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Almost Honest: An Enemies-to-Lovers College Romantic Suspense
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2026
About the author
Ava Ardyne
7 books10 followersI 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 29, 2026
Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance (Academia)
⭐️ 3/5
🌶 0/5
Cliffhanger: Yes
Noteworthy: Book 1 of an incomplete series. Single first-person POV.
When they say this is a slow burn they mean the romance and the plot. Hard working girl genius hopped up on stress, trauma, secrets, mysteries and a lot of medicinal herbs. Prin may be the most unreliable narrator I've read in a long time. She's hoarding a secret that tore her friendships apart. Couple that with the overarching mystery of who is tormenting her in the present and you may just find yourself sucked into this story. I'm not gonna lie. I feels very neuro spicy at times. The writing is chocked full of short, harsh sentences and the scene to scene transitions might give you whiplash.
The behavior from this cast of characters will have you not trusting a dang soul including the FMC. I enjoyed the 'who done it' and 'wtf is happening' aspects of this book. I was disappointed that we didn't get many answers and very little clues by the end. I wish it were more well rounded as an individual book instead of feeling like the author took a book and chose a chapter to cut the story in half. As a reader I need a little satisfaction to tide me over from book to book in a series. I didn't get it. I did like the characters though. Of course Quinn is tops. Uber rich kid with his own trauma and secrets who feels like he's always a step ahead of everyone. Gold!
I would like to continue this series to see where it goes. I'm invested and have my fingers crossed that my favs are innocent!
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the gifted eARC.
⭐️ 3/5
🌶 0/5
Cliffhanger: Yes
Noteworthy: Book 1 of an incomplete series. Single first-person POV.
When they say this is a slow burn they mean the romance and the plot. Hard working girl genius hopped up on stress, trauma, secrets, mysteries and a lot of medicinal herbs. Prin may be the most unreliable narrator I've read in a long time. She's hoarding a secret that tore her friendships apart. Couple that with the overarching mystery of who is tormenting her in the present and you may just find yourself sucked into this story. I'm not gonna lie. I feels very neuro spicy at times. The writing is chocked full of short, harsh sentences and the scene to scene transitions might give you whiplash.
The behavior from this cast of characters will have you not trusting a dang soul including the FMC. I enjoyed the 'who done it' and 'wtf is happening' aspects of this book. I was disappointed that we didn't get many answers and very little clues by the end. I wish it were more well rounded as an individual book instead of feeling like the author took a book and chose a chapter to cut the story in half. As a reader I need a little satisfaction to tide me over from book to book in a series. I didn't get it. I did like the characters though. Of course Quinn is tops. Uber rich kid with his own trauma and secrets who feels like he's always a step ahead of everyone. Gold!
I would like to continue this series to see where it goes. I'm invested and have my fingers crossed that my favs are innocent!
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the gifted eARC.
May 25, 2026
Title: Almost Honest (Heir of Hearts - Book #1)
Author: Ava Ardyne
⭐ My Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 1/5
Genre: New Adult Romance | Romantic Suspense | Dark Academia | Slow Burn | Mystery
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, morally gray billionaire heir, elite university setting, family secrets, emotional trauma, slow burn tension
My Thoughts:
There are books I can casually read and then there are books that quietly pull me into their atmosphere until suddenly it’s 2 AM and I am side eyeing every character while demanding answers. I looked at the status bar on this one often (before I realized it was NOT a standalone) with deep concern, because the mystery had me hooked and there was definitely not going to be enough time to wrap it up. It was compelling.
Ava Ardyne delivers a moody, emotionally charged romantic suspense wrapped in dark academia vibes, elite family secrets, and a romance built on tension instead of instant gratification. The story follows Prin, a scholarship pre-med student carrying grief, unanswered questions about her mother’s disappearance, and enough emotional baggage to fill an entire dorm room (so much so sometimes you want to shake her in frustration). When her search for truth begins pointing toward the wealthy and powerful Ozler family, she collides with Quinn Ozler, a billionaire heir who is equal parts intriguing, frustrating, and suspicious.
Quite honestly, I had no idea that this book was going to be as intriguing and suspenseful as it ended up being. It was a truly wonderful surprise.
