What do you think?
Rate this book
Never Tell Lies
“Fear is a wave, O'Connell, you need to learn to ride it…”
Billionaire hotel mogul Alfie Tell loves a challenge, and Lola O'Connell puts up one hell of a fight. Cold and conceited, Alfie is everything down-to-Earth Lola despises, but he's a determined man. Bruised from a lifetime of loss, Lola does everything she can to keep her feelings at bay but glimpses of a dark past behind Alfie's steely exterior intrigue her.
An aspiring garden designer, Lola's work thrusts her into Alfie Tell's presence as she takes on a project at his newest hotel. Unable to escape his seductions, she finds herself falling hard and fast, despite every warning that this man can't be trusted with her heart.
Afraid of losing the one woman who has ever meant anything to him, Alfie employs every tactic he can to keep her. Manipulation, control, possession and lies consume them. Soon, their heated romance becomes a toxic infatuation that drags both of their demons to the surface and threatens to shatter them both.
Never Tell Lies is a dark romance novel and is the first book in the Never Tell Trilogy.
Billionaire hotel mogul Alfie Tell loves a challenge, and Lola O'Connell puts up one hell of a fight. Cold and conceited, Alfie is everything down-to-Earth Lola despises, but he's a determined man. Bruised from a lifetime of loss, Lola does everything she can to keep her feelings at bay but glimpses of a dark past behind Alfie's steely exterior intrigue her.
An aspiring garden designer, Lola's work thrusts her into Alfie Tell's presence as she takes on a project at his newest hotel. Unable to escape his seductions, she finds herself falling hard and fast, despite every warning that this man can't be trusted with her heart.
Afraid of losing the one woman who has ever meant anything to him, Alfie employs every tactic he can to keep her. Manipulation, control, possession and lies consume them. Soon, their heated romance becomes a toxic infatuation that drags both of their demons to the surface and threatens to shatter them both.
Never Tell Lies is a dark romance novel and is the first book in the Never Tell Trilogy.
ebook
Published May 30, 2025
6 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
AJ. Rella
3 books31 followersAJ. Rella is the author of the Never Tell Trilogy. She began writing seriously at the age of nineteen and is now (finally!) releasing her first novel. AJ was born in England and when she isn’t writing dark romance, you can find her working in her garden or sipping chamomile tea in a cosy armchair, tucked into a book that is hopefully filled with magic, monsters, and a little bit of romance too.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 13, 2025
Oh honey. I can't believe I'm saying this. But FUCK, I LOVE THIS TOXIC RELATIONSHIP.
Before I delved into my explosive feelings, let me give you a brief summary of what this story of obsession and manipulation is about. This is the story of a garden designer (of sort, she's more like an apprentice) Lola O'Connell and a rich hotel billionaire, Alfie Tell. They met one day when she was supposed to replace her mentor at a future hotel, where she had to oversee a project there. They met, sparks flew everywhere and the man quickly went ballistic on the chase for her. And oh boy, there were a lot of chasings... and runnings. And pushes... and pulls.
It was fireworks between these two.
I thought the trend with push-and-pull couples was over for me after Mr. Sin and The Stopover but oh boy, Lola and Alfie realllly proved me wrong. These two are so fucking bad and good for each other to the extreme. Every day they fight and fuck. I kid you not. I got whiplash from this couple and I tried to be in their situation; it was a whole lot mindfuck.
It was so hard to think clearly when he was around that when I was away from him, it was as if I had finally come up for air, rationality came back and made me realise how crazy he and I were together. When he was around, there was a part of me that wished he would never leave, and yet that same part wished that when he was gone, he would never come back.
Lola is your typical out-of-the-water heroine, facing a love interest that was way out of her league. She's fiercely protective of the people she loves and has some abandonment issues due to her past. So, she ran a lot from the maniac that was Alfie. Because Alfie is one of those men, he saw, he wanted and he conquered. He would do everything (and I meant it, he did everything he could, even dirty tricks) to keep Lola by his side. Being in his presence for Lola is like staring into the sun. He burned her but she was too oblivious sometimes to realise she was being burned alive. It was a little suffocating for me to read their story because it was just ups and downs and downs some more and then, ups and downs again.
Like I said, it came to a point where everything was a little toxic for everyone. And I haven't even started with the manipulations and the gaslightings our girl was being under. I don't know what to think yet. They were just so volatile around each other and yet, soothed one another so well. It was that kind of relationship dynamic. On one hand, there was no doubt they were made for each other, with how much both of them go at each other's throats. On the other hand, I think both of them need a fuck ton of therapy to fix their relationship.
