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A Beautiful Lie
“Please just remember the good things. Not this.”
Rose Parker is now Rose Alexander, blissfully married to tech billionaire Robert Alexander. That is until the police arrive with shocking news: Rob is being arrested for the murder of his first wife, Amelia Thompson Alexander.
Amelia was beautiful, enigmatic, and unforgettable. She’s the shadow that has always loomed over Rose’s life. Officially, she was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Sam Sinclaire. But as Rob’s trial unfolds, the truth proves far darker than anyone imagined.
As secrets unravel, Rose must confront the lies, obsession, and hidden darkness beneath her seemingly perfect marriage.
A Beautiful Lie, the second book in the Free Me series, is a gripping psychological thriller and twisted love story where nothing and no one is as they seem.
Rose Parker is now Rose Alexander, blissfully married to tech billionaire Robert Alexander. That is until the police arrive with shocking news: Rob is being arrested for the murder of his first wife, Amelia Thompson Alexander.
Amelia was beautiful, enigmatic, and unforgettable. She’s the shadow that has always loomed over Rose’s life. Officially, she was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Sam Sinclaire. But as Rob’s trial unfolds, the truth proves far darker than anyone imagined.
As secrets unravel, Rose must confront the lies, obsession, and hidden darkness beneath her seemingly perfect marriage.
A Beautiful Lie, the second book in the Free Me series, is a gripping psychological thriller and twisted love story where nothing and no one is as they seem.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2026
About the author
Sabrina Black
5 books60 followersSabrina Black is an Austin-based author of dark romance and psychological thrillers. She is the creator of the gripping series that begins with Free Me From the Girl I Used to Be, followed by A Beautiful Lie and Guilty as Sin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
March 10, 2026
I received this arc and this is my honest opinion.
This is a dark romance/psychological thriller. Please, please, please check the trigger warnings as it's really heavy on several sensitive subjects and it isn't light reading.
I understand that this is the second book but it doesn't feel like you have to read the first one to enjoy the current, though I believe I would have a better understanding in the dynamics of the amin couple's relationship.
The story is about a couple where, after their honeymoon, hubby is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife several years before (I think 10 years). Half of the book are the entries of ex-wife's diary where we read first hand from start to finish the progress of their relationship. It's quite angsty and emotional as ex-wife was a really troubled person due to childhood trauma that was never addressed or treated somehow. Some of the descriptions were really hard to read and my heart ached for her pain. Meanwhile, between the diary enties, we are reading current wife's POV. I think throughout the book there was only 1-2 hubby's POV. Current wife's POV is full of angst as we are reading her coping around through hubby's arrest and the his trial while coming in the surface several lies, betrayal and deception so her faith and love to him starts to wither and has doubts.
The writing has a flow and some twists that it's easy to give in to one more chapter and one more chapter and then bam you're close to the end! But it had some tiny inconsistencies that troubled me. All characters are flawed and in no way perfect. This book will wreck you and will make you ache.
This is a dark romance/psychological thriller. Please, please, please check the trigger warnings as it's really heavy on several sensitive subjects and it isn't light reading.
I understand that this is the second book but it doesn't feel like you have to read the first one to enjoy the current, though I believe I would have a better understanding in the dynamics of the amin couple's relationship.
The story is about a couple where, after their honeymoon, hubby is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife several years before (I think 10 years). Half of the book are the entries of ex-wife's diary where we read first hand from start to finish the progress of their relationship. It's quite angsty and emotional as ex-wife was a really troubled person due to childhood trauma that was never addressed or treated somehow. Some of the descriptions were really hard to read and my heart ached for her pain. Meanwhile, between the diary enties, we are reading current wife's POV. I think throughout the book there was only 1-2 hubby's POV. Current wife's POV is full of angst as we are reading her coping around through hubby's arrest and the his trial while coming in the surface several lies, betrayal and deception so her faith and love to him starts to wither and has doubts.
The writing has a flow and some twists that it's easy to give in to one more chapter and one more chapter and then bam you're close to the end! But it had some tiny inconsistencies that troubled me. All characters are flawed and in no way perfect. This book will wreck you and will make you ache.
May 4, 2026
3.25 stars!!
i read this after the author reached out and asked me to read!
okay so i actually ate this book up. finished it in 2 days, and literally could not put this book down. I loved that there was a mix between romance and thriller - and I really loved the dual pov between Amelia (the dead ex-wife) and Rose (the current wife). It was such a fast read - although it does cover some very serious topics so please do check trigger warnings.
the only think i will say is that there wasn't really a twist tbh. i was reading the whole book and waiting for there to be this huge plot twist and there wasn't really one. the plot twists was kinda that there was no plot twist...so i felt like i was just waiting for the ball to drop and it never did.
however, overall i did really enjoy this book, and would definitely recommend if you want a fast thriller mixed in with romance!!!
i read this after the author reached out and asked me to read!
okay so i actually ate this book up. finished it in 2 days, and literally could not put this book down. I loved that there was a mix between romance and thriller - and I really loved the dual pov between Amelia (the dead ex-wife) and Rose (the current wife). It was such a fast read - although it does cover some very serious topics so please do check trigger warnings.
the only think i will say is that there wasn't really a twist tbh. i was reading the whole book and waiting for there to be this huge plot twist and there wasn't really one. the plot twists was kinda that there was no plot twist...so i felt like i was just waiting for the ball to drop and it never did.
however, overall i did really enjoy this book, and would definitely recommend if you want a fast thriller mixed in with romance!!!
July 13, 2026
Thank you to the author for reaching out and offering book 3 in the series. She recommended I start this and I am so glad I did.
Read over the weekend, it engrossed me. The kind of story that turns everything around you off as you read.
This story centers on Rose, who has it all with billionaire tech husbands, until he is arrested for murder- of his previous wife.
Now- please- check the triggers. This is a very dark romance bordering on psychological thriller with messy emotional relationships and very unreliable characters.
That said, I loved the diary entry excerpts and the way the book flowed. Looking forward to the next in the series!
Read over the weekend, it engrossed me. The kind of story that turns everything around you off as you read.
This story centers on Rose, who has it all with billionaire tech husbands, until he is arrested for murder- of his previous wife.
Now- please- check the triggers. This is a very dark romance bordering on psychological thriller with messy emotional relationships and very unreliable characters.
That said, I loved the diary entry excerpts and the way the book flowed. Looking forward to the next in the series!
March 21, 2026
First-thank you to @sabrina.black.author for the opportunity to read this. This is my honest review.
-
I finished this book and immediately had to sit there for a second... because why am I feeling bad for people I KNOW I shouldn't be feeling bad for??
That alone should tell you everything.
ー
This story follows a relationship that, on the surface, looks like love-but underneath is built on trauma, control, and manipulation. As everything unfolds (especially through the trial), you're constantly questioning what actually happened and who is telling the truth.
And just when you think you've figured it out? You haven't.
ー
What really worked for me was how REAL the trauma felt.
