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The Irish Demon #1
A Ruthless Arrangement
No one can know of my infatuation with her, not even Amy herself…
Amy
I’m being forced to marry a mafia lord called the Irish Demon to save my family.
Just when I’ve been coming to terms with my grandfather being a mob boss.
I’ve been recently diagnosed as autistic, and it’s a life-changing discovery.
I’m not just shy or overly sensitive to sound. All my struggles that my family has dismissed have a valid neurological reason behind them.
I’m still learning how to navigate normal social interactions. How am I going to manage ones with the mafia, much less in marriage to a man who doesn’t know me?
Especially when one slip-up could threaten my family's lives?
Kerry
I’ve been obsessed with Amy Astero for years.
Tracking her movements, tapping her phone. I know almost everything about her, except for how she tastes.
I’ve convinced her eejit grandfather that we need to join families to complete a business deal.
And if he doesn’t let me marry Amy?
Then his gambling son will pay the price since I own his debts.
But things are more complicated than I thought when I actually meet her.
I knew she was autistic, but I never fully understood what that meant until now. The sound sensitivities, how she misses social cues, the different way the world perceives her.
I’m the Irish Demon. I always get what I want. And what I want is for Amy Astero to be protected and spoiled rotten.
I know there’s fire hidden inside my pretty girl.
And I plan on ensuring she’s comfortable enough to let it out.
A Ruthless Arrangement is a light mafia romance about an arranged, forced marriage between a shy, autistic fmc who’s innocent about the mafia world and a ruthless Irish mafia mmc who’s secretly obsessed with her. It’s low-violence with cozy vibes and spice, but it does contain themes of obsession, crime, and stalking. This is book one of a two-book series about this couple. It’s part of The Nameless International universe, but can be read as a standalone. Buy now for a romance with heavy yearning, neurodivergence rep, and funny moments. Free in Kindle Unlimited!
Please While this book is light mafia and low-violence, it is not a no violence story. This book is a spicy romance with adult themes. A list of trigger warnings is in the author’s note.
Amy
I’m being forced to marry a mafia lord called the Irish Demon to save my family.
Just when I’ve been coming to terms with my grandfather being a mob boss.
I’ve been recently diagnosed as autistic, and it’s a life-changing discovery.
I’m not just shy or overly sensitive to sound. All my struggles that my family has dismissed have a valid neurological reason behind them.
I’m still learning how to navigate normal social interactions. How am I going to manage ones with the mafia, much less in marriage to a man who doesn’t know me?
Especially when one slip-up could threaten my family's lives?
Kerry
I’ve been obsessed with Amy Astero for years.
Tracking her movements, tapping her phone. I know almost everything about her, except for how she tastes.
I’ve convinced her eejit grandfather that we need to join families to complete a business deal.
And if he doesn’t let me marry Amy?
Then his gambling son will pay the price since I own his debts.
But things are more complicated than I thought when I actually meet her.
I knew she was autistic, but I never fully understood what that meant until now. The sound sensitivities, how she misses social cues, the different way the world perceives her.
I’m the Irish Demon. I always get what I want. And what I want is for Amy Astero to be protected and spoiled rotten.
I know there’s fire hidden inside my pretty girl.
And I plan on ensuring she’s comfortable enough to let it out.
A Ruthless Arrangement is a light mafia romance about an arranged, forced marriage between a shy, autistic fmc who’s innocent about the mafia world and a ruthless Irish mafia mmc who’s secretly obsessed with her. It’s low-violence with cozy vibes and spice, but it does contain themes of obsession, crime, and stalking. This is book one of a two-book series about this couple. It’s part of The Nameless International universe, but can be read as a standalone. Buy now for a romance with heavy yearning, neurodivergence rep, and funny moments. Free in Kindle Unlimited!
Please While this book is light mafia and low-violence, it is not a no violence story. This book is a spicy romance with adult themes. A list of trigger warnings is in the author’s note.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 17, 2026
I wanted to like this, but I felt like I was intruding on the author's private fantasy. The FMC felt like too much of a direct pull from the author's life, trauma, personality, and likes. It crossed the line from "write what you know" into "write a y/n book, but y/n is the author."
I was also excited about the autism representation, but it felt more like forcing it in without actually representing anything - or rather, it felt like it actually misrepresented autism. For all the repeated mentions of how she's autistic and doesn't want to be coddled like a child, she in fact keeps requiring to be coddled and does act like a child. I've read books where no one stated the FMC was on the spectrum, and I still immediately picked up on her being neurodivergent. This attempt was clumsy, forced, and made it feel unrealistic that anyone would be interested in the FMC to begin with - which brings me back to the whole private y/n fic thing.
Also, I expected an author trying to represent this niche to do better than lean on the "other woman is mean to me and flirts with my man so he destroys her life" trope. Unnecessary misogyny that didn't add anything to the story or the relationship.
I was also excited about the autism representation, but it felt more like forcing it in without actually representing anything - or rather, it felt like it actually misrepresented autism. For all the repeated mentions of how she's autistic and doesn't want to be coddled like a child, she in fact keeps requiring to be coddled and does act like a child. I've read books where no one stated the FMC was on the spectrum, and I still immediately picked up on her being neurodivergent. This attempt was clumsy, forced, and made it feel unrealistic that anyone would be interested in the FMC to begin with - which brings me back to the whole private y/n fic thing.
Also, I expected an author trying to represent this niche to do better than lean on the "other woman is mean to me and flirts with my man so he destroys her life" trope. Unnecessary misogyny that didn't add anything to the story or the relationship.
August 4, 2026
Hi there, I'm the editor of this book under Empowered Editing. You can find me credited in the biker novel this author wrote. Under the same publishing "company", I'm the editor credited for every Viking book released.
I'm a disabled woman of color who provides affordable prices for indie authors. It's been an honor to provide so much support to empower the voices of those who are often misunderstood. I'd know the feeling.
This brings me to my point: unfortunately, the author took my edits of this book but did not credit or pay me for the project. The author also published this book without my knowledge. I have emailed this author in an attempt to deal with this internally; they have ignored all attempts.
One of my disabilities is I'm a late-diagnosed autistic person, and I commented on this draft, mentioning making changes because there were parts that would harmfully misinform folks on autism, and possibly offend autistic folks and those identifying as autistic and disabled.
Thank you for your time reading this.
I'm a disabled woman of color who provides affordable prices for indie authors. It's been an honor to provide so much support to empower the voices of those who are often misunderstood. I'd know the feeling.
This brings me to my point: unfortunately, the author took my edits of this book but did not credit or pay me for the project. The author also published this book without my knowledge. I have emailed this author in an attempt to deal with this internally; they have ignored all attempts.
One of my disabilities is I'm a late-diagnosed autistic person, and I commented on this draft, mentioning making changes because there were parts that would harmfully misinform folks on autism, and possibly offend autistic folks and those identifying as autistic and disabled.
Thank you for your time reading this.
July 16, 2026
I should have known not to listen to tiktok
September 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars
🍀🔫💍 Mafia boss? Arranged marriage? Secret obsession? Sign me up. 💍🔫🍀
Unfortunately, while A Ruthless Arrangement had all the ingredients of a book I should have absolutely devoured, it ended up being more of a "that was nice" read than an "OMG I'M OBSESSED" read.
Let's start with the real star of the show:
✨ Kerry. ✨
This man carried the entire book on his broad Irish mafia shoulders. 😂
We're introduced to him as the infamous Irish Demon, a ruthless mafia man everyone fears. Sounds intimidating, right?
Well...
The second Amy enters the room, this man becomes a golden retriever in expensive suits. 🐕💚
The Irish Demon? More like the Irish Simp.
The man is DOWN BAD.
Obsessively in love? ✔️
Protective? ✔️
Patient? ✔️
Researching her needs so he can make her more comfortable? ✔️
Ready to give her literally anything she wants? ✔️
This man spent years wanting her and the second he gets the chance to marry her he's basically like:
"You need anything? A blanket? Snacks? A new house? The moon?" 😭
Now, I won't lie. Kerry and I got off to a rough start.
The first chapter had me rolling my eyes so hard I almost saw another dimension. Every other thought seemed to be about how hard Amy made him or how badly he wanted her, and I was sitting there like:
🤨 "Sir, are you in love or are you just horny?"
