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Be careful with that one.

These are the first words of advice given to Abel Sommerfeldt upon entering Silverwing Mental Institution. He has no idea what awaits him here, in a place where hope goes to die, and demons run rampant.
Certainly not a disarmingly beautiful young woman with violent tendencies and an itch for defiance.

But Abel was never one to listen. Not even to his dead mother, whom he still hears, whispering warnings about the girl named Rose with white blonde hair who feels like fate.

He quickly discovers just how dangerous freedom is for Rosamunde Montgomery.
Because sometimes, the most beautiful roses are riddled with thorns.
And he's willing to learn the hard way.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2021

67 people are currently reading
864 people want to read

About the author

Cynthia A. Rodriguez

24 books395 followers
Cynthia hates writing her own bio. In her down-time, you can find her watching movies, ranging anywhere from classic to action flicks (she has a weakness for Marvel adaptations), and reading any novel she can get her hands on.

She loves hearing from her readers! You can reach Cynthia at cynthia.a.rodriguez6@gmail.com. Both her Twitter and Instagram handles are @thecynrodriguez.

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5 stars
94 (26%)
4 stars
139 (39%)
3 stars
76 (21%)
2 stars
26 (7%)
1 star
14 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
Profile Image for Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite.
1,252 reviews317 followers
February 14, 2019
description

When it comes to Cynthia A. Rodriguez books, I expect a story to consume me, to make me forget the real world, what I did not expect is a story to shock me the way Folie à Deux did.

Rose and Abel were a deeply flawed couple who's behavior should make me stop reading—their love was like a poison you can't stop drinking, yet despite everything they did—the blood and the madness, you just want them to be together ♥.

Folie à Deux is not another story about a handsome boy and a beautiful girl falling in love, is a destructively romantic story between two real hearts, crazy, but hearts at the end. There was no happily ever after here, just an utterly unique and well-written story that you won't be able to put down.

description

You can find me here: INSTAGRAM
Profile Image for talon smith.
710 reviews127 followers
February 1, 2019
"In my madness, I am desperate.
In my fatuation, I am violent for Abel."


Okay. Straight to the point: If you love psychopaths who have an undeniable attraction to each other (amongst other things) and want nothing more than to wreak havoc and mayhem together- you are going to love Folie à Deux (as well as Rose and Abel). I like to think of them as modern day Joker and Harley Quinn. That is how reckless and wild they are.

The angst between Rose and Abel is palpable. I can feel it the second that they meet. A lot of time- "insta-love" perturbs me. I am not a fan in any way. But something about Rose and Abel speaks to me. I am not sure if it's their passion or their personalities but something about them just...works.

"Love can change you. Love can heal you. 
Love can stop the storm from rolling in and destroying the world around us."


One of my favorite things about this story is the destruction these characters leave behind them. That's a funny thing to say isn't it? Well, the destruction and madness was the best part of it all. It is what made Abel and Rose. What pushed them to keep going. Instead of dealing with their feelings the "normal" way, they found a way to seek solstice in their mayhem. Together. And I really was here for it.

Cynthia really showed growth in her writing with this one. Knowing that she can take two un-fixable people and put them together and make them likable to the reader, takes incredible talent and she did a great job of doing just that. You can't help but to empathize for these two people. And if you don't empathize for one, you will empathize for the other. Not to mention the killer (pun-intended) twist in this story! Beautiful.

"My Rose leases a trail of thorns and dead bodies behind her. And she saves her petals for me."

Folie à Deux is not your typical romance. Sure, there's romance. But I feel as if it's much deeper than that. It's more than just a story about two people falling in love with each other. It's about two people with demons buried down inside of them so deep they don't know how to cope with them. So they stay together and fight them together. Through thick or thin. Or in this case- through death and blood.
Profile Image for Greta.
467 reviews
August 7, 2019
”And then a man is kissing his monster like her lips are carved from an angel.”


