My Sweet Poison

by Zoe Blake

No one is innocent.

We were meant to be collateral damage.
We became their obsession instead.

Pierce Worthington needed someone to blame. I was convenient.
When his brother dies in a scandalous wreck, threatening to drag the Worthington name through the filth, Pierce does what his family has always done.
He finds a sacrificial lamb. Me.

With a single phone call, he has me arrested for murder.
With a single glance, he decides prison is no longer enough.
He doesn't just want me punished.
He wants me desperate. Dependent.
Owned by the man who holds my freedom between his teeth.

But I'm not the only woman caught in a monster's game.

Greyson Stockford knows where the bodies are buried because he put them there.
When my best friend gets too close to the truth, he doesn't threaten her. He takes her.
Locks her away where no one can hear her scream or fight back.
Because breaking her will is only the beginning.
Making her crave the man who destroyed her life? That's the real torture.

Two ruthless billionaires.
Two women who refuse to be broken.
Nothing is as it seems.
No one is innocent.
And the most treacherous enemy may be the one sharing your bed.

My Sweet Poison is a standalone Gothic billionaire dark romance featuring enemies-to-obsession, forced proximity, and heroines who resist the men determined to own them.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Billionaire Romance, Dark Romance, Dark, Contemporary, Suspense

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

About the author

Zoe Blake is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the romantic suspense saga The Cavalieri Billionaire Legacy inspired by her own heritage as well as her obsession with jewelry, travel, and the salacious gossip of history’s most infamous families.

She delights in writing Dark Romance books filled with overly possessive billionaires, taboo scenes, and unexpected twists. She usually spends her ill-gotten gains on martinis and vacations.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/zoeblakebooks/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zoeblakebooks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zoeblakebooks

Reviews

[Wobilba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally i enjoy this author’s books but this one was a miss. I kept reading thinking it would get better but sadly this was a huge let down. It had me cringing from beginning to end.
I found the plot ridiculous, the characters one dimensional and the dialogue cringey.
Hopefully the next Zoe Blake book I pick up would be better.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this i ate this up super fast last night. We have 2 couples in this book. Madison and Pierce and Greyson and Hailey who are all connected.

Madison is being framed by Pierce because his brother is dead and he wants to blame someone and she is at the wrong place wrong time. There is a reason he wants her to be jailed. I don't wanna give it away because i think it's a spoiler.
Madison is sent to jail for the crime and the only way she can get out is if she agrees to Pierce terms. Messy messy because she doesn't wanna she has her bff Hailey try to help her. Que friend Greyson who is obessed with Hailey and worried she'll get involved and be hurt.
Both girls are taken/kidnapped by both guys 🤣🤣🤣 different times. And there own journeys happen.
They do try to escape but it doesn't work. There is another person at play. You figure it out pretty fast. And it gets wrapped up in a dark black bow.

Fun story

Tiny om/ow (exs), no cheating, drama, sexy times, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶


Slowburnish
Praise kink
Tiny Degradation
Spankings
No condom
Duncon
Non-con
Force orgasms
Masturbation
Violence
Death
Hea
Epilogue

[↻ ◁ Nour ▷ ↺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

حذرتني نوفا من كتاب أسمع كلام؟؟ طبعا لا دودة حقي ماتبرد الا لما تجرب بنفسها 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲 البطل الحيوان مقزز اغتصب بطلة مش مرة واحدة مرتين او ثلاثة و كاتبه حقيرة عندها جرأة تقول بطلة كانت تريده و مستمتعه فاك يو ياحيوانة روحي تعالجي المهم بطل و صديقه غريسون حيوانات غنية مدللة ماعلينا منهم اصلا حدث ما صدمني لأني كنت متوقعه شي ذا بناء على شخصيتهم بعيد عن كل هذا قصة بجد كانت ممتازة واحدث رغم عادية لكن تحمس ماتحسي بولا قطرة ملل وانتي تقرأي...يلي زعجني كاتبه كل شخصيات في كتاب عامله لهم بوف حتى الخدم له بوف و البيتش الاكس تبع البطل لي مالها فايدة عندها بوف ناقص ألقى بوف ابويا هناك وتكمل المهزلة
اكثر شي عجبني في كتاب علاقة هايلي و مادسون مع بعض و شخصياتهم مرة تجنن تمنيت يهربو من المعاتيه لي حبونهم ومايرضو يضلو معهم لكن مع الأسف ماحصل كالعادة أجانب عندهم منطق يجيب اسهال بطل مغتصب معفن مايتعقب ولا يطلب سماح على أفعاله و بطلة تكمل معه كأنو كل لي مرت فيه مزحة وذا اكثر شي ينرفز الحب مش تبرير لا نسيان الإجرام لي يرتكبه طرف ثاني في حقك هذا استغباء واضافة طابع رومانسي للمغتصب ذا مرض أتمنى كاتبات يرجعو يكتبو بمنطق بدل العبط لي بنشوف فيه.

