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 in East London for a man with a soul darker than the devil’s. Violence kept me breathing. Loyalty kept my sister and her baby fed. Control was the only thing I’d ever owned.

Then he walked into my world and tore it apart.

Tristan Hale-Fitzroy.

Rich. Beautiful. Irresistible. A bloke who should’ve run when he saw me coming. Instead, he stood his ground with lies on his lips and defiance in his eyes. And I was hooked on something far stronger than anything I’d ever peddled on the streets.

I knew he didn’t belong.

I knew he’d ruin me.

I let him anyway.

Tristan
I was born into privilege and raised inside suffocating expectation. Performing perfection on demand kept me obedient. My status kept me in lavish luxury. Until betrayal showed me the truth—I had everything except control.

So I went looking for something real and found him.
Razor Slade.

Rough. Raw. Untouchable. A man carved hard by the streets. He thought I was another transaction in his violent world. I let him believe it, because the truth was far more dangerous.

He wasn’t my escape.

He was my addiction.

I was desperate for another taste.

Crave is the first book in the Pretty Poison Trilogya 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, Crime, Dark, Suspense, LGBT

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

[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.

[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!

[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.

[Arcturus170 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy and this is my honest review.
4*
Really enjoyed the dynamic between Tristan and Razor. They’re polar opposites who attract like magnets. I enjoyed watching them try to figure the other out. The obsession hits before either knows a name or a story. They are fiery and sexy together, while also being an impossible match out in the harsh light of day. The real world is unforgiving to either of them, but especially Razor. I appreciate the details about his family and the bleakness of their situation. He’s devoted to them and feels helpless for it. I love Razor going to Tristan in a moment of need. It’s the best part of the book, by far. They are vulnerable with each other and reveal some hard truths. I also like how Tristan goes looking for Razor. He doesn’t get what he wants, but he shares a profound moment with someone important.

Poor Razor is trapped by his life. I’d call the ending a soft cliffhanger, setting things up for book 2.

Now a moment of honesty: this isn’t a book for me. I found the extreme wealth vs poverty sickening. The few moments of gangland cruelty are repulsive. All of this is designed to evoke big reactions and build out this world that the MCs inhabit. That’s done well and I’m sure others will enjoy the craft. It’s tough content and I had a hard time connecting with it. That’s a “me” thing.

Other thoughts:
-Extensive detail about the drug trade, distribution, logistics, etc. I found most of these parts dry and skimmed.
-The breakup scene with Ollie at the house is way OTT. I don’t understand how Tristan physically… “accomplishes” what is described. His emotions and rational thinking swing wildly. He understands the logic of the breakup, but lashes out in vengeful, bizarre ways. He’s unhinged and I struggled to understand or like him as a character after this scene. He has redeeming moments, but I still don’t trust him.

[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!

[Melissa Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, I've never read a CF White book that didn't gut me in the very best way and this one was no exception.

This story is gritty in a realistic way (I say knowing nothing of London streets or drug dealing). It's not vigilantes and assassins and psychopaths. It's real people with real lives and real problems. Somehow it becomes relatable despite the main characters being a wrong-side-of-the-tracks drug dealer and a trust fund college boy. No matter their extreme circumstances, they're facing the same problems so many of us do: providing for family, shouldering expectations, finding our place in a system that is fundamentally broken.

The action in this one is slowish and that's actually a good thing. It gives you time to sink into the world and what's going on. Lets you meet all the side characters without getting overwhelmed. I'm also pleased to say that I couldn't predict some of the things that happened (to avoid spoilers, here's a vague example: there's a thing mentioned between Tristan's father and brother that I thought might go a different way than it did).

What I love most about CF White's books is the emotional depth of the characters and their interactions. It pulls me in and holds sharp edges to my heart but I know in the end, I'll be pleased despite any bruises or nicks.

So very excited to see where this series goes.