La storia inizia con un ragazzo qualunque, che dopo essere stato trovato sul cornicione di un palazzo, forse, con l’intento di saltare ponendo fine alla sua vita, viene portato all’istituto psichiatrico Silverwing.
Abel non ha avuto una vita facile, dopo la morte della madre tossica ha iniziato a vagare per strada ma continua a sentire la voce di quella dannata donna in testa che gli parla e la vede in episodi di allucinazione. Ora, ritrovatosi a dover alloggiare da paziente in quel manicomio, non sa cosa fare. E qui, conosce Rose.

Rose è considerata la paziente più pericolosa, perchè ha attacchi di rabbia molto feroci e ferisce sempre qualcuno. Sembra una ragazza innocente d’aspetto, capelli biondi, bellezza naturale, eppure ucciderebbe chiunque le si parasse davanti.
Questi due diventano amici, si capiscono, e decidono di scappare insieme. Abel, accecato dall’amore non sa in che guaio si è cacciato – perchè tutto quello che farà sarà guardarsi le spalle e pulire la scia di sangue che Rose si lascerà dietro.

Aspettavo con ansia Folie à Deux e ha soddisfatto a pieno la mia anima dark. Abel e Rose sono come il giorno e la notte, tenero e dolce lui, ma con qualche rotellina mancante ovviamente, e pazza e selvaggia lei, una vera killer.
Vedere le loro vicissitudini al di fuori del manicomio mi ha messo un po’ d’ansia perchè avevo paura per Abel, perchè è cosi accecato dall’amore che non si rende conto che tutto questo non porterà a niente di buono. E sopratutto, non porterà a niente, punto.

Cynthia Rodriguez, it’s a yes from me! 🙌
Profile Image for Cydney.
487 reviews36 followers
July 3, 2025
Lovesick is a dark romance with soul, centered on Abel and Rose. They meet and fall in love in a mental health facility, and as they begin to fall for one another, they break out and go on the run. Rose has a dark history and impulses she cannot control that often lead to death or, at the very least, bloodshed. These urges present roadblocks for Abel and Rose's journey; Rose she is hellbent on murdering her mother who was the reason she ended up in the facility—but she is also willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. Abel also suffers from hallucinations, haunted by the ghost of his abusive mother and the circumstances he endured prior to the mental health facility.

I really enjoy Cynthia A. Rodriguez's writing style, because while I found Rose to be layered and I was able to empathize with her a few times, I flat out did not like her LOL. Her impulsiveness and selfishness made me beef with her the entire book. She was very sheltered and didn't know much but was a complete know-it-all at times, and I found her off-putting. However, I've never read a dark romance where the female main character is the dark one, so I was willing to overlook disliking her for the sake of the story. Abel was patient, understanding, quick on his feet, and stupid in love. And that's OKAY! Love that for him.

The pacing somewhat lagged after they escaped and I got confused about how long they'd actually known each other at one point to be honest, but I was also very entertained by the chaos of it all. Like, there's truly nothing like two mentally ill people off their meds crashing out LOL. Also, the lost chapter ate! I love the way the end of Lovesick ties into Lovefool.

4 ⭐️s
2 🌶️
Profile Image for Charina❁♡✾.
31 reviews7 followers
July 1, 2020
Dark, Chaotic, Poetic, Tragic

Toxic love at its bloody finest. -Yes, I meant that both literally and figuratively speaking. Don't expect sweetness, do expect bloodshed; an abundance of red splattered upon this twisted and dark romance novel.

(At times I took a break from reading this book, due to the overwhelming highs and lows of Rose and Abel's perspectives. (My grasp at their mental illness. -Real heavy shit consumed.))

In a nutshell: two hopelessly broken souls meet in a mental institution; become toxic lovers; escape "hell" only to face consequences of their erratic and vengeful freedoms; then ends in a very sad and tragic way. (No happily ever after)

(I also enjoyed the unexpected poetic writing style by the author. I highlighted two favorites below.)