[TheBookPlatypus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Worthington twins. One died. An innocent woman framed for murder.

Madison is in the middle of a huge tangled web with the Worthington family. She briefly dated one of the twins and a car accident led to the death of Jameson.

We also have two other characters POVs, Madison’s BFF and her entanglement with this murder trial.

It’s the drama and suspense that 💯 captivated me and had me reading this in a few short hours.

“How? Why? This is all fucking insane! Evil twins? Seriously? This is the real world, not some trashy TV soap opera.”

Oh but this book was full of spice and drama. Multiple POVs. And two couples. Two romance stories.
Madison is fighting to prove her innocence. Her BFF was kidnapped and so was she… it’s all a messy tangled drama romance and I freaking loved it.

[ꫂ᭪݁]

أجيت احجي الريفيو بالعراقي من كد ما حرگت قلبي هاي زبالة
خرا على هيج كتاب مقرف وعلى عقل الكاتبة المقرفة الوصخة لأول مرة احقد على كاتبة لدي الدرجة . واصلة لأعلى مراحل القذارة الي ممكن يوصلها الانسان ح تكولون ليش هيج تحجين نوفا ح اكول هاي المقرفة حرفيا خلت كل الشخصيات الانثوية بهذا الكتاب يتعرضون لاسوء أنواع التحرش والاغتصاب يعني البطلة ماديسون الشخصية الرئيسية على قد ما قاومت البطل وتحاول تبعده عنها انشلت حركتها والثور الزبالة مكمل معاها وحتى هي مشلولة 🤡 !!!!
وغير معاملتة الحقيرة لها أول ما شافها جبرها حرفيا تسويله الي يريده من البداية الكتاب كان يعطيني اشارات بس انا كملت فيه قلت يمكن يتحسن
الكتاب وصلت فيه تقريبا 10% و وقفته يفوز ب اكثر كتاب لازم ينحط في اخيس مكان
اسوء كتاب في الدنيا الله يقرف الكاتبة وياخذ افكارها المعفنة

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[charis harris]

First off this book is from multiple different people's viewpoint and at first I was not keen but once I got a handle on who was who I loved hearing the different people's thoughts.
The book has two different couples and two forced weddings something I have never seen two couples in the same book before but it was really well written and I loved both couples.
As with all Zoe Blakes books there is dubious consent and possessive, arrogant morally grey heroes.
5 stars!

[Erika Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honestly a bit skeptical on reading this. Nothing to do with what the story was about or the genre, just the multiple POV’s. The multiple POV’s in this book had me feeling a bit discouraged from reading and skipping entirely but I’m really happy I didn’t. It was a bit confusing at first having to recall what happened previously when chapters would switch to a characters POV’s of someone else that wasn’t at all in the earlier scenes but once I’d gotten it, smooth sailing from there.

Absolutely loved both couples. Had a good time while reading as it kept me wanting more. I really don’t think I’ve read a dark romance like this and I’m really glad I stayed and read till the end. Really loved the relationship and banter between Greyson and Hailey. My favourite moment just has to be while they’re on his jet, and she’s arguing with Greyson about how she doesn’t want to consummate the marriage and toast to it because its a hostage situation— and he shot back saying it’s not a hostage situation if there isn’t a ransom LMAOOO. Gave a bit of respect to Skylar honestly, for being able to walk away and leaving to start fresh.

Amazing book, kept me on my toes and I’m always excited for what Zoe comes up with next. Thank you so much as well for the ARC 💗

[Nunya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author does not understand the difference between non-con sex and rape.

