIRE DOWN BAD for a little forgery criminal girl. I LOVE.
Duet style narration
December 11, 2025
3.25 stars
I don’t know if it was the book or my mood, but I was bored through most of this. I love Ali’s writing, but this one wasn’t my favorite.
I don’t know if it was the book or my mood, but I was bored through most of this. I love Ali’s writing, but this one wasn’t my favorite.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.25 stars
Narrators: Brittany Pressley & William MacLeod
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 7h 7m
November 12, 2025
4 because 4+4 = ATEEEE. Need a second serving of Viktor pls
November 29, 2025
A con artist? Okay AH… I see you 👀
I had to do a double take and make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me… you mean to tell me the heroine isn’t a goody two shoes? 👀. Definitely caught my attention 😉
3.5 stars rounded up because the audio is duet narration 😮💨
Veronica “Vero” Mercer’s (mid 20s?) an art-history grad student who grew up with “grifters” for parents. She knows how to con people 🤷🏻♀️ and has been able to identify forgeries/fakes. With all her bills coming into play (grad school, plus the damn economy we live in 😭), she ends up making forgeries herself 🫣😬. I mean… she knows what to do 🤷🏻♀️.
And then she catches the attention of a Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a very British professor 😅 who basically kidnaps her (nicely though 🤣 hey. That matters to some people 🤷🏻♀️) and… he blackmails her 😅. Either she forges a mysterious ancient manuscript for him or else he’ll turn her in 😬.
As she keeps working, things around her become suspicious 👀, because things are not always what they seem 👀.
Let the forced proximity begin 😉
What I liked/loved: Spoilers
—the tension 👀. Both Veronica and Viktor can’t seem to stay away from each other 👀 and for Viktor, this is rare because
—he’s been celibate for a veeeeery loooooong time 😅 as in… he’s a virgin (implied… but basically he is to me 🤷🏻♀️)
—the 🔥. It’s not as spicy as other AH books, but I’ll take whatever we get. It’s slooooow burn. Nothing happens until after 80% 😅. Even though Viktor is inexperienced, he’s sure a quick study 😉 and Veronica is all about teaching him how to please her 😮💨. He’s definitely enthusiastic about learning too 😉 especially with his mouth 🥵💦
—the revenants 👀. Not everyone’s human ha? 👀
—biting/marking🤤 yes please 😮💨
—moral ambiguity/gray area 👀. It has a dark vibe (but not really dark dark)
—the banter ❤️. I love when I smile while reading 🤣
—the academic setting 👀 (but I’ll write more about this below)
—the epilogue 🫶🫶🫶 love that things changed for the better ❤️
—stalking/spying 👀. I love it when heroes observe the heroines before they meet 😉
—mild OMD 😈. Viktor thinks Veronica has a boyfriend 👀 and he’s not happy 🤣
What I didn’t like/wanted more of: SPOILERS
—this is advertised as a dark academia romance, it didn’t feel that way for a chunk of the book, especially because we get introduced to Viktor and things change kind of quickly, especially when the twist is revealed 😅. This is probably more dark gothic instead. I would’ve loved there to be like a taboo element here 🤷🏻♀️ professor and grad student 👀 come on!!! Lol sign me up 👏🏻
—the rushed ending 😒. Things happened way too quickly for me at the end 🤷🏻♀️. Veronica figure something out, things happen, and then Bam, we’re in the epilogue 😑. Yes, we get a summary of what happened six weeks before, but still 😐.
—not one chapter in Viktor’s POV 😭 at the end, this would’ve been incredibly impactful 🤷🏻♀️ especially with the decisions that have been made
—questionable future 😒. What does their future look like? Kids? Marriage? Come on 😭. Also, I was hoping we had some kind of twist related to Veronica‘s hair color 👀, or maybe I just wanted something else 🤣
—I wish we had an ebook for this 😭
Overall, I enjoyed it ❤️. I’m so glad my library had it. Hoopla for the win 👏🏻
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/OWD
-bloodshed/violence
-car accident recounted
-biting/marking
-no condoms/he’s a virgin
-HFN/HEA/epilogue/6 weeks
I had to do a double take and make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me… you mean to tell me the heroine isn’t a goody two shoes? 👀. Definitely caught my attention 😉
3.5 stars rounded up because the audio is duet narration 😮💨
Veronica “Vero” Mercer’s (mid 20s?) an art-history grad student who grew up with “grifters” for parents. She knows how to con people 🤷🏻♀️ and has been able to identify forgeries/fakes. With all her bills coming into play (grad school, plus the damn economy we live in 😭), she ends up making forgeries herself 🫣😬. I mean… she knows what to do 🤷🏻♀️.