Especially because he spends part of the beginning insisting he isn't in love.
Meanwhile this man has been secretly obsessed with her for FIVE YEARS.
Five.
Years.
🍀🚩🍀🚩🍀🚩
At some point I wanted to shake him and yell:
"SIR THAT IS LOVE."
Thankfully, we moved past that fairly quickly, and once Kerry stopped arguing with reality, he completely won me over. Beneath all the lusty internal monologues was a man who genuinely cared about Amy and wanted to make her feel safe, understood, and comfortable.
Kerry, I owe you an apology. 💚
Now let's talk about Amy.
And listen...
I wanted to love her.
I really did.
She has moments where she's sweet, funny, and surprisingly feisty. 🌸🔥
But OH MY GOD this girl could win Olympic gold in jumping to conclusions. 🏅
Someone breathes differently?
Amy: "He hates me."
Someone leaves the room?
Amy: "I've ruined everything."
Someone doesn't immediately explain something?
Amy: "This is clearly the worst possible scenario."
Girl. PLEASE. 😭
The amount of overthinking happening in this book could power several small cities.
And because of that, a huge chunk of the story revolves around misunderstandings and assumptions.
The funny thing is both characters repeatedly talk about how important communication is.
Meanwhile the plot:
🗣️ "Communication is important."
Also the plot:
🚫 Communication.
To be fair, Kerry deserves credit because he spends half the book trying to drag everyone back into a healthy conversation. He actively tries to discuss problems, clarify misunderstandings, and encourage honesty.
Which made me appreciate him even more.
As for the autism representation, I have mixed feelings.
I was actually really excited going into this because I love seeing neurodivergent representation in romance. There were aspects I appreciated, especially seeing sensory needs and social difficulties incorporated into Amy's day-to-day experiences rather than being mentioned once and forgotten.
But overall, something about the portrayal didn't fully work for me personally. I found myself struggling to connect with the way it was handled, and at times it felt like the book was telling me one thing while showing me another.
Your mileage may vary on this one, but it didn't completely land for me.
Now...
Can we discuss the mafia part of this mafia romance? 😂
Because I feel like someone forgot to invite the mafia.
I knew this was marketed as a lighter mafia romance, so I wasn't expecting endless violence, bloodshed, and traumatic backstories.
But I was expecting SOME tension.
SOME danger.
SOME "holy crap this man is terrifying."
Instead, the vibes were mostly:
💚 Kerry loves Amy.
💚 Kerry worries about Amy.
💚 Kerry wants Amy comfortable.
💚 Kerry buys Amy things.
💚 Kerry stares lovingly at Amy.
And while that's cute (very cute actually), I wanted a little more Irish Demon and a little less Irish Husband Material. But I'm not complaining; I see why other readers are. I did like the soft read.
The pacing was another issue for me.
This entire book takes place over roughly THREE DAYS. 😭
Three days.
And honestly, you can feel it.
A lot of the story is stretched across an incredibly short timeline, making it feel like we're spending an entire novel on what would normally be the opening act of a romance.
Now, I can understand Kerry's obsession. The man has been stalking—I mean... observing 👀—Amy for five years.
His feelings have had time to marinate.
Amy's feelings, however?
Girl...
You just had one of the most traumatic weeks of your life.
You were terrified.
You got dragged into an arranged marriage.
You barely know this man.
And then he confesses his feelings and suddenly you're like:
💃 "Okay sounds good."
Ma'am.
PLEASE ASK SOME FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. 😭
I needed a little more hesitation. A little more "who are you and why have you been secretly obsessed with me for half a decade?" before we got to full acceptance mode.
And that's really my biggest complaint.
This book feels like HALF a story.
Not a complete story.
A setup.
A very long setup.
By the time I felt like the plot was finally preparing to kick into gear and give me the drama, tension, and emotional payoff I'd been waiting for...
🚨 CLIFFHANGER. 🚨
Respectfully.
Rude.
Extremely rude.
I sat there staring at my Kindle like:
👁️👄👁️
"That's it?"
Overall, I did enjoy myself. It was an easy read, the arranged marriage premise kept me interested, and Kerry was genuinely adorable despite being a supposedly terrifying mafia boss.
I just wanted more.
More tension.
More emotional depth.
More relationship development.
More mafia.
More yearning.
More everything.
Because the potential is absolutely there.
So while this wasn't a new favorite, I am curious enough to see where the story goes next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Final Thoughts:**
🍀 Kerry = Irish husband material disguised as a mafia boss.
🤦♀️ Amy = queen of overthinking and worst-case scenarios🔫 Mafia = mostly off-screen.
📅 Timeline = approximately three business days.
👀 Five years of obsession = somehow less concerning than Amy immediately accepting it.
📖 Ending = basically a very aggressive "to be continued..."
Will I read the next book?
Probably. Right after I finish this review
🍀🔫💍 Mafia boss? Arranged marriage? Secret obsession? Sign me up. 💍🔫🍀
Unfortunately, while A Ruthless Arrangement had all the ingredients of a book I should have absolutely devoured, it ended up being more of a "that was nice" read than an "OMG I'M OBSESSED" read.
Let's start with the real star of the show:
✨ Kerry. ✨
This man carried the entire book on his broad Irish mafia shoulders. 😂
We're introduced to him as the infamous Irish Demon, a ruthless mafia man everyone fears. Sounds intimidating, right?
Well...
The second Amy enters the room, this man becomes a golden retriever in expensive suits. 🐕💚
The Irish Demon? More like the Irish Simp.
The man is DOWN BAD.
Obsessively in love? ✔️
Protective? ✔️
Patient? ✔️
Researching her needs so he can make her more comfortable? ✔️
Ready to give her literally anything she wants? ✔️
This man spent years wanting her and the second he gets the chance to marry her he's basically like:
"You need anything? A blanket? Snacks? A new house? The moon?" 😭
Now, I won't lie. Kerry and I got off to a rough start.
The first chapter had me rolling my eyes so hard I almost saw another dimension. Every other thought seemed to be about how hard Amy made him or how badly he wanted her, and I was sitting there like:
🤨 "Sir, are you in love or are you just horny?"
Especially because he spends part of the beginning insisting he isn't in love.
Meanwhile this man has been secretly obsessed with her for FIVE YEARS.
Five.
Years.
🍀🚩🍀🚩🍀🚩
At some point I wanted to shake him and yell:
"SIR THAT IS LOVE."
Thankfully, we moved past that fairly quickly, and once Kerry stopped arguing with reality, he completely won me over. Beneath all the lusty internal monologues was a man who genuinely cared about Amy and wanted to make her feel safe, understood, and comfortable.
Kerry, I owe you an apology. 💚
Now let's talk about Amy.
And listen...
I wanted to love her.
I really did.
She has moments where she's sweet, funny, and surprisingly feisty. 🌸🔥
But OH MY GOD this girl could win Olympic gold in jumping to conclusions. 🏅
Someone breathes differently?
Amy: "He hates me."
Someone leaves the room?
Amy: "I've ruined everything."
Someone doesn't immediately explain something?
Amy: "This is clearly the worst possible scenario."
Girl. PLEASE. 😭
The amount of overthinking happening in this book could power several small cities.
And because of that, a huge chunk of the story revolves around misunderstandings and assumptions.
The funny thing is both characters repeatedly talk about how important communication is.
Meanwhile the plot:
🗣️ "Communication is important."
Also the plot:
🚫 Communication.
To be fair, Kerry deserves credit because he spends half the book trying to drag everyone back into a healthy conversation. He actively tries to discuss problems, clarify misunderstandings, and encourage honesty.
Which made me appreciate him even more.
As for the autism representation, I have mixed feelings.
I was actually really excited going into this because I love seeing neurodivergent representation in romance. There were aspects I appreciated, especially seeing sensory needs and social difficulties incorporated into Amy's day-to-day experiences rather than being mentioned once and forgotten.
But overall, something about the portrayal didn't fully work for me personally. I found myself struggling to connect with the way it was handled, and at times it felt like the book was telling me one thing while showing me another.
Your mileage may vary on this one, but it didn't completely land for me.
Now...
Can we discuss the mafia part of this mafia romance? 😂
Because I feel like someone forgot to invite the mafia.
I knew this was marketed as a lighter mafia romance, so I wasn't expecting endless violence, bloodshed, and traumatic backstories.