This book doesn't just show abuse-it makes you understand it. Through the inner thoughts and dialogue, you see exactly how someone can stay, how manipulation can feel like love, and how trauma completely rewires the way someone thinks.
And that part? That's uncomfortable. But it's also what makes this so powerful.
Also... the emotional confusion this book put me through needs to be studied
Because tell me why I was:
• questioning everything
• going back and forth on who to believe
• and somehow feeling sympathy for someone I KNOW is dangerous
That's not easy to pull off.
If I had to point out anything, it's that this book is HEAVY. You are sitting in these characters' trauma for a long time, and it's not always easy.
But also... I liked that. If this had been toned down into something lighter and happier, I probably wouldn't have connected with it the same way.
ー
This book is for readers who:
• like psychological, character-driven stories
• don't need clear "good vs bad" answers
• are okay sitting in uncomfortable, messy emotional spaces
• and want to understand the why behind toxic relationships
If you need clean resolutions or clearly "likable" characters... this might not be for you.
-
Final thoughts?
This book doesn't just tell a story—it makes you question yourself while reading it.
And the fact that I finished it feeling conflicted, emotional, and still thinking about it?
Yeah... that's a 5-star read for me.
And I'm absolutely continuing this series.
-
I finished this book and immediately had to sit there for a second... because why am I feeling bad for people I KNOW I shouldn't be feeling bad for??
That alone should tell you everything.
ー
This story follows a relationship that, on the surface, looks like love-but underneath is built on trauma, control, and manipulation. As everything unfolds (especially through the trial), you're constantly questioning what actually happened and who is telling the truth.
And just when you think you've figured it out? You haven't.
ー
What really worked for me was how REAL the trauma felt.
This book doesn't just show abuse-it makes you understand it. Through the inner thoughts and dialogue, you see exactly how someone can stay, how manipulation can feel like love, and how trauma completely rewires the way someone thinks.
And that part? That's uncomfortable. But it's also what makes this so powerful.
Also... the emotional confusion this book put me through needs to be studied
Because tell me why I was:
• questioning everything
• going back and forth on who to believe
• and somehow feeling sympathy for someone I KNOW is dangerous
That's not easy to pull off.
If I had to point out anything, it's that this book is HEAVY. You are sitting in these characters' trauma for a long time, and it's not always easy.
But also... I liked that. If this had been toned down into something lighter and happier, I probably wouldn't have connected with it the same way.
ー
This book is for readers who:
• like psychological, character-driven stories
• don't need clear "good vs bad" answers
• are okay sitting in uncomfortable, messy emotional spaces
• and want to understand the why behind toxic relationships
If you need clean resolutions or clearly "likable" characters... this might not be for you.
-
Final thoughts?
This book doesn't just tell a story—it makes you question yourself while reading it.
And the fact that I finished it feeling conflicted, emotional, and still thinking about it?
Yeah... that's a 5-star read for me.
And I'm absolutely continuing this series.
April 26, 2026
This isn’t a light or easy read. The story leans heavily into psychological tension and emotional conflict, with characters who feel raw, flawed, and at times difficult to understand—but that’s what makes them compelling. Sabrina Black doesn’t try to make her characters perfect or even particularly likable; instead, she makes them feel real.
The relationships in this book are messy and often uncomfortable, exploring themes of control, trust, trauma, and obsession. It constantly challenges the reader to question what love should look like, which makes it both gripping and, at times, emotionally draining.
Rather than focusing on fast-paced plot twists, the story builds through internal conflict and slowly unraveling truths. It’s more about the characters’ emotional journeys than external action.
Overall, this is a powerful but heavy read that won’t be for everyone. However, if you enjoy dark, character-driven stories with morally grey relationships, it’s incredibly absorbing.
Check your trigger warning going into this as they start from the very first page⚠️⚠️⚠️
The relationships in this book are messy and often uncomfortable, exploring themes of control, trust, trauma, and obsession. It constantly challenges the reader to question what love should look like, which makes it both gripping and, at times, emotionally draining.
Rather than focusing on fast-paced plot twists, the story builds through internal conflict and slowly unraveling truths. It’s more about the characters’ emotional journeys than external action.
Overall, this is a powerful but heavy read that won’t be for everyone. However, if you enjoy dark, character-driven stories with morally grey relationships, it’s incredibly absorbing.
Check your trigger warning going into this as they start from the very first page⚠️⚠️⚠️
May 2, 2026
It’s thrilling, it’s twisted, and Amelia’s shadow haunts every chapter. I was trying to piece it together the whole time and still wasn’t fully ready for where it went. This is not an easy read and I want you to go in prepared. Lots of hard topics.
April 21, 2026
Dark romance/thriller
3.75⭐️ i really enjoyed this one. I went into this not knowing much but i was very surprised and on the edge of my seat many times. The POV & diary was SO unique and so cool.
3.75⭐️ i really enjoyed this one. I went into this not knowing much but i was very surprised and on the edge of my seat many times. The POV & diary was SO unique and so cool.
February 27, 2026
I read this as a request from the author kind of like an ARC but it had already been published.
***2.5***
I felt the first part was a little slow getting into it but towards about 70% it picked up and had my attention through out and I just wanted to get to the end. I was kind of confused as to why Rose read everything and went to the trial but then she just settled.. I felt like the ending was a little lackluster.
***2.5***
I felt the first part was a little slow getting into it but towards about 70% it picked up and had my attention through out and I just wanted to get to the end. I was kind of confused as to why Rose read everything and went to the trial but then she just settled.. I felt like the ending was a little lackluster.
September 4, 2026
Omg if you’re looking for a good thriller, you HAVE to read this book! Disclaimer, it does get pretty dark with a lot of DV.
I was HOOKED from the beginning and I wish I didn’t have work this week because I probably would have read this book in 1-2 days. The characters were so well done and had soo many layers. I went from loving characters to hating them, and overall I felt like I really understood them (even if I didn’t agree with their actions, especially with Amelia).
There was sooo much mystery and suspense, and at times I didn’t even know what to think or expect. The timeline goes back and forth between diary entries of the woman who was murdered and present POV of her husband’s new wife, which was really cool. This was definitely a page turner and I’m so excited to dive into the next book!
I was HOOKED from the beginning and I wish I didn’t have work this week because I probably would have read this book in 1-2 days. The characters were so well done and had soo many layers. I went from loving characters to hating them, and overall I felt like I really understood them (even if I didn’t agree with their actions, especially with Amelia).
There was sooo much mystery and suspense, and at times I didn’t even know what to think or expect. The timeline goes back and forth between diary entries of the woman who was murdered and present POV of her husband’s new wife, which was really cool. This was definitely a page turner and I’m so excited to dive into the next book!
April 3, 2026
Slight spoiler in this review towards the end!
This book was out of my comfort zone in terms of genre it isn’t one I really read however when Sabrina reached out to me and offered me a copy to read I was excited at the opportunity to support her.
you should definitely check trigger warning as this book contains heavy and graphic material and descriptions.
the book had me thinking all sorts from the very first page till the very last and it has kept me up till 3am reading as it’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down because it will have you trying to guess what happened, some characters will have you wondering if what they are saying is true or not and how other characters thought of Amelia and Rob the main characters.
