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Just You and Me
Lila Thorne flees her suffocating hometown for a new life in New York, hoping to reconnect with her first love. But the city delivers a different kind of nightmare when she collides with Max Cooper—a ruthless businessman who doesn't just crave control, he expects it.
After a violent incident at the club where she works, Max marks her as his next fixation. He knows he should leave her alone. He doesn't. He chalks their meeting up to fate.
His curiosity about Lila, a woman who can't hide her revulsion toward him, quickly turns to obsession. She's irrelevant to his ambitions, yet she infiltrates every thought he tries to bury.
He draws her into a one-month arrangement layered with addictive chemistry, a seductive trip overseas, and extravagant gifts meant to break down every barrier. She never asked for his attention... but her body betrays her long before her resolve does.
As Max tightens his grip physically, emotionally, and financially, Lila's attempts to break free only drag them deeper into a dangerous, electric connection neither of them is sane enough to escape. Haunted by her past and trapped in Max's fixation, she must choose whether survival means fighting him... or surrendering to the man who mirrors her darkness too perfectly to resist.
For readers of psychological suspense exploring obsession, control, and the darker side of human attachment.
This is a dark romantic suspense intended for mature readers only. It contains explicit sexual content, psychologically complex and morally troubling characters, and themes that some readers may find disturbing, including graphic depictions of rape and sexual assault, obsessive and controlling relationship dynamics, drug use and addiction, grief, emotional manipulation, coercive behavior, captivity, and family estrangement.
After a violent incident at the club where she works, Max marks her as his next fixation. He knows he should leave her alone. He doesn't. He chalks their meeting up to fate.
His curiosity about Lila, a woman who can't hide her revulsion toward him, quickly turns to obsession. She's irrelevant to his ambitions, yet she infiltrates every thought he tries to bury.
He draws her into a one-month arrangement layered with addictive chemistry, a seductive trip overseas, and extravagant gifts meant to break down every barrier. She never asked for his attention... but her body betrays her long before her resolve does.
As Max tightens his grip physically, emotionally, and financially, Lila's attempts to break free only drag them deeper into a dangerous, electric connection neither of them is sane enough to escape. Haunted by her past and trapped in Max's fixation, she must choose whether survival means fighting him... or surrendering to the man who mirrors her darkness too perfectly to resist.
For readers of psychological suspense exploring obsession, control, and the darker side of human attachment.
This is a dark romantic suspense intended for mature readers only. It contains explicit sexual content, psychologically complex and morally troubling characters, and themes that some readers may find disturbing, including graphic depictions of rape and sexual assault, obsessive and controlling relationship dynamics, drug use and addiction, grief, emotional manipulation, coercive behavior, captivity, and family estrangement.
410 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2026
About the author
Honey Summers
2 books11 followersHoney Summers is a debut author based in the United States. She has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. The child with the bowl cut who was always coming up with stories to amuse her family has grown into an author with a wider audience in mind.
With a deep interest in horror, psychology, and the darker complexities of human behavior, Honey has always been drawn to stories that unsettle as much as they captivate.
With a deep interest in horror, psychology, and the darker complexities of human behavior, Honey has always been drawn to stories that unsettle as much as they captivate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 31, 2026
Doing god’s work here. This is my favourite romance that I’ve read this year!
My favourite part of the novel is still early on when Max thinks he fumbled in showing Lila too soon the video he painstakingly acquired of her sleazy boss getting beat up for suggesting she do a threesome for a job. He thinks he should have given that gift to her later. Mind you her sleazy boss is the reason he basically was able to non-con her the first time.
What an incredible psychopath he was, and his obsession with Lila was so convincing. At first, he thinks he just needs to get her out of his system via Pretty Woman blackmail, but while he is satisfied he is able to buy her to play along as his girlfriend for a month, he has moments he is mad because he can’t tell if she really is into him or just acting. His slide into love is so good.
While Max fell first, Lila’s transformation was surprisingly so good. She fought him a lot but by the end, she is as obsessed as he is, and I like that she’s actually a bit of a loose screw in love. In fact, her behaviour with her ex makes you realize she fir better with Max who wanted and matched her love crazy 😂😂
Where the title comes from is a scene in one of the last chapters that is SO GOOD, and shows just how far things change in their dynamic.
And of course smut a lot, smut heavy, and smut furthering their relationship.
One more note is that it is giving Ao3 in the best way possible. I am so glad this year to have found works that do the best type of “blackmail for physical intimacy” stories. I love them in Pretty Woman scenarios and in workplace scenarios, and the heroes are always delightfully deranged. This is how you write a psychopath!
Similar Ao3 works that I’m currently loving where hero blackmails heroine and smut does develop their relationship:
Blurring Lines by youngbody_oldsoul (police and student, no age gap, 5 years apart. I am loving how he does it because he thinks she’s stuck up and can’t wait for that shift!)
Work in progress and not sure when author will update it, but they are replying to story comments so they are somewhat active! Not too many chapters but where it leaves off is enough to satisfy! And good enough place for both of the characters.
Your Career Depends On It by K_Sloan (Workplace but he is married with a kid. Very clear he is obsessed with heroine, and right now he doesn’t want to blow up his life. Very interesting)
Work in progress and author is providing weekly updates 😍 This one has about 15 chapters so more to read.
If I Can’t Have You by deathsdoll (after being on Reddit, I am shocked by how openly people love this work and recommend it for nearly every recommendation people have. I love this work, not that the work doesn’t deserve it, but I feel so protective over it. Workplace, memorable drugging and weaning off drugging).
Completed work and highly suggest you save a PDF!
My favourite part of the novel is still early on when Max thinks he fumbled in showing Lila too soon the video he painstakingly acquired of her sleazy boss getting beat up for suggesting she do a threesome for a job. He thinks he should have given that gift to her later. Mind you her sleazy boss is the reason he basically was able to non-con her the first time.
What an incredible psychopath he was, and his obsession with Lila was so convincing. At first, he thinks he just needs to get her out of his system via Pretty Woman blackmail, but while he is satisfied he is able to buy her to play along as his girlfriend for a month, he has moments he is mad because he can’t tell if she really is into him or just acting. His slide into love is so good.
While Max fell first, Lila’s transformation was surprisingly so good. She fought him a lot but by the end, she is as obsessed as he is, and I like that she’s actually a bit of a loose screw in love. In fact, her behaviour with her ex makes you realize she fir better with Max who wanted and matched her love crazy 😂😂
Where the title comes from is a scene in one of the last chapters that is SO GOOD, and shows just how far things change in their dynamic.
And of course smut a lot, smut heavy, and smut furthering their relationship.
One more note is that it is giving Ao3 in the best way possible. I am so glad this year to have found works that do the best type of “blackmail for physical intimacy” stories. I love them in Pretty Woman scenarios and in workplace scenarios, and the heroes are always delightfully deranged. This is how you write a psychopath!
Similar Ao3 works that I’m currently loving where hero blackmails heroine and smut does develop their relationship:
Blurring Lines by youngbody_oldsoul (police and student, no age gap, 5 years apart. I am loving how he does it because he thinks she’s stuck up and can’t wait for that shift!)
Work in progress and not sure when author will update it, but they are replying to story comments so they are somewhat active! Not too many chapters but where it leaves off is enough to satisfy! And good enough place for both of the characters.
Your Career Depends On It by K_Sloan (Workplace but he is married with a kid. Very clear he is obsessed with heroine, and right now he doesn’t want to blow up his life. Very interesting)
Work in progress and author is providing weekly updates 😍 This one has about 15 chapters so more to read.
If I Can’t Have You by deathsdoll (after being on Reddit, I am shocked by how openly people love this work and recommend it for nearly every recommendation people have. I love this work, not that the work doesn’t deserve it, but I feel so protective over it. Workplace, memorable drugging and weaning off drugging).
Completed work and highly suggest you save a PDF!
