Pretty Thing: A dark psychological romance about trauma, obsession, and the danger of mistaking isolation for protection.

by Brooklyn Cross

There is nothing I won't do to keep her.

The crash has taken everything from me.
I was Eden Hale, a girl with a future, parents I adored, and a life just beginning.
Now…I don’t know who I am.

I’m broken in more ways than bones. Stuck in a hospital, and the only person with me is Felix, the stranger who pulled me from the wreckage.

He says people don’t survive what we did by chance. He says no one else understands.
In grief, his attentiveness feels like salvation.
In loneliness, his possessiveness feels like love.

As I rebuild my life, fighting my way through depression, rehab, and nightmares, he’s there. The savior who calls me his Pretty Thing.

I stop knowing where healing ends and dependence begins.
Because some people rescue you, and some people keep you.
And sometimes you stop knowing when safety becomes captivity.

Genres: Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Dark, Touch Her and Die, Forced Proximity

318 pages, Paperback

Published September 8, 2026

About the author

Brooklyn's Social Media Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_broo...

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbrookly...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooklyn.cro...

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brook...

Brooklyn Cross grew up loving stories in a world that never quite understood how her mind worked.

Severe dyslexia and short-term memory challenges made school a constant fight, and success was something she was told to expect for others, not herself. Instead of quitting, she taught herself how to keep going.

Today, Brooklyn Cross writes dark romance for readers who don’t want safe love or perfect heroes. Expect morally grey men, fierce women, obsession, emotional chaos, and spice with consequences. If you like your romance messy, dangerous, and impossible to forget, you’re in the right place.

She has published multiple books and is relentlessly building worlds designed to ruin hearts, spark obsession, and stay with readers long after the final page.
Follow your dreams. Break the rules. Write anyway.

Reviews

[angelictaleslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG 🙀

"I should've run the first time he called me his......
...PRETTY THING"

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DID i JUST READ!

I'm actually speechless.
Felix is the most unhinged MMC I've read in a long time. I spent this entire book swinging between "I hate this man" and "I'd still risk it all." He's chaotic, obsessive, completely unpredictable...
and somehow impossible to look away from.
But my heart belonged to Eden. She loses so much in such a short space of time, and watching her fight through the pain absolutely broke me. I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug her.
Brooklyn Cross delivered angst, obsession, heartbreak and chemistry so addictive I couldn't put it down. This book messed with my emotions in the best possible way.

5* - emotionally damaged and zero regrets.

[★¸. • * ° * ༺*Blanka*༺*°°*•.¸. ♥★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wastes absolutely no time pulling you in. It opens with a horrific, brutally detailed car accident that immediately sets the tone and makes it very clear that this is going to be a dark and unsettling read.

Eden is one of only two survivors, left to deal with the loss of her parents while trying to recover from the accident herself. That’s when Felix enters the picture. At first, he comes across as kind, attentive, and protective, but there was something about him that never quite sat right with me.

As the story progressed, I found myself questioning everything right alongside Eden. Felix was incredibly intense and overbearing, constantly crossing boundaries and inserting himself into her life in ways that felt completely inappropriate for someone he barely knew. I couldn’t understand why he was so invested in her or how he could seem so calm and collected after losing his own brother in the exact same accident.

The more I read, the more suspicious I became. Was their meeting really just a coincidence? Why was Felix so determined to be there for Eden? And what exactly was he hiding? I loved that the book kept me questioning his motives and trying to piece everything together alongside Eden.

[Jessica Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
3/5🌶️

This is my first book from Brooklyn and I absolutely cannot wait to read more. Felix is a dark and twisted MMC but he loves Eden with his whole twisted heart!

[A. Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Felix's character which is the biggest reason I loved this book. He comes off extremely nice and thoughtful until anyone threatens his bond with Eden. Then Felix's true self comes out with malicious intent! I do always enjoy a black hearted character! Felix is like a hero and villain all rolled into one. Mainly because, Felix is hiding from Eden the true depths of his personality. Felix only shows Eden his hero side. While Eden isn't looking Felix shows everyone else his dark side. Felix is very duplicitous but memorable. Is Felix a little crazy? Perhaps....probably.....likely. Alright, definitely! That's what makes this read fun. I didn't expect that ending at all! Eden also is grieving but probably not ever assertive to begin with. Note to self- don't trust a man too good with computers. There are so many great quotes from Felix but I'll leave a few of my top favorites.

"We’re two broken things trying to pretend we still belong in the world. You’re the Pretty Thing…I’m just the tortured thing that found you.””

"Maybe love isn’t measured by how tenderly you hold someone. Maybe it’s measured by what you’re willing to burn to keep them. And I’m willing to destroy the world for my, Pretty Thing."

