Eat Your Heart Out : A Pitch Black Horror Romance

by J.N. Bamforth

Wanna know the best way to a man's heart?
It's a knife, straight through the chest.

My name is Cherry, and three years ago the life I had ended, but it didn't kill me.
Instead, it turned me into the woman I am now. A hellhound on a revenge path to find the man, and those just like him, who ruined my life.

But the one thing I never expected to find was love.

Genres: Dark Romance

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2026

Reviews

[Torylee Abrams · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️ 4/5🌶

𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏. 𝑨 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅.

𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮, 𝓘’𝓿𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓬𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓼 𝓪 𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓼𝓷’𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓶 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓪 𝓹𝓲𝓮. 𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮..

As soon as I saw the tropes I knew I immediately needed to read this. This is a first read of mine from J.N. Bamforth and it won’t be my last. I fucking devoured this. Pun intended. When I say I want horror romance this is what I’m talking about. Fanfuckingtastic. The spice? Incredible. A spicy good time. The horror and gore? Fucking perfect. The story and plot? Important but also so much fun. Eat Your Heart Out has immaculate banter and this was honestly such a fucking blast.

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɢᴜʏs ᴄᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴄʀᴀᴢʏ? ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙᴀʙᴇ, ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ. ᴅɪᴄᴋʜᴇᴀᴅ.

Brynne, our FMC, the fucking woman that you are. You want feminine rage? You’re getting it. A bad ass bitch.
Kincaid, the mouth on that man. As soon as he opened up his mouth I was in loveeee.. the way they just immediately understood each other despite their extracurricular activities🤭 this was so much fun. I loved it and definitely will be revisiting this again!

𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰. 𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.

🔪𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐌𝐂
💀𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐜 𝐌𝐌𝐂
🩸𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬
❤️‍🔥𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠
⚰️𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫/𝐇𝐢𝐦 & 𝐃𝐢𝐞
🔪𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞
💀𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮?
🩸𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩
❤️‍🔥𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬
⚰️”𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞” 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝
🔪𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥

[Emilee Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: 5 🌟
𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙄 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙? YES - CHECK TW!!!
𝙃𝙤𝙬'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚? 5/5

In our street team chat someone said this was an erotic horror rom com and I’d have to say that spot on! JN Bamforth just has a way with making you NEVER look at certain foods the same way again! Lol. That said if you want something that screams feminine rage but is also disgustingly shocking with smut galore and some love thrown in then this is the book for you!!

Brynne aka Cherry our female serial k!ller and her necroph!lliac “cleaner” Kincaid are quite the match! It was insta love for both of them and at the heart (see what I did there?) of this story was the simple fact that there’s always someone out there that matches your freak, gives you what you need and loves you for you. And I can’t see anything more beautiful than that!

Please listen to me when I say check the triggers!!! And if you have a favorite food chances are JN is going to ruin it for you but you’ll still eat up her writing (again…see what I did there?)

**GIGANTIC thank you to JN Bamforth for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Beesbooks02 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eat your heart out by J.N Bamforth
Release date: 14th February
Please check Trigger warnings ⚠️


J.N bamforth has a way of writing disgustingly disturbing books that you just can't put down, they draw you in and in the next moment you realise: 'oh shit I've finished it'

I’ll never allow a man to get away with this again. I’ll become the very thing that they all fear, deep down. A fucking woman, scorned.

I loved Brynne, in my books she's the definition of a woman scorned and nothing is worse. After a traumatic event, she doesn’t let the monster get away with what he did, instead she finds creative ways to make him pay. Let's just say I'm never looking at a cherry pie the same way or trusting one ever again.

[Jessi .K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the sweetest love story!! Seriously just a smutty, murdery, gorey, giggley, love story. About two people who others broke apart in disgusting ways, but they saw the beauty in the shambles!
First off good for you Cherry, I love when women find their power and fuck up (cook) men who deserve it! This was sooo damn creative, in a cringey feet kicking way. J.N has yet provide another fabulously gorey fun time. And Kin, glad he got his revenge and found someone who said "I'll play dead for you"......swoon. Yes I am aware I like wierd shit.
The inner monolog of these characters had me out right snort laughing. I do believe that Brynne and Kincaid are officially on my top couples ever list! Seriously who doesn't want someone to love their darkness in the light.

