Heaux Phase

by Netra Antionette, Markd By Tylee (Editor)

Lyrix is tired of healing quietly. So she escapes to New Orleans for a week of pure Heaux Phase energy. No rules, No expectations, Just vibes.

Then she meets Maison, a smooth-talking local who turns her “just for fun” trip into something hotter, softer, and way more tempting than she planned.

What was supposed to be a little chaos turns into days of chemistry, nights she’ll never forget, and a connection that feels too good to question.

This isn’t a love story. It’s a liberation story.

A messy, sexy, hilarious getaway about choosing yourself… and enjoying whoever shows up along the way.

Genres: Romance, African American Romance

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2025

Reviews

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did something to me in the quietest, sweetest way. I went in expecting vibes, freedom, and a little fun, but I walked away feeling like a part of me that I didn’t even realize was tired finally got to exhale.

Watching Lyrix choose herself felt deeply personal. Not in a dramatic, heavy way, but in that soft “you’re allowed to want more” kind of way. Her journey reminded me that healing doesn’t always have to be slow, lonely, or serious. Sometimes it looks like laughter, music, flirting with the moment, and letting joy take up space again.

I smiled through so many parts of this story. Like real smiles. I caught myself nodding along because I could relate to so many pieces of Lyrix. The chemistry, the humor, the warmth...all of it worked together to create something that felt freeing.

What I loved most is how this story healed a part of me without trying to fix anything. It just showed me what it looks like to live, to feel, to be present, and to trust yourself again. By the end, I wasn’t just rooting for Lyrix. I felt encouraged for myself too.

This wasn’t just a read, it was a reminder. And for that alone, it’s an easy five stars.

[Chanel · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book club book of 2026 and it wasn't terrible. The premise of this story is very much a journey of healing and having fun even in chaos. The author makes it a point to state that this is not a love story in the sense of a couple falling in love but the main character does learn to love herself. She takes a trip to New Orleans which she calls her "Heaux Phase" as an almost reward for following her therapy regiment for a year and to satisfy her bucket list of sorts.

I felt the story was written well and it was very detailed about the scenery and experiences our main lady was having in New Orleans. Maison was also a pretty cool dude who helped Lyrix have the best time. However the story suffered from a lot of repetition and although the scenery was descriptive, the characters themselves were not described at all. Also, one of the trigger warnings was that there was sex in the story but none of the scenes are explicit; they all fade to black so not sure a trigger warning was needed.

Overall, the story is very tame and you can expect an HFN instead of an HEA.

[Latrice Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ OMG this was so cute, so funny, so empowering and so so healing. Every black woman should read this book….doesn’t matter if they’re Single, Married, in a Relationship, Situation-ship whatever. It’s a reminder of how we sometimes forget how magical we are and how we should always be unapologetically ourselves. And that man, that man..*chef’s kiss*

[Lisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

10's 10's 10's
From the first line to the last, I was locked in on this healing heaux journey with Lyrix!
Oh what a time! This was a manuel for any woman that needs a reset. A reminder. You are worthy, You are Love, You deserve nice things. This was an incredible story and I was sad to see it end. But, I definitely got the message and I am grateful for it.

[Sha Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good time!!! I enjoyed this short read. ❤️

[Alicia J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about NOLA through the character, well the authors, eyes. This book was definitely about self-discovery and allowing yourself to be you again, no hesitations, no regrets, no self-doubts. I enjoyed the MMC. Man, if only he really existed!!! I enjoyed the book. Had some slow parts for me but overall I enjoyed reading about their excursions and how you can find temporary love in a whole new location.

[JazzReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author. I like the culture references and the plot. This book was a fun read for me. I am open to reading other books by this author.

[Jahda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. Just following a woman gain confidence in herself and her choices.

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥰🥰

This book felt like a warm hug! It’s a reminder to live life to its fullest without regrets. I wholeheartedly believe in the “heaux phase” - its not just being wild and reckless, it’s learning who you are, being confident, setting yourself up for success and not allowing society to place you in a box. The richness of the NOLA culture, the cutesy romance between Maison and Lyrix and the funny parts- I was here for it all! Definitely a must read for the girls!

