Well holy mother of all. I need to go confess in that specific confession booth they used please. This was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I will also say the found family in this book takes found family to a whole new level of intimacy.. phew!
(I think my only “negative” is that I was expecting more bike content maybe considering the cover but still pleased either way!)

📚✨Caught Up by Navessa Allen ✨📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you @NetGalley, @QuercusBooks, and of course the queen herself Navessa Allen for my ARC of Caught Up 🖤

Let’s just say… Junior is a walking red flag and yes, I ran toward it like it was a sale at Sephora. 🏃‍♀️🚩🔥

This book? Way kinkier than Lights Out (and I thought that one was spicy… silly me). While Caught Up didn’t quite dethrone Lights Out as my personal fave, it still delivered with a fast-paced, steamy plot, a morally grey anti-hero you’ll hate yourself for loving, and banter that had me cackling—Lauren and her roomies are an absolute vibe 💁‍♀️💬

Lauren is smart, bold, and totally owns her sexuality, and I adored seeing her match Junior's brooding, obsessive energy with her own fire. The chemistry? Off the charts. The tension? You could cut it with a knife. The club scenes? 😳 Say less.

Dark, dirty, and totally addictive, Caught Up is a must-read if you like your romance a little unhinged and a lot hot.
Content warnings definitely apply—check those before diving in!

Ready for more from Lauren’s girl gang ASAP. Manifesting roommate spin-offs 🙏📖✨

This was my first book by Navessa Allen and I flew through it, it was addictive, intense, and never boring! The pacing was solid, and I loved the blend of heat, tension, vulnerability, and character growth. The inclusivity and the dog (with real page time!) were highlights for me

The tropes? Top tier: dark rom-com, second chance, mafia, obsessive and cinnamon roll MMC, stalker rom-com, voyeurism, and more. Dual POVs added depth, and the portrayal of sex work was thoughtful and refreshing

The spice was chef’s kiss, and the emotional layers hit hard in all the right ways. Junior was everything, and Nic? Total swoon. I’d happily read more about the side characters too, so much potential for spin-offs!

If you like dark, spicy romance with high stakes and heart, don’t miss this one!

I'd heard so much about this author after Lights Out, which is on my TBR. I knew this would be a case of same universe but you can read independently so I read this first. I did enjoy it, but after reading Lights Out straight after this, i think i definitely preferred that. This is good, but I found some of the behaviours a bit too much, and it didn't feel as organic as Lights Out did. I still liked it and I look forward to anything else this author writes

🏍️ Caught Up 🏍️ @navessa.allen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“He’s ruthless; a walking red flag. Good thing red is my favorite color.”

This is an arc review and this book releases June 10th.

This is a second chance, dark mafia romance and the second book in the Into Darkness series. The story follows Nico Junior, who has always gotten what he wants but has spent years keeping his distance from Lauren, believing she is too good for his world of violence and depravity. However, when he does look her up online, he discovers that the shy, bookish girl he once knew has transformed and his curiosity soon turns into obsession. Lauren is intrigued by the mystery man and their flirty online exchanges spark a deeper connection.

I was obsessed with Lights Out, the dark stalker romance that was book one in this series so was thrilled to receive an arc for this. This was so fast paced, so gripping, a tiny bit twisted and featured a morally grey MMC and all the spice and unhinged fun I loved from the first book in the series. I loved Lauren, she was feisty, passionate and strong and fought for the rights of those more vulnerable than her and I instantly clicked with her character, her healing from a traumatic Catholic guilt filled family and her amazing housemate found family dynamic. Junior is Aly’s cousin who we met in book one so I enjoyed the interconnected element and dual POV. Some of the kinks were not for me but they were clearly labelled in TWs and it didn’t take away from the read, was just a matter of personal preference that it didnt hit quite as much as book one for me.

