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Necessary Evil: A Dark Small-Town MM Romantic Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 16 Apr 26SMALL-TOWN SCARS NEVER HEAL.
Will Thomas is haunted by his past.
In his small Missouri town in the early 90s, there isn’t a person who hasn’t witnessed the chaos between him and his former lover, the sheriff’s son. It ended in a tragedy that is still talked about like an urban legend. As he tries to move on and care for his dying sister, forces beyond Will’s control relentlessly seek revenge.
Then Owen arrives in town. Running from his deadly mistakes, he must stay with his aunt during his probation and keep out of trouble. He’s a breath of fresh air, bringing with him the kind of energy Will hasn’t experienced in years. But to get close to Owen is to put him at risk.
When their paths inevitably collide, the resulting shockwave echoes across the peaceful town, setting off a chain of events neither man could have anticipated.
***
Necessary Evil is a dark and intense tale that deals with heavy themes. Please check the Author's Note for more information.
Will Thomas is haunted by his past.
In his small Missouri town in the early 90s, there isn’t a person who hasn’t witnessed the chaos between him and his former lover, the sheriff’s son. It ended in a tragedy that is still talked about like an urban legend. As he tries to move on and care for his dying sister, forces beyond Will’s control relentlessly seek revenge.
Then Owen arrives in town. Running from his deadly mistakes, he must stay with his aunt during his probation and keep out of trouble. He’s a breath of fresh air, bringing with him the kind of energy Will hasn’t experienced in years. But to get close to Owen is to put him at risk.
When their paths inevitably collide, the resulting shockwave echoes across the peaceful town, setting off a chain of events neither man could have anticipated.
***
Necessary Evil is a dark and intense tale that deals with heavy themes. Please check the Author's Note for more information.
- GenresM M Romance
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 16, 2026
15 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
A.V. Shener
10 books125 followersA.V. likes to take a ride into the dark side of writing, but always makes sure to find his way back. If he can make his readers both captivated and uncomfortable, he knows he did his job.
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March 2, 2026Hold off on rating for now
This author reached out to me to ARC read and leave a review, which I was grateful for. However, my review is not exactly positive, so I don’t want to leave a rating yet.
This story follows 3 perspectives of characters who live in a small town. This is a corrupt town, where even the mayor isn’t a good person.
First you have Will, who was blamed for his ex-lover’s su*cide and a bit of an outcast in town. He only stays in order to ensure his sick sister’s care.
Then you have Nate, the sick and twisted police officer who is obsessed with Will and was once friends with the ex-lover who passed away.
Finally you have Owen, who is finally clean and looking to start fresh in the small town with his police officer aunt.
In this book you’ll find:
-unique storytelling POV
-a more plot-focused narrative
-90s setting
-down on their luck MCs in troubling situations
Firstly, I want to start by complimenting the author with their willingness to take feedback. In the copy I received, the TWs were extremely vague, and did not fully cover the triggering content in this book. As the author mentions, it is not for the faint of heart in terms of content mentioned. When I brought this up with the author, they thanked me for bringing it up and let me know they’d update the TWs.
Just in case, I’d like to post book safety info for this book for those who need it. (Skip the following bullets if you don’t care for TWs):
-explicit SA (not between MCs) and abuse
-drug use (consensual, coerced, and forced)
-heavy mentions of su*cide
-much of this abuse is committed by a police officer on MCs
-violence (fairly graphic)
-terminal illness and death of family member
-homophobia
For me personally, I likely wouldn’t have picked this book up had I known about some of the content. Therefore, you may want to take my review with a grain of salt.
This book is very narrative heavy, and the writing style focuses on straightforward story telling. Though there are a lot of characters, I never found the writing confusing, which is good! The story takes place in the nineties, which means no cell phones, appropriate music references, and a whole lot of unaccepting townspeople. This setting did definitely add to the story.
This book also has 3 perspectives, with two being from the MCs Owen and Will’s point of view, and the final being from Nate, the antagonist’s POV. There were quite a few chapters from Nate’s POV, and this is something I’ve never encountered before in the MM romance genre. Kudos to the author for trying something different! You will truly hate Nate as you read this story!
Unfortunately for my personal taste, I didn’t quite vibe with the story. I hated Nate, but also couldn’t think of anything to like about the other MCs. My main issue is that, to me, a thriller shouldn’t be predictable or straightforward, yet I found this book to be those things. My general feelings while reading just ended up being uncomfortable and unexcited.