Within the first 30 pages, you have our main female lead being handcuffed by police, while our main male lead forces her to the ground and proceeds to jerk himself into her mouth without her consent.

In one of the more "climactic" scenes, that same female lead is noted as having gone limp while that same male lead proceeds to actively force himself onto her, after she's pleaded for him to not. And the author has the fucking nerve to write that somehow this was her "wanting him," when that is an actual response women have when they are assaulted.

Oh, but don't worry, when a couple of prison guards are literally about to do the same thing to her that this rapist has done repeatedly, the author goes out of her way to note that these guards, oh boy, they're bad people for having done that. And within 10 pages, our main male lead is shoving the main female lead's head onto his crotch against her will.

Genuinely, this is a horrific read. If you read this in the way that things ACTUALLY are happening, a woman is framed for a crime she didn't commit, repeatedly raped by her framer, and shoved headfirst into Stockholm Syndrome, while also threatening violence and torture if she doesn't go along with his demands.

You cannot look at this title and tell me that the main character is not just Harvey Weinstein. I'm genuinely concerned that the author had the idea that we, as readers, are supposed to find this, not only interesting, but actually enjoyable as smut material.

This isn't "Oh, I hate you but I actually like you, so it's fine that we're having sex" or even, "I still hate you and I'm going to go along with sex because I hate you so much."

This is just rape, pure and simple.

Oh, and real classy framing in these scenes of the guy saying, "Oh, I could tell she actually wanted it by looking at her," and "Oh, she had an orgasm while being raped, so therefore it's all consensual." This shit is how guys convince their victims that they aren't victims. It's absolutely disgusting and I hope this author never has anyone she loves go through that horror and the years and years of therapy it can take to undo that deep trauma.

I'm not even going to get into the beyond cartoonish level characters, or the paper thin plot. The main male lead is not just unlikeable in the "Ohh, I'm a bastard, but I'm sexy, and also I have a heart of gold, but I don't like to show it," side you see so often in these books. Again, uses the power and resources to actively frame a woman, to the point that he gets her lawyer changed to one of his own, buys off the judge and jury, and has everyone from the janitor to the mayor in city hall in his pocket. Not a "bastard," just point blank unlikable. Plus, you know, he's a rapist. It's to the point that every other character gets overshadowed by this 10,000 lb. elephant in the room, demanding you address it.

Again, we aren't doing non-con here. We're doing rape. And to frame it as anything else is disingenuous at the very least, and actually horrific human behavior that perpetuates the cycle of violence against women at worst.

[Aou · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars!

[Vashti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sincere apologies to the author for this late ARC review.
What to say???? Loved it!!!
This was billed as a " Gothic" romance ,and yes it was.I had envisioned a great big Victorian mansion on a craggy seaside cliff a la Dark Shadows! Barnabas Collins waiting in the wings to make his entrance.
This was told in multiple pov's and was easy to follow,each chapter making me want to read on to the next pov.
I would say it was insta luv/ lust between the 2 main couples,and each heroine was as fiesty as they come.
This had all the plots of a Gothic romance...revenge,lust,backstabbing,creepy house with creepy butler,murder,power hungry male leads,and evil ex cheating fiancée.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.All written thoughts are my own and under no obligations .
Recommended read.

[Deb Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you have a fun, sexy romp in a gothic setting? You can if Zoe Blake writes it! And it comes with the Ravenscroft Estate on the edge of a cliff complete with a creepy butler.

When Jameson Worthington is killed in a car crash, his twin Pierce has no one to blame except the woman in the passenger seat of the car, Madison Hastings. Pierce will stop at nothing to make sure she pays. When he falls for her, his plans change.

Tropes:

•Enemies to Lovers
•Gothic
•Romantic Suspense
•Morally Grey
•Dubcon
•Heroine in Danger
•Dark Romance
•Billionaire
•Multiple POV

This was such a fun read. I love the two couples, especially the hilarious Hailey and Greyson. Hailey never sees a breakable piece of art she doesn’t want to destroy! Pierce and Madison are a darker match, affected by their dark desires. I love the trademark Zoe Blake humor in this one. It’s perfect. The twisted plot is fun as well, and it’s written in such a way that we have to wait to see how things finally shake out (NOT a cliffhanger, just a flashback before the ending). . A fun read all around.