"There's something serene about her and I'm thinking maybe she's a contradiction. Violent serenity." - Abel

"I am wild and I am violent but I am falling at your feet, wanting to show you my affections in blood."
- Rose

I am very curious to read more from Cynthia A. Rodriguez. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys dark romance with a big dose of mindfuck. Four and a half stars for Folie à Deux.

TRIGGER WARNING:
Contains emotional abuse, rape, blood, and vulgarity.
Profile Image for Koryne.
151 reviews74 followers
October 30, 2024
this was okay???

it was insta lust which normally i don’t have a problem with especially with two psychos but something about this didn’t land…..and it was Abel. 🫣

let me start off by saying that he has a TOALLY NORMAL reaction and thought process to Rose killing soooooo many people for almost no reason, HOWEVER that’s not what i want. i want him to love every part of the crazy bitch Rose is and his inner thoughts were lowkey judgmental and i hated that.

he would say how much he loved her but then thought like how he was kind of afraid of her and how can he be enough so she doesn’t feel the need to kill literally everyone who slightly annoys her. and that’s all well and great but i need him down baaaaaaaaaaad like no remorse or anything 😂😂😂 not him having nightmares about the people Rose has killed 🫣🫣🫣🫣😅😅😅

it is safe though 100% they both used to have a lot of sex in high school but it’s been years for both even though it seems like Abel is still more experienced.

and then the Doctor???? he hits on Abel in the psych hospital so i’m thinking he’s the bad guy but then he saves them??? AND THE ENDING?! where the fuck did that come from?!?!?!!

this was too long and too short at the same time and it took me forever to get into

i did get this as an arc though because it is a republication of an old series with a new ending, new origin, and new content.
Profile Image for Lisa.
476 reviews
February 14, 2019
Imagine being so infatuated with someone that not even their worst faults turned you off. Not even if they were a murderer.

Rose and Abel is the story of love between two broken souls. They love fast and they love hard, even though they both came from questionable backgrounds. It's only fitting that they meet in a mental institution. Abel learns that some birds shouldn't be kept caged, but freedom is even more dangerous to them.

I first fell in love with Cynthia's writing, last year. I read EVOL and it became one of my top reads from 2018. It felt as though I stumbled upon a secret. Why wasn't everyone reading her work and screaming how awesome it was? Then she announced that she was writing Folie à Deux. EVOL felt so personal, like the story spilled from her broken heart. I was curious how she'd do with a story less personal. Let's just say that Cynthia proved, to me, how diverse her writing is. She took a topic that felt so distinct and uncommon and made it feel authentic, but in a twisted way. There was a touch of 'insta-love', but I'm not even mad.

Rose and Abel are quite honestly perfect for each other. And if your significant other isn't just a little afraid of you, is he really the one? I think no.
Profile Image for Sue Ouellet-Cofsky.
2,537 reviews47 followers
August 30, 2022
I sat on this story a bit before reviewing and in doing so, my mind got so twisted over what is real and what isn't real (yes I KNOW the story isn't REAL lol...but you know what I mean). Folie a Deux translated means a shared psychosis. Does it mean that both parties are crazy or psychotic? Does it mean that one is off and brings the other with them? Both could be true with this story. We have a little bit of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest mixed with a touch of Bonnie and Clyde and so we have what I would truly call a mind fuck because in the end, I'm not sure what REALLY happened. I can't go deeper into my thoughts without giving away main plot lines or endings but even a re-read of the epilogue and "the other epilogue" has me wondering if what I thought all along is what actually happened. Twisted, down the rabbit hole story that I really enjoyed!
Profile Image for LaTosha Webber.
1,162 reviews72 followers
October 24, 2024

