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Under My Skin

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Many know me,
yet none have seen my face.
I’m the topic of conversation,
but nobody knows my name.
I am a life thief.
A soul destroyer.
An invisible plague.
And still, you want to know me.
Because my darkness reminds you,
of the desires that lurk within you.

Unknown Binding

First published August 1, 2020

14 people are currently reading
250 people want to read

About the author

Jo-Anne Joseph

33 books759 followers
Jo-Anne Joseph is a USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and psychological fiction. Along with a passion for writing, she is an avid reader, wine lover and foodie. Her lifelong love affair with words started at a young age. She’s a business professional, and lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband, their son and fur babies.

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5 stars
58 (51%)
4 stars
37 (32%)
3 stars
12 (10%)
2 stars
2 (1%)
1 star
4 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Jade Violet.
328 reviews512 followers
Currently reading
September 14, 2020
Yep, this book is dark and fucked...

“There is a wide, yawning black infinity.  In every direction, the extension is endless; the sensation of depth is overwhelming.  And the darkness is immortal.  Where light exists, it is pure, blazing, fierce; but light exists almost nowhere, and the blackness itself is also pure and blazing and fierce.”
Profile Image for Catherine Russell.
109 reviews306 followers
November 1, 2020
Book: Under My Skin
Author: Jo-Anne Joseph
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Multiple
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 4 Stars!

Age: Miranda - 25; Fynn - 40; Maureen - 41.

Warning: This book is extremely dark. There's explicit descriptions of *torture, murder, incest and rape.* Since the blurb is kinda vague, my review contains spoilers and mentions the events of the plot. Proceed at your own risk. You have been warned.







For them. For all the girls who didn't have a voice against the sickness of their monsters.




What the fuck did I just read! 'Under My Skin' is my first book from Jo-Anne Joseph and after reading this mindf*ck of a book, I'm definitely checking out her other books. Sometimes I need something a little different to break up the sweet, fluffy romances that I typically read. Jo-Anne Joseph delivered that. I had no idea what this book was going to be or how it was going to turn out. It was very well written, especially for such dark topics. The writing flows real easy and it was hard to put down once things started to get interesting. The plot's dark and twisted and shocking, and I devoured it. It starts out slowly and it takes a few chapters to really get into the rhythm of the book. It's definitely not for the faint of heart since it contains triggers upon triggers. I can stomach a lot of violence and gory scenes - hence why this book didn't bother me. Albeit of course the child abuse, that is always hard to stomach. And all the secrets, the twists, the madness. Holy crap.

What happens under the cover of darkness scarcely makes its way into the light.


All the characters were fascinating and manipulative. The story's essentially about two sisters, Miranda and Maureen. They both had a difficult childhood, experiencing things no child should ever experience. Fynn is Maureen's husband and a pastor. The plot focuses on these three and all the sordid details of their fucked up lives (mentioned at the end of my review). The story is told from multiple POVs, so we get a fuller sense of the book as the plot moves along. I was constantly trying to figure out which one was the bad guy but I shouldn't have bothered 'cause all three of them were far from innocent. You know something isn’t quite right and you have to keep reading to try to understand what’s really going on. Don't expect a beautiful fluffy romance, because if you're looking for that, this isn't it. These characters are messed up in so many ways it will leave you questioning your own sanity.

If a person knows the truth yet hides it away, are they not merely the lesser of a greater evil?


The starting was really intriguing for me. We get all these details but the characters are such a mystery even till the end. We get to know the sisters, Miranda (Randy) and Maureen (Mo) and also Maureen's husband Fynn. Maureen's a writer while Randy works at the community center and also helps in the church where Fynn is a pastor. Fynn's hot for Randy, who's taken an oath of silence. The book starts with someone murdering men and getting off on their pain and helplessness. The only problem for me was Fynn. His character wasn't appealing for me. I didn't like how he switched between Mo and Randy. One minute he loves his wife and the next, he professes his love for Miranda. His nature and actions almost gave me whiplash. Fynn was the only letdown for me.



