What do you think?
Rate this book
Pretty Bruise
Assistants don’t last long in the Dashiell house.
I didn’t come here to last.
When I first walked into the Dashiell house, everyone smiled.
It was a Tuesday.
Ethan’s welcome felt practiced. Lena’s kindness was measured. Their son watched from the landing with a silence that wasn’t shyness.
But before any of them looked at me, they looked at each other.
The flicker between them was quick and unspoken, gone before I could name it. It told me everything the interview hadn’t. This house had corridors where people listened behind closed doors. Bedrooms with notes tucked into drawers. A staircase people talked about carefully.
My job was to keep things running. Stay invisible. Manage what couldn’t be said out loud.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly the room would stop settling… or how Bianca, a girl with a dying father and no other options, would keep returning even after she should have run.
I didn’t touch anything at first. I just watched to see what shifted on its own.
And the strangest part wasn’t that they were watching me. It was how easily I found the space they always left.
I didn’t come here to last.
When I first walked into the Dashiell house, everyone smiled.
It was a Tuesday.
Ethan’s welcome felt practiced. Lena’s kindness was measured. Their son watched from the landing with a silence that wasn’t shyness.
But before any of them looked at me, they looked at each other.
The flicker between them was quick and unspoken, gone before I could name it. It told me everything the interview hadn’t. This house had corridors where people listened behind closed doors. Bedrooms with notes tucked into drawers. A staircase people talked about carefully.
My job was to keep things running. Stay invisible. Manage what couldn’t be said out loud.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly the room would stop settling… or how Bianca, a girl with a dying father and no other options, would keep returning even after she should have run.
I didn’t touch anything at first. I just watched to see what shifted on its own.
And the strangest part wasn’t that they were watching me. It was how easily I found the space they always left.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2026
5 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Roelyn
3 books27 followersFind me on Instagram & Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/tjroelyn
https://www.instagram.com/tjroelyn/
https://www.facebook.com/tjroelyn
https://www.instagram.com/tjroelyn/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 12, 2026
All I can say is WOW! This book had me hooked from the very first chapter and never let go. Packed with suspense, shocking secrets, and nonstop tension, every page kept me guessing. And that cliffhanger ending… absolutely brutal in the best way. I’m counting the days until Book 2!
January 17, 2026
Wow. That’s all I can think of when summing up the book. The book cover is what caught my eye first. When TJ Roelyn was looking for ARC teachers , I jumped at the chance and I’m so happy I did. To be honest, I may not have given this a chance to be honest if the cover and the title didn’t persuade me.
This is the type of book that keeps you thinking. Right from the first chapter I was hooked. I constantly kept trying to figure out what was really happening in the Dashiell house. You have to pay attention to the details and who is saying what and how, even the fmc. This is a two book series and I cannot wait for the second because this definitely ends on a cliffhanger. One minute your in the middle of a conversation then the next you just stop talking though it’s not over type of feeling.
So in short. I highly recommend taking a chance on this book and you won’t regret it.
This is the type of book that keeps you thinking. Right from the first chapter I was hooked. I constantly kept trying to figure out what was really happening in the Dashiell house. You have to pay attention to the details and who is saying what and how, even the fmc. This is a two book series and I cannot wait for the second because this definitely ends on a cliffhanger. One minute your in the middle of a conversation then the next you just stop talking though it’s not over type of feeling.
So in short. I highly recommend taking a chance on this book and you won’t regret it.
January 21, 2026
Received this as an ARC and was very excited for it :)
It initially felt like I was missing something in the beginning of the book. There was no leading up to anything it just was. But it worked. It was great. And the ending! I didn’t see that coming. So many twists and turns. I would see where it could go and it would veer off and be something else entirely. Fantastic book and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
It initially felt like I was missing something in the beginning of the book. There was no leading up to anything it just was. But it worked. It was great. And the ending! I didn’t see that coming. So many twists and turns. I would see where it could go and it would veer off and be something else entirely. Fantastic book and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
January 22, 2026
I needed more at the beginning. It took a couple of chapters for me to get into the book, but then I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting and didn't want it to end and when it did, I wanted more. Can't wait for part 2.