And then she catches the attention of a Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a very British professor 😅 who basically kidnaps her (nicely though 🤣 hey. That matters to some people 🤷🏻♀️) and… he blackmails her 😅. Either she forges a mysterious ancient manuscript for him or else he’ll turn her in 😬.
As she keeps working, things around her become suspicious 👀, because things are not always what they seem 👀.
Let the forced proximity begin 😉
What I liked/loved: Spoilers
—the tension 👀. Both Veronica and Viktor can’t seem to stay away from each other 👀 and for Viktor, this is rare because
—he’s been celibate for a veeeeery loooooong time 😅 as in… he’s a virgin (implied… but basically he is to me 🤷🏻♀️)
—the 🔥. It’s not as spicy as other AH books, but I’ll take whatever we get. It’s slooooow burn. Nothing happens until after 80% 😅. Even though Viktor is inexperienced, he’s sure a quick study 😉 and Veronica is all about teaching him how to please her 😮💨. He’s definitely enthusiastic about learning too 😉 especially with his mouth 🥵💦
—the revenants 👀. Not everyone’s human ha? 👀
—biting/marking🤤 yes please 😮💨
—moral ambiguity/gray area 👀. It has a dark vibe (but not really dark dark)
—the banter ❤️. I love when I smile while reading 🤣
—the academic setting 👀 (but I’ll write more about this below)
—the epilogue 🫶🫶🫶 love that things changed for the better ❤️
—stalking/spying 👀. I love it when heroes observe the heroines before they meet 😉
—mild OMD 😈. Viktor thinks Veronica has a boyfriend 👀 and he’s not happy 🤣
What I didn’t like/wanted more of: SPOILERS
—this is advertised as a dark academia romance, it didn’t feel that way for a chunk of the book, especially because we get introduced to Viktor and things change kind of quickly, especially when the twist is revealed 😅. This is probably more dark gothic instead. I would’ve loved there to be like a taboo element here 🤷🏻♀️ professor and grad student 👀 come on!!! Lol sign me up 👏🏻
—the rushed ending 😒. Things happened way too quickly for me at the end 🤷🏻♀️. Veronica figure something out, things happen, and then Bam, we’re in the epilogue 😑. Yes, we get a summary of what happened six weeks before, but still 😐.
—not one chapter in Viktor’s POV 😭 at the end, this would’ve been incredibly impactful 🤷🏻♀️ especially with the decisions that have been made
—questionable future 😒. What does their future look like? Kids? Marriage? Come on 😭. Also, I was hoping we had some kind of twist related to Veronica‘s hair color 👀, or maybe I just wanted something else 🤣
—I wish we had an ebook for this 😭
Overall, I enjoyed it ❤️. I’m so glad my library had it. Hoopla for the win 👏🏻
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/OWD
-bloodshed/violence
-car accident recounted
-biting/marking
-no condoms/he’s a virgin
-HFN/HEA/epilogue/6 weeks
November 10, 2025
"I cannot help but imagine that anything originating in your mind would be a sight to behold."
Listen. LISTENNNN. Ali gave us a SUPPOSEDLY stoic man, WHO BLUSHES?!?? I screamed. This would have been all I needed, to absolutely know I was going to love this. (I am a simple gal truly) I will try to make a coherent review, but it will probably just be me screaming about how much fun I had with this one.
Out of all the Ali Hazelwood novellas I have read, THIS. THISSSS is by far my favorite one. The narrators did an absolute phenomenal job. I LOVED how the mmc's narrators voice changed throughout the story (I wont say too much, but if you pay attention you'll see what I mean). And the fmc narrator was just so much fun. She captured Vero's personality so well, and she did a phenomenal job voicing the other female characters and making each character have their own distinct voice.