[Carly Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are into pitch black erotic horror, this author NEVER disappoints. Her writing is top tier and I always eat it up. This story follows “Cherry” Brynne as she gets her revenge on terrible disgusting men. She meets Kincaid who had a terrible childhood, eventually taking his life into his hands at a young age. Even though she doesn’t trust men she trusts him. This story is dark; please check the triggers there are a lot of them. However; this is a beautiful love story and it plays out like a lovely dark trauma infused tale of the heart. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys dark twisted tales.

[Lace☀️🍂🌻🌼 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride…. Check your trigger warnings on this one folks, I repeat Check. Your. Trigger. Warnings. I’m not even sure how to describe what I just read, but at the very heart of it is two people who find love and acceptance for exactly who they are… and that’s just beautiful. I love the way J.N. writes, it pulls you in, puts you in a chokehold and you’re on one crazy ride and you want to say thank you for it!

[Angela Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to arc read this book. This was a well written, fast paced read, but overall it was a bit much for me. I enjoy dark rom coms and thrillers, but gore I think is a bit past my comfort level. If you enjoy gruesome reads with a little romance, this would be a good read for you. What do you get when you cross a rapist killing cannibal with a necrophiliac? This book. It’s very detailed, definitely check ALL the triggers.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT! DID! I! READ! Holy moly this was dark and intense and I freaking LOVED it!

I love Brynne!! She’s a badass FMC. Her “cooking skills” are revenge worthy.
And Kincaid….. wow!!

But for real, I’ll probably never eat cherry pie again.

[Sarah Lavely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to JN Bamforth for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.



Is it too early to call my favorite book of 2026?
Good… because Eat Your Heart Out by JN Bamforth already claimed the throne.

Check your triggers. This one is dark. Gritty. Unapologetic.

By 20% I knew it was a 5 star read.

She’s trauma-forged, pie-baking, full of feminine-rage.
Yes… she’s a serial unaliver who keeps body parts for her recipes.
We’re not focusing on that.

He’s a walking red flag who prefers his women cold.
Again… we’re not focusing on that.

What we are focusing on?

Two damaged souls who let their darkness breathe… and somehow find safety, softness, and peace in each other.

Unhinged. Romantic. Twisted.
And somehow… tender.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read this author, and I loved her writing. This book is erotic horror, very graphic and with a lot of blood—too much. Brynne and Kincaid are two broken souls who find solace together. This story was fun and a crazy read; I loved the instant connection they had.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don't think Jordan has it in her to write anything other than 5⭐ books.
Wow. And as usual with her style of writing it's absolutely disgusting, makes you genuinely think oh shit what am I reading. But my god you are hooked immediately.
Read this in a couple of hours. Couldn't put it down.
So many trigger warnings folks so read them if you need to 😏
Brynne is a bad ass that you do not want to mess with unless you wanna be made in to a meal 👀
And Kincaid is a lovely sick puppy that dotes on her perfectly 🖤
Thanks for the arc ❤️

[Gabby Wentworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

these two were insane i LOVED IT 🤩🤭🔥

[Kayla (Kayuhlareads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming Soon!

[darkreadswithnalieee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wrecked me in ways I wasn’t prepared for.
Eat Your Heart Out is not just a dark romance — it’s an emotional battlefield where love and violence collide in the most brutal, intimate way possible.
Brynne believes she’s a monster. She truly thinks the only way to protect Kincaid is to push him away. When she tells him to go, to forget her, to let her break his heart — it feels like she’s poisoning herself with every word. And then Kincaid says, “So break it.”
That scene alone? Devastating.
He doesn’t care about her secrets. He doesn’t care about the darkness she thinks lives inside her. He wants it. He wants all of it. When he tells her that whatever monster she believes is inside her, the thing inside him wants to love it — I lost it. The vulnerability in that moment is raw and aching and so deeply intimate.
But this book doesn’t let you sit in softness for long.