I received an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Saoirse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth the read. Delightfully intense.

I loved Felix. He wasn’t written like a generic dangerous man. He was build around hyper-observation, trauma, obsessive attachment, ritual, control, caretaking, and the need to protect. The author definitely is more interested in internal systems than just trope furniture.

He is definitely added to my collection of most interesting MMC’s. He’s fiercely loyal, deeply damaged, and somehow incredibly tender at the same time. What worked for me was that his darker behaviour never felt random - everything came from the same trauma-shaped need to protect, control risk, and never lose Eden. I also loved how attentive he was to her, right down to the tiny details.

The story kept surprising me, especially toward the end, and I was definitely not prepared for that cliffhanger. I genuinely yelled at my screen 🤣

Brooklyn Cross has built characters who feel psychologically consistent rather than just “dark for the sake of dark,” and I’m very interested in seeing where Felix and Eden go next. Pretty Broken cannot come soon enough.

[Tonya Blanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Felix, you master manipulator!!! The things this man does and says to own Eden is off the charts. What an absolutely crazy ride from the very beginning to the very end. Dark doesn’t even cover what I got from this book. Eden has been through it, and Felix is there for everything every time. The way Felix is written is undeniably brilliant. He can be all things literally and Eden that poor girl wow. This book isn’t just dark romance, It’s all the things you can possibly imagine with an ending that punches you right in the face!!! check your triggers for sure and as always happy reading.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wild ride, and I’m so glad I was on it. Felix was absolutely obsessed with Eden. But he was there every time she needed someone to pick up the pieces for her. I loved how dark this was, how possessive. The twists and turns had me gripping my iPad. This was so freaking good, until that cliffhanger… but I’ll definitely be waiting for the next one.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Thing is one HECK of an emotional roller coaster! This book is unlike anything I’ve read before, and in true Brooklyn Cross fashion, she absolutely TOOK MY BREATH AWAY with this heartbreaking, trauma-filled, obsession-fueled story.
My heart BROKE for Eden and Felix and everything they’ve been through. The crash brings them together, and Felix starts inserting himself into Eden’s life. Is he a little unhinged? Absolutely. Is he stalking her? Also, yes. But the way he’s ALWAYS there for her? I was hooked!
And the CHEMISTRY?! OFF. THE. CHARTS.
I devoured this book, felt every emotion, and was absolutely NOT prepared for that ending.
EXCUSE ME?! WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?! 😭
I NEED BOOK 2. IMMEDIATELY. Like, yesterday. Because WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE LEAVING ME LIKE THIS?! 😩

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

​Brooklyn Cross has delivered an absolute masterclass in dark, psychological romance with Pretty Thing. Going into this blindly was the best decision I could have made, nothing could have prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster and wild trajectory of this story.
​The story follows Eden, whose entire world crumbles overnight after a devastating tragedy. My heart aching for her, I watched her try to navigate the grief with a sweet, resilient, and forgiving spirit. Enter Felix: a total stranger who steps in out of nowhere to take control of the chaos. He manages every detail, taking care of the logistics and offering a lifeline when she needs it most.
​However, Felix's calm exterior hides a deeply dark nature. He is calculating, intensely possessive, and consumed by a terrifying level of jealousy. He lives by a strict, dangerous mindset: Eden belongs to him, period. He is the ultimate complex anti hero one minute you are swooning over his protective instinct, and the next you are screaming at your screen because you can't predict his next move. His true motives keep you guessing until the very last page.
If you are a fan of dark stalker romances featuring an obsessively loyal MMC, high stakes suspense, and emotional twists that push you to the edge, Pretty Thing is a mandatory read. Brooklyn Cross created a dark, captivating masterpiece that lingers long after you finish it.

[Kate Blackwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded upto a 3.5. I liked the story, it was an interesting idea, it had a creeping sense of doom as Eden fell further and further under Felix's spell and control. It had mystery, suspense and spice.

I think it would have been a higher rating if some of the plot was a bit more believable, some of it was just OTT preposterous. That nullified some of the suspense and fright value.

Humans tend to be most horrified by things that can actually happen, its not Werewolves or Vampires that are scary but rapists and murderers.

I think the more realistic the situation the more frighening it can be. I just felt there was a bit too much going on, we have Felix himself, utterly obsessive,possessive and fixated on Eden, which isnt romantic or sexy btw. Its terrifyingly unhealthy. Then we also have his psycho dad. It all felt a little bit cartoonish.

I also found myself ( maybe unfairly) getting frustrated with Eden, she was so oblivious. I get she's young, naive and sheltered, I get she is grieving and devastated, plus she has PTSD,injuries and depression, but she never thought it odd or strange just how quicky Felix insinuated himself into her life, moving in, taking control, sorting out her parents funerals, life insurance, taking care of everything.