I recommend My Sweet Poison. Read it and let me know what you think - I’d love to discuss!

[bookreveries · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost decided not to read this because it had two different couples in one story, and seeing the length of the book… I had no idea how Zoe would be able to write a satisfying storyline for both characters. However, I never should have doubted her skill as an author because I very much enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for something different in the dark romance category, and love enemies to lovers, OTT/JP, this is definitely on your alley. Thank you for the advanced copy of the book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bex’s reading corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really more like the dark and twisted mash up of days of our lives and gossip girl! Loved every moment of whiplash provided during this rollercoaster ride! I wasn’t sure how I’d like the multiple pov’s but I wasn’t at all confused, throughly hooked into all the different stuff and things. I floved that there was a character guide at the beginning too. Cannot wait to see what happens next!!!!

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️
Not giving this a spice rating as it was mostly SA and rape in my eyes. (I knew there would be non-con as that was said in other reviews, but this was not that for me but mostly just plain rape. There is also no TW list)

I really thought i would like this book based on the summary and the different couples that play a part of the story, but everything was kind of lacking.
The characters had zero personality, you get the same 2-3 conversations on repeat throughout the book, and the plot was very predictable and not very good either. I also didn't like any of the MCs, they were supposed to be wealthy guys that did bad things for a good reason, but in my eyes they were just assholes that never made up for their behaviour.
Overall this book was not for me.

[Brittany Azolino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well….my lanta! So. Freaking. Good. Loved this book! So many twists and turns that keep you hooked until the last second. Normally I can figure out twists almost immediately. I thought I had this one figured out a couple times. Noooope! But I sure did love it when it was revealed.

Madison and Hailey are new to town and making their mark. Pierce and Greyson are two ex-best friend billionaires with similar end goals. The events that threw them together were wild and those women were not about to make it easy on them. Though morally gray alpha males don’t need nor want easy. The challenge is what they craved. They fought hard for their woman while maintaining the path to reach their goal and clean a mess of someone else’s making.

There’s a bunch of tropes wrapped up in this book. A story for two separate couples played out similar to a soap opera. Once second it’s Madison. The next it’s Greyson. Scenes cut out in the middle of good parts and you get sucked in by the wait for the completion. Makes it super hard to put down.

Zoe Blake knocked it out of the park, as always. All around, awesome book! I hope we get more from that small town. 💜

Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow what a read. There are two couples stories running along side each other. I was sucked right into both couples and couldn’t wait to see how their stories would unfold. Another excellent read by this author.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madison Hastings is being charged for the death of Jameson Worthington but she didn’t kill him. Pierce Worthington has no problem making Madison out to be the scapegoat. She is the perfect pawn. When Madison and her friend Hailey fight to prove that Madison is innocent, things go from bad to worst. Pierce is a cold evil man or so we read in the beginning. Things aren’t what they seem and I knew it from the start. With Madison fighting to prove that she was set up, she has to be removed from the equation. Hailey also is a fighter. She isn’t about to let her BFF go to jail. But she has been talking too much and Greyson has to remove her as well.

Pierce and Greyson were friends. We learn about the reason for the falling out. This story starts off at a dead run and doesn’t stop. I had a feeling about what was going on with Jameson and Pierce but it went beyond that. Twins at odds with each other. Pierce is the first-born heir. Jameson is so much worse than Pierce. As I was reading the story it reminded me of Dark Obsession. Both women were treated like pawns to the men. The guys deciding on their fate. Skylar is an ex and has worked her way through the men. She believes she deserves to be a Worthington. Even the staff of Ravencroft has secrets. This is a rollercoaster that you need to strap into and hold on tight. You are never sure as who the crazy one. Have to say, they all are. LOL I enjoyed this story. I shows that even a girl can have her dream man even if he is a bit cracked. And being superficial, like Skylar, will never get you a man. Will we be getting a story for Rylee?

Was thrilled to read the first chapter of “Brutal Heir.” I can’t wait till this book is out.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If DARK romance was a TELENOVELA 🖤✨ multiple couples & storylines but the same brand of unhinged rich men who will stop at nothing to make a CLAIM!