What I Loved:
#1 - The atmosphere
The dark academia setting absolutely worked for me (it usually is not a favorite of mine). Elite schools, hidden histories, privilege, grief, and mystery created a heavy undercurrent throughout the story. It constantly felt like something dangerous was waiting around the corner.
#2 - Prin as a protagonist
Prin isn’t polished or perfect, good lord that feels like an understatement at some moments throughout. She’s grieving, guarded, impulsive, and deeply human. Watching her balance ambition, trauma, and the need for answers made her feel believable rather than idealized. Themes surrounding grief and guilt were woven into the story with more depth than I expected.
#3 - Quinn Ozler (unfortunately…I have a type…)
Okay. Here me out. Morally gray millionaire/billionaire heirs with secrets are apparently a weakness. Quinn gives “I have unresolved issues and expensive suits” energy. The chemistry between him and Prin is built almost entirely on tension, suspicion, and what isn’t being said, overall, it is a slow burn style that worked for me. For me I found I trusted him almost immediately for some reason but was divided much of the time with his motivations. I want more of his backstory in the following book for sure.
🖤 The mystery element
The romance may be front and center, but the family secrets and questions surrounding Prin’s mother kept me engaged. I would say it’s fairly well balanced between mystery, romance and suspense. Every reveal raised more questions, and I spent a good portion of the book mistrusting everyone. Heck, I still mistrust everyone in this book, even the FMC, she isn’t a super reliable narrator at least not in my opinion.
Things That Didn’t Fully Work for Me:
The pacing occasionally felt uneven, especially in sections where I desperately wanted answers faster. Because this is the beginning of a larger series, some threads remain unresolved by the end. Prepare to google and try to find when book #2 is coming out because I do not like cliffhangers and/or unresolved story lines. Readers wanting a neatly wrapped conclusion may struggle with that as I am sure you have figured out, I did.
Additionally, if you are looking to read a book with high spice this is not the book to read. The characters barely made any physical connection, most was tension, slow burn and plot building. I did get the feeling as I read the book that the following books might have more since the chemistry of the two main characters was off the charts.
Final Thoughts:
Almost Honest blends romance, suspense, grief, privilege, and mystery into an addictive first installment. If you enjoy stories with emotional tension, morally questionable love interests, and layered family secrets, this one may pull you in.
The ending left me wanting the next book because I still have questions… and feelings… and mild (haha huge really) trust issues.
I recommend you read this if you like:
✔ Dark academia romance
✔ Slow burn tension
✔ Morally gray love interests
✔ Elite university settings
✔ Mystery + romance combinations
✔ Family secrets and emotional baggage
✔ Billionaire/Millionaire heirs with suspicious energy
Story: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Final Rating: 4/5
Neurospicy Rating: I would say that so far it is “one more chapter” and “minor series obsession developed” cross with “why did I not wait to read this until after the entire series is completed” rating.
Would I continue the series? Absolutely. I need answers. Now.
Publication Date: May 22nd 2026
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review with absolutely no sugarcoating, no holding back, questionable grammar and dialogue being all my own. This review is being left voluntarily.
Author: Ava Ardyne
⭐ My Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 1/5
Genre: New Adult Romance | Romantic Suspense | Dark Academia | Slow Burn | Mystery
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, morally gray billionaire heir, elite university setting, family secrets, emotional trauma, slow burn tension
My Thoughts:
There are books I can casually read and then there are books that quietly pull me into their atmosphere until suddenly it’s 2 AM and I am side eyeing every character while demanding answers. I looked at the status bar on this one often (before I realized it was NOT a standalone) with deep concern, because the mystery had me hooked and there was definitely not going to be enough time to wrap it up. It was compelling.
Ava Ardyne delivers a moody, emotionally charged romantic suspense wrapped in dark academia vibes, elite family secrets, and a romance built on tension instead of instant gratification. The story follows Prin, a scholarship pre-med student carrying grief, unanswered questions about her mother’s disappearance, and enough emotional baggage to fill an entire dorm room (so much so sometimes you want to shake her in frustration). When her search for truth begins pointing toward the wealthy and powerful Ozler family, she collides with Quinn Ozler, a billionaire heir who is equal parts intriguing, frustrating, and suspicious.
Quite honestly, I had no idea that this book was going to be as intriguing and suspenseful as it ended up being. It was a truly wonderful surprise.