This a man she barely knows, she ignored advice from her concerned best friends and took the side of this almost stranger over those who've known her for years. I understand Felix preyed on her grief and vulnerabilties. He was clever, manipulative and controling. But nonetheless the walking red flags were there. And Eden ignored them.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and after the things he's done I hope Felix gets what is coming too him. I hope this isnt one where the villain gets the girl.

[Amber Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Thing by @author_brooklyncross

I hate life for making me take forever to read this book. I was seriously wondering how this was going to end and it ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER!

For real life, the last like 50 pages i was thinking "wait, whats happening? He did what!?! Omg, what is she going to do?"

But to give you guys a bit of context, we follow Eden. Precious Eden is involved in a major car accident that kills her entire family and leaves her trapped in the car when a stranger saves her and she clings to this stranger like hes the only reason she's still breathing.

In a normal scenario, the hero saves the day and everyone moves on with there lives but thats not the case here.

He.never.leaves.her.

Felix is there for her through it all. Hospital appointments, physio, lawyers, insurance you name it and becomes her life line. The person she depends on.

But even with her friends warnings, she ignores all the redflags. But why wouldn't you when you have a tall, sexy, pierced, tattoo artist who treats you like a queen and trauma of his own.

But eventually the signs can't be ignored and makes us wonder what is Eden going to do?

Is she going to keep loving this man, this stranger who saved her life and calls her "Pretty Thing" or listen to her bestfriends warning and run?


#brooklyncross #prettything
#stalkerromance #piercedmmc
#darkandsmutty

[spicybookmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so it’s no secret how much I am enthralled by Brooklyn Cross and her stories. Well lemme tell ya this one takes a hard left onto wtf is happening now street and blew me away. The volatile feelings this Pretty Thing sets off are deep and heart pumping. Vacillating between anger/hate and absolute adoration/healing and everything in between. Sucked into the story right from the beginning the plot moves at a perfect pace adding to the angst and tension. Red flags a plenty waving for all to see but my heart has fallen hard and I’m here for all of it. Slow burn to the max, manipulation, isolation and twisted psychology with burning desire and chemistry make for one virulent love story. This obsessive possessive stalker romance is a captivating tragic love story full of tragic loss detouring on a road to healing. Oh and watch out for that cliffy, it’s a doozy.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma’am, how dare you end with a cliffhanger like that?! I absolutely devoured this book and making me wait for the next book is just so unfair. But seriously, I am addicted. I’m sure there’s something wrong with me for not hating Felix, but the psychopath has many endearing qualities. And Eden, poor Eden… how the heck did she end up in that situation at the end?!

This story starts with heartbreaking emotional (and physical) trauma and takes you on a rollercoaster ride of all the feelings. The grief is heavy. The emphasis on loss is huge. And the obsession is real.

“Maybe love isn’t measured by how tenderly you hold someone. Maybe it’s measured by what you’re willing to burn to keep them. And I’m willing to destroy the world for my Pretty Thing.”

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eden had her life turned upside down after surviving an accident that killed her parents. She wakes up in the hospital with Felix by her side. Felix is the most unhinged MC I have read in a while, he was totally obsessed with Eden. He saved Eden after the accident but sometimes isolation is mistaken for protection. A cliffhanger ending leaves you wanting more.

Arc review

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What. Was. That. Ending… such a cliffhanger!

This story truly shows the thin line between obsession and love. Felix is OBSESSED. And poor Eden! She goes through so much pain and trauma. I’m so excited for the next book!

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

In True Brooklynn Fashion she brought it! Wooo wee Felix is so deranged and I absolutely love it!! Woo wee as always she drops a 5 star that sucks you in. I couldn't put this down I was consumed and I need more!!! Run dont walk!!

[Julia Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a stroke of genius, and I binge read the whole thing in one sitting. I discovered what a ladder piercing was against my will.

I ate this right up

[Lilylou426 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a dark academia, forced proximity, touch her and -, with a controlling MMC. Eden and Felix meet at a crazy unpredictable time in their lives. Because of a trauma bond, Eden becomes very dependent on Felix, which is exactly how Felox wants it. What lengths will he go to to prove Eden belongs with him? How will he react when others doubt him? This book is absolutely fantastic!!

[bookworm haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every panic attack, nightmare, and shaking breath. Mine. It’s all mine. Everything about her is mine.

Thank you so much to Brooklyn Cross for providing me with an ARC of Pretty Thing and giving me the opportunity to read this story before its release. I expected a dark romance filled with obsession, but I was completely unprepared for how deeply this book would crawl beneath my skin.