January 14, 2026
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Pretty Bruise and let me just say this book has all the things that make you go, hmmmmmm? Mysteriousness with a steady calm, a hint of jealousy/dislike with intention. Things that aren’t really what they seem. Pretty Bruise had me turning page after page and eagerly awaiting the sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Author
PRETTY BRUISE
T.J. Roelyn
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first ARC, and I must first thank T.J. Roelyn for the honor and privilege. Reading is my passion- thank you for trusting me with your latest twisted creation!
This book does not ease in. It drops you straight into the plot and leaves you racing to catch up from page 1. Characters are not explained or defined - this is your job as you read and progress. I had not experienced this approach before, and it engrossed me. It was somehow work I was eager and willing to accomplish.
The plot is mysterious, twisty, and ambiguous. Intentions of characters are unclear, and you find yourself down a rabbit hole attempting to figure it out. You eagerly chase the breadcrumbs trying to identify who to root for and against.
There are small sections of plot or location discrepancy, but it doesn’t hinder the overall experience. Can be slightly distracting in the moment.
Warning - this is part one of two, and she definitely dangles you on the edge of a cliff and walks away…! I kept scrolling thinking there had to be more only to realize she left me desperate to know what happens next!
T.J. Roelyn
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first ARC, and I must first thank T.J. Roelyn for the honor and privilege. Reading is my passion- thank you for trusting me with your latest twisted creation!
This book does not ease in. It drops you straight into the plot and leaves you racing to catch up from page 1. Characters are not explained or defined - this is your job as you read and progress. I had not experienced this approach before, and it engrossed me. It was somehow work I was eager and willing to accomplish.
The plot is mysterious, twisty, and ambiguous. Intentions of characters are unclear, and you find yourself down a rabbit hole attempting to figure it out. You eagerly chase the breadcrumbs trying to identify who to root for and against.
There are small sections of plot or location discrepancy, but it doesn’t hinder the overall experience. Can be slightly distracting in the moment.
Warning - this is part one of two, and she definitely dangles you on the edge of a cliff and walks away…! I kept scrolling thinking there had to be more only to realize she left me desperate to know what happens next!
January 21, 2026
There are not many books I can sit and read in one day, and this is one of them! I enjoyed the style of writing — this isn’t your typical psychological thriller. It seems more journalistic and past-tense, and I was left wanting more (which is good, because there is a 2nd coming!).
While reading this, it’s good to keep in mind that while there is a twist at the end, you’re not in a constant trance of trying to figure out who the killer is or something, like in a detective-style novel. I went in semi-blind (there was an author’s note about it being a bit different than previous styles) but I feel that I would have enjoyed even more knowing more about the style in advance.
The nice part about this book is that there weren’t many characters named, so it was easy to follow along and remember who everyone is. I’m excited to see what happens in book 2 after that ending!
While reading this, it’s good to keep in mind that while there is a twist at the end, you’re not in a constant trance of trying to figure out who the killer is or something, like in a detective-style novel. I went in semi-blind (there was an author’s note about it being a bit different than previous styles) but I feel that I would have enjoyed even more knowing more about the style in advance.
The nice part about this book is that there weren’t many characters named, so it was easy to follow along and remember who everyone is. I’m excited to see what happens in book 2 after that ending!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review after receiving ARC copy from author.
Have often have you read a book and had to take a few days to digest it? This is one of them! The storyline and writing is not black and white. You THINK you understand what's happening but then you don't! I've been lucky to have ARC read her past two publications and this is a total 180 and zigzag direction from the style I've expected- and I LOVED IT.
Just when she hits you with the climax and spin, you look for more, you're left hanging and grasping at air because now you need to wait for part 2! Absolute genius! Now that everything is laid out to see... the next book will definitely be more revealing, sinister, and mind blowing!
Make sure to pick up a copy!!
Have often have you read a book and had to take a few days to digest it? This is one of them! The storyline and writing is not black and white. You THINK you understand what's happening but then you don't! I've been lucky to have ARC read her past two publications and this is a total 180 and zigzag direction from the style I've expected- and I LOVED IT.
Just when she hits you with the climax and spin, you look for more, you're left hanging and grasping at air because now you need to wait for part 2! Absolute genius! Now that everything is laid out to see... the next book will definitely be more revealing, sinister, and mind blowing!