Now, pushing the characters and their chemistry aside, let's talk about the plot. It reminded me a little of This Man series by Jodi Ellen Malpas. There was this secret sex club that we barely delved into and something nefarious in our male lead's past. Like, really dark gritty secrets. I am giddy for the revelation. How fuck up would it be for our couple? hehe
As for the spice, it burns. Burnnsss hot. Like the sun. This is where the book shines. The smut is *chef's kiss*. No other comment. They burnnnn baby. Burnnn.
As for the writing. It's in British English, since the book is set in Kent. There was a lack of commas though. I never cared much for grammar before but if I had to read a sentence a few times to understand what happened, girl, you need to structure your sentences better. Add some commas dammit. But that might be a me issue. English is not my first language. But then again, since I think this is a debut work for this author, hence I'll let it pass. Because at the core of it, it's a fucking good story!
All in all, I highly recommend this book. If you ever want to read an obsessive love story with a morally grey and exasperating hero, well this is it. It's also a long book. I even took a day off to finish this one up because this book deserved all my attention. I love the drama! Also, cliffhanger alert. The next book is out this September, probably. Let's wait for it together, okay?
p.s Want to know what happened at the cliffhanger? Let me spoil you with his depravity.
Before I delved into my explosive feelings, let me give you a brief summary of what this story of obsession and manipulation is about. This is the story of a garden designer (of sort, she's more like an apprentice) Lola O'Connell and a rich hotel billionaire, Alfie Tell. They met one day when she was supposed to replace her mentor at a future hotel, where she had to oversee a project there. They met, sparks flew everywhere and the man quickly went ballistic on the chase for her. And oh boy, there were a lot of chasings... and runnings. And pushes... and pulls.
It was fireworks between these two.
I thought the trend with push-and-pull couples was over for me after Mr. Sin and The Stopover but oh boy, Lola and Alfie realllly proved me wrong. These two are so fucking bad and good for each other to the extreme. Every day they fight and fuck. I kid you not. I got whiplash from this couple and I tried to be in their situation; it was a whole lot mindfuck.
It was so hard to think clearly when he was around that when I was away from him, it was as if I had finally come up for air, rationality came back and made me realise how crazy he and I were together. When he was around, there was a part of me that wished he would never leave, and yet that same part wished that when he was gone, he would never come back.
Lola is your typical out-of-the-water heroine, facing a love interest that was way out of her league. She's fiercely protective of the people she loves and has some abandonment issues due to her past. So, she ran a lot from the maniac that was Alfie. Because Alfie is one of those men, he saw, he wanted and he conquered. He would do everything (and I meant it, he did everything he could, even dirty tricks) to keep Lola by his side. Being in his presence for Lola is like staring into the sun. He burned her but she was too oblivious sometimes to realise she was being burned alive. It was a little suffocating for me to read their story because it was just ups and downs and downs some more and then, ups and downs again.
Like I said, it came to a point where everything was a little toxic for everyone. And I haven't even started with the manipulations and the gaslightings our girl was being under. I don't know what to think yet. They were just so volatile around each other and yet, soothed one another so well. It was that kind of relationship dynamic. On one hand, there was no doubt they were made for each other, with how much both of them go at each other's throats. On the other hand, I think both of them need a fuck ton of therapy to fix their relationship.
Now, pushing the characters and their chemistry aside, let's talk about the plot. It reminded me a little of This Man series by Jodi Ellen Malpas. There was this secret sex club that we barely delved into and something nefarious in our male lead's past. Like, really dark gritty secrets. I am giddy for the revelation. How fuck up would it be for our couple? hehe
As for the spice, it burns. Burnnsss hot. Like the sun. This is where the book shines. The smut is *chef's kiss*. No other comment. They burnnnn baby. Burnnn.
As for the writing. It's in British English, since the book is set in Kent. There was a lack of commas though. I never cared much for grammar before but if I had to read a sentence a few times to understand what happened, girl, you need to structure your sentences better. Add some commas dammit. But that might be a me issue. English is not my first language. But then again, since I think this is a debut work for this author, hence I'll let it pass. Because at the core of it, it's a fucking good story!
All in all, I highly recommend this book. If you ever want to read an obsessive love story with a morally grey and exasperating hero, well this is it. It's also a long book. I even took a day off to finish this one up because this book deserved all my attention. I love the drama! Also, cliffhanger alert. The next book is out this September, probably. Let's wait for it together, okay?
p.s Want to know what happened at the cliffhanger? Let me spoil you with his depravity.