[Canadian Girl Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙄’𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩.⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
I have become a huge fan of C F White over the past year, and when I saw she was releasing a new trilogy, I was excited to dive in.⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Razor and Tristan are opposite in every way. Razor is a lieutenant in an organized crime ring, and Tristan is the heir to a family full of lawyers. The forbiddeness of each other continues to draw them together, no matter how dangerous being together could be. ⁣
⁣⁣⁣
I am loving the morally grey, forbidden aspect of Razor and Tristan’s relationship, and love how, even though they barely know each other, they are willing to risk everything for the other.⁣
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I am completely invested in this new trilogy and cannot wait to see what happens next. I am expecting some twists and turns to pop up.⁣
⁣
Take a chance and join Razor and Tristan on the first part of their journey if you vibe with…⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
♥️ ⁣⁣MM⁣
🖤 ⁣⁣Dark | Organized Crime⁣
♥️ ⁣⁣Opposites⁣
🖤 ⁣⁣Size Difference⁣
♥️ ⁣⁣Forbidden⁣
🖤 ⁣⁣Morally Grey⁣
⁣⁣
🍁🍁🍁🍁.5⁣⁣⁣
🥵🥵🥵⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯; 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah man! C F White has sucked me hook line and sinker into another dark world and I cannot tell you how much I hate being wrenched out of it. I finished this book days ago and I’m still thinking about it. Danger, lust, greed - the haves the have nots and the takers. The puppeteers and those who are trapped in their strings. From East London’s gritty drug lines to Mayfairs glitz and power, worlds collides when these men who should never have met and intrinsically connected and cannot break loose.

Tristan, born in immense privilege but with an unfortunately empathetic heart putting him almost always on the outside. No matter how much he rebels his family legacy doggedly chases him and he still colours within the lines. Until one night he meets Razor, who could not have come from a world more different than his, yet these men are both trapped and they start breaking the chains surreptitiously almost without realising it.

There is threat and danger around every corner, these two are forbidden, there is betrayal, comeuppance, shady deals, violence, edge if your seat action and plot twists - and in the midst if all this is the lust, chemistry, the click that locks into place for them.

Cannot wait to read more! These three books have a fast release schedule and I for one am highly anticipating them

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Outside, London staggered past the window looking exactly how the night felt: half-cut, mascara-smudged, spilling sins across wet pavements. Neon bled into the rain-slick glass until the city became a blur of grime and light. A place where anything could happen and usually did. And we were here to take what it offered."

Wow, this was amazing! I have no idea why Crave was the first book I have read by C.F. White but it certainly won't be the last. The writing was stellar, I adored the characters and Tristan and Razor's storyline has got me completely and utterly hooked!

Be warned, there are some very dark themes running through the story, and this is only book 1 in the author's Pretty Poison trilogy, so there is no HEA here - and honestly, who knows how these boys' story will end...we can but hope!

"Then he looked down, eyes locking on mine, and he was so close I could see the flecks of gold glinting through the velvet brown like light catching on broken glass. Every nerve burnt. My pulse went feral. And in that split second, I couldn’t tell if he meant to hurt me or kiss me."

What To Expect:

🖤MM romance
🖤Dark themes
🖤London criminal underworld
🖤Opposites attract
🖤Forbidden desires
🖤"Mine"
🖤Steamy
🖤Cliff-hanger

ALL THE STARS 🌟

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I love Razor. Absolutely adore him. He isn’t clean, his life isn’t pretty. His livelihood is brutal and illegal. But he does it for the best reasons, and I love him for it. And Tristan… I just hope Ollie finds his HEA as well. Yes, he cheated, but was it really cheating? I love how CF White doesn’t give us likeable characters, or things that are cut and dry, black and white, there’s a lot of gray, nuances, details, and justifications that make you think. It’s hard to judge the characters out right because they’re complex, with backstories and reasons for their actions that make you stop and think. I was ready to dislike Ollie on principle but then… we hear the rest of the story, and it made me think more about it. I love how snap judgments are useless with CF White, because there are so many things to take into consideration, you have to wait to figure things out. I’m glad this is a trilogy, because there’s so much more I want to learn about Razor and Tristan, and figure out how they’ll get their HEA, because it doesn’t look to clear at the moment, and I love it! Amazing beginning for a trilogy that will be a woozy, like usual, but so worth the ride. I’m all in, and so should you be.