What I Loved:
#1 - The atmosphere
The dark academia setting absolutely worked for me (it usually is not a favorite of mine). Elite schools, hidden histories, privilege, grief, and mystery created a heavy undercurrent throughout the story. It constantly felt like something dangerous was waiting around the corner.
#2 - Prin as a protagonist
Prin isn’t polished or perfect, good lord that feels like an understatement at some moments throughout. She’s grieving, guarded, impulsive, and deeply human. Watching her balance ambition, trauma, and the need for answers made her feel believable rather than idealized. Themes surrounding grief and guilt were woven into the story with more depth than I expected.
#3 - Quinn Ozler (unfortunately…I have a type…)
Okay. Here me out. Morally gray millionaire/billionaire heirs with secrets are apparently a weakness. Quinn gives “I have unresolved issues and expensive suits” energy. The chemistry between him and Prin is built almost entirely on tension, suspicion, and what isn’t being said, overall, it is a slow burn style that worked for me. For me I found I trusted him almost immediately for some reason but was divided much of the time with his motivations. I want more of his backstory in the following book for sure.
🖤 The mystery element
The romance may be front and center, but the family secrets and questions surrounding Prin’s mother kept me engaged. I would say it’s fairly well balanced between mystery, romance and suspense. Every reveal raised more questions, and I spent a good portion of the book mistrusting everyone. Heck, I still mistrust everyone in this book, even the FMC, she isn’t a super reliable narrator at least not in my opinion.
Things That Didn’t Fully Work for Me:
The pacing occasionally felt uneven, especially in sections where I desperately wanted answers faster. Because this is the beginning of a larger series, some threads remain unresolved by the end. Prepare to google and try to find when book #2 is coming out because I do not like cliffhangers and/or unresolved story lines. Readers wanting a neatly wrapped conclusion may struggle with that as I am sure you have figured out, I did.
Additionally, if you are looking to read a book with high spice this is not the book to read. The characters barely made any physical connection, most was tension, slow burn and plot building. I did get the feeling as I read the book that the following books might have more since the chemistry of the two main characters was off the charts.
Final Thoughts:
Almost Honest blends romance, suspense, grief, privilege, and mystery into an addictive first installment. If you enjoy stories with emotional tension, morally questionable love interests, and layered family secrets, this one may pull you in.
The ending left me wanting the next book because I still have questions… and feelings… and mild (haha huge really) trust issues.
I recommend you read this if you like:
✔ Dark academia romance
✔ Slow burn tension
✔ Morally gray love interests
✔ Elite university settings
✔ Mystery + romance combinations
✔ Family secrets and emotional baggage
✔ Billionaire/Millionaire heirs with suspicious energy
Story: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Final Rating: 4/5
Neurospicy Rating: I would say that so far it is “one more chapter” and “minor series obsession developed” cross with “why did I not wait to read this until after the entire series is completed” rating.
Would I continue the series? Absolutely. I need answers. Now.
Publication Date: May 22nd 2026
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review with absolutely no sugarcoating, no holding back, questionable grammar and dialogue being all my own. This review is being left voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
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!!!
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!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
May 24, 2026
This was an interesting dark academia, billionaire secrets novel with a romance built on lies and tension.
What initially pulled me into this story was the summary of a scholarship pre-med student investigating her mother’s disappearance while getting tangled up with a morally gray billionaire heir. It was immediately a yes for me!
The book definitely delivers on atmosphere, family secrets, and romantic suspense, and the dynamic between Quinn and Prin was enjoyable to read. Quinn Ozler was probably my favorite part of the story. He has that classic untouchable, emotionally guarded energy that works really well in slow-burn romance, and the chemistry between him and Prin kept me invested even during slower sections of the plot.
That said, I personally found the story lacking a bit of depth in certain areas. There were a lot of mysteries and plot threads introduced, but not enough of them felt fully explored or resolved by the end. I understand this is part of a series, but I still wanted a little more payoff within this book itself
The pacing also felt stretched at times. For me, it seemed like the ending, or at least some of the major reveals, could have happened much sooner. There were moments where the story circled the same emotional beats repeatedly, which made the middle feel slower than I expected
Even with those issues, I still enjoyed the dark academia atmosphere, the suspense woven through the romance, and the tension between the characters. If you love wealthy dysfunctional families, morally gray love interests, secrets, and angsty slow-burn romance, then pick this read up!