June 3, 2026
DNF'ed at 26%. Why? Life is too fucking short. I've grown tired of romance authors who feel the need to add in a rape scene at the onset of their characters meeting. A character who forcibly rapes another is not morally grey. Rape is not morally ambiguous.
Mild spoilers afoot.
She works at a club. He meets her at said club, after hours, in an alley where she's being accosted by some entitled fuck. He rescues her. She's ungrateful because he's being an asshole about it. Their next meeting is her place of work where he requests her in the upstairs rooms, where he proceeds to offer her money to fuck her because he can't stop thinking about her. She declines. He forcibly rapes her. This is not a let's-convince-ourselves-this-is-a-verbally-coercive-grey-area-SA - this is a she says stop, you're hurting me, he does not care rape. He fucks her violently. She's traumatized after the experience.
The next time they meet, it's at a party where she doesn't realize she's taken drugs. She's handsy. He takes her home. Proceeds to rape her again (because let's all say it together folks - if you're inebriated and not yourself, you cannot consent). She enjoys part of it and feels conflicted about it (rightfully so). Then she begins to experience this like.. Stockholm syndrome, I'm-developing-feelings-for-a-man-because-he's-showing-me-a-modicum-of-interest-and-decency. This is where I stopped reading.
I don't care what this author could potentially do with the relationship of these characters. I don't care if his moral failure somehow turns itself around and he becomes less of a reprehensible human being.
Also, the POV is weird. This is written in like a third person omniscient view and all other critiques of the story aside, I don't care for it. I find it jarring to all of the sudden be in another characters POV.
Mild spoilers afoot.
She works at a club. He meets her at said club, after hours, in an alley where she's being accosted by some entitled fuck. He rescues her. She's ungrateful because he's being an asshole about it. Their next meeting is her place of work where he requests her in the upstairs rooms, where he proceeds to offer her money to fuck her because he can't stop thinking about her. She declines. He forcibly rapes her. This is not a let's-convince-ourselves-this-is-a-verbally-coercive-grey-area-SA - this is a she says stop, you're hurting me, he does not care rape. He fucks her violently. She's traumatized after the experience.
The next time they meet, it's at a party where she doesn't realize she's taken drugs. She's handsy. He takes her home. Proceeds to rape her again (because let's all say it together folks - if you're inebriated and not yourself, you cannot consent). She enjoys part of it and feels conflicted about it (rightfully so). Then she begins to experience this like.. Stockholm syndrome, I'm-developing-feelings-for-a-man-because-he's-showing-me-a-modicum-of-interest-and-decency. This is where I stopped reading.
I don't care what this author could potentially do with the relationship of these characters. I don't care if his moral failure somehow turns itself around and he becomes less of a reprehensible human being.
Also, the POV is weird. This is written in like a third person omniscient view and all other critiques of the story aside, I don't care for it. I find it jarring to all of the sudden be in another characters POV.
Currently Reading
June 2, 2026Let's fucking gooooooo. I have a good feeling about this. :D
Did Not Finish
June 15, 2026A light dnf 🫣. It's me not the book. My mood has come to bite me in the ass once again. I will give this book another try someday.
August 5, 2026
The concept and storyline were nothing new and felt like something quite overdone in dark romance however the execution was very exceptional.
I enjoyed the writing style and the characterisation a lot. I'm also a sucker for a he falls first and he falls harder trope and this had it in abundance. We could have also had more conflict in the story and between the characters overall to avoid some of the boring bits that were popping up occasionally but I'm not complaining. Definitely one of my better reads this year!
I enjoyed the writing style and the characterisation a lot. I'm also a sucker for a he falls first and he falls harder trope and this had it in abundance. We could have also had more conflict in the story and between the characters overall to avoid some of the boring bits that were popping up occasionally but I'm not complaining. Definitely one of my better reads this year!
October 27, 2026
Finally, an age gap that makes sense to me. Lila is 26, Max is 37, and somehow that eleven-year difference feels about ten times more believable than the age gaps we’re routinely served in dark romance and romance novels in general.
I loved both Max and Lila. Max was domineering and imposing, but never so much of a caricature that I forgot there was a human being underneath all that control. For all his rough edges, what he wanted was surprisingly simple: to be loved. I especially enjoyed watching his feelings evolve from “I need to get her out of my system” to the far more inconvenient realization of “Oh. I’m in love with her.”
One thing Honey Summers did particularly well was slowly reveal just how wonderfully off-kilter Lila could be, too. (Honey Summers sounds suspiciously like a made-up pen name, by the way.) Discovering her obsessive-compulsive tendencies tickled me to no end. I loved that Lila wasn’t simply the relatively normal counterpart to Max’s intensity. They’re both a little strange in their own ways, and frankly, that’s what makes them such a good match. They suit each other perfectly.
I did have a couple of wishes, though. I wanted more of Lila’s paintings and artwork. Her artistic side felt like an opportunity to explore her inner world more deeply, and I would have loved to spend more time there. And this book came close to being perfect for me that I’m almost annoyed about it: I desperately wanted Max to open up to Lila about his past trauma. I wanted that vulnerability, that moment of letting her see the parts of him he keeps locked away. Not because every wound needs a neat little explanation, but because I wanted to see him trust her with the truth.
In real life, we don’t always get apologies from the families who hurt us. We don’t always get closure, accountability, or the satisfying moment when someone finally admits what they did. Sometimes, people who struggle with sobriety find themselves transferring that obsessive need onto something else, something more socially acceptable but still capable of consuming them. And sometimes, the people we hurt most are the very people we claim to love the most.
We can carry our pain into our relationships, mistake control for safety, and hurt people without fully understanding how much damage we’re doing. Love doesn’t magically undo any of that.
I really, hope this becomes a series because I was not ready to let these two go. I could happily have read another 200 pages. Give me domestic Max and Lila. Give me the chaos of watching these two become parents. Give me more of Lila finding her footing, growing into herself, and discovering that confidence isn’t something she has to earn permission to have.
More than anything, I want to see Lila become more secure in who she is, not just as Max’s partner, but as her own person.
I loved both Max and Lila. Max was domineering and imposing, but never so much of a caricature that I forgot there was a human being underneath all that control. For all his rough edges, what he wanted was surprisingly simple: to be loved. I especially enjoyed watching his feelings evolve from “I need to get her out of my system” to the far more inconvenient realization of “Oh. I’m in love with her.”
One thing Honey Summers did particularly well was slowly reveal just how wonderfully off-kilter Lila could be, too. (Honey Summers sounds suspiciously like a made-up pen name, by the way.) Discovering her obsessive-compulsive tendencies tickled me to no end. I loved that Lila wasn’t simply the relatively normal counterpart to Max’s intensity. They’re both a little strange in their own ways, and frankly, that’s what makes them such a good match. They suit each other perfectly.
I did have a couple of wishes, though. I wanted more of Lila’s paintings and artwork. Her artistic side felt like an opportunity to explore her inner world more deeply, and I would have loved to spend more time there. And this book came close to being perfect for me that I’m almost annoyed about it: I desperately wanted Max to open up to Lila about his past trauma. I wanted that vulnerability, that moment of letting her see the parts of him he keeps locked away. Not because every wound needs a neat little explanation, but because I wanted to see him trust her with the truth.
In real life, we don’t always get apologies from the families who hurt us. We don’t always get closure, accountability, or the satisfying moment when someone finally admits what they did. Sometimes, people who struggle with sobriety find themselves transferring that obsessive need onto something else, something more socially acceptable but still capable of consuming them. And sometimes, the people we hurt most are the very people we claim to love the most.
We can carry our pain into our relationships, mistake control for safety, and hurt people without fully understanding how much damage we’re doing. Love doesn’t magically undo any of that.
I really, hope this becomes a series because I was not ready to let these two go. I could happily have read another 200 pages. Give me domestic Max and Lila. Give me the chaos of watching these two become parents. Give me more of Lila finding her footing, growing into herself, and discovering that confidence isn’t something she has to earn permission to have.
More than anything, I want to see Lila become more secure in who she is, not just as Max’s partner, but as her own person.
