Quiet Obsession

Gravemont College Elite #1

by I.A. Dice

Everyone thinks Millie Ward is fragile...
They’re wrong.
They don’t see what I see because she only shows her colors when my hand becomes her necklace. When I make her watch me ruin what’s left of her sanity.
She’s a shadow of the girl she once was, hiding under oversized sweaters, her eyes cast down, her mouth shut.
I’ve associated silence with punishment my whole life, but even when Millie doesn’t speak, her body beneath mine is loud.
I should stay away.
She’s my best friend’s little sister.
But I’ve never been good at doing what I should, so I push and pull until we’re both losing ourselves in each other.
She almost died last year... now she’s a sickness spreading through my veins.
I hope it kills me before she finds out I almost killed her.

___
A dark college romance filled with obsession, secrecy, toxic love, possessive tension, trauma, and morally gray choices.

TROPES:
Brother's Best Friend
Found Family
Selectively Mute FMC
Bad Boy / Good Girl
Elite College
Sharing
Mild Love Triangle
OWD and OMD
Toxic Love

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, College, Romance, College Romance, Found Family, Smut

508 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

I. A. Dice writes emotionally intense romance—both dark and light—but always equally spicy. When she’s not dreaming up love stories, she’s probably drinking too much coffee and swooning over fictional men.

Reviews

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could’ve saved myself so much time if I read the trigger warnings

some quotes that fully sealed the 1⭐️ for me:

“Whose are you?”
“Yours.”
“Even with another man’s cock inside you?” okay.. so ur telling me this man is OBSESSED with you but doesn’t mind sharing? with his bff? awesome!!!!

“Sit,” he spits out the demand, the fucking command, not a waver in his voice. “Eat, Millie.” I don’t realize I’m chewing until halfway down the second bite. Hyde has a point... what the hell just happened? Creed barked sit, barked eat, and I didn’t even think. (ok so she’s a dog)

“The music’s playing, people are moving, my brother’s saying something I can’t hear, and Creed’s mouth is on another girl.“ cool. creed.. our MMC.. 83% into the book. cool cool cool.

no I can’t. also the entire book they act like she’s a porcelain doll who can break at any moment.. pls stop.

[Bookishness · Rating 4 out of 5]

"People can’t use your words against you if you don’t give them any. Evan taught me that trust means handing someone a gun... and words can become ammunition."

OK!

Brother’s best friend… or should I say brother’s best friends?? Love triangle? Sharing? What?! After that blurb, I dropped everything and started reading. And yes it completely consumed me. "She’s Hyde’s little sister. He’s my fucking brother by choice. He made it explicitly clear that she’s off limits... but my cock didn’t get the message."

Yes, I read all 500 pages in less than 12 hours. It was addictive and deliciously steamy. I was seated for every second of it.

Millie, who has gone through trauma, has an overprotective brother who drags her to his college so he and his friends can keep an eye on her. And keep an eye on her they absolutely did. Lol.

First, we have Hyde, who enjoys playing chess with Millie and is the one she feels comfortable talking to and confiding in. Then there’s Creed, the bad boy of the group always drunk, always getting into fights, carrying wounds from his abusive father, and thinking little of himself. But he’s been obsessed with Millie long before they ever officially met. "With Creed, I’m alive. With Noah, I’m breathing."

I do wish he was written a little darker, though. But for those complaining about the last few chapters… relax. It’s a dark romance. Things are supposed to be messy, intense, and steamy. Lmao.

"You scare me. You scare me because I can barely control myself around you. Because you make me feel alive, real, and normal. Because I want things I shouldn’t, and I trust you when you’ve given me no reason."



~Pre-read~ FML for being a mood reader, leaving all my current reads on hold! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️😳👀😬🤯 the blurb sounded to good! 💋🖤

[cajareads]

Apparently this has sharing scene and while I don’t particularly hate this when I’m given warning beforehand but come on this book is literally titled as OBSESSION. What kind of an obsession it is when he shares her with someone else? And I also found out at 80% into the story, the mmc was kissing another woman. Yeah, no effing way this author wanna sell me the idea of this man is “obsessed” with the fmc 😂

—Edited on 30th April—

The author has now listed the sharing trope in the blurb. I appreciate it when author own it and show his/her accountability.