Overall, while it didn’t completely hit for me, I’m still curious to see where the series goes next!
Grateful for the opportunity to have read this novel ❤️
What initially pulled me into this story was the summary of a scholarship pre-med student investigating her mother’s disappearance while getting tangled up with a morally gray billionaire heir. It was immediately a yes for me!
The book definitely delivers on atmosphere, family secrets, and romantic suspense, and the dynamic between Quinn and Prin was enjoyable to read. Quinn Ozler was probably my favorite part of the story. He has that classic untouchable, emotionally guarded energy that works really well in slow-burn romance, and the chemistry between him and Prin kept me invested even during slower sections of the plot.
That said, I personally found the story lacking a bit of depth in certain areas. There were a lot of mysteries and plot threads introduced, but not enough of them felt fully explored or resolved by the end. I understand this is part of a series, but I still wanted a little more payoff within this book itself
The pacing also felt stretched at times. For me, it seemed like the ending, or at least some of the major reveals, could have happened much sooner. There were moments where the story circled the same emotional beats repeatedly, which made the middle feel slower than I expected
Even with those issues, I still enjoyed the dark academia atmosphere, the suspense woven through the romance, and the tension between the characters. If you love wealthy dysfunctional families, morally gray love interests, secrets, and angsty slow-burn romance, then pick this read up!
Overall, while it didn’t completely hit for me, I’m still curious to see where the series goes next!
Grateful for the opportunity to have read this novel ❤️
May 29, 2026
3 ⭐️ Review
Almost Honest had a lot of potential and definitely kept me entertained enough to keep turning the pages, but overall it ended up being a 3-star read for me. I love an enemies-to-lovers dark college romance, and there were moments where the story really worked. The banter between the characters kept things interesting, and the darker atmosphere gave the story an edge that I enjoyed.
What I did like was that this story blends together dark academia, romantic suspense, family secrets, and mystery all into one. There’s a lot happening or being hinted at that keeps you wanting to know more.
I also really liked Prim as the FMC. She returns after being gone for an entire year, having suddenly left everyone behind without much of an explanation. Because of that, many of her friends resent her when she comes back. Now she's just trying to survive the school year and figure out her place among people who haven't forgotten what happened. Her situation immediately pulled me in, and I found myself rooting for her.
Quinn was easily my favorite part of the book.
That said, the pacing felt a little off at times, especially in the middle. This is also very much a slow-burn romance. The enemies don't really become lovers until the very end of the book... and then it ends. The cliffhanger definitely caught me off guard because I honestly thought this was a standalone. There are still so many unanswered questions by the end, and while we get pieces of the mystery, we don't actually get many answers.
However, despite some of my issues with the pacing and the lack of answers, I was invested enough in the characters and mystery to want more.
Overall, this wasn't a perfect read for me, but it was entertaining and intriguing enough that I'll be coming back for Book 2 to see where Prim, Quinn, and all these secrets lead next.
Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.
Almost Honest had a lot of potential and definitely kept me entertained enough to keep turning the pages, but overall it ended up being a 3-star read for me. I love an enemies-to-lovers dark college romance, and there were moments where the story really worked. The banter between the characters kept things interesting, and the darker atmosphere gave the story an edge that I enjoyed.
What I did like was that this story blends together dark academia, romantic suspense, family secrets, and mystery all into one. There’s a lot happening or being hinted at that keeps you wanting to know more.
I also really liked Prim as the FMC. She returns after being gone for an entire year, having suddenly left everyone behind without much of an explanation. Because of that, many of her friends resent her when she comes back. Now she's just trying to survive the school year and figure out her place among people who haven't forgotten what happened. Her situation immediately pulled me in, and I found myself rooting for her.
Quinn was easily my favorite part of the book.
That said, the pacing felt a little off at times, especially in the middle. This is also very much a slow-burn romance. The enemies don't really become lovers until the very end of the book... and then it ends. The cliffhanger definitely caught me off guard because I honestly thought this was a standalone. There are still so many unanswered questions by the end, and while we get pieces of the mystery, we don't actually get many answers.
However, despite some of my issues with the pacing and the lack of answers, I was invested enough in the characters and mystery to want more.
