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Pretty Thing: A dark psychological romance about trauma, obsession, and the danger of mistaking isolation for protection.
There is nothing I won't do to keep her.
The crash has taken everything from me.
I was Eden Hale, a girl with a future, parents I adored, and a life just beginning.
Now…I don’t know who I am.
I’m broken in more ways than bones. Stuck in a hospital, and the only person with me is Felix, the stranger who pulled me from the wreckage.
He says people don’t survive what we did by chance. He says no one else understands.
In grief, his attentiveness feels like salvation.
In loneliness, his possessiveness feels like love.
As I rebuild my life, fighting my way through depression, rehab, and nightmares, he’s there. The savior who calls me his Pretty Thing.
I stop knowing where healing ends and dependence begins.
Because some people rescue you, and some people keep you.
And sometimes you stop knowing when safety becomes captivity.
The crash has taken everything from me.
I was Eden Hale, a girl with a future, parents I adored, and a life just beginning.
Now…I don’t know who I am.
I’m broken in more ways than bones. Stuck in a hospital, and the only person with me is Felix, the stranger who pulled me from the wreckage.
He says people don’t survive what we did by chance. He says no one else understands.
In grief, his attentiveness feels like salvation.
In loneliness, his possessiveness feels like love.
As I rebuild my life, fighting my way through depression, rehab, and nightmares, he’s there. The savior who calls me his Pretty Thing.
I stop knowing where healing ends and dependence begins.
Because some people rescue you, and some people keep you.
And sometimes you stop knowing when safety becomes captivity.
- GenresDark Romance
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2026
About the author
Brooklyn Cross
46 books2,279 followersBrooklyn Cross grew up loving stories in a world that never quite understood how her mind worked.
Severe dyslexia and short-term memory challenges made school a constant fight, and success was something she was told to expect for others, not herself. Instead of quitting, she taught herself how to keep going.
As a child, she found connection more easily with animals than people, which led her to the discipline and escape of competitive dressage riding. When personal circumstances forced her away from the arena, storytelling reclaimed its place and never let go.
Today, Brooklyn Cross writes dark romance for readers who don’t want safe love or perfect heroes. Expect morally grey men, fierce women, obsession, emotional chaos, and spice with consequences. If you like your romance messy, dangerous, and impossible to forget, you’re in the right place.
She has published multiple books and is relentlessly building worlds designed to ruin hearts, spark obsession, and stay with readers long after the final page.
Follow your dreams. Break the rules. Write anyway.
Severe dyslexia and short-term memory challenges made school a constant fight, and success was something she was told to expect for others, not herself. Instead of quitting, she taught herself how to keep going.
As a child, she found connection more easily with animals than people, which led her to the discipline and escape of competitive dressage riding. When personal circumstances forced her away from the arena, storytelling reclaimed its place and never let go.
Today, Brooklyn Cross writes dark romance for readers who don’t want safe love or perfect heroes. Expect morally grey men, fierce women, obsession, emotional chaos, and spice with consequences. If you like your romance messy, dangerous, and impossible to forget, you’re in the right place.
She has published multiple books and is relentlessly building worlds designed to ruin hearts, spark obsession, and stay with readers long after the final page.
Follow your dreams. Break the rules. Write anyway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
September 5, 2026
OMFG 🙀
"I should've run the first time he called me his......
...PRETTY THING"
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DID i JUST READ!
I'm actually speechless.
Felix is the most unhinged MMC I've read in a long time. I spent this entire book swinging between "I hate this man" and "I'd still risk it all." He's chaotic, obsessive, completely unpredictable...
and somehow impossible to look away from.
But my heart belonged to Eden. She loses so much in such a short space of time, and watching her fight through the pain absolutely broke me. I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug her.
Brooklyn Cross delivered angst, obsession, heartbreak and chemistry so addictive I couldn't put it down. This book messed with my emotions in the best possible way.
5* - emotionally damaged and zero regrets.
"I should've run the first time he called me his......
...PRETTY THING"
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DID i JUST READ!
I'm actually speechless.
Felix is the most unhinged MMC I've read in a long time. I spent this entire book swinging between "I hate this man" and "I'd still risk it all." He's chaotic, obsessive, completely unpredictable...
and somehow impossible to look away from.
But my heart belonged to Eden. She loses so much in such a short space of time, and watching her fight through the pain absolutely broke me. I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug her.
Brooklyn Cross delivered angst, obsession, heartbreak and chemistry so addictive I couldn't put it down. This book messed with my emotions in the best possible way.
5* - emotionally damaged and zero regrets.
September 15, 2026
Definitely worth the read. Delightfully intense.
I loved Felix. He wasn’t written like a generic dangerous man. He was build around hyper-observation, trauma, obsessive attachment, ritual, control, caretaking, and the need to protect. The author definitely is more interested in internal systems than just trope furniture.
He is definitely added to my collection of most interesting MMC’s. He’s fiercely loyal, deeply damaged, and somehow incredibly tender at the same time. What worked for me was that his darker behaviour never felt random - everything came from the same trauma-shaped need to protect, control risk, and never lose Eden. I also loved how attentive he was to her, right down to the tiny details.
The story kept surprising me, especially toward the end, and I was definitely not prepared for that cliffhanger. I genuinely yelled at my screen 🤣
Brooklyn Cross has built characters who feel psychologically consistent rather than just “dark for the sake of dark,” and I’m very interested in seeing where Felix and Eden go next. Pretty Broken cannot come soon enough.
I loved Felix. He wasn’t written like a generic dangerous man. He was build around hyper-observation, trauma, obsessive attachment, ritual, control, caretaking, and the need to protect. The author definitely is more interested in internal systems than just trope furniture.
He is definitely added to my collection of most interesting MMC’s. He’s fiercely loyal, deeply damaged, and somehow incredibly tender at the same time. What worked for me was that his darker behaviour never felt random - everything came from the same trauma-shaped need to protect, control risk, and never lose Eden. I also loved how attentive he was to her, right down to the tiny details.
The story kept surprising me, especially toward the end, and I was definitely not prepared for that cliffhanger. I genuinely yelled at my screen 🤣
Brooklyn Cross has built characters who feel psychologically consistent rather than just “dark for the sake of dark,” and I’m very interested in seeing where Felix and Eden go next. Pretty Broken cannot come soon enough.
September 13, 2026
This was a wild ride, and I’m so glad I was on it. Felix was absolutely obsessed with Eden. But he was there every time she needed someone to pick up the pieces for her. I loved how dark this was, how possessive. The twists and turns had me gripping my iPad. This was so freaking good, until that cliffhanger… but I’ll definitely be waiting for the next one.
September 10, 2026
Brooklyn Cross has delivered an absolute masterclass in dark, psychological romance with Pretty Thing. Going into this blindly was the best decision I could have made, nothing could have prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster and wild trajectory of this story.
The story follows Eden, whose entire world crumbles overnight after a devastating tragedy. My heart aching for her, I watched her try to navigate the grief with a sweet, resilient, and forgiving spirit. Enter Felix: a total stranger who steps in out of nowhere to take control of the chaos. He manages every detail, taking care of the logistics and offering a lifeline when she needs it most.
However, Felix's calm exterior hides a deeply dark nature. He is calculating, intensely possessive, and consumed by a terrifying level of jealousy. He lives by a strict, dangerous mindset: Eden belongs to him, period. He is the ultimate complex anti hero one minute you are swooning over his protective instinct, and the next you are screaming at your screen because you can't predict his next move. His true motives keep you guessing until the very last page.
If you are a fan of dark stalker romances featuring an obsessively loyal MMC, high stakes suspense, and emotional twists that push you to the edge, Pretty Thing is a mandatory read. Brooklyn Cross created a dark, captivating masterpiece that lingers long after you finish it.
The story follows Eden, whose entire world crumbles overnight after a devastating tragedy. My heart aching for her, I watched her try to navigate the grief with a sweet, resilient, and forgiving spirit. Enter Felix: a total stranger who steps in out of nowhere to take control of the chaos. He manages every detail, taking care of the logistics and offering a lifeline when she needs it most.