Once again, this book's not for everyone. Yes, I was disturbed, and even sickened by certain things that happened but the plot's worth it. If you love a dark romance then you need to experience this for yourself. You may love this or you may not.

Profile Image for Kim BookJunkie ~ Editor & Proofreader.
2,135 reviews55 followers
August 31, 2020
I read this story when it first came out in the LEAVE ME BREATHLESS: BLACK ROSE COLLECTION and again since she fleshed it out and re-edited it. I personally think it’s one of her best if not best books!!! With infidelity, deadbeat parents, hot sex, murdere, taboo/church, a mute character, abuse and TONS of expected, fabulous twists and curveballs, UMS is a wild, unpredictable, exciting ride!!
1,788 reviews38 followers
November 21, 2020
What an incredible psychological story about forbidden love and more! It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. If you love dark, delicious reads, then this book is for you!

The characters of Fynn, Miranda and Maureen are all complex in their own way and each have their own demons from the past and present. So much goes on in this story that will make your head spin! And just when you think you figured out what secrets these characters are hiding, this author throws you for a loop! This book is not just about forbidden love, it’s also about owning up to your actions and dealing with the fallout.

I found it hard to write this review without giving too much away and I refuse to give spoilers. Just know that your mind will be blown, your heart will stop, your emotions will be all over the place, and when you get to the end, you will have had your questions answered and they may not be what you thought. All I can say, is you need to read this book, it is truly brilliant.
Profile Image for Kelly_Reads_Books.
2,123 reviews190 followers
October 11, 2020
Under my skin was deep, methodical, and diabolical
But yet sweet, with loss of innocence, and forbidden.
This book was fabulous! It had me reading hungrily until the end.
Profile Image for Little monster.
695 reviews20 followers
October 14, 2020
Wow I enjoyed this so much it's short but it packs a punch in ya gut!!!!!! It's dark and depraved but those are my favourite types of books!!!!

This is essentially a book about forbidden love if you love your books dark like me then this is for you!!!! The story follows the three main characters Fynn, Miranda and Maureen they are all messed up in some way or another but all come together as one. Now this story flicks between past and the present quite a lot and sometimes I had to flick back to make sure what I was reading but it never distracted me from the story, but yes it will make your head spin and more but in a good way!!!! So many secrets and lies throughout and you wonder what the hell is going on, then just when you think you have it all figured out the author throws you again!!!!!! I don't wanna give too much away to the story as it will spoil it, so all I can is please read this you won't be disappointed!!!!
Profile Image for Kitten.
148 reviews26 followers
February 2, 2021
It's been a while since I read a book that has moved me.

I've been at a loss with the 'dark' genre, trying and failing to find a book that was both dark with a good plot and something that captivated me. Not to sound like a complete psycho but nothing was ever dark enough. No amount of torture was authentic enough. None of the bloodshed was too bloody enough.

But this one is a different story. This one is immoral. This one is sinful. This one made me fall in love with the dark genre all over again.

The blurb gives nothing away and I think that's how it should be. It's best to walk in blindly and embrace yourself for the twisted, depraved ride you're about to take.

I don't know what I expected from this book. In all honestly, I don't even know what to say. I feel sad. So, so, utterly sad. Truly, one of the best books in the dark and thriller genre.
Profile Image for L Cherry.
707 reviews19 followers
September 9, 2020
Dark romance

This was dark and sad. Not sad in the way that you cry and pull out the tissue, but it is just sad that such things could happen to someone. The story sucked me in immediately and kept me guessing.
769 reviews17 followers
August 10, 2020
Wow! This was such a roller coaster ride, it’s one of those books that when you think you know, you realize you know nothing!
It is a dark read, with very complex characters, I don’t give out spoilers in my reviews, I have been a huge fan of this author for years now and with every book, she digs deeper , which makes me happy because obviously she has so much more in store for her readers !
Profile Image for Briana.
593 reviews23 followers
February 1, 2022
Trigger Warning ⚠️ has descriptive moments of murder, incest, rape, molestation. Trigger Warning ⚠️ Take heed to the book description. This is a dark read.

