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The Circle
“Rest assured, when I finally get my hands on you… you will know for certain that I am no saint.”
A dark romantic comedy set inside an exclusive New York City kink society, perfect for fans of Butcher and Blackbird, Fifty Shades of Grey, and HBO’s White Lotus and Search Party.
What’s worse than your best friend moving out mid-lease to shack up with her newest toxic boyfriend? Probably discovering she also joined a freaky cult for obnoxious rich people, crypto bros, and tradwife spiritual gurus nestled inside a deconsecrated Gothic church. If Nova Harding had enough money for therapy, she might’ve let go of Lorelei’s mess to focus on writing. Instead, guided by mysterious social media ads, Nova is drawn inside The Circle to save her friend.
While Nova has spent the last seven years in New York City chasing success as an indie romance author, Lorelei has spent them trapped in their shared dark past. Nova refuses to abandon Lorelei, even as The Circle forces her to confront her greatest shames—and deepest desires.
But Nova isn’t the only concerned citizen infiltrating The Circle. Wes is ten years older than her. He’s tattooed, complicated, witty, and thoughtful. And he’s impossible to read. He is everything Nova should hate, another reminder of the taboo fantasies she can’t indulge. Wes says he wants to protect her in this den of snakes—that they can help each other and then part ways as friends.
But the way Wes looks at Nova is anything but friendly.
Caught in a New York City dreamworld of sex, glamor, power, and social media algorithms, Nova struggles to know who to trust. Is Wes really like her?
Or is Wes one of them?
—
The Circle is a standalone in a series of interconnected standalones.
A dark romantic comedy set inside an exclusive New York City kink society, perfect for fans of Butcher and Blackbird, Fifty Shades of Grey, and HBO’s White Lotus and Search Party.
What’s worse than your best friend moving out mid-lease to shack up with her newest toxic boyfriend? Probably discovering she also joined a freaky cult for obnoxious rich people, crypto bros, and tradwife spiritual gurus nestled inside a deconsecrated Gothic church. If Nova Harding had enough money for therapy, she might’ve let go of Lorelei’s mess to focus on writing. Instead, guided by mysterious social media ads, Nova is drawn inside The Circle to save her friend.
While Nova has spent the last seven years in New York City chasing success as an indie romance author, Lorelei has spent them trapped in their shared dark past. Nova refuses to abandon Lorelei, even as The Circle forces her to confront her greatest shames—and deepest desires.
But Nova isn’t the only concerned citizen infiltrating The Circle. Wes is ten years older than her. He’s tattooed, complicated, witty, and thoughtful. And he’s impossible to read. He is everything Nova should hate, another reminder of the taboo fantasies she can’t indulge. Wes says he wants to protect her in this den of snakes—that they can help each other and then part ways as friends.
But the way Wes looks at Nova is anything but friendly.
Caught in a New York City dreamworld of sex, glamor, power, and social media algorithms, Nova struggles to know who to trust. Is Wes really like her?
Or is Wes one of them?
—
The Circle is a standalone in a series of interconnected standalones.
526 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2026
About the author
Maggie Sunseri
15 books1,218 followersMaggie Sunseri is the author of fantasy romance books by day and a witch, tarot card reader, and succubus by night. She has a bachelor's degree in Anthropology/Sociology. When she’s not traveling the world, you’ll find her curled up with a good book and a hot cup of tea, pretending it’s autumn no matter the season.
Sign up for her newsletter at https://maggiesunseri.com for ARC opportunities, bonus content, and new releases, or follow her on Instagram and Facebook for more frequent updates.
You can join her secret coven (reader group) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggi...
She also writes a Substack about spirituality, mental health, addiction, sexuality, and all things witchy and creative. https://maggiesunseri.substack.com/
Sign up for her newsletter at https://maggiesunseri.com for ARC opportunities, bonus content, and new releases, or follow her on Instagram and Facebook for more frequent updates.
You can join her secret coven (reader group) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggi...
She also writes a Substack about spirituality, mental health, addiction, sexuality, and all things witchy and creative. https://maggiesunseri.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
July 31, 2026
i just finished a glass of wine and finished this book LOLO RIP TO MY HUSBANDS SLEEP
August 10, 2026
I had so much fun while reading. The perfect mix of a good storyline, tension, humor.
I really like Maggie’s writing style 🙌🏼💗
100% recommend
I really like Maggie’s writing style 🙌🏼💗
100% recommend
July 26, 2026
I love Maggie Sunseri’s vampire duets so when her new book popped up, I knew I wanted to read it ASAP. While this book is marketed as a dark rom com, I would describe it as more of a romantic suspense/thriller novel set against the backdrop of NYC, giving us glimpses of a dark underworld and at other times a bright hopefulness of found family among roommates, neighbors, and close knit communities.
In this book, our FMC Nova is a 20-something indie romance author, who left home with her best friend Lorelei at 18 to escape their families’ religious abuse. Nova approaches a kink club with strong woo-woo cult vibes in pursuit of Lorelei, who has cut off contact with Nova. What ensues is a winding mystery: where is Lorelei, what are the motives of this club, who can Nova trust? Along the way, she allies with Wes who is also investigating the club. Wes is a former dom with his own trauma. Together they embark on an unsettling journey and intense attraction.
I loved the found family banter with Nova’s roommates and the burn between Wes and Nova. There’s some interesting meta commentary on the hustle of an indie romance author. Overall, if you enjoy mid-dark suspense romance, I think you’ll enjoy this book. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review this book in advance.
In this book, our FMC Nova is a 20-something indie romance author, who left home with her best friend Lorelei at 18 to escape their families’ religious abuse. Nova approaches a kink club with strong woo-woo cult vibes in pursuit of Lorelei, who has cut off contact with Nova. What ensues is a winding mystery: where is Lorelei, what are the motives of this club, who can Nova trust? Along the way, she allies with Wes who is also investigating the club. Wes is a former dom with his own trauma. Together they embark on an unsettling journey and intense attraction.