Eat Your Heart Out doesn’t romanticize broken people — it forces you to sit inside their damage. And Kincaid? His trauma gutted me. The glimpses into his childhood, the abuse he endured, the way it still claws at him when he looks in the mirror and sees a “monster” staring back — it explains so much about the man he became. The fear of vulnerability. The desperation to protect Brynne from himself. The way he believes he’s beyond saving.
And then there’s Brynne — chaotic, sharp, dangerous in her own right. She’s not some fragile heroine waiting to be rescued. She walks into danger with a knife in her bag and a plan in her head. When Leroy attacks, she doesn’t freeze. She fights. She stabs. She survives. I loved that about her.
The Leroy confrontation scene had my heart pounding. One second Kincaid is baring his soul, telling Brynne to break his heart if she must — the next he’s taking a baseball bat to the face while shielding her with his body. The bone-cracking impact. The blood. Him still trying to hold the bat back while telling her to run. It was brutal and terrifying in the best way.
The tension is suffocating. The fear feels real. The brutality isn’t glamorized — it’s desperate.
And what makes it even more powerful is Brynne’s internal shift. She refuses to die like this. She refuses to let another man like Leroy — like Chris — control her ever again. This isn’t just a fight scene. It’s reclamation.
Then there’s the dynamic between Brynne and Kincaid outside the violence.
The power exchange?
The kneeling?
The “Good boy”?
Absolutely feral.
When Kincaid gets on his knees for her — willingly, eagerly — it’s not just hot (and yes, the smut is SPICY spicy), it’s layered. Because this is a man who is powerful, dangerous, dominant in so many spaces… and he chooses to submit to her. The praise. The control. The intensity. It’s intoxicating.
“Good boy.”
AHH.
The chemistry between them burns. The sex scenes aren’t just explicit — they’re emotionally charged. Every touch feels like a collision of trauma and desire. The author balances filthy dialogue with vulnerability in a way that makes it impossible to look away.
What I loved most is how the book moves between tenderness and brutality without losing its emotional core. One minute Kincaid is offering his heart like it’s hers to destroy, the next he’s bleeding in front of her trying to protect her. One minute Brynne is pushing him away to save him, the next she’s fighting beside him.
They don’t just love each other.
They choose each other.
Over and over.
This story is dark. It’s violent. It’s erotic. It’s emotionally heavy. But beneath all of that is two broken people desperately trying to believe they deserve to be loved — monsters and all.
The smut was hot.
The emotional moments were devastating.
The action had me holding my breath.
This book was amazing to read — intense, addictive, and impossible to forget.
And Kincaid?
On his knees?
Good boy, indeed.

[TheBookishGoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS A PITCH BLACK HORROR ROMANCE WITH A WONDERFULLY LONG LIST OF TRIGGERS YOU MUST READ BEFORE GOING ANY FURTHER

Also, pre-warning, it is advised not to eat just before or during your reading of this book, unless you have a particularly strong stomach or are just unhinged (like myself).

What did I just read? A fucking masterpiece of darkness, humour and emotional depth, that's what!

This is my second ARC for J.N Bamforth (I read Slay Bells in December) and I will read anything this woman puts in front of me. (bring on the 3 other books of hers I have on my Kindle TBR)

J.N has given us a new darkness to love. This book is a pitch black romance with the HEA you didn't know you needed.

The characters are gorgeously written and the exploration of their dark sides is not only wonderful to read but creates the instant intimate bond between them.
Brynne is Dexter meets Nigella Lawson, wrapped in a curvy body with Cherry Red hair. She was destroyed mentally, physically and emotionally by a man who didn't take no for an answer but she rebuilds herself, stronger, sharper, deadly and determined to seek revenge and never feel that way again.

And boy, howdy, her revenge is graphic, brutal but completely fucking justified and you will find yourself cheering her on (even through any disgust you have for her methods).

Kincaid, sweet, devoted, simp that he is. God damn, my heart hurt for this man. His backstory just as devastatingly heart breaking as Brynne's and you can see why they are drawn to each other instantly. The way he becomes completely besotted and when she opens up to him fully and he swears "Never Again!", fuckin glorious!