Again, props to the author for trying something different! I think we totally need more exciting queer books. I’m sorry I didn’t enjoy it more ^^’
This author reached out to me to ARC read and leave a review, which I was grateful for. However, my review is not exactly positive, so I don’t want to leave a rating yet.
This story follows 3 perspectives of characters who live in a small town. This is a corrupt town, where even the mayor isn’t a good person.
First you have Will, who was blamed for his ex-lover’s su*cide and a bit of an outcast in town. He only stays in order to ensure his sick sister’s care.
Then you have Nate, the sick and twisted police officer who is obsessed with Will and was once friends with the ex-lover who passed away.
Finally you have Owen, who is finally clean and looking to start fresh in the small town with his police officer aunt.
In this book you’ll find:
-unique storytelling POV
-a more plot-focused narrative
-90s setting
-down on their luck MCs in troubling situations
Firstly, I want to start by complimenting the author with their willingness to take feedback. In the copy I received, the TWs were extremely vague, and did not fully cover the triggering content in this book. As the author mentions, it is not for the faint of heart in terms of content mentioned. When I brought this up with the author, they thanked me for bringing it up and let me know they’d update the TWs.
Just in case, I’d like to post book safety info for this book for those who need it. (Skip the following bullets if you don’t care for TWs):
-explicit SA (not between MCs) and abuse
-drug use (consensual, coerced, and forced)
-heavy mentions of su*cide
-much of this abuse is committed by a police officer on MCs
-violence (fairly graphic)
-terminal illness and death of family member
-homophobia
For me personally, I likely wouldn’t have picked this book up had I known about some of the content. Therefore, you may want to take my review with a grain of salt.
This book is very narrative heavy, and the writing style focuses on straightforward story telling. Though there are a lot of characters, I never found the writing confusing, which is good! The story takes place in the nineties, which means no cell phones, appropriate music references, and a whole lot of unaccepting townspeople. This setting did definitely add to the story.
This book also has 3 perspectives, with two being from the MCs Owen and Will’s point of view, and the final being from Nate, the antagonist’s POV. There were quite a few chapters from Nate’s POV, and this is something I’ve never encountered before in the MM romance genre. Kudos to the author for trying something different! You will truly hate Nate as you read this story!
Unfortunately for my personal taste, I didn’t quite vibe with the story. I hated Nate, but also couldn’t think of anything to like about the other MCs. My main issue is that, to me, a thriller shouldn’t be predictable or straightforward, yet I found this book to be those things. My general feelings while reading just ended up being uncomfortable and unexcited.
Again, props to the author for trying something different! I think we totally need more exciting queer books. I’m sorry I didn’t enjoy it more ^^’
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This is my first arc that I have read in. Wow, let me tell you I love it, but not Nate nate piss me off, but will was going through it. And so was Owen, because will had lost his mom and a tragedy with his ex, that he is blamed for I sobbed. And reading this book, in the end, I was not expecting that at all.
March 2, 2026
Thank you to the author A.V. Shener for an ARC of Necessary Evil!!
A Lumberjack, a Librarian and a Cop walk into a bar… how does the rest of that joke go? Something about one of them being an out-of-town recovering drug addict on probation who falls in love with the towns “wicked” son who is being abused by the towns mayor, doctor and police? Oh wait, no, that’s just Owen, Nate and Will.
Guys, this book was seriously fucked up. And I loved every single fucked up second of it.
A LOT happens. There are a lot of moving pieces and I love that it never once got confusing. Having 3 POV’s can sometimes be a bit much but it totally worked for this book. The 3 boys were all so different and had their own distinct voices and personalities that it was so easy to keep track of who was in the scene.
I don’t want to say too much and give away any spoilers. So, I will just say, you will HATE, with every fiber of your being, the bad guys. (*clears throat* the Mayor and his cronies *cough cough* Nate & small-town Joe). And you will completely fall in love with Owen and Will. I was so angry for most of this book. There were a few times I wanted to throw my kindle at a wall. But, the HEA made it all worth it!!
Necessary Evil takes place in 1991 and it brought back ALL the nostalgia!! I LIVED for fucking Blockbuster when I was younger and reading all the Blockbuster and movie references gave me all the feels! Another thing I loved about this was with cell phones being pretty obsolete, and communication limited, it made the story so much more intense.
The sex scenes were good, but they had nothing on the artist x muse drawing scenes!!! Oh my god. That’s was hot.
In my best Kate Winslet voice: “Draw me like one of your French girls”
"Let me draw you."
Will smiles. "How do you want me?"