Make sure to pick up a copy!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you're looking for a book that wraps everything up in a nice neat bow at the end, this isn't it. This book sucks you in from the get go, makes you think, and leaves you without answers. A dysfunctional family, a rich man with a potential hero complex, an old house with a mind of its own, and a heroine? who is definitely hiding something, there's a lot going on. While I do feel as if parts of the story could be cleaner, the tone of the writing makes it work the way it is. T.J Roelyn writes in a manner that I've not come across before, and I am here for it. Thankfully, there is more so now to wait for book #2 to see if/how things are dealt with.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC*
The beginning of the book felt slightly repetitive at times, but at no point did it take away from the story. Served as a minor distraction.
You are immediately thrust into the suspense, suspicion and intrigue of what's to come. It is written in a way that you can visualize and feel the environment as the story unfolds, every step of the way. I was engrossed from the first page to the very last!
Looking forward to book 2, Pretty Scar, to follow along with what happens next!
The beginning of the book felt slightly repetitive at times, but at no point did it take away from the story. Served as a minor distraction.
You are immediately thrust into the suspense, suspicion and intrigue of what's to come. It is written in a way that you can visualize and feel the environment as the story unfolds, every step of the way. I was engrossed from the first page to the very last!
Looking forward to book 2, Pretty Scar, to follow along with what happens next!
January 20, 2026
Where to start? Had me hooked from the beginning. I did not want to put it down. I’ve not read a book like this before where I really have to fill in the gaps. I say this as a positive. It made me think. I feel like I will re read just to make sure I get what I need from it! Excited for the next book! 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was hooked from the beginning.
Short chapters.
This book is dark, and strange. And everything you could want for a gripping read.
Absolutely loved it.
And that ending......
To find out the story continues and its not the end....
Patiently waiting....
Short chapters.
This book is dark, and strange. And everything you could want for a gripping read.
Absolutely loved it.
And that ending......
To find out the story continues and its not the end....
Patiently waiting....
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pretty Bruise by T.J. Roelyn
First things first: I’m genuinely honored—and very, very grateful—to have received an ARC of this book from T.J. Roelyn. That’s not something I ever take lightly. Especially not when the writing is this intentional. This isn’t a “thanks for the free book” kind of gratitude. This is the oh, you trusted me with something sharp kind.
I was so excited I started immediately. Sleep was optional. Regret was not.
Second: trigger warning, straight from the author—
Sex without warning. Violence without tidy explanations. No reasonable decisions.
This is offered as a courtesy, not a comfort. And honestly? If that sentence alone doesn’t tell you what kind of book this is, nothing will.
I was hooked from the very first page. The kind of hooked where you don’t just keep reading—you cling. Sometimes I genuinely forgot to breathe. I’ve read Help and 11. 11 didn’t do much for me. But this? This is Roelyn fully understanding the weight of words and using them with restraint instead of excess. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is accidental. The sentences sit with you. They linger.
I finished this book in what felt like one breath. And then I just lay there, staring at my ceiling, replaying certain lines like they’d branded themselves into my brain. Sentences like:
“People said more than they intended when they believed cruelty gave them control,”
and
“‘I’m done,’ he said—the sentence didn’t sound like a threat. It sounded like a limit he had reached and didn’t know how to step past.”
Those lines alone kept me occupied for far longer than I expected.
I’m still trying to untangle the shape of this story—what it says, what it withholds, what it deliberately refuses to explain. And yet, somehow, I’m ravenous for more. When I finished, I wanted to scream. Briefly considered throwing my iPad against a wall. Felt personally abandoned by the ending. I didn’t want closure. I wanted continuation.
Luckily for us, this is only book one. There is more coming. Thank God.
If you’re looking for something dark and strange and emotionally corrosive—family dynamics that rot from the inside out, a house full of tension and unspoken damage, and an employee whose composure feels less calm and more carefully calculated—this book will grab you and refuse to let go.
Five emotionally disturbed, carefully chosen-word stars.
Because when a book leaves me this hungry after the final page… it earns every single one.
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pretty Bruise door T.J. Roelyn
Laat ik meteen beginnen: ik voel me oprecht vereerd—en enorm dankbaar—dat ik een ARC van dit boek heb mogen ontvangen van T.J. Roelyn. Dat neem ik nooit vanzelfsprekend. Al helemaal niet wanneer het schrijven zó doelbewust is. Dit is geen “bedankt voor het gratis boek”-soort dankbaarheid. Dit is meer: oh, je hebt me iets scherps toevertrouwd.
