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Our Wasted Vows
His death should have brought her peace. But proving her innocence might just kill her…
When Adeline Hartwell, a ballerina on the cusp of stardom, stands accused of murdering her boyfriend, she finds herself backed into a corner. No one will ever believe her when his blood still coats her hands, so when a district owner offers her a tempting deal—his legal help for her talent—she understands this might be her only chance at freedom. While preparing for a performance that will define her career and a trial that will determine her future, a series of threats ends up taped to her vanity mirror. Adeline must find a way to leave behind the shadows of her past while unraveling the mystery of who’s trying to sabotage her dance career before it can begin.
He's been in love with her since her first audition. Telling her, however, is out of the question.
After being bailed out of jail, Adeline shows up on her artistic director’s doorstep with nowhere else to go. Jin Collins takes her in and offers her a place to stay, quickly realizing that concealing his feelings for her proves to be far more difficult when there isn’t a studio separating them anymore. He knows he has no right to love her while she’s grieving, so instead of admitting the truth, he does all he can to protect her—even if it means striking a deal of his own.
Resisting temptation is a small price to pay for her happiness, but what if temptation is the only means of healing a past worth forgetting…
When Adeline Hartwell, a ballerina on the cusp of stardom, stands accused of murdering her boyfriend, she finds herself backed into a corner. No one will ever believe her when his blood still coats her hands, so when a district owner offers her a tempting deal—his legal help for her talent—she understands this might be her only chance at freedom. While preparing for a performance that will define her career and a trial that will determine her future, a series of threats ends up taped to her vanity mirror. Adeline must find a way to leave behind the shadows of her past while unraveling the mystery of who’s trying to sabotage her dance career before it can begin.
He's been in love with her since her first audition. Telling her, however, is out of the question.
After being bailed out of jail, Adeline shows up on her artistic director’s doorstep with nowhere else to go. Jin Collins takes her in and offers her a place to stay, quickly realizing that concealing his feelings for her proves to be far more difficult when there isn’t a studio separating them anymore. He knows he has no right to love her while she’s grieving, so instead of admitting the truth, he does all he can to protect her—even if it means striking a deal of his own.
Resisting temptation is a small price to pay for her happiness, but what if temptation is the only means of healing a past worth forgetting…
- GenresDark Romance
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2026
4 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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May 2, 2026𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ ❝ Each layer of clothing revealed a kaleidoscope of bruised skin ranging from the deepest shade of plum to blistering red. It didn’t matter how raw I rubbed my skin with the cheap lavender soap; it wasn’t enough to wash away my sins. ❞
🩰་༘࿐ Young aspiring ballerina, Adeline Hartwell, is nicknamed the Killer Ballerina after being convicted of murdering her then-boyfriend. To safeguard her career, she sought help from her employer and the owner of the Republic City Opera House, but little did she realize she was bargaining with the Entertainment District’s devil. The opera house's artistic director, Jin Collins, has been watching her ever since he saw her during her audition. As the saying goes... All is fair in love and theatre.
Release Date: May 5, 2026 ⟢
⌞ What To Expect: ⌝
⌗ Theatre
⌗ Ballerina x Artistic Director
⌗ Workplace Romance
⌗ Chicago-inspired
This is the first book I’ve read by Riley Andrews, and I am truly impressed by her beautiful writing. I went into the story with only a vague idea of the premise, yet I was still shocked by the unexpected turn of events. Especially with that cliffhanger ending.
I try to steer clear of Dark Romances, but I can't say no when ballet is involved. The story is heavy but thought-provoking, exploring themes of trauma and the search for self-worth. We get to see both characters’ perspectives, though most of the narrative is from Adeline’s point of view. I found her anxiety to be eerily relatable and well-depicted. However, the depth of her characterization affected the story's overall pacing, making the chapters drag. I also forgot that it is the second book in a series. Although I haven’t read the first book, I was pleased to see that some characters and plot from the earlier story are well explained here.
⋆.˚🦢⋆ ❝ Fate had woven us together—two souls bound by the same invisible string that only began to pull tight the moment our eyes met in that audition room. This kismet blessing had seen us go through hell and back, the string of which had somehow helped us find our way to each other despite so many attempts to sever the connection. This was the precipice of spring. Jin was the seasons changing. ❞
The romance was very cute, but I wished we had more flashbacks of their encounters to better understand their feelings before the events at the beginning of the book. We understand that Jin had feelings for Adeline even before this book, but I wanted to see where those feelings originated. The same goes for Adeline. I wanted to catch a glimpse of how they'd interacted before the story, because it felt insta-lovey on her end.
