Crave

Pretty Poison #1

by C.F. White

"He was everything I didn't want. Danger dressed in leather. Salvation wrapped in smoke. And once I tasted him, I couldn't stop. He was in my blood. My sweetest poison."
Razor
I control the drugs running through East London for a man with a soul darker than the devil's. Violence kept me alive. Loyalty kept my sister and her baby fed. I'd spent my whole life believing fear was the closest thing I'd ever have to freedom.
Then he walked into my world and destroyed every rule I'd ever lived by.
Tristan Hale-Fitzroy.
Rich. Beautiful. Untouchable. A bloke who should've crossed the road when he saw me coming. Instead, he stood his ground with lies on his lips and fire in his eyes.
I should've walked away.
But I found myself craving something far more dangerous than anything I'd ever peddled on the streets.
I knew he didn't belong in my world.
I knew he'd ruin me.
I let him anyway.

Tristan.
I was born with everything money could buy, but nothing that mattered. My future had already been written before I was old enough to question it, and I spent twenty-three years performing the role of the perfect Hale-Fitzroy.
Then one betrayal shattered the illusion.
So I went looking for something real.
I found Razor Slade.
Rough. Raw. Untouchable. A man shaped by violence and sharpened by survival. He looked at me and saw another transaction in his dangerous world.
I let him.
Because the truth was far more dangerous.
He wasn't my escape.
He was my addiction.
And after the first taste, I'd do anything for another.

Crave is the first book in the Pretty Poison Trilogy—a dark, addictive MM romance set in London’s criminal underworld, about forbidden desire, class collision, moral corruption, and choosing love in a world designed to punish it.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Dark, Dark Romance, LGBT, Crime

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2026

About the author

Brought up in a relatively small town in Hertfordshire, C F White managed to do what most other residents try to do and fail—leave.

She eventually settled for pie and mash, cockles and winkles and a bit of Knees Up Mother Brown to live in the East End of London; securing a job and creating a life, a home and a family.

She writes gritty British based stories about imperfect men falling in love against the odds and has been accused of sprinkling a bit of humour into them from time to time too.

Reviews

[Sandy Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who’s studied KM Weiland’s Next Level Plot Structure will understand how well done the structure of this story is.

Tristan and Razor. Two seemingly opposite individuals with zero similarities.

Two cages, one bleak and filled with drug running and violence and perhaps one loyal subject, the other golden and filled with backstabbers and users and perhaps two loyal friends. Via mirror scene after mirror scene, the contrast is used time and again to show that, as different as their worlds seem to be, their cages are very much just as confining and immovable.

Or are they?

Because when two men who should never have met…meet…their desires for their worlds begin to evolve and reveal to each something he never, ever would have thought would be for him. That he never would believe he could have.

Cracks begin to show. And they’re more intertwined than either could know due to a clever plot that will bind them together in a way that feels organic instead of contrived.

I’ll admit I had my mouth open in admiration when a grim Razor situation was immediately mirrored by the Tristan version of the same conflict over “territory.” Then I thought back and realized CF White had been doing that all along.

Mesmerizing. I don’t usually bother to think about structure and plot when I’m reading for fun, but, this book bears an extra read just to enjoy the craftsmanship.

Anyway. From their instant-lust meet-not-cute misunderstanding (freaking HOT) to their unlikely yet inevitable orbiting and collisions with each other, these two had me rooting for them to find their way together all the way. This is not an author I can trust anymore (witness my review for book 1 of the author’s previous series 😡), but, I’m hoping to make it through this series intact and love the hell out of it. Fingers crossed. But even if I don’t, I’ll probably finish it anyway just to enjoy the masterful plotting and character development.

Open ended, heroes separated by their seemingly irreconcilable circumstances (HFN/HEA will be earned in blood and tears by the end of book 3, I assume). Opposites collide and chaos ensues. NO OM action or drama, this book was safe for me. We’ll see what happens after the 8 months separation I know is coming between the end of book 1 and the start of book 2. I fear “reality” may mean Others, but, that could conceivably be left unmentioned so the reader can decide, and I really hope that’s the case. (Unless it goes my way and neither has time for or even wants anyone else apart from attempts that go nowhere, meantime. I live in hope.)