But I was expecting SOME tension.
SOME danger.
SOME "holy crap this man is terrifying."
Instead, the vibes were mostly:
💚 Kerry loves Amy.
💚 Kerry worries about Amy.
💚 Kerry wants Amy comfortable.
💚 Kerry buys Amy things.
💚 Kerry stares lovingly at Amy.
And while that's cute (very cute actually), I wanted a little more Irish Demon and a little less Irish Husband Material. But I'm not complaining; I see why other readers are. I did like the soft read.
The pacing was another issue for me.
This entire book takes place over roughly THREE DAYS. 😭
Three days.
And honestly, you can feel it.
A lot of the story is stretched across an incredibly short timeline, making it feel like we're spending an entire novel on what would normally be the opening act of a romance.
Now, I can understand Kerry's obsession. The man has been stalking—I mean... observing 👀—Amy for five years.
His feelings have had time to marinate.
Amy's feelings, however?
Girl...
You just had one of the most traumatic weeks of your life.
You were terrified.
You got dragged into an arranged marriage.
You barely know this man.
And then he confesses his feelings and suddenly you're like:
💃 "Okay sounds good."
Ma'am.
PLEASE ASK SOME FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. 😭
I needed a little more hesitation. A little more "who are you and why have you been secretly obsessed with me for half a decade?" before we got to full acceptance mode.
And that's really my biggest complaint.
This book feels like HALF a story.
Not a complete story.
A setup.
A very long setup.
By the time I felt like the plot was finally preparing to kick into gear and give me the drama, tension, and emotional payoff I'd been waiting for...
🚨 CLIFFHANGER. 🚨
Respectfully.
Rude.
Extremely rude.
I sat there staring at my Kindle like:
👁️👄👁️
"That's it?"
Overall, I did enjoy myself. It was an easy read, the arranged marriage premise kept me interested, and Kerry was genuinely adorable despite being a supposedly terrifying mafia boss.
I just wanted more.
More tension.
More emotional depth.
More relationship development.
More mafia.
More yearning.
More everything.
Because the potential is absolutely there.
So while this wasn't a new favorite, I am curious enough to see where the story goes next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Final Thoughts:**
🍀 Kerry = Irish husband material disguised as a mafia boss.
🤦♀️ Amy = queen of overthinking and worst-case scenarios🔫 Mafia = mostly off-screen.
📅 Timeline = approximately three business days.
👀 Five years of obsession = somehow less concerning than Amy immediately accepting it.
📖 Ending = basically a very aggressive "to be continued..."
Will I read the next book?
Probably. Right after I finish this review
July 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
NGL, I had some doubts about this at first, but the neurodivergence trope was tempting enough for me to pick it up—and thank God it delivered! 🥹🩷
It was such a fun read, with a hot, devoted MMC. 🥵❤️ Although I wish Kerry's character had been developed a bit more and given the same depth as Amy's, he still managed to make his way into my top 10 favorite book husbands. 🫶📚
The only thing I hated was not knowing it ended on a cliffhanger. 😭 Now I can't wait to get my hands on Book 2 🏃🏻♀️💨📖
NGL, I had some doubts about this at first, but the neurodivergence trope was tempting enough for me to pick it up—and thank God it delivered! 🥹🩷
It was such a fun read, with a hot, devoted MMC. 🥵❤️ Although I wish Kerry's character had been developed a bit more and given the same depth as Amy's, he still managed to make his way into my top 10 favorite book husbands. 🫶📚
The only thing I hated was not knowing it ended on a cliffhanger. 😭 Now I can't wait to get my hands on Book 2 🏃🏻♀️💨📖
August 18, 2026
I loved this book!
It is rare you read about autistic heroines and then pair it with the mafia world and it was a whole new thing for me but honestly it was perfect!
This author did such a good job at describing the struggles, sensory overload and constant mind battle Autism is.
Now imagine the hero! One of the most feared mafia leaders in the world who has been obsessed about taking over and climbing the mafia world ladder to become bigger and badder.
One day he discovers our heroine and his obsession shifts. Now all he can think about is owning her. So he puts a years-long plan into place and gets her family to force her into an arranged marriage to one of the most feared mafia men in the world.
I loved following along as his obsession grew and he actually got to meet and learn about the heroine more and how they had to figure out all the bullshit from her family and the world kept throwing at them.
I will say the slow burn was torture at some points... But the book was just too good not to keep reading!
If you like
🩷 Arranged marriage
❤️ Autistic heroine
🩵 Stalker Hero
💚 Innocent heroine having no idea her family was in the mafia
💛 Slow burn
💜Found Family
Then this duet is for you!!
It is rare you read about autistic heroines and then pair it with the mafia world and it was a whole new thing for me but honestly it was perfect!
This author did such a good job at describing the struggles, sensory overload and constant mind battle Autism is.
Now imagine the hero! One of the most feared mafia leaders in the world who has been obsessed about taking over and climbing the mafia world ladder to become bigger and badder.
One day he discovers our heroine and his obsession shifts. Now all he can think about is owning her. So he puts a years-long plan into place and gets her family to force her into an arranged marriage to one of the most feared mafia men in the world.
I loved following along as his obsession grew and he actually got to meet and learn about the heroine more and how they had to figure out all the bullshit from her family and the world kept throwing at them.
I will say the slow burn was torture at some points... But the book was just too good not to keep reading!
If you like
🩷 Arranged marriage
❤️ Autistic heroine
🩵 Stalker Hero
💚 Innocent heroine having no idea her family was in the mafia
💛 Slow burn
💜Found Family
Then this duet is for you!!
June 23, 2026
Quick Light Hearted Mafia Read
Characters: Love Kerry 🖤 He's very mature, honest, & cares for Amy and trying to make her life comfortable. If there's any miscommunication, he's quick to be honest and resolve it like a mature adult. I love that he wants to see more of the real Amy. Definitely more kind to Amy & shows a softer side for only her. He's also willing to learn how to better help Amy too. Definitely looking forward to more of Kerry in the 2nd book. I feel like Amy definitely has it rough in life & is trying her best to be independent even with her condition. Liam & Jack are definitely becoming some of my favorite side characters, especially Liam. He's pretty funny.
Plot: its pretty interesting. Pretty straightforward for a mafia romance. I hope we find out more of the developing plot in the 2nd book. I also think this could have been 1 book, but maybe it need to be broken up into 2 books so it wasn't too long for readers. But plot was easy enough to follow that I finished it in 1 day.
Setting: New York - hope to see more locations in the 2nd book.
Spice: 0.5/5 🌶 no spicy scenes but its a very good book on its own & didn't need any spicy scenes.
Overall: I'm pretty happy with reading the book & would recommend if you are looking for a different kind of light mafia book. Nothing too dark or too violent. Just something quick to read with some autism representation & a morally Grey MMC.
Characters: Love Kerry 🖤 He's very mature, honest, & cares for Amy and trying to make her life comfortable. If there's any miscommunication, he's quick to be honest and resolve it like a mature adult. I love that he wants to see more of the real Amy. Definitely more kind to Amy & shows a softer side for only her. He's also willing to learn how to better help Amy too. Definitely looking forward to more of Kerry in the 2nd book. I feel like Amy definitely has it rough in life & is trying her best to be independent even with her condition. Liam & Jack are definitely becoming some of my favorite side characters, especially Liam. He's pretty funny.
Plot: its pretty interesting. Pretty straightforward for a mafia romance. I hope we find out more of the developing plot in the 2nd book. I also think this could have been 1 book, but maybe it need to be broken up into 2 books so it wasn't too long for readers. But plot was easy enough to follow that I finished it in 1 day.
Setting: New York - hope to see more locations in the 2nd book.
Spice: 0.5/5 🌶 no spicy scenes but its a very good book on its own & didn't need any spicy scenes.
Overall: I'm pretty happy with reading the book & would recommend if you are looking for a different kind of light mafia book. Nothing too dark or too violent. Just something quick to read with some autism representation & a morally Grey MMC.