However, Felix's calm exterior hides a deeply dark nature. He is calculating, intensely possessive, and consumed by a terrifying level of jealousy. He lives by a strict, dangerous mindset: Eden belongs to him, period. He is the ultimate complex anti hero one minute you are swooning over his protective instinct, and the next you are screaming at your screen because you can't predict his next move. His true motives keep you guessing until the very last page.
If you are a fan of dark stalker romances featuring an obsessively loyal MMC, high stakes suspense, and emotional twists that push you to the edge, Pretty Thing is a mandatory read. Brooklyn Cross created a dark, captivating masterpiece that lingers long after you finish it.
September 4, 2026
Ma’am, how dare you end with a cliffhanger like that?! I absolutely devoured this book and making me wait for the next book is just so unfair. But seriously, I am addicted. I’m sure there’s something wrong with me for not hating Felix, but the psychopath has many endearing qualities. And Eden, poor Eden… how the heck did she end up in that situation at the end?!
This story starts with heartbreaking emotional (and physical) trauma and takes you on a rollercoaster ride of all the feelings. The grief is heavy. The emphasis on loss is huge. And the obsession is real.
“Maybe love isn’t measured by how tenderly you hold someone. Maybe it’s measured by what you’re willing to burn to keep them. And I’m willing to destroy the world for my Pretty Thing.”
This story starts with heartbreaking emotional (and physical) trauma and takes you on a rollercoaster ride of all the feelings. The grief is heavy. The emphasis on loss is huge. And the obsession is real.
“Maybe love isn’t measured by how tenderly you hold someone. Maybe it’s measured by what you’re willing to burn to keep them. And I’m willing to destroy the world for my Pretty Thing.”
September 17, 2026
Eden had her life turned upside down after surviving an accident that killed her parents. She wakes up in the hospital with Felix by her side. Felix is the most unhinged MC I have read in a while, he was totally obsessed with Eden. He saved Eden after the accident but sometimes isolation is mistaken for protection. A cliffhanger ending leaves you wanting more.
Arc review
Arc review
September 11, 2026
What. Was. That. Ending… such a cliffhanger!
This story truly shows the thin line between obsession and love. Felix is OBSESSED. And poor Eden! She goes through so much pain and trauma. I’m so excited for the next book!
This story truly shows the thin line between obsession and love. Felix is OBSESSED. And poor Eden! She goes through so much pain and trauma. I’m so excited for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
PRETTY THING— ARC REVIEW 🖤
Brooklyn Cross… WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!
Did Brooklyn tell me this book was going to end on a cliffhanger?
No. No, she did not.
Instead, she threw me off the top of a cliff, watched me crash onto the rocks below, left me bleeding out and then presumably sat there laughing like the absolute maniacal author she is. 😂
And honestly?
RUDE.
But also… bloody brilliant.
I devoured Pretty Thing in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. And by the time I reached the end, I was emotionally stripped bare, completely discombobulated and staring into the abyss wondering what the hell I had just been put through.
This book is HEAVY.
Trauma. Grief. Loss. Depression. Recovery. Nightmares. The kind of grief that doesn’t simply make you sad—it crawls inside you and changes the shape of everything.
Eden broke my heart.
Seeing what she was forced to endure at such a young age, watching her try to rebuild herself after losing so much, had me feeling every single emotion right alongside her. There were moments where I genuinely had to stop and breathe because Brooklyn doesn’t allow you to experience Eden’s pain from a safe distance.
You feel it.
And then there’s Felix.
Ohhhhh, Felix.
POOR. BROKEN. BOY.
I don’t even know what to do with this man.
His obsession with Eden?
WOW.
At first, his presence feels like salvation. He’s there when she’s vulnerable, when she’s grieving, when she’s desperately trying to find her way back to herself.
But somewhere between protection and possession, the lines begin to blur.
And suddenly I’m sitting here thinking…
Felix, are you saving this woman… or are you slowly convincing her that she can’t survive without you?
How do I feel about him?
Honestly, Brooklyn…
I’M DISCOMBOBULATED.
Do I love him?
I don’t know.
Do I understand him?
Possibly.
Do I feel sorry for him?
Absolutely.
Do I think he’s redeemable?
That, my friends, is something you’re going to have to decide for yourselves. 👀
Because this man is complicated, damaged, obsessive and absolutely fascinating.
And the chemistry?
🔥🔥🔥
Let’s just say Brooklyn knew EXACTLY what she was doing.
But underneath everything, it’s the emotional intensity that got me. This isn’t just a dark romance with pretty people making questionable decisions.
It’s a story about two deeply damaged people trying to find something to hold onto while grief, trauma and obsession blur the lines between love and captivity.
And those teasers?
They hit VERY differently once you’ve read the book.
Especially when you realise just how much Felix’s words can mean…
“You’re safe with me.”
Safe.
Protected.
Loved.
Owned.
Sometimes the most dangerous thing isn’t knowing which one it is.
It’s not knowing when one becomes the other.
And THEN…
THAT ENDING.
Brooklyn.
I have questions.
I have demands.
I have absolutely no patience.
And apparently I now have a long, brutal wait ahead of me. 😭
Did I devour this book?
ABSOLUTELY.
Did it break my heart?
COMPLETELY.
Did Felix leave me questioning my own moral compass?
100%.
Would I recommend it?
HELL YES.
Just don’t come crying to me when you reach that ending because I will be right there beside you, screaming into the void.
Pretty Thing is dark, emotional, obsessive, beautifully brutal and completely consuming.
Brooklyn Cross has once again taken my emotions, thrown them in a blender and apparently decided I didn’t need them anymore.
5 feral, emotionally traumatised, cliff-hanger-induced stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Now excuse me while I go stare dramatically into the distance and contemplate my life choices…
AND BROOKLYN, I SWEAR TO GOD… NEXT TIME A WARNING WOULD BE NICE. 😂🖤
Brooklyn Cross… WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!
Did Brooklyn tell me this book was going to end on a cliffhanger?
No. No, she did not.
Instead, she threw me off the top of a cliff, watched me crash onto the rocks below, left me bleeding out and then presumably sat there laughing like the absolute maniacal author she is. 😂
And honestly?
RUDE.
But also… bloody brilliant.
I devoured Pretty Thing in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. And by the time I reached the end, I was emotionally stripped bare, completely discombobulated and staring into the abyss wondering what the hell I had just been put through.
This book is HEAVY.
Trauma. Grief. Loss. Depression. Recovery. Nightmares. The kind of grief that doesn’t simply make you sad—it crawls inside you and changes the shape of everything.
Eden broke my heart.
Seeing what she was forced to endure at such a young age, watching her try to rebuild herself after losing so much, had me feeling every single emotion right alongside her. There were moments where I genuinely had to stop and breathe because Brooklyn doesn’t allow you to experience Eden’s pain from a safe distance.
You feel it.
And then there’s Felix.
Ohhhhh, Felix.
POOR. BROKEN. BOY.
I don’t even know what to do with this man.
His obsession with Eden?
WOW.
At first, his presence feels like salvation. He’s there when she’s vulnerable, when she’s grieving, when she’s desperately trying to find her way back to herself.
But somewhere between protection and possession, the lines begin to blur.
And suddenly I’m sitting here thinking…
Felix, are you saving this woman… or are you slowly convincing her that she can’t survive without you?
How do I feel about him?
Honestly, Brooklyn…
I’M DISCOMBOBULATED.
Do I love him?
I don’t know.
Do I understand him?
Possibly.
Do I feel sorry for him?
Absolutely.
Do I think he’s redeemable?
That, my friends, is something you’re going to have to decide for yourselves. 👀
Because this man is complicated, damaged, obsessive and absolutely fascinating.
And the chemistry?
🔥🔥🔥
Let’s just say Brooklyn knew EXACTLY what she was doing.
But underneath everything, it’s the emotional intensity that got me. This isn’t just a dark romance with pretty people making questionable decisions.
It’s a story about two deeply damaged people trying to find something to hold onto while grief, trauma and obsession blur the lines between love and captivity.
And those teasers?
They hit VERY differently once you’ve read the book.
Especially when you realise just how much Felix’s words can mean…
“You’re safe with me.”
Safe.
Protected.
Loved.
Owned.
Sometimes the most dangerous thing isn’t knowing which one it is.
It’s not knowing when one becomes the other.
And THEN…
THAT ENDING.
Brooklyn.
I have questions.
I have demands.
I have absolutely no patience.
And apparently I now have a long, brutal wait ahead of me. 😭
Did I devour this book?
ABSOLUTELY.
Did it break my heart?
COMPLETELY.
Did Felix leave me questioning my own moral compass?
100%.
Would I recommend it?
HELL YES.
Just don’t come crying to me when you reach that ending because I will be right there beside you, screaming into the void.
Pretty Thing is dark, emotional, obsessive, beautifully brutal and completely consuming.
Brooklyn Cross has once again taken my emotions, thrown them in a blender and apparently decided I didn’t need them anymore.
5 feral, emotionally traumatised, cliff-hanger-induced stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Now excuse me while I go stare dramatically into the distance and contemplate my life choices…
AND BROOKLYN, I SWEAR TO GOD… NEXT TIME A WARNING WOULD BE NICE. 😂🖤
September 17, 2026
I picked up Pretty Thing expecting the kind of dark psychological romance that leans hard into obsession and blurred lines, and Brooklyn Cross delivers exactly that from the opening pages.
The story drops you straight into Eden’s shattered world after the crash that steals her family and her sense of self.
She’s left broken, (literally and figuratively) stuck in a hospital with only Felix, the stranger who pulled her from the wreckage for company.
What starts as gratitude for the man who saved her life slowly twists into something far more complicated and unsettling.
The depression, the physical rehab, the nightmares, they’re not glossed over or used as mere backdrop. You feel her isolation pressing in, the way the world shrinks until Felix becomes the only constant.
His attentiveness reads as care at first, the kind of steady presence anyone would cling to when everything else has been ripped away. But the possessiveness creeps in so gradually that you understand exactly how Eden could mistake it for love.
The nickname “Pretty Thing” lands with an edge that grows sharper the more you hear it.
What I liked most is how the book explores that dangerous line between protection and captivity. Felix never needs to force anything outright, the dependence builds through quiet control, through the way he positions himself as the only person who truly understands what they’ve survived. Eden’s struggle to reclaim any sense of self while still needing him feels heartbreaking. You’re never quite sure where her healing ends and his ownership begins, and that i feel is the book’s greatest strength.
This is not a comfortable read, nor is it meant to be. (Please check TW)
The author leans into the psychological tension without offering easy answers or neat resolutions in this first half of the duet. (Yes, you heard me, A CLIFFHANGER APPROACHES!!!)
By the time I finished, I was left unsettled in the best way, already wanting the next book to see how far this dynamic will push both characters.
If you like your dark romance heavy on obsession, moral grey areas, and the slow erosion of boundaries, Pretty Thing will sit with you long after the last page.
🦋
4.5 ⭐
The story drops you straight into Eden’s shattered world after the crash that steals her family and her sense of self.
She’s left broken, (literally and figuratively) stuck in a hospital with only Felix, the stranger who pulled her from the wreckage for company.
What starts as gratitude for the man who saved her life slowly twists into something far more complicated and unsettling.
The depression, the physical rehab, the nightmares, they’re not glossed over or used as mere backdrop. You feel her isolation pressing in, the way the world shrinks until Felix becomes the only constant.
His attentiveness reads as care at first, the kind of steady presence anyone would cling to when everything else has been ripped away. But the possessiveness creeps in so gradually that you understand exactly how Eden could mistake it for love.
The nickname “Pretty Thing” lands with an edge that grows sharper the more you hear it.
What I liked most is how the book explores that dangerous line between protection and captivity. Felix never needs to force anything outright, the dependence builds through quiet control, through the way he positions himself as the only person who truly understands what they’ve survived. Eden’s struggle to reclaim any sense of self while still needing him feels heartbreaking. You’re never quite sure where her healing ends and his ownership begins, and that i feel is the book’s greatest strength.
This is not a comfortable read, nor is it meant to be. (Please check TW)
The author leans into the psychological tension without offering easy answers or neat resolutions in this first half of the duet. (Yes, you heard me, A CLIFFHANGER APPROACHES!!!)
By the time I finished, I was left unsettled in the best way, already wanting the next book to see how far this dynamic will push both characters.
If you like your dark romance heavy on obsession, moral grey areas, and the slow erosion of boundaries, Pretty Thing will sit with you long after the last page.
🦋
4.5 ⭐
September 11, 2026
4.25/5
This book started off STRONG with a brutal car crash that immediately let me know this was not going to be a light read. Eden is one of only two survivors of the crash, and while she’s dealing with losing her parents and recovering, Felix steps in to help her. At first, he seems caring and protective, but there was always something about him that felt…off.
I spent a good portion of the book just as confused and suspicious as Eden. Felix was incredibly overbearing, crossing boundaries and doing WAY too much for someone he barely knew. I kept wondering why he was so invested in her, how he seemed so composed after losing his own brother in the same accident, and whether their meeting was really just a coincidence.
Then things get DARK. This quickly became less of a psychological romance and much more of a psychological thriller with romance and spice mixed in. There’s manipulation, obsession, violence, secrets, and an increasingly unhinged Felix who will apparently stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants. 😂 Watching everything unfold had me constantly questioning what was actually happening and how deep his obsession went.
I really enjoyed the suspense and the feeling that there was always another secret waiting to come out. Eden’s skepticism made sense, especially with everything she was dealing with, while Felix had me going back and forth between “aww, he really cares about her” and “HOLY SHIT, THIS MAN IS A PSYCHO.” 😂
Definitely check your trigger warnings because this one gets DARK. And that ending?! 😭 It left me with so many questions, and after everything Felix has already done, I NEED to know where this story goes next.
Overall, this was chaotic, disturbing, obsessive, and completely unhinged, and I could not stop reading because I needed to figure out what the hell was actually going on.
This book started off STRONG with a brutal car crash that immediately let me know this was not going to be a light read. Eden is one of only two survivors of the crash, and while she’s dealing with losing her parents and recovering, Felix steps in to help her. At first, he seems caring and protective, but there was always something about him that felt…off.
I spent a good portion of the book just as confused and suspicious as Eden. Felix was incredibly overbearing, crossing boundaries and doing WAY too much for someone he barely knew. I kept wondering why he was so invested in her, how he seemed so composed after losing his own brother in the same accident, and whether their meeting was really just a coincidence.
Then things get DARK. This quickly became less of a psychological romance and much more of a psychological thriller with romance and spice mixed in. There’s manipulation, obsession, violence, secrets, and an increasingly unhinged Felix who will apparently stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants. 😂 Watching everything unfold had me constantly questioning what was actually happening and how deep his obsession went.
I really enjoyed the suspense and the feeling that there was always another secret waiting to come out. Eden’s skepticism made sense, especially with everything she was dealing with, while Felix had me going back and forth between “aww, he really cares about her” and “HOLY SHIT, THIS MAN IS A PSYCHO.” 😂
Definitely check your trigger warnings because this one gets DARK. And that ending?! 😭 It left me with so many questions, and after everything Felix has already done, I NEED to know where this story goes next.
Overall, this was chaotic, disturbing, obsessive, and completely unhinged, and I could not stop reading because I needed to figure out what the hell was actually going on.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What in the actual heck have you done to me Brooklyn?
I need book 2 now because that ending was crazy.
Our fmc is Eden. I really like her but she definitely is going through it with the loss of her parents. Eden is kind, caring, loyal and just has this beautiful soul. She loves the ocean and nature and is really excited to go to university to study what she loves. But, her world is turned upside down when the unthinkable happens and she's left in pieces and i think her judgement is questionable.
Our mmc Felix is an interesting man. He is a tattoo artist and owns his own studio. He's a bit of a recluse and only really has one friend Matt, who they've been friends for years. Felix has had an extremely rough upbringing which i think has shaped who he is. Felix is obsessive, unhinged, intelligent and emotionally unstable and i don't know how to feel about him.
The plot had me hooked from the get go. After Eden's world shatters, she finds support and comfort in Felix, a complete strange. Felix pushes his way into her life and becomes extremely dependant on Eden in every way possible and wants her to do the same in return. Eden and Felix's chemistry is incredible and their relationship grows into something more very quickly but not without concern from her besties, Kris and Kyle. But, things get weird quick and Felix's past comes back to bite him and Eden realises that things aren't making sense.
That cliffhanger, insane!!!
Thank you Brooklyn and your lovely team for the opportunity to read this story and to be a part of your ARC team. I am forever grateful 🙏
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶🌶🌶
🩷 dual pov
☠️ innocent fmc
🖤 obsessive mmc
🩷 unhinged mmc
☠️ serial unaliver
🖤 stalker
🩷 hurt/ comfort
☠️ spice
🖤 piercings
🩷 tattooed mmc
I need book 2 now because that ending was crazy.
Our fmc is Eden. I really like her but she definitely is going through it with the loss of her parents. Eden is kind, caring, loyal and just has this beautiful soul. She loves the ocean and nature and is really excited to go to university to study what she loves. But, her world is turned upside down when the unthinkable happens and she's left in pieces and i think her judgement is questionable.
Our mmc Felix is an interesting man. He is a tattoo artist and owns his own studio. He's a bit of a recluse and only really has one friend Matt, who they've been friends for years. Felix has had an extremely rough upbringing which i think has shaped who he is. Felix is obsessive, unhinged, intelligent and emotionally unstable and i don't know how to feel about him.
The plot had me hooked from the get go. After Eden's world shatters, she finds support and comfort in Felix, a complete strange. Felix pushes his way into her life and becomes extremely dependant on Eden in every way possible and wants her to do the same in return. Eden and Felix's chemistry is incredible and their relationship grows into something more very quickly but not without concern from her besties, Kris and Kyle. But, things get weird quick and Felix's past comes back to bite him and Eden realises that things aren't making sense.
That cliffhanger, insane!!!
Thank you Brooklyn and your lovely team for the opportunity to read this story and to be a part of your ARC team. I am forever grateful 🙏
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶🌶🌶
🩷 dual pov
☠️ innocent fmc
🖤 obsessive mmc
🩷 unhinged mmc
☠️ serial unaliver
🖤 stalker
🩷 hurt/ comfort
☠️ spice
🖤 piercings
🩷 tattooed mmc
September 10, 2026
⛓️🩷𝔭𝔯𝔢𝔱𝔱𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔟𝔶 𝔟𝔯𝔬𝔬𝔨𝔩𝔶𝔫 𝔠𝔯𝔬𝔰𝔰🩷⛓️
✨𝔞𝔳𝔞𝔦𝔩𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔴✨
𝔞𝔯𝔠 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I went into this book completely blind and it took me on an absolutely wild ride with an amazingly dark psychological romance. I went into this book thinking it was a standalone but no….that cliffhanger had me throwing my kindle down so shocked, frustrated and NEEDING book 2 immediately! I loved every second of this book so much more than I expected to, it drew me in and I finished in one day I’m pretty sure!
This book follows Eden as her entire life has fallen apart overnight after a tragic accident. Then Felix appears, a complete stranger who not only saves her but then steps up out of nowhere taking control of the chaos that ensues afterwards. He takes complete control, managing every detail of Eden’s recovery and becomes a lifeline she’s in desperate need of, even though he sometimes crosses the line! To Eden he seems calm, collected and so incredibly sweet. Hidden underneath that exterior is a dark, obsessive, calculating man with an extreme level of jealousy and possessiveness of Eden. In his mind Eden belongs to him, she was always his and he won’t let anyone get in the way of that.
This story kept me on my toes, the way Brooklyn left breadcrumbs into Felix’s mind and how deep his obsession with Eden was absolutely brilliant. I kept getting whiplash, one moment I’d be swooning over how sweet Felix was being and the next I’d be yelling at my kindle because I couldn’t keep up with his crazy. I’m a sucker for a stalker with absolutely no limits to his obsession and Felix definitely fit that! The chemistry between Eden and Felix was messy, electric, and toxic from the beginning and the spice between them is a bit slow burn but when it hits it’s so freaking hot 🥵
Overall, I absolutely love this book and would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a dark romance. I’d recommend going in blind and let yourself be sucked into the story but if you have triggers please check the warnings so you don’t go into something you won’t enjoy!
—————————————————————————————
OMG…..that cliffhanger was so brutal! I can’t wait for book 2!!!! RTC
✨𝔞𝔳𝔞𝔦𝔩𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔴✨
𝔞𝔯𝔠 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I went into this book completely blind and it took me on an absolutely wild ride with an amazingly dark psychological romance. I went into this book thinking it was a standalone but no….that cliffhanger had me throwing my kindle down so shocked, frustrated and NEEDING book 2 immediately! I loved every second of this book so much more than I expected to, it drew me in and I finished in one day I’m pretty sure!
This book follows Eden as her entire life has fallen apart overnight after a tragic accident. Then Felix appears, a complete stranger who not only saves her but then steps up out of nowhere taking control of the chaos that ensues afterwards. He takes complete control, managing every detail of Eden’s recovery and becomes a lifeline she’s in desperate need of, even though he sometimes crosses the line! To Eden he seems calm, collected and so incredibly sweet. Hidden underneath that exterior is a dark, obsessive, calculating man with an extreme level of jealousy and possessiveness of Eden. In his mind Eden belongs to him, she was always his and he won’t let anyone get in the way of that.
This story kept me on my toes, the way Brooklyn left breadcrumbs into Felix’s mind and how deep his obsession with Eden was absolutely brilliant. I kept getting whiplash, one moment I’d be swooning over how sweet Felix was being and the next I’d be yelling at my kindle because I couldn’t keep up with his crazy. I’m a sucker for a stalker with absolutely no limits to his obsession and Felix definitely fit that! The chemistry between Eden and Felix was messy, electric, and toxic from the beginning and the spice between them is a bit slow burn but when it hits it’s so freaking hot 🥵
Overall, I absolutely love this book and would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a dark romance. I’d recommend going in blind and let yourself be sucked into the story but if you have triggers please check the warnings so you don’t go into something you won’t enjoy!
—————————————————————————————
OMG…..that cliffhanger was so brutal! I can’t wait for book 2!!!! RTC
September 12, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my honest, voluntary review.
Whoa, this is the most stalkery, creepily dark, romantic story I've ever read. Felix and Eden, brought together by a tragic car accident where Eden's parents died and her life was flipped upside down. Literally pulled from the wreckage by her knight in shining armor. Right place right time or is something else going on here? Felix immediately inserts himself in Eden's life, overstepping any boundary and taking care of every need she might have without being asked. Acting as her protector and confident and guardian even though they just met... doing everything in his power for Eden to rely on him and only him.
I have to say this book was so good at delivering the creepy vibes right away. I've never had this kind of visceral reaction to an MMC before. His mask is so clever and thought out and Eden is so vulnerable and easily manipulated. A true picture of a psychopath in action and all you can do is sit back and watch how it all plays out.
The levels of devotion and obsession were really beyond comprehension. It makes you wonder when things happen if someone made it so or if it was random. Eden's naiveté was such a good counterpoint for Felix's manipulation. Obviously, she has doubts and questions but he was just so convincing, the gas lighting and alternative narratives provided to her by Felix were so logical and easy to accept that I don't know if I would have been able to see through it either.
This cliffhanger ending makes you want to scream in the best way. I need answers and I need to know what happens next.
Whoa, this is the most stalkery, creepily dark, romantic story I've ever read. Felix and Eden, brought together by a tragic car accident where Eden's parents died and her life was flipped upside down. Literally pulled from the wreckage by her knight in shining armor. Right place right time or is something else going on here? Felix immediately inserts himself in Eden's life, overstepping any boundary and taking care of every need she might have without being asked. Acting as her protector and confident and guardian even though they just met... doing everything in his power for Eden to rely on him and only him.
I have to say this book was so good at delivering the creepy vibes right away. I've never had this kind of visceral reaction to an MMC before. His mask is so clever and thought out and Eden is so vulnerable and easily manipulated. A true picture of a psychopath in action and all you can do is sit back and watch how it all plays out.
The levels of devotion and obsession were really beyond comprehension. It makes you wonder when things happen if someone made it so or if it was random. Eden's naiveté was such a good counterpoint for Felix's manipulation. Obviously, she has doubts and questions but he was just so convincing, the gas lighting and alternative narratives provided to her by Felix were so logical and easy to accept that I don't know if I would have been able to see through it either.
This cliffhanger ending makes you want to scream in the best way. I need answers and I need to know what happens next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I Fell For A Walking Warning Sign!!
‘’There is nothing I won't do to keep her."
Felix didn't say it. He swore it. With his whole unhinged soul.
When I say this book blew me away I mean OH MY LORD WOW.
Felix? His red flags have red flags and I loved it...what does that say about me? Do I need help?!
Because Felix is obsessive, possessive, completely feral and utterly unapologetic about it and it makes me shake and fall for him also-help😬🫠
Eden has her world ripped away in one night. Felix pulls her from the wreckage and decides she's his Pretty Thing…( was it the wreckage…hmmm)
Brooklyn, you wicked genius. You made devotion feel like deliverance and control feel like comfort.
The pull between them is lethal.
The chemistry is combustible, intoxicating, all-consuming.
When Eden finally surrenders? Chills. Actual chills.
And the spice? BOILING. Slow-burn obsession that snaps into filthy, claiming, can't breathe heat. The kind that scorches.
Just when she thinks she's safe, Eden discovers something that makes her run. And what she runs into might be even more dangerous.
No spoilers…you need to experience Felix in all his unhinged glory for yourself. If you live for dark, multilayered, broken, twisted anti-heroes, he is so worth it.
He survived his past... or did he?
Warning Pretty Thing is psychologically dark, decadent and completely unputdownable.
Brooklyn Cross wrote such a mind-blowing, captivating, wildly entertaining obsessive stalker romance.
And that cliffhanger? Left me absolutely speechless.
I need Pretty Broken NOW.
‘’There is nothing I won't do to keep her."
Felix didn't say it. He swore it. With his whole unhinged soul.
When I say this book blew me away I mean OH MY LORD WOW.
Felix? His red flags have red flags and I loved it...what does that say about me? Do I need help?!
Because Felix is obsessive, possessive, completely feral and utterly unapologetic about it and it makes me shake and fall for him also-help😬🫠
Eden has her world ripped away in one night. Felix pulls her from the wreckage and decides she's his Pretty Thing…( was it the wreckage…hmmm)
Brooklyn, you wicked genius. You made devotion feel like deliverance and control feel like comfort.
The pull between them is lethal.
The chemistry is combustible, intoxicating, all-consuming.
When Eden finally surrenders? Chills. Actual chills.
And the spice? BOILING. Slow-burn obsession that snaps into filthy, claiming, can't breathe heat. The kind that scorches.
Just when she thinks she's safe, Eden discovers something that makes her run. And what she runs into might be even more dangerous.
No spoilers…you need to experience Felix in all his unhinged glory for yourself. If you live for dark, multilayered, broken, twisted anti-heroes, he is so worth it.
He survived his past... or did he?
Warning Pretty Thing is psychologically dark, decadent and completely unputdownable.
Brooklyn Cross wrote such a mind-blowing, captivating, wildly entertaining obsessive stalker romance.
And that cliffhanger? Left me absolutely speechless.
I need Pretty Broken NOW.
September 10, 2026
SPEECHLESS!!!
Brooklyn, ma’am I’m completely speechless at the moment because of the ending of this book which I was not expecting at all. I will always sing your praises when it comes to your books because you always make me question everything and I’m here for it. At the moment, I don’t know how to feel about this book and did I enjoy every second of this book yes.
This book with a whirlwind from start to finish. This book was the perfect balance of suspense, tragedy, mystery, obsession, and so many other things. This book had so many plot twist that I was not expecting at all. This book broke my heart, made me giddy, made me flustered, may be beyond furious to the point where I was screaming, made me question my sanity, put me through the worst book hangover and so many other things.
This book is about Eden’s and Felix’s story and how their relationship is not your ordinary love story and I loved every second of it. To be honest, I don’t know how to feel about the ending of this book because it was a massive plot twist that I was not expecting at all and I’m having a hard time moving forward. I am hoping and praying the second book doesn’t take long because that ending did me in.
If you love a psychological book about a MMC who will do absolutely everything in their power to make sure his woman is safe from everything, then this book is for is the perfect book that will make you question so many things including your sanity. What are you waiting for? You need to get this book right now. You truly won’t be disappointed.
Brooklyn, ma’am I’m completely speechless at the moment because of the ending of this book which I was not expecting at all. I will always sing your praises when it comes to your books because you always make me question everything and I’m here for it. At the moment, I don’t know how to feel about this book and did I enjoy every second of this book yes.
This book with a whirlwind from start to finish. This book was the perfect balance of suspense, tragedy, mystery, obsession, and so many other things. This book had so many plot twist that I was not expecting at all. This book broke my heart, made me giddy, made me flustered, may be beyond furious to the point where I was screaming, made me question my sanity, put me through the worst book hangover and so many other things.
This book is about Eden’s and Felix’s story and how their relationship is not your ordinary love story and I loved every second of it. To be honest, I don’t know how to feel about the ending of this book because it was a massive plot twist that I was not expecting at all and I’m having a hard time moving forward. I am hoping and praying the second book doesn’t take long because that ending did me in.
If you love a psychological book about a MMC who will do absolutely everything in their power to make sure his woman is safe from everything, then this book is for is the perfect book that will make you question so many things including your sanity. What are you waiting for? You need to get this book right now. You truly won’t be disappointed.
September 13, 2026
Pretty Thing is book 1 in the Pieces of Despair duet. It is a dark , psychological, romance thriller.
I am so torn about how I feel about Felix. Of course his level of obsession is all red flags. But, man does he have a way of also making them sort of green?. Or maybe I'm just color blind. His level of obsession is unhinged, but it comes from a good place, sometimes. He is amazing at covering his tracks. He's always 10 steps ahead. I just hate that Eden has to suffer the way she is. I understand his reasoning for doing the things he's doing, crazy as that sounds, but he's also hurting Eden so much more. And I guess, from Eden's point of view, she can't see it because all she can see is her life is falling apart and this man has constantly been her rock. She's lost her parents, her house, her best friend, and now her other best friend is cutting her off, all after surviving the injuries she sustained from the accident. I mean, she is really going through it. Then, here comes Felix to make it all better.
I did not see the ending coming though. That came out of nowhere and I am hooked, waiting at the edge of my seat for the next book.
This was a well done. I love when a crazy unhinged man can make me question my morals and Felix has me questioning my whole existence. If you like your men unhinged, give Felix a read. I'm telling you, he will not disappoint. Or well, he might, but don't worry, because he knows how to make it all better.
I am so torn about how I feel about Felix. Of course his level of obsession is all red flags. But, man does he have a way of also making them sort of green?. Or maybe I'm just color blind. His level of obsession is unhinged, but it comes from a good place, sometimes. He is amazing at covering his tracks. He's always 10 steps ahead. I just hate that Eden has to suffer the way she is. I understand his reasoning for doing the things he's doing, crazy as that sounds, but he's also hurting Eden so much more. And I guess, from Eden's point of view, she can't see it because all she can see is her life is falling apart and this man has constantly been her rock. She's lost her parents, her house, her best friend, and now her other best friend is cutting her off, all after surviving the injuries she sustained from the accident. I mean, she is really going through it. Then, here comes Felix to make it all better.
I did not see the ending coming though. That came out of nowhere and I am hooked, waiting at the edge of my seat for the next book.
This was a well done. I love when a crazy unhinged man can make me question my morals and Felix has me questioning my whole existence. If you like your men unhinged, give Felix a read. I'm telling you, he will not disappoint. Or well, he might, but don't worry, because he knows how to make it all better.
September 13, 2026
Typical Brooklyn Cross bringing us another book that’s so good it’s finished within days!
Pretty Thing takes you on an emotional roller coaster of trauma, obsession and learning to let someone in after such loss. Felix and Eden, along with her parents are in a big car wreck right before Christmas where Eden loses her parents. Felix is in another car but survives the initial crash and pulls Eden from the wreckage of her parent’s car. Felix and Eden, now an orphan, only have each other to lean on while she heals from the car accident and the death of her parents. Felix helps Eden get to her appointments and even goes behind her back and sets up all the funeral arrangements for her parents. He is someone she just met but yet learns to lean because she just tragically lost her parents.
Felix has his own tough upbringing that he survived through and is also the only one left in his family as well. Felix does all these helpful things after Eden’s accident because he wished someone would have been there to help him. Eden finds some of it overstepping but also thinks Felix is being super helpful and taking on the burden she’s not ready to deal with yet. Eden comes to love Felix but Felix is hiding a darkness of obsession and stalking she doesn’t know about. Eden’s two best friends don’t trust Felix from the start but she is hoping that with time they come to like Felix. Do her best friends come to trust Felix or were they right the whole time? Read this book to find out! 😉
Pretty Thing takes you on an emotional roller coaster of trauma, obsession and learning to let someone in after such loss. Felix and Eden, along with her parents are in a big car wreck right before Christmas where Eden loses her parents. Felix is in another car but survives the initial crash and pulls Eden from the wreckage of her parent’s car. Felix and Eden, now an orphan, only have each other to lean on while she heals from the car accident and the death of her parents. Felix helps Eden get to her appointments and even goes behind her back and sets up all the funeral arrangements for her parents. He is someone she just met but yet learns to lean because she just tragically lost her parents.
Felix has his own tough upbringing that he survived through and is also the only one left in his family as well. Felix does all these helpful things after Eden’s accident because he wished someone would have been there to help him. Eden finds some of it overstepping but also thinks Felix is being super helpful and taking on the burden she’s not ready to deal with yet. Eden comes to love Felix but Felix is hiding a darkness of obsession and stalking she doesn’t know about. Eden’s two best friends don’t trust Felix from the start but she is hoping that with time they come to like Felix. Do her best friends come to trust Felix or were they right the whole time? Read this book to find out! 😉
Review of advance copy received from Author
WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!
Seriously, Brooklyn Cross… WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO ME?
Eden and Felix are the only two survivors of a horrific accident, and what initially feels like trauma bonding between two people who experienced something unimaginable slowly starts turning into something much, much darker.
Eden is drowning in grief and trying to figure out how to survive from one day to the next. Meanwhile, Felix’s dark side begins peeking through little by little.
Then incidents start happening.
Truths start unraveling.
Obsession and manipulation begin creeping into everything.
And suddenly you’re questioning whether Felix’s obsession with Eden really started when you thought it did.
But here’s where Brooklyn really got me…
SHE HAD ME ROOTING FOR THE PSYCHOPATH. 😳
At some point my moral compass apparently packed a bag, left the building, and didn’t bother leaving a forwarding address.
And THEN THAT ENDING.
I finished this at 1:22 AM, stared at the last page, and genuinely wondered how I was supposed to just put my Kindle down and GO TO SLEEP.
Brooklyn, what kind of literary voodoo magic did you pull?!
Because now I’m lying here questioning everything, replaying the story in my head, desperately needing answers, and wondering how you could possibly leave me hanging like THAT.
I need the next book. Immediately.
Seriously, Brooklyn Cross… WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO ME?
Eden and Felix are the only two survivors of a horrific accident, and what initially feels like trauma bonding between two people who experienced something unimaginable slowly starts turning into something much, much darker.
Eden is drowning in grief and trying to figure out how to survive from one day to the next. Meanwhile, Felix’s dark side begins peeking through little by little.
Then incidents start happening.
Truths start unraveling.
Obsession and manipulation begin creeping into everything.
And suddenly you’re questioning whether Felix’s obsession with Eden really started when you thought it did.
But here’s where Brooklyn really got me…
SHE HAD ME ROOTING FOR THE PSYCHOPATH. 😳
At some point my moral compass apparently packed a bag, left the building, and didn’t bother leaving a forwarding address.
And THEN THAT ENDING.
I finished this at 1:22 AM, stared at the last page, and genuinely wondered how I was supposed to just put my Kindle down and GO TO SLEEP.
Brooklyn, what kind of literary voodoo magic did you pull?!
Because now I’m lying here questioning everything, replaying the story in my head, desperately needing answers, and wondering how you could possibly leave me hanging like THAT.
I need the next book. Immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pretty Thing by Brooklyn Cross 🖤
Felix and Eden are giving epic tragic love story vibes, and I am HERE for it.
The car crash that took everything from both of them somehow brings them together in the most unexpected way. Felix develops an… interesting obsession with taking care of Eden.
Why does he insist on staying in her home?
Why is he feeding her?
Why is he taking her to every medical appointment?
Why is he scaring off anyone who gets a little too friendly with her? 👀
At some point, you have to ask yourself… why are you so obsessed with this woman, sir?
And his obsession definitely crosses a few lines. Okay, most lines. 😂 The lengths Felix goes to protect Eden might have some people reaching for the “PSYCHOPATH” label.
Me?
I prefer dedicated man who is deeply invested in her well-being, whether she wants him to be or not. 😌
The chemistry, the obsession, the morally questionable decisions… Brooklyn Cross knows exactly how to give me the kind of man I should probably be concerned about but absolutely am not.
And that ENDING?!
DIABOLICAL.
Brooklyn really said, “Here’s a bomb. 💣 Good luck processing that. See you in book two!”
And somehow we hate to love her for it. 😂🖤
Now excuse me while I stare dramatically into the distance and wait for book two.
Felix and Eden are giving epic tragic love story vibes, and I am HERE for it.
The car crash that took everything from both of them somehow brings them together in the most unexpected way. Felix develops an… interesting obsession with taking care of Eden.
Why does he insist on staying in her home?
Why is he feeding her?
Why is he taking her to every medical appointment?
Why is he scaring off anyone who gets a little too friendly with her? 👀
At some point, you have to ask yourself… why are you so obsessed with this woman, sir?
And his obsession definitely crosses a few lines. Okay, most lines. 😂 The lengths Felix goes to protect Eden might have some people reaching for the “PSYCHOPATH” label.
Me?
I prefer dedicated man who is deeply invested in her well-being, whether she wants him to be or not. 😌
The chemistry, the obsession, the morally questionable decisions… Brooklyn Cross knows exactly how to give me the kind of man I should probably be concerned about but absolutely am not.
And that ENDING?!
DIABOLICAL.
Brooklyn really said, “Here’s a bomb. 💣 Good luck processing that. See you in book two!”
And somehow we hate to love her for it. 😂🖤
Now excuse me while I stare dramatically into the distance and wait for book two.
September 10, 2026
Brooklyn Cross really did it this time. I went into Pretty Thing not knowing what to expect, and I honestly never could have guessed where this story was going.
Eden loses everything in the blink of an eye after a tragic event, and my heart broke for her. She is sweet, caring, forgiving, and just trying to survive the hardest time of her life. Then Felix shows up out of nowhere and completely takes over. He handles the calls, the arrangements, and everything Eden needs to get through what has happened and start finding some sense of normal again.
But Felix is definitely not who he appears to be. He is methodical, extremely possessive, sneaky, and beyond jealous of everyone around Eden. His mindset is basically if he can’t have her, no one can. And let me tell you, this man had me loving him one minute and screaming at my Kindle the next.I never knew what to think of Felix or what he was going to do next, and that kept me completely hooked. I was constantly questioning his motives and wondering what was really going on.
I honestly didn’t expect this kind of story from Brooklyn Cross, but I absolutely loved it. It was twisted, emotional, surprising, and so well written. Pretty Thing had me feeling all kinds of emotions, and Felix is definitely a character I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Eden loses everything in the blink of an eye after a tragic event, and my heart broke for her. She is sweet, caring, forgiving, and just trying to survive the hardest time of her life. Then Felix shows up out of nowhere and completely takes over. He handles the calls, the arrangements, and everything Eden needs to get through what has happened and start finding some sense of normal again.
But Felix is definitely not who he appears to be. He is methodical, extremely possessive, sneaky, and beyond jealous of everyone around Eden. His mindset is basically if he can’t have her, no one can. And let me tell you, this man had me loving him one minute and screaming at my Kindle the next.I never knew what to think of Felix or what he was going to do next, and that kept me completely hooked. I was constantly questioning his motives and wondering what was really going on.
I honestly didn’t expect this kind of story from Brooklyn Cross, but I absolutely loved it. It was twisted, emotional, surprising, and so well written. Pretty Thing had me feeling all kinds of emotions, and Felix is definitely a character I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay wow first off the ending was diabolical and I was not expecting that at all but it did what it needed to do and I am completely hooked and need the second book ASAP.