"Naked, Will. The answer is always naked. You should
know that by now."
Francie and Julie. I just adore them.
That ending *ALMOST* got me. I was crying before I even knew who it was (you’ll understand what I’m talking about when you read it).
A Lumberjack, a Librarian and a Cop walk into a bar… how does the rest of that joke go? Something about one of them being an out-of-town recovering drug addict on probation who falls in love with the towns “wicked” son who is being abused by the towns mayor, doctor and police? Oh wait, no, that’s just Owen, Nate and Will.
Guys, this book was seriously fucked up. And I loved every single fucked up second of it.
A LOT happens. There are a lot of moving pieces and I love that it never once got confusing. Having 3 POV’s can sometimes be a bit much but it totally worked for this book. The 3 boys were all so different and had their own distinct voices and personalities that it was so easy to keep track of who was in the scene.
I don’t want to say too much and give away any spoilers. So, I will just say, you will HATE, with every fiber of your being, the bad guys. (*clears throat* the Mayor and his cronies *cough cough* Nate & small-town Joe). And you will completely fall in love with Owen and Will. I was so angry for most of this book. There were a few times I wanted to throw my kindle at a wall. But, the HEA made it all worth it!!
Necessary Evil takes place in 1991 and it brought back ALL the nostalgia!! I LIVED for fucking Blockbuster when I was younger and reading all the Blockbuster and movie references gave me all the feels! Another thing I loved about this was with cell phones being pretty obsolete, and communication limited, it made the story so much more intense.
The sex scenes were good, but they had nothing on the artist x muse drawing scenes!!! Oh my god. That’s was hot.
In my best Kate Winslet voice: “Draw me like one of your French girls”
"Let me draw you."
Will smiles. "How do you want me?"
"Naked, Will. The answer is always naked. You should
know that by now."
Francie and Julie. I just adore them.
That ending *ALMOST* got me. I was crying before I even knew who it was (you’ll understand what I’m talking about when you read it).
March 2, 2026
This book was definitely a dark romance, not dark between the two main characters but the theme and the plot. The darkness definitely isn’t romanticized in this story. Will has had a rough go in life, he’s lost his mom, the tragedy with his ex that he is blamed for and his sister is terminally sick and he must sacrifice himself for her care. He’s just trying to survive until he can leave town. Then Owen comes to town. Owen has had a rough go too but by his own making, he got hooked on drugs, partying and then ended up having to go to rehab followed by probation of face prison. After rehab his parents ship him off to his aunt’s to stay out of trouble and everyone thinks the small town is where to do that. But this small town is ravaged by darkness, corruption, drugs and so much evil. While everyone labels Will as evil, Owen isn’t convinced a their friendship blossoms. It’s really a beautiful story, it’s tragic and heartbreaking and just devastating at parts but it is a beautiful love story between Will and Owen, and the love Will has for his sister. The evil twists and dark turns just keep coming, this story is fast paced, it keeps moving and keeps you interested the entire time. It is well written and at the level I’ve come to expect from this author when reading the authors thrillers. (I have not read the sci-fi stories but I plan to). I thoroughly enjoyed reading Will and Owen’s story, and devoured it quickly.
March 1, 2026
You know how all those 5-star ARC reviews can make you a little wary?
Yeah… forget that. Necessary Evil deserves every single star.
Within the first three chapters, I was already wishing bloody, gruesome deaths on at least three characters — which honestly tells you everything about how effective the writing is.
The amount of hatred I developed for Nate and the mayor was genuinely unhealthy.
I won’t give away too much of the plot, but Will is treated horribly in his small town — by the residents, by the police force, by almost everyone. And the worst part? He believes he deserves it.
Then Owen shows up like a breath of big-city air… except he comes with his own set of problems.
And chapter 25?
The start of chapter 25 had me gasping for air.
This is a book meant to be read blind. Don’t go in expecting a smutty romance. This story is about deep emotional pain, sexual and mental abuse, and suffocating small-town homophobia. It’s raw, heavy, and unapologetically brutal.
But Will and Owen — I hope you keep driving, keep singing Tracy Chapman, and never look back once you pass those town borders.
PS: Sheriff, you are a little less of a dick… but you are not forgiven 💀
All the stars. No hesitation.
Bravo to A.V. Shener.
Yeah… forget that. Necessary Evil deserves every single star.
Within the first three chapters, I was already wishing bloody, gruesome deaths on at least three characters — which honestly tells you everything about how effective the writing is.
The amount of hatred I developed for Nate and the mayor was genuinely unhealthy.