Overall, it was an interesting take on the play, and I cannot wait to see what everyone else thinks. As a reminder, please check the trigger warnings before picking up this book.
*·˚ ༘ ➳ Thank you to Riley Andrews for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑
⊹ ࣪ ˖ ❝ In every life, I want it to be you. ❞
⋆⭒˚.⋆
pre-read : a story between a ballerina and her artistic director? i am sooo there! also so happy to be buddy reading again with my constant, joni ་࿐ crazy how we have gotten the same arc again! ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)˚๐*˟♡
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April 27, 2026cliffhanger is EVIL.
but this was such a beautiful story and if you're okay waiting (idk how long) for the second part, defo check this out may 5th!
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
this book sounds so ethereal and heartbreaking, just what i need right now!! and ofc reading with my lovely friend justine - we're having a blast with these buddy reads lately!
↪ started april 21
↪ finished april 25
thank u riley for sending me a digital arc!
but this was such a beautiful story and if you're okay waiting (idk how long) for the second part, defo check this out may 5th!
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
this book sounds so ethereal and heartbreaking, just what i need right now!! and ofc reading with my lovely friend justine - we're having a blast with these buddy reads lately!
↪ started april 21
↪ finished april 25
thank u riley for sending me a digital arc!
April 14, 2026
✨ARC REVIEW✨
I absolutely devoured this book. Adeline’s story was so heartbreaking but also very real and complex. The harsh reality of abusive relationships and cycles was written in such a tragically beautiful way that you can’t help but feel a deep connection to her and her story. From doing something so irreversible and damaging and being forced to make a deal with the one person you know you should trust to finding the one person who never makes you feel like a mistake or a burden, that’s been right under your nose the entire time. Jin Collins is proof that a man who yearns is a man who earns 🙂↕️
I love how seamlessly the characters from book one flowed into book two! I loved reading Erick interact with Jin and seeing how polar opposite they are but have one thing in common; protecting the women they love.
THE LAST CHAPTER?!?! Criminal. I’m going to need answers and all of that fixed in Book 3 please and thank you.
I absolutely devoured this book. Adeline’s story was so heartbreaking but also very real and complex. The harsh reality of abusive relationships and cycles was written in such a tragically beautiful way that you can’t help but feel a deep connection to her and her story. From doing something so irreversible and damaging and being forced to make a deal with the one person you know you should trust to finding the one person who never makes you feel like a mistake or a burden, that’s been right under your nose the entire time. Jin Collins is proof that a man who yearns is a man who earns 🙂↕️
I love how seamlessly the characters from book one flowed into book two! I loved reading Erick interact with Jin and seeing how polar opposite they are but have one thing in common; protecting the women they love.
THE LAST CHAPTER?!?! Criminal. I’m going to need answers and all of that fixed in Book 3 please and thank you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recently had the chance to meet Riley Andrews at a local book market, where she gifted me this ARC, and I also got a signed copy of her first book. 😊
This story stood out to me because of how real it felt. The emotions, the reflections, the way life is described—it all hit in a very honest way.
One of my favorite passages is from Chapter 40—it shows off the vivid writing style and perfectly captures the realism:
“Much like a novel, life played out in chapters—little snapshots of who we were at any given time. An ever-changing arc of highs and lows. This particular chapter in my life had thankfully closed, but when the familiar scent of essential oils that we used to cover up the neighbor's cigarette smoke hit me, I was suddenly thumbing through the pages until I found myself back in a section of my life I had no desire to reread.”
But… the ending. I did not see it coming, which is not a bad thing. It just felt abrupt compared to how the rest of the story was, and I had to read it twice.
Looking back, I can see the inspiration drawn from Chicago. It adds a subtle layer that makes certain moments feel even more vivid and intentional.
Overall, I give 4 stars. The realism, the writing, and the emotional depth made it a memorable read, even if the ending didn’t land for me. Plus the spice didn't hurt. 🔥 And I really appreciate the Author's Note with trigger warnings up front!
I’m planning to go back and read the first book, then revisit this one again to see how it all connects.
This story stood out to me because of how real it felt. The emotions, the reflections, the way life is described—it all hit in a very honest way.