UPDATE: I started book two and there were NO OTHERS DURING 8-MONTH SEPARATION book 2 is safe for me! (For those who need to know!). This makes me believe the series will remain focused on these two without pesky reality intruding, the way I enjoy my romance. 🥰 Phew.

Highly recommended. So far.

[Grace Harper · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Oh, I’m soooo locked in. Plot & couple… yeah, I’m invested. RTC!!!

But I just have to say.. finally, a book that actually made me FEEL something. I’ve started more than a couple books in the past 2 weeks just to find something on the side to read and god, they’ve bored me half to death. Thankfully, that wasn’t at all the case here.

(Obviously I am not referring to some of my other current reads: the golden raven, hofas, to flame a wild flower… I’m talking about books I haven’t listed as current reads yet on here)

Anyways, I really reallllly liked this and I’m happy to say it surprised me in a good way.

Hopefully the author gets alternative covers tho bahahahahaha

[Alisia alis_reads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!! 3 chili peppers

This is exactly the kind of writing that I have been craving for months now I am immediately diving into book 2 now. I literally need everyone to read this. How is this not blowing up? And there’s actually a plot along with the romance I typically don’t like too much internal dialogue, but I love this writing so much that I was completely locked in the entire time.

Rich boy/bad boy
London baby boy accent
PLOT!!
Hot spice
Public areas


I’ve never read anything like this before and I need everyone to read this please.

[A Low Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot damn that was good. Is Razor a red flag in a name? ✔️🚩 Should Tristan run far and away as fast as he can? 💯. But holy crap, CF White does a good job painting the landscapes that each of these two men come from. Cold, money-driven toxic masculinity in the guise of keeping your family safe, roping everyone into the violence of the system. One’s at the top, dressing up viciousness in words, the other’s at the bottom, lashing out with inescapable brutality, but their similarities are striking. I couldn’t help rooting for the two despite the fact that we’re in a no win Romeo and Romeo kind of situation. I’m so excited for the next one, and wish it was coming out sooner.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided with an ARC by GRR in exchange for an honest review. These are my real sentiments about the story and everything written here is respectful, without meaning to harm anyone, but to offer my opinion as constructive criticism/compliments. Thank you, C.F. White and GRR, for the opportunity!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 / 5

Couple: Razor/Richie and Tristan.

Structure: Dual POV, first person, past tense. First book of a trilogy that follows the same couple and a continuous background story.

I don't even know why I still get surprised that yet another one of C.F.'s books grabbed me by the wrists and had me locked under its spell haha As always, her ideas are refreshing, intriguing and well executed. This time, we're introduced to London's underworld clashing against the elite society in an explosive and inevitable encounter.

One thing I love about C.F.'s couples is how they are always so intensely attracted to each other right from the first look, and yet it never feels off for me. I root for them immediately. Believe every single thing they feel. And I absolutely love these series that explore the same couple and a continuous background plot through more than one book. It brings such depth and immersion to the stories. And everything is interesting too. I wanted to know about both worlds as much as I wanted to see Razor and Tristan together.

Now, there were a few scenes when I had to suspend reality, like when Tristan allowed Razor to have sex with him after being stabbed and patched up lol But it was such an AMAZING scene, I very gladly overlooked the fact that would never end up okay in real life and just went along for the ride 🤭

Despite this being a classic rich boy/poor boy situation, it didn't really feel cliché (not that there's anything wrong with clichés, love them). The way Razor's and Tristan's characters were depicted, their motives shown, and how their backstories turned them into who they are today, just feel unique. Honestly, I admired Razor's (a drug dealer!!!) ethics more than I did the ethics of the lawyers in Tristan's family. And that was in the very first few pages. It had me cackling and impressed.