I already want to listen to this audiobook all over again. And the way I absolutely NEED a physical of this book made. PLEASEEEEE. I am on my knees begging. There were so many good lines in here that make me squeal and gasp. I loved this story so so much. And I just absolutely love Ali Hazelwood's humor. She's just so naturally funny, and it really showed in this novella.
I don't think I need to get into what this story is about (I always think it's best to go in blind anyways), so avoid blurbs if you can! If you love Ali Hazelwood, you're going to love this one. There will be humor, there will be tension and even a little bit of yearning, and you will absolutely love the characters she wrote for this one. I loved every single one of them!!! And I just didn't want this one to end 😭 I was so engrossed into the book that when they started saying the credits at the end I screamed in despair. Because WHAT DO YOU MEANNN the end?!?!
I am so beyond grateful that I got to listen to this early. This was my first Ali Hazelwood approval, and I SCREAMED when I saw the notification. Thank you so much netgalley for this alc! <3
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NOOOOOOO I WANTED MOREEEE WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE ENDDDDD
Listen. LISTENNNN. Ali gave us a SUPPOSEDLY stoic man, WHO BLUSHES?!?? I screamed. This would have been all I needed, to absolutely know I was going to love this. (I am a simple gal truly) I will try to make a coherent review, but it will probably just be me screaming about how much fun I had with this one.
Out of all the Ali Hazelwood novellas I have read, THIS. THISSSS is by far my favorite one. The narrators did an absolute phenomenal job. I LOVED how the mmc's narrators voice changed throughout the story (I wont say too much, but if you pay attention you'll see what I mean). And the fmc narrator was just so much fun. She captured Vero's personality so well, and she did a phenomenal job voicing the other female characters and making each character have their own distinct voice.
I already want to listen to this audiobook all over again. And the way I absolutely NEED a physical of this book made. PLEASEEEEE. I am on my knees begging. There were so many good lines in here that make me squeal and gasp. I loved this story so so much. And I just absolutely love Ali Hazelwood's humor. She's just so naturally funny, and it really showed in this novella.
I don't think I need to get into what this story is about (I always think it's best to go in blind anyways), so avoid blurbs if you can! If you love Ali Hazelwood, you're going to love this one. There will be humor, there will be tension and even a little bit of yearning, and you will absolutely love the characters she wrote for this one. I loved every single one of them!!! And I just didn't want this one to end 😭 I was so engrossed into the book that when they started saying the credits at the end I screamed in despair. Because WHAT DO YOU MEANNN the end?!?!
I am so beyond grateful that I got to listen to this early. This was my first Ali Hazelwood approval, and I SCREAMED when I saw the notification. Thank you so much netgalley for this alc! <3
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NOOOOOOO I WANTED MOREEEE WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE ENDDDDD
November 15, 2025
Ali Hazelwood is the queen of killing a reading slump. Her writing is perfect for the dark academia romance subgenre. I loved this so much & my only critique is I wish it were longer so we could have more time with the main characters the way we did in the first 40%.
Want to read
October 14, 2025₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞:
DAMN ALI IS A BEAST!! book after book— she’s like a machine…🤭
the cover is STUNNING and i can’t wait for this to come out!!
DAMN ALI IS A BEAST!! book after book— she’s like a machine…🤭
the cover is STUNNING and i can’t wait for this to come out!!
November 16, 2025
4.75 ✨
November 9, 2025
*** spoiler free review ***
I rarely read anything “dark,” but if Ali writes it, I’m always here for it! 🙌🏼
Thank you Spotify Audiobooks for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t read any dark academia before, but I would say this is more dark-ish - darker themes, but the tone was light (the way it was narrated + the added Ali-humor)
✦ tropes & stuff:
🖤 dark(ish) academia (but not like, dark)
🖤 morally grey MCs - con artist fmc + a professor mmc with secrets
🖤 kidnapping (a polite one)
🖤 workplace/forced proximity
🖤 secrets + suspense
🖤 opposites attract
🖤 slow burn
🖤 single/1st person pov + duet narration (audio-only)
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio-only | ⭐️: 4.5 | 🌶️: 3 |
“I tried not to want you. It didn’t work.” 🥹
I simply adore all men written by Ali, and Viktor was no different! Veronica was also another fun FMC, one that I want to be when I grow up 🙃
🎙 Brittany Pressley & William Macleod were phenomenal in their narration of this story!
