Fifteen years ago I said the cruelest things to him, and then he disappeared. I moved on, became a model, and am about to star in a new television series. Then one day he shows up backstage, and we can't deny the chemistry. He's so much different than he was back then. He's intense, commanding, and extremely possessive. He says what happened is all water under the bridge. Then, why do I feel like I'm drowning in him?
I've been planning this for fifteen years. Ever since she betrayed me, I watched her, helped build up her career and her life, all with a singular purpose in mind. Revenge. Give everything to her, and then take it all away. That was always the plan. Except now that I'm close to her, I'm starting to question everything. She's my total obsession and not the healthy kind. Total Obsession is a dark, psychological standalone romance with an HEA. Trigger warnings can be found at
4.5 stars!!! Betrayal Revenge Passion Obsession Hate Love
This book was all that and then some more! Aksel and Zoey, former best friends who were separated by adolescent circumstances and a great tragedy reunite 15 years later. But they are not who they used to be! Gone is the happy girl who made everyone smile and was sure of herself. Gone is the insecure boy who needed the shadow of his friend to feel safe! Their separation turned them into a version of their former best friend! Their relationship is mystery. Mystery as to how Aksel's revenge plan will unfold. It's passion. Raw passion and hot, dirty, uninhibited moments that will leave you wanting more, more, more. It's hurtful. It will leave you hurting, for a little boy who got betrayed by those who should have protected him, and for Zoey who gave her heart so willingly but her walls would not let her enjoy her life. It's hateful at core but hopeful at heart!
What would I want to read some more? I would want some more closure. Certain "themes" of the book were too big to not have gotten the attention they deserved. Aksel's father, Zoey's insecurities, Zoey's lack of social circle... I feel that just a bit "more" would complement the story in the most wholesome way!
Total Obsession was an invigorating story consisting of second chance romance born out of vengeful and hurt feelings from childhood years of the characters. One teenage drama creates a domino affect on so many acts and creates a callous man with supposedly no heart. Ivy Wild has a way of immersing the reader into her world and not let her up for air right until the end. This was no exception so two thumbs up.
The artwork! Amazing. It cemented the image I was reading into my head. There were so many emotions it wrung from me from the very beginning! I was distraught, i was happy, I was falling in love, I was angry! The relationship dynamics in this book were so well written it felt like I was experiencing it in real time. This book, as well as Axe & Zoey, will always hold a place in my heart!
Aksel was sitting with Zoey in the gazebo at the edge of her property. Tomorrow was their first day of high school and he was nervous. New people scared him but until now it hadn't been a problem because their town had tons of elementary and middle schools, but only one high school.
Zoey was completely different. She would just smile and begin talking to strangers and have their life stories within a few minutes. He had learned that you couldn't trust anyone not to hurt you and that lesson had been learned when he had been sexually abused by his own father when he was a toddler so he preferred to stay away from people. That way you couldn't be hurt.
But Zoey wouldn't allow him to stay away from her...always showing up at his back door and dragging him out to play. She was his only friend and the only one he wanted.
But in the end, she had lied. She was the one that hurt him on the first day of high school when other students were laughing at him and the fact that his father was on the pedophile list...instead of standing up for him she turned her back on him and walked away with her new friends. The next day in front of her new friends told him he was weird and she didn't want to be his friend anymore.
If you have read anything by Ivy Wild in the past you know she writes DARK romance with anti-heroes. If you haven't read her and have triggers for violence against women and children, murder and very graphic sexual content then this book might not be for you.
BUT WOW! This might be my favorite yet! This book is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable.
Axe grew up being abused by his father and when he realized that no one was going to be there to help him, he did what he needed to do to escape the abuse. Then he made the mistake of trying to pick the pocket of a mob boss...although in truth it saved his life.
He loved his job...hunting down people, toying with them before killing them...and he had been waiting for fifteen years for his true target and to get his revenge.
This book is action-packed from cover to cover, full of danger, suspense and smoking hot chemistry. I have so much to say about this story, but I don't want to give away any spoilers. Just know that if you like dark romance YOU WILL LOVE this book!