I cannot wait to read the rest and see their pull towards each other become stronger and stronger, to the point where they won't be able to avoid it, and will more likely get in a lot of trouble because of it. I'm very curious about how they'll make their relationship work in a context where you don't just walk out of. I'm also very scared to see those boys suffering. But I do trust C.F.'s promise of a happy ending ❤️

[Daje1968 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those tricky ratings where my enjoyment and the actual writing quality don’t quite line up. If I were going purely off how much I enjoyed myself, this would land at 2 stars. But as a Gay Romance Reviews ARC reviewer, I can’t say the writing itself was poor, it just wasn’t for me.

The book goes deep into how bleak Razor’s life is, contrasted with the supposed misery of being filthy rich, old money (which… okay 🙄). Between that and the heavy focus on drug-running/gangster plotlines, I found myself skimming more than I’d like. There’s a lot of story here, but not a lot of romance, and I never fully bought into the connection between the two main characters.

I almost DNF’d around 61%, which is when they finally have penetrative sex. To be fair, exhibitionism isn’t a kink I enjoy, but even setting that aside…on the side of a road in central London..? It just felt ridiculous and rushed, and there was nothing particularly hot about it. The intimacy throughout the book lacked buildup OR execution , and the dynamic between the two didn’t convince me. Razor, in particular, came across as selfish in bed, very focused on his own release, with little attention to his partner, and yet we’re told more than once that he’s a “good fuck.” There’s just no evidence on the page to support that, which gave me flashbacks to old MF romances where everything magically works without effort.

Also, Tricky is a deeply unsexy and unromantic nickname. I may need to start a running list of the worst offenders, because that one is up there.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, which in hindsight makes sense because I couldn’t see how the story would wrap up in the remaining pages. That said, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series. The central relationship never clicked for me. I understand the appeal of the star-crossed lovers, upper crust vs. wrong side of the tracks dynamic, but the social/economic/educational divide is just too wide for these two. I needed more reasons to believe in Razor, and I didn’t get them.

One final note: I genuinely have no idea what either main character is supposed to look like, because the physical descriptions are minimal. What I am sure of is that neither of them resembles the very femme-presenting model on the cover. It feels like whoever approved the cover didn’t read the book at all, let alone write it.

[Savy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book just made me crave (ha!) more!

I was a little apprehensive to start this book. I just discovered this author last year with another series, which I really loved. I was afraid this new series might let me down.

Nothing like that happened. I was just blown away from the very start. It amazed me how real everything felt. White really puts in a lot of time and effort to immerse a reader into the world building. Not in an overwhelming way, but in a realistic way. I felt like I was there in London, walking the streets with the main characters Tristan and Razor. I know nothing about drug trade, but everything felt like it could really happen. It felt like the author had done tons of research to get all the little details right, making everything that much more believable.

Also the characters. Tristan and Razor are from two opposite worlds. They met by change, and while there's instant lust and attraction, it takes a while before the emotional attachment is developing. Again, these characters felt real. They had their own hopes and dreams, their struggles and their failures. I love the slow build up between the two, knowing that I can trust this author to deliver a HEA at the end of the series.
There is a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe, with Tristan being a rich kid, and Razor being a thug from the streets. They are on opposite sides of the law, yet something draws them together, changing them. I can already feel a lot of heartache and challenges coming their way.

I'm really looking forward to the other books in this series. And for those afraid to start a serie that isn't finished yet, don't worry. The other two books in this series are already written and will be published in the upcoming months.

[369Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
Tristan is a well-off son of a lawyer that wants to be a defender of the less fortunate, unlike his father. Razor is basically his complete opposite, a man who struggles to support his family by running drugs and slowly moving his way up in a criminal organization. They meet in a completely unorthodox way, but both of them can’t seem to get the other off their minds. This is definitely a darker themed and greedy book that deals with some heavy topics.