July 9, 2026
4.25⭐️
eeekk so good. incredible autism rep and loved the light mafia vibes. kerry was sooo perfect, he was so observant and understanding and when he didn’t he was always on top of it to amy comfortable and feel understood. AND whenever there was a miscommunication it was dealt with so swiftly because he is just so down bad. i CANNOT wait for the second book to come out, i need more kerry and amy immediately
eeekk so good. incredible autism rep and loved the light mafia vibes. kerry was sooo perfect, he was so observant and understanding and when he didn’t he was always on top of it to amy comfortable and feel understood. AND whenever there was a miscommunication it was dealt with so swiftly because he is just so down bad. i CANNOT wait for the second book to come out, i need more kerry and amy immediately
July 15, 2026
DNF: Thought maybe the writing would get better later on, it does not. This book is all tell and no show which is thoroughly disappointing. It also felt like the autism was treated more like a trope or gimmick to get readers hooked and it felt so flat if that makes sense. Extremely unhappy with this book especially after finding out it ends on a cliffhanger, will not be reading any more from this author.
June 24, 2026
ASDGJDIHRITD i loved this book.
first, quick note-i LOVED how the trigger warnings were organized! i have c-ptsd, and normally the trigger warnings don't give enough context, and i end up having to use the search function to try and figure it out and end up spoiling stuff i didn't want to be spoiled. these ones gave enough context for me to feel safe while also not spoiling the book for me. so. i appreciate that haha.
ok. onto the review. starting with the autistic rep, since that was my main draw to the book xD;;
we have an autistic main character, and while autism is a spectrum that looks different for many people, i saw SO MUCH of myself in her. the meltdowns, the overstimulation, the overthinking social interactions. it was all so thoughtfully protrayed, and i really related with the family not taking it seriously-suuuuch a common "woman with autism" experience. it also wasn't her whole personality-she had her own interests and thoughts, and was a fully fleshed out character. i also felt like you could feel the trauma she has from growing up autistic without it being explicitly said-i related to the "i just want a cozy life in the country side with no demands." idk if she's a pda(pathological demand avoidance) autistic, but i am, and that hit SOOO hard. xD also!! i love that she's a kdrama/kpop fan! it made me think back to college when i would watch "my lovely sam soon" in between classes haha.
kerry is neurotypical, and had a lot of catching up with understanding her disability despite doing a lot of research on it prior to meeting her in person. which i feel is super realistic-i kind of think of it like culture shock. when i moved to japan, i did a lot of research on culture and other people's culture shock. however, even as prepared as i was, there was still A LOT that caught me by surprise, and i really felt that with his experience diving into the world of autism.
speaking of communication-there are some miscommunications, but they are all dealt with swiftly and healthily. even the big one-i was SO scared, but it ended up not being stressful at all and was, again, dealt with in a super healthy way! like. yes. mature adults. finally. xD
there is spice, but it's basically all either fantasizing about each other or masturbation-both super well done! this is book one of a duology, so i expect the spicier stuff will be in book two.
i love kerry. i may be a lesbian, but he's written reaaallllyyy well. we love an unhinged obsessive male love interest who also respects boundaries xD he was so sweet and caring with her, while being terrifying with everyone else-one of my favorite tropes, haha.
this is a light mafia romance, but there is a violent/traumatic scene! it is very easy to skim or skip without losing anything in the narrative however, i kind of skipped over it and was able to pick up from context.
it does leave off on a cliffhanger, but not a *major* cliffhanger. this books main conflict is between the two of them and their relationship, and i felt that was resolved well. i do feel like they maybe should be one book, given the length, but honestly this one had a LOT in such a short time, and a lot of fluff for me to go back and enjoy rereading, so i can't really complain haha. also, the second book comes out in a month-so we really don't have to wait that long anyway.
all in all, REALLY good book! i'm very excited for book two!
first, quick note-i LOVED how the trigger warnings were organized! i have c-ptsd, and normally the trigger warnings don't give enough context, and i end up having to use the search function to try and figure it out and end up spoiling stuff i didn't want to be spoiled. these ones gave enough context for me to feel safe while also not spoiling the book for me. so. i appreciate that haha.
ok. onto the review. starting with the autistic rep, since that was my main draw to the book xD;;
we have an autistic main character, and while autism is a spectrum that looks different for many people, i saw SO MUCH of myself in her. the meltdowns, the overstimulation, the overthinking social interactions. it was all so thoughtfully protrayed, and i really related with the family not taking it seriously-suuuuch a common "woman with autism" experience. it also wasn't her whole personality-she had her own interests and thoughts, and was a fully fleshed out character. i also felt like you could feel the trauma she has from growing up autistic without it being explicitly said-i related to the "i just want a cozy life in the country side with no demands." idk if she's a pda(pathological demand avoidance) autistic, but i am, and that hit SOOO hard. xD also!! i love that she's a kdrama/kpop fan! it made me think back to college when i would watch "my lovely sam soon" in between classes haha.
kerry is neurotypical, and had a lot of catching up with understanding her disability despite doing a lot of research on it prior to meeting her in person. which i feel is super realistic-i kind of think of it like culture shock. when i moved to japan, i did a lot of research on culture and other people's culture shock. however, even as prepared as i was, there was still A LOT that caught me by surprise, and i really felt that with his experience diving into the world of autism.
speaking of communication-there are some miscommunications, but they are all dealt with swiftly and healthily. even the big one-i was SO scared, but it ended up not being stressful at all and was, again, dealt with in a super healthy way! like. yes. mature adults. finally. xD
there is spice, but it's basically all either fantasizing about each other or masturbation-both super well done! this is book one of a duology, so i expect the spicier stuff will be in book two.
i love kerry. i may be a lesbian, but he's written reaaallllyyy well. we love an unhinged obsessive male love interest who also respects boundaries xD he was so sweet and caring with her, while being terrifying with everyone else-one of my favorite tropes, haha.
this is a light mafia romance, but there is a violent/traumatic scene! it is very easy to skim or skip without losing anything in the narrative however, i kind of skipped over it and was able to pick up from context.
it does leave off on a cliffhanger, but not a *major* cliffhanger. this books main conflict is between the two of them and their relationship, and i felt that was resolved well. i do feel like they maybe should be one book, given the length, but honestly this one had a LOT in such a short time, and a lot of fluff for me to go back and enjoy rereading, so i can't really complain haha. also, the second book comes out in a month-so we really don't have to wait that long anyway.
all in all, REALLY good book! i'm very excited for book two!
September 4, 2026
2.5⭐️
This could have been really good but it just… wasn’t.
As an autism mom I have such a soft spot for autistic characters so I think I had my hopes too high going into this.
-Dual PoV
-book 1 of a duet
-arranged marriage- no marriage so far in this book though
-ages?? I think it said fmc was mid 20s but can’t recall if mmcs age was mentioned
-sheltered autistic fmc/ Irish mafia boss mmc
-mmc had apparently been obsessed with the fmc for 4/5 years when the book starts but there’s no mention at all if he was celibate during his obsession or what, there’s no mentions of his past with women at all. No mentions of fmcs dating history or if she is a virgin or not. There’s zero spice in this book, they haven’t even kissed yet. There’s 1 scene where fmc got herself off to the thought of him when she was alone.
-no omd/ meaningless owd- there’s a retail assistant who’s rude to the fmc so mmc ruins her life, gets her fired and kicked out of law school. There’s a misunderstanding when fmc sees a text from his aunt referring to ‘their family’ and assumes he’s got a girlfriend and kids or something but it gets cleared up quick.
-Cliffhangerish- her grandfather is calling off the engagement
Apparently there’s a brief prequel novella if you sign up to the authors newsletter that goes into his first knowing about her and the start of his obsession. I might read that in bed tonight, although if it’s as boring as this book it’ll probably be my bedtime story and put me to sleep.
This could have been really good but it just… wasn’t.
As an autism mom I have such a soft spot for autistic characters so I think I had my hopes too high going into this.
-Dual PoV
-book 1 of a duet
-arranged marriage- no marriage so far in this book though
-ages?? I think it said fmc was mid 20s but can’t recall if mmcs age was mentioned
-sheltered autistic fmc/ Irish mafia boss mmc
-mmc had apparently been obsessed with the fmc for 4/5 years when the book starts but there’s no mention at all if he was celibate during his obsession or what, there’s no mentions of his past with women at all. No mentions of fmcs dating history or if she is a virgin or not. There’s zero spice in this book, they haven’t even kissed yet. There’s 1 scene where fmc got herself off to the thought of him when she was alone.