[Calista Presti · Rating 5 out of 5]

UMMM?????? I just read this 500 page book in like 7 hours. The last 5%??????
Immediately went & purchased a physical copy for a trophy because that was a fun ass time 💃

[VICTORIA · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

Guysss I LOVED this!!! I didn’t know how much I needed a dark college romance but it definitely scratched that itch.

You’re following a good girl x bad boy, both with trauma who find peace in each other. Their attraction is forbidden (brother’s bestfriend) and the angst and tension almost had me combusting, it was SO juicy omg. You’ve also got a second love interest, I say that slightly because it’s more of a curiosity, I wouldn’t define it as a love triangle BUT it definitely keeps you hooked. I think the way it was done is realistic given what the FMC went through and that one particular scene (iykyk) was everything!!!

The found family in this was TOP TIER, that entire friendship group…I need all their books PLEASE and thank you.

I most DEFINITELY recommend this. This was such a page turner, I was hooked from the very beginning until the end, not a single boring moment. I was laughing, sweating, giggling and crying throughout the book…I absolutely love when a book can make you feel every emotion under the sun and this book did just THAT.

Thank you so much to I.A. Dice and the team for sending me this book in the most stunning PR box. Thank you for allowing me to meet Creed and Millie early, their story truly touched me. I can’t wait to read more in this series!

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Kayla, if you have to describe Quiet Obsession is three words what would they be? Messy, Toxic and Addicting! And my obsession with this one is not quiet!

Ooooooh boy, buckle up buttercups because I have never wanted to root for a couple harder in my life! Creed and Millie are flawed characters. They have both experienced trauma in their lives that have made them who they are. Creed, he grew up in an abusive households which had turned him into a monster who lives to draw blood in and out of a ring. Millie, she put trust in the wrong person and she is now selectively mute. Because someone can't hurt you if you can't give them your words, right?

Creed and Millie are extremely drawn to one another. They are like moths to a flame. Their traumas make their relationship messy. They act out in very toxic ways because of it. With Millie being selectively mute, they communicate in non verbal ways. But her specific muteness towards Creed, triggers him. He thinks she's punishing him. Which in return makes him do things that make you want to strangle him. But on the flip side, Millie feels safe with Creed. She loves that he doesn't treat her like porcelain but he doesn't want to give her his monster side, which she desperately seeks. And when he becomes to soft, she seek solace in Creed's best friend. AGAIN like I said... MESSY! But at the same time oh so addicting!

I was truly so engrossed in this book. I picked it up and didn't want to put it down. Creed is that type of character that I feel so deeply for. He doesn't think he's good enough to be loved. And characters like that I have a bleeding heart for and I always root for them to have a HEA. I loved him to pieces. Yes I wanted to smack him upside the head but I loved him. I also really loved seeing Millie's strong perseverance. She truly blossomed in this book and overcame her trauma and she has no one to thank for that but Creed.

Now I will say, there is a slight love triangle in this one. Millie is inexperienced and she has strong but very different relationships with Creed and his best friend Noah. She is obviously very much into Creed but she does explore some options. And one of those options is a fantasy of having both of them together, And Creed, because the man that he is, he indulges in that a little fantasy of hers JUST ONCE. And holy moly, that scene was hot as sin!

Overall, I truly love IA Dice and I love this new direction that she is going. I am fully immersed in this new world she is creating and can not wait to see where this series goes next! I am so invested in Creed's friend group and can't wait to meet their FMCs!

You should read this book if you like:
- Dark College Romance
- Brother's Best Friend
- Good Girl x Bad Boy
- Selectively Mute FMC
- Man Obsessed

* I would like to say THANK YOU to IA Dice for allowing me the pleasure to read this book as an ARC n exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.

[Klaudia’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much I.A. Dice and FGS Publishing for the ARC and the opportunity to read this early!

I need everyone to understand that I was not simply reading Quiet Obsession…I was living inside it. Breathing it. Thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. And then I finished it and just sat there like??? That’s it??? Because I need MORE.

This book consumed me in a way that felt borderline unhealthy.