This book is smut, no other way around it, it is fantastically filthy and I loved every second of it, definitely a solid 4 on the spicy scale. I was a little concerned for Kincaid's Mustang but he assures me it's not damaged, lol. There are some kinks in this book that may disturb other readers, so I reiterate, read the trigger warnings!

I devoured this book and refused to put it down until it was done, I would love to read more about Brynne and Kincaid's future adventures so if J.N wants to put that out into the world, I am all over it.

Total 5 star read for me. Brilliant!

[Dani-Lynn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮

🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Brynne (Cherry) & Kincaid

🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕forced cannibalism
📕potato peeler
📕genital mutilation
📕man meat
📕unhinged main characters

🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
As a first time read from the author, I can guarantee this won't be mine or your last time either. The level of brutality combined with the level of straight smut was absolutely perfect. Two unhinged characters brought together by a morbid occupation sets the scene perfectly for fans of Butcher & Blackbird and other dark romcoms. The beginning is a straight trigger warning which projects the symbolism of women regaining their power throughout the story, giving it a central theme that any victim can resonate with. Absolutely a great read for the lovely dovey holiday.

*spoilers*

Brynne was just minding her business after a night of drinking when a bastard decides to take it upon himself to take what doesn't belong to him. Well, years later, that incident has created Brynne into this badass cannibalistic chef who has learned how to retake her power. After proceeding to take revenge on the man who made her life hell, she dials a friend to help discard the body.

In doing so, she meets Kincaid who is part of the clean up crew who has his own skeletons hidden in his own closet. Some he might like to bone himself. But those things that makes them feel like monsters causes them to come closer together. Brynne, who goes by the name Cherry, is a luscious sight of beauty who chops up men and places their parts into jars and creates exquisite pies with their bodily fluids.

From the moment they meet to where the story ends, you are just absolutely rooting for both of them. Both with worrisome pasts that haunt them. The chemistry was absolutely banging. The spice, once it started did not let down and the flames did not let up a bit. My mouth was dropped during some intimate moments. The gore was enticing. Excruciatingly fun. A well-paced story that will have you seated! I was so thrilled, I finished it in one sitting. Looking forward for the authors next release because this one was absolutely bonkers!

[Courts · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first: please check the trigger warnings. This book is dark, graphic and absolutely not for everyone.

I knew by the first 10% that this was going to be a five star read. I finished it in just a couple of hours because I genuinely couldn’t put it down. It’s intense, shocking and completely addictive. It was so so easy to read.

Eat Your Heart Out is gritty and gruesome but underneath all of that, it’s also a love story.

Brynne is a force of an FMC. She’s strong, smart and driven by trauma and pure feminine rage. She takes revenge in the most creative ways possible and she does not apologise for it. She’s the kind of FMC you don’t mess with unless you’re prepared to become part of the menu 👀

Kincaid is just as morally questionable but in a way that somehow works perfectly for her. He doesn’t try to change Brynne or tame her darkness, he embraces it. He’s intense, a walking red flag at times but completely devoted to her. Together, they’re chaotic, unhinged and strangely perfect. What surprised me most was how tender their relationship felt beneath all the gore. Two damaged people finding comfort and safety in each other without pretending to be anything other than who they are. It was raw and natural.

Jordan’s writing style is vivid and shocking as you know by my reviews. There were moments where I genuinely thought, what am I reading? But yet I still continued and loved every second of it. I laughed, I gagged and I kept turning the pages.

Eat Your Heart Out has already risen to one of my favourite books so far of this year and I cannot wait for Jordan’s next pieces. I am so beyond lucky and grateful to be apart of her street team so I get to read these masterpieces before everyone else 🤌🏻🤌🏻

This was an arc in and exchange for an honest review.

[MorallyDarkReadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 out of 5 spice

I fear JN Bamforth has done it again and by again I mean she crawled into my brain, set up camp, and refused to leave.

This book is dark. Like actually dark. Feminine rage, revenge, morally questionable choices, and a plot that had me staring at the wall after certain chapters going ma’am??? MA’AM???

Brynne is not your sweet girl next door. She is trauma forged, unhinged, and fully committed to making men regret their life choices. And honestly I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs. The creativity in this book is insane. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, JN said no babe try again.