Reading the different povs and knowing certain things that other characters didn’t about situations and things that happened and just wanting to be like if only you guys knew the truth
There were lots of shocking and unexpected things that had me wanting to put the book down for a second before continuing because I would be like 😡😔😲.
I loved that none of the chapters were too long it was nice to be able to wrap up my reading session at the end of a chapter as I’m the type of person who likes to see how many pages are in a chapter if I wanna read just one more before bed🤣
For the actual plot You get told from pretty much the first chapter what happened to the main character and then the rest of the book is what made her to do it and trying to figure out who was involved and what lead up to that point😔😔😔
Spoiler:
Im disappointed in Rose for still being with Rob after reading Amelia’s diary and then burning it, and while rob didn’t pull the trigger he was certainly part of the reason why she felt she had no other choice.
Absolutely hated Sam and Rob and all their lies and I hated Theo too for how he disrespected Liza over and over again and Harry of course who started it all and “killed” two people.
My rating isn’t because the story was happy or a beautiful story because it was sad and characters went through horrible things, but I’m rating it 4 stars because it was well written and the book made me feel so many different emotions and this book will definitely be one I’ll be thinking about for a while
thank you Sabrina for the copy and letting me read and review your work <3
This book was out of my comfort zone in terms of genre it isn’t one I really read however when Sabrina reached out to me and offered me a copy to read I was excited at the opportunity to support her.
you should definitely check trigger warning as this book contains heavy and graphic material and descriptions.
the book had me thinking all sorts from the very first page till the very last and it has kept me up till 3am reading as it’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down because it will have you trying to guess what happened, some characters will have you wondering if what they are saying is true or not and how other characters thought of Amelia and Rob the main characters.
Reading the different povs and knowing certain things that other characters didn’t about situations and things that happened and just wanting to be like if only you guys knew the truth
There were lots of shocking and unexpected things that had me wanting to put the book down for a second before continuing because I would be like 😡😔😲.
I loved that none of the chapters were too long it was nice to be able to wrap up my reading session at the end of a chapter as I’m the type of person who likes to see how many pages are in a chapter if I wanna read just one more before bed🤣
For the actual plot You get told from pretty much the first chapter what happened to the main character and then the rest of the book is what made her to do it and trying to figure out who was involved and what lead up to that point😔😔😔
Spoiler:
Im disappointed in Rose for still being with Rob after reading Amelia’s diary and then burning it, and while rob didn’t pull the trigger he was certainly part of the reason why she felt she had no other choice.
Absolutely hated Sam and Rob and all their lies and I hated Theo too for how he disrespected Liza over and over again and Harry of course who started it all and “killed” two people.
My rating isn’t because the story was happy or a beautiful story because it was sad and characters went through horrible things, but I’m rating it 4 stars because it was well written and the book made me feel so many different emotions and this book will definitely be one I’ll be thinking about for a while
thank you Sabrina for the copy and letting me read and review your work <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2026
Beautifully Written and Utterly Devastating
Review: A Beautiful Lie by Sabrina Black – 5 stars
Book two in the Free Me series hit me harder than I expected. From the first chapter, the emotional weight of this story settles in and just doesn’t let up. It’s the kind of book where you keep telling yourself “just one more chapter”… and suddenly it’s 2am and you’re still thinking about these characters.
What stood out most to me was how deeply personal the character journeys feel. Amelia’s diary entries are heartbreaking in the quietest, most intimate way — you’re not just reading her thoughts, you’re feeling her slowly unravel as she tries to make sense of her world. Even though her voice comes from the past, it has such a strong presence that she stays with you throughout the entire book.
Then there’s Rose. Her chapters carry this constant tension — the sense that something isn’t quite right, even if she’s trying to convince herself otherwise. Watching her story unfold, especially knowing what we learn from Amelia, creates this sinking feeling in your stomach that’s hard to shake. It’s clever, it’s painful, and it’s incredibly effective.
I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a character as intensely as I did in this book. Sabrina Black knows exactly how to write someone who gets under your skin in all the wrong ways. It takes real skill to make a character feel that real and that infuriating.
The emotional push and pull in this story is exhausting in the best possible way. It’s one of those books that leaves you needing a moment after you finish — just to breathe, just to process.
Five stars feels almost too small for how much this one got to me. I’m counting down the days till May and book three.
Review: A Beautiful Lie by Sabrina Black – 5 stars
Book two in the Free Me series hit me harder than I expected. From the first chapter, the emotional weight of this story settles in and just doesn’t let up. It’s the kind of book where you keep telling yourself “just one more chapter”… and suddenly it’s 2am and you’re still thinking about these characters.
What stood out most to me was how deeply personal the character journeys feel. Amelia’s diary entries are heartbreaking in the quietest, most intimate way — you’re not just reading her thoughts, you’re feeling her slowly unravel as she tries to make sense of her world. Even though her voice comes from the past, it has such a strong presence that she stays with you throughout the entire book.
Then there’s Rose. Her chapters carry this constant tension — the sense that something isn’t quite right, even if she’s trying to convince herself otherwise. Watching her story unfold, especially knowing what we learn from Amelia, creates this sinking feeling in your stomach that’s hard to shake. It’s clever, it’s painful, and it’s incredibly effective.
I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a character as intensely as I did in this book. Sabrina Black knows exactly how to write someone who gets under your skin in all the wrong ways. It takes real skill to make a character feel that real and that infuriating.
The emotional push and pull in this story is exhausting in the best possible way. It’s one of those books that leaves you needing a moment after you finish — just to breathe, just to process.
Five stars feels almost too small for how much this one got to me. I’m counting down the days till May and book three.
September 20, 2026
First and foremost: please check the trigger warnings before picking up A Beautiful Lie by Sabrina Black. This is an extremely dark psychological thriller that does not hold back. It explores intense emotional and physical abuse, manipulation, trauma bonding, and the devastating psychological impact of being trapped in an abusive situation.
This was not an easy read by any means. It was emotionally stressful, uncomfortable, and at times downright infuriating, but I think that is exactly what makes it so impactful. I found myself getting incredibly angry with the FMCs and frustrated by some of their choices. Even while understanding the reality of trauma bonding and the complicated emotional hold an abuser can have over someone, I still wanted to shake them and beg them to see what was happening.
That frustration is part of what made this book feel so powerful. Stories like this can be difficult to sit with, and I know some readers may question why books this dark need to be written. But without stories that portray these situations honestly, it can be hard to understand the gravity of what many women experience in real life. Abuse is rarely simple, leaving is rarely easy, and manipulation can distort a person’s sense of safety, love, and self-worth in ways that are difficult to understand from the outside.
A Beautiful Lie is a heavy, emotionally charged read that will likely stay with you long after you finish it. It is not for everyone, and I would strongly recommend going in prepared for its darker content. But for readers who want a psychological thriller that explores the painful, complicated reality of abusive relationships and trauma bonding, this is an important and worthwhile read.
