Almost Honest: An Enemies to Lovers Dark College Romance

by Ava Ardyne

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 22, 2026

About the author

I write slow-burn billionaire romance with dangerous secrets and just enough heat to keep the tension high.

My stories feature enemies-to-lovers dynamics, layered characters, and twists that blur the line between love and risk. I’m drawn to messy emotions, hidden pasts, and the moment everything starts to unravel.

When I'm not writing, I am chasing down my overly active boys.

Reviews

[Jamie-Lei Ackroyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this as an ARC. One of the best ones I have read!!!
A SLOW-BURN new adult romance featuring enimies to lovers, family secrets, a mother’s death, a sister’s death, and realism.
Prin is a pre-med student who runs away to Bali after receiving a devastating letter from her grandmother who recently passed. She follows a past journey taken by her mother in seeking answers about her death.
She returns after a year and plans to study at Pritzker University. She is drawn to Quinn Ozler who is a dangerous billionaire with his family owning said university. Their differences are beginning to be put aside as they work on a business together with the ‘magical’ herbs Prin brought back from Bali.
But someone is out to get her. Or is it more than one person? Leaving creepy notes, slashing tires, threatening to run her business into the ground, and someone says her mother’s name. Who does this someone know about her mother? And who exactly was it?
It is intense and suspenseful. I couldn’t put it down.
Below are some notes I wrote whilst reading:
-Intrigued on the first page, fully hooked on the second.
-“A lie big enough to ruin everything.” Damnnn, I wanna know.
-“This book is basically fan fiction staring you and Parker.” Ha, love Zara already.
-“Death seems to follow me.” Eerie, I love it. Poor Prin.
-“And then everything went wrong.” No what!!!
“My almost kiss went up in flames.” I shouldn’t be laughing at this quite, but how literal was she for saying lol.
-Love Zara, she’s so funny. Love Parker, he seems so sweet. But I feel like he knowsss and could have made a move !!!
-so sad, poor Prin.
-“Secrets were easier than explanations.” So true!!!
-“And it was out for fresh blood. Mine.” Damn!!!
-“You might want to get that vision checked.” HAHA, I love Prin. She is so funny and sarcastic.
-“And if they wanted to mark me, I would mark them first.” Yes, baddie.
-“If I spilled blood, so would they.” Omggg
-“It was Parker.” WOAHHH
-“Brain specimens.” Eerie in a funny way, but also gives me the creeps lol.
-“Pretty wasn’t the word, neither was harmless.” LOL, and DAMNNN. It’s starting !!!
-“Got him.” Ha, I love their tension and sly comments. The banta is so funny.
-AH, stop, her herbs. I knew she would!!! I laughed sooo hard this whole entire scene.
-“Like a long-lost friend.” Had me cackling, but then in Awh
-“Your blood will rain.” WOAH, mystery. Who did this???
-No, lol. Vegas, the whole thing. Had me dying. Everything was perfect in an unperfect way, of course it would happen to Prin, and I’m sorry for laughing.
“Quinn stepping in front, teehee.
-Love Eleanor.
-Love how he calls her the name only her mother used!!!
-“You’ve been safer than you realise, Princesa.” WHAT. Okay, so he may have been helping her behind the scene but ALSO WHY would he need to? WHY would she need to be safe in first place. And WHAT does he know???
-OMG, what Boha says. I have theories.
-Prin is hilarious, I can’t. The text messages she sends to Kendy Mann.
-AHHH, everyone turning their heads because of Cam. Love it because I know who will be watching.
-“And fear had a way of making careful people do reckless things.” Wow, so damntrue.
-FINALLY AHAAHAH. Also, her comment had me giggling.
-END WTH. B2 NEOWWW!!!

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost Honest by Ava Ardyne is marketed as an adult romance first with suspense elements, but I think it ends up being something a little different than expected. One of the things that stood out to me most was how uniquely written and formatted it felt. It has been a while since I have read a book that felt this different stylistically, and that alone made it memorable. The pacing is quick and keeps the story moving, making it a very easy read.