[Nancy Lockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a moderately angsty darker romance with the tropes of rich/poor and good boy/bad boy. Tristan is from old money and is expected to follow in his father and older brother's footsteps and become a prosecutor. However, he is more interested in defending people and understanding what circumstances led them to committing crimes. He feels constricted by his family and their expectations. Razor comes from the estates/projects and grew up poor. He ended up joining a gang and selling drugs to protect his younger sister and mother. He knows that the only way out of his life of crime is death. He guards the secret of his sexuality. Tristan and Razor meet one night when Tristan goes with his friends to a club in the seedier part of town. They have a explosive hook up and can't stop thinking about each other. Being with Razor makes Tristan feel alive and free from his family. Tristan makes Razor feel hope and longing for something different which is dangerous inches world. Tristan help to patch Razor up when he is injured by a rival gang. They end up separating when Razor is promoted to a new position in his gang. This story ends on a cliff hanger that is to be continued in the next 2 books.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this new series. Razor and Tristan are opposites yet have in common that they’re both trapped in lives not of their own choosing. I loved their connection, and the very real danger of London’s criminal underworld.

I loved how Tristan and Razor’s worlds collide with a chance meeting and misconceptions, yet with an instant obsession with each other.

The descriptions of the characters and settings are evocative, emotional, and very much intertwined. The story feels very real and gritty, but with an underlying thread of two lost souls doing what they need to survive, and not lose the people they care about.

The supporting characters play important parts in the story. I liked how different they are with Lennon making different choices and living a life Razor feels he can never have. Ollie and Benji deserve each other, with neither really aware of how dangerous it is to play in a world that isn’t theirs. I loved Henry, who like Tristan, wants to make a difference rather than rely on privilege and family expectations.

I’m looking forward to the rest of the series, although I suspect things will get worse before they get better and that Tristan and Razor will have a rough road ahead to reach their HEA.

[SNik · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in trilogy (Pretty Poison). Opposites attract. Forbidden/secret relationship. Dual POV. Heed content warnings.

Two very different men from different backgrounds stumble across each other one night and can’t forget. Posh, wealthy law student Tristan is mistaken for a rent boy by drug dealer Razor, and they both take risks to see each other again.

This book is definitely meant to introduce and describe the different worlds in which Razor and Tristan live and how impossible their desires to live a different life seem. When they are on page together it is electric with tons of chemistry but not anything deep as they both acknowledge the impossibility of anything more. Razor has a hard and very gritty life, and both men want to fight against their circumstances but it really seems hopeless. As this is just the beginning of the trilogy nothing is settled and it is a mild cliffhanger as the story continues. This was a fantastic introduction to two characters you really want to root for but dread the path they have to travel in order to make it work, but I am here for it. 4.5 rounded up

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.F. White delivers a gripping, emotionally charged start to the Pretty Poison series with a story that thrives on contrast—light and dark, privilege and survival, longing and danger. Razor, second in command in East London’s drug trade, is a man shaped by circumstance rather than choice. His loyalty to the only family he has left keeps him trapped in a world that is slowly consuming him. Tristan Hale-Fitzroy, meanwhile, comes from a life of polished privilege, where expectations are inherited, and deviation is not tolerated. Razor and Tristan are opposites in every visible way, yet their internal struggles mirror each other with striking clarity. Both are trapped, both are yearning for something different, and both find in each other a dangerous possibility of escape.
The romance is electric from the start, but what elevates the story is how quickly it deepens into emotional territory that feels raw and real. White’s writing is sharp, immersive, and emotionally intelligent, balancing plot and character development with precision. If this first installment is any indication, the Pretty Poison trilogy is set to be one of her strongest works.

[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.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.F. White has completely pulled me into another dark and dangerous world, and I hated being wrenched out of it when the book ended. I finished it days ago and I’m still thinking about it.