Ik was zo enthousiast dat ik meteen begon. Slaap was optioneel. Spijt niet.
Ten tweede: trigger warning, rechtstreeks van de auteur—
Seks zonder waarschuwing. Geweld zonder nette verklaringen. Geen redelijke beslissingen.
Dit wordt aangeboden als een beleefdheid, niet als comfort. En eerlijk? Als die zin je niet al vertelt wat voor boek dit is, dan doet niets dat.
Vanaf de allereerste pagina was ik gegrepen. Niet het soort gegrepen waarbij je “lekker doorleest”, maar waarbij je je vastklampt. Soms vergat ik oprecht te ademen. Ik heb Help en 11 gelezen. 11 deed niet veel voor me. Maar dit? Dit is Roelyn die het gewicht van woorden volledig begrijpt en ze gebruikt met terughoudendheid in plaats van overdaad. Niets is verspild. Niets is toevallig. Zinnen blijven hangen. Ze nestelen zich.
Ik las dit boek in wat voelde als één ademhaling. En daarna lag ik daar gewoon, starend naar het plafond, terwijl bepaalde zinnen zich steeds opnieuw afspeelden, alsof ze in mijn hoofd gebrand stonden. Zinnen zoals:
“People said more than they intended when they believed cruelty gave them control,”
en
“‘I’m done,’ he said—the sentence didn’t sound like a threat. It sounded like a limit he had reached and didn’t know how to step past.”
Alleen die regels hielden me al veel langer bezig dan ik had verwacht.
Ik ben nog steeds bezig de vorm van dit verhaal te ontrafelen—wat het zegt, wat het achterhoudt, wat het bewust weigert uit te leggen. En toch ben ik hongerig naar meer. Toen ik klaar was, wilde ik schreeuwen. Heb even overwogen mijn iPad tegen de muur te gooien. Ik voelde me persoonlijk in de steek gelaten door het einde. Ik wilde geen afsluiting. Ik wilde verder.
Gelukkig is dit pas boek één. Er komt meer. Godzijdank.
Als je op zoek bent naar iets donkers en vreemds en emotioneel bijtends—familiedynamieken die van binnenuit verrotten, een huis vol spanning en onuitgesproken schade, en een werknemer wiens kalmte minder rustig voelt en meer… zorgvuldig berekend—dan grijpt dit boek je vast en laat het je niet meer los.
Vijf emotioneel verstoorde, zorgvuldig gekozen-woorden-sterren.
Want als een boek me zó hongerig achterlaat na de laatste pagina… dan verdient het ze allemaal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pretty Bruise by T.J. Roelyn
First things first: I’m genuinely honored—and very, very grateful—to have received an ARC of this book from T.J. Roelyn. That’s not something I ever take lightly. Especially not when the writing is this intentional. This isn’t a “thanks for the free book” kind of gratitude. This is the oh, you trusted me with something sharp kind.
I was so excited I started immediately. Sleep was optional. Regret was not.
Second: trigger warning, straight from the author—
Sex without warning. Violence without tidy explanations. No reasonable decisions.
This is offered as a courtesy, not a comfort. And honestly? If that sentence alone doesn’t tell you what kind of book this is, nothing will.
I was hooked from the very first page. The kind of hooked where you don’t just keep reading—you cling. Sometimes I genuinely forgot to breathe. I’ve read Help and 11. 11 didn’t do much for me. But this? This is Roelyn fully understanding the weight of words and using them with restraint instead of excess. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is accidental. The sentences sit with you. They linger.
I finished this book in what felt like one breath. And then I just lay there, staring at my ceiling, replaying certain lines like they’d branded themselves into my brain. Sentences like:
“People said more than they intended when they believed cruelty gave them control,”
and
“‘I’m done,’ he said—the sentence didn’t sound like a threat. It sounded like a limit he had reached and didn’t know how to step past.”
Those lines alone kept me occupied for far longer than I expected.
I’m still trying to untangle the shape of this story—what it says, what it withholds, what it deliberately refuses to explain. And yet, somehow, I’m ravenous for more. When I finished, I wanted to scream. Briefly considered throwing my iPad against a wall. Felt personally abandoned by the ending. I didn’t want closure. I wanted continuation.
Luckily for us, this is only book one. There is more coming. Thank God.