May 28, 2025
First of all, a couple of things to consider before you start reading: this book is a dark romance. Not mafia dark, but manipulative and toxic. Second of all this book is the first of a trilogy and it’s long—longer than typical books. So read the trigger warnings and buckle up for a long ride.
This book was really good. Most of the book I wanted to punch Alfie because of how manipulative and toxic he is and I wanted to slap Lola for giving into him so easily. Though they both are aware that their relationship isn’t the healthiest and try to be better, since this is only the first book of the trilogy, of course there isn’t a big character development yet.
My only complaint about the plot really is that I wish it would’ve taken longer for them to get together and for their first kiss. I wanted more angst. Since it’s a trilogy I think it would’ve been better if we first got to see how Lola and Alfie are on their own and when they’re single before they got together.
Alfie had a fascinating with Lola from the first time he saw her. Some might say it was insta-lust. But after finishing the book it kinda makes sense that Alfie did whatever it took and as soon as he saw her to get her since he’s a powerful man and gets what he wants.
Alfie is a very fascinating character and very well written. He has a lot of secrets and I’m dying to know them all.
Lola is also very interesting and witty and has a bit of a temper. But because of getting with Alfie, he kind of made her very docile towards the end of the book. So like I said earlier. I wish we would’ve seen more of her before she met Alfie to get a better picture of how she actually behaves when Alfie isn’t playing mind tricks on her.
The book is in the pov of Lola except for the epilogue, which made reading the book so much more fun. Because I felt how Lola felt when she didn’t know what Alfie was thinking and it made him more intriguing.
The pacing was more on the slower side than most books but I I actually prefer slow pace books. The dialogue was well written and really witty.
Overall a really good book and I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it. I can’t wait for the next books of this trilogy.
This book was really good. Most of the book I wanted to punch Alfie because of how manipulative and toxic he is and I wanted to slap Lola for giving into him so easily. Though they both are aware that their relationship isn’t the healthiest and try to be better, since this is only the first book of the trilogy, of course there isn’t a big character development yet.
My only complaint about the plot really is that I wish it would’ve taken longer for them to get together and for their first kiss. I wanted more angst. Since it’s a trilogy I think it would’ve been better if we first got to see how Lola and Alfie are on their own and when they’re single before they got together.
Alfie had a fascinating with Lola from the first time he saw her. Some might say it was insta-lust. But after finishing the book it kinda makes sense that Alfie did whatever it took and as soon as he saw her to get her since he’s a powerful man and gets what he wants.
Alfie is a very fascinating character and very well written. He has a lot of secrets and I’m dying to know them all.
Lola is also very interesting and witty and has a bit of a temper. But because of getting with Alfie, he kind of made her very docile towards the end of the book. So like I said earlier. I wish we would’ve seen more of her before she met Alfie to get a better picture of how she actually behaves when Alfie isn’t playing mind tricks on her.
The book is in the pov of Lola except for the epilogue, which made reading the book so much more fun. Because I felt how Lola felt when she didn’t know what Alfie was thinking and it made him more intriguing.
The pacing was more on the slower side than most books but I I actually prefer slow pace books. The dialogue was well written and really witty.
Overall a really good book and I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it. I can’t wait for the next books of this trilogy.
May 10, 2025
Such a good book, it has it all.
July 8, 2025
I’m waiting for the normal review to flood this book cause all I see is 5 stars and they received this book as ARC.
I’m only on chapter 8 but oh god why is it so….cringe?
- of course she “slammed straight into a slab of muscle”.
- I really don’t get why she was rude to Alfie in the first place - yeah rude.
- and then she started describing him like - I’m getting tired reading how someone is being described 🫠
- and then he suddenly think this girl is The Girl cause she was rude to him?
- why is this girl so unprofessional? I’d fire her from being the FMC.
— “Or what? You'll put me on the naughty step?" Shut up, Lola!” — no one in sane mind would say this to strangers right? am I the only one? no?
— “You answered your phone during a meeting with one of the most influential businessmen on the planet?” — this is common sense, no? this is only on chapter 5, mind you.
- and then he started being creepy and on to her is just making me cringe even more like plssssss stahppp.
and then I’m done reading lol so sorry but this is not for me.
DNF @ 8%, chapter 8
I’m only on chapter 8 but oh god why is it so….cringe?
- of course she “slammed straight into a slab of muscle”.
- I really don’t get why she was rude to Alfie in the first place - yeah rude.
- and then she started describing him like - I’m getting tired reading how someone is being described 🫠
- and then he suddenly think this girl is The Girl cause she was rude to him?
- why is this girl so unprofessional? I’d fire her from being the FMC.