Set between the gritty drug lines of East London and the wealth and power of Mayfair, this story follows Tristan and Razor, two men from completely different worlds. Tristan comes from privilege but never quite fits within the expectations of his powerful family, while Razor lives deep in London’s criminal underworld as the second-in-command to a drug lord.

Their meeting sparks an intense connection that quickly becomes impossible to ignore. The chemistry between them is undeniable, even as danger, betrayal, violence, and power struggles close in around them.

The world-building is fantastic and makes London feel vivid and real, and the slow build between Tristan and Razor makes their connection feel believable. There’s a strong Romeo and Juliet vibe with two men drawn together despite the worlds that should keep them apart.

This is only the beginning of their story, and it definitely left me eager for the next book.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing this incredible book, I immediately found myself needing book two.



True to its title, Crave perfectly captures the intense, undeniable desire between Tristan and Richie—also known as Razor. The powerful connection they share, both emotional and physical, kept me completely riveted from beginning to end. Their journey is a collision of opposites—the good side of the law versus the bad—and that tension only deepens the pull between them.



The author writes their emotional and physical cravings with such depth and intensity that you can practically feel them. The chemistry is electric, raw, and impossible to ignore. I found myself craving more with every chapter—and now I’m absolutely craving the next book.



Set against the gritty realism of Landon’s backstreets and dark alleyways—where deals are made, blood is spilled, and danger lurks at every turn—the story feels vivid and authentic. It’s intense, emotional, and unapologetically raw.



I honestly couldn’t get enough of this book. It’s far beyond five stars for me.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, gritty and absorbing

This is another excellent book from CF, who loves to keep us on the edge of our seats. This time, it's a look at the privileged rich and the sordid underbelly of London. Tristan studying law and Razor on the wrong side of it.
I was completely immersed from the start, pulled in by the writing, the characters, and the London scenery swapping from Mayfair to Hackney. There was tension running throughout the story, not just when Razor was the focus, as Tristan's relationship with his father was strained and distant.
I loved the contrast between Tristan and Razor, complete opposites in everything. Lavish homes, obscene wealth, old boys' network vs. rundown council flat, ill-gotten gains and complete lack of support. A chance meeting starts an obssesion that neither of them can ignore, despite the danger involved for both of them. They shouldn't work together but they do.
Actually, I can't see how these two will ever be able to be together but I know the other two books are already written so luckily, it won't be long before we see how it all plays out.

[Mrs.V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one kicked me straight in the gut. It’s raw and full of grit, it’s emotional and unfiltered, it’s everything I wanted (craved?) and what I have come to expect from CF White, who never lets me down.
The two MCs are (are they really?) polar opposites.
Tristan is posh and was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, whose act of rebellion towards his family is choosing a different branch of the law from his father’s.
Razor was born and still lives on the wrong side of London, growing up in council housing where the only option he sees to take care of his mum and sister is dealing drugs for the local gang.
They should never have met, they shouldn’t work at all (and in this first book at least, it’s not as if they’re working much), except… there’s more to both of them, and the connection and pull is undeniable.
I can’t wait to see how their seemingly hopeless situation evolves throughout the trilogy to give what I expect will be a very fought-for happy ending!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Crave opens a new addiction from author CF White with the first book in the Pretty Poison series. It’s an opposites-attract book where the worlds of Razor and Tristan clash and crash. Tristan’s family is the richest of the rich. He doesn’t have to worry about money, but he has to worry about expectations. Tristan sees things in a way the rest of his family has no interest in examining and they feel a criminal is a criminal, no matter their circumstances.

Tristan and Razor were never supposed to meet. But now that they have, the spark is ready to turn into a full blown inferno. But everything is a secret and everything brings them one step closer to the ultimate danger.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Un)holy smokes! I loved everything about this new facet to CF White’s writing!
The narration sets the mood of the story perfectly and there is no romnaticizing the gritty, ugly parts.
The MCs are both fleshed out just right and we get a true deep dive into who they are as people, but also can see the challenges and inner conflicts in brilliant detali! There is no perfection or glossing over anything. There’s hard truth and believable, gritty emotions put out there in just the right words to make you want to flip the page over and over.
There was no putting the book down for me and I need part two immediately. And however many more there are, because I don’t see myself getting tired of the vibe this story has. 100% recommend if you are after a genuine story with lots of bumps, bruises and hurt along the way.