If you’re looking for something dark and strange and emotionally corrosive—family dynamics that rot from the inside out, a house full of tension and unspoken damage, and an employee whose composure feels less calm and more carefully calculated—this book will grab you and refuse to let go.
Five emotionally disturbed, carefully chosen-word stars.
Because when a book leaves me this hungry after the final page… it earns every single one.
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pretty Bruise door T.J. Roelyn
Laat ik meteen beginnen: ik voel me oprecht vereerd—en enorm dankbaar—dat ik een ARC van dit boek heb mogen ontvangen van T.J. Roelyn. Dat neem ik nooit vanzelfsprekend. Al helemaal niet wanneer het schrijven zó doelbewust is. Dit is geen “bedankt voor het gratis boek”-soort dankbaarheid. Dit is meer: oh, je hebt me iets scherps toevertrouwd.
Ik was zo enthousiast dat ik meteen begon. Slaap was optioneel. Spijt niet.
Ten tweede: trigger warning, rechtstreeks van de auteur—
Seks zonder waarschuwing. Geweld zonder nette verklaringen. Geen redelijke beslissingen.
Dit wordt aangeboden als een beleefdheid, niet als comfort. En eerlijk? Als die zin je niet al vertelt wat voor boek dit is, dan doet niets dat.
Vanaf de allereerste pagina was ik gegrepen. Niet het soort gegrepen waarbij je “lekker doorleest”, maar waarbij je je vastklampt. Soms vergat ik oprecht te ademen. Ik heb Help en 11 gelezen. 11 deed niet veel voor me. Maar dit? Dit is Roelyn die het gewicht van woorden volledig begrijpt en ze gebruikt met terughoudendheid in plaats van overdaad. Niets is verspild. Niets is toevallig. Zinnen blijven hangen. Ze nestelen zich.
Ik las dit boek in wat voelde als één ademhaling. En daarna lag ik daar gewoon, starend naar het plafond, terwijl bepaalde zinnen zich steeds opnieuw afspeelden, alsof ze in mijn hoofd gebrand stonden. Zinnen zoals:
“People said more than they intended when they believed cruelty gave them control,”
en
“‘I’m done,’ he said—the sentence didn’t sound like a threat. It sounded like a limit he had reached and didn’t know how to step past.”
Alleen die regels hielden me al veel langer bezig dan ik had verwacht.
Ik ben nog steeds bezig de vorm van dit verhaal te ontrafelen—wat het zegt, wat het achterhoudt, wat het bewust weigert uit te leggen. En toch ben ik hongerig naar meer. Toen ik klaar was, wilde ik schreeuwen. Heb even overwogen mijn iPad tegen de muur te gooien. Ik voelde me persoonlijk in de steek gelaten door het einde. Ik wilde geen afsluiting. Ik wilde verder.
Gelukkig is dit pas boek één. Er komt meer. Godzijdank.
Als je op zoek bent naar iets donkers en vreemds en emotioneel bijtends—familiedynamieken die van binnenuit verrotten, een huis vol spanning en onuitgesproken schade, en een werknemer wiens kalmte minder rustig voelt en meer… zorgvuldig berekend—dan grijpt dit boek je vast en laat het je niet meer los.
Vijf emotioneel verstoorde, zorgvuldig gekozen-woorden-sterren.
Want als een boek me zó hongerig achterlaat na de laatste pagina… dan verdient het ze allemaal.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pretty Bruise by T.J. Roelyn is a masterclass in atmospheric, cryptic storytelling. T.J. Roelyn plays beautifully with language, reminding the reader that the written word is a powerful weapon. This isn’t a story that hands you answers on a silver platter; it is mysterious and calculating, forcing you to work for every revelation.
The most fascinating "character" in the book is undoubtedly the house itself. It feels alive, possessing its own charm and dark intentions, adding a layer of creepiness that permeates every page. The protagonist, Lindsay, is equally intriguing—she is so devoid of emotion and so singular in her mission that she feels like an intelligent robot or an AI illusion. We still don't know her final plan, which only adds to the suspense.
The contrast between the "robotic" Lindsay and the raw, bitter, traumatised Elwin creates a gripping tension. While the family dynamic is clearly dysfunctional, with a "hero" father and a lost mother, it is Elwin's mystery that draws you in. With a massive cliffhanger and more questions than answers, this book leaves you desperate for the sequel.