“I wanted to savor every single taste and every single feeling of this moment. I knew that I didn't deserve to be anywhere near zoey, let alone kissing her. If I died tomorrow, I'd die content knowing that zoey campbell loved me. It's all I'd ever wanted from this life.”🥹🖤🪓
15 years ago, little aksel michelson suffered thru the night at the hands of his father and his best friend turned her back on him. aksel grew up to be axe. cold hearted & spending the last 15 years plotting his revenge on the one person who he thought would be w him forever.
zoey campbell.
y’all this book was everything. the tension, the drama, the characters, the writing style. it was literally amazing🖤
i’ll tell u one thing, axe michelson can get it anyday anytime. he’s this calculated, cold hearted man but deep down he longs for one thing. & thts 4 zoey to be his. his to break. but my word this man is fine. but he’s also caring & sweet! and all he wanted was to be loved.
i will say i found zoey annoying at times, she was insecure & extremely reliant on not jus axe but the opinions of other ppl. but zoey’s jus as crazy as axe & i love it. this book is the definition of love makes u do crazy things🖤
Aksel (Axe) and Zoey were the best of friends. Ace had a tough childhood and Zoey was his anchor in the storm until one day she turned her back on him. A move that broke his heart and changed the course of his future forever.
15 years later Axe shows up back in Zoey’s life. Her career is just starting to take off and she’s shocked to see the broken boy she once knew as a handsome and put together gorgeous and successful man. Sparks fly immediately and Zoey finds herself falling but appearances aren’t what they seem. Axe may appear to be the perfect swoony man but behind the facade is real danger. And Zoey has no idea what’s in store for her.
This book may hold the record for quickest time it took an author to break my heart. Axe and Zoey’s history was a full on Pixar opening sequence in terms of how quickly and efficiently my emotions were shattered. I was honestly #teamaksel from the start. I wanted that revenge and I wanted Zoey to pay her penance. But the more time we spent with Zoey the more I felt my heart open to her and eventually she won me over.
If you’re looking for an angsty friends to lovers dark romance with a stalker hero who has a passion for revenge then you’ll love this one!
Thanks so much to Ivy for providing me with an early copy for review!
This was the perfect cast for this story of obsession, betrayal, revenge, & love with a mix of hate. My heart hurt from the beginning. Aksel went from shy & tortured to powerful and controlling while he seeked out revenge Zoey went from confident and outgoing to insecure and unsure of anything. Enemies to lovers with a side of stalking is my favorite and this one did not disappoint
I loved this book! I really liked watching how his feelings and plan with her changed. I loved when she realized what was going on with him and the decisions she made after finding out.
Ivy Wild has done it again. I could not put it down. I was hooked from the first page. It had it all and gave me all the feels. The ending was amazing. Definitely a must read.
Revenge, manipulation, deceit, secrecy, and betrayal. Combine that with some melt in your seat spice and you’ve got a heady combination. This second chance dark romance will leave you wanting more.
Zoey was just a kid when she made a mistake. But that one day would haunt her for the next 15 years. Once the words left her mouth, she couldn’t take them back. And what’s worse is that she knew the effect they would have on him - her best friend.
“I was alone. Because she left me. She told me she would never do that.”
Axe has been waiting for the perfect moment to exact his revenge upon Zoey. Patiently waiting, biding his time in the shadows, he has chosen his plan very carefully. However he forgot one small detail - how to stay unattached.
“She had wronged me. Painfully so. She deserved to be punished for it.”
The artwork in this book is absolutely beautiful. It really helps bring this story to life and I love the alternate cover as well. What I didn’t like was how strong Zoey seemed before Axe and when they were kids, but once he came into the picture as an adult, she quickly transformed into a different person entirely. Other than that, it was really enjoyable.
Spicy and hot, this book definitely has some memorable moments. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, everything changes. This is a mafia style dark romance, so check your triggers!
“Some things had more value dead than alive.”
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Total Obsession is my first book by Ivy Wild and I have no idea what I'm getting myself into. You can read the blurb and you'll get the basic idea of the story line. When you start reading you're getting all this and so much more . Aksel and Zoey's story is full of emotions - love , hate , hope, passion, obsession, betrayal and revenge, forgiveness and redemption . They are not the people that they used to be , or they thought they are , or the other one is . Axe spend half of his life to plan the perfect revenge in order to ruin Zoey's life so she can suffer as he suffered after her betrayal. But somewhere along the way he starts to question his decision because Zoey isn't what he thought she is . And he changes his mind but he isn't aware that there is a bigger game than his . And that leads to his and Zoey's downfall . But at the end he manages to save Zoey and himself and to be exactly what his name says he is - he is a peace maker not a war weapon . And after his confession they start their way to forgiveness and redemption . And that leads to his grand gesture and to their salvation. Axe and Zoey have a great relationship and incredible chemistry between them and you may blush at some moments. And don't let me start about those graphics in the book . They totally complement the story . And that bonus scene was so sweet and such a do - over. Cause you see Axe shows his sweet and caring side but reminds us and Zoey that he didn't loose his edge . Oh , and what a reminder it is .
I received an ARC copy of this book by Literally Yours PR in exchange of an honest review .
"You're so bad," she said with a laugh, following me out of the room. "Oh, pretty girl, you have no idea."
4/5☆
This was my first Ivy Wild book and my first as a reviewer on her ARC team! Thank you so much @ivywildauthor for this unique opportunity! I loved watching Zoey and Axe's story unfold with all its twists and turns.
🥀Review🥀
Total Obsession is a dark stalker, second chance romance with mature content! Please check CW before beginning.
This book was so many things: intense, cute, a rollercoaster ride... you name it. Axe & Zoey's story starts off dark and intense, much like Axe's childhood. It blooms into this magical story, though, with one of the biggest red flag book boyfriends I've ever met. And trust me, you'll just love to hate him😉 I enjoyed this story so much! It kept me on the edge of my seat and had the perfect amount of steamy moments mixed with swoony moments. Axe is to-die-for in the creepiest, most delicious way, and Zoey is a character you'll be happy to root for! The love story isn't traditional, but it's one worth fighting for. And what could be better than that?
I loved how tender, melancholic, rough but gentle they are with each other despite the circumstances.
They try to thread cautiously as they approach each other’s hearts yet their love forces them to dive into head first into this lava of feelings! I’m not sure they realize … that they never really come back up for air…..
It is fiery! It is messy! Their hearts do not consent to their intentions!
They fight each other and they fight themselves!
It is friends to enemies to lovers - at its convoluted best!
I love the how Ivy Wild always has a great solid well-thought out plot to go along with the love story and this one most definitely was up my alley! ( don’t want to give anything away❤️)
Yes she absolutely satisfied my incessant need for plot twists! Ah just wait and see😍😍😍
It was supposed to be a dark read…. But I found a lot of hidden sweetness in this story and thoroughly enjoyed it❤️❤️😍😍
Total Obsession by Ivy Wild is the story of Axe and Zoey. Zoey and Axe where childhood friends. Axe didn't have a good childhood and his only friend along with the feeling of love was with Zoey. But when they got to a certain point in school it seem that Zoey turned her back on him to take the popular girl road. Axe disappeared but now in their present day he is back. Zoey has been a mode and now breaking into the world of acting. Axe found someone that took him in and he has worked his way up the Mafia route. But, he has always wanted revenge against Zoey for the hurt she caused. Now, is his time for that revenge but will he find it isn't so sweet as Zoey herself? Enjoyed this dark, second chance at love. I hope to read more from this author.
I loved this book! For a second chance and a revenge book, this was perfect. Zoey and Axe made me love these characters more and more as I read on.
This spice and secrets kept me hooked as I wanted to learn more about how it would work out between Zoey and Axe. This book had so many twists and turns that I was hooked. The connection between these two was strong and so good for one another.
Axe has so many secrets in his life that he is trying to keep it all straight while getting close to Zoey. These two make second chances worth everything. I definitely will be reading more by Ivy Wild.
This is a fabulous dark, second chance romance that I would absolutely recommend, and could not get enough of. Axe has his eyes set on revenge and Zoey is the unfortunate, yet well deserved target, and let me tell you, Axe is definitely playing the long game!