✨🖤💍🏃🏽‍♀️💨🤵🏻💸🖤✨

”I viewed her innocence and natural beauty as a vacuum that needed to be filled with all my dark, obsessive desires.”

This has all the marks of a great soap opera ✨ entitled rich men, family secrets, evil twins & hasty forced marriages as two regular regular besties get entangled in a revenge scheme. Two different couples and multiple storylines but the same flavour of MMCs with 0 boundaries or sense of morality.

Funniest moment: when the twin said he tried to kill his brother in the womb with the umbilical cord *howling b/c WHAT*

You can expect laughably ridiculous & over-the-top scenarios BUT also dark smutty moments that will make you blush with pretend outrage 👀 Why are the most unhinged men also the hottest???

🖤 the girlies can run but they can’t hide

💚 tons of simultaneous fighting & fucking

🖤 it gets DARK with insta love, unhinged rich men and non con

💚 what does a bathtub, cliff edge and a plane have in common………

Over-exaggerated ridiculous twists but so addictive! I found the multiple POVs made for a fast paced & dynamic reading. As if I needed another reason to inhale this book!

4.5 ⭐️

morally grey & protective MMCs
forced proximity
best friends FMCs
spanking
insta love
non con
body betrayal
kidnappings
BDSM vibes
multiple POVs
violence
HEA

Thank you to Zoe Blake for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[SnackableSmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zoe Blake Went Full Gothic and We Need More Immediately

Listen. We were NOT prepared for Zoe Blake to pivot into gothic romance territory and absolutely body us like this.

My Sweet Poison feels like being trapped inside a luxurious fever dream where everyone is rich, emotionally unstable, morally questionable, and hiding at least three life-ruining secrets. Which means obviously we were obsessed.

Pierce Worthington comes into this story fueled by revenge after his brother’s death, and Madison Hastings gets dragged straight into the center of the Worthington family nightmare. But what starts as revenge obsession slowly spirals into something far messier, darker, and more emotionally loaded.

And then there’s Hailey and Greyson, who nearly stole the entire book for us. Their dynamic is pure chaotic toxicity in the most entertaining way possible.

This book is dripping with:
🖤 gothic atmosphere
🖤 manipulative billionaires
🖤 dubcon tension
🖤 family secrets
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 murder mystery vibes
🖤 twists on top of twists

The multiple POVs made the story even better because every new perspective added another layer of scandal and instability. Nobody feels fully trustworthy, and the constant tension kept us flying through chapters.

What surprised us most was how emotional this became underneath all the obsession and manipulation. Zoe Blake still delivers the possessive alpha energy we crave, but there’s real vulnerability hiding underneath all the control and chaos.

This feels like a completely new era for Zoe Blake, and honestly? We need more books in this universe immediately.

[IllyrianShadowsinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

...That was DARK.

I usually love Zoe Blake: Her Ivanov Crime Family series is an instant read for me, and the "Sweet Cruelty" series is AWESOME.
But this was...
WOOF.
First of all, Greyson and Hailey's relationship happens over the course of a DAY.
A singular DAY.
That's how long it takes me to waffle if I even like a guys hair or not, and they're in love and married? What are they, the Usain Bolts of toxicity?
And Pierce and Madison made me want to throw something.
Even if Hailey and Greysons relationship happened over a day, he was WAY sweeter to her than Pierce was to Madison.
Pierce had Madison arrested, thrown in prison for weeks, nearly gangr*ped, hurt, imprisoned again, r*ped her himself, forced to confront his crazy ex, and then he's like,
"but babygirl--I love you."
UH UH NOT A CHANCE BITCH.
Skylar, his cheating ex, kissed him in front of her, and he let her.
AM I A JOKE TO YOU?!?!
I couldn't stand those portions of the book because it was just Pierce steamrolling over Madison, treating her like shit, emotionally atomic bombing her until she's so gaslit she doesn't trust herself, and it's marketed as dark romance.
This isn't romance; this is a section of an FBI handbook on abuse.
It was DEFINITELY a soap-opera-inspired book, so...take that as you will.
So, I have a plan.
What if...we took every rich dude...and gave them an ultimatum?
If they don't become Batman...
We make them spend ten minutes in a room with a professional gaslighter, i.e., my mother.
We'll achieve world peace in two days, and my mother would be the supreme ruler, so I think it all works out.