You can expect:
-book 1 in a trilogy (so no HEA yet!)
-class difference dynamics
-a criminal and a man from a law family
-great tropes like “I had nowhere else to go”
-lots of characters and attention to detail in the MCs lives

I thought this book was quite unique, and it delved very deeply into the lives of both of the main characters. I thought the writing style was very good, and I felt that the characters were very developed. There were quite a lot of side characters, which I found a little bit hard to keep track of sometimes, but overall I felt that this book did a good job firmly establishing what this series is going to be about.

I do genuinely think that this is quite a good book and I don’t really have anything negative to say about it. The only thing is, there was something about this book that just didn’t capture my heart and didn’t capture my interest the way that books that are this well written usually do, if that makes sense? Like there is just some sort of intangible reason why I don’t feel like rushing to pick up the next book. I do still think I will eventually finish the series because objectively it was very good. I do think a lot of people will enjoy this, and I have seen people online recommending this a lot recently. I do think that the writing quality is good.

The author describes the book as “gritty”, and I do feel that this is a good adjective to describe it.

[Sam Price · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

In general I liked this book. I just found myself drifting off and thinking about other things for the first 30% however. But once Razor and Tristan started interacting more, I was locked in.

[Inês Lopes · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Pure perfection! What an amazing plot, great writing and addictive storytelling 🙏

I loved how we kept seeing the contrast between both Tristan’s (super rich/powerful family from west London) and Razor’s (drug dealer from East London) worlds. The alternating POV’s and the way they flowed was really good. You can see everything was well thought of, and the timing of events plus pacing were on point.

There’s an insta lust but nothing is easy after that 💔They’re from completely different worlds and there’s a lot holding them back from living their lives in the way they want to. They’re both stuck, in different ways, but can’t seem to help each other’s pull.

Even tough this is a romance, there’s equal focus on their individual lives and struggles, which made me feel so connected to both of them and really appreciate them together even more. I’m obsessed 😭

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy fuck, this book was incredible. I did not expect to love it this much, but I read it in one sitting because it kept me completely hooked from the very first page to the end. It was so intense and intoxicating.

I loved Tristan and Razor so much. Their characters were so complex and well-written, and there wasn't a single boring part in the whole story. Even when I was stressing over Tristan's choices and thinking "no, don't do that," I completely understood where he was coming from and why he was drawn to that edge of danger and rebellion.

I'm not usually a dark romance person, but if this is what it's like, I am officially hooked. The writing was fantastic, the chemistry was insane, and it was just so fucking good. Easily a 5-star read!

[Nilay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really hopeful. I don’t know why, but I pushed myself to the 75% mark then gave up and skimmed. This was the first book I’d read by this author and it suffers from the "every line is a paragraph" trend that I've come across in nearly every other book in recent months. Why? WHY??? Are they getting paid per page? I'm tired of the lack of literary talent out there.

There are dozens of examples like these two. It was painful.

"We were both gone.
Drowning.
And choosing it anyway."

"The sound wasn’t dramatic.
It was real. Raw.
A man trying to stay upright with a knife wound pulling at his ribs."

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristan + Razor

-forbidden mm romance
-morally grey heroes
-rich boy x east end gangster
-opposites attract
-touch him & d!e
-london gang underworlds
-obsessive, all consuming love

yoooooo the way this whole dynamic was set up & the development for how its all going down for them, individually & together, is just SOOO ADDICTIVE!! im soooo heavily invested istg

[Tara Parsa · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Story 4.5 🌟
Steam 3❤️‍🔥
Swoon 5🫠
……………………………

The chemistry between 2 MMCs is everything ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🩹💯🔥
I enjoyed Razor and Tristan’s love story
The uptown pretty boy and the mafia bad boy stole the scene and my heart right from start
I’m usually too impatient to read 3 books to get to the HEA but this one is a true exception 💞🤩

One of the book highlights of 2026🌟❤️‍🔥

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrong side of the universe

Dee's Grade: A

This is a good start to the series. These two are going to have a long road ahead of them. They are not from different worlds. They are from different galaxies.