Throughout the whole book I was conflicted on how I felt about Felix. He is extremely unhinged, obsessed, and a literal stalker. But he does these sweet things for Eden and would never hurt her. In his mind everything he does throughout the book is to protect her and make her life better even if what he does is the craziest shit ever lol.
Then there's Eden. She's so innocent and sheltered. And although she questions him at times she's so deep in her grief and loss that Felix is the brightest spot of her life and she grows to depend on him and like she says love him. I really felt so bad for her. She goes through so much in such a short time and she seriously is stronger than it seems to get up everyday after everything that is going on.
I've never read a book like this and I really loved the concept and how the story flows. I started to question my own sanity at times while reading this because of how over the top Felix was. I'm not sure if I love him or hate him but I do know that we are in for a crazy ride in book 2.
Throughout the whole book I was conflicted on how I felt about Felix. He is extremely unhinged, obsessed, and a literal stalker. But he does these sweet things for Eden and would never hurt her. In his mind everything he does throughout the book is to protect her and make her life better even if what he does is the craziest shit ever lol.
Then there's Eden. She's so innocent and sheltered. And although she questions him at times she's so deep in her grief and loss that Felix is the brightest spot of her life and she grows to depend on him and like she says love him. I really felt so bad for her. She goes through so much in such a short time and she seriously is stronger than it seems to get up everyday after everything that is going on.
I've never read a book like this and I really loved the concept and how the story flows. I started to question my own sanity at times while reading this because of how over the top Felix was. I'm not sure if I love him or hate him but I do know that we are in for a crazy ride in book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pretty Thing : Pieces Of Despair Duet Book 1 ) A dark psychological romance, about trauma , obsession, and the danger of mistaking isolation for protection!’ Speechless, on the edge of my seat in anticipation and devouring every single word . Feeling everything from excitement to heart beating so fast , to feeling like it was then being shattered into 1000 pieces to rooting so freaking hard . Guys From the second I opened the very first page , I was a goner , just completely and utterly invested and captivated in this amazing world that. Brooklyn has so brilliantly created . And our characters that have so many layers and complexities to them . Eden and Felix - absolutely perfect together. Our heroine Eden goes through something that changes her whole world - everything gets ripped away in one terrible night / moment. Felix finds her and decides right there She Belongs To Him and no one else . Morally grey , dark , possessive and obsessive- that’s him in a nutshell . And you can bet he’ll burn the world down for the woman he loves . Dark , delicious and utterly addictive. A emotional rollercoaster that will keep you up reading well into the early morning hours and completely blow your mind in every way possible
September 14, 2026
This book starts off with a bang… (literally) And my heart BROKE for Eden. But that first chapter had me completely hooked and ready to buckle up for whatever the hell else Brooklyn was about to throw my way.
Now Felix… I had EXTREMELY mixed feelings about this man throughout the entire book. Like, there were definitely moments where I was questioning everything… but you know I obviously still loved him and was lowkey rooting for him even when I knew damn well I probably shouldn’t be..
This book threw me for a LOOP, especially that ending. And of course, in typical Brooklyn fashion, she had to end it on the BIGGEST. CLIFFHANGER. *insert massive eye roll here*
This book is the perfect amount of sad, dark, twisted, and cute all wrapped up into one incredibly addicting story.
There were a few times I literally sat there thinking, “HOLY SH*T, WHAT THE F*CK IS HAPPENING?!” But honestly, THAT is what makes it such a good book. It’s so damn hard to predict what’s going to happen next, and boy does Brooklyn keep you on your toes the entire time.
I went into this book thinking I knew what I was getting myself into… I did not.
Now if you need me, I’ll be sitting here IMPATIENTLY WAITING for book 2 because apparently Brooklyn enjoys watching us suffer..
Now Felix… I had EXTREMELY mixed feelings about this man throughout the entire book. Like, there were definitely moments where I was questioning everything… but you know I obviously still loved him and was lowkey rooting for him even when I knew damn well I probably shouldn’t be..
This book threw me for a LOOP, especially that ending. And of course, in typical Brooklyn fashion, she had to end it on the BIGGEST. CLIFFHANGER. *insert massive eye roll here*
This book is the perfect amount of sad, dark, twisted, and cute all wrapped up into one incredibly addicting story.
There were a few times I literally sat there thinking, “HOLY SH*T, WHAT THE F*CK IS HAPPENING?!” But honestly, THAT is what makes it such a good book. It’s so damn hard to predict what’s going to happen next, and boy does Brooklyn keep you on your toes the entire time.
I went into this book thinking I knew what I was getting myself into… I did not.
Now if you need me, I’ll be sitting here IMPATIENTLY WAITING for book 2 because apparently Brooklyn enjoys watching us suffer..
September 17, 2026
***Please Read the Trigger Warnings Before Diving In!!!
Pretty Thing is an extremely dark, intense, emotional rollercoaster! I absolutely loved it and devoured it but I am still trying to process Felix. Eden was his before she even knew it. But a tragic accident secured their fates together permanently. After Eden's world is completely shattered Felix cements himself as the one constant that will help her heal and carry on whether she wants it or not. After the crash, Eden is physically injured and trying to process the loss of her parents. With the idea of fate and the insistence of Felix she lets him in. Felix is insanely possessive, obsessive, and will do anything to ensure that his Pretty Thing is his and only his. His love and devotion knows absolutely no boundaries. The small things he does for her and the tenderness draws you in. Then you see the crazed side of him. I was constantly wavering between thinking this is wrong and messed up. Then he would do something sweet and I would forgive him. He is a bright glaring red flag that you can't help but to love. Poor Eden! Our girl just keeps getting knocked down. Just when you think it can't get worse! Speaking of! Dude! Seriously!That cliffhanger is absolutely killing me! I can't wait until Pretty Broken!
Pretty Thing is an extremely dark, intense, emotional rollercoaster! I absolutely loved it and devoured it but I am still trying to process Felix. Eden was his before she even knew it. But a tragic accident secured their fates together permanently. After Eden's world is completely shattered Felix cements himself as the one constant that will help her heal and carry on whether she wants it or not. After the crash, Eden is physically injured and trying to process the loss of her parents. With the idea of fate and the insistence of Felix she lets him in. Felix is insanely possessive, obsessive, and will do anything to ensure that his Pretty Thing is his and only his. His love and devotion knows absolutely no boundaries. The small things he does for her and the tenderness draws you in. Then you see the crazed side of him. I was constantly wavering between thinking this is wrong and messed up. Then he would do something sweet and I would forgive him. He is a bright glaring red flag that you can't help but to love. Poor Eden! Our girl just keeps getting knocked down. Just when you think it can't get worse! Speaking of! Dude! Seriously!That cliffhanger is absolutely killing me! I can't wait until Pretty Broken!
Review of advance copy received from Author
He saved her life… but what happens when her SAVIOR becomes the person she needs saving from? 👀🖤
This one is dark, emotional, twisted, and psychological in a way that keeps you questioning everything.
Eden and Felix are the two survivors of a devastating accident. Eden is trying to rebuild her life while dealing with grief, trauma, and everything she lost. And Felix? He’s always there. Watching. Protecting. Becoming the one person she believes she can depend on.
But there’s a very thin line between protective and possessive... and Felix has absolutely crossed it. 👀🖤
I really enjoyed the psychological side of this story and watching the relationship between Eden and Felix develop. The stalking, manipulation, jealousy, grief, and obsession gave this book a darker edge without needing nonstop spice to keep me interested.
At 3🌶️, the romance still brought heat, but for me, the psychological tension was what really made the story.
If you love an obsessive MMC who thinks keeping her is the same thing as protecting her, add Pretty Thing to your TBR.
📚 Release date: September 10, 2026
#PrettyThing #BrooklynCross #DarkRomanceBooks #PsychologicalRomance #BookTok
This one is dark, emotional, twisted, and psychological in a way that keeps you questioning everything.
Eden and Felix are the two survivors of a devastating accident. Eden is trying to rebuild her life while dealing with grief, trauma, and everything she lost. And Felix? He’s always there. Watching. Protecting. Becoming the one person she believes she can depend on.