This was not an easy read by any means. It was emotionally stressful, uncomfortable, and at times downright infuriating, but I think that is exactly what makes it so impactful. I found myself getting incredibly angry with the FMCs and frustrated by some of their choices. Even while understanding the reality of trauma bonding and the complicated emotional hold an abuser can have over someone, I still wanted to shake them and beg them to see what was happening.
That frustration is part of what made this book feel so powerful. Stories like this can be difficult to sit with, and I know some readers may question why books this dark need to be written. But without stories that portray these situations honestly, it can be hard to understand the gravity of what many women experience in real life. Abuse is rarely simple, leaving is rarely easy, and manipulation can distort a person’s sense of safety, love, and self-worth in ways that are difficult to understand from the outside.
A Beautiful Lie is a heavy, emotionally charged read that will likely stay with you long after you finish it. It is not for everyone, and I would strongly recommend going in prepared for its darker content. But for readers who want a psychological thriller that explores the painful, complicated reality of abusive relationships and trauma bonding, this is an important and worthwhile read.
May 1, 2026
I would like to preface that Sabrina Black had reached out to me to read and review her book. This is my full and honest review.
Please, I beg of you, to read the triggers in this book before reading. This is not an easy or lighthearted “dark romance.” There are no spoilers in this review. (4.5 stars)
–
I was left in utter shock after finishing this book. There were so many elements to it that made this an amazing read for me. I was hesitant to accept reading and reviewing this book, especially after the first 10 pages. I felt it may be a bit too graphic for me (and that's coming from a reader so has NEVER backed down from a F*CKED up book).
Though I see that this book is characterized as a dark romance thriller, I'm not sure if that's appropriate. Truly don't know the best genre to SHOVE this book into because it is more than just a drama, romance or thriller.
Where books can be generally black and white with very clear villains or antagonists, this book was so GRAY. You experience every emotion page after page. Sabrina, chapter 49 really hurt deep.
The story is trauma after trauma but the attempt to move past it. It's very human, this book, there are so many human errors, miscommunication and feelings each character represents. Things that can affect your life that alters you all together. THIS BOOK IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY BTW. I truly wanted to like Rob and believe he could never do Amelia wrong. 🙁
All in all, I am impressed and sick after reading this. Thank you Sabrina Black for reaching out to me, I think this book will leave a permanent mark on me.
Please, I beg of you, to read the triggers in this book before reading. This is not an easy or lighthearted “dark romance.” There are no spoilers in this review. (4.5 stars)
–
I was left in utter shock after finishing this book. There were so many elements to it that made this an amazing read for me. I was hesitant to accept reading and reviewing this book, especially after the first 10 pages. I felt it may be a bit too graphic for me (and that's coming from a reader so has NEVER backed down from a F*CKED up book).
Though I see that this book is characterized as a dark romance thriller, I'm not sure if that's appropriate. Truly don't know the best genre to SHOVE this book into because it is more than just a drama, romance or thriller.
Where books can be generally black and white with very clear villains or antagonists, this book was so GRAY. You experience every emotion page after page. Sabrina, chapter 49 really hurt deep.
The story is trauma after trauma but the attempt to move past it. It's very human, this book, there are so many human errors, miscommunication and feelings each character represents. Things that can affect your life that alters you all together. THIS BOOK IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY BTW. I truly wanted to like Rob and believe he could never do Amelia wrong. 🙁
All in all, I am impressed and sick after reading this. Thank you Sabrina Black for reaching out to me, I think this book will leave a permanent mark on me.
May 23, 2026
♡ 𝔸 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕃𝕚𝕖 ♡
((𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕣-𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨))
𝕋𝕚𝕥𝕝𝕖- 𝔸 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕃𝕚𝕖
𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣- 𝕊𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕒 𝔹𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕜
𝕊𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤- 𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕄𝕖 𝕊𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤
𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖- 𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖/ ℙ𝕤𝕪𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖 ℂ𝕚𝕥𝕪-
☠︎ 𝕄𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕄𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕪
☠︎ 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕪/ 𝕆𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕄𝕄ℂ
☠︎ 𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
☠︎ 𝔾𝕒𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘/ 𝕄𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕡𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
☠︎ 𝔻𝕦𝕒𝕝 ℙ𝕆𝕍
𝕋ℝ𝕀𝔾𝔾𝔼ℝ/ ℂ𝕆ℕ𝕋𝔼ℕ𝕋 𝕎𝔸ℝℕ𝕀ℕ𝔾- 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕕𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖, 𝕞𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣, 𝕤𝕖𝕩𝕦𝕒𝕝 𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕦𝕞𝕒. ℙ𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕝 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘.
𝔸 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕃𝕚𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕓𝕤𝕠𝕝𝕦𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕕𝕖𝕧𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪. 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕒 (𝔽𝕄ℂ) 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕕 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕦𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕓𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕒 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕘𝕖. 𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕕𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙. 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕛𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕪. 𝕀 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕠𝕧. 𝕀 𝕕𝕠 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕥𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕠𝕟 𝕒 𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕛𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥'𝕤 𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕥.
August 12, 2026
I really enjoyed getting back into this story with Rose and Rob, this one definitely takes a much darker turn. There are so many secrets and layers being uncovered and I liked how the story bounced between what was happening in the present and Amelia’s past through her diary entries. It kept me questioning what actually happened and who I could trust.
I also really enjoyed the author’s writing, again she had a way of pulling me into the messiness of these characters and made me want to keep digging for answers. There were definitely moments that were hard to read because this story goes into some pretty heavy territory, so I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings beforehand.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and thought it was a strong continuation of Rose’s story. It’s dark, emotional, twisty and definitely kept me wondering how everything was going to come together and what would become of them.
I also really enjoyed the author’s writing, again she had a way of pulling me into the messiness of these characters and made me want to keep digging for answers. There were definitely moments that were hard to read because this story goes into some pretty heavy territory, so I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings beforehand.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and thought it was a strong continuation of Rose’s story. It’s dark, emotional, twisty and definitely kept me wondering how everything was going to come together and what would become of them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as ARC free of charge and am leaving this review voluntarily.
****TRIGGER WARNINGS****
This book shows SA, extreme BDSM, drug abuse, animal abuse/death. It is not an easy read.
I will preface this review by saying this genre is generally not my cup of tea, but I went into the reading with an open mind.
I am glad I read this even though it was a hard read. It was the story that detailed emotional and physical abuse and smiling depression. The characters are not good people, but they are humans with a lot of flaws and baggage.
Every wants to believe in love, but some people are so desperate for it that they invent fairytale scenarios that aren't real. Acting becomes normal but behind the curtain is pain. Sone people fight, some endure, and others look for a way out.
The author depicted a hard subject very well. My heart broke while I was reading this, and the ending had me questioning everything.
****TRIGGER WARNINGS****
This book shows SA, extreme BDSM, drug abuse, animal abuse/death. It is not an easy read.