-no omd/ meaningless owd- there’s a retail assistant who’s rude to the fmc so mmc ruins her life, gets her fired and kicked out of law school. There’s a misunderstanding when fmc sees a text from his aunt referring to ‘their family’ and assumes he’s got a girlfriend and kids or something but it gets cleared up quick.
-Cliffhangerish- her grandfather is calling off the engagement
Apparently there’s a brief prequel novella if you sign up to the authors newsletter that goes into his first knowing about her and the start of his obsession. I might read that in bed tonight, although if it’s as boring as this book it’ll probably be my bedtime story and put me to sleep.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2026
3.5/5
Was loving it until the end. The complete 180 of Kerry and the way it ended was dumb asf. I do absolutely love the representation with Amy. However, the amount of times I read Irish demon when she knew his name irritated me to no end. In one chapter, she said it almost every other sentence. Thats over kill. Im definitely picking up book 2 because Amy deserves a happy ending and want to know why the deal is off.
Was loving it until the end. The complete 180 of Kerry and the way it ended was dumb asf. I do absolutely love the representation with Amy. However, the amount of times I read Irish demon when she knew his name irritated me to no end. In one chapter, she said it almost every other sentence. Thats over kill. Im definitely picking up book 2 because Amy deserves a happy ending and want to know why the deal is off.
July 22, 2026
Absolutely devoured it in a few hours only! And I didn’t knew the next book isn’t out yet so now I’ll have to wait . 😭
Absolutely adored the neurodivergent trope and I like the way the rmc was poytrayed cannot wait for book 2 .
Absolutely adored the neurodivergent trope and I like the way the rmc was poytrayed cannot wait for book 2 .
August 6, 2026
4.5/5⭐️
June 27, 2026
Fecking cliffhanger???? Boooooo! Too much autism in this book and they didn’t even kiss? Waste of time.
July 30, 2026
When I started reading, it took me a little while to get into the story. The author included a lot of exposition, especially Amy's thoughts, at the beginning. For the first three chapters, it felt like there would be a sentence of dialogue followed by a huge paragraph explaining why, so it was very hard for me to get into the book.
The female character is very soft, but she's also feisty at the same time, so it was kind of fun to see that dynamic. However, she was also very emotional, which irritated me at times. I don't really like when female characters are that soft. I didn't mind her too much, though, because if you've been overstimulated, I can understand why she reacts the way she does.
One thing I do need to mention is that the female character is very quick to jump to conclusions. She's a huge overthinker. If you don't like characters who immediately assume things like, "Oh my God, he's being distant. I must have done something to upset him," then this may not be the best book for you because she does that very often.
However, the male main character always tries to prevent any kind of miscommunication. He makes an effort to talk to her and encourages her to work through her feelings, so I really appreciated that about him.
As for Kerry, I didn't quite like him at first, but I have to admit he eventually won me over. He forced me to change my opinion of him.
Fav Quotes:
He tried to buy your father’s debts from the company that owned them, but they refused. And when they did, he just bought out the entire company.”
It took three months of research to gain an interest in her. Six months to realize she’s everything I didn’t know I was looking for. One year to become obsessed. It’s an obsession that’s only grown in the subsequent four years.
I’m not going to call him this grandiose, scary title like he probably wants. Irish Demon. Pathetic, really, to call yourself that. So dramatic. If you need to call yourself that, are you even scary? (my girl was sassy when she wanted to be.
It’s strange that the man called the Irish Demon is the one who’s been the nicest to me so far, just by sending me flowers. The bar is so low, it’s in hell. But apparently Mr. Demon is, too, so he can reach
And a woman who feels safe to be fiery? Well, that’s a loyal, happy woman.
I will find a way to silence my demons so I can be what she needs. I’ll be her family, even if no one else will be.
And she’s overdue for learning what a life with a real mafia man can be like. Not traumatizing and frightening, but protected and wanting for nothing, worshipped and adored. And I plan on giving that to her.
“Please don’t cause a scene. It’s not worth it.” His head snaps towards me, eyes flickering down to my hand on his arm, and then at my face. “You are worth any and every scene that I make. Do you understand me, leannán?
I want her to feel the heat of humiliation climbing up her back and seizing her by the throat, just like she did to my sweet Amy. “You could start by quitting. It would save us all the trouble of having to deal with your miserable existence and pathetic excuse of an employee. If you’re going to be a shit human on top of a shit employee, why even bother? Why not just quit and save us all the hassle? I mean, really? I can’t imagine you’re paid much more than minimum wage and yet you’re using your minor position of power to make someone else feel inferior? How stupid can you be?” (he was so funny for this, he make that girl regret it.
“Not just fired, but blacklisted from all stores and perhaps even the industry in this area.” I smile. “Like I said, karma is swift. Perhaps you should check your phone, Ms. Brown. I imagine you may have an email from Columbia, too…all those internships and opportunities your daddy got you…down the drain. I’d say it’s a shame, but it really isn’t.”
Overall, while I wasn't expecting it to be a duet I will read the next book because I'm interested enough to see what is happening after that cliffhanger.
The female character is very soft, but she's also feisty at the same time, so it was kind of fun to see that dynamic. However, she was also very emotional, which irritated me at times. I don't really like when female characters are that soft. I didn't mind her too much, though, because if you've been overstimulated, I can understand why she reacts the way she does.
One thing I do need to mention is that the female character is very quick to jump to conclusions. She's a huge overthinker. If you don't like characters who immediately assume things like, "Oh my God, he's being distant. I must have done something to upset him," then this may not be the best book for you because she does that very often.
However, the male main character always tries to prevent any kind of miscommunication. He makes an effort to talk to her and encourages her to work through her feelings, so I really appreciated that about him.
As for Kerry, I didn't quite like him at first, but I have to admit he eventually won me over. He forced me to change my opinion of him.
Fav Quotes:
He tried to buy your father’s debts from the company that owned them, but they refused. And when they did, he just bought out the entire company.”
It took three months of research to gain an interest in her. Six months to realize she’s everything I didn’t know I was looking for. One year to become obsessed. It’s an obsession that’s only grown in the subsequent four years.
I’m not going to call him this grandiose, scary title like he probably wants. Irish Demon. Pathetic, really, to call yourself that. So dramatic. If you need to call yourself that, are you even scary? (my girl was sassy when she wanted to be.
It’s strange that the man called the Irish Demon is the one who’s been the nicest to me so far, just by sending me flowers. The bar is so low, it’s in hell. But apparently Mr. Demon is, too, so he can reach
And a woman who feels safe to be fiery? Well, that’s a loyal, happy woman.
I will find a way to silence my demons so I can be what she needs. I’ll be her family, even if no one else will be.
And she’s overdue for learning what a life with a real mafia man can be like. Not traumatizing and frightening, but protected and wanting for nothing, worshipped and adored. And I plan on giving that to her.
“Please don’t cause a scene. It’s not worth it.” His head snaps towards me, eyes flickering down to my hand on his arm, and then at my face. “You are worth any and every scene that I make. Do you understand me, leannán?
I want her to feel the heat of humiliation climbing up her back and seizing her by the throat, just like she did to my sweet Amy. “You could start by quitting. It would save us all the trouble of having to deal with your miserable existence and pathetic excuse of an employee. If you’re going to be a shit human on top of a shit employee, why even bother? Why not just quit and save us all the hassle? I mean, really? I can’t imagine you’re paid much more than minimum wage and yet you’re using your minor position of power to make someone else feel inferior? How stupid can you be?” (he was so funny for this, he make that girl regret it.
“Not just fired, but blacklisted from all stores and perhaps even the industry in this area.” I smile. “Like I said, karma is swift. Perhaps you should check your phone, Ms. Brown. I imagine you may have an email from Columbia, too…all those internships and opportunities your daddy got you…down the drain. I’d say it’s a shame, but it really isn’t.”
Overall, while I wasn't expecting it to be a duet I will read the next book because I'm interested enough to see what is happening after that cliffhanger.
August 21, 2026
Going into A Ruthless Arrangement, I somehow completely missed the fact that Amy and Kerry’s story would be a duet, so discovering that this book ended on a cliffhanger definitely caught me by surprise. 😂
Overall, this was a cute read, but I have to admit that I kept waiting for something more to actually happen.