I am ready for the jaw-dropping twist I know is coming!
The most fascinating "character" in the book is undoubtedly the house itself. It feels alive, possessing its own charm and dark intentions, adding a layer of creepiness that permeates every page. The protagonist, Lindsay, is equally intriguing—she is so devoid of emotion and so singular in her mission that she feels like an intelligent robot or an AI illusion. We still don't know her final plan, which only adds to the suspense.
The contrast between the "robotic" Lindsay and the raw, bitter, traumatised Elwin creates a gripping tension. While the family dynamic is clearly dysfunctional, with a "hero" father and a lost mother, it is Elwin's mystery that draws you in. With a massive cliffhanger and more questions than answers, this book leaves you desperate for the sequel.
I am ready for the jaw-dropping twist I know is coming!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC read!!
First of all, thank you T.J. Roelyn for the opportunity. I never take that for granted.
This book is not like anything I have ever read. From page one you are immersed into the story. There’s no description or introduction, you are literally running and trying to figure out what is happening from the start.
A young woman starts working as a personal assistant for a wealthy family. Instantly you realize something is off about this family. You read more and more to figure out what is going on. The more you read, the more you need to know.
It’s a 2 book series and she definitely just cuts you off at the end. Like half the story was given to you and now you must wait to find out what’s next. I highly recommend but be sure you can read this with no distraction. You need to pay attention to every detail she gives you.
This book releases Jan 21st!!!
And now I impatiently wait for book 2!!!
First of all, thank you T.J. Roelyn for the opportunity. I never take that for granted.
This book is not like anything I have ever read. From page one you are immersed into the story. There’s no description or introduction, you are literally running and trying to figure out what is happening from the start.
A young woman starts working as a personal assistant for a wealthy family. Instantly you realize something is off about this family. You read more and more to figure out what is going on. The more you read, the more you need to know.
It’s a 2 book series and she definitely just cuts you off at the end. Like half the story was given to you and now you must wait to find out what’s next. I highly recommend but be sure you can read this with no distraction. You need to pay attention to every detail she gives you.
This book releases Jan 21st!!!
And now I impatiently wait for book 2!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a great book about a woman who takes a job working for a shady family. This family has bad things happening all the time and they keep covering everything up. Ethan (the husband/dad/ rich guy) and his wife Lena and son Elwin are all strange characters, but Lindsey fit right in.
Elwin was annoying, Lena was a mess, Ethan seemed the most normal out of the crew and Lindsey put up with a lot more in a job that most of us wouldn’t have. The character development was great and the story left me wanting more. I’m happy to see that this will be a series! Don’t miss out! This house holds secrets.
Elwin was annoying, Lena was a mess, Ethan seemed the most normal out of the crew and Lindsey put up with a lot more in a job that most of us wouldn’t have. The character development was great and the story left me wanting more. I’m happy to see that this will be a series! Don’t miss out! This house holds secrets.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book hooks you from the very first chapter and has you following along Lindsey trying to learn who to trust and who's suspicious. There are so many twists,secrets and strange encounters that you'll lose count of it all! It's very easy to follow along the story line and keeps you guessing throughout the book. The ending was unexpected and so worth it and I can't wait till book 2 to see what else goes on unnoticed.
Review of advance copy
ARC Review!!!
This book had me hooked from the very beginning! I read it all in one setting, all the twists and turns had me not wanting to put it down. The word choices…impeccable! I absolutely cannot wait for the second book in the series! I have to know what happens next!
This book had me hooked from the very beginning! I read it all in one setting, all the twists and turns had me not wanting to put it down. The word choices…impeccable! I absolutely cannot wait for the second book in the series! I have to know what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pretty Bruise thrives on tension you can’t name but can’t escape. T.J. Roelyn builds dread through silence and proximity, where power is subtle, boundaries blur, and every calm moment feels borrowed. Elegant, unsettling, and quietly brutal.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Quick read, very intriguing, and slightly confusing in a way that made me feel like I was missing something the entire time... it was both frustrating and fascinating. Even so, I couldn’t put it down. The ending is a full-on cliffhanger, and now I need book two.
January 24, 2026
This was a good, short read. Kept me engaged until the last page. I’m intrigued to know what will happen next…
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews