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Saving Jessie's Girl
She may be my brother’s girl... but she’s mine
Benji
My voice was stolen from me years ago. Silence is all I’ve known ever since.
Until her.
She understands sign language, and for the first time, someone actually hears me.
There’s just one problem.
She’s my brother’s girlfriend.
No matter how badly he hurts her, she won’t leave him. Even when she’s falling apart in my arms, we break together.
We both know this has to end.
But I’m not ready to walk away.
Which means there’s only one thing left to do... I have to save Jessie’s girl.
Saving Jessie’s Girl is a dark romance loosely inspired by a hit song. It’s part of the Dark Hits series—an ongoing collection of standalone stories.
Benji
My voice was stolen from me years ago. Silence is all I’ve known ever since.
Until her.
She understands sign language, and for the first time, someone actually hears me.
There’s just one problem.
She’s my brother’s girlfriend.
No matter how badly he hurts her, she won’t leave him. Even when she’s falling apart in my arms, we break together.
We both know this has to end.
But I’m not ready to walk away.
Which means there’s only one thing left to do... I have to save Jessie’s girl.
Saving Jessie’s Girl is a dark romance loosely inspired by a hit song. It’s part of the Dark Hits series—an ongoing collection of standalone stories.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2026
About the author
Lauren Biel
40 books5,658 followersLauren’s stories are often emotionally raw, with lots of twists and turns. She describes her writing as “where light meets dark”, which represents how her witty humor compliments the darkness in every story. Instead of trying to mold her writing to fit in a box, she chooses to be unapologetically herself. While her focus is on Romance with dark elements, subgenre is no constraint for her. The common theme in every book is finding love when you least expect it. She enjoys putting her characters through tribulations, allowing their triumphs to be that much more poignant. Make sure you have your seatbelts secured. It’s always a bumpy ride.
When she’s not working, she’s writing. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her husband, her friends, or her pets. You might also find her on a horseback trail ride or sitting beside a waterfall in Upstate New York. She has a pretty normal life, yet her stories are anything but.
When she’s not working, she’s writing. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her husband, her friends, or her pets. You might also find her on a horseback trail ride or sitting beside a waterfall in Upstate New York. She has a pretty normal life, yet her stories are anything but.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 448 reviews
June 3, 2026
ARC REVIEW
This book had my heart racing and my eyes leaking.
This book is about domestic violence and can be triggering to not only those who have survived it, but also for the loved ones of the victim.
Twin brothers Jesse and Benji are gorgeous; Jesse has anger issues and is full of violence, while Benji suffers from trauma and is a kind soul. Emmy is a sweet lady but has a criminal record.
Emmy falls for Jesse, and Benji falls for Emmy. Jesse is scum and doesn’t deserve Emmy or her kindness; he mentally, verbally, and physically abuses her over and over again. Benji witnesses some of the abuse and tries to get Emmy to leave. Will she leave Jesse, or will he be her death sentence?
This was another difficult read for me. It’s crazy to think that characters like Jesse exist in real life. Some people only feel better about themselves when they take power away from others. From one survivor to the next, please get out! I’m so glad I chose this book. I loved the ending! 
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review!
This book had my heart racing and my eyes leaking.
This book is about domestic violence and can be triggering to not only those who have survived it, but also for the loved ones of the victim.
Twin brothers Jesse and Benji are gorgeous; Jesse has anger issues and is full of violence, while Benji suffers from trauma and is a kind soul. Emmy is a sweet lady but has a criminal record.
Emmy falls for Jesse, and Benji falls for Emmy. Jesse is scum and doesn’t deserve Emmy or her kindness; he mentally, verbally, and physically abuses her over and over again. Benji witnesses some of the abuse and tries to get Emmy to leave. Will she leave Jesse, or will he be her death sentence?
This was another difficult read for me. It’s crazy to think that characters like Jesse exist in real life. Some people only feel better about themselves when they take power away from others. From one survivor to the next, please get out! I’m so glad I chose this book. I loved the ending! 
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review!
May 1, 2026
4.5 ✨
I was lucky and caught the ARC on booksirens. Yay me.
I couldn't put it down, I was so rooting for these two 😭.
Read the triggers, since the story is full of trauma. ()
I would have liked a second extended epilogue, with them down the road of life, but this is just me getting greedy.
what to expect
- complete standalone
- not sure what their ages are, but I think they are close in age
- trauma, trauma, trauma, in both their lives
- no trigger related to food, so thank you Lauren for that 😂
- HEA
I was lucky and caught the ARC on booksirens. Yay me.
I couldn't put it down, I was so rooting for these two 😭.
Read the triggers, since the story is full of trauma. ()
I would have liked a second extended epilogue, with them down the road of life, but this is just me getting greedy.
what to expect
- complete standalone
- not sure what their ages are, but I think they are close in age
- trauma, trauma, trauma, in both their lives
- no trigger related to food, so thank you Lauren for that 😂
- HEA
May 22, 2026
Saving Jessie’s Girl had some dark themes throughout. Jessie himself was a walking, talking red flag, but his twin Benji has a painful past history, and reason he became mute, something traumatic happened to him but it turned him into more of an empath with Emmy than to Jessie’s viciousness. Jessie was just the bad seed of the twins and Emmy sure paid the price. I wish the friendship that blossomed between Benji and Emmy was explored more. Went from attraction to empathy to sex in a whirlwind. This is a me thing, I enjoy the buildup to something more than the actual something happening. I took authors advice and sang Rick Springfields Jessie’s Girl as I was reading and it took the sting out of some of the violent scenes. Check your own triggers responsibly, he beats and his savagery is hard to read. I’ve enjoyed this authors past books enough that her name pops up relatively easy in my old lady memory so I’ll definitely keep her stories on my watch list. Thank to BookSirens for the ARC, as always these thoughts and opinions are my own. Take them with a grain of salt.
May 15, 2026
2.5/5 stars 2.5/5 spice
I struggled with this, it just wasn’t for me unfortunately. There was a lot of domestic violence and not enough justice. Emmy was trapped and Benji had a blood loyalty to his brother.
Emmy found herself in difficult situations throughout most of the story. She ignored so many red flags with everyone. I definitely felt bad for her and was eagerly awaiting for her to get her revenge. Benji did what he could to warn and protect her.
Benji had his own demons that had taken away his voice. His backstory was just tragic. The trauma that he and Emmy carried bonded them closer together. Their friendship turned to love too quickly for me, I enjoy it more when there’s depth. I just didn’t connect with either MC in the end.
- Dark romance
- Brother’s girlfriend
- Trauma mute MMC
- Pet kitten
- Trauma
- Secret hookups
I struggled with this, it just wasn’t for me unfortunately. There was a lot of domestic violence and not enough justice. Emmy was trapped and Benji had a blood loyalty to his brother.
Emmy found herself in difficult situations throughout most of the story. She ignored so many red flags with everyone. I definitely felt bad for her and was eagerly awaiting for her to get her revenge. Benji did what he could to warn and protect her.
Benji had his own demons that had taken away his voice. His backstory was just tragic. The trauma that he and Emmy carried bonded them closer together. Their friendship turned to love too quickly for me, I enjoy it more when there’s depth. I just didn’t connect with either MC in the end.
- Dark romance
- Brother’s girlfriend
- Trauma mute MMC
- Pet kitten
- Trauma
- Secret hookups
May 3, 2026
I had really high hopes for this one, but for me it fell flat. Maybe it was the violence, which has not bothered me before but maybe I wasn’t in the frame of mind for it. I did enjoy that one of the MC’s had a disability and it didn’t hinder him in any way.
July 24, 2026
Dark dark romance.
If you're new here, you are going to want to check those trigger warnings. ⚠️
Otherwise, Lauren is living up to her dark romance writing again in this book. Twins but one is good and one is awful. She gets the, you guessed it, awful one who appears great at first.
Overall I liked it, in real life- girl. Get the f*ck out of here. Run away. Don't look back. Go.
If you're new here, you are going to want to check those trigger warnings. ⚠️
Otherwise, Lauren is living up to her dark romance writing again in this book. Twins but one is good and one is awful. She gets the, you guessed it, awful one who appears great at first.
Overall I liked it, in real life- girl. Get the f*ck out of here. Run away. Don't look back. Go.
April 29, 2026
I manged to grab this from an Arc post.
And oh my god this book emotional destroyed me, for reading somone who is mute.. Broke me.
i dont know how lauren does this but this book will be on my roman empire list, I can't wait for more books like this🥺♠️
And oh my god this book emotional destroyed me, for reading somone who is mute.. Broke me.
i dont know how lauren does this but this book will be on my roman empire list, I can't wait for more books like this🥺♠️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
Ahhh 😭🥰 Lauren does it again
Reread on audio and incredible 🥰😭😭🙌10/10 highly recommend
Reread on audio and incredible 🥰😭😭🙌10/10 highly recommend
July 17, 2026
First of all, if you’re reading a Lauren Biel book, you probably know this already but pleaseeeee check your triggers before you read this. It’s dark, heavy and does NOT hold back on the topic of domestic abuse. With that being said, this book was heartbreakingly beautiful.
Benji, oh that beautiful broken and tortured soul, I loved him from the moment he was introduced on the page. He held the weight of SO much on his shoulders, trying to keep people safe from his monster of a brother, holding onto his demons from his abuse in his past, that stole his voice.
Emmy, another beautiful but tortured soul, still so full of life and trying to make the best of the shit life she’d been dealt.
Emmy was Jessie’s girl, at the cost of so much. Benji wanted her, loved her and needed to save her from his horrible brother.
I have not been in an abusive relationship, but from people I know, stories I’ve heard, documentaries I’ve watched, this felt like a very real portrayal of domestic abuse. The love bombing, the elaborate gifts, the “resting” period between hitting and belittling, taking control before you realize it and when you do it’s too late. Jessie stripped everything from Emmy, but Benji protected and saved her.
There was one thing about them being twins that I caught onto a bit before it was settled at the end and I’m so so glad Lauren went that way with it, I would have been upset if she had created that angle for herself and didn’t take it! It was brilliant.
The audio for this, both parts were played beautifully but Joe Arden delivered on another fucking level.
Benji, oh that beautiful broken and tortured soul, I loved him from the moment he was introduced on the page. He held the weight of SO much on his shoulders, trying to keep people safe from his monster of a brother, holding onto his demons from his abuse in his past, that stole his voice.
Emmy, another beautiful but tortured soul, still so full of life and trying to make the best of the shit life she’d been dealt.
Emmy was Jessie’s girl, at the cost of so much. Benji wanted her, loved her and needed to save her from his horrible brother.
I have not been in an abusive relationship, but from people I know, stories I’ve heard, documentaries I’ve watched, this felt like a very real portrayal of domestic abuse. The love bombing, the elaborate gifts, the “resting” period between hitting and belittling, taking control before you realize it and when you do it’s too late. Jessie stripped everything from Emmy, but Benji protected and saved her.
There was one thing about them being twins that I caught onto a bit before it was settled at the end and I’m so so glad Lauren went that way with it, I would have been upset if she had created that angle for herself and didn’t take it! It was brilliant.
The audio for this, both parts were played beautifully but Joe Arden delivered on another fucking level.
April 30, 2026
I received a surprise arc of this book, and having read a few of her books before I was excited to see what this one was about.
Nothing I love more than a bad boy down bad, and an epic revenge arc. It was a good, smutty read and heart pounding in a “can’t put this down and read in one sitting”
Nothing I love more than a bad boy down bad, and an epic revenge arc. It was a good, smutty read and heart pounding in a “can’t put this down and read in one sitting”
August 10, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This book was heavy... especially as someone who has experienced so much of what Emmy went through with Jessie, but it was also extremely healing for me to read. I just want to thank Lauren for not only writing this book and writing the experiences so we'll, but for giving us a safe space to heal from what we've gone through. What Emmy experienced was so well written, it almost felt like I was in the book living it with her. Lauren just has a way of making you feel so many emotions at once with her books. This is by far one of my favorite dark romance books I have read this year.
It was also extremely healing to know that Emmy and Benji both made it out alive, and lived a happy life afterwards. I would have maybe liked to hear more about how they moved forward and healed from all of the things Jessie put them through, but the book was absolutely incredible as it is.
This book was heavy... especially as someone who has experienced so much of what Emmy went through with Jessie, but it was also extremely healing for me to read. I just want to thank Lauren for not only writing this book and writing the experiences so we'll, but for giving us a safe space to heal from what we've gone through. What Emmy experienced was so well written, it almost felt like I was in the book living it with her. Lauren just has a way of making you feel so many emotions at once with her books. This is by far one of my favorite dark romance books I have read this year.
It was also extremely healing to know that Emmy and Benji both made it out alive, and lived a happy life afterwards. I would have maybe liked to hear more about how they moved forward and healed from all of the things Jessie put them through, but the book was absolutely incredible as it is.
July 6, 2026
3.5 ⭐️Outstanding audio performance, full of emotion from both Joe Arden and Andi Eloise. It’s definitely one I’d recommend listening to on audio rather than reading. As with many of Lauren Biel’s books, it’s very much what she calls a traumance, with seriously dark topics and heavy trauma woven throughout, so please check TWs if needed.
So yep, it’s dark, it’s spicy, and there’s light at the end. I do love a story where the piece‑of‑shit characters finally get what’s coming to them. That’s it ❤️🙌🏻
So yep, it’s dark, it’s spicy, and there’s light at the end. I do love a story where the piece‑of‑shit characters finally get what’s coming to them. That’s it ❤️🙌🏻
May 13, 2026
This was hard to read as I was once the person covered in bruises and looking for a way out.
People always ask why did you stay and never ask him why he thinks its OK for him to do it!
Time heals and scars fade but the mental and emotional abuse stays forever. Like a runner on the starting blocks waiting. Its always there at the edges of all new relationships wondering how long it will be until until you hear the sound of that starting pistol.
People always ask why did you stay and never ask him why he thinks its OK for him to do it!
Time heals and scars fade but the mental and emotional abuse stays forever. Like a runner on the starting blocks waiting. Its always there at the edges of all new relationships wondering how long it will be until until you hear the sound of that starting pistol.
July 18, 2026
Fvck Jesse girl, Benji Girl to the end
5.5⭐️ 3🌶️ 6🎧
Two broken souls that meet and they both had my heart and soul. What a dark and twisted world they both lived it . The emotional oil this book had on me , Ms. Lauren Biel, Miss ma’am what did you wrote will forever be in my memory for the most part of my life.
Benji had my car I was doing my best not to cry or what he had experienced as a child in any means I wanted to give her the sweetest hug and hold on. Tell her she’s a strong one you have to do what she had to do these two together were so broken, but they found each other in the best way possible even through the circumstances going through this book this book was wild. This book was dark and I loved it and I am just in awe.
Now, Please give me five minutes. With the brother in this book , would put me in a confinement because I want to go in this book and bam bam bam , to give me. You will not be able to find nothing because I was so livid with that character and I wanted to dispose the first time and he opened his mouth other than that that’s how my anger issues could never lol
Benji and Emmy both have our survivors and reading this book tells you what the emotions the trauma put you through and how it can make you stronger in so much ways. I’m glad they thought I’m glad they survived. Wroth the read.
This book was written so good and the audio both was so good. Andi Eloise and Joe Arden , both did amazing work their performance together was epic. I definitely need more of them together in an audio because they broke out the emotion in this audio and reading with the book made it more real in my eyes. I loved it.
Overall, this book was deserving of my attention and so was the audio. I’m glad I found this book an audio the time that I needed because it was just needed and I’m so glad I got to listen and read it. I definitely recommend.
FYI, please check your trigger warnings. This book is heavy and just check your mental health if you plan on reading this book.
5.5⭐️ 3🌶️ 6🎧
Two broken souls that meet and they both had my heart and soul. What a dark and twisted world they both lived it . The emotional oil this book had on me , Ms. Lauren Biel, Miss ma’am what did you wrote will forever be in my memory for the most part of my life.
Benji had my car I was doing my best not to cry or what he had experienced as a child in any means I wanted to give her the sweetest hug and hold on. Tell her she’s a strong one you have to do what she had to do these two together were so broken, but they found each other in the best way possible even through the circumstances going through this book this book was wild. This book was dark and I loved it and I am just in awe.
Now, Please give me five minutes. With the brother in this book , would put me in a confinement because I want to go in this book and bam bam bam , to give me. You will not be able to find nothing because I was so livid with that character and I wanted to dispose the first time and he opened his mouth other than that that’s how my anger issues could never lol
Benji and Emmy both have our survivors and reading this book tells you what the emotions the trauma put you through and how it can make you stronger in so much ways. I’m glad they thought I’m glad they survived. Wroth the read.
This book was written so good and the audio both was so good. Andi Eloise and Joe Arden , both did amazing work their performance together was epic. I definitely need more of them together in an audio because they broke out the emotion in this audio and reading with the book made it more real in my eyes. I loved it.
Overall, this book was deserving of my attention and so was the audio. I’m glad I found this book an audio the time that I needed because it was just needed and I’m so glad I got to listen and read it. I definitely recommend.
FYI, please check your trigger warnings. This book is heavy and just check your mental health if you plan on reading this book.
June 26, 2026
The Sweetest Kind of Broken
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I picked this up because a friend recommended it (and because Joe Arden narrated it), and I’m so glad I did. This was such an enjoyable read!
I’m not going to lie—Emmy was driving me absolutely crazy at the beginning. Benji was practically waving red flags in front of her face, and she just refused to see them. 😂 As frustrating as it was, I understand why it was written that way because it allowed the story to build naturally. She just tested my patience.
Now let’s talk about Benji… poor, sweet Benji. Why am I such a sucker for damaged men? Better yet, why do I love the damaged men who can’t talk? He was absolutely perfect for this story. Protective, determined, and completely devoted once he knew what he wanted. He never crossed the line—he just quietly showed up for her over and over again. There’s something incredibly attractive about that.
The pacing was solid from beginning to end. I never felt like the story dragged, and I stayed invested the entire time. Overall, this was a really enjoyable dark romance, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I picked this up because a friend recommended it (and because Joe Arden narrated it), and I’m so glad I did. This was such an enjoyable read!
I’m not going to lie—Emmy was driving me absolutely crazy at the beginning. Benji was practically waving red flags in front of her face, and she just refused to see them. 😂 As frustrating as it was, I understand why it was written that way because it allowed the story to build naturally. She just tested my patience.
Now let’s talk about Benji… poor, sweet Benji. Why am I such a sucker for damaged men? Better yet, why do I love the damaged men who can’t talk? He was absolutely perfect for this story. Protective, determined, and completely devoted once he knew what he wanted. He never crossed the line—he just quietly showed up for her over and over again. There’s something incredibly attractive about that.
The pacing was solid from beginning to end. I never felt like the story dragged, and I stayed invested the entire time. Overall, this was a really enjoyable dark romance, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up.
June 24, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saving Jessie’s Girl absolutely wrecked my heart and put it back together again.
Benji and Emmy are two incredibly broken people carrying more trauma than anyone should ever have to endure. Benji especially stole my heart. His silence somehow spoke louder than words ever could, and every interaction between him and Emmy felt raw, tender, and meaningful. Their connection was beautiful, heartbreaking, and impossible not to root for.
This book is dark, heavy, and packed with difficult topics, so please check the trigger warnings before diving in. There were moments that made me angry, moments that made my chest ache, and moments that had me cheering. Jessie was truly vile, and I spent most of the book wanting to scream at him.
I also loved the forbidden element of the story. The tension between Benji and Emmy was intense, emotional, and had me completely invested. The spice was definitely there, but for me, it was their emotional connection and the way they understood each other’s pain that really made this story shine.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me was that I wanted a little more backstory on Emmy and her family relationships. I felt like there was more to uncover there.
Overall, Saving Jessie’s Girl is a dark, emotional read filled with pain, healing, survival, and love. It’s heartbreaking, hopeful, and left me with a very satisfied smile by the end.
Saving Jessie’s Girl absolutely wrecked my heart and put it back together again.
Benji and Emmy are two incredibly broken people carrying more trauma than anyone should ever have to endure. Benji especially stole my heart. His silence somehow spoke louder than words ever could, and every interaction between him and Emmy felt raw, tender, and meaningful. Their connection was beautiful, heartbreaking, and impossible not to root for.
This book is dark, heavy, and packed with difficult topics, so please check the trigger warnings before diving in. There were moments that made me angry, moments that made my chest ache, and moments that had me cheering. Jessie was truly vile, and I spent most of the book wanting to scream at him.
I also loved the forbidden element of the story. The tension between Benji and Emmy was intense, emotional, and had me completely invested. The spice was definitely there, but for me, it was their emotional connection and the way they understood each other’s pain that really made this story shine.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me was that I wanted a little more backstory on Emmy and her family relationships. I felt like there was more to uncover there.
Overall, Saving Jessie’s Girl is a dark, emotional read filled with pain, healing, survival, and love. It’s heartbreaking, hopeful, and left me with a very satisfied smile by the end.
May 4, 2026
I’m sure you could finish this in one sitting if work and life didn’t interrupt 🤣
Jesse’s life seems to just be a run of bad luck with a nice dolloping of more bad luck on top. She thinks she’s met the one, for him to turn out not to be but his brother is another story…
"𝙸𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐?" 𝙸 𝚊𝚜𝚔. "𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎."
I really wouldn’t have stopped reading this in one go but life 🤷🏻♀️The story pulls you in from the start and I had no idea where it was going to take me. Sitting biting the skin around my nails (as you do), to growling, to ahhhing, and that’s just some of the emotions this book prompted from me. Lauren’s writing dark romance with a sprinkling of angst, feeling like you're in their right alongside the characters just made this book flyby. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next 🫶🏻
Jesse’s life seems to just be a run of bad luck with a nice dolloping of more bad luck on top. She thinks she’s met the one, for him to turn out not to be but his brother is another story…
"𝙸𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐?" 𝙸 𝚊𝚜𝚔. "𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎."
I really wouldn’t have stopped reading this in one go but life 🤷🏻♀️The story pulls you in from the start and I had no idea where it was going to take me. Sitting biting the skin around my nails (as you do), to growling, to ahhhing, and that’s just some of the emotions this book prompted from me. Lauren’s writing dark romance with a sprinkling of angst, feeling like you're in their right alongside the characters just made this book flyby. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next 🫶🏻
May 1, 2026
The queen of dark traumances strikes again with Saving Jessie’s Girl (yes, like the song). WOW this book hit hard. It wasn’t a read, it was an emotional crime scene.
Benji, the most beautiful, broken soul. His story, his trauma and his dependence on his brother broke my heart multiple times. I loved him!
Emmy, the FMC is absolutely beautiful and such a fighter. I would’ve loved to hear more of her backstory though, more about her brother and their relationship. I felt so invested in her and her journey to find peace and happiness and really wanted to know more about her.
Friendly warning: maybe don’t raw dog this one like I did. Read the trigger warnings. It didn’t affect my rating because I know Lauren’s books. But, we don’t want anyone to be surprised!!
Benji, the most beautiful, broken soul. His story, his trauma and his dependence on his brother broke my heart multiple times. I loved him!
Emmy, the FMC is absolutely beautiful and such a fighter. I would’ve loved to hear more of her backstory though, more about her brother and their relationship. I felt so invested in her and her journey to find peace and happiness and really wanted to know more about her.
Friendly warning: maybe don’t raw dog this one like I did. Read the trigger warnings. It didn’t affect my rating because I know Lauren’s books. But, we don’t want anyone to be surprised!!