I loved the found family banter with Nova’s roommates and the burn between Wes and Nova. There’s some interesting meta commentary on the hustle of an indie romance author. Overall, if you enjoy mid-dark suspense romance, I think you’ll enjoy this book. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review this book in advance.
July 26, 2026
🪢♥️ The Circle — Maggie Sunseri ♥️🪢
It’s almost time! A brand new kinky romcom is in town and it comes out July 31😏 I had such a fun time reading this one, the villains were EVERYWHERE, the MMC was just my type and the banter was hilarious not to mention the mystery that was driving the entire story had me totally captivated!
This book was totally unique to anything I’ve read in a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey! A massive thank you to @maggiesunseri for the ARC♥️
If you like
🥀 Dark Contemporary Romance
🖤 Age Gap
🥀 Kinky Cult
🖤 Dom x Sub
🥀 BDSM
🖤 Banter For Days
🥀 Secret Masked Society
🖤 Possessiveness x Obsession
It’s almost time! A brand new kinky romcom is in town and it comes out July 31😏 I had such a fun time reading this one, the villains were EVERYWHERE, the MMC was just my type and the banter was hilarious not to mention the mystery that was driving the entire story had me totally captivated!
This book was totally unique to anything I’ve read in a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey! A massive thank you to @maggiesunseri for the ARC♥️
If you like
🥀 Dark Contemporary Romance
🖤 Age Gap
🥀 Kinky Cult
🖤 Dom x Sub
🥀 BDSM
🖤 Banter For Days
🥀 Secret Masked Society
🖤 Possessiveness x Obsession
August 3, 2026
Thank you for the ARC. I guess this book was not for me. It's not because it's about light kink. The first half of the book practically has none or just a bit.
I love her writing and the previous two duets, so I was surprised that I didn't like Nova. I am still so annoyed with her. I really struggled. That annoyance prevented me from connecting with her or Wes. I did not get her crazy obsession to find a person who doesn't want to be in her life, her being oblivious to some things happening, and most of all her relationship with Wes. She wants to be in a relationship with a dom (trust super important) and yet she does things that would destroy any trust. All that stuff with Roman... Why? Maybe I don't get that type of relationship, maybe I don't understand religious trauma...
This is why this book is not for me. I think it's cool for those who live in New York or know the city to read about those places that she mentions, but for us who have never been....just words on paper. Although, all the opportunities that New York gives (culturally) is just great. I have to say that Ms. Sunseri's female characters are becoming more and more indecisive and weaker in a way, and this is my greatest concern with her books. Maybe she is experimenting with that. I don't know, but I get annoyed with weak FMCs.
I just think I was not the right reader for this book. I am sure many will like it.
I love her writing and the previous two duets, so I was surprised that I didn't like Nova. I am still so annoyed with her. I really struggled. That annoyance prevented me from connecting with her or Wes. I did not get her crazy obsession to find a person who doesn't want to be in her life, her being oblivious to some things happening, and most of all her relationship with Wes. She wants to be in a relationship with a dom (trust super important) and yet she does things that would destroy any trust. All that stuff with Roman... Why? Maybe I don't get that type of relationship, maybe I don't understand religious trauma...
This is why this book is not for me. I think it's cool for those who live in New York or know the city to read about those places that she mentions, but for us who have never been....just words on paper. Although, all the opportunities that New York gives (culturally) is just great. I have to say that Ms. Sunseri's female characters are becoming more and more indecisive and weaker in a way, and this is my greatest concern with her books. Maybe she is experimenting with that. I don't know, but I get annoyed with weak FMCs.
I just think I was not the right reader for this book. I am sure many will like it.
August 19, 2026
I went into this expecting a fun, spicy romance with plenty of chaos, but it ended up being so much more emotionally impactful than I anticipated. There’s no shortage of humor and banter, but the deeper themes of trauma, self-acceptance, healing, and forgiveness really stole my heart. The chemistry between Nova and Wes was undeniable, and their dynamic had me blushing, laughing, and absolutely kicking my feet. The twists kept me guessing, and I genuinely never knew who could be trusted. Somehow, this book manages to blend romance, humor, suspense, and emotional depth so seamlessly. This was such an unexpectedly wonderful read, and I’m officially convinced I need to read everything Maggie Sunseri writes!
August 16, 2026
I guess I read some pretty pitch black books because this one didnt seem very dark at all. I got the title for this book from an instagram book lover who reads pretty dark books so I think I just had different expectations. The storyline is good and the characters are easy to love. The concept of the the Circle is there but I feel like we could have had so much more. Its implied that its this big bad cult with really powerful people in charge but it isnt.... just one spoiled nepo kid. It was a let down really. I wanted to have to go deeper into the cult to find Lorelai. Anyway, fairly quick read. Some BDSM involved but only 1 really "shocking" scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 9, 2026I really like Maggie Sunseri and enjoyed her pnr series so I was excited to see what she’d do with a contemporary story. This book had so much potential, but ultimately fell short of the mark for me for a variety of reasons. Spoilers below.
1- first and foremost is the book was absolutely too damn long. It’s over 500 pages. No contemporary novel set in the real world in 2026 needs to be longer than 350-400 pages. It got very tedious after a while and I was kind of bored halfway through skimming a lot.
2- much of the book is in Nova’s pov. We get maybe 4 or 5 of the 50+ chapters from Wes’ pov and that made it difficult to follow bc much of Nova’s inner thought process was frustrating.
3- the Gen Z vs millennial theme and banter got real old real fast. Wes is 35. 35. He would have been born in 1991. Nineteen. Ninety. One. He is portrayed as an old, out of touch boomer who shakes his head at “kids these days.” The dude was 17 when the iPhone came out yet walks around with a flip phone and a notebook and pen. His history with invasive tech kind of tried to explain that away but it felt forced to me. The story tried way too hard to reinforce this “gap” between them and ultimately was absurdly irritating.