June 28, 2026
2.5⭐— The definition of wasted potential.
This should've been my kind of toxic dark romance. Obsessive psycho hero? Check. Manipulation? Check. Morally black man? Check.
So why am I sitting here disappointed? Because the writing absolutely sabotaged it. One chapter had me hooked, the next had me questioning if someone else took over the keyboard. The book had more mood swings than the characters.
Max was a walking red flag. Obsessive, controlling, manipulative, the whole package. I liked his character but he was not at all executed properly! Lila was... there. One minute she had a backbone, the next she was making me want to shake some sense into her. Pick a personality and stick with it.
And don't even get me started on that random woman from Max's past being mentioned in the last 20%. Apparently he "wasn't in love with her, just liked the idea." Okay?? Thanks for that unnecessary information.
This wasn't a bad idea. It was a bad execution and very pathetic writing. Under a better writer, this could've been an easy 5-star toxic obsession romance.
- no cheating, no ow drama
This should've been my kind of toxic dark romance. Obsessive psycho hero? Check. Manipulation? Check. Morally black man? Check.
So why am I sitting here disappointed? Because the writing absolutely sabotaged it. One chapter had me hooked, the next had me questioning if someone else took over the keyboard. The book had more mood swings than the characters.
Max was a walking red flag. Obsessive, controlling, manipulative, the whole package. I liked his character but he was not at all executed properly! Lila was... there. One minute she had a backbone, the next she was making me want to shake some sense into her. Pick a personality and stick with it.
And don't even get me started on that random woman from Max's past being mentioned in the last 20%. Apparently he "wasn't in love with her, just liked the idea." Okay?? Thanks for that unnecessary information.
This wasn't a bad idea. It was a bad execution and very pathetic writing. Under a better writer, this could've been an easy 5-star toxic obsession romance.
- no cheating, no ow drama
June 20, 2026
1.5, abrupt tonal shifts. Had no business being as long as it was.
July 19, 2026
I really liked Lila and I also really liked Max. Imma talk about the things I didn’t like first or else I may forget. First off I didn’t like the point of view change. We would be in Lila pov then the next is max. It gets very confusing then we were getting side characters pov. No warning you just had to use your context clues and figure it out. It wasn’t confusing per se but annoying cause why is there no consistency. I prefer the pov to have a warning or only happen every chapter. I didn’t like the time skips ugh. It annoys me so bad when we don’t see chunks of time but they are being referred to. It wouldn’t have bothered me if it was one of twice but towards the back half of the book it’s like 2 times a chapter. It also bothered me when a major event would happen for example Lila finding out that max had his ex dressed up by personal assistants too and then time skip. No resolution and the build up for a confrontation is lost. I also wish Max reassured Lila more. It’s not really in his character but this is fiction so it doesn’t matter. He really softens at the end and it makes you wonder if he had a brains transplant. Overall I did enjoy the story a lot. I wish we got an answer on if the grandmother knew her son assaulted her daughter. I wish max stood up for Lila when the grandmother was talking crazy but I understand why he didn’t. Also if you’re gonna put so many different highly important events in the back of the story please flesh them out it was one thing after another after another. Maybe this was done to keep the reader attention but it gets to a point honestly. Omg also no epilogue is not okay. I wanna see into there future. I actually do think they would stay together along time. They are both insane and both hide it from others but not each other. It was very interesting to see that Lila was stalking her ex and only moved to New York to hopefully get back with her ex yikes and when she slept with him. I don’t like the main characters sleeping with other people after meeting each other but this didn’t bother me. Lila also went crazy about being reminded and compared to max ex. Me and Lila are alike in a sense where I would also need to internet stalk and see this girl irl lol. All of that was just to portray Lila as crazy just like max. I think my fave line was when they were doing wedding planning and max had already planned the wedding months prior before Lila even agreed to be married. We never saw the proposal btw. Idk some of the lines max had were so cute. Overall I loved this book and I want an epilogue of their future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2026
A 4.5 star “Mike dropping” read
Where in the heck have you been Honey Summers?! This is a new author after my own heart. It’s been very hard to find ones if my particular taboo tastes but she hits the nail on the head.
Of course I immediately went to see what else of hers I could sink my teeth into only to discover this is her only novel.
Book full of extreme possessiveness with the MMC having an attitude literally taking what he wants, when he wants, no matter what anyone thinks. That’s including the FMC. He goes after what he wants and sometimes just has to convince her that what she wants is him back. The journey from initial meeting to them falling in love is a taboo juicy one and I was here for every word!
All in all this story rocked so hard, steam, possessive obsessive MMC, larger than life in size and attitude. Tiny little firecracker of an FMC who brings him to his knees in the end. The only part I didn’t like were the loose ends, like what happened with the roommate? Grandma? Brother? That aside? I can’t wait for what’s next and I hope this author knows writing so I can keep gobbling her stories up in a day!!
Where in the heck have you been Honey Summers?! This is a new author after my own heart. It’s been very hard to find ones if my particular taboo tastes but she hits the nail on the head.
Of course I immediately went to see what else of hers I could sink my teeth into only to discover this is her only novel.
Book full of extreme possessiveness with the MMC having an attitude literally taking what he wants, when he wants, no matter what anyone thinks. That’s including the FMC. He goes after what he wants and sometimes just has to convince her that what she wants is him back. The journey from initial meeting to them falling in love is a taboo juicy one and I was here for every word!
All in all this story rocked so hard, steam, possessive obsessive MMC, larger than life in size and attitude. Tiny little firecracker of an FMC who brings him to his knees in the end. The only part I didn’t like were the loose ends, like what happened with the roommate? Grandma? Brother? That aside? I can’t wait for what’s next and I hope this author knows writing so I can keep gobbling her stories up in a day!!
May 23, 2026
This book is exactly what I had been craving for a long time.
Perfect for fans of Sam Mariano.
🔥 Older man x younger woman trope
Possessive MMC
Morally corrupt
He gets what he wants.
And the FMC has moved to New York City, trying to escape the mess life threw at her.
Kind
Compassionate
Intriguing
I, loved how this book explored emotions in depth rather than portraying them superficially.
Here are my favorite quotes—
“The darkness in her work makes sense to anyone who knows where she came from.”
“It’s a perplexing paradox: hating being alone yet also hating being around people.”
Perfect for fans of Sam Mariano.
🔥 Older man x younger woman trope
Possessive MMC
Morally corrupt
He gets what he wants.
And the FMC has moved to New York City, trying to escape the mess life threw at her.
Kind
Compassionate
Intriguing
I, loved how this book explored emotions in depth rather than portraying them superficially.
Here are my favorite quotes—
“The darkness in her work makes sense to anyone who knows where she came from.”
“It’s a perplexing paradox: hating being alone yet also hating being around people.”
Did Not Finish
July 10, 2026I wish there was a tag to let us know we’re going into a book with a weak willed and pathetic heroine so I wouldn’t try. That’s some readers jam and they should be able to enjoy a woman with no power, education, brain, etc. I loathe those FMCs and will DNF immediately.
FMC was a pathetic loser so bye!!!!
FMC was a pathetic loser so bye!!!!
November 12, 2026
“This is what happens when you try to fuck with me. You think you can just walk away and be happy with someone else? Think again.”
3.5 stars
this book is dark, magnetic, and entirely unapologetic. but amongst the endless glamor and destruction of this 400 page piece, there are massive plot holes and far too much smut to make up for it. for such a long book that promises in-depth characters that we barely get a glimpse of, i finished this book feeling disappointed, but this wasn't a complete waste of my time.
max is a complex, deranged individual. it reminded me a little bit of all these awful MMCs tied together that dredge out more sweetness as time goes on. but he isn't fully developed. he had a coke addiction, but it is not delved into at all. he had a long-term relationship with another girl whom his family taunts in h's face, but she is merely brought up within the 90% mark, lila spirals into a stalking frenzy, and it is swept under the rug. his family is weird and estranged and never heard of again after they get married. max's surveillance business is barely mentioned, agan at the 70% mark. i almost gave up during this point because i don't know what else i could imagine happening besides the tiring whirlwind of fight and then smut.
lila is also alluded to being mentally ill, but again, it's not delved deeper into it. she stalks her ex boyfriend i think but we barely get enough information to form a solid opinion. she goes crazy on max's ex but that also has no time to marinate. she kills someone out of the blue, again at 80% and i think we might be going somewhere, but it is too little, too late. this was an exhausting, enthralling book that said so much, but wasted time on the wrong things to end up procuring so little.