I also have to say this because it genuinely added something extra to the whole experience for me. This being my first time reading a book by a Polish author made it feel even more special as a fellow Polish girl!🤍❤️

Millie is the kind of character who’s difficult to capture in words because there’s so much depth to her it almost aches to unpack. She’s a girl who learned how to fight for her life far too young, surviving cancer as a child, only to be met later with a level of betrayal and public humiliation that would break most people. The exposure, the cruelty, the way everything she thought she knew about her world shifted overnight. Her silence isn’t a weakness, it’s a form of control. It’s a shield she’s built around herself as it’s the one thing that is undeniably hers.

What I loved is that her silence doesn’t make her feel absent in the story. In fact, it does the opposite. You feel her more. Every look, every reaction, every internal thought is louder because she isn’t speaking. You’re forced to sit with her emotions instead of just hearing them and it makes everything hit so much harder.

You can feel how hyper aware she is of herself. Millie is constantly questioning if she’s “too much” because she was made to believe she was. And yet underneath all of that there’s anger. So much anger. And watching that slowly surface, watching her start to want more from life instead of just surviving it…I was obsessed.

The found family in this book was so wholesome. I loved them so much. It wasn’t perfect or soft in an obvious way. It was messy, loud and built on shared damage but they chose each other and you could feel that in every interaction. They show up even when they don’t have the words or the right way to do it and that kind of loyalty hits deep.

Dash is chaos, but in a way that almost convinces you it’s harmless. He’s funny, reckless and charming. He’s the kind of person who fills a room without even trying. But the longer you pay attention to him, the more obvious it becomes that it’s all a distraction. He’s constantly running from something. Everything about him feels like avoidance whether it’s people, emotions or even silence. He turns everything into a joke so he never has to sit with anything real. That only made it harder to look away.

Noah is the complete opposite yet just as intense. He’s control personified. Routine, logic, precision, he doesn’t simply exist in his environment, he shapes it. There’s something almost cold about him but not in a negative way, it feels more like he’s carefully constructed a world where nothing can reach him. The way Noah treats Millie??? He offers her safety. It isn’t loud or overwhelming, it’s just…there. Steady. Reliable. The kind of care that lets her fall apart without fear.

“With Noah, I’m breathing.”

And then there’s Creed. I actually don’t have the emotional capacity to deal with this man properly because what the hell.

Creed is rage and pain and survival all wrapped into one person. The things he went through?? You feel that in everything he does. He’s not soft, he’s not gentle and he doesn’t pretend to be. Violence is his language. It’s how he learned to cope, to protect himself, to exist. And when he loses control it’s not pretty, it’s explosive and destructive.

He doesn’t see Millie as something fragile.
He sees her.
And that changes everything.

“With Creed, I’m alive.”
That line??? It sums them up perfectly.

He doesn’t handle her carefully, doesn’t treat her like she’s going to break and that’s exactly why she’s drawn to him. He gives her something no one else does. He gives her intensity without pity. He pulls something out of her that she’s been burying for years. Her anger, her strength, her voice (even without words). The way he teaches her to fight??? FOLDED

But he’s also self destructive in the worst ways. The jealousy, the pushing away, the need to hurt before he gets hurt… it’s frustrating and painful but it makes complete sense for who he is. He doesn’t know how to love without turning it into something messy.

"I'm not good for you, but you're the one thing I can't seem to quit." ⋆｡‧₊°♱༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻♱༉‧₊˚.

"Eyes on me. I'll take care of you."
ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹ ֶָ֢..𖥔 ݁ ˖໒꒱

“I'll follow this girl everywhere.”
⊹₊˚‧︵‿��୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

This man noticed everything about Millie. I’m talking the quiet, easily missed details no one else ever pays attention to. He can tell the difference between her real smiles and the ones she forces. He knows she won’t touch processed fruit. He knows she likes her coffee strong and he knows her favourite colour is dusty pink. He knows her tells too like how she behaves when she’s nervous. Creed could ruin my life and I’d apologise for being in the way.

And the dynamic between all of them?? INSANE.

This isn’t just a romance. It’s a constant push and pull between safety and chaos, control and freedom, healing and destruction. Noah gives her space to fall apart. Creed makes her feel like she can rebuild into something stronger.