I can't wait to see where the Razor and Tristan's story goes from here.

[Cyndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the beginning - I love these two. I can’t wait to begin book 2!

[lalala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible writing. Finished the book within a day. Such realistic characters, and oh how my heart aches for the two MCs. Can’t wait to read the next, and hopefully other books from the author live up to this one!

[Liza]

Not rating bc I dnfed after the first chapter. If im constantly wrinkling my nose while reading this book isn’t for me.

[lans · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This was soo good! The characters are so rich and the mm dynamic of criminal x lawyer, genius

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Tristan and Razor 😭

Holy sh%t, this did not disappoint! Where do I even start? This story is dark, gritty, and deeply disturbing. I’ve always loved C.F.’s writing, she has such a gift for crafting morally grey characters and situations that truly resonate with me. She also has a knack for making us love characters we probably shouldn't.
Crave is a heartbreaking, fast paced ride that's going to keep us guessing until the very end, I just know it. The attraction between Tristan and Razor is visceral, they are clearly meant for each other, even though they couldn't be more different. On paper, you should probably hate Razor (Ritchie), but I just couldn’t. As his layers peel away, you see the man underneath and the tragedy of what his life could have been. He’s certainly no angel, but he is unforgettable.
The dynamic between the entitled, wealthy Tristan and the hardened Razor is the heart of the book. Their connection feels raw and inevitable, even though their worlds are miles apart. Both, however, have one thing in common, Tristan is under the thumb of his autocratic father, and Razor is a victim of circumstance.
This book was everything I expected and more. It is a dark, disturbing journey, but that is exactly where C.F. excels. She manages to balance a high intensity thriller with a tear jerking drama. I cannot wait for the next book, though I have a feeling that whatever happens next, it isn't going to be good!

[Endlessly02 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book confused me because I liked some parts a lot, but did not like others at all. I liked the main characters, the attraction between Razor and Tristan was good, it kept me interested, but what kind of broke the spell for me was that they knew each other for like 1 or 2 weeks in whole book, so I could not really feel so much sadness on their 'break up' because they barely knew each other. I think the book could have easily had just half of the pages and the story would have been the same. I get it that the difference between them socially and how they lived their lives, that they were on opposite ways of the law was a big part of the plot, but it's redundant to keep mentioning it each chapter and not like two quick words, but whole phrases describing the same thing over and over again. What I would have liked to see more, was an actual relationship between Razor and his sister. He did all of the drug deals for his mom and sister, but she always just seemed annoyed with him. I understand she doesn't agree with his lifestyle, but would have been nice for him to at least have a better relationship with his sister.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Razor and Tristan ❤️

This story is going to be amazing judging by the start and we've only just scratched the surface of these two amazing characters. I'm excited for what's next.......this review is vague, but it's worth the read getting into this universe without spoilers!!! Trust me!!

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced full of danger and passion
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2026
Format: Kindle Edition
Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
Wow I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book. It is very fast paced which I really enjoyed. I’ve got to say I think this is the first book I’ve read from this author and let me tell you I cannot wait for the second book.
Tristan is from a very well to do family his father is a lawyer who works for the CPS and Tristan wants to be a lawyer but working for the underdogs I guess you could say. Tristan’s boyfriend has given him vibes to follow him so him and his group of friends his roommates end up going to Hackney and they catch him cheating on Tristan. He goes out to get some air and this is where he meets a man giving off a vibe that is making Tristan intrigue of and they end up in an alley and after they spend time together the man gives him £50. That’s the going rate. So he is obviously mistaken Tristan for a call boy. Tristan knew he should feel humiliated, but there was something about the danger that really turned him on and now he craved it..
so that is basically how Tristan meets razor. And razor is a drug runner he takes care of his patch making sure that everything runs smoothly but he was having an issue with rival gang called ghost. And his boss didn’t accept excuses. He either wanted his money or his gear so razor was always on the edge. He also had a mum and a teenage sister who had a baby to take care of. Razor never came out to anyone because being gay made people think you were weak on the streets which is utter rubbish but appearance meant a lot to him.
There’s a couple of backstory going on while razor and Tristan continue to meet. These meetings weren’t planned there was always something there that brought them together. I’ve got to say I couldn’t put this book down and I was gutted that I forgot it was a trilogy. I am a nightmare when I’m left on the edge of a book and this one has got me looking to see when the second Book is coming out.
There is something very special about their connection. They shouldn’t work privileged and a criminal but when they’re together that really doesn’t matter they have passion. They have a connection and the chemistry is off the charts for these two. I promise you you will not be disappointed. So excited for the next Book.