I will preface this review by saying this genre is generally not my cup of tea, but I went into the reading with an open mind.
I am glad I read this even though it was a hard read. It was the story that detailed emotional and physical abuse and smiling depression. The characters are not good people, but they are humans with a lot of flaws and baggage.
Every wants to believe in love, but some people are so desperate for it that they invent fairytale scenarios that aren't real. Acting becomes normal but behind the curtain is pain. Sone people fight, some endure, and others look for a way out.
The author depicted a hard subject very well. My heart broke while I was reading this, and the ending had me questioning everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2026
In case you didn't read the content warnings, this is a dark romance psychological thriller. And the first pages will ABSOLUTELY be brutal. There are a lot of things that I can handle, but the beginning definitely caught me up for a minute. If you can handle the beginning, the rest of the book will take you on a rollercoaster ride of questions that you just don't know the answer to until you finish. You may likely question what is just perspective from fact, and what is truth versus lies with each of the characters. It makes for a good psychological thriller, with some very dark actions, in and out of the bedroom.
April 15, 2026
This took me a minute to get into because half of the chapters are written like the author is writing in a diary, which causes it to be a little chaotic. It’s actually really cool the way the tone changes bc the other chapters aren’t diary entries, they’re written in real time like a book. It’s just different, and took me a minute. Once I got into it though, this book had me hooked. I was completely invested in the story. I absolutely loved the premise of this story and the way she brought it to life. Unfortunately the ending just left a lot to be desired. There is a book coming after this one, So maybe then I’ll get the ending I’m desperate for.
June 2, 2026
addicted!
I absolutely cannot get enough of this series and characters. I love the way we have both perspectives of each woman, from Amelia’s journal and Rose’s narration. This has already been such a journey and only half thru the story so far with books 3 and 4 next. This story is heavy, makes you think, we never really know exactly what goes on behind someone’s closed doors.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I absolutely cannot get enough of this series and characters. I love the way we have both perspectives of each woman, from Amelia’s journal and Rose’s narration. This has already been such a journey and only half thru the story so far with books 3 and 4 next. This story is heavy, makes you think, we never really know exactly what goes on behind someone’s closed doors.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
April 29, 2026
Honestly I am lost for words at this point, wow. What a rollercoaster that was. Impressive work, the dual POV, the mental gymnastics and making you think one way about it, just to make you go back and wonder the opposite. Very well written and very dark also. Not for the faint of heart and mind. Wasn't something I've ever read before but I can't say I wasn't hooked!
June 9, 2026
Authors reached out to me and asked me to read. Really enjoyed this read, had me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the twists and the complexity of the characters. You think it’s going one way and it goes the complete other. So well written!
November 13, 2026
Unexpected
I went into this book blind and had no idea what it was about. This is also my first book by this author and it kept me turning rhe page. Although the first few pages I wasnt sure about the book I continued on and enjoyed it.
I went into this book blind and had no idea what it was about. This is also my first book by this author and it kept me turning rhe page. Although the first few pages I wasnt sure about the book I continued on and enjoyed it.
March 9, 2026
I went into A Beautiful Life not entirely sure what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying the experience. This book felt emotional, reflective, and very character-driven, which I always appreciate.
What I liked most was how human the story felt.
The characters had real struggles and complicated emotions, and I found myself connecting with their journeys in a really natural way. There were moments that made me pause and think, which I always consider a win when I’m reading.
The writing was easy to get into and flowed nicely, which made it a quick and engaging read for me. I liked how the story explored growth, relationships, and figuring out what truly matters in life.
Overall, A Beautiful Life was a thoughtful and heartfelt read, and I’d definitely recommend it if you enjoy character-driven stories about growth, relationships, and finding meaning in life.
What I liked most was how human the story felt.
The characters had real struggles and complicated emotions, and I found myself connecting with their journeys in a really natural way. There were moments that made me pause and think, which I always consider a win when I’m reading.
The writing was easy to get into and flowed nicely, which made it a quick and engaging read for me. I liked how the story explored growth, relationships, and figuring out what truly matters in life.
Overall, A Beautiful Life was a thoughtful and heartfelt read, and I’d definitely recommend it if you enjoy character-driven stories about growth, relationships, and finding meaning in life.
February 10, 2026
Dear Diary,
I feel wrecked, wrung out, empty...Not all monsters look the part. Some hide behind kind words, a handsome face, and a fortune. All that glitters is not gold.
A Beautiful Lie took me on a journey. Be forewarned, if you have a trigger relating to abuse, child SA or suicide, this might not be the book for you. It follows Amelia's past diary entries and Rose's current POV as each woman navigates their relationship with Rob Alexander.
While there were moments I wanted to scream, I felt Sabrina Black did a good job in capturing the thoughts and feelings associated with depression and abuse. The thought processes of the FMCs, as heartbreaking as they were, felt believable. Even Sam's and Rob's, flawed perceptions and justifications for the pain they caused felt real. I am heartbroken for the fictional women in the book and for every person that has experienced a Harry, Sam, or Rob.
I feel wrecked, wrung out, empty...Not all monsters look the part. Some hide behind kind words, a handsome face, and a fortune. All that glitters is not gold.
A Beautiful Lie took me on a journey. Be forewarned, if you have a trigger relating to abuse, child SA or suicide, this might not be the book for you. It follows Amelia's past diary entries and Rose's current POV as each woman navigates their relationship with Rob Alexander.
While there were moments I wanted to scream, I felt Sabrina Black did a good job in capturing the thoughts and feelings associated with depression and abuse. The thought processes of the FMCs, as heartbreaking as they were, felt believable. Even Sam's and Rob's, flawed perceptions and justifications for the pain they caused felt real. I am heartbroken for the fictional women in the book and for every person that has experienced a Harry, Sam, or Rob.
April 24, 2026
Wow. This dark romance/thriller book really hit me hard. This story was not easy to read but I couldn’t put the book down. I was so invested in the characters, I just needed to know how it was going to end. The diary entries and POV chapters made this book so interesting because you got to know each character in depth.
I absolutely loved the fact that this had diary entries written by Amelia. The way my heart was breaking for her because you could just feel her pain and trauma.
I don’t think I have ever disliked characters as much as I did in this book (iykyk!!)
Sabrina did an incredible job creating these characters and this story.
I was so completely invested in this story and by the time I was finished… I just needed a moment to breathe and take it all in.
Check your trigger warnings if you are thinking about reading this book. It is a heavy read.
I absolutely loved the fact that this had diary entries written by Amelia. The way my heart was breaking for her because you could just feel her pain and trauma.
I don’t think I have ever disliked characters as much as I did in this book (iykyk!!)
Sabrina did an incredible job creating these characters and this story.
I was so completely invested in this story and by the time I was finished… I just needed a moment to breathe and take it all in.
Check your trigger warnings if you are thinking about reading this book. It is a heavy read.
February 13, 2026
A Beautiful Lie is a dark romance/psychological thriller. Following our FMC Rose and her abusive and violent relationship with Rob in this book, you also find out about Amelia, Rob's wife, who tragically died before Rose met Rob. The author delves into her life before and during her relationship with Rob.