Nineteen-year-old Eden’s life is destroyed in a single horrifying night. After losing her parents in a devastating car accident and suffering serious injuries herself, she is left alone with a grief no one could ever prepare for. Felix pulls her from the wreckage, and he appears to be the only person capable of understanding the horror living inside her. He remains beside her as the hospital gives way to an empty house, condolences dissolve into meaningless noise, and the simplest daily tasks begin to require an unbearable amount of strength. Gradually, Felix becomes her shelter, her anchor, and the voice promising that she will never have to be alone again.

The portrayal of grief is painfully authentic. It exists within the unfinished cups of coffee, familiar scents, Christmas decorations, family photographs, and jars of homemade sauce that Eden cannot bear to use because her mother will never make another batch. The exploration of survivor’s guilt is equally heartbreaking. Eden is grateful to be alive while simultaneously questioning why she was allowed to survive. Her physical injuries slowly begin to heal, but emotional trauma refuses to follow a medical timeline, leaving every step forward feeling like a betrayal of the people she has lost.

Eden and Felix’s relationship grows directly from that emotional devastation. Their connection is rooted in fear, loneliness, shared loss, and the desperate need to hold on to another living person. Eden genuinely feels calmer and safer beside him, but comfort gradually becomes dependency. The more decisions Felix makes on her behalf, the less space remains for her own voice. What makes their dynamic so disturbing and fascinating is that his interference frequently gives Eden exactly what she needs. His care produces real comfort, which makes the line between devotion and control increasingly difficult for her to recognize.

Felix is the kind of character every rational instinct tells you to run from while another, far less sensible part of you waits impatiently for his next appearance. He is tender, attentive, and almost painfully observant. He notices the smallest changes in Eden’s expression, remembers her habits, and knows how to make her feel alive again. Yet his love has no boundaries. Protection becomes possession, devotion becomes manipulation, and tenderness exists beside terrifying cruelty.

The most unsettling thing about Felix is the absolute sincerity behind his actions. He does not consider himself dangerous because every decision he makes has already been justified in his mind as an act of love. He does not seek forgiveness because, within his own moral system, he has done nothing wrong. Obsession has become his religion, and Eden is the only person he worships. His affection is intense enough to feel intoxicating, but there is always a quiet threat beneath it because Felix would rather destroy the entire world than allow it to take her away from him.

His past adds another painful dimension to the story. Felix grew up surrounded by cruelty, abuse, and loss, which raises a difficult question about inherited violence. Can someone raised by a monster ever completely separate love from ownership or protection from destruction? Felix desperately needs to believe that he is different from his father, but he occasionally follows the same warped logic by causing pain while convincing himself that it serves a greater purpose. His tragedy lies in his immense capacity for love and his complete inability to understand what healthy love should look like.

Eden never felt foolish or weak to me. She notices the warning signs, attempts to establish boundaries, and asks uncomfortable questions, but her perception is clouded by grief, gratitude, and the terror of being abandoned again. Kris and Kyle are therefore essential to the story because they preserve Eden’s connection to the life she had before the accident. They voice the doubts she is still too frightened to examine. Their conflict with Felix becomes a struggle for Eden’s attention, but also for her freedom to decide whom she can trust.

The dual perspective made this entire story incredibly compelling. Eden sees a hand holding her above the abyss, while Felix’s chapters reveal how tightly that same hand is wrapped around her wrist. The reader recognizes the danger long before she does, giving even the sweetest scenes an undercurrent of dread. One moment you are moved by his tenderness, and the next revelation forces you to reconsider everything you have witnessed. The warmth surrounding Eden was always real, but it came from a fire capable of consuming her entire life.

Pretty Thing explores grief, survivor’s guilt, traumatic attachment, manipulation, violated boundaries, and the dangerous desire to belong completely to another person. It examines the point at which “I would do anything for you” stops sounding romantic and begins to feel like a warning. This is an extremely dark story containing psychological manipulation, violence, morally disturbing behavior, and an obsessive hero whose devotion has no limits, so I strongly recommend reading the author’s content warnings.

The ending tore the ground from beneath my feet and left me with anger, fear, and an almost physical need to open the sequel immediately. Felix wanted to become Eden’s entire world, but by the final page, it becomes terrifyingly clear that he may be willing to burn down every piece of the world she had before him.

[Novellaworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

PRETTY THING— ARC REVIEW 🖤

Brooklyn Cross… WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!

Did Brooklyn tell me this book was going to end on a cliffhanger?

No. No, she did not.

Instead, she threw me off the top of a cliff, watched me crash onto the rocks below, left me bleeding out and then presumably sat there laughing like the absolute maniacal author she is. 😂

And honestly?