[Cafedarc · Rating 4 out of 5]

What did I just read? I’m writing this with a very amused expression — and not because the book is bad, absolutely not.

At first I was like huh? What’s happening, who’s talking, and why are there so many POVs to follow? And then the lightbulb went off: oh right, this is exactly like a TV soap opera. You know the ones — the scene cuts right at the most dramatic moment while the main character just stares at a wall. This book is that.

Twins — one evil, one… well, less evil. An innocent woman and her best friend. A cheating ex‑girlfriend and a former best friend. Plenty of drama already. And then you add a butler who sees everything, and the plot is complete.

Zoe pulls this off with skill and keeps the reader hooked the entire time. She calls herself a “mean author” in the foreword, but honestly, she isn’t. Sure, those sizzling hot scenes she warns about do end abruptly — but so do all good soap operas.

And yes, despite all the chaos, betrayals, twists, and dramatic cliffhanger‑style moments, the story does deliver a happy ending. The kind that fits perfectly with the over‑the‑top, soap‑opera energy running through the whole book.

I enjoyed this immensely, even though it’s not Zoe’s typical style. And I absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves soap‑opera chaos, betrayals, the betrayed, murder mysteries, and all‑knowing butlers — with enough plot twists to make any telenovela proud.

[Carrie Hellbusch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Felt Like a Rich-People Fever Dream and I Loved Every Minute

There’s something deeply wrong with this book. Respectfully.

I started My Sweet Poison thinking I was getting a standard dark billionaire romance and instead ended up trapped in this wildly addictive gothic spiral full of revenge, manipulation, creepy family dynamics, and emotionally unstable rich people making catastrophically bad decisions.

I could NOT stop reading.

Pierce Worthington is one of those heroes who never really becomes “good,” which honestly worked for me. He stays obsessive, controlling, and dangerous from beginning to end. Madison fighting him every step of the way made their chemistry feel even sharper because she never just rolled over and accepted his chaos.

But what really got me was the atmosphere. Zoe Blake absolutely nailed the gothic vibe. The mansion felt claustrophobic and haunted without needing actual ghosts. Every conversation felt loaded. Every character felt like they were hiding something awful.

And the drama? Completely unhinged. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, another secret exploded.

Also I need to publicly admit that Hailey and Greyson stressed me out in the best possible way. Their scenes were chaotic gold.

This book honestly reminded me why I love dark romance in the first place. It’s messy, dramatic, obsessive, emotional, and impossible to put down.

[Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is a Gothic soap opera. There is a huge estate on the edge of a cliff.
A thunderstorm. An innocent damsel in distress. A dastardly revenge scheme.
Wolfhounds and even a pair of evil twins.”
These are the first few sentences Ms. Blake states off with. Plus she includes a “snooty butler”.
Yes this absolutely intrigued me. And once I started the book I couldn’t stop.
The author one hundred percent pulled off the multi points of view brilliantly.
Each pov was pivotal and it all comes together perfectly.
Each character is interesting in their own right. And as couples they were even more so.
Madison and Pierce were intense in their relationship. From the way it started off till almost the very end. Everything between them was like a live electrical wire. Edgy and nerve wracking.
Pierce always had the upper hand. But make no mistake Madison didn’t make anything easy for him.
Hailey and Greyson had a more of a lighter relationship. More even footed than Madison and Pierce.
I adored Hailey. The things that come out of her mouth are hilarious.
The story kept my attention from beginning to end. I was invested in all the characters.
And I really appreciated how the author wrote the story and brought everything together.
Throughly enjoyed the book.
**4.5 stars**

[Elsa Reyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Zoe Blake for a long time now, and honestly, she’s one of the main reasons I fell back into reading so hard. At this point, I fully blame her for my book obsession—no regrets though!

So whenever she drops something new, I’m already excited… and this one did not disappoint. Her dark romance just hits different—intense, addictive, and impossible to put down.

Getting two couples in one book was such a treat, but I won’t lie—I wanted even more. This easily could’ve been a duet. I would’ve loved extra time with both couples, more POV chapters, and yes… definitely more of those steamy scenes.

