Evie Rosen’s world shattered the night her father was brutally murdered by the elusive serial killer known ominously as The Skinner. Struggling to survive the weight of her grief, she clung to the only light left in her life—Jackson Easton, her brother’s best friend, and the boy she’d loved for as long as she can remember. As tragedy drew them closer, their long-buried feelings finally surfaced, offering Evie a fragile sense of hope. For a moment, it seemed like they might have had a chance at forever.
But hope was short-lived.
When Evie suddenly vanished with nothing but the infamous note from the killer left behind, the life they dreamed of was ripped away overnight. Jackson was left haunted by her disappearance and the unanswered questions that followed.
Seven years later, grown into a famous AFL star, Jackson’s past came crashing back when he woke up in a dark basement—face to face with the girl he still mourned, and the terrifying realisation that Evie Rosen was never just another victim…but something far worse.
Love J. Brystowe is a romance author who has had her nose in a book for as long as she can remember. A lifelong lover of fantasy worlds and emotionally driven stories, she discovered her passion for writing as a teenager, turning to fan fiction as a creative escape while navigating life with a chronic illness.
When she isn't writing, Love J enjoys getting lost in a good book, spending time with her three fur babies, and listening to rock music. Love J aspires to write female-focused stories in all genres.
What did the author put into this book! I couldn’t for the life of me put it down, I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next! I was tearing up & couldn’t imagine what the characters were going through mentally & physically. I’ve read a lot of “captivity” themed books & this one was definitely one of my favorites! This is not a smutty/spicy book at all. It is raw, emotional & traumatic. It does have a happy ending thank goodness, but the characters unfortunately have to endure sooo much to get there. To the sum the plot up without revealing too much, (as you need to just read this yourself to see) there’s a serial killer on the loose, the FMC goes missing for seven years, her brother becomes a detective to investigate the cases & then her childhood lover/brother’s best friend also goes missing & they wind up in the same dark basement all these years later. **Some scenes were tough to read, so make sure you check the trigger warnings first**
Thank you so much for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was such an amazing, emotional, and wild ride. I absolutely loved this book. I am so glad I read it as an ARC. For anyone who loved Still Beating, Texas Chainsaw or Gerald's Game, this definitely reminded me of those. This was a great mix of both survival and romance.
Evie and Jackson were two great characters. They had genuine chemistry and I really felt like they earned their HEA. The time they spent captive throughout the book was really hard to get through at times, and I am not afraid to admit I cried many times during this read.🫠
I also really liked Peter. It was refreshing to have a great relationship between a brother and sister in a book for once, and I'm really glad he was the one who finished the job in the end.
I 10000% recommend this to anyone who is looking for a darker second chance romance that is full of angst and real trauma and emotion.
Thank you so so much to Love J. Brystowe and her team for the ARC. I am so excited to hear what others think!⛓️🩸
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
thank you to the author for the ARC because HELLO??? what did i just read 😭🖤
listen, this book was DARK. creepy. absolutely unwell. and i ate it up.
THE SKINNER??? babe, seek help. immediately. because what is actually WRONG with you??? this man had me side-eyeing everybody and trusting absolutely NO ONE.
the mystery had me hooked, the vibes were deeply unsettling, and i kept telling myself “just one more chapter” like i don’t know how this works by now. spoiler alert: i was not putting this book down anytime soon.
and the way everything unfolds?? i needed ANSWERS. i had questions, then MORE questions, and at some point i was just sitting there like excuse me??? HELLO???
if you love dark, creepy reads that make you question everything and have you mentally interrogating fictional characters at 2 a.m., PLEASE add this to your TBR.
love j. brystowe, you are SICK for this one. respectfully. 🖤🔪
some books make you fall in love and then there are books that make you question EVERYTHING 😭🙏🏻 (but im glad i read it) this book is twisted, dark and emotionally heavy in ways i wasn't prepared for. the story pulls you into Evie's world, where grief, obsession, trauma and the desperate need to survive become impossible to separate. and Jackson and Evie's story? there's so much pain, history and emotional tension woven into it that you can't help but want to know how everything will unfold 🥹 what really stands out is how the story keeps you on edge. the multiple povs give you glimpses into different minds, while the shifting timelines slowly reveal pieces of the past that make the present even more unsettling. and just when you think you have things figured out, there's more to uncover 😭🤚🏻 this is definitely not a light, fluffy read. it's dark, disturbing, and deals with some heavy themes, so please check the trigger warnings before diving in! (but again i'll definitely recommend it to y'all dark romance lovers 🙂↕️🫡) if you're someone who enjoys dark, suspenseful stories with complicated characters, a haunting atmosphere and twists that keep you turning pages, this might be one to add to your tbr 🌚
The Flesh That Binds Us by Love J Brystowe 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 ARC review
This book. This. Fuc*ing. Book! The devastation. The fuc*ing heartbreak. Jesus! I am not OK. Well I mean I am because all ends well... The journey getting there though is... A lot! This book isn't what I'd normally pick up but it sounded promising so I thought, why not? I'm glad I did because even though this book is heavy in a way I wouldn't usually read, it still has lots of things in it I would. The back and forth of the time line is something I usually wouldn't be a fan of either but this author tells this story beautifully. Evie and Jackson have such a complicated, emotional and twisted love story. I loved the chapters we got from Peter's POV too, it added so much to the suspense of it all. It made me feel sick, what Evie went through but then the frustration you feel, I was talking out loud to her, 'save him, do something', pleading for her to try! Emotional roller coaster for sure!