4- the constant references to Brooklyn were annoying. We get it. I promise. Nova left the Deep South to run away from her religious fanatic family and moved to the big city with stars in her eyes. And now she lives in ultra cool Williamsburg with her ultra cool gay roomie and party girl bestie and writes sweet cozy romance novels (no smut here in Nova’s world) and takes the L train everywhere. She’s a hipster caricature. I didn’t need to know that she’s walking down Manhattan Avenue, or which subway she takes to get literally everywhere in order to enjoy the story. It was like she was giving the reader directions and flexing every chance she could to remind herself and the reader that she’s an ultra cool New Yorker now. And tbh the most egregious part of this hyper local fixation is Wes lives in Greenpoint and not once mentions the kick ass pierogis.
5- for a book that claims to be all about kink there was surprisingly little of it on page. Wes and Nova had two spicy scenes which were mildly kinky at best. And I get it, she’s new so he’s going slow, he’s scarred from his last relationship gone wrong, but it felt like a failure to launch for the entire theme of the book. Observations while walking around sex parties aside since the reader is not experiencing those scenes through the pov of the actors.
6- I hate this seemingly pervasive characterization lately of books as “dark rom com.” It’s like jumbo shrimp, makes no sense. This book was not comedic in the slightest. I have no idea why anyone would call this a rom com. It was moderately dark due to discussions of religious trauma (which also got tedious and old real fast), on page violence, and cult like behaviors. But a “dark rom com”? No.
7- lastly, almost everything these characters said or thought read like it came directly from a therapist’s mouth. So much talk about trauma (I get it, everyone has it, but it doesn’t need to be mentioned every other paragraph), and overcoming being a people pleaser, and how the rich billionaires are ruining the world (socio-political commentary aside), and no one can get jobs, and everything’s expensive. The world sucks. We know. We live here too. I don’t want to be reminded of it when I’m trying to sink into someone else’s story.
Tbh overall I did enjoy this story despite my critiques. I wanted to see what happened to Wes and Nova and did believe in their love, I just felt like it could’ve been so much more.
1- first and foremost is the book was absolutely too damn long. It’s over 500 pages. No contemporary novel set in the real world in 2026 needs to be longer than 350-400 pages. It got very tedious after a while and I was kind of bored halfway through skimming a lot.
2- much of the book is in Nova’s pov. We get maybe 4 or 5 of the 50+ chapters from Wes’ pov and that made it difficult to follow bc much of Nova’s inner thought process was frustrating.
3- the Gen Z vs millennial theme and banter got real old real fast. Wes is 35. 35. He would have been born in 1991. Nineteen. Ninety. One. He is portrayed as an old, out of touch boomer who shakes his head at “kids these days.” The dude was 17 when the iPhone came out yet walks around with a flip phone and a notebook and pen. His history with invasive tech kind of tried to explain that away but it felt forced to me. The story tried way too hard to reinforce this “gap” between them and ultimately was absurdly irritating.
4- the constant references to Brooklyn were annoying. We get it. I promise. Nova left the Deep South to run away from her religious fanatic family and moved to the big city with stars in her eyes. And now she lives in ultra cool Williamsburg with her ultra cool gay roomie and party girl bestie and writes sweet cozy romance novels (no smut here in Nova’s world) and takes the L train everywhere. She’s a hipster caricature. I didn’t need to know that she’s walking down Manhattan Avenue, or which subway she takes to get literally everywhere in order to enjoy the story. It was like she was giving the reader directions and flexing every chance she could to remind herself and the reader that she’s an ultra cool New Yorker now. And tbh the most egregious part of this hyper local fixation is Wes lives in Greenpoint and not once mentions the kick ass pierogis.
5- for a book that claims to be all about kink there was surprisingly little of it on page. Wes and Nova had two spicy scenes which were mildly kinky at best. And I get it, she’s new so he’s going slow, he’s scarred from his last relationship gone wrong, but it felt like a failure to launch for the entire theme of the book. Observations while walking around sex parties aside since the reader is not experiencing those scenes through the pov of the actors.
6- I hate this seemingly pervasive characterization lately of books as “dark rom com.” It’s like jumbo shrimp, makes no sense. This book was not comedic in the slightest. I have no idea why anyone would call this a rom com. It was moderately dark due to discussions of religious trauma (which also got tedious and old real fast), on page violence, and cult like behaviors. But a “dark rom com”? No.
7- lastly, almost everything these characters said or thought read like it came directly from a therapist’s mouth. So much talk about trauma (I get it, everyone has it, but it doesn’t need to be mentioned every other paragraph), and overcoming being a people pleaser, and how the rich billionaires are ruining the world (socio-political commentary aside), and no one can get jobs, and everything’s expensive. The world sucks. We know. We live here too. I don’t want to be reminded of it when I’m trying to sink into someone else’s story.
Tbh overall I did enjoy this story despite my critiques. I wanted to see what happened to Wes and Nova and did believe in their love, I just felt like it could’ve been so much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2026
Full ARC review to come!
August 5, 2026
⭐️4 This was a fun read! Got a little repetitive and slow in some parts of the book but was a good book! The mention of ChatGPT sent me😂☠️
August 17, 2026
3.5, surprisingly little smut for a sex cult but the plot was good
August 23, 2026
Such a good dark romance read to help me out of my book slump!! Super easy read and the perfect about of smut and plot
July 19, 2026
4.25⭐️ 3🌶️
Anyone who is bored of traditional rom coms or people who want to broaden their reading horizons to dive into some kink, this feels like a GREAT book to pick up! It was the perfect balance of light romance and some comedy with fun spice and kink and a TINY bit of darkness. Dark romance readers will love the kink, and light romance readers will be happy to find a less predictable story. So I feel like any romance reader will like this one!