This Book is full of twists and turns. Just when I thought I had something figured out, it made me think otherwise.
I would advise you to please check your triggers. As this book isn't for the faint hearted.
This Book is full of twists and turns. Just when I thought I had something figured out, it made me think otherwise.
I would advise you to please check your triggers. As this book isn't for the faint hearted.
August 25, 2026
3.75–4 ⭐️
A Beautiful Lie is the second book in the Free Me Series, and just like the first one, this was definitely not a light or easy read. Please, PLEASE check the trigger warnings before going into this book because it deals with some extremely heavy and sensitive subjects, including trauma, abuse, manipulation, violence, and other disturbing themes.
And honestly… this book will make you ACHE. 🥀
What I really enjoyed about this one was the way the story was structured. We have the present-day storyline following Rose and Rob, while a large portion of the book comes through Amelia’s diary entries, taking us back through her relationship and everything that eventually led to the events surrounding her death.
That format worked really well for me because we know from fairly early on what happened, but the real question becomes:
WHY did it happen?
WHO was actually responsible?
And how much of what we’re being told is the truth? 👀
And THAT kept me reading.
Amelia’s story was honestly heartbreaking. Her childhood trauma and everything she carried into adulthood made some of the diary entries extremely difficult to read. There were moments where I genuinely felt horrible for her because you could see how much pain she was carrying and how deeply it affected the way she viewed herself, relationships, and the people around her.
Meanwhile, watching Rose deal with Rob’s arrest and the trial while slowly uncovering more and more lies was SO frustrating. 😭
The dual perspectives worked because we, as readers, sometimes know things that the characters in the present don’t. And there were so many moments when I wanted to jump into the book and scream:
“IF ONLY YOU KNEW WHAT I KNOW!” 😭😭
The writing also has a really easy flow. The chapters aren’t unnecessarily long, and the story constantly gives you enough information to make you think you’ve figured something out… only for another piece of the puzzle to appear.
There were definitely moments where I was like WHAT IS HAPPENING?! 👀
And then immediately: okay, one more chapter.
And suddenly it’s 3 AM. 😭
⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD
Now, coming to the part that genuinely frustrated me…
ROSE. GIRL. WHAT ARE WE DOING?! 😭
I understand that this is dark romance and that we’re not supposed to expect healthy relationship choices from everyone involved, BUT after reading Amelia’s diary and learning the truth, seeing Rose still stay with Rob was incredibly frustrating for me.
And then BURNING THE DIARY?!
I was sitting there like… WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! 😭
Because even though Rob didn’t technically pull the trigger, he was absolutely part of the circumstances that pushed Amelia into believing she had no other choice. And knowing that made it extremely difficult for me to understand Rose’s decision to continue choosing him.
And let’s talk about Rob and Sam because the amount of lying and deception happening around these people??? 😭
I genuinely hated how many things were hidden and manipulated throughout the story. And Theo was another character who had me wanting to throw the book across the room because of the way he repeatedly disrespected Liza.
And then there’s Harry… who somehow manages to make everything even worse. 🙃
What I appreciated, though, is that none of these characters are perfect. They’re messy, flawed, damaged people making questionable choices, and the book doesn’t try to make everything pretty.
That actually worked for the psychological-thriller aspect of the story.
I also loved how the book made me question the reliability of what I was reading. With the different POVs and the diary entries, I was constantly trying to piece together what was actually happening versus what the characters believed was happening.
There were a few small inconsistencies that bothered me, but overall, the story kept me invested enough that I wanted to keep going.
This isn’t a book I’m rating because it was beautiful or happy — because honestly, IT WAS NEITHER. 😭
I’m rating it around 3.75–4⭐️ because it made me feel SO many things, kept me hooked, made me angry, made me uncomfortable, and most importantly, it stayed in my head even after I finished it.
And now I NEED to know where Sabrina takes this series next. 👀🖤
Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading. This is a heavy one.
🌙 @monaafterdark
A Beautiful Lie is the second book in the Free Me Series, and just like the first one, this was definitely not a light or easy read. Please, PLEASE check the trigger warnings before going into this book because it deals with some extremely heavy and sensitive subjects, including trauma, abuse, manipulation, violence, and other disturbing themes.
And honestly… this book will make you ACHE. 🥀
What I really enjoyed about this one was the way the story was structured. We have the present-day storyline following Rose and Rob, while a large portion of the book comes through Amelia’s diary entries, taking us back through her relationship and everything that eventually led to the events surrounding her death.
That format worked really well for me because we know from fairly early on what happened, but the real question becomes:
WHY did it happen?
WHO was actually responsible?
And how much of what we’re being told is the truth? 👀
And THAT kept me reading.
Amelia’s story was honestly heartbreaking. Her childhood trauma and everything she carried into adulthood made some of the diary entries extremely difficult to read. There were moments where I genuinely felt horrible for her because you could see how much pain she was carrying and how deeply it affected the way she viewed herself, relationships, and the people around her.
Meanwhile, watching Rose deal with Rob’s arrest and the trial while slowly uncovering more and more lies was SO frustrating. 😭
The dual perspectives worked because we, as readers, sometimes know things that the characters in the present don’t. And there were so many moments when I wanted to jump into the book and scream:
“IF ONLY YOU KNEW WHAT I KNOW!” 😭😭
The writing also has a really easy flow. The chapters aren’t unnecessarily long, and the story constantly gives you enough information to make you think you’ve figured something out… only for another piece of the puzzle to appear.
There were definitely moments where I was like WHAT IS HAPPENING?! 👀
And then immediately: okay, one more chapter.
And suddenly it’s 3 AM. 😭
⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD
Now, coming to the part that genuinely frustrated me…
ROSE. GIRL. WHAT ARE WE DOING?! 😭
I understand that this is dark romance and that we’re not supposed to expect healthy relationship choices from everyone involved, BUT after reading Amelia’s diary and learning the truth, seeing Rose still stay with Rob was incredibly frustrating for me.
And then BURNING THE DIARY?!
I was sitting there like… WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! 😭
Because even though Rob didn’t technically pull the trigger, he was absolutely part of the circumstances that pushed Amelia into believing she had no other choice. And knowing that made it extremely difficult for me to understand Rose’s decision to continue choosing him.
And let’s talk about Rob and Sam because the amount of lying and deception happening around these people??? 😭
I genuinely hated how many things were hidden and manipulated throughout the story. And Theo was another character who had me wanting to throw the book across the room because of the way he repeatedly disrespected Liza.
And then there’s Harry… who somehow manages to make everything even worse. 🙃
What I appreciated, though, is that none of these characters are perfect. They’re messy, flawed, damaged people making questionable choices, and the book doesn’t try to make everything pretty.
That actually worked for the psychological-thriller aspect of the story.
I also loved how the book made me question the reliability of what I was reading. With the different POVs and the diary entries, I was constantly trying to piece together what was actually happening versus what the characters believed was happening.