I was lucky enough to be chosen as an arc reader after being a silent reader for years (hence the 0 reviews). And I literally screamed when this landed in my inbox, you best believe I read it in one sitting.
First of all…what the f*ck did I just read? No, seriously? I couldn’t put this book down if a truck plowed through my sun room. From that ominous prologue to the most beautiful ending, this book had me sobbing my heart out. For a debut, it’s pretty good. I think the author has a good future ahead of her if she continues to write for this genre.
No spoilers because I think it’s better to experience the story in its entirety. This book contains three main characters that are well fleshed out. The dialogue was fun to read as an American (iykyk) and the atmosphere was incredibly written. Very chilling in some parts. I cried. I swooned. I screamed.
I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read this before the world gets a chance. People are going to be obsessed with this one.
What can I say, Evie & Jackson’s story is so tragically beautiful. There were tears of joy, sadness and moments of visceral despair but I wouldn’t want a single thing different of this book. The serial killer , the young love, the hope and fear were all masterfully done. A literal auto buy without hesitation.
This book… I was looking forward to reading this for quite a few months, and it did not dissapoint. It’s devastating but beautiful at the same time. I feel like if I had the opportunity I would’ve been an to read it in one day. What an emotional roller coaster it puts you on. Can’t leave this without mentioning how cool it is that it’s an Aussie book. Thankyou thankyou thankyou for this amazing book.
I absolutely LOVED this book. The flashbacks and different POVs were amazing, the writing style was fabulous and i adored the little bits of aussie slang sprinkled throughout. 10/10 would recommend for fans of thrillers as well as if you like occasionally crying:)
I absolutely loved this romantic thriller debut novel by Love J. Brystowe - I couldn’t put it down. The story hooked me in - a chillingly creepy choice of words IYKYK (😱) - turning page after page, gripped by the emotional tension that radiated off the pages from the beginning. It’s dark so do check your content warnings.
This is set in the fictional town of Swanford, in Perth Australia. We start in the past, mid-80s, just before Evie, our FMC, is abducted by the notorious serial killer, the Skinner. The trio of her, her brother and his best friend, Jackson our MMC, are inseparable. These are the POVs and they move between the past and present in a seamless fashion, intricately weaving the story through horror, tragedy, and heartbreak. Life is just starting to improve for Evie after the brutal murder of her father when the boy she’s loved for so long returns her feelings but then she’s taken. For everyone, it’s like she disappeared. Her body is never found. So, what truly happened?
Jackson never fully recovered when Evie was taken. He grieved her for years, trying desperately to get on with his life: leaving town, becoming a professional AFL player, and being with endless women until it’s just not enough. And then, he’s taken too. It’s seven years later and somehow Evie is still alive … and wait for it - she’s an assistant to the Skinner and his perverse sickening obsession murdering and then what he does to his victims (no spoilers!). Oh, dear me - this will have you cringing 😬 it is not nice subject matter yet still I wanted to keep turning the pages.
I really felt the hopelessness that Evie felt in such an impossibly horrific situation. The author writes this all with such emotional precision - the traumatic impact of what Evie experienced as well as her recovery. It was raw, real, and honest. Then there’s the love between her and Jackson. It truly felt like a soul love. The romance was beautifully written and created such a stark contrast to the darker content - it was love in a devastating battle with horror and there were so many heart-breaking moments, damn I didn’t think I was going to recover 😭 thank goodness the author gave our MCs the ending they deserved ❤️🩹
I hope this review will convince you to grab your copy or add this to your TBR. It’s a totally absorbing read: so much horror yet softened with a soul love between two people in a harrowing situation. It will do something to your heart, and trust me, the story will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
🥀 Thank you so much to the author for sharing an ARC with me. All thoughts are my own 🥀
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book from Love, and what a treat it was!!
I was addicted to this book the second I picked it up, seriously I couldn’t put it down.