Don’t let the cover fool you. Although it is marketed as adult romance, this book felt more geared toward younger Millennials who grew up loving the elitism and drama of Gossip Girl mixed with the mystery and suspense of Veronica Mars. If that combination sounds appealing, this book will probably be right up your alley.

The story follows Prin, the female main character, who is returning to her old life after disappearing for a year without explanation. She comes back not expecting a warm welcome, which she definitely does not receive. While there is still so much we do not know about Prin and many of the other characters, I still found myself invested in them. Even with a lot of unanswered questions, I felt connected enough to want to keep reading and figure out what was really going on.

I would not personally describe this as an adult romance. While some of the themes are more mature, it reads much more like a YA novel to me. The romance did not feel like the main focus and instead the mystery, relationships, and overall suspense carried the story. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but readers going in expecting a heavy romance may find it different than anticipated.

Overall, I found Almost Honest to be a quick and enjoyable read that felt different from a lot of books I have picked up lately. It had enough mystery and character intrigue to keep me interested, and I am definitely looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

[11notavailable · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for this opportunity. So, let’s talk about this book.

This book felt very rushed. I honestly think that if the author had taken more time to develop the story, it could have been much better.

When it comes to the plot, I found myself really confused while reading because many parts didn’t feel connected. The transitions between scenes were too abrupt, which made it hard for me to connect with the story and understand where it was going.

The characters also felt quite bland. The relationship between Prin and her friends felt underdeveloped and lacked emotional depth. There weren’t many meaningful moments between them, yet Prin immediately described them as close friends, which felt unconvincing to me.

As for Prin and Quinn, I was also a bit confused about their relationship. Again, there were too many plot jumps, so when they suddenly seemed close and started working well together, it felt strange and difficult to follow.

The storyline involving the herb and her mother also felt underexplored. It took around 50% of the book before her mother was even mentioned, and I initially thought the story would discuss her more deeply, especially the reason behind her death, but it never really did.

Overall, I feel like the author had the core idea for each chapter but didn’t fully explore those ideas enough to make the story flow naturally or connect well from one chapter to the next.

[Anna Christodoulou-Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚠️📚 OBSESSED. UNWELL. QUESTIONING EVERYONE. 📚⚠️

Almost Honest by Almost Honest had me spiraling in the BEST way possible 😭🖤

The dark academia vibes? Elite campus secrets? Morally gray billionaire heir? SIGN. ME. UP. 🥀✨

Prin had me STRESSED the entire book because girl was carrying trauma, secrets, and sticky-note lies like her life depended on it 😩📝 And honestly… it kinda did. Every chapter felt like peeling back another layer of something dangerous.

And QUINN OZLER??? 🥵🚩
That man is walking red flag energy wrapped in expensive suits and emotional damage. The tension between Quinn and Prin was INSANE. The slow burn had me kicking my feet one second and yelling “DON’T TRUST HIM” the next 😭🔥

The mystery surrounding Prin’s mother kept me hooked from beginning to end. Every clue made me question EVERYONE. I swear I highlighted half this book because the suspense was THAT GOOD 👀🖤

✨ Tropes & Vibes ✨
🖤 Enemies to lovers
📚 Dark academia
💰 Morally gray billionaire heir
🕵️‍♀️ Family secrets & mystery
🔥 Slow burn romance
⚡ Elite university setting
😭 Emotional tension for DAYS

This book feels like:
☕ Late-night library stalking
🌧 Rain on gothic campus windows
🖤 Rich families hiding deadly secrets
📖 Highlighting suspicious lines at 2 AM

And that ending?!?!?!
EXCUSE ME AVA ARDYNE??? I need book 2 immediately because I am NOT okay 😭👏

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few chapters were a bit slow for my liking, but I kept pushing forward because the reviews about the book were quite positive. I felt that for what Prin had gone through the past year, she did not deserve how she was treated by Parker, Sebastian, and the rest of the group. I definitely feel that there is still a lot to be told when it comes to who her mother was, why she died, and how she's entangled with this mysterious stalker. I also LOVE that Prin is a pre-med student...she is so knowledgeable in what she does thanks to her experience in Indonesia. I am curious though about these herbs that she uses because they kind of remind of medicinal herbs from South America and China.