3.5 stars
this book is dark, magnetic, and entirely unapologetic. but amongst the endless glamor and destruction of this 400 page piece, there are massive plot holes and far too much smut to make up for it. for such a long book that promises in-depth characters that we barely get a glimpse of, i finished this book feeling disappointed, but this wasn't a complete waste of my time.
max is a complex, deranged individual. it reminded me a little bit of all these awful MMCs tied together that dredge out more sweetness as time goes on. but he isn't fully developed. he had a coke addiction, but it is not delved into at all. he had a long-term relationship with another girl whom his family taunts in h's face, but she is merely brought up within the 90% mark, lila spirals into a stalking frenzy, and it is swept under the rug. his family is weird and estranged and never heard of again after they get married. max's surveillance business is barely mentioned, agan at the 70% mark. i almost gave up during this point because i don't know what else i could imagine happening besides the tiring whirlwind of fight and then smut.
lila is also alluded to being mentally ill, but again, it's not delved deeper into it. she stalks her ex boyfriend i think but we barely get enough information to form a solid opinion. she goes crazy on max's ex but that also has no time to marinate. she kills someone out of the blue, again at 80% and i think we might be going somewhere, but it is too little, too late. this was an exhausting, enthralling book that said so much, but wasted time on the wrong things to end up procuring so little.
October 16, 2026
this book was okay, but i didn’t LOVE it at times. i really liked the beginning, but towards the middle, i started skimming. i don’t know EXACTLY why i didn’t LOVE this book, but i do have a few ideas(maybe it was just a little of a wrong mood wrong time situation as well considering i’m not feeling well). first and foremost, i DONT think it should’ve been that long. there were WAY too many long bits that could NOT keep my attention. secondly, the main characters’ relationship doesn’t truly start until the very end of the book. i wanted to see more of it (what their dynamic is like when they’re in a better place, how obsessive the FMC can get, how the MMC reacts to it, and so much more). thirdly, this is a problem i have with almost every dark romance book that i read, but it wasn’t psychologically realistic enough for me. it could’ve been even more intense. compared to other dark romance authors, i think the author DID do well on intensity and realism, though.
overall, there were a lot of things that i liked about this book, especially lila and max’s dynamic. i LOVE how she DESPISED him (ESPECIALLY for such a long time, it was super realistic.) and how he fell faster and harder, though by the end, she becomes obsessed with him too, and i love that she’s also obsessive (with another man and then max by the end). it really gives her character and is a quality makes her interesting and different, and i find almost all dark romance authors lacking when it comes to making their FMCs interesting.
overall, there were a lot of things that i liked about this book, especially lila and max’s dynamic. i LOVE how she DESPISED him (ESPECIALLY for such a long time, it was super realistic.) and how he fell faster and harder, though by the end, she becomes obsessed with him too, and i love that she’s also obsessive (with another man and then max by the end). it really gives her character and is a quality makes her interesting and different, and i find almost all dark romance authors lacking when it comes to making their FMCs interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2026
Somewhere (probably Reddit) someone recommended this, having similar vibes to If I Can’t Have You by Deathsdoll.
It very much isn’t.
I disliked this book, really didn’t like the characters that much. It might have been better is some storylines were more fleshed out as well as Lila’s stalking of Jake. It’s just casually mentioned. Like that was interesting go into more detail. But it just fell really flat.
I guess my problem with this book was that I had really high expectations.
It very much isn’t.
I disliked this book, really didn’t like the characters that much. It might have been better is some storylines were more fleshed out as well as Lila’s stalking of Jake. It’s just casually mentioned. Like that was interesting go into more detail. But it just fell really flat.
I guess my problem with this book was that I had really high expectations.
September 27, 2026
Not a romance
I don’t know how this book has so many 5 stars. It’s a not a romance, the MMC grapes the FMC their “first” time and basically held her hostage during the duration of their “relationship”. I finished the book hoping it would get better but they don’t start the relationships until 97%. I read a lot of dark romance and this should not count as one.
I don’t know how this book has so many 5 stars. It’s a not a romance, the MMC grapes the FMC their “first” time and basically held her hostage during the duration of their “relationship”. I finished the book hoping it would get better but they don’t start the relationships until 97%. I read a lot of dark romance and this should not count as one.
July 6, 2026
What I wouldn’t give for Max Cooper to call me “baby,” “sweetheart,” or “sweetie” while doing the absolute dirtiest things to me. 😩
It took me a while to finish and rate this book. At one point, I was ready to DNF it, but then it got so exciting that I was like, hell yeah, this is a solid 4 stars for sure… and then it started going downhill again.
Anywaaay, here are the book’s highs and lows. Spoilers ahead!
Highs:
•Max Cooper, the MMC, had almost all the makings of a beautifully complex antihero. First off, my man genuinely cannot comprehend why the FMC would ever want to leave him when he is God’s gift to women. “I’m attractive, intelligent, and fucking rich… I can give you everything you want. So what’s the problem? What more do you want?” I’m pretty sure he wrote Ariana Grande’s i want it i got it line. The second he saw Lila, she was his whether she wanted it or not.
•I never knew I needed the FMC-is-in-love-with-another-man plot in my life until now. Pair that with an obsessed MMC? I was sooooo ready.
Lows:
•Sooo… this is awkward. I have to admit that even though Max had so much potential to make it into the unhinged-but-I’d-still-let-him-breed-me MMC Hall of Fame, he just couldn’t quite make the cut. Which surprised me because he had all the ingredients of an MMC that readers go absolutely feral for: heartbreaking backstory? Check. Manipulative? Check. Takes whatever he wants and does whatever the hell he pleases? Check. Absolutely obsessed? Check. Sweet and babies the FMC? Check. And the holy grail—cries and begs for the FMC? Dear Lord… check, check, and check.
But I found his character inconsistent. He started out so strong, and then it was like he randomly decided to take breaks from being unhinged and obsessive whenever the plot needed him to. I think what separates the truly unforgettable dark romance MMCs from the rest is how unapologetic and consistent they are when it comes to the FMC and the lengths they’re willing to go for her.
•The FMC also felt like she was being written by two or three different people. She goes from babe-with-a-backbone to horny girl with amnesia from one chapter to the next. I kid you not, as I’m writing this, I genuinely can’t remember anything interesting about her besides the fact that she paints—and even that felt like the book forgot about it halfway through.
•The POV was a bit challenging to get into. I already have a personal beef with third-person POV because it tends to pull me out of the moment, but this one took it a step further by constantly giving us random glimpses into the heads of secondary characters. It was so jarring. Every time it switched, I kept thinking this person is about to become important, but nope—it usually amounted to absolutely nothing. Like that random guard suddenly noticing how attractive the FMC was… what was that even for? It felt like the book kept teasing plot threads that never actually went anywhere.
•I usually hate other woman/man drama, but when it’s done right, it adds the kind of tension that takes a plot from meh to OH MY GOD WHAT A RUSH. Here, we had two exes, which could’ve been milked for all the delicious drama they were worth, but they both ended up making me go… huh?
The FMC’s ex: the reveal that she’d been stalking him? Priceless. Her leaving the MMC to go back to her ex? Let’s fucking go. But then you’re telling me that one baby threat from the MMC is enough for the same woman who followed and stalked her ex all the way to New York to suddenly move on from the love of her life? I wasn’t buying it.