And then we have our walking red flag man who absolutely prefers his women cold and complicated. I should be concerned. I am not. The dynamic between them is chaotic in the most addictive way. Two damaged people finding something that looks suspiciously like love in the middle of blood and bad decisions. I ate it up.

The horror elements are shocking, the romance is twisted, and the spice is there and very loud but it does not completely take over the plot. It hits, it shocks, it moves on, and then you are back to questioning your morals.

Also please check trigger warnings because this book does not hold your hand. It shoves you into the deep end and says swim.

Five stars without hesitation. Four out of five spice. I will never look at certain foods the same again and yet I would still read anything this author writes immediately.

[Casanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received from Author

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spiciness: 🌶🌶
Darkness: 🔪🔪🔪.5
POV: 👩👨

✏️ Genre: Erotic Horror
🚩 Triggers: Sexual Assault, Blood, Degradation, Murder, Food Play, Graphic Threats among other things (theres only so much I can add here without spoiling the story or get a review banned lol)

So I want to start this review of by saying all thoughts and feelings are my own. I want to thank JN Bamforth for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book before release.

" What's worse than the Devil himself? A woman and her morally black golden retriever. "

Before we even get into the story we have a bomb playlist. I will always mention a playlist if there is one cause its a weakness of mine. Such a good playlist too. Then we have like 3 pages of content warnings, not one put me off this book.


Now on to the actual story, I loved this...it's going to be hard to pick my top book of the month this month. Brynne was psycho but in the best way possible, won't tryst her to cook for me but that's for a whole other reason. Kincaid is a new book boyfriend, he's so cute and damaged I love him to pieces. There was the perfect mix of scenes that made me go awwww and ewwwww. THIS BOOK MADE ME PHYSICALLY REACT, I NEVER DO THAT. The connection between Brynne and Kincaid is so cute, loved it right from the start. The fact that immediately they was drawn to each other and then it developed was just *chefs kiss*.

I beg of you to go and read this novella, it was perfect. Just know JN may (probably will) put you off some of your favourite foods.

"Break it. Crack it in two, shatter it to pieces."

[Christina meza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore her writing from beginning to end; I can't get enough of her books! I recently had the chance to read *Eat Your Heart Out* by In Bamforth, and I just wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity to read the ARC.

From the start, this book drew me in with its poignant portrayal of the protagonist's struggles. I felt a deep sympathy for her as she navigated her challenges, and her journey of vengeance against those who wronged her was incredibly compelling. I was fascinated by how she incorporated her experiences into her cooking, using it as a means to confront her past.

The story takes a twist when she meets Kincaid, a character haunted by his own tragic history of abuse and loss. Their instant connection was heartwarming, especially given the darkness they both faced. Kincaid's past, involving the trauma inflicted by his mother and his unsettling relationships, added layers to their story.

Despite the sadness woven throughout their narratives, the ending felt hopeful. Their souls were truly meant to be together, and it’s a beautiful conclusion to their journeys.

This book releases on February 14th, and I wholeheartedly give it a five-star rating. Just a note: be sure to check for trigger warnings, as there are some sensitive topics addressed.

[Ramona Strijkers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well....the list of foods I can't eat anymore just got longer...again 😅

Eat your heart out is a female rage revenge story and we love that!
Although this might not be your typical er0tic horr0r with lots of gore, the body horr0r enthusiasts will not be disappointed...I mean...rolling pin 🍆 sleeve.....yikes! 👀

Leave it to JN Bamforth to come up with creative ways to use kitchen utensils and create recipes with unusual ingredients.

This novella turned out to be more romantic than I thought it would be but I'm definitely not mad at it!
Kincaid is all about consent, trust and respecting boundaries, kind of 😏 (tracker), and we love a consent king.
Brynne is a bratty baddie but also very caring when it comes to Kincaid.
Their relationship develops at lightning speed and I love that for them, after everything they went through they deserve this HEA.

“I think I fell for you the moment I first laid eyes on you, and I knew then that you’d be the one for me. My other half that I never thought I deserved, yet here you are, completely and wholly mine.”