The slow burn romance between Prin and Quinn was great to read and I can't wait to see where the romance goes in book 2. I feel that when it comes to them, this relationship could spark even more danger Prin.

Someone is out to get Prin and I can't wait to see the identity be revealed.

Highly recommend to readers who enjoy college romances with a darker mysterious side to them.

Can't wait to read book 2!

Thank you to the NetGalley Victory Editing Co-op for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jaici Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I found this fast paced and enjoyable and was intrigued by the storyline but also didn’t know this was setting up a series and therefore when it was over I was left lost as it ends very abruptly. The storyline is a little confusing because there is a ton of mystery to the main character Prin who after learning some hard family truths abandons her life and leaves her hometown and all of her friends behind essentially ghosting them for an entire year and when she returns it’s not to a warm welcome on any front. There is a lot of bouncing back and forth between past and present tense through the book all the way until the end and even by the ending so many of the mysteries that make up the book are still unanswered and the plot did not appear to really go anywhere even though a lot happened there was just no resolutions so it ended a little unsatisfying even knowing now that there will be more books to follow. I really wish we would have gotten some answers during this book but I’ll possibly pick up the next whenever it comes out. This was marketed as adult but I’d classify it as YA and a romantic suspense. Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the arc in exchange for my review!

[Jennah Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

I’m at a loss for words… I didn’t even realizing I was nearing the end of the book until I got there, and I kept wanting to turn the page for more but that was it.

I was hooked from the beginning - discovering a deep secret regarding how her mother truly died sent Prin on her own adventure leaving everyone behind for a year. Coming back hoping for a fresh start, except her past followed her and all eyes were on her, especially Quinn’s.

Quinn is mysterious, unreadable but tempting. The way he tells Prin that when she is watching everyone else, he is watching her -chills, giddiness and the damn temptation to root for the mysterious rich boy. The build up tension between them, the moments of support and jealousy, a little vulnerability from both Quinn and Prin made me yearn for their moments of banter, teasing and a start of a little romance.

There is still so many unanswered questions that set up book 2. Who is the CandyMan? Who and why is someone threatening Prin - they know enough about her, maybe even knowing more than those close to her, than even Prin herself knows.

[Vipaka]

I received an ARC copy of this book, and while I didn't finish it, I think it has a lot of great things going on for it.

Firstly, the dialogue is very natural and organic. Every character and their interactions sound genuine and human.

Secondly, the story starts exactly where it should--when the action and tension start to rise, and things begin to go wrong for the protagonist, Prin.

Third, there is a healthy dose of humor/snark mixed into the internal thoughts of the main character, something I always appreciate.

I like the premise a lot too, and romance is always something I enjoy reading.

The writing style just wasn't for me (I'm not a fan of fragments) and there was too much shifting context and infodumping (ie "My best friend. My opposite. Effortless where I was a mess.") going on for me personally, which just isn't my cup of tea. For a debut this is a great first story that I'm sure will appeal to many romance enthusiasts, and I'm sure this author will write many more going forward!

[Megan Witsche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on an early ARC read from Netgalley

Tropes: Contemporary Dark Academia Romance, Slow Burn, Age Gap, Dangerous Family Secrets, Enemies to Lovers, Morally Gray Billionaire Heir, Elite Campus Secrets & Danger

Quotes: “I have a Post-it note for every lie keeping me sane.”