RUDE.

But also… bloody brilliant.

I devoured Pretty Thing in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. And by the time I reached the end, I was emotionally stripped bare, completely discombobulated and staring into the abyss wondering what the hell I had just been put through.

This book is HEAVY.

Trauma. Grief. Loss. Depression. Recovery. Nightmares. The kind of grief that doesn’t simply make you sad—it crawls inside you and changes the shape of everything.

Eden broke my heart.

Seeing what she was forced to endure at such a young age, watching her try to rebuild herself after losing so much, had me feeling every single emotion right alongside her. There were moments where I genuinely had to stop and breathe because Brooklyn doesn’t allow you to experience Eden’s pain from a safe distance.

You feel it.

And then there’s Felix.

Ohhhhh, Felix.

POOR. BROKEN. BOY.

I don’t even know what to do with this man.

His obsession with Eden?

WOW.

At first, his presence feels like salvation. He’s there when she’s vulnerable, when she’s grieving, when she’s desperately trying to find her way back to herself.

But somewhere between protection and possession, the lines begin to blur.

And suddenly I’m sitting here thinking…

Felix, are you saving this woman… or are you slowly convincing her that she can’t survive without you?

How do I feel about him?

Honestly, Brooklyn…

I’M DISCOMBOBULATED.

Do I love him?

I don’t know.

Do I understand him?

Possibly.

Do I feel sorry for him?

Absolutely.

Do I think he’s redeemable?

That, my friends, is something you’re going to have to decide for yourselves. 👀

Because this man is complicated, damaged, obsessive and absolutely fascinating.

And the chemistry?

🔥🔥🔥

Let’s just say Brooklyn knew EXACTLY what she was doing.

But underneath everything, it’s the emotional intensity that got me. This isn’t just a dark romance with pretty people making questionable decisions.

It’s a story about two deeply damaged people trying to find something to hold onto while grief, trauma and obsession blur the lines between love and captivity.

And those teasers?

They hit VERY differently once you’ve read the book.

Especially when you realise just how much Felix’s words can mean…

“You’re safe with me.”

Safe.

Protected.

Loved.

Owned.

Sometimes the most dangerous thing isn’t knowing which one it is.

It’s not knowing when one becomes the other.

And THEN…

THAT ENDING.

Brooklyn.

I have questions.

I have demands.

I have absolutely no patience.

And apparently I now have a long, brutal wait ahead of me. 😭

Did I devour this book?

ABSOLUTELY.

Did it break my heart?

COMPLETELY.

Did Felix leave me questioning my own moral compass?

100%.

Would I recommend it?

HELL YES.

Just don’t come crying to me when you reach that ending because I will be right there beside you, screaming into the void.

Pretty Thing is dark, emotional, obsessive, beautifully brutal and completely consuming.

Brooklyn Cross has once again taken my emotions, thrown them in a blender and apparently decided I didn’t need them anymore.

5 feral, emotionally traumatised, cliff-hanger-induced stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Now excuse me while I go stare dramatically into the distance and contemplate my life choices…

AND BROOKLYN, I SWEAR TO GOD… NEXT TIME A WARNING WOULD BE NICE. 😂🖤

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up Pretty Thing expecting the kind of dark psychological romance that leans hard into obsession and blurred lines, and Brooklyn Cross delivers exactly that from the opening pages.

The story drops you straight into Eden’s shattered world after the crash that steals her family and her sense of self.

She’s left broken, (literally and figuratively) stuck in a hospital with only Felix, the stranger who pulled her from the wreckage for company.

What starts as gratitude for the man who saved her life slowly twists into something far more complicated and unsettling.

The depression, the physical rehab, the nightmares, they’re not glossed over or used as mere backdrop. You feel her isolation pressing in, the way the world shrinks until Felix becomes the only constant.

His attentiveness reads as care at first, the kind of steady presence anyone would cling to when everything else has been ripped away. But the possessiveness creeps in so gradually that you understand exactly how Eden could mistake it for love.

The nickname “Pretty Thing” lands with an edge that grows sharper the more you hear it.

What I liked most is how the book explores that dangerous line between protection and captivity. Felix never needs to force anything outright, the dependence builds through quiet control, through the way he positions himself as the only person who truly understands what they’ve survived. Eden’s struggle to reclaim any sense of self while still needing him feels heartbreaking. You’re never quite sure where her healing ends and his ownership begins, and that i feel is the book’s greatest strength.

This is not a comfortable read, nor is it meant to be. (Please check TW)
The author leans into the psychological tension without offering easy answers or neat resolutions in this first half of the duet. (Yes, you heard me, A CLIFFHANGER APPROACHES!!!)