I knew from the beginning that this was advertised as a light mafia romance, so I certainly wasn’t expecting an incredibly dark or violent story. I actually think the softer approach to the mafia world could have worked really well here. Unfortunately, even with those expectations, the story felt a little too quiet for me. There isn’t much tension, danger, or real sense of stakes, and for a book involving an arranged marriage to a supposedly ruthless mafia man nicknamed the Irish Demon, I expected a little more bite.
Kerry was probably the most entertaining part for me. The contrast between the feared mafia man everyone else sees and the completely obsessed man he becomes around Amy is cute. He has spent years wanting her, and once he finally has the opportunity to make her his, he's determined to protect her, spoil her, and make her comfortable in his world. I just wish we'd seen a little more of the Irish Demon alongside that softer side.
Amy is an interesting heroine, particularly because she's still learning what her recent autism diagnosis means for her and beginning to understand herself through a completely different lens. I appreciated that her sensory needs and difficulties with certain social situations aren't simply mentioned once and forgotten—they're actually part of how she experiences the world and how Kerry learns to interact with her.
That being said, I wanted a little more development from both of them individually and as a couple. There are plenty of sweet moments, and Kerry's obsession creates some entertaining situations, but their relationship didn't completely pull me in emotionally. For a story built around years of secret obsession and a forced marriage, I expected more intensity and yearning once they were finally together.
And that's ultimately my biggest issue with the book: it feels more like the first half of a story than a complete book of its own.
There's a lot of setup—Amy discovering this new world, Kerry adapting to having the woman he's obsessed with actually in his life, their marriage and their developing relationship—but not enough payoff yet. By the time things finally seem ready to become more interesting... cliffhanger.
So yes, I'll be reading book two because I'm curious to see where Amy and Kerry's story goes, and I'm hoping everything established here is leading toward a much more eventful second half.
Cute? Definitely.
Cozy? Absolutely.
The ruthless mafia romance I was hoping for? Not quite yet.
Even a light mafia romance can give me a little more chaos.
Overall, this was a cute read, but I have to admit that I kept waiting for something more to actually happen.
I knew from the beginning that this was advertised as a light mafia romance, so I certainly wasn’t expecting an incredibly dark or violent story. I actually think the softer approach to the mafia world could have worked really well here. Unfortunately, even with those expectations, the story felt a little too quiet for me. There isn’t much tension, danger, or real sense of stakes, and for a book involving an arranged marriage to a supposedly ruthless mafia man nicknamed the Irish Demon, I expected a little more bite.
Kerry was probably the most entertaining part for me. The contrast between the feared mafia man everyone else sees and the completely obsessed man he becomes around Amy is cute. He has spent years wanting her, and once he finally has the opportunity to make her his, he's determined to protect her, spoil her, and make her comfortable in his world. I just wish we'd seen a little more of the Irish Demon alongside that softer side.
Amy is an interesting heroine, particularly because she's still learning what her recent autism diagnosis means for her and beginning to understand herself through a completely different lens. I appreciated that her sensory needs and difficulties with certain social situations aren't simply mentioned once and forgotten—they're actually part of how she experiences the world and how Kerry learns to interact with her.
That being said, I wanted a little more development from both of them individually and as a couple. There are plenty of sweet moments, and Kerry's obsession creates some entertaining situations, but their relationship didn't completely pull me in emotionally. For a story built around years of secret obsession and a forced marriage, I expected more intensity and yearning once they were finally together.
And that's ultimately my biggest issue with the book: it feels more like the first half of a story than a complete book of its own.
There's a lot of setup—Amy discovering this new world, Kerry adapting to having the woman he's obsessed with actually in his life, their marriage and their developing relationship—but not enough payoff yet. By the time things finally seem ready to become more interesting... cliffhanger.
So yes, I'll be reading book two because I'm curious to see where Amy and Kerry's story goes, and I'm hoping everything established here is leading toward a much more eventful second half.
Cute? Definitely.
Cozy? Absolutely.
The ruthless mafia romance I was hoping for? Not quite yet.
Even a light mafia romance can give me a little more chaos.
August 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay...BookTok made me do it. Ich gebe es ganz ehrlich zu.
Aber ich wurde nicht im Geringsten enttäuscht.
Amy und Kerry stammen zwar beide aus der Welt der Mafia, könnten als Menschen aber unterschiedlicher kaum sein. Sie ist College-Studentin und die Enkelin einer Mafiafamilie. Er ist der Anführer der irischen Mafia – und beschließt kurzerhand, dass eine Hochzeit mit Amy ihm den Zugang zu Territorien in den USA verschaffen könnte.
Romantisch? Eher weniger.
Amy stimmt der Ehe nur zu, weil sie Angst hat, dass ihrer Familie sonst etwas zustoßen könnte. Und genau das macht die Ausgangssituation so spannend.
Was mich allerdings komplett überrascht hat, war Kerry. Nach außen wirkt er wie der typische Mafia-Boss, aber Amy gegenüber zeigt er eine Seite, mit der ich überhaupt nicht gerechnet hatte. Er ist aufmerksam, fürsorglich und entwickelt sich schnell zu einem Charakter, den ich richtig ins Herz geschlossen habe. Und während Amy langsam merkt, dass ihr Herz in seiner Nähe plötzlich einen ganz anderen Rhythmus schlägt, habe ich innerlich einfach nur mitgegrinst.
Können wir außerdem kurz über Amys Großvater sprechen?
Was für ein absolutes Arschloch.
Es gibt wirklich wenige Charaktere, bei denen ich mir so oft dachte: Bitte halt einfach den Mund. Alles dreht sich nur um seinen eigenen Vorteil, und das merkt man auf jeder einzelnen Seite.
Und natürlich... NATÜRLICH endet Band 1 mit einem Cliffhanger. Warum sollten Autor:innen ihren Leser:innen auch Frieden gönnen?
Teil 2 steht jedenfalls schon auf meiner Leseliste und ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass ich nicht mehr lange widerstehen werde. 🍀🖤
Okay...BookTok made me do it. Ich gebe es ganz ehrlich zu.
Aber ich wurde nicht im Geringsten enttäuscht.
Amy und Kerry stammen zwar beide aus der Welt der Mafia, könnten als Menschen aber unterschiedlicher kaum sein. Sie ist College-Studentin und die Enkelin einer Mafiafamilie. Er ist der Anführer der irischen Mafia – und beschließt kurzerhand, dass eine Hochzeit mit Amy ihm den Zugang zu Territorien in den USA verschaffen könnte.
Romantisch? Eher weniger.
Amy stimmt der Ehe nur zu, weil sie Angst hat, dass ihrer Familie sonst etwas zustoßen könnte. Und genau das macht die Ausgangssituation so spannend.
Was mich allerdings komplett überrascht hat, war Kerry. Nach außen wirkt er wie der typische Mafia-Boss, aber Amy gegenüber zeigt er eine Seite, mit der ich überhaupt nicht gerechnet hatte. Er ist aufmerksam, fürsorglich und entwickelt sich schnell zu einem Charakter, den ich richtig ins Herz geschlossen habe. Und während Amy langsam merkt, dass ihr Herz in seiner Nähe plötzlich einen ganz anderen Rhythmus schlägt, habe ich innerlich einfach nur mitgegrinst.
Können wir außerdem kurz über Amys Großvater sprechen?
Was für ein absolutes Arschloch.
Es gibt wirklich wenige Charaktere, bei denen ich mir so oft dachte: Bitte halt einfach den Mund. Alles dreht sich nur um seinen eigenen Vorteil, und das merkt man auf jeder einzelnen Seite.
Und natürlich... NATÜRLICH endet Band 1 mit einem Cliffhanger. Warum sollten Autor:innen ihren Leser:innen auch Frieden gönnen?
Teil 2 steht jedenfalls schon auf meiner Leseliste und ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass ich nicht mehr lange widerstehen werde. 🍀🖤
June 25, 2026
🖤Mafia MMC
🧶 Autistic FMC
🖤Arranged marriage
🧶 Misunderstood FMC
🖤 He falls first
🧶 He has stalked her for years
🖤 Toxic family
🧶 Cliffhanger
First of all It was surprising to see "Healer" the Kdrama i have watched many times mentioned. It is rare for anyone to have heard of it.