Review No Spoilers: A dark academia romantic suspense novel. It follows Prin, a pre med student who enrolls at Pritzker to uncover the truth behind her mother's disappearance 20 years ago. Her investigation entangles her with Quinn Ozler, a powerful billionaire heir whose family is deeply linked to the mystery. A slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Quinn is dangerous and brooding, but he takes an intense, possessive interest in Prin, complicating her search for the truth. The narrative includes hints of magical realism, featuring sacred herbs that help unlock the past and weave the families' histories together.

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were things I liked & some that I disliked about this book...

I liked the characters, they were well developed & interesting. I liked the flashbacks to understand a bit of the backstory... however, it was unclear sometimes whether something was in the past or present...

I found the book confusing at times & hard to follow along. And it doesn't really have a satisfying ending... I feel like I was left hanging...

I did like the Vegas part of the book & her history with being a card shark of sorts! There is also a good amount of suspense & trying to figure out who is threatening her... but again, you never find much out... so it feels unresolved.

This is a closed door romance.

Thank you to the author (Ava Ardyne), publisher & Netgalley & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sue Carter]

Sort of enemies-to –lovers tale. This involves medical students Prin & Oz who have a form of history. Prin has a stalker and she suspects it might be her nemesis, Oz for a while. I did enjoy some of the suspense in the novel, especially as it seems to have historical significance related to her mother’s suspicious death. Prin has certainly made enemies through school etc. But who wants to see her fail...or worse?! This was an OK read, but I did find the narrative a bit ‘stop/start’ and it definitely did not flow in places making it a somewhat confusing read. In addition, the story doesn’t actually finish and, presumably, will be continued in the next book; there’s also quite a bit of teenage angst – which gets tedious for the reader after a while. Probably won’t read the next book, sadly.

[Melanie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Honest tackles some genuinely heavy stuff without ever feeling preachy or heavy-handed. The book opens with a content warning about grief, suicide loss, and academic pressure, and the author actually delivers on exploring those themes meaningfully. Prin's guilt about her mother's death and the way she carries that into her relationships, especially with Zara (whose sister died and who Prin feels responsible for), creates this undercurrent of pain that makes her character feel three-dimensional. The fact that she thinks "maybe not everything I touched ended in death" after saving Rosa's life shows how much she's been carrying that weight.

ARC provided via Pen Pinery
https://penpinery.com

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Honest pulled me in with its emotional tension, secrets, and undeniable chemistry from the very beginning. Ava Ardyne created a romance that feels raw, complicated, and beautifully messy in all the best ways. The connection between the characters was intense, filled with longing, trust issues, and moments that had me completely invested in their journey.

The slow unraveling of truths kept the story engaging, while the emotional depth gave the romance real weight. I loved how the characters weren’t perfect they felt flawed, guarded, and human, which made their relationship even more believable. The push and pull between honesty and fear added so much tension throughout the story.

[Nikala Cann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was not a standalone novel, so the ending was kind of abrupt. However, the story itself was good. I enjoyed most of it, but there were a few inconsistencies that drove me a little crazy. The whole time, the book felt like it was trying to be suspenseful, the last sentence of each chapter hinted towards something ominous, but nothing ominous ever really happened. I don’t know if that’s going to change in the next installment to the story, but so far nothing has really happened. I’m a glutton for punishment and don’t know how to leave a story left unfinished, so I will be hopefully reading the rest of the story when it comes out.

[Peyton Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Victory Editing and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!

After a year long hiatus, Prin returns to attend college at Pritzker. An elite college where she must fight to be a top student in order to keep her scholarship. A college where she can trust no one including the familiar faces of the past.

The premise of Almost Honest dragged me in. However, I found it fell short for me in a few places. It felt more like a high school story setting than a college one. I also felt like the plot was a little disjointed/confusing at times. Overall it has good potential, but the characters and plot points could be a little more developed.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an early release copy of this book from the author.
A great first book in the series.
Definitely slow-burn (a kiss is all you get in this one) but the build up is worth it.
The character building is excellent and the odd 'flashback' chapters help to understand the main character better.
Poor Prin, her life has not been easy. She thought the mystery surrounding her mother's death might be answered at Pritzler pre-med but it looks like someone is out to get her and she has way more questions than answers. Can't wait for the second book!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of The Ozler Legacy series. And a FANtastic start it is! Look forward to more from this world.