May 9, 2026
It's unheard if for it to take me 3 days to finish a book under 200 pages! Working a 3 day stretch doesn't leave me much free time, but every chance I got I was lured in and the characters stayed in the back of my mind. Wondering how Benji would step up, wondering if he'd get his voice back, wondering how they'd get through this impossible situation! This author has become one of my favorites for her deeply flawed and sometimes unhinged characters, redeemed by love in whatever crazy form. And with this book, I had the song "Jessie's girl" running through my head every time I saw the beautiful cover 😆.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
July 3, 2026
Not what I would normally expect from Lauren Biel after reading captured (which put me off mayo for months), this was very different. Not in a bad way, the story was good but was a little predictable.
There was no OMG moments which I would normally expect from this author.
Tropes - boyfriend’s brother, touch her and die and female revenge. This is a dark romance so please check your trigger warnings.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
There was no OMG moments which I would normally expect from this author.
Tropes - boyfriend’s brother, touch her and die and female revenge. This is a dark romance so please check your trigger warnings.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
July 25, 2026
🎧 This audio🤌🏻 Joe Arden and Andi Eloise were🔥
Check TW
Check TW
April 30, 2026
Another amazing, emotional book
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
April 30, 2026
Check your triggers!! I’m telling you now. Don’t go blind into this book if you have any abuse triggers. I ate this book up. Short and fast read but still hit hard.
May 1, 2026
It was a very compelling short novel. Sucked in from the beginning. I admittedly got bored part way though, but I am so glad I pushed through to the end.
April 30, 2026
I devoured this book. The emotions run high, and I truly felt what the characters were going through. It’s very well written, I loved Benji the most, and I’d happily read it again
May 18, 2026
This book was a lot but really good. I would recommend to please check your triggers.
5⭐️
5⭐️
July 7, 2026
★★★★★
Stop... I am actually in tears. 😭 This audiobook absolutely wrecked me emotionally.
Benji has my whole heart. Out of all the dark romances I've read, he has become one of my favorite MMCs because he isn't terrifying or morally gray for the sake of it. He's quiet, gentle, protective, and carries so much pain that it physically hurt to listen to his story.
Something horrific happened to Benji as a child that left him psychologically unable to speak. He isn't mute because of a physical disability—he's mute because of trauma. The fact that everyone, including his own twin brother, always speaks for him made it even more heartbreaking because you realize how invisible he's been his entire life. Then he meets Emmy, a waitress who signs back to him because she learned ASL for her brother, and that one small interaction changes everything. For the first time, someone actually sees him.
Then there's Jessie...
I genuinely hated this man. He is the definition of an abuser and manipulator. Lauren Biel didn't just write an abusive boyfriend—she wrote the entire cycle of abuse so realistically that I felt trapped alongside Emmy.
Benji already knows exactly what Jessie is like. He's watched his brother destroy woman after woman. He tries to warn them. He tells them to leave, especially when Jessie is drunk or high on coke, and he even takes the beatings himself trying to protect them. But nobody listens.
Then Jessie gives Emmy his number.
They start dating, and of course, at first he's perfect. Sweet, charming, attentive, buying her gifts, making her feel special. Emmy is completely blinded by the love bombing. When Benji realizes she's the one Jessie has chosen next, you can literally feel his heart sink because he knows exactly what's coming, and he knows it's already too late.
Jessie slowly isolates her. He convinces her to move in because they're "serious." Then come the controlling comments, the accusations, making her question herself, deciding who she can see, humiliating her, making every single argument somehow become her fault. The psychological manipulation was honestly terrifying because it felt so believable.
Then the abuse escalates.
The physical violence.
The sexual violence.
The emotional abuse.
The financial control.
The threats.
The complete psychological dependence.
By the time Emmy realizes what's happening, she doesn't believe she can leave anymore. That's exactly how Jessie planned it.
Watching Benji witness his own brother destroy the woman he loves was devastating. He wants to step in so many times, but every intervention risks making things worse for Emmy. He keeps begging Jessie to stop. Jessie promises he'll do better. Promises he'll stop drinking. Promises he'll change.
Every single promise is a lie.
Benji eventually gets a job at the diner where Emmy works, and they slowly become each other's safe place. Emmy starts spending more time at Benji's house. Jessie never suspects anything because he genuinely believes his brother is beneath him and that nobody could ever choose Benji over him.
Their relationship develops so naturally. It's built on safety, comfort, and understanding instead of fear. When Emmy and Benji finally kiss, she feels guilty because yes... technically it's cheating. But at the same time Jessie is cheating on her too, and their relationship stopped being a relationship the moment he turned her into his prisoner.
Things somehow get even worse.
Jessie blackmails Emmy because he knows she stole money from a previous employer to help her brother, and he constantly uses it to keep her trapped.
Then after Jessie hurts her cat, Emmy becomes so desperate to escape that she tries to steal from her current employer. Instead of helping her, he corners her and tells her he'll stay quiet if she performs sexual favors for him.
At that point she's being abused both at home and at work.
It felt completely hopeless.
Benji is literally all she has left.
When Benji discovers what her employer has done, he kills him to free her. But even then... he still can't bring himself to kill his own brother.