I loved the writing, storyline, storytelling, flow, characters, character development and growth, relationship development, as well as the intrigue, “S” tension, and steam. I am definitely looking forward to more from this incredible author!
Total Obsession is a dark romance that I absolutely loved reading. It is written well with POVs for both characters and there are pictures throughout the book that add a little extra to the read. Zoey was his best friend until the beginning of high school when she said something that broke him. 15 years later Axe is back in her life for revenge but notices she is not the same person she once was. I do recommend this book for dark romance lovers.
Aksel and Zoey were friends when they were younger and then on the first days of High School treated Axe like crap because her new friends didn’t like him and everything went downhill from there and he disappeared. Fifteen years later he shows up again and Zoey’s now a model/Actress.
This story has a few twists and turns, it’s really good but I wish the ending would of been different.
When I read the blurb I was immediately intrigued and I really enjoyed this second chance, romance suspense. This book had everything, drama, tension, interesting characters, obsession, passion, and revenge. This tale of childhood friends turned enemies is dark and the story was absolutely captivating. I could not get enough of this book and these characters!
This was my first read by this author, I will definitely be reading more in the future. Intriguing and keeps you guessing and holding put hope for and HEA for these characters
This one is definitely dark. But overall an amazing read. If betrayal, revenge, passion, obsession, hate, and love are your thing you've got it all right here in one beautifully art-worked package. I really enjoyed all the beautiful art that went perfectly with the story of Axe and Zoey. Gone is the shy young boy who felt he needed his best friend for a crutch, and the young girl who felt she needed to impress her more popular friends and betray the one who she cared deeply for. It will leave you breathless with raw, hurtful moments, but also leave you wanting so much more. I do feel like it should have some context on parts like his back story with his father, as well as some insight behind Zoey's life after Axe was gone, she had no friends or social circle even though she was a model and actress. I did feel like Zoey was a little too willing sometimes even though she knew him once upon a time, I felt she should of been a little more apprehensive since the time lapse of them being around one another was so many years. She didn't question things too much when it came to him. Overall I did enjoy the book very much.
This was my first by Ivy. Talk about a roller coaster. Such a good book. One of those they knew each other growing up. He wants revenge and they end up falling in love.
Dark and amazing. Love the story and the characters it had me reading and falling for them non stop. It had so many moments to love that you could not imagine. Definitely a must read as it has something for everyone.
This book left me wanting more. Ivy takes you in a journey in this book she pulls all the emotions right out of you. That way she tells the story, where she gives you just enough to keep you wanting more. I was totally hooked from the beginning.
What happens when things you think are true, are wrong? What happens when your world gets flipped upside down by the person you trust most?
The blurb had me intrigued. This book is about betrayal, revenge, obsession, and redemption. Axe and Zoey are best friends and from there the premise of the story follows. It’s quite refreshing to read when the mc is the one who felt betrayed. I was sad and heartbroken for Axe, he had a difficult life and trigger warning, there is abuse done to him. Did I get angry with the Zoey, the fmc who treated Axe badly? Yes, but she was young, and we do things out of peer pressure. Years passed and they eventually, or coincidentally met again and Zoey a budding Model has turned an actress with the help of Axe. Without giving much to the story, there are other people and situations that has been part to this story. Axe at first was into his revenge plot but he then realizes that Zoey is not the girl he thinks she is, and it crumbled his plans. I would love more for the author to expand the history of Axe and how he meddles in Zoey’s life, his obsession, and plans. I love the artwork provided and it gave the book the visual context to what comes next or to what happened.
For me this is a mild dark second chance romance with angst. Overall, I enjoyed this.
It’s a dark romance. At times I really liked it, other times I didn’t. And I can’t really pinpoint why. I got annoyed by how degrading Axe was during sex, calling Zoey a slut and other things. But it was nice change of pace when they finally “made love” and it wasn’t degrading anymore. I’m not sure I could have forgiven someone for destroying my life, although it did work itself out in the end. What a lot to go through. Many mixed feelings on this read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.