I had so much respect for Noah when he decided that while he may have loved the idea of Millie, Creed is the one who is actually compatible with her future. Stepping aside wasn’t an act of defeat, it was an act of maturity.
Noah loved the version of Millie who stayed small and predictable. He realised Creed is the one meant for the healing woman she is actually becoming.

Hyde is a character defined by the profound psychological scars of being the spare in a family consumed by crisis. At times I found myself annoyed by his actions but it’s just not that easy to pin him down because he is such a layered character. His parents’ hyper focus on his sister’s survival effectively rendered him invisible, fostering a deep seated resentment that he eventually weaponised through drugs and rebellion just to be seen. However, the true tragedy of Hyde lies in his crushing guilt. He admits to being happy about Millie’s remission not out of brotherly love but out of a desperate and selfish hope that his parents would finally notice him again. This shame, stemming from the quiet obsession of hating the sister he was supposed to protect, is what ultimately drives him to go to Gravemont. His fierce, almost desperate loyalty to Creed is a direct reaction to this history of emotional abandonment. Having been cast aside by his own blood, Hyde is pathologically devoted to the one person who actually chose him, proving that every one of his actions is an attempt to outrun the ghost of the unwanted boy he used to be. That kind of loyalty, that history, that quiet understanding between them…it added so much depth to everything.

Chapter 47 should officially come with a fire extinguisher and a public safety warning!!! I finished that scene and headed straight for a cold shower because the heat coming off those pages was enough to trigger a localised climate crisis. My brain is officially fried🫠🫠 (I loved every second).

EOHWYCFM👀👀👀 iykyk

This book is intense in every possible. It’s heavy, it’s addictive, it’s character driven and I would genuinely read 500 more pages of these characters just existing.

I didn’t want it to end.
I still don’t.

5/5⭐️

[Cristina]

Ooofff this one felt like we were going in circles while nothing happening. Was this a romance? Because it felt more like a “mystery” about the h not wanting to speak and the reason behind it. Anyway, it wasn’t for me.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hate sharing and love triangle

[Natacha Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soooo i was really excited for this one but I’ve read some reviews, tropes and…… idk
My apprehension is more about my personal tastes but obviously I'll give it a chance
———//———//———//———//———//———//———//———//
Ok here we are

Again... NO
Excuse me but if the book isn’t a reverse harem, why choose or that love triangle full of feelings, it doesn't make sense to involve a third person just because the fmc in this case is "confused". That in fact she's not confused at all, she knows well what she wants, otherwise she wouldn't accept to have sex with another man loving the mmc

I felt the chemistry between Millie and Creed but it was pure sexual chemistry, I don't think there's that much love, just like with Noah, sexual tension. I think it's too focused on the "confusion" that is Millie's head than on the personal development of one and the other, solo and as a couple. It's just sex, saying "I love you" doesn't make you see their love

Oh and Millie became a little too annoying

I knew I would feel this way because it is the third book this year that I read that involves a third person, which adds nothing to the development of the main characters and leaves the book a little to whom. And it's always the best sex the fmc has ever had, I wonder if the mmc read the pov of the fmc what they would think. And I hate being here defending men even if they are in fiction, I'm sure that if it were the other way around there wouldn't be so much "understanding"

I’m between 2 and 3 stars sooo ya

(This is MY opinion)

[Lizzy Jeane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Esta gente no está bien de la cabeza

[Kenia Coronado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good girl and bad boy college romance! I really liked the dynamic between noah and millie but creed had my heart! After being humiliated and almost taking her life, millie goes mute around those she doesn’t trust because if you dont speak they can’t use your words against you. Creed who was abused by his dad throughout his childhood felt guilty for what happened to millie because he took away millie’s brother when she needed him the most. Creed is triggered by her silence because of his dad’s treatment but that didn’t stop him from bringing down her walls and gaining her heart. Very wholesome story between the two and i liked seeing millie blossom.

[Snafuzled · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a tough one for me to rate. It was definitely well written and I’m sure many of my GR friends will love it.

Spoilery thoughts…

On the positive side, I loved all the guys in this story. Honestly, they made the book for me and kept me reading. My RH loving heart laments that this wasn’t a RH. Dominant Creed, fun-loving Dash, and soulful Noah would have made the PERFECT harem.