Then there’s the MMC’s ex-girlfriend. She was built up so much that I was convinced there was some huge mystery surrounding her and Max. But in the end… we don’t even meet her. We don’t get any confrontation with the FMC. We were robbed. After all that buildup, it gets wrapped up with a weak “I didn’t love her, I love you.” It felt like she existed purely to create last-minute drama. I get that she was supposed to trigger the FMC’s jealousy and make her realize she’s possessive too, but it just felt unnecessary.
I could absolutely see myself falling head over heels for this book because the premise was genuinely unique. Unfortunately, I think the writing just needed a little more consistency and tightening. Too many characters and plot threads were built up and teased, only to be sidelined or wrapped up far too quickly.
I’d still love to see what the author comes up with next!
It took me a while to finish and rate this book. At one point, I was ready to DNF it, but then it got so exciting that I was like, hell yeah, this is a solid 4 stars for sure… and then it started going downhill again.
Anywaaay, here are the book’s highs and lows. Spoilers ahead!
Highs:
•Max Cooper, the MMC, had almost all the makings of a beautifully complex antihero. First off, my man genuinely cannot comprehend why the FMC would ever want to leave him when he is God’s gift to women. “I’m attractive, intelligent, and fucking rich… I can give you everything you want. So what’s the problem? What more do you want?” I’m pretty sure he wrote Ariana Grande’s i want it i got it line. The second he saw Lila, she was his whether she wanted it or not.
•I never knew I needed the FMC-is-in-love-with-another-man plot in my life until now. Pair that with an obsessed MMC? I was sooooo ready.
Lows:
•Sooo… this is awkward. I have to admit that even though Max had so much potential to make it into the unhinged-but-I’d-still-let-him-breed-me MMC Hall of Fame, he just couldn’t quite make the cut. Which surprised me because he had all the ingredients of an MMC that readers go absolutely feral for: heartbreaking backstory? Check. Manipulative? Check. Takes whatever he wants and does whatever the hell he pleases? Check. Absolutely obsessed? Check. Sweet and babies the FMC? Check. And the holy grail—cries and begs for the FMC? Dear Lord… check, check, and check.
But I found his character inconsistent. He started out so strong, and then it was like he randomly decided to take breaks from being unhinged and obsessive whenever the plot needed him to. I think what separates the truly unforgettable dark romance MMCs from the rest is how unapologetic and consistent they are when it comes to the FMC and the lengths they’re willing to go for her.
•The FMC also felt like she was being written by two or three different people. She goes from babe-with-a-backbone to horny girl with amnesia from one chapter to the next. I kid you not, as I’m writing this, I genuinely can’t remember anything interesting about her besides the fact that she paints—and even that felt like the book forgot about it halfway through.
•The POV was a bit challenging to get into. I already have a personal beef with third-person POV because it tends to pull me out of the moment, but this one took it a step further by constantly giving us random glimpses into the heads of secondary characters. It was so jarring. Every time it switched, I kept thinking this person is about to become important, but nope—it usually amounted to absolutely nothing. Like that random guard suddenly noticing how attractive the FMC was… what was that even for? It felt like the book kept teasing plot threads that never actually went anywhere.
•I usually hate other woman/man drama, but when it’s done right, it adds the kind of tension that takes a plot from meh to OH MY GOD WHAT A RUSH. Here, we had two exes, which could’ve been milked for all the delicious drama they were worth, but they both ended up making me go… huh?
The FMC’s ex: the reveal that she’d been stalking him? Priceless. Her leaving the MMC to go back to her ex? Let’s fucking go. But then you’re telling me that one baby threat from the MMC is enough for the same woman who followed and stalked her ex all the way to New York to suddenly move on from the love of her life? I wasn’t buying it.
Then there’s the MMC’s ex-girlfriend. She was built up so much that I was convinced there was some huge mystery surrounding her and Max. But in the end… we don’t even meet her. We don’t get any confrontation with the FMC. We were robbed. After all that buildup, it gets wrapped up with a weak “I didn’t love her, I love you.” It felt like she existed purely to create last-minute drama. I get that she was supposed to trigger the FMC’s jealousy and make her realize she’s possessive too, but it just felt unnecessary.
I could absolutely see myself falling head over heels for this book because the premise was genuinely unique. Unfortunately, I think the writing just needed a little more consistency and tightening. Too many characters and plot threads were built up and teased, only to be sidelined or wrapped up far too quickly.
I’d still love to see what the author comes up with next!
June 28, 2026
Check your trigger warnings before picking this one up. This is a true dark romantic suspense with themes of non-con, captivity, emotional manipulation, assault, addiction, and obsessive control. It is not a light read.
This book put me through an emotional rollercoaster.
At first, I absolutely could not stand Max. He’s an egotistical psychopath who genuinely believes he’s untouchable like he’s God himself, and that money can solve every problem. Once he decides Lila belongs to him, that’s it. Her opinions don’t matter. Her choices don’t matter. In his mind, she’s his, and he’s not letting her go no matter what she wants.
Then somewhere along the way… Lila started getting on my nerves too.
But despite how toxic they are, their chemistry is ridiculously addictive. The nonstop “I hate you… but I can’t stay away from you” banter had me completely hooked. Every interaction was packed with tension, and even when they were at each other’s throats, you couldn’t help but keep turning the pages to see who would crack first.
The deeper the story went, the more everything started making sense. Both Max and Lila came from incredibly traumatic childhoods, and while it doesn’t excuse their actions, it gives you a better understanding of why they are the way they are. Finding out why Lila moved to New York in the first place completely changed how I viewed her character and had me questioning everything I thought I knew about her.
Max truly believes money can buy anything, and for the most part, it does. He even manages to buy over Lila’s grandmother, who treats Lila like she owes her for simply being raised. And don’t even get me started on her slimy uncle. That whole situation made my blood boil.
Ironically, it’s after that horrific assault that Lila finally realizes she’s fallen for Max. Instead of running, she calls him to help clean up the mess, and in that moment it really drives home that, twisted as it is, she was always meant for him. They’re both damaged in ways that somehow fit together, making their relationship as disturbing as it is fascinating.
The chemistry is addictive, the psychological tension never lets up, and while the spice sits around a 3/5, it’s the obsessive mind games and emotional manipulation that steal the show.
The ending did feel a little rushed, but at the same time I think making it any longer would’ve started to drag, so it ultimately worked.
If you enjoy morally black characters, obsessive antiheroes, toxic relationships, and dark romance that makes you question your own sanity while reading, Just You and Me definitely delivers.
And yep… guess what? I still don’t like Max. 🤷🏻♀️😂
This book put me through an emotional rollercoaster.
At first, I absolutely could not stand Max. He’s an egotistical psychopath who genuinely believes he’s untouchable like he’s God himself, and that money can solve every problem. Once he decides Lila belongs to him, that’s it. Her opinions don’t matter. Her choices don’t matter. In his mind, she’s his, and he’s not letting her go no matter what she wants.
Then somewhere along the way… Lila started getting on my nerves too.
But despite how toxic they are, their chemistry is ridiculously addictive. The nonstop “I hate you… but I can’t stay away from you” banter had me completely hooked. Every interaction was packed with tension, and even when they were at each other’s throats, you couldn’t help but keep turning the pages to see who would crack first.
The deeper the story went, the more everything started making sense. Both Max and Lila came from incredibly traumatic childhoods, and while it doesn’t excuse their actions, it gives you a better understanding of why they are the way they are. Finding out why Lila moved to New York in the first place completely changed how I viewed her character and had me questioning everything I thought I knew about her.
Max truly believes money can buy anything, and for the most part, it does. He even manages to buy over Lila’s grandmother, who treats Lila like she owes her for simply being raised. And don’t even get me started on her slimy uncle. That whole situation made my blood boil.
Ironically, it’s after that horrific assault that Lila finally realizes she’s fallen for Max. Instead of running, she calls him to help clean up the mess, and in that moment it really drives home that, twisted as it is, she was always meant for him. They’re both damaged in ways that somehow fit together, making their relationship as disturbing as it is fascinating.