4 ⭐ Thanks Quercus Books, NetGalley & Navessa Allen for the eARC! This was a fun read and definitely spicyyy🌶️

Our MMC Nico (Junior), Aly’s cousin from Lights Out has mafia ties that he wants to escape from and hopes to go legit all in the pursuit of his first love Lauren. (Aw)

Their relationship was intense and heavy on the chemistry and the spice was next level compared to the first book I think…when you get to THE scene, you’ll know….🫣🌶️ also the experienced FMC vs the inexperienced MMC was a refreshing change and the openness towards Lauren’s career?! Just yes. Some things were definitely explored in this book🫢

Lauren’s dynamic with her two friends made me laugh at lot in this: ‘we ride at dawn’🤣 and omg Josh’s entire demeanour and presence in this still, what a hero!

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this sequel and absolutely sped through it! Add this to your tbr for a fun time!

4.75/5 Stars

Minor spoilers ahead!

I thought Caught Up was even better than Lights Out! Navessa Allen picks up the pace in the second book of the Into Darkness trilogy with a story that’s just as addictive—if not more so—than the first.

This time, the spotlight shifts from Aly and Josh to Aly’s cousin, Lauren ("Lo"), and Nico "Junior" Trocci. That said, it was so satisfying to see Aly and Josh return as side characters—it made the world feel even more connected and alive.

Junior had some serious character growth in this one. He starts off as the classic morally grey, red-flag-waving antihero, but as the story unfolds, we see deeper layers of vulnerability, longing, and even redemption. His obsession with Lauren walks a fine line, but it works in that dark romance way that makes you feel like you shouldn’t root for him... yet you absolutely do.

As for Lauren—what a fantastic lead. She's smart, strong, and doesn’t let Junior walk all over her, even though the chemistry between them is off the charts. Their dynamic had me turning pages way past my bedtime.

There were moments I wanted to put the book down, just to take a breath—but I couldn’t. It’s that addictive. The tension, the angst, the heat... it’s all dialed up in the best way.

Caught Up perfectly balances a fast-paced, emotionally charged plot with complex characters and delicious tension. If you loved Lights Out, this is a must-read continuation that raises the stakes and digs even deeper.

Thank you to Navessa Allen and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5⭐️
3.5🌶️

Navessa Allen SMASHED it with this sequel, in my opinion it was even better than Lights Out!

A dark mafia romcom following Nico Junior (Aly's cousin)and Lauren who is a camgirl fighting for Sex Workers rights.

After a hot fling when they were teenagers that caused devastation, Lauren tries her best to keep Nico out of her mind. Meanwhile, Nico has spend the last 10 years STALKING the only woman he truly wants.

Stumbling back into her life, Junior makes his want for Lauren known. He follows her to the sex club that she partly owns (Velvet) and let's just say he discovers kinks he wasn't expecting..

This book was so HOT 🥵 sex and body positive while also being funny and engaging.

I love that we got to see Aly and Josh in this book as well as a couple other characters from Lights Out👀

Lauren's Nonna was HILARIOUS 😂

I honeslty couldn't put this book down and it brought me out of a book slump. I am HIGHLY anticipating the audiobook release as I think it will make this book even funnier.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus books for the opportunity to ARC read this book.

Navessa Allen has done it again 👏🏼 I absolutely love the realness of the world she's created - the way she incorporates real feeling friendships, relationships, family drama and HUMOUR into dark romance is unlike anything I've ever read outside of her work. I was absolutely giddy over the cameos we got, and yes, it was super hot 🙏🏼

(massive thanks to quercus books for the e-arc via netgalley! 🫶🏼)

I loved Lights Out, so I was nervous the sequel wouldn’t live up to it but Caught Up completely delivered. It’s darker, sexier, and somehow even more addictive. I couldn’t put it down.

Junior and Lauren were such a fun pair. Their chemistry felt natural, the banter was sharp, and the emotional moments really hit. When he called her Lo, I was done for. Total soft spot.