Benji's backstory absolutely shattered me. Finding out he was sexually abused by his teacher as a child, that he became mute because no matter how much he cried or tried to make it stop nobody saved him... I completely lost it.
The ending had me crying even harder.
Benji realizes Jessie is never going to change.
Emmy has reached her breaking point.
Jessie chains her up in his room, pours gasoline through the house, and plans to burn both of them alive.
Benji knows something is wrong and goes after her. During the confrontation he does something that completely broke me...
He finds his voice.
Just to scream "Stop."
After years of silence, that one word was enough to distract Jessie long enough for Benji to get Emmy out. Jessie dies in the fire, and they are finally free.
What made the ending even more emotional is that both Benji and Emmy had been abused by the same man in different ways. Both of them carried unimaginable trauma inflicted by the same hands. They finally found someone who understood exactly what surviving felt like.
And then Benji finally gets revenge on the teacher who stole his childhood too.
This book was heartbreaking, suffocating, emotional, and somehow still incredibly beautiful. I was literally tearing up at work while listening to the audiobook because I became so emotionally invested. The angst was relentless. The hopelessness felt real. The healing felt earned.
Benji will stay with me for a very long time.
Stop... I am actually in tears. 😭 This audiobook absolutely wrecked me emotionally.
Benji has my whole heart. Out of all the dark romances I've read, he has become one of my favorite MMCs because he isn't terrifying or morally gray for the sake of it. He's quiet, gentle, protective, and carries so much pain that it physically hurt to listen to his story.
Something horrific happened to Benji as a child that left him psychologically unable to speak. He isn't mute because of a physical disability—he's mute because of trauma. The fact that everyone, including his own twin brother, always speaks for him made it even more heartbreaking because you realize how invisible he's been his entire life. Then he meets Emmy, a waitress who signs back to him because she learned ASL for her brother, and that one small interaction changes everything. For the first time, someone actually sees him.
Then there's Jessie...
I genuinely hated this man. He is the definition of an abuser and manipulator. Lauren Biel didn't just write an abusive boyfriend—she wrote the entire cycle of abuse so realistically that I felt trapped alongside Emmy.
Benji already knows exactly what Jessie is like. He's watched his brother destroy woman after woman. He tries to warn them. He tells them to leave, especially when Jessie is drunk or high on coke, and he even takes the beatings himself trying to protect them. But nobody listens.
Then Jessie gives Emmy his number.
They start dating, and of course, at first he's perfect. Sweet, charming, attentive, buying her gifts, making her feel special. Emmy is completely blinded by the love bombing. When Benji realizes she's the one Jessie has chosen next, you can literally feel his heart sink because he knows exactly what's coming, and he knows it's already too late.
Jessie slowly isolates her. He convinces her to move in because they're "serious." Then come the controlling comments, the accusations, making her question herself, deciding who she can see, humiliating her, making every single argument somehow become her fault. The psychological manipulation was honestly terrifying because it felt so believable.
Then the abuse escalates.
The physical violence.
The sexual violence.
The emotional abuse.
The financial control.
The threats.
The complete psychological dependence.
By the time Emmy realizes what's happening, she doesn't believe she can leave anymore. That's exactly how Jessie planned it.
Watching Benji witness his own brother destroy the woman he loves was devastating. He wants to step in so many times, but every intervention risks making things worse for Emmy. He keeps begging Jessie to stop. Jessie promises he'll do better. Promises he'll stop drinking. Promises he'll change.
Every single promise is a lie.
Benji eventually gets a job at the diner where Emmy works, and they slowly become each other's safe place. Emmy starts spending more time at Benji's house. Jessie never suspects anything because he genuinely believes his brother is beneath him and that nobody could ever choose Benji over him.
Their relationship develops so naturally. It's built on safety, comfort, and understanding instead of fear. When Emmy and Benji finally kiss, she feels guilty because yes... technically it's cheating. But at the same time Jessie is cheating on her too, and their relationship stopped being a relationship the moment he turned her into his prisoner.
Things somehow get even worse.
Jessie blackmails Emmy because he knows she stole money from a previous employer to help her brother, and he constantly uses it to keep her trapped.
Then after Jessie hurts her cat, Emmy becomes so desperate to escape that she tries to steal from her current employer. Instead of helping her, he corners her and tells her he'll stay quiet if she performs sexual favors for him.
At that point she's being abused both at home and at work.
It felt completely hopeless.
Benji is literally all she has left.
When Benji discovers what her employer has done, he kills him to free her. But even then... he still can't bring himself to kill his own brother.
Benji's backstory absolutely shattered me. Finding out he was sexually abused by his teacher as a child, that he became mute because no matter how much he cried or tried to make it stop nobody saved him... I completely lost it.
The ending had me crying even harder.
Benji realizes Jessie is never going to change.
Emmy has reached her breaking point.