— “Or what? You'll put me on the naughty step?" Shut up, Lola!” — no one in sane mind would say this to strangers right? am I the only one? no?
— “You answered your phone during a meeting with one of the most influential businessmen on the planet?” — this is common sense, no? this is only on chapter 5, mind you.
- and then he started being creepy and on to her is just making me cringe even more like plssssss stahppp.
and then I’m done reading lol so sorry but this is not for me.
DNF @ 8%, chapter 8
Read
August 12, 2025DNF. I feel like I've read this book many times over in various iterations. It's neither original nor dark. Save me from sassy (obnoxiously rude) heroines and secretly damaged broody heroes who own everything. It might just be me though because everyone else seems to love it.
May 26, 2025
I really, really enjoyed this book!
I went through so many emotions throughout reading this. There is tension, suspense, hatred, compassion, love, disgust, relief, anger, anxiety, coercion, passion, sorrow, and turmoil. Which, AJ. Rella constructed all of these brilliantly and left me gripping my seat and unable to put my Kindle down because it is just so GOOD! I'm so excited this is going to be a trilogy.
The main characters Alfie and Lola will definitely live rent-free in my head. I absolutely love them, but their relationship is incredibly toxic, and Alfie's extremely controlling. I desperately need to know more about Alfie and his past. His character had me so engrossed where I constantly went back and forth, loving him and hating him. Lola, I just wanted to sweep her up and keep her forever such a beautiful soul. However, I loved every single character in this book they all hold an important part of the stories development.
The plot is gripping, intense, and talk about shock factors I was blown away in a few parts. It's not your typical dark romance, which was very enticing and is brilliantly written. I was hooked from the beginning and loved it entirely. It is steadily paced, which is perfect for the story and delivered the maximum effect. The conclusion was epic 🤯 I was absolutely gobsmacked and stunned 😲. I cannot wait for book 2 Never Tell Secrets. I must know more as I'm so intrigued and invested in how the story will continue.
I would HIGHLY recommend it! I am so glad to have discovered this author, and I look forward to reading more from her.
I went through so many emotions throughout reading this. There is tension, suspense, hatred, compassion, love, disgust, relief, anger, anxiety, coercion, passion, sorrow, and turmoil. Which, AJ. Rella constructed all of these brilliantly and left me gripping my seat and unable to put my Kindle down because it is just so GOOD! I'm so excited this is going to be a trilogy.
The main characters Alfie and Lola will definitely live rent-free in my head. I absolutely love them, but their relationship is incredibly toxic, and Alfie's extremely controlling. I desperately need to know more about Alfie and his past. His character had me so engrossed where I constantly went back and forth, loving him and hating him. Lola, I just wanted to sweep her up and keep her forever such a beautiful soul. However, I loved every single character in this book they all hold an important part of the stories development.
The plot is gripping, intense, and talk about shock factors I was blown away in a few parts. It's not your typical dark romance, which was very enticing and is brilliantly written. I was hooked from the beginning and loved it entirely. It is steadily paced, which is perfect for the story and delivered the maximum effect. The conclusion was epic 🤯 I was absolutely gobsmacked and stunned 😲. I cannot wait for book 2 Never Tell Secrets. I must know more as I'm so intrigued and invested in how the story will continue.
I would HIGHLY recommend it! I am so glad to have discovered this author, and I look forward to reading more from her.
June 3, 2025
This book was insanely captivating. Lola and Alfie are the embodiment of a toxic relationship. I had a love-hate relationship with Alfie all through the book and all I wanted to do what give Lola the biggest hug! She was just so beautiful in so many ways.
This book gave me ALL the emotions. The characters were so well written, and the story flowed in ways that kept me hooked throughout.
I would love to know more about Alfies past and how that shaped him. A very well written dark romance that'll absolutely ruin you and beinf a trilogy, the ending left be begging for more!
This is definitely worth the read.
Thank you AJ.Kella and Book Siren for this amazing ARC!
ARC Review - 5⭐️
This book gave me ALL the emotions. The characters were so well written, and the story flowed in ways that kept me hooked throughout.
I would love to know more about Alfies past and how that shaped him. A very well written dark romance that'll absolutely ruin you and beinf a trilogy, the ending left be begging for more!
This is definitely worth the read.
Thank you AJ.Kella and Book Siren for this amazing ARC!
ARC Review - 5⭐️
May 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you A.J Rella for finding me and sharing your amazing book with me. I am sorry for all my DMs but this book will forever live rent free in my head!!!