'Almost Honest is a new adult contemporary romance with romantic suspense, dangerous family secrets, and a medium-spice slow-burn payoff.'

The characters were very complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

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

[Meredith Letzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! I consumed this book in just a few hours. Fast paced, mysterious, keeps you turning the page. Quinn and Prin are both full of secrets both past and present. The fire between them is undeniable in this slow burn novel. I cannot wait to read more of The Ozler Legacy. I need to know all the things that are coming and I look forward to hopefully some spice to keep things even more interesting ;)

Bravo Ava Ardyne, I'm excited to read more of your work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC of Almost Honest.

[Emily Stitzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was interesting in style and pacing. While by the end the book was absolutely amazing and had me hooked it took awhile to get there. Normally I don't walk away from a book for about 5 days before deciding to get back to it. The better part of the first half was odd in writing style (more personal taste) but inevitably the book had me in love!

[Sadina McGuirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review

I loved the story line of this book! Prin is a hard headed young girl who i just wanted to shake the whole time. Her people reading skills are in need of some improvement.

I found myself sucked into the college scene anxiously waiting for what would happen next.
My only wish is that it was longer and more backstory! I just want to know all of the details and why things happened the way they did.

Excited to see the series continue.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for Advance Copy!
This book kept me on edge always trying to guess who was threatening Prin and if Quinn could be trusted or not. At times I felt certain parts were little confusing (at least for me) but still very good book that I wanted more! Prin and Quinn both have past and hidden secrets! I cannot wait for the second book to see where this goes!

Thank You Ava Ardyne for letting me be a ARC reader!

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Almost Honest thanks to the publisher through NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily.

I am so upset that I finished the book and now have to wait for the next part of the installation. I love the mystery that cloaks the main character and the banter between her and one of the male characters is great. As soon as I finished the book, I preordered the sequel. If you like bully romances, this is absolutely for you!

[Elena🤎 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Unfortunately this was a 1 star for me. Don’t get me wrong the plot of the book has potential , it was just the writing style that was a no for me. There were many parts where I was genuinely so confused because it just kept changing topics without even finishing the first one. It was just too rushed. There was also no character development and the characters just seemed plain boring.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is looking for answers for what happened to her mother and she keeps a note of all the lies she has to tell to try to get those answers. It seems his history is entrenched with hers and it will pull them closer together as she tries to find the answers she wants. See how it will all go
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a very interesting read

[Cheyenne Lopez-White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good I devoured it within 6-8 hours I honestly could not put it down. The characters were so real I felt like I knew them or at least people like them since I’m not elite class rich lol. But the author made everything perfectly normal and realistic and I think that’s part of what I liked most.

[Ashley Reads]

Review of advance copy received through NetGalley:

The premise of the book drew me in - med students, mystery, slow burn romance. I enjoyed the author’s writing but found the style a bit fragmented. I was a little confused and needed more backstory from the characters. I do think the story has potential and I’m sure there will be fans of the book!

[Mary Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gem books and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

LIKE THE BOOK but it is book 1 of The Ozler Legacy series. 18+.
Moderate start

action little

romance

This is where I say the author gives enough information.
So, I do not give anything away

[Vivien R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prin and Quinn’s story was so good. I love reading college romance. The suspense was really good and kept me turning pages. Prin wants answers about the disappearance of her mother but she may end up falling for Quinn instead. This is one you don’t want to miss.

[Sonica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An addictive romance, that contains secrets and grief. The Post-it notes is grips your attention immediately. This story contains family drama, mystery and a slow-burn romance. Cannot wait for the next one.

[ladyintrovert21 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exciting and keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story mixes friendship, mystery, and suspense.
The characters are interesting, and the main character’s journey feels real.
It’s a fast-paced and enjoyable read with just the right amount of twists to keep you guessing.