The whole story had this dramatic, chaotic energy—like high-society scandal mixed with over-the-top soap drama in the best way. The twists kept coming, and I was hooked the entire time.

I was a little hesitant about multiple POVs at first, but it worked so well. Each voice felt distinct, and I never felt lost. Plus, the character guide at the beginning was such a nice touch—it made everything easier to follow right away.

Such a fun, addictive read. I’m already impatient for whatever comes next!

[Lisa Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love soap operas- you’ll love MY SWEET POISON

Madison Hastings was in a car accident where the driver passed away.
Pierce Worthington blames Madison for his twin brother, Jameson’s death. The Worthington's old money, family came over to America on the Mayflower big deal. So Pierce knew he could do anything and get what he wants. So he decided Madison had to go to jail.
Madison knew she was being framed, she wasn’t for sure why or who until Pierce visited her in jail. She was scared that she was going to spend the rest of her life in prison for something she didn’t do.
The more Pierce saw Madison, in jail and in the courtroom, the more he became obsessed with her, she’s no longer a pawn to him. He got her out and took her to Cliff Ends.
Madison’s best friend, Hailey, knew she was innocent. She tried to help her friend when someone stopped her.
Remember this is like a soap opera—-Nothing is how it seems.

[Lucy wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc copy won

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gothic romance
Dark themes
Trigger warnings
Brothers ex girlfriend
Multiple pov

This book was so different to Zoe’s other books that I’ve read before but I absolutely devoured it in one sitting.
This is a multiple pov book with it being the Female lead and the male lead and then his best friends and her best friends pov plus a few extra characters pov.
It has dark themes so do check the trigger warnings
Honestly loved it and highly recommend it if you love Zoe’s other books. 📚

Without trying to spoil it
The h was in a car accident with the H brother that caused his death the H wants revenge and has everyone in his pockets because of his wealth and his last name. So he has her arrested and provides fake evidence to send her down for life until he decides he doesn’t want that anymore and takes her for himself. Her best friend knows what he’s done so his best friend corners her best friend and decides to kidnap her to. And that’s all I’m giving 🫣

[What Helen Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, 4 on the spice scale.

In this gothic dark romance you're getting two for the price of one. Because we're not just following one couple, we're following two. And I had a really fun time with it.

The whole book has that old‑fashioned whodunnit feel, with a gothic-style mansion, multiple POVs, shifting timelines, and even an evil butler lurking around. At the centre are Pierce (our hero) and Jameson (our villain). They are twins and heirs to a fortune, whose lifelong rivalry spirals into something dark and obsessive. Their feud pulls Madison (a newcomer in town just trying to live her quiet bookshop‑owner life) straight into the chaos.

Running alongside Pierce and Madison's story is Greyson and Hailey's, which adds another layer of danger, obsession, and morally grey choices. Both men are dark and unhinged in that signature Zoe Blake way, and the women get swept up in their worlds whether they want to or not.

I did have to concentrate a bit more than usual because of the POV shifts, but I loved the gothic atmosphere and the mystery elements. It felt like a fun change of style for this author and I really enjoyed it.

*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.

[Sio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely write book reviews but this book was so well written and gripping, I wanted to pay it forward with a review. This book is a rollercoaster - I can't even imagine how the author was able to write numerous stories and weave them together so well. She really deserves credit - the editor too I imagine. The other reason I wanted to write the review is the blurb - and even the beginning didn't entice but as I kept going I got pulled into the web and I couldn't put it down. The story features some arrogant obnoxious men, a town that has no humanity or shame and a couple women who didn't deserve what they got but came out shining. That is all I am going to say so I don't ruin it. If you enjoy Zoe Blake's books - don't hesitate, even if like me you aren't sure. This is definitely one of the best she ever released.

[Áine Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe is a must-read for me. I did enjoy this book, though I felt that it could have used a good editor. Parts of it were very disjointed, and sometimes it was hard to tell the two different couples apart. Madison and Hailey felt like the same character to me, as did Pearse and Greyson. I don't think that enough was done to differentiate them. It would have made more sense if the focus had been on one couple. I had to keep going back to the blurb to remind myself who was who.

The standout character was Skylar. Yes, she was the villain, but she seemed more rounded than the other female characters. I'd love to see a book where someone like Skylar is the main character. Why are all the villains men?