I won’t give away too much of the plot, but Will is treated horribly in his small town — by the residents, by the police force, by almost everyone. And the worst part? He believes he deserves it.
Then Owen shows up like a breath of big-city air… except he comes with his own set of problems.
And chapter 25?
The start of chapter 25 had me gasping for air.
This is a book meant to be read blind. Don’t go in expecting a smutty romance. This story is about deep emotional pain, sexual and mental abuse, and suffocating small-town homophobia. It’s raw, heavy, and unapologetically brutal.
But Will and Owen — I hope you keep driving, keep singing Tracy Chapman, and never look back once you pass those town borders.
PS: Sheriff, you are a little less of a dick… but you are not forgiven 💀
All the stars. No hesitation.
Bravo to A.V. Shener.
March 5, 2026
Such a good read!! The amount of anger I had for certain characters was unmatched. I was on the edge of my seat in suspense but the frustration and ache was worth it for swoon moments and the ending.
March 2, 2026
This book had me at the edge of my seat the entire time!!! The suspense was so heavy throughout that I couldn’t put it down. It made me giggle, angry, swoon, ache.. It was a great.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from the author. I rarely request ARCs, but this one immediately caught my attention.
This is truly a dark romance, not because of the relationship between the two MMCs, but because of the situation surrounding them. The story never once glorified the darkness. Will has endured more than most: losing his mother, being blamed for the past, and caring for his terminally ill sister. Everything he does is about survival and sacrifice, just trying to hold on long enough to eventually leave town.
Then Owen arrives.
Owen also carries his own mistakes. His parents sent him to stay with his aunt in a quiet town, hoping distance will keep him out of trouble. But the town he lands in isn’t peaceful at all. It's Van Buren. It's where Will is.
Most people in town see Will as the villain. However, as Will and Owen spend time together, their connection slowly grows into something real and deeply moving.
This story is heartbreaking, tense, and painful, but at its core it’s a powerful love story between Will and Owen, and also the fierce love Will has for his sister (For me, it is one of the driving force of the story). The plot moves quickly, with twists, truly emotional, and incredibly well written.
I also have to say that the anger I felt toward the antagonist/s was almost overwhelming. There were moments I had to pause just to breathe. The emotional hate I felt towards them is too suffocating at times.
This is the kind of book best experienced without knowing too much beforehand. Just know that it isn’t a smut-driven romance. Once again, the darkness here comes from heavy themes: ab*se, deep tr*uma, and suffocating small-town h*moph*bia. It’s raw, painful, and brutally honest.
I won’t say much more because I don't want to spoil anything for future readers, but I guess I just have to say this....
I’ve always believed that sometimes fiction can say more than nonfiction. Sadly, yhis story reflects realities that still exist in many places around the world. I can only hope that one day there will be fewer Wills forced to endure that kind of pain, fewer Owens struggling to escape it — and far fewer people like Nate and Ray.
Will and Owen... I hope they never turned around.
Just the road, Tracy Chapman on the radio, and the quiet relief of finally leaving that town behind.
---------------
A.V. Shener, you are truly and incredible writer. Thank you for giving me a chance to read this book. Sending love and wishing the best for the upcoming release date.
This is truly a dark romance, not because of the relationship between the two MMCs, but because of the situation surrounding them. The story never once glorified the darkness. Will has endured more than most: losing his mother, being blamed for the past, and caring for his terminally ill sister. Everything he does is about survival and sacrifice, just trying to hold on long enough to eventually leave town.
Then Owen arrives.
Owen also carries his own mistakes. His parents sent him to stay with his aunt in a quiet town, hoping distance will keep him out of trouble. But the town he lands in isn’t peaceful at all. It's Van Buren. It's where Will is.
Most people in town see Will as the villain. However, as Will and Owen spend time together, their connection slowly grows into something real and deeply moving.
This story is heartbreaking, tense, and painful, but at its core it’s a powerful love story between Will and Owen, and also the fierce love Will has for his sister (For me, it is one of the driving force of the story). The plot moves quickly, with twists, truly emotional, and incredibly well written.
I also have to say that the anger I felt toward the antagonist/s was almost overwhelming. There were moments I had to pause just to breathe. The emotional hate I felt towards them is too suffocating at times.
This is the kind of book best experienced without knowing too much beforehand. Just know that it isn’t a smut-driven romance. Once again, the darkness here comes from heavy themes: ab*se, deep tr*uma, and suffocating small-town h*moph*bia. It’s raw, painful, and brutally honest.