[M. B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow! Another book by the author that just completely swept me off my feet!
Whatever I expected from this book, it wasn’t that, in a good way!

All I could think about was him. The danger. The brutality. And the way he hadn’t cared who I was. It should have scared me. But it didn’t. It turned me on. And worse— I already knew I’d crave it.

It felt so very realistic. Like it could all happen that way. The book centers a lot around a London drug ring. There were so many details around that, which read so real. I can’t imagine how much research the author must do.

In this book we meet Tristan, a nice, rich, law-student MC, who gets sucked into the orbit of a drug lieutenant, Razor.
The class and status difference between them makes the book so very addicting! And if you think “I have read that before” - no, you didn’t. Not like that!
The book is raw and gritty and has some very ugly sides. Both MCs had to endure so much shit and hardship, but in very different ways.

It wasn’t fear I’d felt. It was raw, unfiltered, unholy lust. Burning through reason and making me grateful to be ruined by it.

I’m struggling a bit with how to describe the plot. I’m a fan of going into books blind. I can’t really think of a way to write a synopsis or more details without giving away too much of the plot or even with spoilers, or saying too little and make it sound less amazing than it is. I write my reviews with a bit of time in between to settle my thoughts. With this book this doesn’t work. My mind is still reeling and connecting dots and trying to figure out where the story will head to. That’s why I also usually read CF White’s book twice before reviewing, but unfortunately I don’t have time for a reread before the release. So I’ll probably update this when I can.
I see a lot of heartache and cursing in the future…

I’d felt it then. That terrifying rightness in something so completely wrong.

What I really want to add: I love how Tristan and Razor get to know each other. How they start to trust each other and open up. From the outside it doesn’t really make sense that they’re so drawn to each other. But if you get to know them slowly while reading it just clicks in place and it totally makes sense.

He was in my blood, in my bones. Threaded through me like the sweetest poison I’d ever tasted. [...] I couldn’t afford to fall in love with a man like him. I would just have to learn how to live with the craving.

There’s only one reason why anyone shouldn’t pick up this book immediately: It takes three books for Tristan and Razor to find their HEA. And the other two books aren’t out yet… But you’ll know the wait will be worth it and anticipation is half the joy.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Razor is second in command in East London's drug trade... not because he wanted to be, but because it's where he ended up. Once he was in - there was too much to sacrifice to find an exit. His mother... his little sister...his baby niece are the family he has, and he can't risk their safety. He's already got heart-breaking loss in his past that he struggles to deal with.

Then Razor meets Tristan Hale-Fitzroy. Tristan might as well be from the moon. He's posh and educated; he's had a path set out for him since the day he was born. Anything in Tristan's life can be solved with money or with a wave of his powerful father's hand.

Both men are trapped in their own way; tied to a path that is leading them somewhere they don't want to go. Razor is moving up in the drug business and Tristan's family want him locked into a career in law like all the men in his family.

C.F. White is a fantastic writer - one of my favourite authors, but her sweet spot is dark romance - the kind of romance that is intricate, thoughtful, edgy and thoroughly engaging. (or obsessions worthy) There is always a great story, a solid plot to prop up the perfectly tweaked romance and this book is no exception.