Overall, this wasn't a perfect read for me, but it was entertaining and intriguing enough that I'll be coming back for Book 2 to see where Prim, Quinn, and all these secrets lead next.
Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.
June 22, 2026
"Almost Honest" is the first book in the "Heir of Hearts" series, as well as my first encounter with Ava Ardyne's writing.
The story follows Prin, a girl who ran away from her past but decided to retrace her steps. She summoned strength and courage to discover what really happened to her mother, who disappeared years before. A decision that wasn't easy to make, and even harder to follow through on, given that she will collide with a reality and an environment that is against her.
To search for answers, Prin enrolls in medical school on a scholarship, and it is there that she will meet the heir of the Ozler family. Quinn is certainly not a sweet and caring boy, but rather arrogant, dangerous, and untouchable. But her family may also be the key to her answers.
The two couldn't be more different, but this difference and their personalities could be what can free them and unite them, finally allowing them to truly breathe for the first time.
Prin and Quinn's dance is a dangerous one, between their ever-growing attraction, threats, and secrets swirling around the protagonist... nothing is as it seems, and Prin certainly has to watch her back.
I particularly appreciated the story's background, all the twists and turns, how each secret leads to another, the mystery, and how it all blends with the more romantic side. Furthermore, the writing style also amazed me, along with the author's structure. It's not easy to explain, but I recommend you try it to believe it, because I find it unusual and interesting.
➡️ La recensione in ITALIANO la trovate sul BLOG
The story follows Prin, a girl who ran away from her past but decided to retrace her steps. She summoned strength and courage to discover what really happened to her mother, who disappeared years before. A decision that wasn't easy to make, and even harder to follow through on, given that she will collide with a reality and an environment that is against her.
To search for answers, Prin enrolls in medical school on a scholarship, and it is there that she will meet the heir of the Ozler family. Quinn is certainly not a sweet and caring boy, but rather arrogant, dangerous, and untouchable. But her family may also be the key to her answers.
The two couldn't be more different, but this difference and their personalities could be what can free them and unite them, finally allowing them to truly breathe for the first time.
Prin and Quinn's dance is a dangerous one, between their ever-growing attraction, threats, and secrets swirling around the protagonist... nothing is as it seems, and Prin certainly has to watch her back.
I particularly appreciated the story's background, all the twists and turns, how each secret leads to another, the mystery, and how it all blends with the more romantic side. Furthermore, the writing style also amazed me, along with the author's structure. It's not easy to explain, but I recommend you try it to believe it, because I find it unusual and interesting.
➡️ La recensione in ITALIANO la trovate sul BLOG
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⚠️📚 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 😭👏
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 😭👏
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
May 18, 2026
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.
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.
May 24, 2026
Chemistry, emotional tension, and dark romance atmosphere. Almost Honest by Ava Ardyne is an emotionally messy, tension-heavy dark college romance packed with rivalry, attraction, secrets, and the kind of chemistry that constantly teeters between hate and obsession.
The story thrives on emotional conflict and sharp dialogue, pulling readers into a relationship where trust is fragile and every interaction feels layered with unresolved tension. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is intense from the start, creating a constant push-and-pull between vulnerability and self-protection.
What makes the story especially addictive is the emotional realism underneath the drama. Both characters feel flawed and guarded in ways that make the tension believable rather than performative, which gives the romance more depth as the story progresses.
Readers who enjoy:
* dark college romance
* enemies-to-lovers tension
* emotionally unavailable characters
* angst and unresolved feelings
* morally grey dynamics
* secrets and emotional chaos
will probably get hooked quickly.
It’s dramatic, emotionally charged, and filled with the kind of relationship tension that keeps you turning pages.
The story thrives on emotional conflict and sharp dialogue, pulling readers into a relationship where trust is fragile and every interaction feels layered with unresolved tension. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is intense from the start, creating a constant push-and-pull between vulnerability and self-protection.
What makes the story especially addictive is the emotional realism underneath the drama. Both characters feel flawed and guarded in ways that make the tension believable rather than performative, which gives the romance more depth as the story progresses.
Readers who enjoy:
* dark college romance
* enemies-to-lovers tension
* emotionally unavailable characters
* angst and unresolved feelings
* morally grey dynamics
* secrets and emotional chaos
will probably get hooked quickly.