Like I don’t even know what to say except that this is what I think of when I originally heard of dark romance. It’s love and romance in a way that isn’t conventional between unconventional people. Not shock value brutality. It’s the hopeless romantic belief that love can conquer, can change, and cure. Or at least if no one else is safe the other half of your soul is. This was beautifully written and well paced, Rodriguez has you riding the razor edge of anxiety until you almost can’t stand it anymore before she offers you sweet HEA relief. At times I felt Abel’s frustration so acutely I wanted to shake Rose! But his love and obsession forced you to see and sympathize with her even when you might not have wanted to. The twist at the end was perfect. I am so excited to dive into more of her work.
Profile Image for destiny.
527 reviews159 followers
April 8, 2025
their love is poisonous but so fucking addicting and obsessive 🤩

these two are so raw and beautiful. their chemistry is through the fucking roof omg !!

this was more than just two soulmates finding each other and falling in love. it’s definitely much deeper than that. they suffer with mental health and being caged in that institution just wasn’t what they needed. their love is toxic, brings chaos, poetic, bloody, and tragic.

THAT ENDING ?!!??
i need more so bad it hurts omg
Profile Image for Tracy Reads.
727 reviews44 followers
May 10, 2019
What the he'll did I just read?

This book is all kinds of crazy it's like a train wreck about to happen and you just can't look away crazy! If dark and insanely twisted is your forte then this is absolutely the book for you the word deranged came to minds a lot!
Would able be my book boyfriend? He'll no that dude is as crazy as rose!
Profile Image for iqra.
161 reviews83 followers
December 28, 2022
good lord was I sat here expecting a lovey dovey romance where boy mc is abel red flag pushing this girl around but NO🤏 HE TRIED CHANGING HER BYEE

They meet at a psych ward 😦
He defends her but she’s like if anyone touches you I will kill them (literally she does)
He is like oh let’s watch a movie and boom girl who was 2 cm close dies cause of miss rose
HE CALLED HER NAZI BLONDE I WAS LAUGHINGHWJDHD 💀💀” shikse. Her hair is too blonde, like the Nazis.”
I think he’s like a malewife YH… but when I say malewife I mean looser malewife cause never have I seen a man this down bad??? BFFR? Like he is not maning this badly I’m sorry misogyny will help him wake up I have to say it !!!

You’re dead,” I whisper.
She shakes her head. “No. Everyone else is.”

Am in a bit of state of shock if i am honest 😦 now I understand why you need to listen to doctors ? That girl should’ve not escaped good lord abel what have you done 🧍‍♀️

Rose girl I think he wants to be left alone 💀 I’m fr deadass
Profile Image for Imani Blake (Enamored Reads).
308 reviews113 followers
February 20, 2019
”He is the sun peeking between the dreary clouds and I am the girl wanting to sing. You are my sunshine…”

All I have to say is this is as unconventional as love can get!

I’ve waited for this book for what seems like a long time and I 100% was not disappointed. It was more than worth the wait because Rose and Abel were EVERYTHING!

It’s dark and twisted in a way that still makes your heart burn and jump! Cynthia’s unique writing style just made it that much more unconventional for my slightly dark heart!

This is the perfect read for all you dark romance lovers!
Profile Image for Cátia Chambel.
83 reviews6 followers
October 19, 2024
Thank you Cynthia for the ARC!

Seeing this was a dark romance made me so excited since it had been so long since I had read one. Unfortunately, this just did not hit as I wanted it to.

The beginning of this book was very promising with both of them having their little meet cute in a psych ward, and I was so invested I almost read the entire book in one day. I thought from there it would develop until they eventually got set free together, but this ended up happening way sooner than I was expecting.

Now that was not the issue. The issue for me was Abel’s reactions to Rose’s little killing spree once they got out. Where I expected him to support her and love her unconditionally, it just felt like he was questioning his love for her and judging her all the time. It just rubbed me the wrong way and I ended up getting bored of it.