The chemistry is addictive, the psychological tension never lets up, and while the spice sits around a 3/5, it’s the obsessive mind games and emotional manipulation that steal the show.
The ending did feel a little rushed, but at the same time I think making it any longer would’ve started to drag, so it ultimately worked.
If you enjoy morally black characters, obsessive antiheroes, toxic relationships, and dark romance that makes you question your own sanity while reading, Just You and Me definitely delivers.
And yep… guess what? I still don’t like Max. 🤷🏻♀️😂
July 24, 2026
I managed to finish this book. But this book is where we should have the line in the context of "dark romance".
He rapes her, and not even once.
He offers her money to fuck that she declines. Then he rapes her.
When they encounter again, he rapes her few times more (even when she was sleeping) when she was drugged.
I continued reading because I patiently waited for him to come to his senses, but he never did. She always asked him to be gentle when they are having sex but he never was gentle. When she said "You raped me," to him, he never meaningfully apologizes. So, where the fuck is the line? Their relationship was never improved throughout the book. He did not change even a tiny bit. This book is just disappointment.
He rapes her, and not even once.
He offers her money to fuck that she declines. Then he rapes her.
When they encounter again, he rapes her few times more (even when she was sleeping) when she was drugged.
I continued reading because I patiently waited for him to come to his senses, but he never did. She always asked him to be gentle when they are having sex but he never was gentle. When she said "You raped me," to him, he never meaningfully apologizes. So, where the fuck is the line? Their relationship was never improved throughout the book. He did not change even a tiny bit. This book is just disappointment.
August 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️ ————— Under better writing, this could’ve been a masterpiece but unfortunately, it turned out to be a wasted potential. The plot was good and everything I seek in a dark romance, but the execution failed massively. The setting of the characters in the beginning gave me hope, but later turned into a whiplash, what with all the constant shifts in writing and story. Nevertheless, gave it 2 stars cuz I enjoyed the beginning of the story and the spice.
November 10, 2026
❤️🔥 Enjoyment : 4/5
📜 Prose : 3.5/5
📝 Plot : 4/5
👥 Characters : 4/5
I quite enjoyed it for the most part.
Max (36-37) and Lila (26) meet when she works as a server at a luxury lounge, where he save her from an attempted rape by one of his business partners in the alleyway.
I find this part inconsistent and poorly written: a few days after Max saves Lila from being raped, he returns to her workplace and rapes her in one of the rooms. While I suspected Max’s intentions when he showed interest in her during their first meeting, I did not expect him to follow through with such an act. The transition from gentlemanly behavior to outright rape felt unconvincing. If he had treated her poorly from the start, his descent into that route would have been more believable.
I feel like this would have been stronger with more buildup to Max's obsession with Lila. His fixation on her falls like a compulsive need to fixate on something than a genuine love for her. He seems to like her simply because she fits a type: petite, nice legs, cute and sexy, long black hair. He was with another girl before Lila, a drugged-out stripper with similar physical traits as Lila when she met Max.
Max grew up with an abusive father, whose cruelty drove him into a spiral of drug use during his early years. His dad literally locked him in a dog cage and treated the family dog better than his own son. At 14, Max was sent to military school and then abandoned by his family, left to fend for himself until he completed rehab and returned to work for his father. He slowly worked his way up within his dad's company, only to sell it out of pure spite. He is somewhat nerdy, though this aspect of his character remains largely undeveloped, touched on in only a few pages.
Lila is an aspiring artist whose work centers on two themes: portraits of her ex-boyfriend, Jake, and horror-inspired abstracts (I can't remember exactly but some of her arts were described as scary). In the beginning of the book, the reason behind her sudden move to New York a year ago remains a mystery, though Max discovers the truth long before we do. Lila also has obsessive behaviors, having stalked Jake to New York after he left for med school, following the end of their four-year relationship, which Jake initiated due to her toxic conduct.
Lila was raised by a single mother who gave birth to her at 17. Lila’s childhood was shaped by her mom's series of abusive partners. After her mom's death, Lila moved in with her grandma. It was not until much later in the book that she learned her mom had been sexually abused by her own brother. That same uncle attempted to assault Lila during a Christmas visit to her grandma's house. When he confessed to abusing her mom, Lila, consumed by rage, stabbed him in the kitchen. She called Max for help, and in the aftermath, they bonded over the trauma. Their relationship solidified in that moment, culminating in Lila finally telling Max that she loved him.
Both unhinged in their own right, their lives shaped by their obsessions, Max and Lila are destined to be together. However, I dislike how they meet, with Lila essentially succumbing to Stockholm syndrome and capitulating to Max out of desperation for money and survival.
Max dialogue feels so juvenile at times. “Say it, don’t spray it” is one juvenile thing Max said to his 40+ year-old brother during a heated argument. His dialogue with Lila also comes off childish.
📜 Prose : 3.5/5
📝 Plot : 4/5
👥 Characters : 4/5
I quite enjoyed it for the most part.
Max (36-37) and Lila (26) meet when she works as a server at a luxury lounge, where he save her from an attempted rape by one of his business partners in the alleyway.
I find this part inconsistent and poorly written: a few days after Max saves Lila from being raped, he returns to her workplace and rapes her in one of the rooms. While I suspected Max’s intentions when he showed interest in her during their first meeting, I did not expect him to follow through with such an act. The transition from gentlemanly behavior to outright rape felt unconvincing. If he had treated her poorly from the start, his descent into that route would have been more believable.
I feel like this would have been stronger with more buildup to Max's obsession with Lila. His fixation on her falls like a compulsive need to fixate on something than a genuine love for her. He seems to like her simply because she fits a type: petite, nice legs, cute and sexy, long black hair. He was with another girl before Lila, a drugged-out stripper with similar physical traits as Lila when she met Max.
Max grew up with an abusive father, whose cruelty drove him into a spiral of drug use during his early years. His dad literally locked him in a dog cage and treated the family dog better than his own son. At 14, Max was sent to military school and then abandoned by his family, left to fend for himself until he completed rehab and returned to work for his father. He slowly worked his way up within his dad's company, only to sell it out of pure spite. He is somewhat nerdy, though this aspect of his character remains largely undeveloped, touched on in only a few pages.
Lila is an aspiring artist whose work centers on two themes: portraits of her ex-boyfriend, Jake, and horror-inspired abstracts (I can't remember exactly but some of her arts were described as scary). In the beginning of the book, the reason behind her sudden move to New York a year ago remains a mystery, though Max discovers the truth long before we do. Lila also has obsessive behaviors, having stalked Jake to New York after he left for med school, following the end of their four-year relationship, which Jake initiated due to her toxic conduct.
Lila was raised by a single mother who gave birth to her at 17. Lila’s childhood was shaped by her mom's series of abusive partners. After her mom's death, Lila moved in with her grandma. It was not until much later in the book that she learned her mom had been sexually abused by her own brother. That same uncle attempted to assault Lila during a Christmas visit to her grandma's house. When he confessed to abusing her mom, Lila, consumed by rage, stabbed him in the kitchen. She called Max for help, and in the aftermath, they bonded over the trauma. Their relationship solidified in that moment, culminating in Lila finally telling Max that she loved him.
Both unhinged in their own right, their lives shaped by their obsessions, Max and Lila are destined to be together. However, I dislike how they meet, with Lila essentially succumbing to Stockholm syndrome and capitulating to Max out of desperation for money and survival.
Max dialogue feels so juvenile at times. “Say it, don’t spray it” is one juvenile thing Max said to his 40+ year-old brother during a heated argument. His dialogue with Lila also comes off childish.