By the time I finished, I was left unsettled in the best way, already wanting the next book to see how far this dynamic will push both characters.

If you like your dark romance heavy on obsession, moral grey areas, and the slow erosion of boundaries, Pretty Thing will sit with you long after the last page.

🦋

4.5 ⭐

[The Soft Curse Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Thing by Brooklyn Cross

Well… Felix is a walking red flag and apparently I’ve decided to follow him anyway. 😂

Pretty Thing was much more psychological than I expected, and that was easily my favourite part of it.

Eden’s life is completely shattered after a devastating accident. She’s grieving, vulnerable and trying to figure out how to exist in a life she no longer recognises. And then there’s Felix.

Felix, Felix, Felix…

He saves her. He takes care of her. He becomes her safe place when everything else is falling apart.

Except his version of taking care of someone is… questionable.

The fascinating part for me was watching that line between protection and possession slowly disappear. There were moments when I completely understood why Eden relied on him, while at the same time I was sitting there thinking, GIRL, SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE.

And Felix had me constantly changing my mind about him.

Sweet? Sometimes.

Protective? Absolutely.

Obsessive? Completely.

Unhinged? Oh, 100%.

What really worked for me was that his obsession isn’t just thrown at you. You gradually realise how calculated he actually is and how much of Eden’s world has started revolving around him. The deeper I got into the story, the more uncomfortable and intrigued I became.

Their relationship is messy, unhealthy, intense and ridiculously compelling. I knew I shouldn’t be rooting for half of what was happening and yet… here we are. 😂

I also loved that the psychological tension did most of the work. The spice is there, and when it arrives it definitely delivers, but it wasn’t what kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know exactly how far Felix was willing to go.

Apparently the answer is: farther than I thought.

And then THAT ENDING.

Excuse me???

I genuinely thought I was reading a complete story. Brooklyn Cross apparently had other plans because now I have questions, trust issues and an immediate need for book two.

If you like dark psychological romance, morally questionable obsessive men and relationships where the difference between “I’ll protect you” and “you belong to me” becomes increasingly difficult to find, this one is absolutely worth checking out.

Just maybe check the trigger warnings first. 🖤

IG: @thesoftcurse

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

This book started off STRONG with a brutal car crash that immediately let me know this was not going to be a light read. Eden is one of only two survivors of the crash, and while she’s dealing with losing her parents and recovering, Felix steps in to help her. At first, he seems caring and protective, but there was always something about him that felt…off.

I spent a good portion of the book just as confused and suspicious as Eden. Felix was incredibly overbearing, crossing boundaries and doing WAY too much for someone he barely knew. I kept wondering why he was so invested in her, how he seemed so composed after losing his own brother in the same accident, and whether their meeting was really just a coincidence.

Then things get DARK. This quickly became less of a psychological romance and much more of a psychological thriller with romance and spice mixed in. There’s manipulation, obsession, violence, secrets, and an increasingly unhinged Felix who will apparently stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants. 😂 Watching everything unfold had me constantly questioning what was actually happening and how deep his obsession went.

I really enjoyed the suspense and the feeling that there was always another secret waiting to come out. Eden’s skepticism made sense, especially with everything she was dealing with, while Felix had me going back and forth between “aww, he really cares about her” and “HOLY SHIT, THIS MAN IS A PSYCHO.” 😂

Definitely check your trigger warnings because this one gets DARK. And that ending?! 😭 It left me with so many questions, and after everything Felix has already done, I NEED to know where this story goes next.

Overall, this was chaotic, disturbing, obsessive, and completely unhinged, and I could not stop reading because I needed to figure out what the hell was actually going on.

[kaylaschapterchats · Rating 5 out of 5]

What in the actual heck have you done to me Brooklyn?

I need book 2 now because that ending was crazy.

Our fmc is Eden. I really like her but she definitely is going through it with the loss of her parents. Eden is kind, caring, loyal and just has this beautiful soul. She loves the ocean and nature and is really excited to go to university to study what she loves. But, her world is turned upside down when the unthinkable happens and she's left in pieces and i think her judgement is questionable.

Our mmc Felix is an interesting man. He is a tattoo artist and owns his own studio. He's a bit of a recluse and only really has one friend Matt, who they've been friends for years. Felix has had an extremely rough upbringing which i think has shaped who he is. Felix is obsessive, unhinged, intelligent and emotionally unstable and i don't know how to feel about him.

The plot had me hooked from the get go. After Eden's world shatters, she finds support and comfort in Felix, a complete strange. Felix pushes his way into her life and becomes extremely dependant on Eden in every way possible and wants her to do the same in return. Eden and Felix's chemistry is incredible and their relationship grows into something more very quickly but not without concern from her besties, Kris and Kyle. But, things get weird quick and Felix's past comes back to bite him and Eden realises that things aren't making sense.