Contemporary romance and rom coms are SUCH a hit or miss for me, but I took a chance on this one because I LOVE Sunseri’s other books and this one did not disappoint!
Typical rom coms feel like a super predictable Hallmark movie, with the same vanilla spice and a plot that I can predict from the first chapter. This was not that at ALL! It wasn’t super predictable, and at times I was on the edge of my seat with the tension. It was hard to tell what the plot would be like with the Circle, and I loved that. Then of course, it was kinky and fun and included spice that wasn’t what is usually in a rom-com. And throughout all of it, I was laughing at jokes and quips. The entire story was SO refreshing for the genre - I wish more rom coms were like this!
TROPES
Contemporary Romance with Kink
Secret Society
Allies to Lovers
Age Gap (10 Years)
Love Letter to NYC
Overcoming Religious Trauma
THE WORLD
This was set in New York City, and I definitely felt some of the magic that people feel with the city. It romanticized the city in a way that highlighted community and art.
The author included a lot of great takes on the current system in the US, so there’s a nice touch of political rage in here. I connected to this a lot and found it really fitting for today’s society. It made it feel realistic.
Some things were references to real life, like Amazon, pop culture references, and music, while others weren’t, most notably PicWave and the other Wave company social medias. So it did make it feel a little disjointed to me in that sense. But by the end, it worked for me in a weird way? It did feel a lot like real life and like a real love story which I liked.
THE CHARACTERS
Nova and Wes both had a lot of character development as they overcame trauma and found healing and self love. While they both had comprehensive backstories showing their pasts and what in their lives had influenced their goals and actions, I was especially drawn to Nova’s story. She had an interesting past and I liked how it impacted not only her confidence and self-love, but her relationships with others. And the way she used humor as both a shield and a weapon was really enjoyable.
As a Scorpio moon, I related a LOT to Wes and his hesitancy to connect with people and share his struggles. I think the author used his Scorpio stellium to develop his character in a way that came across really clearly. I loved it and also felt seen at the same time, which was nice!
The side characters could have used more backstories and more personality, but I enjoyed them for the most part.
THE ROMANCE
To me, this was an allies to lovers with a medium burn. For a pretty kinky book, there wasn’t a lot of spice scenes between the MCs. Most of the kink was witnessed through the Circle and the members there. So it was like a great entry to kinkier stories for people who are looking to broaden their reading horizons!
Something that I LOVED was that Wes and Nova wanted to take time to know one another before developing anything serious. I would say this has a medium burn, because there is fun banter and flirting but they also do have a pretty quick attachment to eachother that is held off while they built a friendship and foundation for more.
Their attraction clearly wasn’t just physical. It was mostly an emotional attraction.
QUOTES:
*quotes are from an Advanced Readers Copy. Please refer to the final publication for official quotes!*
“what was womanhood if not becoming blind to one's own suffering?”
“It's not your job to rescue her, and you can't fix her. She has to figure it out herself."
"Show that little girl who prayed for God to make her normal-who prayed for him to make her anything else but her true self—that she is perfect just the way she is."
"You're not you because of your trauma, Nova. You're you in spite of it."
"All of this use of the word play makes domination and sadism sound like a cute, fun little hobby."
Wes shrugged. "I think tormenting and playing with you would make for a fun and cute little hobby."
Anyone who is bored of traditional rom coms or people who want to broaden their reading horizons to dive into some kink, this feels like a GREAT book to pick up! It was the perfect balance of light romance and some comedy with fun spice and kink and a TINY bit of darkness. Dark romance readers will love the kink, and light romance readers will be happy to find a less predictable story. So I feel like any romance reader will like this one!
Contemporary romance and rom coms are SUCH a hit or miss for me, but I took a chance on this one because I LOVE Sunseri’s other books and this one did not disappoint!
Typical rom coms feel like a super predictable Hallmark movie, with the same vanilla spice and a plot that I can predict from the first chapter. This was not that at ALL! It wasn’t super predictable, and at times I was on the edge of my seat with the tension. It was hard to tell what the plot would be like with the Circle, and I loved that. Then of course, it was kinky and fun and included spice that wasn’t what is usually in a rom-com. And throughout all of it, I was laughing at jokes and quips. The entire story was SO refreshing for the genre - I wish more rom coms were like this!
TROPES
Contemporary Romance with Kink
Secret Society
Allies to Lovers
Age Gap (10 Years)
Love Letter to NYC
Overcoming Religious Trauma
THE WORLD
This was set in New York City, and I definitely felt some of the magic that people feel with the city. It romanticized the city in a way that highlighted community and art.
The author included a lot of great takes on the current system in the US, so there’s a nice touch of political rage in here. I connected to this a lot and found it really fitting for today’s society. It made it feel realistic.
Some things were references to real life, like Amazon, pop culture references, and music, while others weren’t, most notably PicWave and the other Wave company social medias. So it did make it feel a little disjointed to me in that sense. But by the end, it worked for me in a weird way? It did feel a lot like real life and like a real love story which I liked.
THE CHARACTERS
Nova and Wes both had a lot of character development as they overcame trauma and found healing and self love. While they both had comprehensive backstories showing their pasts and what in their lives had influenced their goals and actions, I was especially drawn to Nova’s story. She had an interesting past and I liked how it impacted not only her confidence and self-love, but her relationships with others. And the way she used humor as both a shield and a weapon was really enjoyable.
As a Scorpio moon, I related a LOT to Wes and his hesitancy to connect with people and share his struggles. I think the author used his Scorpio stellium to develop his character in a way that came across really clearly. I loved it and also felt seen at the same time, which was nice!
The side characters could have used more backstories and more personality, but I enjoyed them for the most part.
THE ROMANCE
To me, this was an allies to lovers with a medium burn. For a pretty kinky book, there wasn’t a lot of spice scenes between the MCs. Most of the kink was witnessed through the Circle and the members there. So it was like a great entry to kinkier stories for people who are looking to broaden their reading horizons!