I am very sad that I did not enjoy this book half as much as I thought I would because I truly believe it had potential, and the author’s writing is actually amazing which made the reading experience a lot better.
Profile Image for cloudy.
606 reviews85 followers
May 28, 2025
"she’s a venus flytrap, hidden in a rose’s body,"

we are, indeed, all mad. and what is love if not madness in this bonnie and clyde meets harley quinn and joker twisted romance. their souls longed for each other as much as their demons fed off one another. i felt it in my being. as dark and toxic and delusional as it sounds, this is the type of love my mentally ill self has craved ever since embracing all that i am. it healed me, fueled my hopeless need to find someone who'll love me through hell. i'm also a whore for unhinged, badass women so i related to the mmc on more than just the hallucinations.
Profile Image for Alyssa Albanese.
699 reviews17 followers
November 10, 2025
I was so excited for this one, and it was kind of disappointing. At first, I was very invested in their relationship, even though it was very insta-lusty, and I was curious where their relationship was going and I really liked both characters! After they escape, it kinda just went downhill but like what do you excpect? We have two very mentally ill people but Abel was just cleaning up Rose's messes and she was so selfish and just killing people for no reason?? The dog killing was so unnecessary to me. I have the second book in this series so I'll probably read it but I hope I like it better then this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tiffany S.
1,089 reviews39 followers
September 24, 2019
Like calls to like

Unreliable narrators are my favorite. When you find a story that reads like you’re watching movie, and has your anxiety pushed the max?! Wow. This story is so well written that you’re rooting for people you shouldn’t be. And that is the power of a fantastic story with an unreliable narrator.
Profile Image for Christina Hart.
Author 17 books105 followers
February 5, 2019
Folie à Deux is at once both terrifying and seductive. The writing lures you in romantically while the characters crawl inside your head.

Between Rose and Abel-our two main characters-you experience a taste of madness in two different perspectives, as you shift back and forth from each of their POVs.

I found myself rooting for Abel so wholeheartedly, my heart aching for all the passion that was destroying him when it came to Rose. It's no secret that love can make people f*cking insane, but what can it do to two people who are already teetering on the brink of insanity?

Folie à Deux, for me, is like Girl Interrupted meets Bonnie and Clyde. It's a modern telling of two young people who happen to meet in a psych ward. You ride safely in the backseat during their joy ride, witnessing the mayhem firsthand, through their eyes. Violence, passion, lust, the smell of gunpowder in the rain; this book was not what I expected when I started it.

The author shocked me, sedated me, and seduced me, all within one gripping story. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you close it, with characters you will want to reach for after reading the last sentence of each of their chapters.

The title may translate to "Madness of Two", but by the end, you will be tangled (and mangled) up in that love right along with them. And it's worth every moment.
Profile Image for Nadja.
440 reviews125 followers
October 15, 2024
Okay, so... what the actual fuck did I just read?? I’m still processing, but I don’t think I’m ever gonna make sense of it. Look, I’m usually all for psycho lover stories—gimme a dark, twisted character and I’ll probably find something to like. But Rose? Nah. Not a single ounce of respect or sympathy for her, like... at all.

To be fair, I was kinda into this book at first! It was different, had a weird vibe, and I was along for the ride. Right up until they break out of the psych institution, then it went completely downhill. Rose just becomes super selfish, always thinking about her next kill (and not even people who deserved it!), dragging Abel into danger constantly, and it’s like she doesn’t give a single shit what he wants. To be real, Abel enabled her, so some of this is on him, but man, he should’ve bailed early.

I honestly wanted them to end up in some crazy Bonnie and Clyde-style ending, but nope. I found out there’s an older version of the book where it does end tragically, and now I’m super jealous of the people who got to read that one, ‘cause what I got? Not it. I just couldn’t root for them by the end. It was somehow way too long but also too short? Like the pacing was a mess, dragging in parts and then rushing in others.

And WHY did Rose have to beat her childhood dog?! Like, girl, do whatever messed-up stuff you want to people, but WHY the animals?? I was so done after that.

In conclusion, don’t waste your time on this one. It started off promising, but Rose turned into the most unlikeable character, Abel didn’t do enough to fix it, and by the end, I was just counting down the pages. Learn from my mistake and skip it.
Profile Image for Daniele.
530 reviews3 followers
November 4, 2019
In the chaos of life, we have love. It may be toxic, crazy and maddening but it’s there and it comes at you at times when you least expect it. Let me welcome you to world of Abel and Rose. This isn’t your typical love story, this is more.

Their love is unconventional. Their love maddening. Their love is dark. Their love may have you look at love at first sight in a way you never expected.

When I finished the last word. I was left speechless by the beauty of what Cynthia gave us. Beauty in chaos. Beauty in dark while longing for light. Beauty in love. Beauty in knowing your faults and accepting them, all of them, even the ugly ones. Beauty in knowing defeat.

Folie A Deux has left its mark on me.
Profile Image for Kelsey.
44 reviews21 followers
January 7, 2025
Just finished Lovesick by Cynthia A. Rodriguez, and wow, what a ride! This book gave me major Bonnie and Clyde vibes—an intense, passionate love story that’s thrilling. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, and the plot twists will keep you on the edge of your seat there were also moments that had me laughing! If you love a story with high stakes, adrenaline-pumping moments, and a love that defies everything, Lovesick is a must-read. I Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Carmen Aquino.
292 reviews28 followers
February 11, 2019
4.5 stars

All’ospedale psichiatrico Silverwing Rose è una paziente da tre anni. In questo luogo personale e pazienti la temono ma ciò non li risparmia dai suoi improvvisi attacchi di violenza. Una paziente non facile, rifiuta in ogni modo i trattamenti farmacologici e le sedute con lo psicologo Brown.
Ha una mente sempre in moto, conta nelle ore di isolamento per avere una parvenza di controllo fino a quando stremata si abbandona all’oscurità. Aggiorna, ripete e modifica la lista stilata tre anni prima a cui non rinuncerà mai. Guarda le persone negli occhi e sa cosa pensano di lei, ci riesce con tutti tranne con Abel.

Abel è il nuovo arrivato al Silverwing, dicono che abbia tentato il suicidio ma della scena non ricorda assolutamente nulla. È un senza tetto, abituato a fare i lavori più improbabili per racimolare qualche soldo e cercare di sopravvivere alla giornata. Un posto dove dormire e un piatto caldo gli fanno comodo quindi non si lamenta della sua destinazione fino a quando non capisce di aver sottovalutato la situazione.
Le preoccupazioni per se stesso e per il suo futuro però vanno via quando vede Rose.

Tra i due nasce subito una sintonia nel momento in cui si incontrano, nel momento in cui Rose si avvicina e spara raffiche domande senza freni e risponde ad altrettante con totale sincerità ed armonia.
In quel l’ambiente così ostile ho amato la loro complicità, la loro voglia di stare insieme negata dal sistema dell’ospedale stesso. Una storia condannata dall’inizio che porta Abel al gesto estremo di scappare dalla struttura con la sua amata.

Una volta usciti vivono totalmente all’avventura e allo sbaraglio.
La totale e netta dualità di Rose esce allo scoperto. Principalmente è una ragazza spinta dagli istinti, con un animo oscuro, che non ha paura di uccide chiunque si metti sul suo cammino. Una personalità deviata che ha creato le sue radici da un’infanzia non propriamente felice e da un violento atto che l’ha condotta al Silverwing.
La Rose angelica, amorevole, sincera invece é quella che ha incantato Abel e alla quale lui non riesce a farne a meno; oltre Rose non ha nessuno così interessato a lui, che lo ami senza pregiudizi e riesca a spegnere, anche se per un po’, la voce di sua madre che lo tormenta; è così coinvolto da Rose da essere costretto a seguirla ovunque anche se deve mettere in discussione i suoi principi morali.