One of my favorite passages is from Chapter 40—it shows off the vivid writing style and perfectly captures the realism:
“Much like a novel, life played out in chapters—little snapshots of who we were at any given time. An ever-changing arc of highs and lows. This particular chapter in my life had thankfully closed, but when the familiar scent of essential oils that we used to cover up the neighbor's cigarette smoke hit me, I was suddenly thumbing through the pages until I found myself back in a section of my life I had no desire to reread.”
But… the ending. I did not see it coming, which is not a bad thing. It just felt abrupt compared to how the rest of the story was, and I had to read it twice.
Looking back, I can see the inspiration drawn from Chicago. It adds a subtle layer that makes certain moments feel even more vivid and intentional.
Overall, I give 4 stars. The realism, the writing, and the emotional depth made it a memorable read, even if the ending didn’t land for me. Plus the spice didn't hurt. 🔥 And I really appreciate the Author's Note with trigger warnings up front!
I’m planning to go back and read the first book, then revisit this one again to see how it all connects.
May 4, 2026
✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
I wish so badly I could rate this at 6 stars!! this was the most raw, heartbreaking, and beautifully consuming story I’ve read this year.
Adeline’s story hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I felt so deeply connected to her that more than once I wanted to reach through the pages, hug her, and remind her just how resilient she truly is…
after falling in love with book one in the Entertainment District series, I was obsessed with how seamlessly Erick and Krissy’s story flowed into the tangled chaos of Adeline and Jin’s. the overlap of secrets, the constant feeling that everything could unravel at any second, and the quiet tension lingering beneath every page made this impossible to put down.
Addie and Jin were written with such painful beauty that I genuinely do not think I’ll be recovering anytime soon. their internal battles, the promises they kept making despite the world waiting to burn around them, and the unwavering pull between them had me completely WRECKED.
and Jin… THE MAN YOU ARE. a man that yearns, loves, and holds on with everything he has. I will genuinely never get over the journal entries.
then that cliffhanger came in and absolutely obliterated what was left of my already crumbling heart. I need the next book like I need oxygen!!
I wish so badly I could rate this at 6 stars!! this was the most raw, heartbreaking, and beautifully consuming story I’ve read this year.
Adeline’s story hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I felt so deeply connected to her that more than once I wanted to reach through the pages, hug her, and remind her just how resilient she truly is…
after falling in love with book one in the Entertainment District series, I was obsessed with how seamlessly Erick and Krissy’s story flowed into the tangled chaos of Adeline and Jin’s. the overlap of secrets, the constant feeling that everything could unravel at any second, and the quiet tension lingering beneath every page made this impossible to put down.
Addie and Jin were written with such painful beauty that I genuinely do not think I’ll be recovering anytime soon. their internal battles, the promises they kept making despite the world waiting to burn around them, and the unwavering pull between them had me completely WRECKED.
and Jin… THE MAN YOU ARE. a man that yearns, loves, and holds on with everything he has. I will genuinely never get over the journal entries.
then that cliffhanger came in and absolutely obliterated what was left of my already crumbling heart. I need the next book like I need oxygen!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
~4.75 rounded up!~
Huge thank you to Riley Andrews for the opportunity to be on the Street Team and read an ARC of this amazing book!
**Dropping 5/05!**
"I was burning alive, but I'd gladly burn with Jin by my side." 🔥
This story was a total whirlwind of suspense, witty banter, and pure yearning! I felt like I was being edged by Riley every other chapter until the spice finally hit, and it was worth every second of the wait!
JIN COLLINS, the absolute man that you are! If you want the peak of yearning, meet your next favorite book boyfriend. I loved reading the book in his POV most because his fears of never being enough felt so relatable.
But we can’t forget the Killer Ballerina herself, Adeline Hartwell. Addie’s character development was easily the most rewarding part of this story. Watching her step into her own strength was so beautiful and I loved cheering her on.
There are so many twists and turns in this one that I don’t want to give too much away, but it is a must read for lovers of theater, love, and betrayal!
Huge thank you to Riley Andrews for the opportunity to be on the Street Team and read an ARC of this amazing book!
**Dropping 5/05!**
"I was burning alive, but I'd gladly burn with Jin by my side." 🔥
This story was a total whirlwind of suspense, witty banter, and pure yearning! I felt like I was being edged by Riley every other chapter until the spice finally hit, and it was worth every second of the wait!
JIN COLLINS, the absolute man that you are! If you want the peak of yearning, meet your next favorite book boyfriend. I loved reading the book in his POV most because his fears of never being enough felt so relatable.
But we can’t forget the Killer Ballerina herself, Adeline Hartwell. Addie’s character development was easily the most rewarding part of this story. Watching her step into her own strength was so beautiful and I loved cheering her on.