[Amayah Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! If you’re looking for something soft, sweet, and short this is the one! This book leaves with a desire to live life fully and freely and heavily emphasizes the importance of healing in all of its phases.

[India Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

** ARC REVIEW**

Lyrix, a single woman tired of healing quietly, embarks on a trip to New Orleans to experience the Heaux Phase vibes. She’s in for a week of fun, unapologetic, and spontaneous love!

During her journey, Lyrix meets Maison, a local BDE gentleman from New Orleans. Together, the Heaux Phase experience becomes one that is truly unforgettable.

While this isn’t a traditional love story, it certainly pulled out a range of emotions tugging at my heart strings . Lyrix’s journey brought on moments of reflection on what healing truly means. As Netra states, “Healing doesn’t always whisper. Sometimes it roars. And the roar sounds a lot like living again.”

Netra has done it once again, given me tools I will take with me daily on this journey. I believe my good sis has a calling in the field of therapy, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to witness her wisdom through these beautiful stories!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Aliah Aerial · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ode to Black Women Everywhere ❤️

Netra penned this story so beautifully! I absolutely LOVEEE how she redefined the “heaux phase”!

Lyrix’s journey to self discovery through her heaux vision board was cute and different. The little gems she shared along the way were SO GOOD! Some of the biggest takeaways were that you don’t have to heal or find yourself through sadness and isolation — healing and self discovery 💡 also comes through joy and movement! 💃🏽 BE FREE. DO IT SCARED. DO IT ALONE. TRY EVERYTHING & HAVE FUN WHILE DOING SO!

As for Maison — he did what he had to do by showing Lyrix a great time and empowering her through finding herself again!

I appreciated the little nuggets about New Orleans — as a girly who grew up within driving distance to NOLA, this felt exactly like a trip during Mardi Gras season! 🎭

This was the perfect read going into the New Year! Vision boards, self-discovery, and Mardi Gras are all right on theme with the start of a new year. Loved everything about this book!!

[KarynReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!! NTMA! I was not sure what to expect! This was a walk through New Orleans without boarding a plane! A self discovery and beautiful telling of finding YOU! In a City thats made and born for you to live OUT LOUD!! I was amazed at how vivid this was. I could have sworn I smelled spices and Crawfish cooking! 🤣🤣🤣😩 ! Each chapter made me hungry! And she had me wanting to twerk to Big Freedia and shake to “Choppa Style” ! Lol

There was truly a beautiful message in each chapter. I heard every word. The author made me a little misty eyed when she said you dont have to heal alone and in private healing can be done out loud. Lyrix did some HEALING! Some healthy HEAUX PHASE HEALING!

[NeasNovelNest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this book just shift my whole top books of 2025 on the last day of the year?? YES IT DID! This book was funny, charming, emotional, relatable and soooooo healing. Did this just make me wanna plan a trip to NOLA soon, BUT OF COURSE! But only during football season ;) WHO DAT?! Maison was a real life Prince Charming and everything about him was a dream. 10/10 I’ve always believed in the Heaux Phase and this book explains it perfectly. I miss Lyrix and Maison already. NETRA YOU REALLY DO NOT MISS.

[Ayanna First of BourbonStreetBookers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Phase I Didn't Know I Needed

Listennnnn... this was everythang! 🎭 As a NOLA gurl, born n raised, this hit close to home. This book screamed heal, release, live, and freedom—all while heauxin! It completely redefines the labels society puts on us and gives you permission to just BE without the weight of judgment. Highly recommended and appreciated! 💜💛💚

[Ladi Kreyol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God. As a New Orleans girl born raised and transplanted elsewhere, I loved this story. It captured the true heart of what my home USED TO BE. I know it follows the story of a tourist, but Madison felt like home. I needed this

[Jasmine VanDross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. I feel like everyone woman needs a heaux phase and the way this one played out was so beyond just being a thot. This was healing for the soul. Shoot made me wanna book a trip back to New Orleans.