Something that I LOVED was that Wes and Nova wanted to take time to know one another before developing anything serious. I would say this has a medium burn, because there is fun banter and flirting but they also do have a pretty quick attachment to eachother that is held off while they built a friendship and foundation for more.
Their attraction clearly wasn’t just physical. It was mostly an emotional attraction.
QUOTES:
*quotes are from an Advanced Readers Copy. Please refer to the final publication for official quotes!*
“what was womanhood if not becoming blind to one's own suffering?”
“It's not your job to rescue her, and you can't fix her. She has to figure it out herself."
"Show that little girl who prayed for God to make her normal-who prayed for him to make her anything else but her true self—that she is perfect just the way she is."
"You're not you because of your trauma, Nova. You're you in spite of it."
"All of this use of the word play makes domination and sadism sound like a cute, fun little hobby."
Wes shrugged. "I think tormenting and playing with you would make for a fun and cute little hobby."
August 1, 2026
This was PERFECT!
The amount of darkness within the story was excellently balanced out with light and humor from our MCs.
The plot was great, the amount of detail and how real it all could possibly be made some scenes feel very intense.
The dom//sub dynamic between our MCs was my favorite. And how obsessed they secretly were about each other was intoxicating
“Seeing her covered in my clothes and bite marks soothed the possessiveness that was only growing more dangerously intense by the hour.”
But my absolute favorite part is how they made each other feel safe enough to be their softest selves 🥹
They deserve it all and more!
“After crushing Nova mercilessly in Mario Party, I finally got my wish. She was sleeping in my bed, still wearing my shirt, her body perfectly curled against mine.”
The Circle follows Nova who immerses herself into a s3x cult to find her best friend, and save her from going down the wrong road. But while Nova is playing “Nancy Drew” she learns more about herself as well. After meeting Wes there one day they find they have the same interests of infiltrating The Circle. And thus begins our journey of finding acceptance of one’s self, the good and the bad, as well as one of the deepest love connections 😭
P.S. make sure you read the bonus epilogue!! ❤️🔥🪢
Thank you Maggie for my eARC 🫶🏼
I absolutely adore these two and ate their story up like there was no tomorrow!
The amount of darkness within the story was excellently balanced out with light and humor from our MCs.
The plot was great, the amount of detail and how real it all could possibly be made some scenes feel very intense.
The dom//sub dynamic between our MCs was my favorite. And how obsessed they secretly were about each other was intoxicating
“Seeing her covered in my clothes and bite marks soothed the possessiveness that was only growing more dangerously intense by the hour.”
But my absolute favorite part is how they made each other feel safe enough to be their softest selves 🥹
They deserve it all and more!
“After crushing Nova mercilessly in Mario Party, I finally got my wish. She was sleeping in my bed, still wearing my shirt, her body perfectly curled against mine.”
The Circle follows Nova who immerses herself into a s3x cult to find her best friend, and save her from going down the wrong road. But while Nova is playing “Nancy Drew” she learns more about herself as well. After meeting Wes there one day they find they have the same interests of infiltrating The Circle. And thus begins our journey of finding acceptance of one’s self, the good and the bad, as well as one of the deepest love connections 😭
P.S. make sure you read the bonus epilogue!! ❤️🔥🪢
Thank you Maggie for my eARC 🫶🏼
I absolutely adore these two and ate their story up like there was no tomorrow!
July 30, 2026
4.5⭐/5
This story had heart, tension, culty cults, action, kink, shock, concern, doubt, sweetness, dom/sub, spice, and connection all rolled into one and I had a really great time from start to finish! Maggie Sunseri's love for New York truly shines here and I felt the city all around me as I read these pages.
The way Nova had to control her daily struggle and survival was impressive yet stressful, and seeing her fall blissfully into the quiet place of submission when she was properly and competently taken care of by Wes was glorious. Also seeing Wes be contemplative and painstakingly real and present with every part of his life definitely showed his redeeming qualities in a bright light.
The kink space and proper dom/sub dynamics with the importance of aftercare and consent were fun to read and enlightening. There's such power in a dynamic that fulfills one's true desires and still enables the parties to truly care for and be cared for by the other(s). It was great to read and the spice was deliciously spicy!
And that love letter...meeeep! That's when I got tears :)
Thank you to the author for an advanced reader copy, this review was given voluntarily.
This story had heart, tension, culty cults, action, kink, shock, concern, doubt, sweetness, dom/sub, spice, and connection all rolled into one and I had a really great time from start to finish! Maggie Sunseri's love for New York truly shines here and I felt the city all around me as I read these pages.
The way Nova had to control her daily struggle and survival was impressive yet stressful, and seeing her fall blissfully into the quiet place of submission when she was properly and competently taken care of by Wes was glorious. Also seeing Wes be contemplative and painstakingly real and present with every part of his life definitely showed his redeeming qualities in a bright light.
The kink space and proper dom/sub dynamics with the importance of aftercare and consent were fun to read and enlightening. There's such power in a dynamic that fulfills one's true desires and still enables the parties to truly care for and be cared for by the other(s). It was great to read and the spice was deliciously spicy!
And that love letter...meeeep! That's when I got tears :)
Thank you to the author for an advanced reader copy, this review was given voluntarily.
August 22, 2026
The Circle by Maggie Sunseri is an absolute rollercoaster of a dark romance that seamlessly blends high-stakes mystery, heavy spice, and cult dynamics. Driven by loyalty the fmc, Nova, bravely infiltrates a secretive kink cult to track down her missing friend, only to unexpectedly unlock her own wildest desires along the way. Right from her very first meeting, the tension explodes as she crosses paths with a dangerously handsome, broody stranger, Wes, whose lingering presence keeps you constantly guessing whether he can truly be trusted.