There are so many twists and turns in this one that I don’t want to give too much away, but it is a must read for lovers of theater, love, and betrayal!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Below is my honest review and opinion of Our Wasted Vows:
The fact that I have reread this book 3 times in the span of a week should speak to the rich storytelling and engaging narrative that Riley has created. From Addie’s journey in reclaiming herself and choosing to love again and the twists towards the end that I did NOT see coming: I was thoroughly satisfied for each read-through. Prepare to be hopeful, to blush, and to also be heartbroken and feel betrayed at the end… in the best way!
One of my favorites lines comes from Chapter 39: “Love was not bound to arbitrary reasons, and the abundance of love meant there had to be a part of me prepared to lose it all, even if it was unrequited forevermore.”
I have felt this so strongly in the past few years and this captured a kind of love that’s both powerful and a little heartbreaking that I remember all too well.
Over all I’m quite satisfied with this standalone story and now I want to go back and purchase book 1 in The Entertainment District Series and look forward to May 5th!
The fact that I have reread this book 3 times in the span of a week should speak to the rich storytelling and engaging narrative that Riley has created. From Addie’s journey in reclaiming herself and choosing to love again and the twists towards the end that I did NOT see coming: I was thoroughly satisfied for each read-through. Prepare to be hopeful, to blush, and to also be heartbroken and feel betrayed at the end… in the best way!
One of my favorites lines comes from Chapter 39: “Love was not bound to arbitrary reasons, and the abundance of love meant there had to be a part of me prepared to lose it all, even if it was unrequited forevermore.”
I have felt this so strongly in the past few years and this captured a kind of love that’s both powerful and a little heartbreaking that I remember all too well.
Over all I’m quite satisfied with this standalone story and now I want to go back and purchase book 1 in The Entertainment District Series and look forward to May 5th!
Review of advance copy
To quote myself, page 354, paragraph 3, "AHHH". It was not a good idea to read this ending while on my period, because I am writing this while holding back tears.
Oh my god, that was beautifully written. I felt for each and every character (both love and hate), and I was thoroughly invested in Adeline and Jin's relationship. Jin was such a breath of fresh air, in a world full of morally grey mmcs, he was an I'd go against my morals for her type of guy. I feel for Adeline so, so much. Her ptsd is such a present plot point, and it truly makes my heart ache for her.
As a former dancer, the dance world and intricacies were wonderfully portrayed (in terms of accuracy), which is so refreshing in fiction books.
Honestly, I'm so hooked, I'm just going to go read the rest of Riley Andrew's books now.
Oh my god, that was beautifully written. I felt for each and every character (both love and hate), and I was thoroughly invested in Adeline and Jin's relationship. Jin was such a breath of fresh air, in a world full of morally grey mmcs, he was an I'd go against my morals for her type of guy. I feel for Adeline so, so much. Her ptsd is such a present plot point, and it truly makes my heart ache for her.
As a former dancer, the dance world and intricacies were wonderfully portrayed (in terms of accuracy), which is so refreshing in fiction books.
Honestly, I'm so hooked, I'm just going to go read the rest of Riley Andrew's books now.
April 20, 2026
This book is definitely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book for me. It’s different from other romances I have read. It’s a theater romance with a Chicago meets ballet vibe. This romance is so cute with him falling first when she first walked into the audition. It has a twist with a theater fued that both main characters get sucked into. They try to fall in love while also trying to protect each from their parts of the fued. If you love theater and a romance this book is for you!!
🩰Age Gap
🩰Deal with the devil
🩰Slow Burn
🩰He falls first
🩰Workplace Romance
🩰Forced Proximity/Roommates
🩰Touch her and Die Energy
✨Be sure to check your triggers
🩰Age Gap
🩰Deal with the devil
🩰Slow Burn
🩰He falls first
🩰Workplace Romance
🩰Forced Proximity/Roommates
🩰Touch her and Die Energy
✨Be sure to check your triggers
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beautiful. Tragic. Couldn't put it down.
I had the honor of reading Our Wasted Vows as an ARC reader. Thank you, Riley, for allowing me to read this story before its publication date. I was blown away by how much she has grown as a writer, and I really feel like she's hit her mark with this ballerina romance inspired by Chicago the musical.
I laughed. I cried. I wanted to throw my book at the wall at times. It drew me in from page one and left me staring at the last page contemplating life...couldn't recommend this dark romance book more.