What I really loved was how the story overlaps with Lights Out, but from a fresh perspective. It added so much depth and made me appreciate the world even more.

Also, let’s be honest Josh was hot, but Nico? Nico is dangerously hot. That protective energy? Yes, please.

Navessa Allen’s writing just keeps getting better. Great pacing, memorable characters, and enough steam to fog up your Kindle. I’m already counting down the days to book three.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

ARC REVIEW - Caught Up (Book 2 - Into Darkness) by Navessa Allen

Just finished my ARC and I am shook. Absolute 5-star, top-tier read!

Not as dark as Lights Out which I preferred. It was just the right amount of darkness without being too triggering. The Spice?? NEXT. LEVEL. If you’re into mafia/mob romance with a heavy dose of stalking, obsession, and danger, this is going to be your next favorite.

I can’t wait for everyone to read this so we can discuss the Church scene! 🥵🥵🥵🥵

One of the things I loved most? The world is interconnected—you’ll spot threads from Josh & Aly —but this isn’t their sequel.
It stands strong on its own while still giving fans those satisfying connections. So good. I’m so glad the humour was there also, I laughed out Loud a number of times!

I would’ve devoured this in one sitting if it weren’t 2am and I had work the next day—yes, it’s that addictive.

I was so excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting, Nico is no Josh but he is a pretty close second

Thank you NetGalley and Quercus for this ARC!

The story felt off at times and the plot felt scattered. It felt like too many plot lines were being executed at once. The “big” reveals didn’t really land emotionally, there was no intrigue, didn’t even feel like reveals, which was disappointing. Then there was the secrets Nico was keeping from Lauren and even those, once revealed, felt underwhelming. The big secret about the FMCs father was made out to be a huge deal at the start of the book but once the truth was revealed it was super anticlimactic.

Now, the characters themselves were interesting. I loved that the MMC wasn’t the usual typical tall alpha stereotype, and the FMC’s role as a sex worker added depth and complexity. Plus, the gender-neutral representation was refreshing and done early on, so it didn’t feel like it was trying to shock or surprise the reader.

There was definitely potential there though, especially If the masked biker angle had been drawn out more, with a slow burn reveal, it could’ve been so much more impactful. But the way it was written just didn’t leave a mark, and perhaps it wasn’t meant to, and I was expecting it would? Perspective, perhaps. The potential was there, but the execution just didn’t follow through.

All in all, the book had good intentions and some standout ideas, but it felt like it was trying to tell too many stories at once and lost its focus along the way. Not a total miss, but not quite a win for me either.

Thank you for the Arc to this utterly outstanding read of a book!!
Did I expect anything to top Lights out???…. no !!! Did Caught up exceed that expectation??? … Hell yeah.
What an amazing story. Lauren and Nic working through issues of trust and hurt, the intensity of the relationship and all that comes with that and oh the spice 🌶️
Navessa’s writing style keeps me hooked from start to finish and I cannot wait for the next !!

Caught Out was a thoroughly enjoyable read! It is such a a funny, spicy, and character-driven story that kept me hooked from start to finish. I'm a sucker for a dark romcom and I flew through this book in two days.

I loved the characters as much as I did with Josh and Aly but I enjoyed how different and resh their dynamic felt and I loved the surprising twists that kept them from ever feeling predictable. The chemistry was off the charts, and the humor added a perfect balance to the heat.
I have to give an honourable mention to the best boy Walter for being a loveable rouge!

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved seeing some familiar faces, I didn't love it as much as I did with Lights Out. Still, it’s a super entertaining ride and a great continuation of the series. Definitely worth the read if you’re a fan of a dark, funny and sexy romance.

First of all thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

"𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠, 𝐿𝑜. 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑙𝑦.”

Navessa Allen has done it again! Lights Out was amazing, Josh was everything, but the second book somehow manages to top it (and yes, Josh is back 🥵). I especially loved the dynamic between Junior and Lauren. Their relationship was intense, messy, and full of that irresistible push and pull.