Now, on to the story I actually really loved both characters. The FMC Amy is autistic and I think people going into this book should know how she thinks or acts is not how other autistic people may act or come across. She is smart and obviously is observant. I saw myself in her many times because around the right people you really can be yourself if you trust them. I found her family to all be entirely uncaring and extremely narcissistic. I could see her breaking free of everyone and being a bolder version of herself. I felt like some people may see her as a autistic rep and not see exactly how they actually come across themselves.
The MMC Kerry is obsessed with her it really showed how much he wanted to understand her. He made sure to think about what was said and decipher what was going on. He actually really was great at communicating and trying to fix what was wrong or misunderstood. I wish i didn't have to wait for a second book but it's saved for when it is released.
🧶 Autistic FMC
🖤Arranged marriage
🧶 Misunderstood FMC
🖤 He falls first
🧶 He has stalked her for years
🖤 Toxic family
🧶 Cliffhanger
First of all It was surprising to see "Healer" the Kdrama i have watched many times mentioned. It is rare for anyone to have heard of it.
Now, on to the story I actually really loved both characters. The FMC Amy is autistic and I think people going into this book should know how she thinks or acts is not how other autistic people may act or come across. She is smart and obviously is observant. I saw myself in her many times because around the right people you really can be yourself if you trust them. I found her family to all be entirely uncaring and extremely narcissistic. I could see her breaking free of everyone and being a bolder version of herself. I felt like some people may see her as a autistic rep and not see exactly how they actually come across themselves.
The MMC Kerry is obsessed with her it really showed how much he wanted to understand her. He made sure to think about what was said and decipher what was going on. He actually really was great at communicating and trying to fix what was wrong or misunderstood. I wish i didn't have to wait for a second book but it's saved for when it is released.
August 7, 2026
Okay, a neurodivergent FMC was the entire reason I picked up A Ruthless Arrangement and IT FREAKING DELIVERED. 🙌
This was such a fun, easy read, but can we please talk about KERRY?! Goodness gracious me. This man is DEVOTED AF. Like… immediately adding him to my Top 10 MMC list because SIR. 😭❤️
But one of my absolute FAVORITE things about this book is the communication. Our FMC says what is on her mind. If something could turn into a misunderstanding? SHE ADDRESSES IT. 👏 There is no dragging out some ridiculous miscommunication for 100 pages, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciated that.
She communicates what she needs, how she feels, and how her brain works and Kerry LISTENS. He doesn't always automatically understand, but he's willing to learn, adjust, and figure out how to love her the way she needs to be loved. 🥹
And honestly? THAT is romantic.
There’s no spice, and I genuinely didn't miss it. The story absolutely doesn't need it.
Neurodivergent FMC ✔️
DEVOTED AF MMC ✔️
Actual communication ✔️
No miscommunication trope 🙌
Easy, addictive read ✔️
Kerry, you have officially made the MMC rankings. 🫡
Now give me Book 2 because I am READY.
This was such a fun, easy read, but can we please talk about KERRY?! Goodness gracious me. This man is DEVOTED AF. Like… immediately adding him to my Top 10 MMC list because SIR. 😭❤️
But one of my absolute FAVORITE things about this book is the communication. Our FMC says what is on her mind. If something could turn into a misunderstanding? SHE ADDRESSES IT. 👏 There is no dragging out some ridiculous miscommunication for 100 pages, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciated that.
She communicates what she needs, how she feels, and how her brain works and Kerry LISTENS. He doesn't always automatically understand, but he's willing to learn, adjust, and figure out how to love her the way she needs to be loved. 🥹
And honestly? THAT is romantic.
There’s no spice, and I genuinely didn't miss it. The story absolutely doesn't need it.
Neurodivergent FMC ✔️
DEVOTED AF MMC ✔️
Actual communication ✔️
No miscommunication trope 🙌
Easy, addictive read ✔️
Kerry, you have officially made the MMC rankings. 🫡
Now give me Book 2 because I am READY.
October 24, 2026
Book Title: A Ruthless Arrangement
Series: The Irish Demon Book 1
Author: Eva Blackwood
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: none
Amy is one of my favorite FMC's I have read in a while. She is autistic and does not people well. She is always trying to figure out what other people's motives are. She really just wants to fit in and make people happy. While visiting her grandparents she finds out that they are into some shady stuff and now they want her to marry a guy she has never met before. THEY CALL HIM THE IRISH DEMON😛
Kerry what can I say I absolutely loved him!!! He has been obsessed with Amy for years and needs to convince her grandfather that in order for a business deal to go through he gets to marry Amy. He knew she was autistic but didn't truly understand until he spends time with her.
Can Kerry convince Amy to speak up for herself and get away from her toxic family or will plans change and he doesn't
get what he ultimately wants.
The book ended on one hell of a cliffhanger I can't wait to get into book 2.
#ARuthlessArrangement #EvaBlackwood #TheIrishDemon #mafiaromance #autisticfmc
Series: The Irish Demon Book 1
Author: Eva Blackwood
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: none
Amy is one of my favorite FMC's I have read in a while. She is autistic and does not people well. She is always trying to figure out what other people's motives are. She really just wants to fit in and make people happy. While visiting her grandparents she finds out that they are into some shady stuff and now they want her to marry a guy she has never met before. THEY CALL HIM THE IRISH DEMON😛
Kerry what can I say I absolutely loved him!!! He has been obsessed with Amy for years and needs to convince her grandfather that in order for a business deal to go through he gets to marry Amy. He knew she was autistic but didn't truly understand until he spends time with her.
Can Kerry convince Amy to speak up for herself and get away from her toxic family or will plans change and he doesn't
get what he ultimately wants.
The book ended on one hell of a cliffhanger I can't wait to get into book 2.
#ARuthlessArrangement #EvaBlackwood #TheIrishDemon #mafiaromance #autisticfmc
October 8, 2026
Notes for me
Kerry - mafia boss called Irish Demon
Amy
Visiting her cold, rich mafia grandparents. They disowned her father for his gambling. Her mother raised her on only a PA salary. She usually only visits 1 week a year but they asked her to come out of normal. Her grandmother says her father got the entire family in trouble with The Irish Demon. Now he wants to marry her to get access to a dock.
In Kerry’s mind he needs fortune, wife and heirs. Amy can give him all three. He started researching her 5 years ago. He became obsessed after one year. He’s been biding his time.
Amy agrees to the marriage to save her family. She’s getting a Communications degree so she can work at home. She just wants peace and quiet.
Kerry and Amy meet at a hotel. She is surprised that he is young and handsome. In his mind he’s obsessed but their marriage will be emotionless.
Later in the story he receives a threat from a rival threatening Amy. He becomes cold because he’s worried. At the same time she sees a text from his aunt but thinks he has a family with another woman. She goes colder.
They work everything out just as her grandfather cancels the deal and wedding.
Cliffhanger
Kerry - mafia boss called Irish Demon
Amy
Visiting her cold, rich mafia grandparents. They disowned her father for his gambling. Her mother raised her on only a PA salary. She usually only visits 1 week a year but they asked her to come out of normal. Her grandmother says her father got the entire family in trouble with The Irish Demon. Now he wants to marry her to get access to a dock.
In Kerry’s mind he needs fortune, wife and heirs. Amy can give him all three. He started researching her 5 years ago. He became obsessed after one year. He’s been biding his time.
Amy agrees to the marriage to save her family. She’s getting a Communications degree so she can work at home. She just wants peace and quiet.
Kerry and Amy meet at a hotel. She is surprised that he is young and handsome. In his mind he’s obsessed but their marriage will be emotionless.
Later in the story he receives a threat from a rival threatening Amy. He becomes cold because he’s worried. At the same time she sees a text from his aunt but thinks he has a family with another woman. She goes colder.
They work everything out just as her grandfather cancels the deal and wedding.
Cliffhanger
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2026
Mafia/ touch her and die/ neurodivergent FMC/ arranged marriage/ he falls first/ forced proximity/ morally gray MMC/ billionaire romance/ cliffhanger
Trigger warning: guns/ torture/ murder/ mutilation/ threats of violence/ stalking/ emotional abuse/ verbal abuse/ manipulation/ neglectful parenting/ PTSD/ trauma/ ableism/ body shaming/ sexism/ classism/ gambling addiction
I wanted to like this but it felt like most of the book consisted of miscommunication and preconceived notions. Both MCs even mention how important communication is due to their upcoming wedding yet they are guilty of consistently jump to conclusions. The MCs are both so far up their own asses that they don’t stop to think about how their words/ actions affect each other until they’re ultimately called out. I know relationships take time to grow and build trust but this was painful to sit through.