The difference between Tristan and Razor are epic, but at the same time, White manages to write them in a way that brings out things they have in common. There are two leads in this book, and they are both battling their way out from under the weight of where history and family have driven them. Both men are wanting something other, something more, something different. Maybe they are that for each other. Maybe they are going to be the death of each other as their lives collide.

The sparks fly when Razor and Tristan first encounter one another but the relationship transitions quickly from sexual to something far more dangerous for both men. What if they have feelings for one another? What if they become important in some way? I have already had tears in my eyes reading book one, so I know I'm in for an emotional roller coaster.

White has promised 3 books in the Pretty Poison series - and if book one is any indication of how things are going to go. I am so here for it.

If you read White's "To Love a Psycho" series - you should hop on this one!

[That One Romance Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to C.F. White for sending me a copy!

Intro:
This book is an MM romance between Tristian, a privileged, rich law student and Razor, a drug lieutenant


Tropes/Highlights:
-Dual POV
-MM
-Open Door Spice
-Different Tax Brackets
-Criminal/Law Student
-Opposites Attract
-Insta-lust
-Closeted MC/Out MC
-Morally Slipping MC
-Soft Only For Him



Likes:
-Their first meeting/misunderstanding
-Character morals
-Family dynamics
-Razor trying to hold it all together
-Well developed characters
-World building
-Character relationships/connections
-Raw details
-Tension/Betrayal


Quotes:
-"The people who'd learnt how to catch me when I tipped too far. Who knew my tells, my silences, the precise moment charm became collapse"
-"Out on the street, no one moved in on my line. And tonight, that line was him"
-"We were a paradox in motion, both of us too aware of the lines we were crossing"
-"For a man who scared the life out of me, he was far too good at touching me softly"
-"But he couldn't live in my world. And I couldn't follow him into his...We were a broken equation, doomed from the start"
-"He was in my blood, in my bones. Threaded through me like the sweetest poison I'd ever tasted"
-"He deserved someone whose tomorrow wasn't a coin toss"


I've read C.F White books in the past and I am never disappointed. I loved this book and I can't wait to see what is in store for these characters in the next two books. White did an amazing job with the characters and the plot. The MCs are from opposite worlds that bleed together and blur the line of morality. I loved how gritty the story is and how you see the struggle and internal conflict from both sides. Razor is a man trying to hold his life together and keep those he cares about safe as the danger presses in. While Tristian is trying to escape betrayal and the heavy expectations placed on him as he falls deeper into Razor's orbit. I recommend reading this book if you love dark, violent when needed, but also secretly sweet characters with a lot to lose and even more to fight for.

[Somiya Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is soo good. The plot, the romance, the want is just amazing. I love the plot of this book so much. The plot is actually plotting and is important to the story. It is not just there to push the romance. This shows the dark reality of being in this line of work and how these kind of people live and all the dangers they face. I just think all the things shown in east london in this book are so realistic of the living situations of people in these kind of areas(the areas where these illegal things happen).That is the thing I love the most about this book. But the romance, tension is not lacking either. The way Tristian and Richie crave each other is just ... I love it so much.

But there are so many aspects that are in their way of actually pursuing a relationship. Like being gay and in love is seen as a weakness and something that can be used against the person in richie's world and it can be a danger to tristian as well & how can tristian date a drug dealer (a criminal as the world says) when his family are lawyers? They would be so disappointed in him and would see him as a failure. Like both of them have so much to loose if they get in a relationship. And it's just really heartbreaking to see them suffering them like that being away from eachother. They miss each other like crazy that it actually hurts me.

Both of them are in their own respective cage. Im really just really curious to see how they are gonna fight for their relationship and how it's gonna work. I really hope they get to be happy.

Richie might be an drug dealer but i really liked his work ethic (not involving kids and other small things) and it feels like my guys soul was sucked out of him when cormac promoted him. He just felt so empty from inside when that happened that i actually felt so bad for him.