The story crafts a deliciously sinister atmosphere full of shady characters and unsettling clues that instantly signal something deeply wrong beneath the surface. Roman initially steals the show with a wild, bold energy that makes him even more intriguing than Wes at first. However, as his secrets unfold, his character takes a genuinely unsettling turn from magnetically bad to straight-up psycho. It is a tense, thrilling read that keeps you hooked until the very end. Perfect for anyone who loves intense smut paired with a dark thriller edge.
The story crafts a deliciously sinister atmosphere full of shady characters and unsettling clues that instantly signal something deeply wrong beneath the surface. Roman initially steals the show with a wild, bold energy that makes him even more intriguing than Wes at first. However, as his secrets unfold, his character takes a genuinely unsettling turn from magnetically bad to straight-up psycho. It is a tense, thrilling read that keeps you hooked until the very end. Perfect for anyone who loves intense smut paired with a dark thriller edge.
August 22, 2026
I love Maggie Sunseri and have really enjoyed her other series, but this one... just didn't hit the mark for me.
First of all, it's not terrible. A super spicy romance taking place at a private BDSM club run by NYC's elite?! Sounds like a fun read to me! But the actual bones of the story are not very original, and in fact, it follows pretty much all of the exact same tropes I've read a million times before. And this was FAR too long for the story it was telling.
The first 70% had so much promise, and then somehow when the action finally picked up—and by action I mean both spice between our MCs and literally anything interesting happening—the book got somewhat unbearable. The last 30% was so ridiculously over the top that I went from wondering early on if I'd accidentally picked up a paranormal romance to wondering by the end if this was secretly supposed to be dystopian?? Every single character started to annoy me.
Wes is, of course, a sexy and protective MMC (as all of this author's MMCs tend to be), so no surprise there. BUT, his dialogue with Nova eventually started giving me the ick. He is SO endlessly supportive and understanding that most of the time he sounds more like her trauma sponsor or a supportive father figure rather than her romantic interest... so weird.
And Nova. So much repetitive inner dialogue, and her refusal to give Wes essential information drove me absolutely CRAZY. Honestly, that goes for him too. The secrets are infuriating all around. These two are perfectly comfortable discussing their past traumas in excruciating detail CONSTANTLY, but somehow can't manage to be honest with each other about essential information happening in the present?!? Make it make sense.
First of all, it's not terrible. A super spicy romance taking place at a private BDSM club run by NYC's elite?! Sounds like a fun read to me! But the actual bones of the story are not very original, and in fact, it follows pretty much all of the exact same tropes I've read a million times before. And this was FAR too long for the story it was telling.
The first 70% had so much promise, and then somehow when the action finally picked up—and by action I mean both spice between our MCs and literally anything interesting happening—the book got somewhat unbearable. The last 30% was so ridiculously over the top that I went from wondering early on if I'd accidentally picked up a paranormal romance to wondering by the end if this was secretly supposed to be dystopian?? Every single character started to annoy me.
Wes is, of course, a sexy and protective MMC (as all of this author's MMCs tend to be), so no surprise there. BUT, his dialogue with Nova eventually started giving me the ick. He is SO endlessly supportive and understanding that most of the time he sounds more like her trauma sponsor or a supportive father figure rather than her romantic interest... so weird.
And Nova. So much repetitive inner dialogue, and her refusal to give Wes essential information drove me absolutely CRAZY. Honestly, that goes for him too. The secrets are infuriating all around. These two are perfectly comfortable discussing their past traumas in excruciating detail CONSTANTLY, but somehow can't manage to be honest with each other about essential information happening in the present?!? Make it make sense.
July 31, 2026
This book took my breath, heart and soul away from me! I loved every second of this story! I loved the inner discovery, the realization, the slow burn, the safety, and don’t get me started on the BANTER! OMG THIS BANTER IS AMAZING! If you love a dark romance this is the one for you! Maggie Sunseri is climbing her way to the spot of one of my favorite authors with this book alone! I have bought the paperback off amazon and that video will be coming soon but I also preordered the book from Grump & Sunshine Bookshop! MUST READ FOR 2026!
August 6, 2026
I’m not sure how to feel about this book. At first it seemed promising but then nothing amazed me or makes me want to keep reading. And I don’t know why call it’s cult when this is nothing just a bunch of people who love bdsm gathering and having sex. While the female lead attend to every party finding her bff with no plans in her pretty head, just walking around the place?? I myself interest in cult history. I watch too many documentaries about cult and their leaders and I can tell this is nothing to do with a cult. Only rich people trying to have fun by playing bdsm and showing sub/dom. If you think that bdsm is a cult-like and can called it a dark-romance. I have no words for you.
September 2, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10/5
I’M OBSESSED. 🖤🔥
When I say this book is DARKKKK, I mean check your triggers, double check them, and then maybe check them one more time dark. 😂 The Circle absolutely did NOT come to play.
This was twisted, intense, completely unhinged, and exactly the kind of dark romance that has me sitting there like “what the actual fuck am I reading??” while simultaneously refusing to put it down. 😭😂
The obsession. The toxicity. The morally questionable EVERYTHING. 🫠🖤 Maggie Sunseri understood the assignment and then set the assignment on fire.
10/5 because apparently 5 stars simply isn’t enough. I need MORE. Immediately. 🐍🔥📚
I’M OBSESSED. 🖤🔥
When I say this book is DARKKKK, I mean check your triggers, double check them, and then maybe check them one more time dark. 😂 The Circle absolutely did NOT come to play.
This was twisted, intense, completely unhinged, and exactly the kind of dark romance that has me sitting there like “what the actual fuck am I reading??” while simultaneously refusing to put it down. 😭😂
The obsession. The toxicity. The morally questionable EVERYTHING. 🫠🖤 Maggie Sunseri understood the assignment and then set the assignment on fire.