[Mommysuz]

BUCKLE UP your in for a ride!

When Razor and Tristan first meet, let's say it’s basically a case of mistaken. These two could not be more different. Tristan comes from wealth and privilege, while Razor is deep in the drug world. Absolutely no way this should work.

And yet they’re completely drawn to each other. They’re toxic and magnetic at the same time.

You can just feel the heartache coming, and I am not emotionally prepared for what’s ahead. This is not your typical mushy love story. It’s gritty and raw. It pulls you in from the very first page and does not let go.

Fair warning this is NOT a standalone. There are two more books coming in the series and I am already dying having to wait two months between each release because I need to know what happens next.

I received this book from Book Sirens for my honest opinion.

[S.M. Harshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

CRAVE is the first book in the Pretty Poison Series.

What to expect:
🔥 Forbidden Attraction
🔥 Class Difference
🔥 Obsession, Addiction, Moral Decay
🔥 Dark MM Romance with Teeth

Tristian and Razor...Jesus I was immediately pulled into this world and didn't let go. I was so invested and trying to figure out how...just how and I couldn't, making my brain scream.

Tristian and Razor are from two different worlds on opposite sides of the tracks and when their worlds collide it's explosive. The push and pull between them is palpable and electric. I was so invested in the dark alleys and underworld of London. I can't see how it's going to work but I need it to in the worst way.

I cannot wait for the next installment. I need it yesterday!

I was given a free copy of this book to read and review by Gay Romance Reviews.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so wanted more of this book when I began it, which bodes well for the series. I wanted even more of it when I finished.

The opposition of the worlds of these two guys feels almost insurmountable - well, it feels completely insurmountable at this point but we have been promised an eventual HEA so it must only be almost, right?

The similarities of Razor and Tristan make so much sense. It might seem like they have nothing in common but they have more than either of them know. Razor is in a very difficult position - I can foresee some badness coming for him in the future books from the threads left in this one.

But the book is a wonderful read, very much opposites attract and gritty. A surprising amount of the grittier feel is actually in how the upper class interact, too.

Advance copy from GRR.

[Mirjam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure, Unapologetic Obsession.

This book doesn’t flirt with danger, it drags you into a dark London alley, presses you against the brick, and dares you to look away. The writing is lush and poisonous in the best way. Every line drips with tension, every glance feels like a loaded weapon







Razor and Tristan are everything a dark romance should be: combustible, contradictory, and completely irresistible. One forged by violence and loyalty, the other suffocated by privilege and expectation. Together they’re a collision of class, control, and craving that feels raw down to the bone.
The push and pull between these two men is addictive enough to hurt. Razor’s brutality and reluctant tenderness clash perfectly with Tristan’s polished defiance and hidden desperation. Neither man is safe. Neither is innocent.







This isn’t a love story about redemption; it’s about corruption, about wanting something that will ruin you and choosing it anyway. The criminal underworld setting is immersive and brutal, the emotional stakes are sky-high, and the romance burns slow, dark, and devastating.







If you love morally gray characters, forbidden desire, and stories that feel like a sweetest poison in your veins, Crave will own you. And once it does, you’ll be desperate for the next hit, Corrupt




Part of the Pretty Poison Series, a dark MM romance set in London’s criminal underworld, and must be read in order:

[Ju · Rating 5 out of 5]

CF White does it again. Crave the first book of a new trilogy Pretty Poison, introduces us to Razor and Tristan. Living in the same city, separated by social divide, but both living a life that has been forged from circumstance rather than choice. From the first chapter you are invested in the story of two men who should never have met, a connection that should never have been made and a divide that neither can cross.

I look forward to the next two installments Corrupt and Claim coming April and June 2026. Knowing the author's style I expect a turbulent path for both, before we get to the ending.

I received an ARC from the author, this review is freely given and without influence from the author.