It’s dramatic, emotionally charged, and filled with the kind of relationship tension that keeps you turning pages.
Read
April 22, 2026I 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!
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!
August 5, 2026
This one was a little slow going for me in the beginning, and I spent a good chunk of the first part confused about why someone was trying to hurt the FMC. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the random memo sections throughout the story, although I understand they’re part of her character and how she processes things.
Once I got further into the book, though, things definitely started to pick up! The secrets began unraveling, we learned more about the FMC and her past, and the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance started pulling me in. 👀🖤
By the end, I was intrigued enough by everything being uncovered and what might happen next that I’d definitely continue with the series. I’m curious to see where the story and these characters go from here!
✨ Slow Burn
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🎓 Dark College Romance
🔎 Secrets & Suspense
🔥 Romantic Tension
⭐ 3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early opportunity to read and review Almost Honest. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🖤
Once I got further into the book, though, things definitely started to pick up! The secrets began unraveling, we learned more about the FMC and her past, and the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance started pulling me in. 👀🖤
By the end, I was intrigued enough by everything being uncovered and what might happen next that I’d definitely continue with the series. I’m curious to see where the story and these characters go from here!
✨ Slow Burn
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🎓 Dark College Romance
🔎 Secrets & Suspense
🔥 Romantic Tension
⭐ 3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early opportunity to read and review Almost Honest. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 22, 2026
Grateful to NetGalley for the early copy - After being gone a year, Prin returns to uni but it seems every one hates her and someone has it out for her. She must navigate this whilst having to be top of her med class to keep her scholarship.
I honestly am not sure if I enjoyed this as a whole or not - at first I was so confused I had no idea what was actually going on. There were so many characters introduced in a short time I wasn't sure who was who to start with. There were also a lot of time jumps which got confusing and it was very fast paced so the relationships went from frenemies to lovers real quick.
I will say even though I was confused, I couldn't put the book down and needed to finish it. I am gonna enjoy seeing more of Prin and Quinn in book 2 and how their relationships develops.
The only other thing is the ending ended so abruptly like it felt in the middle of a paragraph.
I honestly am not sure if I enjoyed this as a whole or not - at first I was so confused I had no idea what was actually going on. There were so many characters introduced in a short time I wasn't sure who was who to start with. There were also a lot of time jumps which got confusing and it was very fast paced so the relationships went from frenemies to lovers real quick.
I will say even though I was confused, I couldn't put the book down and needed to finish it. I am gonna enjoy seeing more of Prin and Quinn in book 2 and how their relationships develops.
The only other thing is the ending ended so abruptly like it felt in the middle of a paragraph.
May 22, 2026
An intriguing premise with potential, but the structure and writing style ultimately let Almost Honest down.
There were definitely moments and threads of genuine suspense throughout the book, as well as a very complicated relationship between the main characters. And I won’t lie, I did love the sticky notes.
I’m frustrated because this could have been so much better. But the writing style was absolutely my main issue with this book.
The pacing and flow felt off throughout – as chapters ended abruptly and scenes blurred into others without any real distinction. It also felt as though not that much actually happened.
I’m not one for bad or overly negative reviews, but this was an ARC read, and honesty is the name of the game. Still, I like to include the parts I enjoyed too.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were definitely moments and threads of genuine suspense throughout the book, as well as a very complicated relationship between the main characters. And I won’t lie, I did love the sticky notes.
I’m frustrated because this could have been so much better. But the writing style was absolutely my main issue with this book.
The pacing and flow felt off throughout – as chapters ended abruptly and scenes blurred into others without any real distinction. It also felt as though not that much actually happened.
I’m not one for bad or overly negative reviews, but this was an ARC read, and honesty is the name of the game. Still, I like to include the parts I enjoyed too.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2026
This book is written in the FMC POV and even she keeps some secrets hidden from us.
Prin, our FMC, has some family baggage and that's why she decided to leave the country her high school graduating day without saying goodbye to anyone and have a sabbatical year trying to find herself while finding clues about her dead mother.
While I finished this book and will try to read the next one in the series I must say that I'm confused about Prin's age because she starts college one year later but she wasn't even 18? Maybe it's because i'm not from the US but it would make more sense for me if she was a little older.