A story that takes the battle of good and evil to heart. A story about choices, and the consequences that go with them. A story that grapples with the idea of ones outward darkness just reveals your own inward desires and struggles.

The duality for these characters between evil and purpose.

Such a great emotional rollercoaster that I am still riding after reading the story.

I applaud this author for writing such a gripping story. I thought one thing then it was switched once the bigger moments were revealed. Don’t get me wrong, there were details of the plot that could have been written better but overall this is a gripping story that I thought was good.

Can we just talk about this three POV action going on too? I enjoyed this three point of views going on. (Actually four POVs when you count the “soul destroyer”). In the beginning I mixed Maureen and Miranda all the time. This could be my own stupidness, or it could be the writing consistency of the author, or even just the similarity of the two names.

To be honest, there were elements in here that reminded me of a book called R.I.P but just better. There were so many triggering elements, but it was written in such a way that was purposeful for the character development and the plot progression. It wasn’t thrown in there for nothing.

I will definitely need a totally different book for my next read. I need a psychological thriller break at the moment. 4.0 star rating.

Trigger Warning ⚠️ has descriptive moments of murder, incest, rape, molestation. Trigger Warning ⚠️ Take heed to the book description.
1,634 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2020
CREEPY TWISTED Read!
Will definitely seek your attention as the creepy emotionally charged twisted story spins in and out of control at times making it hard to put down while toying with your senses and taking over your mind. A thrilling disturbing story that keeps you on edge with dark chemistry and mind blowing twists.
Profile Image for EroticaAfterDark (Lilith).
2,780 reviews957 followers
Want to read
August 14, 2020
NEW RELEASE
→ Just released! Grab your copy now! ←

abuse


→ Submit or subscribe to The DARK Newsletter! ←

Blurb:
Many know me,
yet none have seen my face.
I’m the topic of conversation,
but nobody knows my name.
I am a life thief.
A soul destroyer.
An invisible plague.
And still, you want to know me.
Because my darkness reminds you,
of the desires that lurk within you.


Merged review:

NEW RELEASE
→ Just released! Grab your copy now! ←

abuse


→ Submit or subscribe to The DARK Newsletter! ←

Blurb:
Many know me,
yet none have seen my face.
I’m the topic of conversation,
but nobody knows my name.
I am a life thief.
A soul destroyer.
An invisible plague.
And still, you want to know me.
Because my darkness reminds you,
of the desires that lurk within you.
Profile Image for BookAddict.
2,077 reviews207 followers
August 13, 2020
Depraved. Dark. Decadent. Buckle in tighter than you ever have before, because this one goes to some deliciously dubious, unsettling places. And if you take a firm line on cheating, you might want to skip this one, because there's a gluttonous, disquieting amount of partaking of forbidden fruit. At the very least it will torment and toy with your emotions.

It’s riveting and intoxicating, and casts a wicked spell that you can never get free of. Like falling into quicksand, the more you resist the deeper it draws you in, holding you captive while you relish every sordid detail and shadowy nuance. The secrets, lies and betrayals all fold back in on themselves, one feeding the other until there’s nothing left but the unavoidable, monumental, spectacular explosion, destroying everyone in its path.

This incredibly gifted writer is at the very top of my list for dark romance. Each new book is better than the last, but this book makes all other dark romances I’ve read pale in comparison. Sure, this book won’t suit every reader's taste, but if dark romance is your jam, run to the 1-Click now and lose yourself in this phenomenal, unparalleled read!
Profile Image for  Thea™.
3,777 reviews11 followers
September 29, 2020


Looking back (knowing everything) I have to admit the story was very creative. However, while reading this book I was mostly confused.
The POV's of multiple characters, a lot of secondary characters.... so many names and nicknames were used (and not always the same nickname for the same character).
And as if that wasn't confusing enough for me, the chapters were in the 'now' and plenty of flashback of 'before', so a lot of back and forth.
Thus.... 'confusing' was an understatement. 🤪
I had to go back several times to re-read chapters because I was lost. I was almost finished before I finally had a feeling the story began to make any sense.
The ending ~ how everything came together ~ made up for everything!
Even though this story had a somewhat happy ending, the book left me with a 'sad' feeling. What a fucked up life all those people had! 🥴
My rating? The ending ~ how everything came together ~ made up for everything, so I'd say.... a meager 4 stars.