June 27, 2026
✨🌹Just You and Me by Honey Summers | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5) | Physical Book🌹✨
I'll be honest — warming up to Max Cooper was not easy, and I think that's entirely the point. When a man's idea of courtship involves holding someone against their will, you're not exactly rooting for him right out of the gate. His obsession with Lila reads as unhinged from page one. Understanding where that need for control comes from — his upbringing, a father who clearly did a number on him — gave me context, but it didn't excuse him. It just made him complicated in a way that kept me reading. And then the swooning started 🎁
Here’s the thing about Max Cooper: when he decides to pursue someone, he goes ALL in. The extravagant gifts, the overseas trip, the way he dismantles every barrier Lila puts up with patience and intention — it was genuinely hard not to melt a little, even when I knew I should be side-eyeing him. The chemistry between he and Lila is relentless and electric, and the spice level in this book is not playing around. Honey Summers gave her all on this one! 🌶️
Lila's transformation was the real gut-punch for me. She fights him — hard — for so long, and watching her slowly reckon with what she actually feels versus what she thinks she should feel was messy and real and kind of compelling. By the end, she is just as gone as he is, and somehow it just it works.
My one wish: I would have LOVED more page time around the engagement and wedding. I wanted to sit in those moments longer. But the ending, with both of them finally saying what they feel, was everything ❤️🔥
Max goes from villain to something that starts to look a lot like a hero by the final chapters, and I won't say more than that. You'll know it when you get there 😉
If you love dark romance that doesn't apologize for what it is — read with the trigger warnings in mind and then buckle up! 📖
If Just You and Me is on your radar and you're looking to connect with other dark romance readers, drop a 🖤 in the comments or slide into my dms — I'm helping spread the word for this author and would love to connect the right readers with this book!
⚠️ dark romance — trigger warnings: Confinement (captivity) / Cursing / Death / Sexual violence / Emotional abuse / Murder / Rape / Sexual assault / Sexual content / Addiction / Drug use / Physical abuse / Sexual harassment / Stalking / Toxic relationship
A big thank you to Honey Summers for the opportunity to read and review her gifted book!
I'll be honest — warming up to Max Cooper was not easy, and I think that's entirely the point. When a man's idea of courtship involves holding someone against their will, you're not exactly rooting for him right out of the gate. His obsession with Lila reads as unhinged from page one. Understanding where that need for control comes from — his upbringing, a father who clearly did a number on him — gave me context, but it didn't excuse him. It just made him complicated in a way that kept me reading. And then the swooning started 🎁
Here’s the thing about Max Cooper: when he decides to pursue someone, he goes ALL in. The extravagant gifts, the overseas trip, the way he dismantles every barrier Lila puts up with patience and intention — it was genuinely hard not to melt a little, even when I knew I should be side-eyeing him. The chemistry between he and Lila is relentless and electric, and the spice level in this book is not playing around. Honey Summers gave her all on this one! 🌶️
Lila's transformation was the real gut-punch for me. She fights him — hard — for so long, and watching her slowly reckon with what she actually feels versus what she thinks she should feel was messy and real and kind of compelling. By the end, she is just as gone as he is, and somehow it just it works.
My one wish: I would have LOVED more page time around the engagement and wedding. I wanted to sit in those moments longer. But the ending, with both of them finally saying what they feel, was everything ❤️🔥
Max goes from villain to something that starts to look a lot like a hero by the final chapters, and I won't say more than that. You'll know it when you get there 😉
If you love dark romance that doesn't apologize for what it is — read with the trigger warnings in mind and then buckle up! 📖
If Just You and Me is on your radar and you're looking to connect with other dark romance readers, drop a 🖤 in the comments or slide into my dms — I'm helping spread the word for this author and would love to connect the right readers with this book!
⚠️ dark romance — trigger warnings: Confinement (captivity) / Cursing / Death / Sexual violence / Emotional abuse / Murder / Rape / Sexual assault / Sexual content / Addiction / Drug use / Physical abuse / Sexual harassment / Stalking / Toxic relationship
A big thank you to Honey Summers for the opportunity to read and review her gifted book!
June 18, 2026
A dark romance done right! Max and Lila’s relationship is the definition of both disturbing and alluring (please read the trigger warning before reading). Their connection is anything but normal, and while it begins under questionable circumstances, there’s something undeniably addictive about them. Both characters had an unstable upbringing that ultimately shaped them into the people they are currently. Somehow amidst the chaos in their life, they found comfort in one another.
Their relationship was intense from the very beginning. Max’s fixation on Lila grew into a dangerous kind of devotion. It both terrified and captivates Lila. Although she fights her growing feelings towards Max, he repeatedly proves just how deeply he adores her. But what makes their dynamic even more intriguing, Lila isn’t so innocent herself. She carries her own dark secrets that unfolds throughout the story.
As the story progressed, Lila’s character undergoes a surprising transformation. The girl who once fought her feelings evolved into someone willing to do morally questionable things to protect her relationship with Max. Unexpectedly, her obsession begins to mirror Max’s. The ending did leave me with more questions than answers. I wanted to see how far Lila would go for Max. I also felt like Kayley had more to add to the story. Her character at one point seemed significant, but she was hardly present and I am curious to see how her role would’ve developed.
What I loved most about this book is how it explored the blurred lines of love, obsession, and devotion. The tension between Max and Lila was captivating and left me eager for more. Don’t even get me started on the spice! Thank you to Honey Summers for sending me a copy of your book! I am so happy to have found another dark romance author whose writing both captivates and unsettles me in the best way possible.
Their relationship was intense from the very beginning. Max’s fixation on Lila grew into a dangerous kind of devotion. It both terrified and captivates Lila. Although she fights her growing feelings towards Max, he repeatedly proves just how deeply he adores her. But what makes their dynamic even more intriguing, Lila isn’t so innocent herself. She carries her own dark secrets that unfolds throughout the story.
As the story progressed, Lila’s character undergoes a surprising transformation. The girl who once fought her feelings evolved into someone willing to do morally questionable things to protect her relationship with Max. Unexpectedly, her obsession begins to mirror Max’s. The ending did leave me with more questions than answers. I wanted to see how far Lila would go for Max. I also felt like Kayley had more to add to the story. Her character at one point seemed significant, but she was hardly present and I am curious to see how her role would’ve developed.
What I loved most about this book is how it explored the blurred lines of love, obsession, and devotion. The tension between Max and Lila was captivating and left me eager for more. Don’t even get me started on the spice! Thank you to Honey Summers for sending me a copy of your book! I am so happy to have found another dark romance author whose writing both captivates and unsettles me in the best way possible.
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September 28, 2026Well… I can officially say I’ve read my first dark romance.
And after reading JUST YOU AND ME by Honey Summers, I can also officially say that I probably should have done a little more research into what exactly I was signing myself up for.
I knew dark romance could be, well… dark. But I don’t think I fully understood just how broad the genre is or how many tropes fall under that umbrella. I spent a lottt of this book googling things because I kept coming across tropes I had literally never heard of before.
Max and Lila are both completely unhinged in their own ways. Toxic. Obsessive. More than morally questionable. Possibly psychopaths. Honestly, these two deserve each other.
There were SO many tropes in this book that just aren’t for me, and I really struggled with the non-consensual aspects of the story. I understand that for dark romance readers, part of the appeal is being able to explore these darker fantasies and situations within the controlled space of a fictional story. And I can absolutely understand why that works for some readers.
It just turns out that for me… it was A LOT.
BUT — I read this book in less than three days, so clearly something kept me turning the pages. The story was engaging, Max and Lila were completely unpredictable, and I genuinely needed to know where this was going.
I’m not giving this book a star rating because, honestly, I don’t think I’m the right person to rate a dark romance when I’ve learned that so many of the genre’s defining elements just aren’t for me.
So, my official takeaway from my first dark romance experience:
Was it for me? No.
Did Max and Lila completely consume the plot? Absolutely.
Did I finish it in less than three days? Also absolutely.
Will I be diving head first into dark romance now? Probably not.
Thank you to Honey Summers for sending me a gifted copy of JUST YOU AND ME to read and review! 🖤
And after reading JUST YOU AND ME by Honey Summers, I can also officially say that I probably should have done a little more research into what exactly I was signing myself up for.