Ok firstly this book is amazing!!!! But you need to check your triggers and really think about them as it’s dark, really dark at times. Not in a typical dark romance way but in a FML this is soooo toxic, confusing and controlling way. You will be conflicted. it is triggering and it is uncomfortable!
If you are ok with that, this book is absolutely fantastic!!! I mean amazing. It’s beautifully written to both really show the toxicity but also really highlight all the characters for both their positives and their negatives. At times you want to scream at the characters. Every character in the book has something about them which makes you question them and what their agenda is.
Alfie is the stand out character for me. As the MMC he is so conflicting - he is devious, he is cruel, he is mean but at other times you just want to hug him and explain it’s all going to be ok. A.J. Rella has written him in such a way that just when you hate him, something slips and you feel for him again.
This is part one in a trilogy so the ending is quite the ending and i am so relieved because I need to know more!!!! Until that point you will find me gazing off trying to work out Alfie and guess what’s going to happen next!!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you A.J Rella for finding me and sharing your amazing book with me. I am sorry for all my DMs but this book will forever live rent free in my head!!!
Ok firstly this book is amazing!!!! But you need to check your triggers and really think about them as it’s dark, really dark at times. Not in a typical dark romance way but in a FML this is soooo toxic, confusing and controlling way. You will be conflicted. it is triggering and it is uncomfortable!
If you are ok with that, this book is absolutely fantastic!!! I mean amazing. It’s beautifully written to both really show the toxicity but also really highlight all the characters for both their positives and their negatives. At times you want to scream at the characters. Every character in the book has something about them which makes you question them and what their agenda is.
Alfie is the stand out character for me. As the MMC he is so conflicting - he is devious, he is cruel, he is mean but at other times you just want to hug him and explain it’s all going to be ok. A.J. Rella has written him in such a way that just when you hate him, something slips and you feel for him again.
This is part one in a trilogy so the ending is quite the ending and i am so relieved because I need to know more!!!! Until that point you will find me gazing off trying to work out Alfie and guess what’s going to happen next!!!
October 19, 2025
DNF 10%, very unoriginal
May 19, 2025
Never Tell Lies left me mentally and emotionally ruined by the end of the book. Just watching how Alfie used his power and money to interfere with Lola’s life and then sex to manipulate her into forgiving him just messed with me. The story was very well written and definitely very spicy. I definitely could feel the slow slip of Lola’s independence as Alfie used guilt, sex and “I want to be a good man and only you can help me” tactics to make her compliant to his will. I too want to know what happened in his past to make him this cold, manipulative man. Well worth the read, just be aware of what you are getting into.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 1, 2025
11 out of 10 – A Must-Read!
I devoured this book! It’s not just a classic romance novel—it plays with the reader’s emotions in the best way possible. We follow aspiring garden designer Lola as she meets billionaire Alfie Tell. He falls head over heels for her and will do anything to keep her.
Between manipulation and toxicity, the two must find their way. At times, I absolutely hated Alfie, but AJ is a master of redemption arcs. This book had me hooked from start to finish!
I devoured this book! It’s not just a classic romance novel—it plays with the reader’s emotions in the best way possible. We follow aspiring garden designer Lola as she meets billionaire Alfie Tell. He falls head over heels for her and will do anything to keep her.
Between manipulation and toxicity, the two must find their way. At times, I absolutely hated Alfie, but AJ is a master of redemption arcs. This book had me hooked from start to finish!
July 10, 2025
It's amazing. It's devastating. It's frustrating. It's dark.
July 9, 2025
I chose reading this over sleeping two nights in a row. 20 million stars. I can’t wait for the next one!!
July 7, 2025
it was super fucked up and gave me a headache. Loved it!
August 5, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book.
I simply cannot…it was so good I found myself sneaking in reads while on my vacation when I promised my family I’d be present but hey….not my fault 😂 I am impatiently waiting for September 2025 to find out what happens with these two!
I simply cannot…it was so good I found myself sneaking in reads while on my vacation when I promised my family I’d be present but hey….not my fault 😂 I am impatiently waiting for September 2025 to find out what happens with these two!
October 24, 2025
Don’t get me wrong i love a long book but the back and forth was crazy
I skipped most of the gardening crap idk what they were talking about
The toxicity between the MMC and FMC was NEXT level and yes i will read the rest of the series but idk it got very repetitive at times idk idk 2 stars ⭐️
I skipped most of the gardening crap idk what they were talking about
The toxicity between the MMC and FMC was NEXT level and yes i will read the rest of the series but idk it got very repetitive at times idk idk 2 stars ⭐️
June 15, 2025
Wow. Great story. Lola and Alfie have a twisted, toxic love story that is very believable. Lola is a normal working class girl who crosses paths with a billionaire who always gets what he wants, although our heroine doesn’t make it easy for him. Other characters are well fleshed out without taking away from our main characters. Mainly written from Lola’s point of view, with just a little bit of Alfie thrown in. Lots of angst and very spicy. It’s a long read but really worth it.