Our Wasted Vows - Coming May 5th
I had the honor of reading Our Wasted Vows as an ARC reader. Thank you, Riley, for allowing me to read this story before its publication date. I was blown away by how much she has grown as a writer, and I really feel like she's hit her mark with this ballerina romance inspired by Chicago the musical.
I laughed. I cried. I wanted to throw my book at the wall at times. It drew me in from page one and left me staring at the last page contemplating life...couldn't recommend this dark romance book more.
Our Wasted Vows - Coming May 5th
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a ride! I couldn't put it down, I just needed to know how this would end. And the end? 🤯
Ma'am, I'm going to need more, this is borderline criminal. Which fits the story perfectly by the way.
I loved how well the anxiety theme was handled. The way the characters coped with it was realistic and well written. Also loved to see the characters from book one in this one! I highly recommend reading that book first to give this second one the impact it deserves.
Thank you for the ARC, Riley. I'm glad I got to enjoy your writing again!
Ma'am, I'm going to need more, this is borderline criminal. Which fits the story perfectly by the way.
I loved how well the anxiety theme was handled. The way the characters coped with it was realistic and well written. Also loved to see the characters from book one in this one! I highly recommend reading that book first to give this second one the impact it deserves.
Thank you for the ARC, Riley. I'm glad I got to enjoy your writing again!
April 3, 2026
Where do I start? Riley took all the best parts of the musical Chicago and put a twist in it just like she did when she wrote Our Strange Endeavors. She has a knack for sucking you in then chewing you up and spitting you out yearning for more.
I had such a love hate relationship with this book. I loved the story itself but I hated the ending. I can't wait for book 3 to come out! I'm ready to read it again knowing what it did to me!
I had such a love hate relationship with this book. I loved the story itself but I hated the ending. I can't wait for book 3 to come out! I'm ready to read it again knowing what it did to me!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received as an ARC from author- I met Riley at Bookstock and purchased the first book in this series, Our Strange Endeavors, and was instantly hooked. Once I got the ARC, I immediately began to read. I think this book is a bit more of a slow burn but I really enjoyed it. You didn’t necessarily need to read the first book to know what’s going on here, but there were still a few characters and storylines that carried over.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Our Wasted Vows
Ummm, why did no one tell me that this wasn’t a standalone?!? Or is it? I’m so confused. I seriously loved this book; it was very poetic and fitting for the story. Riley did an amazing job telling this story, and I can’t freaking wait for more! Adeline was a great character, and I really liked Jin as well. It’s a great telling of a tragic love. She very much captures the “theater” vibes in her writing!
Ummm, why did no one tell me that this wasn’t a standalone?!? Or is it? I’m so confused. I seriously loved this book; it was very poetic and fitting for the story. Riley did an amazing job telling this story, and I can’t freaking wait for more! Adeline was a great character, and I really liked Jin as well. It’s a great telling of a tragic love. She very much captures the “theater” vibes in her writing!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved how we see the development of both characters happening at the same time. The similarities between the two in terms of their fears and anxieties and how they dealt with them was very well written. Gotta love how mental health troubles were represented in a positive rather than negative light. The journals for both was a beautiful touch as well. Great read overall.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Riley Andrews for providing me with a copy. The following review represents my honest opinion.
The atmosphere of this book is absolutely stunning and the characters are all incredibly rich. I honestly can't even think straight right now because I'm still processing how phenomenal this book is. After that last chapter, I need the next book immediately.
The atmosphere of this book is absolutely stunning and the characters are all incredibly rich. I honestly can't even think straight right now because I'm still processing how phenomenal this book is. After that last chapter, I need the next book immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for Our Wasted Vows. Riley Andrews writing is personal and honest. Her characters leap off the page and become family by the end. I loved every bit of this book and I’m excited to see what’s next for the Entertainment District
April 30, 2026
Arc review
I hadn’t read the first in the series but this book was actually pretty interesting. I liked the mental health representation and the journal entries for the two main characters. Thus is great if your ever in the mood to read a spicy romance especially if you love ballerinas
!!
I hadn’t read the first in the series but this book was actually pretty interesting. I liked the mental health representation and the journal entries for the two main characters. Thus is great if your ever in the mood to read a spicy romance especially if you love ballerinas
!!
Review of advance copy
Not only was the romance a slow burn (but worth it) and spicy, the main characters were easy to invest in. There's gotta be a book 2 because what the heck was that last chapter! The ending will leave you wanting more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rtc
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