Tristian just wants to forge his own path and work things in his own way but the way his family tries to micro-manage him just makes me so upset.

I just want them to be fucking happy.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captivated me from the start and left me eager for more! Learning about the two MC's, who they are and what shaped them, as well as the vast, intense emotions and deep moments in this book, will keep you engaged. We also get to know some secondary characters who play various roles in the lives of our MC's - some help us understand more of who the MC's are, while others are the ones who helped shape who the MC's are and/or who they will evolve into.

This is the first book of a trilogy that follows the same two men who will have vastly different, but by no means insignificant struggles to overcome before they can get what looks to be a very hard earned HEA in the final book.

Razor is twenty-six, he grew up and still lives in the harsh side of London, and is fairly deeply involved in the drug trade. It is a choice he made after a dangerous situation and out of necessity, one that helps him protect and provide for his mother and young sister and niece. Due to this line of work, there is some danger and violence involved - although this book doesn't have a huge amount.

Tristan is twenty-three and was born into a wealthy family, one that has huge expectations and certain rules that must be followed. For the most part, he goes along with what is expected of him, but deep down, he truly wants to carve out his own path. He managed to make a bit of a side step, but part of that blew up in his face. This situation is one that ends up bringing him into contact with Razor, a brief interaction that was meant to be quickly forgotten. However, neither man is able to forget the other, and thus begins the development of a connection nobody could have predicted - not even them.

I would absolutely recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this book, this review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love a UK set storyline being a Brit and this first instalment in the Pretty Poison trilogy throws you straight into London’s criminal underworld and doesn’t let up.

Razor survives by control, over territory, over product, over himself. Loyalty to the man he works for keeps his sister safe, and violence keeps everyone else in line. Tristan, by contrast, has grown up wrapped in wealth and expectation, polished to perfection but starved of real autonomy. When their worlds collide, it feels less like coincidence and more like detonation.

What really impressed me was the atmosphere which having lived in London i felt was so real. The streets, the hierarchy of the drug trade, the quiet calculations behind every move, it all feels grounded and meticulously built without ever turning into an info-dump. The setting isn’t just backdrop; it shapes every decision they make.

The romance leans into that class divide. There’s instant heat, but the emotional connection takes time, which makes it all the more believable. Razor’s hardness isn’t magically softened, and Tristan isn’t naïve about the danger he’s stepping into. There’s a definite star-crossed, almost Romeo-and-Juliet edge to their dynamic, with both men fully aware that wanting each other could cost them everything.

Dark, addictive and charged with tension, i am avidly awaiting the next in this trilogy that promises heartache, high stakes. Exceptional!

I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review

[Kiki Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crave kicks off the new Pretty Poison trilogy by C. F. White and I suspect we are in for one wild ride.
This book is dark and gritty, with enough bad decisions to fill a month of Sundays.
I love a posh boy. Pair him with a morally gray drug dealer who thinks he’s a rent boy? Let’s just say the first time Tristan and Razor set eyes on each other it’s anything but a traditional meet cute.
Tristan. Trying to delay his law pupilage, afraid of becoming like his father and brother. A night that starts with betrayal ends with a dangerous liaison that leaves him wanting more.
Razor has used his brawn to make a name for himself. His quick mind has kept him in the game and able to protect and support his worn out mother and teenage sister with a baby and untrustworthy boyfriend. He’s had to limit his desires to transactional hookups. Until the one he can’t forget.
Watching these two circle around each other is fascinating. This is not a sweet romance. There’s passion and violence and retribution. And mutual obsession.
But there’s also two men, neither satisfied with their lives, but trying to do the right thing.
For Razor, that’s making the best of a bad situation and taking an offer that will give his family a better life. Maybe at the expense of his own happiness.
I can’t wait to see where this story goes. Razor was able to dodge the police in this book, but I fear he’s on a collision course with Tristan’s dad, which is going to set up one hell of a moral dilemma.
My only complaint? I have to wait for Book 2!