They both flawlessly switched between their main characters & all the side characters, never pulling me out of the story & keeping me completely immersed.
“Ms. Mercer, let me assure you I’m an admirer of yours.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I struggle to be anything but, I’m afraid”
I loved the banter & dynamic between Veronica & Viktor, how they were opposites in many ways but also had many similarities.
So many of the side characters in this story were so interesting, mostly those who worked with Viktor, and added so much to the story.
The mystery/suspense elements had me hooked & wanting to know more!
My lack of 5 stars on this one was just wanting more from the romance, wanting to see it more developed. The story was so interesting/intriguing, but the romance felt a little out of nowhere for me. Though I did love their connection, I didn’t fully understand how we actually got there.
also the chapters were super long, like 45-60 mins - there were some stopping points but I would have rather had it broken it up a little more.
** I’d recommend being careful which reviews you read for this one, because many are giving away pieces of this story that weren’t in the blurb
📖 Bound by Ali Hazelwood
🎙 narrated by: Brittany Pressley & William Macleod
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
I rarely read anything “dark,” but if Ali writes it, I’m always here for it! 🙌🏼
Thank you Spotify Audiobooks for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t read any dark academia before, but I would say this is more dark-ish - darker themes, but the tone was light (the way it was narrated + the added Ali-humor)
✦ tropes & stuff:
🖤 dark(ish) academia (but not like, dark)
🖤 morally grey MCs - con artist fmc + a professor mmc with secrets
🖤 kidnapping (a polite one)
🖤 workplace/forced proximity
🖤 secrets + suspense
🖤 opposites attract
🖤 slow burn
🖤 single/1st person pov + duet narration (audio-only)
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio-only | ⭐️: 4.5 | 🌶️: 3 |
“I tried not to want you. It didn’t work.” 🥹
I simply adore all men written by Ali, and Viktor was no different! Veronica was also another fun FMC, one that I want to be when I grow up 🙃
🎙 Brittany Pressley & William Macleod were phenomenal in their narration of this story!
They both flawlessly switched between their main characters & all the side characters, never pulling me out of the story & keeping me completely immersed.
“Ms. Mercer, let me assure you I’m an admirer of yours.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I struggle to be anything but, I’m afraid”
I loved the banter & dynamic between Veronica & Viktor, how they were opposites in many ways but also had many similarities.
So many of the side characters in this story were so interesting, mostly those who worked with Viktor, and added so much to the story.
The mystery/suspense elements had me hooked & wanting to know more!
My lack of 5 stars on this one was just wanting more from the romance, wanting to see it more developed. The story was so interesting/intriguing, but the romance felt a little out of nowhere for me. Though I did love their connection, I didn’t fully understand how we actually got there.
also the chapters were super long, like 45-60 mins - there were some stopping points but I would have rather had it broken it up a little more.
** I’d recommend being careful which reviews you read for this one, because many are giving away pieces of this story that weren’t in the blurb
📖 Bound by Ali Hazelwood
🎙 narrated by: Brittany Pressley & William Macleod
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
December 7, 2025
2 stars only because the MMC was a thousand-years-old virgin 🫦
boring, undeveloped, meh
boring, undeveloped, meh
November 17, 2025
Did I thoroughly enjoy this? Yes. Do I wish this wasn’t audio only? Also yes. Given the paranormal aspects and the slightly abnormal names I do wish I had been able to physically read it so that I could go back easily and refer to things mentioned previously. BUT it was a fun read with classic Ali banter & chemistry & a liiiittle bit of STEM vibes. So I can’t complain!
Side note I cannot figure out if this is full length or a novella 😂
Side note I cannot figure out if this is full length or a novella 😂
November 21, 2025
Ughhhh, that was not good 😬 Pros: he is a virgin and and he wimpers.
that's all.
Jeżeli coś jest do słuchania to błagam nich ma pasujących lektorów, kumam kim jest męski bohater, ale mówi ludziom, że ma 29 lat, a brzmi jak stary dziad 😭😬 aż się w pewnym momencie zaczęłam z tego śmiać i mam wrażenie, że przez to nie poczułam romansu między bohaterami. Ogólnie uważam, że fabuła też nie jest najlepsza, ale pewnie oceniłabym trochę lepiej jakby to nie był audiobook.
that's all.