[Bria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t expecting this book to put me in my feelings in the best way but here we are.

[Dijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing I loved every second of it

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a Louisiana girl, and this book felt like home. A reminder to live out loud. I enjoyed every minute.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a cute little palette cleanser from the more serious books I’ve been reading. Will always love a little romance novella!

[Chichilovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t what I was expecting

But damn sure what I need. This was beautiful ❤️🥹🫶🏾

Love yourself.. loud and proud. Find joy in the solitude and in the throngs of the crowd, but no matter where you find it make sure you feel it in soul 😭

[Authoress Nadia Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Phase Worth Experiencing

Sooo this book healed parts of me I didn’t even realize needed healing.

No, I’m not single or currently in my heaux phase. I’ve been married for 11 years but Lyrix still reached me in a way that felt loud, personal, and honest. At some point in life, a lot of women forget who they are. We forget what it feels like to let go, to live freely, to choose ourselves without guilt. Lyrix had forgotten… and her journey reminded me just how necessary that rediscovery can be.

Her heaux phase wasn’t reckless. It was required. Every experience mattered. Every moment pushed her closer to herself. This book was a beautiful reminder that you deserve to live your best life. Laugh out loud. Dance like no one is watching even if that means twerking on Bourbon Street 😌. Relish the small moments. Embrace the woman you become along the way.

I really, really enjoyed this story. It was fun, freeing, emotional, and reflective all at once. And whew… I almost cried with Lyrix when she had to walk away. That moment hurt in the most real way.

I do hope we get more of Lyrix and Maison because I’m not ready to let them go just yet. Such a good, soul-touching read.

[♤Tonya Johnson♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, who wouldn't love a vacation in New Orleans, with a handsome man giving you the tour!!! This book was great!! It's about letting go and being free to love yourself!! BOOK THE TRIP, WEAR THE DRESS AND DO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD!! POUR INTO YOURSELF!!

[Tywanda Brown-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nola Me

Nola Me please!!! This book takes you not just on one trip but two. Yes we travel to Nola but we always travel with the character on spiritual healing journey with Maison as a great guide. I recommend this book for those seeking internal healing!

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I needed to hear at the moment. It gave me all the feels and laughs. It was about self growth, discovery, love, and healing and realizing you are enough!

[CiCi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to be dramatic, but this healed something in me.

Starting from the authors note, even if it’s not where you are in this moment, we’ve all been on this kind of journey back to self and it was beautiful to see on page.

Netra can write her ass off. I legitimately felt like I was in New Orleans again.

[Brandan WH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughter, vibes and finding yourself

I saw the cover and was immediately intrigued. Then I saw a few IG posts recommending it and added it to my TBR. Next, a close friend told me she read it in 1 sitting, so I went ahead and purchased it and got to reading. Best decision!
Lyrix has spent a year relearning herself. Out of a bad relationship, she sought the help of a therapist to figure out if she’s the problem. What she realized is that she’s used to shrinking to fit into a relationship. She’s been told she’s “too much” her whole life. Maybe it’s time to find someone who wants her just as she is.
And that brings her to New Orleans for her “Heaux Phase” trip. She’s going to spend a week there, enjoy herself beyond measure, “Heaux” it up and spend Valentine’s Day celebrating herself.
She drops her luggage in the room and immediately ventures out to see what shenanigans New Orleans has on deck. She meets Maison working at the very first bar she ventures into and he gets her right and liquored up to start her adventures. While the first afternoon has her regretting her choices, she decides to reach out to Maison (who slipped her his number before she left) to see if he can give her a locals guide to his city. That sets us up to witness Lyrix getting the real side of New Orleans that the locals keep to themselves.
This book kept me smiling. Lyrix and Maison were always laughing, smiling and smirking. There was dancing, drinking, twerking. Kissing on sidewalks, grinding on dance floors. There’s a definite energy to this story. It’s sexy but not in an overt way. It’s easy and soft and light. They talk about any and everything with honesty.
I usually don’t enjoy story’s told only from 1 POV, but it made sense here. We’re only in New Orleans because Lyrix chose it. While Maison is a part of the story, he’s a part of HER story; Lyrix is the main character, gives off true main character energy and Maison is only here because Lyrix allows it.
I also don’t typically like close door romances. The author isn’t shy about letting us know that they’re doing grown up thangs, but it’s not explicitly written. That’s usually a turnoff but the author makes it ok. You get the intimacy and I found I didn’t mind having to use my own imagination about their sexy sexy times.
All in all, this book is a love letter to self discovery and self love. She says as much. You don’t need someone else to feel whole. Loving on yourself can be satisfaction enough.

[lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

heaux phase by netra antoinette isn’t really a romance — it’s a reclamation story dressed up in flirtation, chemistry, and a little new orleans magic.

lyrix doesn’t go to nola looking for love. she goes looking for herself. tired of healing in silence and playing it safe, she gives herself permission to exist loudly for once — no expectations, no pressure, just living. what makes the story hit is that her journey never feels like she’s running from something, but finally allowing herself to move toward joy.

then comes maison.

maison isn’t just the smooth local love interest — he’s the energy shift. what starts as vacation-level fun slowly turns into something softer, deeper, and more intentional than lyrix planned for. their chemistry feels natural, warm, and grounded in the kind of attraction that’s equal parts playful and emotionally safe. he doesn’t overpower her journey — he complements it, which makes the connection feel earned instead of forced.

the real heart of the book, though, is the atmosphere. the nola setting isn’t background decoration — it breathes through the story. the music, the movement, the tarot, the nightlife, the laughter, the food, the freedom… it all creates this immersive feeling like you’re watching someone step into the life they finally feel allowed to live.

what stood out most is how the book treats liberation. it doesn’t frame self-discovery as perfectly polished or deeply tragic. instead, it shows it as messy, joyful, sensual, sometimes funny, and very human. lyrix isn’t suddenly healed — she’s just finally honest with herself, and that honesty changes everything.

if you go in expecting a traditional love story, you might miss the point. this is about choosing yourself first… and realizing love feels different when you do.

recommend if you like:
• soft but confident female leads
• vacation romance energy
• stories about self-discovery and freedom
• settings that feel like a character on their own
• chemistry that grows naturally instead of instantly

[India Jones-Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

After heartbreak and a year of intentional solitude, Lyrix decides she’s done shrinking herself. Inspired by a social media personality’s bold “heaux phase” vision board, she books a spontaneous trip to New Orleans determined to rediscover who she is outside of love, expectations, and disappointment. What she finds in the Crescent City is so much more than beads, bourbon, and bucket-list adventures.

On her very first day, Lyrix meets Maison — charming, intuitive, and very intentional. What starts as a chance encounter in a bar quickly turns into a whirlwind experience, with Maison stepping in as her personal tour guide and unexpected catalyst for growth. He makes it his mission to help her check off every daring, indulgent, and soul-stretching item on her vision board — and then some.

The chemistry between them? Whew. Let’s just say New Orleans isn’t the only thing bringing the heat. The novella balances playful sensuality with emotional depth, never letting the spice overshadow Lyrix’s journey of self-discovery. Their connection feels organic, passionate, and transformative rather than forced.

What I loved most is that this isn’t just a “trip fling” story. Beneath the flirty banter and steamy tension is a woman reclaiming her confidence, her desires, and her standards. By the end, Lyrix doesn’t just discover what she wants in a partner — she discovers who she is when she’s fully in control of her own narrative.

If you enjoy:
• Strong female leads rediscovering themselves
• Vacation romances with emotional substance
• A little spice with heart
• New Orleans as a vivid, moody backdrop

This novella is a quick, satisfying read that reminds us sometimes you have to leave home to finally come back to yourself.

A fun, empowering, and slightly sinful escape that leaves you smiling long after the last page.