There were a few small inconsistencies that bothered me, but overall, the story kept me invested enough that I wanted to keep going.
This isn’t a book I’m rating because it was beautiful or happy — because honestly, IT WAS NEITHER. 😭
I’m rating it around 3.75–4⭐️ because it made me feel SO many things, kept me hooked, made me angry, made me uncomfortable, and most importantly, it stayed in my head even after I finished it.
And now I NEED to know where Sabrina takes this series next. 👀🖤
Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading. This is a heavy one.
🌙 @monaafterdark
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
📝 Short Summary
Rose finally seems to have the perfect life with her billionaire husband, Rob… until he’s suddenly arrested for the murder of his first wife. As the trial unfolds, secrets, obsession, manipulation, and buried truths begin unraveling, forcing Rose to question everything she thought she knew.
Review
This book was honestly heartbreaking in a lot of ways. Going into it, I knew I needed to read this one first to understand the characters better, and wow… this story was heavy. Emotionally heavy, mentally heavy, and definitely full of dark and difficult moments.
First, I need to mention the opening chapter because the scene involving the cat was really hard for me personally. That immediately set the tone that this was not going to be an easy or light psychological thriller. This book deals with a lot of intense subjects, toxic relationships, manipulation, obsession, emotional damage, and trauma, and there were multiple moments where I just sat there frustrated, sad, or shocked by what some of these characters tolerated or normalized.
And honestly? Every single character felt flawed in some way. Nobody felt fully innocent, perfect, or emotionally healthy, which actually made the story feel more realistic even when it was messy. There’s a lot of morally gray behavior throughout this book, and the relationships constantly feel unstable underneath the surface. You can feel the tension building more and more as secrets start unraveling.
Rose was a character I kept going back and forth with emotionally. There were moments I felt deeply for her, especially seeing how much emotional manipulation and confusion surrounded her life, but there were also moments where I wanted to shake her because of some of the things she accepted or ignored. At the same time though, I think that frustration is intentional because this book really shows how complicated toxic relationships and emotional control can become once someone is deeply trapped in them.
I also thought the mystery side of the story kept me engaged because every time another layer was revealed, it made the situation feel darker and more twisted. The more you learn about Amelia, Rob, and everything surrounding the past, the more emotionally messy the entire story becomes. There’s this constant feeling that nobody is telling the full truth.
The writing itself kept me hooked because even when I was emotionally exhausted by certain scenes, I still needed to know how everything was going to unfold. This definitely feels more emotional and relationship driven than just a straightforward thriller. It’s about obsession, grief, lies, control, trauma, and the damage people can do to each other while calling it love.
For me personally, this was not an easy read emotionally, and I do think readers should know going in that there are a lot of very heavy triggers throughout the story. But if you like messy psychological relationship dramas where everybody feels damaged in different ways, this definitely delivers that.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, but mostly for readers who enjoy darker emotional thrillers, toxic relationship dynamics, morally gray characters, and stories filled with heavy emotional themes and difficult situations.
📝 Short Summary
Rose finally seems to have the perfect life with her billionaire husband, Rob… until he’s suddenly arrested for the murder of his first wife. As the trial unfolds, secrets, obsession, manipulation, and buried truths begin unraveling, forcing Rose to question everything she thought she knew.
Review
This book was honestly heartbreaking in a lot of ways. Going into it, I knew I needed to read this one first to understand the characters better, and wow… this story was heavy. Emotionally heavy, mentally heavy, and definitely full of dark and difficult moments.
First, I need to mention the opening chapter because the scene involving the cat was really hard for me personally. That immediately set the tone that this was not going to be an easy or light psychological thriller. This book deals with a lot of intense subjects, toxic relationships, manipulation, obsession, emotional damage, and trauma, and there were multiple moments where I just sat there frustrated, sad, or shocked by what some of these characters tolerated or normalized.
And honestly? Every single character felt flawed in some way. Nobody felt fully innocent, perfect, or emotionally healthy, which actually made the story feel more realistic even when it was messy. There’s a lot of morally gray behavior throughout this book, and the relationships constantly feel unstable underneath the surface. You can feel the tension building more and more as secrets start unraveling.
Rose was a character I kept going back and forth with emotionally. There were moments I felt deeply for her, especially seeing how much emotional manipulation and confusion surrounded her life, but there were also moments where I wanted to shake her because of some of the things she accepted or ignored. At the same time though, I think that frustration is intentional because this book really shows how complicated toxic relationships and emotional control can become once someone is deeply trapped in them.
I also thought the mystery side of the story kept me engaged because every time another layer was revealed, it made the situation feel darker and more twisted. The more you learn about Amelia, Rob, and everything surrounding the past, the more emotionally messy the entire story becomes. There’s this constant feeling that nobody is telling the full truth.
The writing itself kept me hooked because even when I was emotionally exhausted by certain scenes, I still needed to know how everything was going to unfold. This definitely feels more emotional and relationship driven than just a straightforward thriller. It’s about obsession, grief, lies, control, trauma, and the damage people can do to each other while calling it love.
For me personally, this was not an easy read emotionally, and I do think readers should know going in that there are a lot of very heavy triggers throughout the story. But if you like messy psychological relationship dramas where everybody feels damaged in different ways, this definitely delivers that.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, but mostly for readers who enjoy darker emotional thrillers, toxic relationship dynamics, morally gray characters, and stories filled with heavy emotional themes and difficult situations.
May 31, 2026
📝 Story Review: So I had really mixed feelings about book 1 in this series (Free Me From The Girl I Used To Be), you can find my review on Goodreads or on my IG page from earlier in the week. However, book 2 was written differently and was much easier to follow. The pacing and dialogue was good and the story kept my interest piqued!
That being said, this series is filled with trauma and could be extremely triggering, so please read the TW’s ahead of time!
In this story, we get to see journal entries that give us Amelia’s perspective (the wife who was already deceased in book 1) and we are dealing with a murder trial in present day time, mostly seen through Rose’s POV (the current wife). So many hidden truths come to light from Amelia’s journal, but it’s anybody’s guess how this murder trial will turn out. - I had extreme dislike of the MMC in book 1 and book 2 definitely did not change my mind about him. This story is centered around traumatized women and a man who preys upon them in his own manipulative manner. It’s horrid to see how brainwashed people can become after having dealt with so much trauma and while I don’t approve of choices made by these women, I also understand that what they went through has caused a lot of emotional and mental damage. I had a lot of trouble with the fact that Amelia kept referring to other SA victims as ‘gross victims’… that really upset me, but from her perspective, she still refused to view herself as a victim.
I enjoyed how this story led up to finding out the truth behind how Amelia actually died, but it’s still very tragic. - I’ll be starting book 3 soon, because I need to know what happens next!
Genre: Dark Romance Thriller
Series: Free Me, Book 2
POV: First Person; Multi
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5
Quotes 👇
“… he knew I had a habit of blaming myself for evil things men did, and that is all a guy really needs to know to get you to do anything they want. Like take their beatings on a weekly basis, think it’s your fault, make up and then repeat. Again and again.”