EE; BotM September 2020.
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
October 17, 2020
WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ?!  I have very few hard limits because I'm a dark & twisty kind of girl, and one or two of those may or may not have me DNFing a book, but Jo-Anne Joseph seriously shoved me so far out of my comfort zone without me putting this story down for even a second, and it blew me away.  Under My Skin is one hellacious journey of such depravity that even I paused to catch my breath a time or two but never put it down. The dark thrill ride was filled with straight up insanity of the highest order, and while it's a story on the short(ish) side, let me tell you, it packs a mighty punch.  There were so many psychological twists that I couldn't even whisper one f-bomb which means this author is brilliantly diabolical.  I'll leave you with this, there are many triggers so if you're not down for the insane depravity, you may want to sit this one out. To those brave enough, hit those one click buttons because Under My Skin will blow your mind!  HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!  
Profile Image for Tyi.
718 reviews51 followers
August 11, 2020
This is my second reading this story and it gets better every single time. There is so much pack into short story. At first, you might think you know what is going on but trust me... you will have no idea. The characters aren't perfect. They are unbelievably flawed. Each one of them holds a piece of darkness that if let out can cause all types of havoc. There was hints of mystery in the story, some psychological thriller, and forbidden romance. And without question, there was the underlying dark. Not pitch black but you knew while reading that this story wasn't going to hold a lot of light. The characters had to find themselves amongst the gray and definitely amongst the darkness.
Profile Image for  ✰  Charlie  ✰ Chisholm.
1,984 reviews22 followers
August 11, 2020
This is going be a hard review to write without spoilers so I am going keep it short.

What a story. it pulls you in from the start you think you know whats going on trust me you really have no clue. These characters are complicated they are not perfect in any way but you will either love them or hate them. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the book it did keep me guessing as to what is going on. Then just as you think you have started to figure things out BAM you are wrong.

A great thriller that will mess with your head till the last page.

Another great story form this author.
Profile Image for Sarah DeLong.
1,756 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2020
There are no words that will ever do the review of this book justice. It's a gripping, emotionally charged psychological thriller. The reader will be inevitably consumed by the lives of Fynn, Maureen and Miranda. The story penned in this book will have the reader continuously guessing about who is orchestrating the events that take place within the pages. I'll leave it at that as I don't like to give spoilers. If you're a lover of psychological thrilling reads, this book is for you.
Profile Image for Sue.
1,214 reviews
August 10, 2020
Mind Blown! Dark, forbidden, full of secrets that will blow your away! A true dark psychological story, Under My Skin will grab you and won’t let go. I loved it!
Profile Image for Renee.
5,193 reviews73 followers
October 11, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

Many know me, yet non have seen my face. I'm the topic of conversation, but nobody knows my name. I'm a life thief. A soul destroyer. An invisible plague. And still, you want to know me. Because my darkness reminds you of the desires that lurk within you.