That cliffhanger, insane!!!

Thank you Brooklyn and your lovely team for the opportunity to read this story and to be a part of your ARC team. I am forever grateful 🙏

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶🌶🌶

🩷 dual pov
☠️ innocent fmc
🖤 obsessive mmc
🩷 unhinged mmc
☠️ serial unaliver
🖤 stalker
🩷 hurt/ comfort
☠️ spice
🖤 piercings
🩷 tattooed mmc

[Tori Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

⛓️🩷𝔭𝔯𝔢𝔱𝔱𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔟𝔶 𝔟𝔯𝔬𝔬𝔨𝔩𝔶𝔫 𝔠𝔯𝔬𝔰𝔰🩷⛓️

✨𝔞𝔳𝔞𝔦𝔩𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔴✨

𝔞𝔯𝔠 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I went into this book completely blind and it took me on an absolutely wild ride with an amazingly dark psychological romance. I went into this book thinking it was a standalone but no….that cliffhanger had me throwing my kindle down so shocked, frustrated and NEEDING book 2 immediately! I loved every second of this book so much more than I expected to, it drew me in and I finished in one day I’m pretty sure!

This book follows Eden as her entire life has fallen apart overnight after a tragic accident. Then Felix appears, a complete stranger who not only saves her but then steps up out of nowhere taking control of the chaos that ensues afterwards. He takes complete control, managing every detail of Eden’s recovery and becomes a lifeline she’s in desperate need of, even though he sometimes crosses the line! To Eden he seems calm, collected and so incredibly sweet. Hidden underneath that exterior is a dark, obsessive, calculating man with an extreme level of jealousy and possessiveness of Eden. In his mind Eden belongs to him, she was always his and he won’t let anyone get in the way of that.

This story kept me on my toes, the way Brooklyn left breadcrumbs into Felix’s mind and how deep his obsession with Eden was absolutely brilliant. I kept getting whiplash, one moment I’d be swooning over how sweet Felix was being and the next I’d be yelling at my kindle because I couldn’t keep up with his crazy. I’m a sucker for a stalker with absolutely no limits to his obsession and Felix definitely fit that! The chemistry between Eden and Felix was messy, electric, and toxic from the beginning and the spice between them is a bit slow burn but when it hits it’s so freaking hot 🥵

Overall, I absolutely love this book and would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a dark romance. I’d recommend going in blind and let yourself be sucked into the story but if you have triggers please check the warnings so you don’t go into something you won’t enjoy!

—————————————————————————————
OMG…..that cliffhanger was so brutal! I can’t wait for book 2!!!! RTC

[Juliann Pawlowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

EXCUSE ME?!?! What just happened…

This book comes in HOT from chapter 1. The theme throughout the entire book is the FMC just can’t catch a damn break!

The FMC, Eden, is your typical girl going off to college, when tragedy strikes. And strikes again. Anddddd again. The hits just keep on coming for this poor girl, honestly, I’m not sure how she continues to get outta bed. Oh, but wait, I know why…

Que, Felix. Her knight in shining armor! This man swoops in and saves her, no literally rescues her, from the first unfortunate event and just…never leaves.

Felix is sweet, attentive, tender, caring and also smart, calculating, protective, and unhinged. He inserts himself into Eden’s life, claiming he’s trying to be helpful, but is always overstepping.

Eden knows something’s not right, but Felix has an answer and reason for everything. He can logically and easily explain away all her concerns that stop her from second-guessing his intentions until she’s in too deep.

The lengths this man goes to keep her safe is actually insane. But if you ask Felix, “I’m not a fucking psycho. I’m just protecting what’s mine.”

I was constantly torn between, Felix is crossing boundaries to awww, he’s so good to her and really loves her. Both are true! I was manipulated just like Eden.

THE ENDING THO! I went into this completely blind, and had no idea it ended on a cliffhanger, so be prepared. After the last 2/3 chapters, for it to end like that, I almost threw my phone. I figured out part of the hidden truth, but I didn’t expect THAT!

I have no triggers, but please check yours. If you like stalker, unhinged, obsessive/possessive, romantic suspense/thriller, check this one out! I’m excited for book 2.

[Gretel A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my honest, voluntary review.

Whoa, this is the most stalkery, creepily dark, romantic story I've ever read. Felix and Eden, brought together by a tragic car accident where Eden's parents died and her life was flipped upside down. Literally pulled from the wreckage by her knight in shining armor. Right place right time or is something else going on here? Felix immediately inserts himself in Eden's life, overstepping any boundary and taking care of every need she might have without being asked. Acting as her protector and confident and guardian even though they just met... doing everything in his power for Eden to rely on him and only him.