I loved Quinn/Oz and how their relationship goes from strangers who "hate" each other to friends who banter and flirt to lovers? This is a slow burn so don't read it if you are looking for a spicy book (I don't know if the next book will have open door or closed door scenes)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Prin, our FMC, has some family baggage and that's why she decided to leave the country her high school graduating day without saying goodbye to anyone and have a sabbatical year trying to find herself while finding clues about her dead mother.
While I finished this book and will try to read the next one in the series I must say that I'm confused about Prin's age because she starts college one year later but she wasn't even 18? Maybe it's because i'm not from the US but it would make more sense for me if she was a little older.
I loved Quinn/Oz and how their relationship goes from strangers who "hate" each other to friends who banter and flirt to lovers? This is a slow burn so don't read it if you are looking for a spicy book (I don't know if the next book will have open door or closed door scenes)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
August 2, 2026
I enjoyed the book for the secrets, the tension, suspense, slow burn, and the need to find out what is going on. How anyone is fair game for the mystery present in this portion of the book. The story had my attention. However, it ends without answers, and we get a cliffhanger.
Prim is an interesting character. She returns to school after a year off, now she is just trying to survive. She is pre-med and investigating her mother’s disappearance. She has found herself in a tangled web.
I will be reading the next book, this world of dark academia, romance, suspense, wealthy dysfunctional families, morally grey characters, and secrets. Give this book a try. You must read them in order.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Prim is an interesting character. She returns to school after a year off, now she is just trying to survive. She is pre-med and investigating her mother’s disappearance. She has found herself in a tangled web.
I will be reading the next book, this world of dark academia, romance, suspense, wealthy dysfunctional families, morally grey characters, and secrets. Give this book a try. You must read them in order.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Read
April 30, 2026Sort 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.
Review of advance copy
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
ARC provided via Pen Pinery
https://penpinery.com
June 12, 2026
An enjoyable, quick-paced mystery set in the world of the elite. Almost Honest stands out for its focus on suspense and character intrigue over romance. Although it touches on mature topics, it maintains a YA-style energy that keeps the story moving fast. With its 'suspicious billionaire heir' energy and dark academia aesthetic, it was exactly the kind of palate cleanser I needed. 4/5 stars—I'm ready for book two!
Tropes
🖤 Dark academia romance
🖤 Slow burn tension
🖤 Morally gray love interests
🖤 Elite university settings
🖤 Mystery + romance combinations
🖤 Family secrets and emotional baggage
🖤 Billionaire/Millionaire heirs with suspicious energy
Story: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Final Rating: 4/5
Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.
Tropes
🖤 Dark academia romance
🖤 Slow burn tension
🖤 Morally gray love interests
🖤 Elite university settings
🖤 Mystery + romance combinations
🖤 Family secrets and emotional baggage
🖤 Billionaire/Millionaire heirs with suspicious energy
Story: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Final Rating: 4/5
Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
May 19, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy
Prin learns something about her mother and leaves suddenly abandoning everything and everyone behind for a whole year. When she comes back, weird things start happening to her.
She is keeping secrets that will be unraveled throughout the book. When she comes back, nothing is the same anymore. She meets Quinn who at first seem like he hates her and then things evolve. She starts collaborating with him on a proposition and gets to have a lot of information on things.
This book is really easy to read and also very interesting. It's a college story with mystery surrounding the characters and it leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions. I will definitely read the second book!
She is keeping secrets that will be unraveled throughout the book. When she comes back, nothing is the same anymore. She meets Quinn who at first seem like he hates her and then things evolve. She starts collaborating with him on a proposition and gets to have a lot of information on things.
This book is really easy to read and also very interesting. It's a college story with mystery surrounding the characters and it leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions. I will definitely read the second book!
July 8, 2026
Prin and Oz go from being mortal enemies to...something else. Their relationship evolves the more they learn about each other. The scholarship kid and the billionaire heir may find the other is not quite as despicable as they thought. There are countless secrets to uncover, but sometimes more information just leads to more questions. The pace of the book is a bit slow at times. Overall, this was a great read. I'm looking forward to the next.
I'd consider this more of a YA than dark romance. Maybe later in the series it will become more adult.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review.
I'd consider this more of a YA than dark romance. Maybe later in the series it will become more adult.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
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!
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