This was a new concept for me— a horror story with romance weaved into the edges. I must admit I did find some of the dialogue and inner monologue cringe at times, but what else can you expect from an 18-year-old girl that’s been kidnapped for 7 years?
Jackson is the man every woman deserves; never getting over his childhood love and saving space for her after all these years even after not knowing whether she’s still alive or not. I also found his inner monologue and outer dialogue a bit cringe, which is not in-character for an Aussie AFL player, but there was enough other positives going on for me to look past it.
The horror aspect was all too real, something I’ve been afraid of my whole life, especially as a woman. I did have a bit of trouble reading it, and there were some points I had to read through my fingers, wrapped up in a blanket to feel a little bit of comfort and safety.
I could definitely imagine this being a movie!! Reads a lot like Wolf Creek and similar kidnapping horrors.
All and all a great read!! I felt all the emotions- fear, anxiety, hope, and even had a bit of a cry there at the end. Not a perfect book, but super duper addictive and would read more of Love’s work!
Okay guys… this book was PHENOMENAL. Think Wolf Creek meets Ed Gein and then somehow make it a book I physically could not put down. 😭
I finished this in easily under 24 hours and, honestly, by the time I reached the end I was sitting there wishing it wasn’t over yet… which is probably slightly concerning considering what I had just read. 😂
As a Perth girl and a serial killer documentary enthusiast, I had an absolute field day with this one. I found myself trying to figure out where the author had based the town of Swanford, while simultaneously trying to pick apart which characteristics of infamous serial killers had been brought to life through The Skinner.
And I was INVESTED. 👀🔪
Evie’s story was horrific, heartbreaking and genuinely tear jerking, but there was also something incredibly bittersweet about it. The flashbacks woven throughout the story added so much depth and really brought everything to life, making it so easy to become completely absorbed in what was happening.
Thank you so much to Love J. Brystowe for trusting me with this review copy! 🖤 I’m already so excited to continue reading your work because you have a way of making me see what I’m reading rather than just read it.
And apparently, making me stare into the distance questioning humanity while refusing to put my Kindle down is also a talent. 😂🔪
I genuinely don’t even know how to explain this book 😂 This was such a strange mix of romance and thriller, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into it!
After being taken, our FMC ends up spending seven years as the personal assistant to the man known as the Skinner. When her boyfriend is also captured, the two of them are thrown into an absolutely wild situation together.
This book was DARK, twisted and definitely different from what I usually read! The whole concept was certainly something, and I found myself wondering how on earth everything was going to end 👀
I have mixed feelings about some aspects of the story, but I can definitely say it was memorable! If you enjoy your romance with a seriously dark, thriller-style twist, this might be one to add to your TBR. 🖤
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own 🫶🏼🫶🏼
"Evie... If God is willing and somehow you're watching this, know that I love you, and I miss you beyond words."
CRIMINAL MINDS WITH A ROMANCE, YES PLEASE!!
I finished this book in like 8 hours, don't really know what crack was in there but it was just so so so good! If you like Criminal Minds then this book is for you 100%! I was so invested in this story I almost forget to eat 😅
Loved the romance and I was so heartbroken for them 💔 This was a first book in a long time where I didn't need any spice for it to be amazing (I've been in my spicy era for a while now..).
It's definitely a dark story so CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS beforehand!
I received this book as an advance reader copy and this is my honest opinion.
what the hell did i just read. this was PERFECT from start to finish i absolutely LOVED it. it literally was an emotional rollercoaster i cried laughed sobbed and blushed all at once which is crazy!!!!!
also below is spoilers!!!!! i also loved how in the end the skinner got off easily by death because it is a real life representation on how in the end they may not suffer as much as the victims do, but the victims will heal.
it gets better ❤️
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS! 💞
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This story is dark, haunting and packed with mystery that blends romance and suspense.
The premise of the book immediately draws readers into a world where nothing is at it seems. The most captivating aspect of this story is its promise of unexpected twists and unsettling revelations.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a dark romance, psychological suspense and twisted mysteries.
Holy Guacamole. Absolutely chilling suspense thriller. Loved the attention to details and the ability to create such a haunting atmosphere with ease. I couldn't put it down and every spare second was spent reading this! Thank you Love J Brystowe for the opportunity to ARC read this!
Received as an ARC I want to thank the author for this thrilling read, What a gripping thriller. I enjoyed the POVs of the characters and getting lost in this story. Cannot wait for everyone else to devour this read.
I really truly enjoyed this! I couldn't put this book down and was at the edge of my seat by the final chapters. Loved Evie and Jackson's story, and enjoyed the flashbacks to tie everything together!
I devoured this book, had me hooked since the beggining. It was so freaking good. This book hd me feeling sick, sad, everything. Ill be bqck w an updated review but it if you liked Still Beating this has those vibes but much darker