I have to say this book was so good at delivering the creepy vibes right away. I've never had this kind of visceral reaction to an MMC before. His mask is so clever and thought out and Eden is so vulnerable and easily manipulated. A true picture of a psychopath in action and all you can do is sit back and watch how it all plays out.

The levels of devotion and obsession were really beyond comprehension. It makes you wonder when things happen if someone made it so or if it was random. Eden's naiveté was such a good counterpoint for Felix's manipulation. Obviously, she has doubts and questions but he was just so convincing, the gas lighting and alternative narratives provided to her by Felix were so logical and easy to accept that I don't know if I would have been able to see through it either.

This cliffhanger ending makes you want to scream in the best way. I need answers and I need to know what happens next.

[Donna reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Fell For A Walking Warning Sign!!

‘’There is nothing I won't do to keep her."
Felix didn't say it. He swore it. With his whole unhinged soul.

When I say this book blew me away I mean OH MY LORD WOW.

Felix? His red flags have red flags and I loved it...what does that say about me? Do I need help?!
Because Felix is obsessive, possessive, completely feral and utterly unapologetic about it and it makes me shake and fall for him also-help😬🫠

Eden has her world ripped away in one night. Felix pulls her from the wreckage and decides she's his Pretty Thing…( was it the wreckage…hmmm)

Brooklyn, you wicked genius. You made devotion feel like deliverance and control feel like comfort.
The pull between them is lethal.
The chemistry is combustible, intoxicating, all-consuming.
When Eden finally surrenders? Chills. Actual chills.
And the spice? BOILING. Slow-burn obsession that snaps into filthy, claiming, can't breathe heat. The kind that scorches.

Just when she thinks she's safe, Eden discovers something that makes her run. And what she runs into might be even more dangerous.

No spoilers…you need to experience Felix in all his unhinged glory for yourself. If you live for dark, multilayered, broken, twisted anti-heroes, he is so worth it.
He survived his past... or did he?

Warning Pretty Thing is psychologically dark, decadent and completely unputdownable.
Brooklyn Cross wrote such a mind-blowing, captivating, wildly entertaining obsessive stalker romance.

And that cliffhanger? Left me absolutely speechless.
I need Pretty Broken NOW.

[Kellie Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPEECHLESS!!!

Brooklyn, ma’am I’m completely speechless at the moment because of the ending of this book which I was not expecting at all. I will always sing your praises when it comes to your books because you always make me question everything and I’m here for it. At the moment, I don’t know how to feel about this book and did I enjoy every second of this book yes.

This book with a whirlwind from start to finish. This book was the perfect balance of suspense, tragedy, mystery, obsession, and so many other things. This book had so many plot twist that I was not expecting at all. This book broke my heart, made me giddy, made me flustered, may be beyond furious to the point where I was screaming, made me question my sanity, put me through the worst book hangover and so many other things.

This book is about Eden’s and Felix’s story and how their relationship is not your ordinary love story and I loved every second of it. To be honest, I don’t know how to feel about the ending of this book because it was a massive plot twist that I was not expecting at all and I’m having a hard time moving forward. I am hoping and praying the second book doesn’t take long because that ending did me in.

If you love a psychological book about a MMC who will do absolutely everything in their power to make sure his woman is safe from everything, then this book is for is the perfect book that will make you question so many things including your sanity. What are you waiting for? You need to get this book right now. You truly won’t be disappointed.

[Nikki B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Thing is book 1 in the Pieces of Despair duet. It is a dark , psychological, romance thriller.
I am so torn about how I feel about Felix. Of course his level of obsession is all red flags. But, man does he have a way of also making them sort of green?. Or maybe I'm just color blind. His level of obsession is unhinged, but it comes from a good place, sometimes. He is amazing at covering his tracks. He's always 10 steps ahead. I just hate that Eden has to suffer the way she is. I understand his reasoning for doing the things he's doing, crazy as that sounds, but he's also hurting Eden so much more. And I guess, from Eden's point of view, she can't see it because all she can see is her life is falling apart and this man has constantly been her rock. She's lost her parents, her house, her best friend, and now her other best friend is cutting her off, all after surviving the injuries she sustained from the accident. I mean, she is really going through it. Then, here comes Felix to make it all better.
I did not see the ending coming though. That came out of nowhere and I am hooked, waiting at the edge of my seat for the next book.
This was a well done. I love when a crazy unhinged man can make me question my morals and Felix has me questioning my whole existence. If you like your men unhinged, give Felix a read. I'm telling you, he will not disappoint. Or well, he might, but don't worry, because he knows how to make it all better.