Jessie chains her up in his room, pours gasoline through the house, and plans to burn both of them alive.
Benji knows something is wrong and goes after her. During the confrontation he does something that completely broke me...
He finds his voice.
Just to scream "Stop."
After years of silence, that one word was enough to distract Jessie long enough for Benji to get Emmy out. Jessie dies in the fire, and they are finally free.
What made the ending even more emotional is that both Benji and Emmy had been abused by the same man in different ways. Both of them carried unimaginable trauma inflicted by the same hands. They finally found someone who understood exactly what surviving felt like.
And then Benji finally gets revenge on the teacher who stole his childhood too.
This book was heartbreaking, suffocating, emotional, and somehow still incredibly beautiful. I was literally tearing up at work while listening to the audiobook because I became so emotionally invested. The angst was relentless. The hopelessness felt real. The healing felt earned.
Benji will stay with me for a very long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2026
If I’m free all day, I think I’ll can finish this book in one sitting! But yeah since I gotta do some other things in between works and all, hence the few days taken to finish it, but it’s good indeed, I can’t help but to think of this story whenever I had to put it in hold, and easily get immersed back into their world the moment I continue on again.
I’ve read and love author’s other books as well, and adding this book into the list too. It’s fast paced, filled with trauma represent and scenes which I think really does delivered.
The domestic violence in this, the way the characters goes on, it’s like that part of those hardly unspoken ones been shed some light onto them for a while. It showed. Not that thoroughly, but yeah, covered enough, to make one ponder upon the situations and the people that suffered those as well as the effects etc.
The chemistry between mmc and fmc feels a bit sudden at earliest phase, but then it turns out okay for me. There’s also cheating trope included, but seriously, it’s a well deserved and good one I must say.
Overall, this is such a good read indeed! 🖤
I’ve read and love author’s other books as well, and adding this book into the list too. It’s fast paced, filled with trauma represent and scenes which I think really does delivered.
The domestic violence in this, the way the characters goes on, it’s like that part of those hardly unspoken ones been shed some light onto them for a while. It showed. Not that thoroughly, but yeah, covered enough, to make one ponder upon the situations and the people that suffered those as well as the effects etc.
The chemistry between mmc and fmc feels a bit sudden at earliest phase, but then it turns out okay for me. There’s also cheating trope included, but seriously, it’s a well deserved and good one I must say.
Overall, this is such a good read indeed! 🖤
May 1, 2026
Ok, I don’t know how Lauren can give us the range of books like the Slaycation series to Captured, but this woman is amazing and knows how to hit all the feels. She’s done it again with her newest edition.
Saving Jessie’s Girl is a dark romance so read the TWs and prepare yourself. It’s worth the love between Benji and Emmy though. They are each going through something, Benji a little more traumatic when they meet, but when Emmy starts dating Benji’s twin Jessie and things take a turn for the worse, and Emmy’s new found trauma becomes Benji’s reason to live.
This is not a major spoiler but it will ease your heart if you read this. The angst about if Jessie was going to hurt Lily (Emmy’s kitten) sat with me the entire book. I kept thinking, Lauren wouldn’t do that. There is a scene where he grabs the kitten but he doesn’t kill it. The scene (imo) isn’t that hard to read. If you can read the abuse scenes with Emmy, even being an avid animal lover, you can get through this scene. Lily is okay 💜
Saving Jessie’s Girl is a dark romance so read the TWs and prepare yourself. It’s worth the love between Benji and Emmy though. They are each going through something, Benji a little more traumatic when they meet, but when Emmy starts dating Benji’s twin Jessie and things take a turn for the worse, and Emmy’s new found trauma becomes Benji’s reason to live.
This is not a major spoiler but it will ease your heart if you read this. The angst about if Jessie was going to hurt Lily (Emmy’s kitten) sat with me the entire book. I kept thinking, Lauren wouldn’t do that. There is a scene where he grabs the kitten but he doesn’t kill it. The scene (imo) isn’t that hard to read. If you can read the abuse scenes with Emmy, even being an avid animal lover, you can get through this scene. Lily is okay 💜
May 2, 2026
This is a dark, emotional romance that absolutely requires checking the trigger warnings first. Lauren Biel delivers a heavy but powerful story filled with trauma, domestic abuse, addiction, mental health struggles, healing, and love. From the start, it’s easy to become completely invested in Emmy and Benji. Benji was impossible not to love. He may seem like the intimidating twin at first, but he’s actually protective, caring, and exactly what Emmy needs as her relationship with Jessie turns devastating. Their connection brings hope to such a painful story. The book handles difficult topics with raw realism, especially the feelings of fear, isolation, and helplessness that come with abuse. Many readers will find parts of this story deeply personal and even triggering, but the emotional payoff and HEA make it worth it. This story is heartbreaking, intense, and beautifully written. Lauren Biel knows how to make readers feel every emotion, and Saving Jessie’s Girl is one that stays with you long after finishing it.
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