May 28, 2025
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed. From the very first chapter, I was absolutely intrigued and hooked. the main characters are SOOOO good together although not good for one another. There are so many emotions that come up while reading this book. Not to mention you see a little bit of yourself in both main characters. Well maybe not the Male. There’s humor in the book, craziness, but although love. The words are written in such a way that you can feel the connection, and tension. Alfie is the antihero you’ll want to see win and Lola she’s one hell of a woman! This edition has some edits I’d call them improvements, makes the story flow better, seems a little more realistic in that dynamic. I laughed, I cried, I felt. This is so well written and shocking. I LOVE them and recommend this series 100% I’ve already told all my IRL friends about it lol! Do yourself a favor and read this book.
May 29, 2025
From the beginning, I was hooked. The prologue is very well written, and the way she describes the feelings and emotions of Alfie Tell, it's a good indication that the entire book will be great.
The book was so beautifully written, haunting in a way, that I fell in love with every part of it.
It was complicated, but the way AJ walked us through the feelings, the emotions, the reasons for each action was amazing. I hated Alfie, and in a way, at the end of the book I still hated him, but I guess that is the beauty of a well written book, that we are able to feel such strong emotions for the characters.
It was truly wonderful how the characters grow throughout the entire book. You cand actually "see" their journey, and how they have impacted each other's lives.
It is not an easy task to write feelings, but AJ did it brilliantly.
The book was so beautifully written, haunting in a way, that I fell in love with every part of it.
It was complicated, but the way AJ walked us through the feelings, the emotions, the reasons for each action was amazing. I hated Alfie, and in a way, at the end of the book I still hated him, but I guess that is the beauty of a well written book, that we are able to feel such strong emotions for the characters.
It was truly wonderful how the characters grow throughout the entire book. You cand actually "see" their journey, and how they have impacted each other's lives.
It is not an easy task to write feelings, but AJ did it brilliantly.
May 27, 2025
This well-crafted dark romance takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, culminating in a truly unexpected ending. The author excels at gradually revealing the complexity of the characters' personalities, adding depth and nuance as the story unfolds. While some aspects of Alfie's background remain deliberately mysterious, this only heightens the intrigue and leaves me eager to uncover more in the next installment. I could not put this book down!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 9, 2025
This author is incredibly talented, with a real gift for detail and emotional nuance. The writing flows effortlessly, making it easy to get completely absorbed in the story. The dynamic between the two main characters is intense and with some hot scenes (love the spicy moments!). You can feel the care and imagination that went into every chapter of this novel. I highly recommend giving it a read!
June 10, 2025
Wow. Over 700 pages, and I’ve come away with more questions than answers—especially when it comes to one of the novel’s two pivotal characters. And perhaps more surprisingly, I’m still just as conflicted about him as I was at the start. Alfie Tell initially comes across as your classic entitled rich guy cliché—arrogant, powerful, and used to getting whatever (or whoever) he wants. But then there’s Lola, who refreshingly isn’t having any of it. She rejects him. Repeatedly. And yet, the more she pulls away, the more obsessed Alfie becomes—fixated on possessing her in a way even he doesn’t seem to understand. What follows is a slow, chilling unraveling. Alfie doesn’t barge into Lola’s life, he seeps in, worming his way through cracks with a terrifying kind of finesse. The psychological games he plays, the way he subtly isolates and controls her, left me feeling deeply unsettled. And while I found myself frustrated with Lola—especially knowing she’d already escaped another toxic, controlling relationship—Alfie’s brand of manipulation was insidiously different. Quieter. More calculated. More dangerous. There’s a volatility to Alfie that’s hard to pin down. One moment he’s tender, the next he’s ice cold. The whiplash is brutal. The number of times he emotionally wounds Lola is staggering, and yet she stays—eroded piece by piece until she’s a shadow of the confident, vibrant woman she once was. At one point, Lola describes herself as an addict—and honestly, that’s the most accurate way to frame it. Her need for Alfie’s approval, affection, attention, becomes all-consuming. Watching her world narrow as he draws her away from her family and friends was genuinely frightening. And yet—despite everything—you catch these brief, flickering glimpses beneath Alfie’s armor. Just enough to make you hesitate. To wonder. To feel a flicker of something dangerously close to sympathy. The two chapters told from his perspective only deepen the ambiguity. You