I knew dark romance could be, well… dark. But I don’t think I fully understood just how broad the genre is or how many tropes fall under that umbrella. I spent a lottt of this book googling things because I kept coming across tropes I had literally never heard of before.
Max and Lila are both completely unhinged in their own ways. Toxic. Obsessive. More than morally questionable. Possibly psychopaths. Honestly, these two deserve each other.
There were SO many tropes in this book that just aren’t for me, and I really struggled with the non-consensual aspects of the story. I understand that for dark romance readers, part of the appeal is being able to explore these darker fantasies and situations within the controlled space of a fictional story. And I can absolutely understand why that works for some readers.
It just turns out that for me… it was A LOT.
BUT — I read this book in less than three days, so clearly something kept me turning the pages. The story was engaging, Max and Lila were completely unpredictable, and I genuinely needed to know where this was going.
I’m not giving this book a star rating because, honestly, I don’t think I’m the right person to rate a dark romance when I’ve learned that so many of the genre’s defining elements just aren’t for me.
So, my official takeaway from my first dark romance experience:
Was it for me? No.
Did Max and Lila completely consume the plot? Absolutely.
Did I finish it in less than three days? Also absolutely.
Will I be diving head first into dark romance now? Probably not.
Thank you to Honey Summers for sending me a gifted copy of JUST YOU AND ME to read and review! 🖤
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November 12, 2026The writing is good- I think this author is talented but the rape man…
When I say I read dark, I read darkkkk. I read Ao3 ffs.
But the way the mc literally just rapes the fmc in this- and the way it’s written is truely pretty foul.
Usually there is a reason/point to scenes where consent isn’t given/ dubiously given- but this has no rhyme or reason behind it. I think this “relationship” could’ve gone about in a different way - or- at least the mc (since we have his introspective POV) could feel SOMETHING. Like literally he seemed like an absolute piece of work- and I get the disclaimers and warnings sure sure but even as an example- Deathsdoll’s mcs- who are pretty dark and unredeemable- have some kind of purpose for what they do and it stems from something deep that they emotionally or philosophically face.
This guy, Max, really had no purpose other than she has “good tits and ass.” And the FMC literally is traumatised after. And I mean 10k?! Seriously dude?!?? ONLY TEN K?! Hahahahha jail. But yeah, i dont know man. This truely felt like appalling non consent in the worst way.
When I say I read dark, I read darkkkk. I read Ao3 ffs.
But the way the mc literally just rapes the fmc in this- and the way it’s written is truely pretty foul.
Usually there is a reason/point to scenes where consent isn’t given/ dubiously given- but this has no rhyme or reason behind it. I think this “relationship” could’ve gone about in a different way - or- at least the mc (since we have his introspective POV) could feel SOMETHING. Like literally he seemed like an absolute piece of work- and I get the disclaimers and warnings sure sure but even as an example- Deathsdoll’s mcs- who are pretty dark and unredeemable- have some kind of purpose for what they do and it stems from something deep that they emotionally or philosophically face.
This guy, Max, really had no purpose other than she has “good tits and ass.” And the FMC literally is traumatised after. And I mean 10k?! Seriously dude?!?? ONLY TEN K?! Hahahahha jail. But yeah, i dont know man. This truely felt like appalling non consent in the worst way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2026
I actually liked this from start to end. I didn’t want to put it down. A dark contemporary romance with a rich male lead who can’t get the female lead out of his head at first sight and a female lead who is in love with her ex.
The obsession leads to non con and blackmailing the female lead for sex and a relationship. The female lead doesn’t love him back and the male lead explodes when he finds out she goes back to her ex.
However, eventually the male lead does get everything he wants including her love. He doesn’t abruptly change from the bad guy to the good guy. He stays morally grey from start to end. The romance was just so solid.
I wish the smut was spicy. It was just there, not good not bad.
I also wish there was a pregnancy arc to really take the male lead’s obsession further.
The male lead’s brother’s (Matt) arc also faded too easily. I was wondering if Matt would try and organize a kidnapping of the female lead for his revenge and see the male lead go crazy that he can’t find her but disappointingly that didn’t happen.
Wouldn’t mind rereading this
The obsession leads to non con and blackmailing the female lead for sex and a relationship. The female lead doesn’t love him back and the male lead explodes when he finds out she goes back to her ex.
However, eventually the male lead does get everything he wants including her love. He doesn’t abruptly change from the bad guy to the good guy. He stays morally grey from start to end. The romance was just so solid.
I wish the smut was spicy. It was just there, not good not bad.
I also wish there was a pregnancy arc to really take the male lead’s obsession further.
The male lead’s brother’s (Matt) arc also faded too easily. I was wondering if Matt would try and organize a kidnapping of the female lead for his revenge and see the male lead go crazy that he can’t find her but disappointingly that didn’t happen.
Wouldn’t mind rereading this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2026
Lila’s at work, serving drinks like always, when she has to wait on a table of rowdy businessmen. One of them attempts to follow her home, but suddenly a good Samaritan stops him. Except Max is not really a good guy after all — he just wants Lila for himself. After being unable to forget about her, he arranges to sexually assault her by ‘paying’ for her at the club without her knowledge. Lila is furious and degraded, but this makes Max realize that he has feelings for her. The problem is that Lila hates him now. He attempts to charm and woo her with money and gifts, all of which she spurns until he gives them both a time limit after which she gets a payout. Lila reluctantly accepts the arrangement and counts down the days until she can reunite with her ex. Hopefully Max doesn’t find out about that… he can be a little psycho sometimes.
Right up my alley. Possessive, obsessive, doesn’t understand no. Really good spicy scenes too, you can tell how much Max really likes Lila and he is completely forthcoming with his feelings.
Right up my alley. Possessive, obsessive, doesn’t understand no. Really good spicy scenes too, you can tell how much Max really likes Lila and he is completely forthcoming with his feelings.
October 15, 2026
This Book Gave ME Stockholm and I Love It
Okay, hear me out!
First: This is a DARK romance with morally gray/black characters. Read the warnings. It is non-consensual!
But the deeper you go, the more you will realize not everything is as it seems. These are two humans with messed-up pasts and messed-up heads. But dangggggg, they are addictive to read about.
Around halfway through the book, my whole perspective on them changed. They're truly made for each other.
I'm so obsessed with their relationship.
Also… this book is so spicy, you're gonna need a good glass of milk on hand at all times.
I really enjoyed the way Summers switches povs so subtly because it kinda messed with my head. And I had no idea spice could be written with so many different words 😆. The vocabulary range in the spice scenes is a bit magical.
Seriously hope to see more from this author in the future.
Okay, hear me out!
First: This is a DARK romance with morally gray/black characters. Read the warnings. It is non-consensual!
But the deeper you go, the more you will realize not everything is as it seems. These are two humans with messed-up pasts and messed-up heads. But dangggggg, they are addictive to read about.
Around halfway through the book, my whole perspective on them changed. They're truly made for each other.
I'm so obsessed with their relationship.
Also… this book is so spicy, you're gonna need a good glass of milk on hand at all times.
I really enjoyed the way Summers switches povs so subtly because it kinda messed with my head. And I had no idea spice could be written with so many different words 😆. The vocabulary range in the spice scenes is a bit magical.
Seriously hope to see more from this author in the future.
July 5, 2026
Really liked this one. Felt well written. Only complaint is that some of the details and history didn’t feel essential to the plot. Lilac never ever had to worry about the aftermath of Sean’s death and didn’t have any negative thoughts or feelings afterward? Max’s addiction was never an issue while they were together or shortly after he got sober? What comes of lilah’s career as an artist? She only paints in 2 scenes. How did lilah go from I like him a lot to completely obsessed? Her actions with her ex only showed up once with max in their relationship and she just drops it after one conversation after online stalking this girl for months? I’d love to give it 4 stars because I actually really liked max and lilah together and could see the romance in the dark romance but there are things that shifted abruptly or weren’t fleshed out all the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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