“… Because you see, sometimes these things can lead to low self esteem, not being able to understand what exactly a healthy relationship is.”
Vibes: Trauma; Toxic Relationships; Lies, Secrets and Betrayal.
Tropes 👇
- Dual Timelines
- Murder investigation
- Journal entries
- Boss/employee relationship
- DDLG/BDSM relationships
- Toxic relationships
- Deep seated trauma
- Wealthy MMC
- Brainwashed, traumatized FMC’s
CW’s 👇
- On page murder of a pet
- Domestic abuse/rap£
- Manipulation/Degradation
- Mention of past child abuse/repeated SA
- Parental neglect/child abandonment
- Drug use/alcohol use
- Pregnancy/Miscarriage
- Suicide
That being said, this series is filled with trauma and could be extremely triggering, so please read the TW’s ahead of time!
In this story, we get to see journal entries that give us Amelia’s perspective (the wife who was already deceased in book 1) and we are dealing with a murder trial in present day time, mostly seen through Rose’s POV (the current wife). So many hidden truths come to light from Amelia’s journal, but it’s anybody’s guess how this murder trial will turn out. - I had extreme dislike of the MMC in book 1 and book 2 definitely did not change my mind about him. This story is centered around traumatized women and a man who preys upon them in his own manipulative manner. It’s horrid to see how brainwashed people can become after having dealt with so much trauma and while I don’t approve of choices made by these women, I also understand that what they went through has caused a lot of emotional and mental damage. I had a lot of trouble with the fact that Amelia kept referring to other SA victims as ‘gross victims’… that really upset me, but from her perspective, she still refused to view herself as a victim.
I enjoyed how this story led up to finding out the truth behind how Amelia actually died, but it’s still very tragic. - I’ll be starting book 3 soon, because I need to know what happens next!
Genre: Dark Romance Thriller
Series: Free Me, Book 2
POV: First Person; Multi
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5
Quotes 👇
“… he knew I had a habit of blaming myself for evil things men did, and that is all a guy really needs to know to get you to do anything they want. Like take their beatings on a weekly basis, think it’s your fault, make up and then repeat. Again and again.”
“… Because you see, sometimes these things can lead to low self esteem, not being able to understand what exactly a healthy relationship is.”
Vibes: Trauma; Toxic Relationships; Lies, Secrets and Betrayal.
Tropes 👇
- Dual Timelines
- Murder investigation
- Journal entries
- Boss/employee relationship
- DDLG/BDSM relationships
- Toxic relationships
- Deep seated trauma
- Wealthy MMC
- Brainwashed, traumatized FMC’s
CW’s 👇
- On page murder of a pet
- Domestic abuse/rap£
- Manipulation/Degradation
- Mention of past child abuse/repeated SA
- Parental neglect/child abandonment
- Drug use/alcohol use
- Pregnancy/Miscarriage
- Suicide
April 13, 2026
A Dark Romance thriller which the author describes as a mix between Gone Girl and Fifty shades of grey.
And although I do see the fifty shades connection (BDSM), it doesn’t do the book justice. This book is raw and full of emotional twists and turns.
I do advice to read the trigger warnings before starting this book as it starts off pretty intense. It has DV, (child and animal) abuse and a lot of psychological issues are being discussed without any filters.
This book has (mainly) a DUO POV. We follow Amelia who has had a traumatic childhood and in her adult life, doesn’t seem to have the best taste in men. She is saved from an abusive relationship by her hot, filthy rich boss (Rob) who she later marries. We read about her past, her present and what she wants for her future. A life that is riddled with demons. But was she happy up until she was murdered?
And we follow Rose. Robs new wife. A copy of Amelia. What will she do when it turns out Amelia’s murderer was actually innocent and Rob has to stand trial for her murder. Does she believe her husband? Or does she see the demons that hunted their marriage?
I was shocked when I started reading this book. It doesn’t start all rainbows and sunshine and you get thrown in the deep immediately. What gripped me was how raw and emotional the story was. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. From happy to anger, from sad to utter surprise. Strangely enough, I also understood why Amelia did what she did. I could make sense of how she felt and what drove her. And I so wanted her to have her happy ever after.
When we first switched from Amelia’s POV to Rose’s, I didn’t really care for Rose at all. I wanted to keep on reading Amelia’s story. But it didn’t take long or I wanted to read her side more. Every chapter captivated me so much that I didn’t want to switch back. And where I normally have a harder time connecting with DUO pov and switching timelines, I didn’t have that at all with this book. Around the halfway point, the book did slow down a bit but not enough to make me lose interest.
The set-up is really well done. I loved that I started doubting everybody at one point. One minute I was sure Rob was an amazing husband, the next I was convinced he murdered Amelia. It was an emotional roller-coaster that made me question my gut-feeling more than once. One thing it did make clear: All the money in the world won’t slay the demons someone has inside!
I would absolutely recommend this book but please DO read the trigger warnings. I gave this book 4,5 stars.
And although I do see the fifty shades connection (BDSM), it doesn’t do the book justice. This book is raw and full of emotional twists and turns.
I do advice to read the trigger warnings before starting this book as it starts off pretty intense. It has DV, (child and animal) abuse and a lot of psychological issues are being discussed without any filters.
This book has (mainly) a DUO POV. We follow Amelia who has had a traumatic childhood and in her adult life, doesn’t seem to have the best taste in men. She is saved from an abusive relationship by her hot, filthy rich boss (Rob) who she later marries. We read about her past, her present and what she wants for her future. A life that is riddled with demons. But was she happy up until she was murdered?
And we follow Rose. Robs new wife. A copy of Amelia. What will she do when it turns out Amelia’s murderer was actually innocent and Rob has to stand trial for her murder. Does she believe her husband? Or does she see the demons that hunted their marriage?
I was shocked when I started reading this book. It doesn’t start all rainbows and sunshine and you get thrown in the deep immediately. What gripped me was how raw and emotional the story was. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. From happy to anger, from sad to utter surprise. Strangely enough, I also understood why Amelia did what she did. I could make sense of how she felt and what drove her. And I so wanted her to have her happy ever after.
When we first switched from Amelia’s POV to Rose’s, I didn’t really care for Rose at all. I wanted to keep on reading Amelia’s story. But it didn’t take long or I wanted to read her side more. Every chapter captivated me so much that I didn’t want to switch back. And where I normally have a harder time connecting with DUO pov and switching timelines, I didn’t have that at all with this book. Around the halfway point, the book did slow down a bit but not enough to make me lose interest.
The set-up is really well done. I loved that I started doubting everybody at one point. One minute I was sure Rob was an amazing husband, the next I was convinced he murdered Amelia. It was an emotional roller-coaster that made me question my gut-feeling more than once. One thing it did make clear: All the money in the world won’t slay the demons someone has inside!
I would absolutely recommend this book but please DO read the trigger warnings. I gave this book 4,5 stars.
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