10/5 because apparently 5 stars simply isn’t enough. I need MORE. Immediately. 🐍🔥📚
August 4, 2026
This was SO good! Absolutely a 6 star read! I admit i was veeery skeptical the first 35% but after that - WOW! And now I understand the first 35% 😉 Bear with it - it is so so so worth it. Wes is forever my sweetheart and I LOVE Nova! Just read it, live through the world of the BDSM, the cult of it all, the mystery, the BANTER OMG! and the plot of it. Just do yourself that favor.
August 1, 2026
As someone who grew up in close proximity to NYC back when a certain church was used as a nightlife club, I saw the description to The Circle and instantly knew this was going to be a side quest read worth adding to my TBR. I had fallen into a reading slump right before picking this up and The Circle was exactly what I need to re-engage me and keep me guessing. The story follows an FMC with religious trauma and a best friend with a similar past who she suspects may have gotten wrapped up with a k*nk cult housed inside of a re-purposed gothic NYC church. She decides to pursue her hunch and gets herself wrapped up with what she believes to be a cult that caters to NYC's elite. What follows is the FMC having to face hidden truths about herself and establishing a connection to someone within the circle that may be hiding secrets of their own. This book was a healthy exploration of k*nk, trauma, and addiction that pulls in the reader into a fictional world sprinkled with truths about the challenges of moving on, setting healthy boundaries, and what it might look like to leave shame at the door. Overall this was a great read and I would absolutely read another book written by this author!
August 18, 2026
Wow! 6 stars could not put this down!!
August 19, 2026
OBSESSED!
This book was *chefs kiss*! You get smut, drama, obsession, and culty vibes all in one. I was literally yelling at this book. Great job, Maggie! You did that!
This book was *chefs kiss*! You get smut, drama, obsession, and culty vibes all in one. I was literally yelling at this book. Great job, Maggie! You did that!
September 3, 2026
4.7 ⭐️
I have never read a book like this. Usually I am beyond anxious with thrillers so I stick to the happy stuff. WHAT A COMBO. Loved the cult vibe with sexy smut thrown in!
I have never read a book like this. Usually I am beyond anxious with thrillers so I stick to the happy stuff. WHAT A COMBO. Loved the cult vibe with sexy smut thrown in!
September 10, 2026
I did really enjoy it, but with the amount it took me to get hooked and finish it I’m gonna say 3 ✨
September 15, 2026
it was just okay - im in a terrible awful book slump i think i need something gay
August 13, 2026
Okey this read really surprised me - but caught my attention immediately and I could not put it down until I finished… the book is about a young woman who’s struggling a bit with writing her book as an author. Meanwhile a childhood friend of hers kind of vanished after joining a “cult” like community (club setting). Desperate to find her, she joints this club but ends up meeting someone in the process with whom she begins to explore some of those things.
Tbh it is AL LOT of smut - I am not gonna lie but it is the good kind yk?? (Not only smutty scenes on and on without proper plot happening) It mostly was not about the spicy scenes itself but about the setting, the vibes, feelings and trust that the MMC build just perfect. At some point it felt like a comfort read to me because he acted so reassuring towards her 🥹
I loved to read through their relationship development and I really enjoyed that the MMC acted so grown up it was amazing. There were (almost) no miscommunications but they just talked when there was a problem to be solved and were reasonable with each other in a very understanding and loving way 😭😍 although I must say the the plot in the end caught me a bit of guard but it was included very well into the storyline.
Tbh it is AL LOT of smut - I am not gonna lie but it is the good kind yk?? (Not only smutty scenes on and on without proper plot happening) It mostly was not about the spicy scenes itself but about the setting, the vibes, feelings and trust that the MMC build just perfect. At some point it felt like a comfort read to me because he acted so reassuring towards her 🥹
I loved to read through their relationship development and I really enjoyed that the MMC acted so grown up it was amazing. There were (almost) no miscommunications but they just talked when there was a problem to be solved and were reasonable with each other in a very understanding and loving way 😭😍 although I must say the the plot in the end caught me a bit of guard but it was included very well into the storyline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2026
SYNOPSIS
What's worse than your best friend moving out mid-lease to shack up with her newest toxic boyfriend? Probably discovering she also joined a freaky cult for obnoxious rich people, crypto bros, and tradwife spiritual gurus nestled inside a deconsecrated Gothic church. If Nova Harding had enough money for therapy, she might’ve let go of Lorelei’s mess to focus on writing. Instead, guided by mysterious social media ads, Nova is drawn inside The Circle to save her friend.
While Nova has spent the last seven years in New York City chasing success as an indie romance author, Lorelei has spent them trapped in their shared dark past. Nova refuses to abandon Lorelei, even as The Circle forces her to confront her greatest shames—and deepest desires.
But Nova isn’t the only concerned citizen infiltrating The Circle. Wes is ten years older than her. He’s tattooed, complicated, witty, and thoughtful. And he’s impossible to read. He is everything Nova should hate, another reminder of the taboo fantasies she can’t indulge. Wes says he wants to protect her in this den of snakes—that they can help each other and then part ways as friends.
But the way Wes looks at Nova is anything but friendly.
Caught in a New York City dreamworld of sex, glamor, power, and social media algorithms, Nova struggles to know who to trust. Is Wes really like her?
Or is Wes one of them?
TROPES
🖤 Kinky cult
💘 Lana Del Rey coded MMC
🖤 Love letter to NYC
💘 Dom x sub
🖤 BDSM
💘 Possessiveness and obsession
🖤 Secret masked society
💘 Alllll the banter
🖤 Gen Z x millenial age gap
THOUGHTS
Coming off the back of an amazing 4-book, unfinished YA romantasy series that did not involve SO MUCH AS A KISS, I have been diving back into some extra spicy reads to compensate for spice deprivation. After all, I’m just a girl! And “The Circle” by Maggie Sunseri proved to be the perfectly dangerous and kinky read I was looking for.
This story orbits around Nova, a broke indie romance author with religious trauma. Nova infiltrates a NYC kink club to help her ex-best-friend, Lorelei, escape their evil clutches. She doesn’t know for sure whether her friend is a part of this kink club, but some cyber-stalking reveals that’s probably who Lorelei is with. Nova feels compelled to help her friend even though their relationship ended on a sour note.