This was such an easy read, yet completely captivating—I couldn’t put it down. The chapters felt shorter, which made it even more addictive, and I flew through it. I seriously can’t wait for book three! No pressure, but I’m beyond hyped for what’s next!

🖤Interconnected standalone
🖤 Dark romance/rom com
🖤 Second chance
🖤 Stalker
🖤 MMC with mob ties
🖤 FMC is a camworker

Nico “Junior” has wanted Lauren forever. She’s been off-limits… until now. He’s done waiting and he’s changing the game to ensure he can have her.

If Lights Out was Hallmark dark romance, this is the real deal: spicier, darker, and even more fun.

The church scene? The arcade scene? 🥵 I’m still thinking about them.

I still can’t believe I got an ARC for this book! It was one of my anticipated read for the year thank you @netgalley and @quercusbooks

Holy f##k🫦

Bit of a different experience for me as I listened to book 1 and wasn’t sure how I would fair reading book 2.

Turns out book 2, for me, was everything book 1 was and more. The little parts I didn’t love about book 1.✨ poof gone ✨ I don’t think I can say anything negative about this book. Only way it can get better is Jacob Morgan voicing him in the audiobook and you bet I will be waiting for it to be released and relive again.

This was absolutely brilliant. I loved the decision to continue this world by focusing on Junior, Aly’s eldest cousin on her mob side of the family and Lauren was such a great fmc!! Definitely more darkish romance than romance with dark settings that book 1 sometimes felt.

If Josh was a golden retriever, Junior he’s more grumpy cat, which he would hate cause he isn’t a cat person. Also I like how Aly and Josh were part of the story but not too much either, a nice balance

I’m still shocked I even got an e-arc so a massive thank you to netgalley and the publishers!

Navessa Allen has done it again. I absolutely loved Lights Out, and was a little scared that this sequel wasn't gonna live up to the hype (the hype being josh 🥵🥵) but oh my gosh - Caught Up is such a sexy, dark and fast paced companion to Lights Out, weaving effortlessly into the world that has already been built while still giving us a fresh, intimate perspective that stands completely on its own. Seeing overlapping events and characters from a new angle added so much depth to the story, it felt like peeling back emotional layers I didn’t know were there.

Can we just talk about Nico for a second? Cause Josh was hot, but Nico has that whole 'she's mine' 'touch her an you die' attitude and damn 🥵. These books and those characters compliment eachother so well.

Amazing sequel, absolutely loved the characters and the story line, already in line waiting for book 3!! 😂

thank you @netgalley for my ARC. I was over the moon to be selected for this!!

5⭐️

✨4.5 stars ✨
🌶️ 5 spice 🌶️

"I don’t want to clip your wings, Lo. I want to see you fly.”

Navessa Allen has done it once again. This book consumed my life.

First off, thank you to Quercus Books for approving me for this arc on netgalley! here is my honest review as always

What to expect in this
* Dark romance/rom com
* Stalker
* Past betrayal
* Second chance
* MMC mob ties
* FMC camworker
* Spicy as hell
* Funny side characters

What a ride this was. I am absolutely LOVING this series. I will say that I think I loved this one even more than Lights Out which is saying a lot because I adored it.

I found this to be so easy to read. It was simply written but was so entertaining that you did not want to put it down.
I was loving the relationship with Junior and Lauren. A lot of push and pull and not an easy relationship. It was built originally on a lot of distrust that they had to rebuild. I thought it was nicely done. And the spice. Oh my lord I needed to fan myself. This got kinky my friends. I loved the way that it was explored in this.

I loved the side characters and seeing Aly and Josh again. Lights out I felt was a lot more comical where this one has the humour and more emotion to it.
I had so much fun reading this. I highly recommend reading this series!!

Check TWs and CWs
Happy reading 🩶