Jeżeli coś jest do słuchania to błagam nich ma pasujących lektorów, kumam kim jest męski bohater, ale mówi ludziom, że ma 29 lat, a brzmi jak stary dziad 😭😬 aż się w pewnym momencie zaczęłam z tego śmiać i mam wrażenie, że przez to nie poczułam romansu między bohaterami. Ogólnie uważam, że fabuła też nie jest najlepsza, ale pewnie oceniłabym trochę lepiej jakby to nie był audiobook.
December 18, 2025
"We were barely touching, but I felt full of him."
I DONT GIVE A FUCK THIS MIGHT BE MY NEW FAVORITE ALI HAZELWOOD IM NOT EVEN SORRY
Veronica "Vero" Mercer is a talented artist, but with her student loans building up during graduate school, she turns her talents into a perfect forgery business. Everything is going to plan until she gets kidnapped by Professor Viktor Ashworth to create a perfect replica of an ancient text. With the long nights spent recreating the manuscript on his grounds, Viktor and Vero get closer than they ever thought they'd be.
Something about men who are controlled and perfect and never stray from the rules, but lose control around a woman, oh LORD HAVE MERCY. I was FERAL for this man. For reference, I don't do audiobooks. It normally takes me weeks/ months to finish one because I only put on audiobooks during cleaning/ chores stints when I'm not in the mood for music. However, I could not get ENOUGH of Bound. I was putting this on in every silent moment, and I couldn't even read my physical book without thinking about Bound. This book took over my LIFE.
I will say, the male narrator's voice was not my favorite, but I quickly got over it. I'm still unsure how to rate audiobooks, because I don't think the narrators should affect my rating of the actual reading material, but at the same time, the way you consume a book does matter experience-wise. I did get used to his voice, and it ended up matching him well! I will say, like every Ali Hazelwood, there is a quote or two that threw me off and made me cringe a bit, but that honestly happens to me with EVERY book, and the greatness outweighed the mild icks.
I'm also obsessed with an academic setting, and while this isn't really academic, the long nights Viktor and Vero spent next to each other as he would go over her forgeries, UUUGHHHH HAD ME BITING MY FIST. I'M SO FERAL FOR THEM. I LOOOOVE how Vero was a sexy ass woman with white hair and piercings everywhere who was NOT afraid to loudly be herself and her own person. It was interesting to read that she wasn't even interested in this man at first and didn't find him attractive, until they really got to know each other.
I love a man who begs; who YEARNS just for a shadow of her touch. This man has never craved love, lust, or even the idea of a woman, but with Vero, he wants to be all in. I also just have a massive whore crush on vampires since I was a wee lad, so if they've got fangs and they very hotly suck your blood and the blood happens to kinda let them feel/heighten your emotions, yeah, of course I'm fucking SAT.
I called it when Hazelwood released, Bride that the paranormal romance genre is where she belongs and she proved me the fuck right.
Please release a physical copy of this so i can drool on the pages xoxo
November 21, 2025
Ali can do no wrong 🙂↔️ this was very entertaining!! I loved the plot, the characters and the romance. Loved the little twist in the story, it made things much more enjoyable 🤭 my only complaint (the common complaint I always have when it comes to novellas) is that this was too short and I would’ve loved to spend more time with Vero and Viktor!
December 2, 2025
With affection for Ali Hazelwood, this book is Not Good.
In a world with so many vampire romances, I can’t think of any reason to choose this one.
There’s a vague sort of attempt to create a unique context (the forgery) but it’s not executed well. The main pairing’s chemistry is well described, but the source of that chemistry is unclear. Neither character has a distinctive inner life. It’s a lazy plot of one trope after another, loosely strung together with bad dialogue.
Hazelwood is churning out books at high speed, and the quality is suffering enormously.
In a world with so many vampire romances, I can’t think of any reason to choose this one.
There’s a vague sort of attempt to create a unique context (the forgery) but it’s not executed well. The main pairing’s chemistry is well described, but the source of that chemistry is unclear. Neither character has a distinctive inner life. It’s a lazy plot of one trope after another, loosely strung together with bad dialogue.
Hazelwood is churning out books at high speed, and the quality is suffering enormously.
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