I won’t say much more because I don't want to spoil anything for future readers, but I guess I just have to say this....
I’ve always believed that sometimes fiction can say more than nonfiction. Sadly, yhis story reflects realities that still exist in many places around the world. I can only hope that one day there will be fewer Wills forced to endure that kind of pain, fewer Owens struggling to escape it — and far fewer people like Nate and Ray.
Will and Owen... I hope they never turned around.
Just the road, Tracy Chapman on the radio, and the quiet relief of finally leaving that town behind.
---------------
A.V. Shener, you are truly and incredible writer. Thank you for giving me a chance to read this book. Sending love and wishing the best for the upcoming release date.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was definitely a remarkable reading experience that I’ve had in quite some time.
I am very grateful I got a chance to read an ARC and share my feelings 🤍
The story is set in 1991 and it immediately establishes an atmosphere that is both immersive and essential to the story: the absence of modern technology, no mobile phones, no instant communication, no means to learn something about another person, combined with the realities of a small-town environment marked by judgment, unacceptance and unspoken rules, the setting is more than background, it shapes the decisions and consequences. I also loved several subtle music references that added to the nostalgia 😌
I don’t read many thrillers, but I was completely absorbed by this one. The suspense is carefully constructed, story is fast-paced, a lot is happening and I genuinely did not anticipate many of the turns and twists.
Third-person POV is sometimes a struggle for me, but here it took several chapters to get into the rhythm of the writing and this slight observational distance added to the unease and the darker elements of the story the first-person POV usually doesn’t.
And can I say how I find it totally genius to have THAT third POV here? Not sure I’ve read books with such a great storytelling idea. It made it all even more fucked up in the best possible way 🙃
It’s difficult to tell much about the plot without risking spoilers so I’d say it is best to go in blind. What I can say is that it made me feel deeply. All types of feelings. It is very heavy, my heart broke and ached most of the time 💔 I cared and loved both Owen and Will so much, Julie and Francie were real sweethearts and I felt genuine hatred toward certain other characters, which speaks volumes about how convincingly they were written. All characters are strong and layered, they all feel painfully human and their actions make total sense.
The darkness here is plot-driven and purposeful, not romanticized and it never feels theatrical.
The writing is amazing, it’s steady, atmospheric, and emotionally precise. The pacing is confident, and the emotional impact will surely linger after you finish.
This is not an easy story and it’s not your conventional romance. It is intense, compelling, and executed perfectly. I would not change a single thing.
Each star is well deserved, as well as the HEA 💜
I am very grateful I got a chance to read an ARC and share my feelings 🤍
The story is set in 1991 and it immediately establishes an atmosphere that is both immersive and essential to the story: the absence of modern technology, no mobile phones, no instant communication, no means to learn something about another person, combined with the realities of a small-town environment marked by judgment, unacceptance and unspoken rules, the setting is more than background, it shapes the decisions and consequences. I also loved several subtle music references that added to the nostalgia 😌
I don’t read many thrillers, but I was completely absorbed by this one. The suspense is carefully constructed, story is fast-paced, a lot is happening and I genuinely did not anticipate many of the turns and twists.
Third-person POV is sometimes a struggle for me, but here it took several chapters to get into the rhythm of the writing and this slight observational distance added to the unease and the darker elements of the story the first-person POV usually doesn’t.
And can I say how I find it totally genius to have THAT third POV here? Not sure I’ve read books with such a great storytelling idea. It made it all even more fucked up in the best possible way 🙃
It’s difficult to tell much about the plot without risking spoilers so I’d say it is best to go in blind. What I can say is that it made me feel deeply. All types of feelings. It is very heavy, my heart broke and ached most of the time 💔 I cared and loved both Owen and Will so much, Julie and Francie were real sweethearts and I felt genuine hatred toward certain other characters, which speaks volumes about how convincingly they were written. All characters are strong and layered, they all feel painfully human and their actions make total sense.
The darkness here is plot-driven and purposeful, not romanticized and it never feels theatrical.
The writing is amazing, it’s steady, atmospheric, and emotionally precise. The pacing is confident, and the emotional impact will surely linger after you finish.
This is not an easy story and it’s not your conventional romance. It is intense, compelling, and executed perfectly. I would not change a single thing.
Each star is well deserved, as well as the HEA 💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a new to me author I had a privileged to receive an Arc from the Author himself.
Wow wow wow!! This book started of with a prologue that hooks you right into the story.
This book takes place around 1991! In a small town in Missouri.