“My Rose leaves a trail of thorns and dead bodies behind her. And she saves her petals for me.
One day I’ll end up with a shitty mess of a heart and a pocket full of thorns.”

Cynthia è una nuova autrice per me, sono stata piacevolmente colpita dal suo libro. Ha saputo guidarmi in questa storia e tenermi sul filo del rasoio nelle situazioni più pericolose.
Ho sospirato durante i giorni al Silverwing in cui anche tenersi per mano era un gesto proibito e fatto con estrema cautela. Mi sono disperata ed emozionata alle loro discussioni e alla loro dimostrazioni d’amore. Un amore totalizzante e ossessivo che cerca di superare tutti gli ostacoli anche se questi sono i demoni che tormentano le anime dei protagonisti.
Personaggi perfetti e ben bilanciati, Rose è facile adorarla per la sua completa pazzia ma Abel è il vero gioiellino di questo romanzo, è pura poesia e l’avrei abbracciato e stretto a me tantissime volte.
La trama che mi ha incuriosito sin da subito e rispecchiava totalmente i miei gusti; più leggevo e più mi piaceva questa lettura. Purtroppo però quando un libro inizia a piacermi troppo inizio a vedere piccolezze che mi “infastidiscono” e per questo motivo non sono riuscita a dare un voto pieno ma sicuramente ho apprezzo il lavoro fatto e le emozioni che è riuscita a trasmetterti con questa storia.

“In my love, I am a fool.
In his love, he is my protector.
I wanted to be perfect, just so he could ruin me, but he ended up being the one ruined.
I’m the beast to his beauty.
I am his prisoner and he is mine.
In our love, we will perish.”

~ARC provided in exchange for an honest review~
Profile Image for ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn.
1,944 reviews104 followers
October 23, 2024
This book is Toxic, Twisted, Chaotic and hit all the right notes of what I was looking for. I wanted dark and that's exactly what I got. An unhinged FMC and a MMC that just can’t help himself but to love the unhinged.

'Abel is a torch and I am gasoline, and together we are a massive explosion.'

I had no idea what to expect when picking up this book, but when my friend said I had to read it, I did so blindly. Two broken people meet in a mental institution and they immediately call to one another. Abel finds Rosamunde absolutely beautiful and he just wants to save her. Rose is intrigued by Abel and feels as safe as she's ever felt with anyone. But they must get out of the mental institution if they want to truly survive.

Once they find their way out, it all plays like a bloody, violent movie that pushes the limits. Reminiscent of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for the first setting along with Natural Born Killers, True Romance and the Joker and Harley Quinn, you may get the overall feel for what's to come. It's a trip that is full on as soon as they escape and it's absolute madness that I could never look away from.

Rose and Abel are absolute and total chaos and their relationship is anything but "normal". It's Toxic with a capital T. But the way sweet Abel loves Rose and does anything for her made me melt for him. A man that willingly covers up your messes? Trust me when I say he goes beyond that in every capacity. And Rose? Well, she's a character that is 100% morally grey. Heck, she may be more than grey. She is off the cuff, but you also feel like she has a reason for everything she does. Until Rodriguez pushes the envelope with Rose and a bit of her actions. You're left wondering if you can truly stand behind this woman. It makes you really stand in Abel's shoes and come to terms with your own madness.

Lovesick is violent and graphic, but there is also romance. A romance that gripped onto 2 broken souls and had them fighting for one another in some very intense ways. It may have been quite savage, but I couldn't look away. I was mesmerized by the poetic writing, even during the brutal moments. There was a sense of freedom in the madness and I loved that. I fell for Abel and although I'm still not sure about Rose, this story made for one heck of a heart-pounding entertaining ride.
And lastly, I can't forget to mention the ending, because WTH Cynthia Rodriguez? Way to mess with me. Also, huge tip for the reader....read until the absolute very end! ;)

If you need a bit of dark romance in your life, Ms Rodriguez killed it (all the puns intended) with this one. She knows angst and she knows how to push the limits while still finding the beauty in the violence.

I'm the beast to his beauty.
I am his prisoner and his is mine.
In our love, we will perish.
Profile Image for Natalie.
1,125 reviews20 followers
October 7, 2025
3.5🌟

This was an…interesting read 🤔

In many regards, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style was easy to follow and gripped me enough to keep me reading. I frequently found myself wishing I had the energy to read because I was so captivated by the story. However, I also had my issues with it.

I had a love/hate relationship with Abel and Rose. This was mostly because of Abel’s reluctance to give in to Rose’s unhinged nature. As a dark romance, I wasn’t expecting this to feature a healthy relationship, so I found myself frequently annoyed with Abel when he tried to be the voice of reason 😂 It kind of had me like, “Well do you love this madwoman enough to be her ride or die or not? Pick a struggle, Abel!” So, this was a big part of the story that I struggled with. On the other hand, I loved many of their interactions (especially in Silverwing) because it highlighted the care they had for one another. They saw the humanity in each other so much more when they were in Silverwing. That’s where I thought we saw the clearest how they appreciated each other and wanted the other one to be safe.

In general, I loved that both Abel and Rose were tóxicos in their own way 😂 Like I’m not gonna lie to you, it often did feel like they were living into stereotypes (Latino man obsessed with a lil white girl and vice versa)…but I kind of found some sick pleasure in it. Even though I lowkey almost always agreed with the comments made by Abel’s hallucinations of his mother…cause this lil white girl really did make a mess of Abel’s life…and I lowkey would’ve preferred for it to have been a Latina to do it. Oops 🙊

Regardless, I’m glad I gave this a shot. I don’t tend to read a lot of dark romance (cause it tends to make it harder for me to shut down my rational brain 😂), but I’m gonna keep exploring the genre at my own pace. I have a feeling, though, that I’ll enjoy the other book in this series a lot more than this one. We’ll see ✨
Profile Image for Noemi Salazar.
253 reviews6 followers
November 1, 2024
LoveSick
By Cynthia Rodriguez

3.5⭐ 3🌶️

Tropes:
Black Cat/Golden Retriever vibes - Serial unaliver in love - Opposites attract - Forced proximity - Interracial romance - He falls harder - Bonnie & Clyde off their meds

Main Characters:
Rose & Abel

Stand out lines/quotes:
“I’ve come to love every fucking crack in Rose as much as I love the perfect parts of her.
She makes it impossible for me to not love every single thing about her.
I’ve learned to love the way she looks with blood on her hands and a gun in her waistband.
I love how easily she brings the monster out of the man.”

My Thoughts:
I liked this book. The storyline is chaos at its finest. But, I think that was the intention being that they’re off their meds. I think for me, the only thing that really threw me for a loop, was the disconnect between different forms of Spanish (Mexican Spanish vs Puerto Rican Spanish). There are a lot of Spanish phrases and commentary in this book. I found myself rereading those lines and would get frustrated because they didn’t make sense. That aside, I love Abel! He is just a sad puppy in a messed up situation and LOVES his “owner” even though she’s a “hot mess express”.
Profile Image for D.W. Cole.
Author 2 books77 followers
January 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️ Dark, deranged and delicious. If you are looking for an unhinged, fast paced dark romance, this is a read I’d highly recommend. Cynthia hooked me once I heard this was feminine rage heavy! I love me a dangerous, morally grey female lead.

Rose and Abel are the toxic, twisted duo I didn’t know I needed in my life. Bonnie and Clyde who???

While this may not be the story for everyone (heavy on the TW), you won’t be able to deny Cynthia’s ability to write a beautifully written story that sucks you in. She has several not so heavy releases you should go check out if you loved this one or if you are looking for something a little less heavy. You can’t go wrong with any book of hers.
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