While I wasn’t very invested in Nova finding Lorelei, I was impressed with how Maggie made me doubt Nova’s sanity while she tried to achieve that goal. The intensity of the gaslighting employed by the cult’s authority figures, to make Nova think Lorelei wasn’t part of The Circle, tricked even me into wondering whether Nova was an unreliable narrator… and whether this search for her friend was really a search for someone who never, or no longer, existed. The repeated denials and feigned ignorance seemed like exactly the sort of behaviour a cult would leverage to lure someone in and keep them trapped.
What really made me excited to pick up this book again and again, however, was the Circle members’ casual exhibitionism and the steamy, boundary-testing spice. The Circle hosted gatherings featuring ceremonial sex, practical classes on various aspects of BDSM (including bondage), and one particularly gruesome scene where I believe some women were suspended mid-air via hooks pierced through their flesh. “The Circle” is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it will be particularly dazzling for those curious about the kink scene and are hungry to see how far some people will go in the pursuit of pleasure.
Refreshingly, Wes and Nova didn’t get hot and heavy straight away—despite the lewd sexual acts constantly surrounding them, which offered the perfect excuse. Instead, their relationship is allowed to develop slowly and organically. They often find themselves watching some sexual act or other together as part of The Circle’s festivities, which provides the perfect backdrop for some hilarious or intimate dialogue and banter. It also made Wes and Nova increasingly aware of their own mutual desires, which I absolutely loved. I ate up their dom and sub dynamic, too. Although I was disappointed that a book so focused on kink did not allow its MCs to get half as adventurous with their sex lives as the cult members did.
This is a “makes life more bearable” kind of book, and I’m so thankful to Maggie for writing it and giving me something exciting to anticipate on my commutes to and from work!
⭐ 4.25/5
🌶️ 3.5/5
What's worse than your best friend moving out mid-lease to shack up with her newest toxic boyfriend? Probably discovering she also joined a freaky cult for obnoxious rich people, crypto bros, and tradwife spiritual gurus nestled inside a deconsecrated Gothic church. If Nova Harding had enough money for therapy, she might’ve let go of Lorelei’s mess to focus on writing. Instead, guided by mysterious social media ads, Nova is drawn inside The Circle to save her friend.
While Nova has spent the last seven years in New York City chasing success as an indie romance author, Lorelei has spent them trapped in their shared dark past. Nova refuses to abandon Lorelei, even as The Circle forces her to confront her greatest shames—and deepest desires.
But Nova isn’t the only concerned citizen infiltrating The Circle. Wes is ten years older than her. He’s tattooed, complicated, witty, and thoughtful. And he’s impossible to read. He is everything Nova should hate, another reminder of the taboo fantasies she can’t indulge. Wes says he wants to protect her in this den of snakes—that they can help each other and then part ways as friends.
But the way Wes looks at Nova is anything but friendly.
Caught in a New York City dreamworld of sex, glamor, power, and social media algorithms, Nova struggles to know who to trust. Is Wes really like her?
Or is Wes one of them?
TROPES
🖤 Kinky cult
💘 Lana Del Rey coded MMC
🖤 Love letter to NYC
💘 Dom x sub
🖤 BDSM
💘 Possessiveness and obsession
🖤 Secret masked society
💘 Alllll the banter
🖤 Gen Z x millenial age gap
THOUGHTS
Coming off the back of an amazing 4-book, unfinished YA romantasy series that did not involve SO MUCH AS A KISS, I have been diving back into some extra spicy reads to compensate for spice deprivation. After all, I’m just a girl! And “The Circle” by Maggie Sunseri proved to be the perfectly dangerous and kinky read I was looking for.
This story orbits around Nova, a broke indie romance author with religious trauma. Nova infiltrates a NYC kink club to help her ex-best-friend, Lorelei, escape their evil clutches. She doesn’t know for sure whether her friend is a part of this kink club, but some cyber-stalking reveals that’s probably who Lorelei is with. Nova feels compelled to help her friend even though their relationship ended on a sour note.
While I wasn’t very invested in Nova finding Lorelei, I was impressed with how Maggie made me doubt Nova’s sanity while she tried to achieve that goal. The intensity of the gaslighting employed by the cult’s authority figures, to make Nova think Lorelei wasn’t part of The Circle, tricked even me into wondering whether Nova was an unreliable narrator… and whether this search for her friend was really a search for someone who never, or no longer, existed. The repeated denials and feigned ignorance seemed like exactly the sort of behaviour a cult would leverage to lure someone in and keep them trapped.
What really made me excited to pick up this book again and again, however, was the Circle members’ casual exhibitionism and the steamy, boundary-testing spice. The Circle hosted gatherings featuring ceremonial sex, practical classes on various aspects of BDSM (including bondage), and one particularly gruesome scene where I believe some women were suspended mid-air via hooks pierced through their flesh. “The Circle” is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it will be particularly dazzling for those curious about the kink scene and are hungry to see how far some people will go in the pursuit of pleasure.
Refreshingly, Wes and Nova didn’t get hot and heavy straight away—despite the lewd sexual acts constantly surrounding them, which offered the perfect excuse. Instead, their relationship is allowed to develop slowly and organically. They often find themselves watching some sexual act or other together as part of The Circle’s festivities, which provides the perfect backdrop for some hilarious or intimate dialogue and banter. It also made Wes and Nova increasingly aware of their own mutual desires, which I absolutely loved. I ate up their dom and sub dynamic, too. Although I was disappointed that a book so focused on kink did not allow its MCs to get half as adventurous with their sex lives as the cult members did.
This is a “makes life more bearable” kind of book, and I’m so thankful to Maggie for writing it and giving me something exciting to anticipate on my commutes to and from work!
⭐ 4.25/5
🌶️ 3.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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