Oh wow, I am going to go ahead and warn you that this book is dark and twisty. This might hold some triggers for some readers so I thought you needed to be aware of this. This is the story of sister's Miranda and Maureen and Flynn and his brother Trevor. These are some really complex characters as you have Flynn who is a priest. Miranda is younger than Maureen and Flynn but she also is a girl who does not talk at all. She has taken a vow not to and really tries her best to live her life sinless. Maureen is Flynn's wife or she tries to be, but she never wants to have babies and she certainly didn't want to be a preacher's wife but I must say she tries her best to play the part really well when she is around other people. Miranda is the one that is really good and she just always ever wanted to be in her own apartment and have a job she loves and that happens at the community service but she also dedicates a lot of her time to the church too. Anything to be around Flynn. You see she met Flynn as a little girl and over time fell in love with him and so did Maureen. This is maybe the crux of it all. These poor girls had a terrible mother and while Maureen knew her dad Miranda never did. Their mom though is a drug addict and drunk and really isn't a mother to either one of them. I couldn't stand anytime she opened her mouth. I just really wanted to smack her. I'm going to let you figure out who Treavor is all on your own. I also feel like I have said enough about the book. I don't want to give anything away about the rest of it. I will say that this is a twisted love triangle for sure and it even maybe expands beyond that. You will fall in love with some characters and some you want but about the entire time your going to be trying to figure out just exactly who is the serial killer running around. I loved it, devoured it and could have kept reading this messed up story for a long time.
5,524 reviews
October 12, 2020
Only my third book by this author, but let me tell you…IF you are a fan of DARK romance, then this author will be a danger to your TBR!

There are not many books that leave you reeling; this one will! So intense! So, OMG!

My mind wanders into the darkness of this story at inexplicable times. This is not a story for the feint of heart! Heed the warning! If you're brave, you will have to tell me if this kept your brain spinning a hundred miles per hour!!!

I received an advanced reader copy, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Wendy Livingstone.
20k reviews257 followers
October 11, 2020
This story is mind-blowing from the very beginning. Fynn, Miranda, and Maureen, who is orchestrating the events which take place: this story had me on tenterhooks throughout, and I was second guessing myself continually. These characters are flawed and complex and is a forbidden love story. No spoilers: this is a definite must read, you will not be disappointed. This is a well written story with an intricate and in-depth plot, which is dark, intense, emotional, depraved, and with secrets, and twists, which all lead to a riveting and all-consuming read. I was totally enthralled throughout this psychological thriller, and this talented author has done an awesome job in penning this tale.
Profile Image for Sharon.
4,152 reviews31 followers
September 12, 2020
This dark erotica is my first time reading anything from this author. The story is one that drew me in from the get-go and refused to let go until sometime after I had read the last word of the book. It’s definitely not for faint of heart and don’t be fooled about the book length, trust me the author makes use of every single word as she brings her characters to life.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for valeria.
673 reviews22 followers
September 7, 2020
I was really surprised, I liked the book , i was not bored with the book, quick to read
Profile Image for  Joyce .
1,014 reviews28 followers
October 1, 2020
I read this before but I’m not seeing the edition marked as read. Odd but a good read. Interesting twists and turns. Open ended set up for another book.
Profile Image for Deb.
7,537 reviews36 followers
September 2, 2020
This story was captivating in its darkness. The author cleverly executed this story to provide maximum enjoyment through shockingly effective scenes and dialogue. I could not put this book down. Great storytelling.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,263 reviews11 followers
August 22, 2020
Painfully dark, brutal, and emotionally graphic story of a twisted love triangle between Maureen, Flynn, and Miranda. The deep psychological pain and trauma that tragically bound them together was embedded with abuse, violence, revenge, and pain.
As the story unfolded, my heart bled for Maureen and her need for revenge and retribution. There were parts that read like a sadistic horror story with forbidden sometimes sick passion that preyed on my thoughts long after I finished reading.
Not for the faint of heart and not a romantic story in any true way although it is filled with eroticism and graphic scenes.
Lines were continually crossed with multiple POVs as time flips back and forth creating a haunting and horrible picture.
Author was truly talented in creating this gripping, emotionally twisted story that was sadly realistic.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Danielle Marlowe.
2,054 reviews9 followers
August 28, 2020
Jo-Anne Joseph did a great job on this story, Under My Skin had a strong well written plot that had many emotions. The characters were strong, nothing about their journey was easy, it was rough, with many ups and downs but they were fighters.
I enjoyed this story. Thanks, Jo-Anne Joseph. Good work :)
Profile Image for Gina Burkart.
3,547 reviews52 followers
August 28, 2020
Wow what a very dark read that is a amazing story that gets better with every time read the story. This is a roller coaster ride read that will have you hooked from the very first page tell the very ending as this story will take a thriller ride.
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