The banter and the inner monologue in this book is really funny and the schmexy scenes will get you all hot and bothered. Eat your heart out is the total package 🍒

[Kate’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

JN smashed it with this one!! 👏🏼 Short, smutty, unhinged, downright disturbing romcom erotic horror with a bad ass FMC on a revenge mission and a dark depraved necro MMC who also gives off golden retriever vibes … I mean what more could you want?? 😏
I absolutely ate this book up! - Like I literally could not put this down! - Be warned though in true JN.Bamforth style it may put you off certain foods for life! 🤮 And it has got very dark themes and scenes in it - SO CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS ‼️‼️
I absolutely love these 2 characters their banter was brilliant, The plot/smut ratio was bang on! 🤌🏼 THE TENSION 🥵🔥
I love a FMC who gives off pure feminine rage and Cherry/ Brynne was just that! - Something really shitty happened to her ❤️‍🩹 and she’s on a revenge war path taking out every “bad” guy in her own special ways 😉 - No spoilers here! 🤫
Then you’ve got Kincaid! 🤤 Ohhh i’m an absolute ho for Kincaid!! - He’s your typical touch her and die obsessed kind of MMC with a filthy mouth😍 but he has a dark past which makes him only attracted to - cold women 👀 Until he meets Brynne! … Throw in that he’s a complete praise slut with golden retriever vibes and he’s my perfect MMC! 🤌🏼🥵
I will 100000% be adding this beauty to my shelf asap! 😏

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight into the main course with no starters 🤣🤣

After her world is turned upside down Cherry aka Brynne decides justice is a dish best served either hot or cold 🤣 depending on what you’re cooking 🥘 Her methods maybe a little out there, ‘egg chopper’ 😬 The need for a clean up crew is required, this is where she sees Kincaid for the first time, and let’s just say the sparks did not boil away in her soup, no it fanned the flames and then some but he also has a dark secret too 🤭

"𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀'𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖."

If life didn’t get in the way, you could finish this in one sitting. The gore is prevalent as soon as you enter the first chapter, the narrative ensuring you get very descriptive visuals 🤣 and tbh I was totally there for it, the utilisation of everyday utensils is something that will make me think twice each time I go to use them in the kitchen. It makes for a really dark Valentine read, with spice (not just in the ‘pickles’) and an HEA. Totally enjoyed it!

[Daisy Magnolia · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥔🔪🥩🥚🧀🍕🥧 RUINED 😵‍💫😂

I'm speechless 😶 She did it again 👏🏻

And somehow I'm deeply traumatized by cheese 🧀 (AGAIN!) 😮‍💨 Now cherry pie 🥧 and pickles 🥒 are officially joining the emotional terror squad. It's now on the "never eat again without mental damage" list 💀 The pastry is still haunting my dreams 😩

I could talk about the characters forever… but instead, let's pay tribute to the potato peeler, the meat grinder, the egg chopper and that "innocent" rolling pin—I will never look at my kitchen the same way again 😵‍💫 My emotional organs have officially walked out on me 😂🤣

Feminine rage. Serial killer. A biker. Mustang owner. Broken souls. Dark pasts. And just when you think it can't get worse, it does 🥴

A 6☆ read. And yes, the pickles are part of my meltdown 😂 This book review should be called "Welcome to my food trauma list" 😩🤣

If this doesn't convince you to read it, you're seriously missing out on all the (questionable) homemade recipes 😈

PITCH BLACK. Trigger warnings are in full effect ☠️ Your mental health matters 🌼

[Dark Book Girlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the teasers for this novella I knew I had to read it.
Then I had the absolute honour to get asked to ARC read it. So Happy!

I will first say to anyone that is interested in reading this, please please check your triggers! This book has some very dark themes.
That said it made me giggle so much ( I don't know what that says about me lol)

I will start with what I didn't like first.
This could have benefitted from a few more chapters, maybe even being a full length book, just because the pacing towards the end felt a bit rushed and we didn't get a lot of character development. While I still loved Brynne and Kincaid, I felt that their relationship could have been explored more. Also I think their interactions with other characters weren't explored enough. What we got was funny and I wanted more.