Will is dealing with a lot in that small town for 5 years straight. The hate ,the Disgust the town believes that he is. Will sacrificed himself to help his sister with hospice care and medical treatment. The bond he has with his sister Julie is unbreakable unconditional love. He feels a lot of guilt for what happened to his pass boyfriend.
Owen from Kansas City is about to to leave to the small town when he encounters someone from his past and it became dangerous. He has such a beautiful and understanding soul. He’s a recovering addict trying to get his life together. Which he starts to until… no spoilers you’re going to have to read this book!
Ugh!! NATE! I wanted to literally pinch him in the face. He’s wicked. He’s so full of himself and so sure of himself. He thinks he’s knows what’s best for Will! NO HE DID NOT. I never hated an MC as Much I did Nate.
This book has it all and I mean all. This book had me in suspense, biting my nails I was angry emotional but by the end of this book I was beyond delighted with the HEA.
AV Shener made sure you kept guessing. The writing was top tier. This book is not for the faintest of hearts.
“I remember when we were driving, driving in your carSpeed so fast it felt like I was drunk.City lights lay out before usAnd your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder.And I-I had a feeling that I belongedI-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone.”
- Fast Car by Tracey Chapman this song has a lot of meaning to this story.
What to expect:
✔️Intense thriller
✔️Memorable characters
✔️High angst
✔️Disturbed stalker
✔️Small-town drama
✔️Heartbreak
Wow wow wow!! This book started of with a prologue that hooks you right into the story.
This book takes place around 1991! In a small town in Missouri.
Will is dealing with a lot in that small town for 5 years straight. The hate ,the Disgust the town believes that he is. Will sacrificed himself to help his sister with hospice care and medical treatment. The bond he has with his sister Julie is unbreakable unconditional love. He feels a lot of guilt for what happened to his pass boyfriend.
Owen from Kansas City is about to to leave to the small town when he encounters someone from his past and it became dangerous. He has such a beautiful and understanding soul. He’s a recovering addict trying to get his life together. Which he starts to until… no spoilers you’re going to have to read this book!
Ugh!! NATE! I wanted to literally pinch him in the face. He’s wicked. He’s so full of himself and so sure of himself. He thinks he’s knows what’s best for Will! NO HE DID NOT. I never hated an MC as Much I did Nate.
This book has it all and I mean all. This book had me in suspense, biting my nails I was angry emotional but by the end of this book I was beyond delighted with the HEA.
AV Shener made sure you kept guessing. The writing was top tier. This book is not for the faintest of hearts.
“I remember when we were driving, driving in your carSpeed so fast it felt like I was drunk.City lights lay out before usAnd your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder.And I-I had a feeling that I belongedI-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone.”
- Fast Car by Tracey Chapman this song has a lot of meaning to this story.
What to expect:
✔️Intense thriller
✔️Memorable characters
✔️High angst
✔️Disturbed stalker
✔️Small-town drama
✔️Heartbreak
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my very first ARC read, and wow did it leave an impression. The author actually reached out to me to read it, which made the experience even more special. I was so enthralled that I finished it within a day. I could not put it down.
This story is dark, intense, and layered with not only physical pain but emotional pain. My heart broke for Will so many times. The way the small-town atmosphere is written felt incredibly real to me. I come from a very small town where everyone knows everyone and their business, and that pressure and judgment was captured so well.
And then there is Owen. I was his biggest cheerleader the entire time. I found myself literally yelling at the pages, telling him not to follow through with what he thought was the right choice to help others. When a character makes you react like that, you know you are fully invested.
And Nate. I know a writer is telling a powerful story when I grow such intense hatred for a character that I want to reach through my Kindle and sucker punch him in the back of the head. The emotional response this book pulled out of me was unreal. Love, hate, frustration, protectiveness, I felt all of it.
The storyline never dragged. I was never bored. Just when I thought it might wrap up into a happy ending, the author kept the suspense tight and kept me guessing. The ending felt earned and satisfying. For my first ARC experience, this was such a strong, emotionally charged read. I love when an author can make me feel this worked up over fictional characters. That is powerful storytelling.
This story is dark, intense, and layered with not only physical pain but emotional pain. My heart broke for Will so many times. The way the small-town atmosphere is written felt incredibly real to me. I come from a very small town where everyone knows everyone and their business, and that pressure and judgment was captured so well.
And then there is Owen. I was his biggest cheerleader the entire time. I found myself literally yelling at the pages, telling him not to follow through with what he thought was the right choice to help others. When a character makes you react like that, you know you are fully invested.
And Nate. I know a writer is telling a powerful story when I grow such intense hatred for a character that I want to reach through my Kindle and sucker punch him in the back of the head. The emotional response this book pulled out of me was unreal. Love, hate, frustration, protectiveness, I felt all of it.
The storyline never dragged. I was never bored. Just when I thought it might wrap up into a happy ending, the author kept the suspense tight and kept me guessing. The ending felt earned and satisfying. For my first ARC experience, this was such a strong, emotionally charged read. I love when an author can make me feel this worked up over fictional characters. That is powerful storytelling.
March 3, 2026
MC’s: Owen & Will
This. Book.
💔😢🥺😳🫣
I loved reading this book — at the same time there were moments I couldn’t bear reading some of the darkness on the page.
I loved Will & Owen so much — Will’s strength and Owen’s heart. Every time Will and Owen connected, I wanted to cheer them on — I loved everything about their chemistry and easy banter… but there was so much in their way. (Understatement of the century.)
I felt torn (in a good way) by this book, wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next and also desperate to pause the devastation facing one MC in particular.
The choice to have chapters from the perspective of a villain was difficult but added to the tension for sure. I also normally like romance stories to be in 1st POV but so many twists and turns in the story would have been spoiled in this case. I thought it was clever how the usual small town as quaint trope was flipped into small towns can be hell.
Okay. To sum up: 5/5⭐️. The spice level is hard to rate because some of it was romantic sex and some was non-con/assault. For sure 5/5 darkeness🖤.
Tropes I would recommend for:
🖤 MM romance
🖤Dark Romance
🖤 Mystery/Thriller
🖤 Small Town (Not in a good way)
🖤 2 MC’s with Secrets
🖤 Set in 1990’s
🖤 Corruption/Crime Ring
Triggers: Violence, SA, non-con intoxication.
Please note, I did receive this advanced copy ahead of publication; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book.
This. Book.
💔😢🥺😳🫣
I loved reading this book — at the same time there were moments I couldn’t bear reading some of the darkness on the page.
I loved Will & Owen so much — Will’s strength and Owen’s heart. Every time Will and Owen connected, I wanted to cheer them on — I loved everything about their chemistry and easy banter… but there was so much in their way. (Understatement of the century.)
I felt torn (in a good way) by this book, wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next and also desperate to pause the devastation facing one MC in particular.
The choice to have chapters from the perspective of a villain was difficult but added to the tension for sure. I also normally like romance stories to be in 1st POV but so many twists and turns in the story would have been spoiled in this case. I thought it was clever how the usual small town as quaint trope was flipped into small towns can be hell.
Okay. To sum up: 5/5⭐️. The spice level is hard to rate because some of it was romantic sex and some was non-con/assault. For sure 5/5 darkeness🖤.
Tropes I would recommend for:
🖤 MM romance
🖤Dark Romance
🖤 Mystery/Thriller
🖤 Small Town (Not in a good way)
🖤 2 MC’s with Secrets
🖤 Set in 1990’s
🖤 Corruption/Crime Ring
Triggers: Violence, SA, non-con intoxication.
Please note, I did receive this advanced copy ahead of publication; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book.
March 3, 2026
I devoured this ARC in less than 24 hours!
This is a MM psychological thriller set in a small forest town where gossip reigns and grudges never die.
Owen's luck has ran out. A recovering addict right out of rehab and on probation leaves the city to live in a small town out in the middle of nowhere with his aunt who happens to be a cop.
Will is a lumberjack counting his days til he can finally leave this town behind. The glares and taunts from the townsfolk never end, the sheriff has it out for him, all because of him... if only they knew the truth.
Nate's obsession is deadly and his tactics brutal. He see's Will as his and will stop at nothing to make that a reality.
This story will have you on the edge of your seat in suspense the entire ride. It will incite anxiety, heartache, and rage... lots of rage on the behalf of these broken boys.
It drops April 16th, make sure to have a whole day to devote to it because once you start you won't be able to put it down til it's done! And even then you'll be messaging the author asking about book 2 😂
This is a MM psychological thriller set in a small forest town where gossip reigns and grudges never die.
Owen's luck has ran out. A recovering addict right out of rehab and on probation leaves the city to live in a small town out in the middle of nowhere with his aunt who happens to be a cop.
Will is a lumberjack counting his days til he can finally leave this town behind. The glares and taunts from the townsfolk never end, the sheriff has it out for him, all because of him... if only they knew the truth.
Nate's obsession is deadly and his tactics brutal. He see's Will as his and will stop at nothing to make that a reality.
This story will have you on the edge of your seat in suspense the entire ride. It will incite anxiety, heartache, and rage... lots of rage on the behalf of these broken boys.
It drops April 16th, make sure to have a whole day to devote to it because once you start you won't be able to put it down til it's done! And even then you'll be messaging the author asking about book 2 😂
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a very dark and emotional read at times. It was hard to imagine what the MC was experiencing. It was heart wrenching seeing him go through so much and all throughout the book. It kept me glued to the pages because I needed to know what would happen next. The younger MC was just trying to get his life together and start fresh when he meets the main character, Will.
With both MC‘s having trauma, some that hasn’t ended, they both have to learn how to get through it and find the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. This was a great story if you enjoy the darker side of things, not for the faint of heart. It does have a happy ending, but was hard fought. If you do decide to read this, I believe you would fall in love with the couple and root for them all the way to the end.
With both MC‘s having trauma, some that hasn’t ended, they both have to learn how to get through it and find the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. This was a great story if you enjoy the darker side of things, not for the faint of heart. It does have a happy ending, but was hard fought. If you do decide to read this, I believe you would fall in love with the couple and root for them all the way to the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, what a book! This was so dark!! like pitch black dark! I don't think l've rooted for a couple as hard in a long time! This is such a well done tale of utter despair and rock bottom to finding something to hold on to until the lights come back on. Will is the town pariah after his ex boyfriend (son of the sherif) commits suicide, everyone believes Will was abusive and drove Joel to take his life. He meets Owen who arrives in town fresh from rehab and moves in with his aunt who works for the sherifs office. Will and Owen click almost instantly, but someone with an unhealthy obsession is lurking in the shadows ready to remove any threat to his plan to obtain the man he desires. This is so cleverly written and I was thrown off track a few times when I thought I'd guessed what was happening. Very dark but a superb read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really loved this story. It was my first thriller romance, and I didn’t expect to enjoy the mystery element as much as I did. Trying to piece everything together while the romance unfolded kept me completely hooked.
Will has been carrying the blame for a tragedy that happened years ago, quietly accepting the guilt and the way the town treats him. Watching him move through that kind of weight was heartbreaking in a subtle, powerful way.
Then Owen comes to town, and the attraction between them is instant. Their chemistry adds another layer of tension and makes everything feel more intense and high-stakes.
The small-town mystery kept me guessing, the angst was high, the spice delivered, and there were even moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I also loved the references A.V. included throughout.
This one definitely made me a fan of psychological thriller romance.
Will has been carrying the blame for a tragedy that happened years ago, quietly accepting the guilt and the way the town treats him. Watching him move through that kind of weight was heartbreaking in a subtle, powerful way.
Then Owen comes to town, and the attraction between them is instant. Their chemistry adds another layer of tension and makes everything feel more intense and high-stakes.
The small-town mystery kept me guessing, the angst was high, the spice delivered, and there were even moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I also loved the references A.V. included throughout.
This one definitely made me a fan of psychological thriller romance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Let me just say, this book did an amazing job keeping me reeled in. There was always something happening so I didn’t want to stop once I got started. Throwing little pieces in throughout the book before you finally get to see the big picture. I loved reading about Will and Owen, their story was beautiful and they really deserved their happy ending. Living in a small town in the 90s, and each of them having a past of their own…didn’t exactly make being together easy.
March 5, 2026
The emotions this book pulled from me 😩🖤 had me on the edge of my seat every time I opened it. I cried, laughed, screamed and got very upset with a certain character(s). The mystery of it all was presented so well giving bits and bits keeping you hooked. I normally wouldnt want to have the pov of the antagonist but IT DID SO MUCH for the tension and mystery of the book. Such a good read 🥹🖤 the ending was worth all the pain.
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March 5, 2026DNF @16%
My brain has been in a weird mood all week, and it didn’t help that the first chapters deal with sensitive topics. Normally I’d be able to read something like this easily, but not right now.
I really wanted to finish this, and it’s a shame I couldn’t because the story has potential
My brain has been in a weird mood all week, and it didn’t help that the first chapters deal with sensitive topics. Normally I’d be able to read something like this easily, but not right now.
I really wanted to finish this, and it’s a shame I couldn’t because the story has potential
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review! I loved the plot, the steam and the characters. It had me on the edge of my seat and I almost freaked out! It was an amazing read 5 stars! I’ll definitely will be reading it again
March 4, 2026
Wow! This book is a twisty turny masterpiece
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