But there’s a very thin line between protective and possessive... and Felix has absolutely crossed it. 👀🖤
I really enjoyed the psychological side of this story and watching the relationship between Eden and Felix develop. The stalking, manipulation, jealousy, grief, and obsession gave this book a darker edge without needing nonstop spice to keep me interested.
At 3🌶️, the romance still brought heat, but for me, the psychological tension was what really made the story.
If you love an obsessive MMC who thinks keeping her is the same thing as protecting her, add Pretty Thing to your TBR.
📚 Release date: September 10, 2026
#PrettyThing #BrooklynCross #DarkRomanceBooks #PsychologicalRomance #BookTok
Review of advance copy received from Author
Eden survives a very traumatic ordeal. Luckily for her she is rescued by Felix, or is she?
"Eden is mine. My pretty thing. And I'll protect her at all costs."
Felix does not know Eden, but he texts her friends like he is her. He cares for Eden as well as cooks for her. He also watches outside her friend's house while she laughs with her friends. He will not let anyone take her. She may have old memories, but he wants to make new ones with her.
"Is there such a thing as too much pain?"
Eden did need someone like Felix to help her pick up all the pieces of her heart and put them back together again. I was not mad at Felix for anything that he did for Eden.
The last third of the story is where things got really interesting and it picked up the pacing. Cliffhanger ending anyone. Yep, if you are not a fan of cliffhanger endings, then I guess you will just have to wait until the full duet is complete. I know I am ready for book two. Brooklyn plays with your heart with this book.
"Eden is mine. My pretty thing. And I'll protect her at all costs."
Felix does not know Eden, but he texts her friends like he is her. He cares for Eden as well as cooks for her. He also watches outside her friend's house while she laughs with her friends. He will not let anyone take her. She may have old memories, but he wants to make new ones with her.
"Is there such a thing as too much pain?"
Eden did need someone like Felix to help her pick up all the pieces of her heart and put them back together again. I was not mad at Felix for anything that he did for Eden.
The last third of the story is where things got really interesting and it picked up the pacing. Cliffhanger ending anyone. Yep, if you are not a fan of cliffhanger endings, then I guess you will just have to wait until the full duet is complete. I know I am ready for book two. Brooklyn plays with your heart with this book.
September 10, 2026
Oh my good lord this book was absolutely incredible. It’s dark and twisted and tense. And it’s also filled with of care and obsession and hurt. There’s honestly just so much going on in it that I can’t put it in to words without spoiling things. Just know you HAVE to read this book. Felix and Eden are the definition of opposites attract. Felix is an unhinged chaos gremlin who is the biggest sweetheart for the woman he loves. Eden is his obsession and he will do anything to protect her. Eden is such an innocent and beautiful character. She’s so full of grief and sorrow. My heart broke for her. But getting to watch her get stronger and come in to her own had my heart swelling with pride and joy. Their connection and chemistry were intense and so heated. And I wanted them to find happiness and peace. But oh dang that ending. Absolutely diabolical. I never saw that coming. That was a punch to the emotional gut for certain. Now I’m just sitting here in complete shock and emotional ruin. And all I can do is wait for the next book to come out to ease this pain. And I FREAKING LOVE IT!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review 📚
Why is it so extremly hot in books when the MMC is so f*cking obsessed but IRL it's one of the biggest red 🚩 !? 🤣🤣
I don't even know what to say about this one.. Once again it's INTENSE! I read two intense books in a short amount of time now and my brain is all over the place!😅
I don't think you can call Felix just morally grey but more like.. Morally black!🖤
Do you love him? Do you hate him? Well, I would say that it comes and goes troughout the story!
Eden was a true victim of life's cruelty and I really feel for her.. You could actually feel her pain seep trough the pages 💔
⚠️ Beware of the TW'S in this book because it's DARK and there are alot of heavy subjects that could easily be too much.
(Not for me and my black little heart though🤣🖤)
And I didn't know that there was going to be a second one so that cliffhanger totally caught me off guard!! Give me book 2 now😭😭
Spice: 2.5 🌶
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why is it so extremly hot in books when the MMC is so f*cking obsessed but IRL it's one of the biggest red 🚩 !? 🤣🤣
I don't even know what to say about this one.. Once again it's INTENSE! I read two intense books in a short amount of time now and my brain is all over the place!😅
I don't think you can call Felix just morally grey but more like.. Morally black!🖤
Do you love him? Do you hate him? Well, I would say that it comes and goes troughout the story!
Eden was a true victim of life's cruelty and I really feel for her.. You could actually feel her pain seep trough the pages 💔
⚠️ Beware of the TW'S in this book because it's DARK and there are alot of heavy subjects that could easily be too much.
(Not for me and my black little heart though🤣🖤)
And I didn't know that there was going to be a second one so that cliffhanger totally caught me off guard!! Give me book 2 now😭😭
Spice: 2.5 🌶
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received this as an ARC...
I don't think I've ever read a book with a storyline like this before. I've read ones about 'shared trauma' but not where the MMC uses it to control and manipulate!
I absolutely loved reading this story but spent most of the time not sure how I feel about the MMC, Felix! He's gorgeous, but broken and completely unhinged - his obsession is not one to be messed with.
Eden thinks she is about to start a new chapter of her life when the worst thing in the world happens, a car crash that takes everything from her. However she is pulled out of the car by a gorgeous man who then seems to want to do everything for her. But when Felix starts to over step with the things he does for her, this leaves Eden's friends unsure on his motives!
How far will Felix go to ensure that Eden knows she is his now?!?
This book really does take you on a ride! Felix is clearly obsessed but how far will he let that obsession go?
Can't wait to get my hands on the second book, as this does end on a juicy cliffhanger...
• Trauma bond
• Obsession, to the fullest extent
• Broken, and completely unhinged MMC
• Stalking and Manipulation
• Pierced and Tattooed MMC
• Virgin FMC
I don't think I've ever read a book with a storyline like this before. I've read ones about 'shared trauma' but not where the MMC uses it to control and manipulate!
I absolutely loved reading this story but spent most of the time not sure how I feel about the MMC, Felix! He's gorgeous, but broken and completely unhinged - his obsession is not one to be messed with.
Eden thinks she is about to start a new chapter of her life when the worst thing in the world happens, a car crash that takes everything from her. However she is pulled out of the car by a gorgeous man who then seems to want to do everything for her. But when Felix starts to over step with the things he does for her, this leaves Eden's friends unsure on his motives!
How far will Felix go to ensure that Eden knows she is his now?!?
This book really does take you on a ride! Felix is clearly obsessed but how far will he let that obsession go?
Can't wait to get my hands on the second book, as this does end on a juicy cliffhanger...
• Trauma bond
• Obsession, to the fullest extent
• Broken, and completely unhinged MMC
• Stalking and Manipulation
• Pierced and Tattooed MMC
• Virgin FMC
September 11, 2026
I flew through Pretty Thing in one sitting! Absolutely zero self control. Brooklyn nails the terrifyingly believable slide from dependence to devotion to danger, twisting trauma, healing, and fixation into a razor thin line between being saved and being kept.
Felix’s attention starts as salvation soft, steady, and protective. The kind of presence you cling to when your world has shattered. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, it sharpens into something possessive, consuming, claustrophobic.
You feel Eden’s confusion, her loneliness, her desperate reach for something steady and how that desperation begins to blur into something she believes is care.
By the end, I was an emotionally messy heap, staring at the last page like excuse me, Brooklyn? That ending was a punch, and I am not patiently waiting to see what’s in store for Eden and Felix in the next instalment.
Thank you to Brooklyn and her team for the amazing read.
Felix’s attention starts as salvation soft, steady, and protective. The kind of presence you cling to when your world has shattered. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, it sharpens into something possessive, consuming, claustrophobic.
You feel Eden’s confusion, her loneliness, her desperate reach for something steady and how that desperation begins to blur into something she believes is care.
By the end, I was an emotionally messy heap, staring at the last page like excuse me, Brooklyn? That ending was a punch, and I am not patiently waiting to see what’s in store for Eden and Felix in the next instalment.
Thank you to Brooklyn and her team for the amazing read.
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