That aside this book had me in hysterics at the most inappropriate scenes. Some of the descriptions I still think about and giggle to myself.
Just be aware that if you like cheese, pizza, mac 'n' cheese, and cherry pie you may look at them differently after reading this lol

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well… I’m starting to question what Jordan has against food and why she insists on traumatising us all through it. Consider this your PSA: do not pick this up if you’re about to eat deli meat, cherry pie, or mac & cheese. You have been warned.

This book was EVERYTHING. Brynne and Kincaid, Cherry and Necro. We adore you.

It was completely unhinged yet somehow still delivered rom-com energy at the same time. The banter had me laughing out loud, the emotion and trauma had me pulling the saddest faces, and the spice was absolute perfection. The whole vibe was erotic horror meets rom-com… with a generous side of food-related chaos.

I loved every second of this. It was one of my most anticipated reads and it absolutely delivered. Jordan is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors...everything she writes just hits.

Go. Read it. Immediately.

Just maybe wait until after you’ve finished eating.

[OooLaLa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, Blood & Banter

If you’re even thinking about picking up 'Eat Your Heart Out: Pitch Black Horror Romance' by J.N. Bamforth, Besties… go in prepared.👀

First of all, that prologue... BRUTAL. I’m talking blink-twice-and-clutch-your-Kindle brutal. Brynne (aka Cherry) is not your average FMC. She’s a full-blown serial k!ller on a revenge mission. And man... the woman commits. Three years after her life is destroyed, she’s a hellbent with a blade and a plan.

And then there’s Kincaid. Unhing€d. Obs€ss€d. A Necro 👀. And a walking red flag who somehow turns into the most devoted, "touch her & d!e" simp. The banter... Elite. The chemistry... Filthy in that “Sweeney Todd but make it romance” kind of way. Also… uhhhh maybe don’t read this while eating. Just trust me.🤨

This book is dark. The trigger warnings are LONG, so read them. But if you love revenge killings, morally corrupt love, and “homemade” meals with a side of chaos and banter? Then this is a wild ride for you. Besties… you’ve been warned! 😉

My Ratings: ⭐ 4/5 ▪︎ 🥵 5/5

🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤

[Lea-Mai Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW COPY*

This is the second book by J.N.Bamforth that I have read and I’m really enjoying her style of writing as well as her realm of dark romance.

Kincaid and Brynne’s attraction is immediate from the get to go and although their meeting is in an unconventional way it’s hot and heavy from the get go. They understand each other on a level that others don’t. They both have a dark side that they’re scared to share but are quick to realise just how deeply they are connected.

I appreciate that in certain aspects it let us as the readers create our own narrative, however I do wish that we got more of a backstory with Kincaid’s necro activities and how that came about, as we got an insight into Brynne’s backstory and why she does what she does! I enjoyed the slight comedic side when it came to Brynne and making her victims into meals as a prize.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a recipe for absolute chaos… and I mean that literally.

I went in almost completely blind and honestly? Best decision. It was surprise after surprise in the most delightfully unhinged way. Pitch black, gory, outrageous & also genuinely hilarious.

The inner monologues of both the FMC and MMC were the standout for me. I highlighted so many lines because they had me actually snort-laughing.

My only real gripes were the insta-love (a bit much for my cynical soul) and a fair amount of cheesy/cringey moments. I did roll my eyes more than once. But the insanity and comedic timing of the characters carried it through and made it easy to forgive.

Overall: dark, bloody, chaotic and funny. It absolutely does what it says on the tin & if you like your romance with a side of gore and incredibly morally questionable behaviour, you’ll probably have a great time.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. N. Bamforth has done it again and ruined a bunch of favourite foods on me.. in the best and most disturbing way possible!

A deeply disturbing, yet extremely enjoyable tale of feminine rage and true love.

This book will have you gagging out of disgust, kicking your feet at the most unhinged moments, all on the same page. But I wouldn't want it any other way with a J. N. Bamforth book!

Trigger warnings galore, but if you want a wild, psychotic love story, Eat Your Heart Out is it!

Bamforth has such a sick and twisted mind that I'm obsessed with!! You haven't experienced a pitch black horror until you've read a Bamforth book!!!

Thank you so much to the author for an arc of Eat Your Heart Out. All opinions are mine and have been left voluntarily.