On the downside, I really disliked the FMC for most of the book. I hate the selective mutism trope with a fiery passion. If I had known that’s what this was about, I probably wouldn’t have picked this up. I certainly empathized with her trauma, but I found her mutism completely aggravating. I would have understood if she only talked to her brother/family, but this girl seems to talk to everyone EXCEPT the MMC. It just felt like she was playing immature games and I hated it. Without the awesome guys this absolutely would have been a DNF for me.

I didn’t like that there was zero comeuppance for the guy who traumatized her. I kind of kept waiting for SOMETHING devious to happen …. but crickets. Considering Creed’s volatile personality, that seemed inconsistent with his character.

Anyway, lots of people like the selective mutism trope. If you do, you’ll love this book!

[Katie Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved the Lord series… you’re going to love this!

Creed 👀👀 Yeah… he’s fine as hell. No notes.

Our girl Millie though… she was put THROUGH it. After something terrible goes down, her brother steps in, moves her to his college, and brings her into his world… including his friend group 👀

But there’s one rule: Millie is completely off-limits! Or is it the other way around…

And then… Creed walks in. You already know where this is going 😏

This college romance brought the spice 🌶️ but I’m not gonna lie—it got a little repetitive at times. Still though. I had a good time. And I really enjoyed the characters. I loved watching Millie overcome her past and grow into herself.

⭐️ 3.8 stars

Dark romance girlies… this one is absolutely your vibe. You’ll eat this UP.

[Kendra Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4.7 🌶️4


Listen to me when I say I was waiting for a specific moment to happen, so when I got to the last 10 percent of this book I was giddy asf and a kid in a candy store because yessssss😇😮‍💨.

There was def some competition, but the somewhat love triangle throughout this book reminded me of what Bella said in twilight when she told Edward it was never a choice between the two. It was between who she should be and who she is.

Millie went through something tragic that I don’t even think I would wish on any other woman. She changed and became someone new. That new person craved Noah because they were one and the same, yet craved Creed because it fed both her old self and new. Even Noah came to terms with why he liked her and Creed was the ultimate one for her.

The dynamic between them had me discombobulated with the back and forth, push and pull, give and take; I understood though. Two broken souls that made one another feel complete. No better story than that.

Her dynamic with her brother Hyde was intense as well and goes to show that while you may view something a certain way, someone else can see something totally different. In my eyes there aren’t 2 sides to a story there’s 3. Your side, their side and the truth. Everyone is a victim in their own story to a certain degree.

I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next one. I actually want it to be Noah sooooo bad I love him and he was my favorite character🥹.

[Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot: 4.5/5 • Spice: 3/5 ➡️➡️➡️ Millie is a mess after the guy in high school she was about to drop her v card to
tries to film the entire thing. Her brother takes over as her protector after the situation. He moves her up to his college.


Millie barely talks now. Maybe a word or two. Hyde, her brother, is one of the hottest guys on campus. And his best friends, Dash, Creed and Noah, are equally as 🔥. Dash is the funny one. Noah is the resilient. And Creed sets her skin on fire.


Hyde asks his friends to keep an eye, protect Millie as best as they could when he’s not around. Hyde’s a bit overbearing. As their protection continues Noah and Creed are contending for Millie’s attention. She’ll talk to Noah, but won’t say a word to Creed.


Creed has a lot of demons. His father abused him for most of his childhood. A relief when he finally dies. However, Creed thinks he’s becoming him and it reflects in situations with Millie. He acts out. He breaks her heart. She clings to Noah, but strictly platonic. Creed doesn’t see it that way though.


Hyde and Millie have their differences when the truth comes to surface. They have mixed memories or what happened growing up. Both are hurt. They work things out the best they can.


I thought this was a series. This is a standalone within the series, so we get a HEA. Millie and Creed do wind up together. Creed even fulfills one of Millie’s biggest fantasies and it doesn’t even break them apart. I really thought there would be drama after that, but there wasn’t.


Well worth the read!

[NOUR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited about this book it had been on my TBR for a long time but I feel a bit disappointed. I don’t like love triangles in books (and this wasn’t mentioned in the blurb) I always end up sympathizing with the one who loses, and I often find myself liking them more and that’s exactly what happened here. I loved Noah I felt like he suited Millie much better.

I was also surprised that the book included a threesome scene. It was hot, I won’t deny that, but I hate it when a book isn’t reverse harem or MFM and still includes a threesome.

One character I really hated was her idiot brother. I understand his perspective and his feelings of abandonment during childhood, but that doesn’t justify the way he felt toward his little sister he was a complete jerk.

Overall, though, it was a good book. 💜🖤🤍

[Britt DS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Millie is selectively mute thanks to something that happened in her past, and it was an interesting journey finding out what happened and seeing how it affected her behavior in the present.
Creed has his own tragic backstory and though I do not necessarily agree with his actions, I get it.

Though I did really enjoy the story, Millie started to really annoy me for a while around halfway through. I do understand where her way of thinking comes from, but I really wanted to slap her at a certain point 😅
Also, the whole ‘love triangle’-ish situation didn’t really work for me. It was obvious who Millie was supposed to end up with since half of the story is Creed’s POV. I get Millie’s confusion in the beginning, but it just felt dragged out.

Despite that, I did enjoy seeing Millie and Creed’s character growth throughout the story.
The other characters - Dash, Noah and Hyde - were all lovable as well.

(I received this book as an ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[bel · Rating 3 out of 5]

i need the Dash book

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️/2.5 🌶️

This book was so good! Millie and Creed completely pulled me in from the start. Their relationship definitely had its toxic moments in the beginning, but once things started to unravel and they actually faced everything head-on, it just made their story hit even harder 🙌🏼

Millie really stood out to me. The way her trauma was written felt so real, it wasn’t just something mentioned and brushed aside. You could see it in everything she did. The overthinking, the indecisiveness, the constant second-guessing. It made her incredibly relatable and honestly, my heart hurt for her more than once 🥹

And Creed! That boy seriously had me frustrated and soft at the same time. He genuinely wanted to do the right thing, but somehow always managed to make things worse. His own past wasn’t easy either, and the way he copes, especially through his fights, added so much depth to his character 🖤

Their connection from the very first meeting? Instant chemistry. The plot kept me hooked, the writing flowed so well and the angst and spice were just chef’s kiss 🤌🏼. It had the perfect balance of emotional and intense moments that made it impossible to put down.

I’m already so excited for Hyde, Noah, and Dash’s stories!

Tropes: dark college romance, selectively mute FMC

[joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

i can't lie i did have fun considering how fast i flew through this book... the book is very much wattpad coded and had cringey moments, but again i had fun.

however, the writing was all over the place. the structure and the pacing of the plot was just messy. i feel like there were plotlines just thrown in there for the sake of shock value or character development. there are certain plotlines that i wish we got more from rather than it being brushed away. the ending also felt rushed would've loved to see hyde and millie work things out rather than just being told from creed's pov. the love triangle also drove me insane.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordy AF in parts and some of the inner monologue gets repetitive but I liked this nonetheless. Lots of really fun scenes with the OMD. Loved all the sneaking around. Loved how much he called her “baby”.

[bella.s_stuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me fully invested from the start.

The setup was so intriguing, and I immediately wanted to know more about Millie, her silence, and everything that happened to make her choose not to speak.

Millie was such an interesting main character. She’s quiet, guarded, carrying so much trauma, but underneath all of that you can see how strong she really is. I liked that her silence wasn’t weakness—it was protection, survival, and part of her healing journey.

Then we have the boys… 👀

Hyde, her overprotective brother, definitely frustrated me at times, but his character had a lot more depth than I expected. The family dynamics and the resentment he carried added a lot to the story.

Dash was honestly such a vibe. He brought humor and chaos whenever things got too heavy, and I loved every scene with him.

Noah… 🥹 probably one of my favorites. He was calm, caring, steady, and had such a protective softness about him. He felt like a safe space in the middle of all the mess.

And Creed…😮‍💨

He was intense, possessive, damaged, emotional, frustrating, and impossible to ignore. That man had issues… but he also had layers. His connection with Millie was messy, passionate, complicated, and full of tension from the beginning.

The chemistry between them was definitely there, and their scenes had a lot of intensity. But what I liked most was that beneath all the obsession and chaos, there was also vulnerability. Two broken people trying to figure themselves out while being drawn to each other.

I also really enjoyed how the story explored trauma, healing, insecurity, jealousy, and self-worth. There were moments that genuinely hit emotionally, especially with Millie finding her voice again and learning to take up space.

That said… I do think the book was longer than it needed to be. Some parts felt repetitive, especially with the constant push and pull, misunderstandings, and characters making the same mistakes over and over.

There were also moments where certain decisions frustrated me or just didn’t fully make sense, which stopped it from being a higher rating for me.

But overall? It was such a good read with great tension, strong emotional moments, and characters that kept me invested. I really enjoyed it overall, and I’m definitely curious to read the next book in the series 🖤

[Bibi Muresan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐ - Words cannot describe how much I ate this book up

I don’t know what I.A. puts in all her books, but I just cannot let go of them!!! I started this one on a Saturday morning, continued reading it in bed from 10 pm-2 am, forced myself to go to sleep, woke up around 10am, and read it until 1pm without getting up once until I finished it. I was like in a trance, I had to know what happened next!!
First 30% of the book I was like what is going on?? Are we getting why choose?? ( very much up for it if it had happened ) What a rollercoaster of emotions. Just shows how good the book was because I had very strong feelings about it throughout.
I absolutely loved our FMC Millie. She went through a very traumatic experience that made her go mute by choice, to be more selective with who feels “safe” enough to give her words to. She is forced by her older brother, Hyde to enrol at the same college he is at to keep an eye on her. She soon faces his 3 best friends, Dash, Noah and Creed. Our Millie is going through a love triangle with Noah and Creed for I’d say 30-40% of the book, until Noah is a true gentleman and steps away when he realises the undeniable connection that Creed and Millie have.
Creed is the embodiment of rage. I love it. Our angry and grumpy 24/7 MMC, who you wouldn’t tell that’s the most caring person in the world, from the stuff he went through. He notices everything about Millie. And when I say everything, I mean every single tiny detail, up to even what type of food she is not a fan of or how she takes her coffee. Millie falls for him because he’s the only one treating her like a proper human being, like something that’s not broken or fragile. There’s so much more I could say about Millie and Creed, but I don’t want to spoil it away.
Besides the romance aspect, the book also delves into the relationship between the 2 siblings, in a very messy way. The relationship between Hyde and Millie is so complicated due to their past. I’m so happy with how the author presented us the ups and downs of their situation. It was raw, real and didn’t steal from the romance spotlight either. This book had side stories from different pairs ( Millie x Hyde, Creed x Hyde ) that came together within the main story so well that I cannot praise this book enough.
This book is a lot, so intense, addictive, heavy. I cannot recommend it enough. Thank you, I.A. Dice, for the ARC! I’m currently feral for the next one.

3.5 🌶

Tropes
Selective mute FMC
College setting
Found family
Brother’s best friend
Traumatic past

[Nancy Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished in under 8hrs! Completely obsessed with this book from the plot, trauma and spice everything was perfection.

So excited to have discovered another auto buy author!

FMC Millie chooses not to speak after a traumatic experience, her determination and will power is so inspiring. Her courage and character development the whole way through was such a transformation. Her brother is ferociously over protective, he moves her into the same senior block dorm rooms in college to keep an eye on her.

His closest friends take on the same role as the devoted brother BUT it’s gets steamy. Millie’s brother has specifically said sister is off limits.. but it’s like saying to someone don’t push the red button. It’s so hot and delicious, the plot was so addictive - the trauma with MMC and FMC but also her brother too. These characters are trying to juggle Family dynamics, abuse and friendships throughout the book and then tie in the spice it was a perfect combination of plot and spice that I love to read in a dark romance.

“Easy, Millie baby.”

Things I loved

Dual POV
Dark college romance
Possessive MMC
Brothers best Friend
Selective mute FMC
Bad boy x Good Girl
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[aromanticshelf · Rating 1 out of 5]

to each their own but wtf is this?!!!! no way this is the book constantly on my feed…

the author clearly loves time jumps. the amount of scenes we didn’t get to see bc she’d just time jump hours or even days?! why are we time jumping multiple times in a short chapter? pls. the one that really irked me was a scene near the end were the mmc was going to talk to his bsf, a convo that absolutely should’ve been included bc it was part of the conflict, AND SHE TIME JUMPED?! REALLY?! ARE WE SERIOUS?!?!!!! genuinely threw my phone bc of the time jumps multiple times.

SPOILER
there’s a sharing scene at the end of the book…. a book with the word “obsession” in the title, mind you, but i digress. in the scene the mmc initiates the sharing to prove to himself that the fmc only wants him and that she’s just curious bc all she knows is him…….. but the fmc actually really really enjoyed being shared and not a single thing about it gave a one time vibe except the mmc making the fmc agree that it’s a one time thing. apparently what solidified that the fmc only wanted him was her reaching for him the entire time LMAOOOOO! HER REACHING FOR YOU WHILE ANOTHER MANS DICK IS DOWN HER THROAT AND UP HER PUSSY REALLY?! yeah no way.

to make it worse, the man they included is the mmcs friend who the fmc has been drooling over the entire book, kissed, and was having sex dreams about. OH AND!!! that friend likes the fmc. he wanted her. yeah “one time thing” my ass.

there’s a lot of other issues i have with this book i could discuss but those two alone made me lose my mind so i’ll leave it at that.

[jevikaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ I liked the friendship the guys had but felt like there was no plot for the couple. Even though the MCs had chemistry it felt like it was just lust and not much else. All the pushing and pulling really annoyed me with MCs and it was getting repetitive.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy SHIT that was good, I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out! And that scene at the end 😮‍💨

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

this had a pretty good premise and started relatively good but it quickly went down hill so yeah just wasn't for me.

[Rayya O'Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟 2.5/3🌶 ARC Review but its out now!

When the FMC designs a tattoo for MMC who never deems himself worthy of anything good. Who never sees the man he truly is -
"I see you as a King, but you see yourself as a pawn. Less than you really are. I thought this would remind you of your worth every time you start doubting it" 🥺🖤

What to expect
-Mute FMC (selectively) and an artist.
-Fighter MMC
-Mental Health rep
-Virgin FMC (MMC does NOT know)
-Toxic Love
-An MFM scene (one off situation and its the FMCs fantasy)
-Possessive
-Healing
-Hurt/Comfort
-Touch her and ☠️ or in this case, he will break your jaw lol.
-Eyes on Me
-Sharing is Caring (literally last 5%).
-Praise✨️

This is a story of a toxic love. Its two broken people, who fall in love before they even figure out who they are, before they heal any part of themselves. Its messy, its chaotic, its torturous, but it's beautiful. They hurt eachother. A lot. But they don't know how to navigate themselves, let alone this new dynamic of a relationship yet.

The FMC, Millie, is mute by choice, she's been through a lot and reserves her words for people she trusts. Which isn't a lot. (I think in over 200 pages, she says 4 words to the MMC). She has unhealthy coping mechanisms, she is damaged, but she is also artistic. She's beautiful, she's sassy, she's confident in a lot of ways.

Our MMC, Creed, is harshest against himself. He's full of guilt, torment, trauma and much more. He doesn't think he's worthy of anything - not friendship, not love, not joy/happiness. He's been curious about his best friends sister for over a year and this develops into an undeniable connection. She is silent because thats what her defense is, except silence is a massive trigger for him.

The friendship group within this is fierce. It's possessive, it's strong, its a touch them and ☠️ kind of friendship. Out of those, Hyde (FMCs brother) and Creed are like brothers. They are bound by something more than just loyalty, love and respect. Hyde holds Creed together and vice versa. But the faith they have in eachother is unwavering, even when they feel like they don't deserve it. 🥺🫶🏾

Aswell as this being a story of Creed and Millie and their depth. This is such a multilayered telling of a brother and sister, who are misunderstood, who carry a lot of resentment but all they've ever wanted is to be family. Hyde is a wildly protective brother. This is about them repairing their damage individually and as a sibling unit after years of broken trust, misplaced resentment and damage.

Honestly, the level of depth and complexity within this ONE book thats just over 400 pages, is insane. I read this is one sitting because it was just that good.

The spice in this is also absolutely fantastic!! Sometimes spice can be repetitive or boring; this wasn't. The chapters were a perfect length. The pacing was also medium to fast paced.

I'm assuming we are going to get books on Hyde, Dash and Noah (at least I REALLLYYY hope so)🥺🖤