There is also virtually no spice. It wasn’t surprising but it was disappointing.
Trigger warning: guns/ torture/ murder/ mutilation/ threats of violence/ stalking/ emotional abuse/ verbal abuse/ manipulation/ neglectful parenting/ PTSD/ trauma/ ableism/ body shaming/ sexism/ classism/ gambling addiction
I wanted to like this but it felt like most of the book consisted of miscommunication and preconceived notions. Both MCs even mention how important communication is due to their upcoming wedding yet they are guilty of consistently jump to conclusions. The MCs are both so far up their own asses that they don’t stop to think about how their words/ actions affect each other until they’re ultimately called out. I know relationships take time to grow and build trust but this was painful to sit through.
There is also virtually no spice. It wasn’t surprising but it was disappointing.
August 3, 2026
J'ai hésité entre quatre et cinq étoiles... mais j'ai réalisé que je me posais des questions parce que l'histoire est bourrée de clichés... Mais n'est-ce pas ce que l'on cherche en lisant ce genre bien précis de romance ? Mafia, dark, mariage arrangé, autisme, curvy girl, alors où on lève les yeux au ciel où l'on plonge avec les héros. J'ai plongé !
L'héroïne est adorable, le héros est hyper séduisant. Cela commence vite avec les deux points de vue, bien évidemment décalés. Si je résume, c'est du gros n'importe quoi mais on adhère avec enthousiasme, grâce à une écriture efficace, sans fioriture, et surtout un rythme soutenu et beaucoup d'intensité. J'ai eu l'impression que l'autrice revisitait le film "Pretty woman". On suit les épisodes dramatiques, les confrontations où les malentendus s'enchaînent (et pourtant notre héros qui s'est beaucoup renseigné sur l'autisme, a du mal à faire face, malgré une évidente bonne volonté).
Une romance idéale de vacances !
L'héroïne est adorable, le héros est hyper séduisant. Cela commence vite avec les deux points de vue, bien évidemment décalés. Si je résume, c'est du gros n'importe quoi mais on adhère avec enthousiasme, grâce à une écriture efficace, sans fioriture, et surtout un rythme soutenu et beaucoup d'intensité. J'ai eu l'impression que l'autrice revisitait le film "Pretty woman". On suit les épisodes dramatiques, les confrontations où les malentendus s'enchaînent (et pourtant notre héros qui s'est beaucoup renseigné sur l'autisme, a du mal à faire face, malgré une évidente bonne volonté).
Une romance idéale de vacances !
August 18, 2026
I'm in love
Eva, what have you done? I just found this book and you have rearranged my whole top list! I cannot believe that in the blink of an eye I was already 80% into the book, and honestly dreading to finish it because of how much I was enjoying it. I feel like I can just throw all my books out ( except my specials editions) and just build a shrine for you and this book.
Amy and Kerry were the absolute most adorable couple I could have ever met. I loved the way you just made them grow and learn to trust each other specially Amy, it was a huge step for her. Thank you for giving the respect that the people in the spectrum deserves and to show that it is a spectrum for a reason.
To any reader that may come across this review, please do yourself a favor and just start reading it. You are not going to be disappointed by the wonderful world and characters that Eva has created for you.
Eva, what have you done? I just found this book and you have rearranged my whole top list! I cannot believe that in the blink of an eye I was already 80% into the book, and honestly dreading to finish it because of how much I was enjoying it. I feel like I can just throw all my books out ( except my specials editions) and just build a shrine for you and this book.
Amy and Kerry were the absolute most adorable couple I could have ever met. I loved the way you just made them grow and learn to trust each other specially Amy, it was a huge step for her. Thank you for giving the respect that the people in the spectrum deserves and to show that it is a spectrum for a reason.
To any reader that may come across this review, please do yourself a favor and just start reading it. You are not going to be disappointed by the wonderful world and characters that Eva has created for you.
June 23, 2026
Let me begin by expressing my excitement to see more representation of autistic characters in literature. It is then with utter devastation that I'm sharing that I feel as though autism in this book was merely treated as a trope.
Autistic experiences are not tropes or ways to be perceived in the way Amy was shown here.
Saddened to see that readers of whatever a light mafia romance is will see autism categorized in ways that shouldn't be in fiction. This needed better representation of what's already misunderstood by the media and popular culture. I urge you to please do better, especially given that the author has shared that they too identify with being autistic.
As a diagnosed autistic person, I ask all of us to be more sensitive and for autistic people not to be treated as tropes for a "light" mafia romance novel.
Autistic experiences are not tropes or ways to be perceived in the way Amy was shown here.
Saddened to see that readers of whatever a light mafia romance is will see autism categorized in ways that shouldn't be in fiction. This needed better representation of what's already misunderstood by the media and popular culture. I urge you to please do better, especially given that the author has shared that they too identify with being autistic.
As a diagnosed autistic person, I ask all of us to be more sensitive and for autistic people not to be treated as tropes for a "light" mafia romance novel.
July 1, 2026
I dislike violence, but not protective violence.
I’m really excited to read the next book and I’m really hoping there will be a third. I am thrilled by how realistic and honest these autistic and PTSD thoughts and reasons and everything seems really well represented and clearly miss Eva Blackwood. Truly either has autism or is very close with someone with it. I myself have autism and CPTSD so I really feel like I have connected with this character in my mind because she’s very similar to how I see the world I’m always looking for danger and overwhelmed by loud noises like I will never go to New York City because it sounds like hell for me with all the sensory overwhelming everything but I love the story I love they’re getting to know each other and I am thrilled that there’s another book because this cliffhanger is absolutely diabolical, darling.
I’m really excited to read the next book and I’m really hoping there will be a third. I am thrilled by how realistic and honest these autistic and PTSD thoughts and reasons and everything seems really well represented and clearly miss Eva Blackwood. Truly either has autism or is very close with someone with it. I myself have autism and CPTSD so I really feel like I have connected with this character in my mind because she’s very similar to how I see the world I’m always looking for danger and overwhelmed by loud noises like I will never go to New York City because it sounds like hell for me with all the sensory overwhelming everything but I love the story I love they’re getting to know each other and I am thrilled that there’s another book because this cliffhanger is absolutely diabolical, darling.
August 8, 2026
I devoured this in a single afternoon, and honestly, I’m so glad I did.
I was a little sceptical going in—“light dark romance” sounds contradictory—but somehow, it works. Amy’s autism representation is sharp and real, and the number of times I found myself thinking, “god, that’s exactly how my brain works,” was almost spooky. Sure, there were differences, but autism isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially for women.
Kerry is an absolute darling, fumbling his way through trying to help and understand Amy in a way that feels raw and vulnerable. The miscommunications are believable—no eye-rolling plot devices, just two people doing their best and missing each other sometimes.
If I have a complaint, it’s that some of the group scenes felt a bit forced and awkward. The flow wasn’t always natural. But honestly, it didn’t pull me out for long.
I was a little sceptical going in—“light dark romance” sounds contradictory—but somehow, it works. Amy’s autism representation is sharp and real, and the number of times I found myself thinking, “god, that’s exactly how my brain works,” was almost spooky. Sure, there were differences, but autism isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially for women.
Kerry is an absolute darling, fumbling his way through trying to help and understand Amy in a way that feels raw and vulnerable. The miscommunications are believable—no eye-rolling plot devices, just two people doing their best and missing each other sometimes.
If I have a complaint, it’s that some of the group scenes felt a bit forced and awkward. The flow wasn’t always natural. But honestly, it didn’t pull me out for long.
October 13, 2026
You ever just randomly come across a book on KU, read the synopsis real fast & go ‘that’s it I’ve heard enough about the book I’m reading it right now’ not even fully aware that you’ve just signed up for a book that’s going to ruin your night? The further along I got into the book the more genuine angry I was with the author for making the book less than 300 pages lol. I was actually going to give the book a drastically different review due to how unfinished the book was since I assumed the book would end after the wedding & the epilogue would be her in Ireland. I’ve never been so happy to realize that I completely missed the fact it’s not a standalone. I feel on top of the world knowing I have an entire second book with Kerry & Amy.
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