want to understand him, but just when you think you might, he lashes out again and you’re reminded of the damage he’s caused. This is a deeply toxic relationship—compelling, yes, but never romanticized. It’s a psychological tightrope walk, and you never quite know which way it’s going to fall. Despite that, the ending took me by complete surprise, although it ultimately felt like the only way to go. For a novel of this length, it never once dragged. It’s gripping, disquieting, and emotionally intense. Not an easy read, and potentially triggering for some, but undeniably powerful. It’ll have you flipping pages in disbelief, caught somewhere between horror, heartbreak, and a morbid fascination to see where this is going to go next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 16, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved this book! I had sooo many emotions throughout this book you better buckle in and get ready😂
It was a brilliant book, the plot, the suspense, the characters and their progression throughout were incredibly written and so interesting to read which had me HOOKED throughout the whole book😍
Alfie and Lola really do have such a toxic relationship😂 but at the same time there are always moments within the book where you can clearly see that they bond together so well in a lot of respects in a deeper sense that makes you fall in love with them both even more🥹 it is a true love-hate relationship to begin with and the tension between them is EVERYTHING🔥🙌🏻 The book is in the POV of Lola but i would also LOVE to see what’s going on in Alfies mind so maybe that might be something to look forward to in the next books👀
I was so gripped with this book when i wasn’t reading it i was wondering what would happen next when i went back to the book in the evening times!🔥 you 100% need to read the trigger warnings of this before reading but it is sooo well written and these characters will live rent free in your head😍🙌🏻
This book is a TRUE rollercoaster but i absolutely adored every second and i can’t WAIT for book two after that ending!🤯🤯 Theres so much more that i want to know and can’t wait for more of Lola & Alfie!😍🥰
Such beautifully written by A.J Rella and i’m so excited to see future work from this amazing author! I appreciate being sent a copy of this book early for an honest review!❤️❤️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved this book! I had sooo many emotions throughout this book you better buckle in and get ready😂
It was a brilliant book, the plot, the suspense, the characters and their progression throughout were incredibly written and so interesting to read which had me HOOKED throughout the whole book😍
Alfie and Lola really do have such a toxic relationship😂 but at the same time there are always moments within the book where you can clearly see that they bond together so well in a lot of respects in a deeper sense that makes you fall in love with them both even more🥹 it is a true love-hate relationship to begin with and the tension between them is EVERYTHING🔥🙌🏻 The book is in the POV of Lola but i would also LOVE to see what’s going on in Alfies mind so maybe that might be something to look forward to in the next books👀
I was so gripped with this book when i wasn’t reading it i was wondering what would happen next when i went back to the book in the evening times!🔥 you 100% need to read the trigger warnings of this before reading but it is sooo well written and these characters will live rent free in your head😍🙌🏻
This book is a TRUE rollercoaster but i absolutely adored every second and i can’t WAIT for book two after that ending!🤯🤯 Theres so much more that i want to know and can’t wait for more of Lola & Alfie!😍🥰
Such beautifully written by A.J Rella and i’m so excited to see future work from this amazing author! I appreciate being sent a copy of this book early for an honest review!❤️❤️
June 16, 2025
Wow, this book had it all and then some. Fully fleshed-out characters, heart, moral spine, emotional intensity, and heat. The author balances so many delicate threads so sensitively it's as if she's juggling a spider web. We have Lola's insecurities and traumas, Alfie's rock-hard walls, the slow, arduous process of coming to love a flawed person, and the ultimate opposition of light and dark that goes far beyond mere grumpy x sunshine or opposites attract. Add to all this extremely polished, vibrant writing that makes you go back and read it over and over, and you have the recipe for an engrossing experience.
Many times while reading I shifted my allegiance and rearranged my priorities. Do I want her to be with him? Do I believe he's redeemable? Will theirs be a tragic ending? The ending, as it turned out, was perfect for this story, for the characters, and for the themes of loss, deception, and selfless love. I particularly appreciated that every lesson learned in the book was painful, just as learning is in real life. And I loved the way the novel showed a continuum of the brutal socializing process--from the wayward creativity of a young child to the lock-step soullessness of a billionaire hotel chain owner.
I could not stop thinking about these characters for a minute when I was away from them, and while I devoured the pages, Lola and Alfie's world alone existed for me.
A true dark romance masterpiece.
Many times while reading I shifted my allegiance and rearranged my priorities. Do I want her to be with him? Do I believe he's redeemable? Will theirs be a tragic ending? The ending, as it turned out, was perfect for this story, for the characters, and for the themes of loss, deception, and selfless love. I particularly appreciated that every lesson learned in the book was painful, just as learning is in real life. And I loved the way the novel showed a continuum of the brutal socializing process--from the wayward creativity of a young child to the lock-step soullessness of a billionaire hotel chain owner.
I could not stop thinking about these characters for a minute when I was away from them, and while I devoured the pages, Lola and Alfie's world alone existed for me.
A true dark romance masterpiece.
October 26, 2025
After so long, I finally found a book that gave me everything I crave in a dark, messy romance — the chemistry, the intensity, the madness, and yes, the toxicity. It gave me total Roth and Jasmine energy, and I was obsessed. The first book had me so hooked that I stayed up until 6 a.m. finishing it because I just couldn’t stop reading.
Then came the second book… and I couldn’t even get through two hours of it.
I can handle pain, angst, heartbreak — all of it — but cheating is where I draw the line.
The sequel starts two years and four months later. The heroine has dated other people, but nothing serious or physical. The hero, on the other hand, admits to having a few hook-ups and brushes it off as just “blowing off some steam.” It’s not even a huge part of the story, and I know a lot of readers might be fine with it — but for me, it completely erased everything I loved about them. And what really made me stop reading was the heroine’s reaction — she just accepts it. No real confrontation, no fallout, nothing. That was it for me. The spark, the tension, the chaos that made the first book unforgettable — completely gone.
Then came the second book… and I couldn’t even get through two hours of it.
I can handle pain, angst, heartbreak — all of it — but cheating is where I draw the line.
The sequel starts two years and four months later. The heroine has dated other people, but nothing serious or physical. The hero, on the other hand, admits to having a few hook-ups and brushes it off as just “blowing off some steam.” It’s not even a huge part of the story, and I know a lot of readers might be fine with it — but for me, it completely erased everything I loved about them. And what really made me stop reading was the heroine’s reaction — she just accepts it. No real confrontation, no fallout, nothing. That was it for me. The spark, the tension, the chaos that made the first book unforgettable — completely gone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2025
AJ. Rella is a master of the written word. Her writing is so delicious, descriptive, and visceral, evoking so much immersion that I forget I exist in the real world while I read. Alfie and Lola's story is an intense slow burn into toxic devastation and gripped me from the very first page.
This is dark romance at it's absolute finest, if you'd like your heart torn to shreds and you have a good supply of tissues, this book is for you.
Mind your triggers, this is a rough ride, but oh-so-satisfying and I am DYING for the next book!
Spoiler review at hurricanereviews.substack.com
I received an advanced review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is dark romance at it's absolute finest, if you'd like your heart torn to shreds and you have a good supply of tissues, this book is for you.
Mind your triggers, this is a rough ride, but oh-so-satisfying and I am DYING for the next book!
Spoiler review at hurricanereviews.substack.com
I received an advanced review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 23, 2025
I loved this book and I just couldn’t put it down! This one is definitely at the top of my list! I really enjoyed the push and pull between the two characters. There is a manipulative and toxic play to the relationship of the two main characters. Alfie really does what he needs to do in order to keep Lola. I can’t wait to see if there will be more to their story!
This was an ARC and I am willingly leaving my review!
This was an ARC and I am willingly leaving my review!
May 12, 2025
This is book 1 of the ‘Never Tell Trilogy.’
Just like the dynamics of its main characters, this novel is toxic, manipulative, and brilliant.
It kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was a train wreck that I couldn't take my eyes away from: so worth reading!
Many thanks to BookSirens for the e-ARC, and looking forward to the second installment of this gripping trilogy.
Just like the dynamics of its main characters, this novel is toxic, manipulative, and brilliant.
It kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was a train wreck that I couldn't take my eyes away from: so worth reading!
Many thanks to BookSirens for the e-ARC, and looking forward to the second installment of this gripping trilogy.
September 4, 2025
It was recommended on Reddit and I gave it a try. Sadly it was a huge disappointment. The characters were boring, annoying and so incredibly cringe.
The repetitive use of phrases like “Mine. You’re mine,” “Look at me,” and several others made my eyes roll.
I kept reading to find out if the FMC will dump his ass but I had to DNF around 38%. I couldn't care less anymore.
The repetitive use of phrases like “Mine. You’re mine,” “Look at me,” and several others made my eyes roll.
I kept reading to find out if the FMC will dump his ass but I had to DNF around 38%. I couldn't care less anymore.
May 28, 2021
Review to Come.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews