I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

While the start is slow, once the big events happen at the beginning, boy does stuff start happening and happening fast. The story follows Mina and Oliver and their quest to show that true love perseveres. The story follows Mina's mission to save her which takes her to a secret academy for spies involved with the Russian bratva. Meanwhile Oliver never gives up on her and finding his way back to her. The story stretched over a significant length of time which allows the reader to get to know the characters and their motivations. Additionally the ending has me chewing at the bit for more. I can't wait for the next installment of their story.

I also really enjoyed the author's narration of Mina's point of view in the audiobook and felt like it demonstrated so much emotion and helped me to connect with the character. However, due to this Oliver's narration at times felt a little flat.

Overall I would recommend this book as an upper YA read.

I picked this up expecting standard YA romance and instead got my heart wrung out like a dishrag. Mina's world implodes when she's dragged into her family's criminal past, and suddenly I'm watching this eighteen-year-old girl navigate horrors that would break most adults.

What got me was how Ares refuses to romanticize trauma. Mina doesn't emerge unscathed and triumphant—she's messy, angry, and real. Oliver's chapters felt like watching someone drown in their own helplessness, which honestly made me want to shake him and hug him simultaneously.

The Russian mob stuff could've felt derivative, but there's something raw about how these kids stumble through violence they never asked for. That ending though? Absolutely criminal.

**Vibes We Are Tracking:**
💔 Love tested by impossible circumstances
⚡ Gritty coming-of-age through trauma
🖤 Family secrets that destroy everything
🔥 Survival over perfection

Thank you SERAPRESS and NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook! FAVORITE QUOTE: “They could strip me of my name, my past, and my freedom—but they’d never take the thought of him from me. That was mine. Untouchable.” Let me tell you about Love and Other Cages—I didn’t just read it, I got emotionally kidnapped with Mina. She’s a high school senior who essentially hands herself over to a Russian mob syndicate to keep her mom safe. Oliver’s on-page devotion is off-the-charts: tracking her down with Nyah and Xavi feels part criminal suspense, part boyfriend devotion campaign. The dual POV is relentless—in one chapter, you're watching Mina endure a surreal indoctrination in a cold, brutal training compound, the next you're with Oliver piecing together breadcrumbs across LA and Belarus. Their chemistry is magnetic, the danger real, and the narrative pulses with hope and hurt. Sure, some pacing stumbles and too much exposition slow the engine occasionally, but by the final page—cliffhanger and all—I was gasping: 'Where’s book three already?'

Love and Other Cages is an emotional, layered romance with plenty of angst and heart. The narration adds depth and immediacy, making the characters feel especially vivid. If you enjoy love stories with complications and big feelings, this one delivers.

Love and Other Cages is the kind of story that gets under your skin, in the best way. Emilia Ares writes with such heart and vulnerability, you feel every moment like it's your own. It’s a powerful exploration of love, trauma, and healing, and I couldn’t look away. Beautifully done and deeply affecting.

Really tried to get into this book, listened to the audio book for a while but something about the paces was off and I just could not continue so I had to DNF unfortunately.

The premise of this story was interesting and that's what made me intrigued to read it, however it felt kind of rushed and it was just kind of a wild story.

I think it's kinda crazy what Mina does in the beginning and she does not really talk about it. I also think that whole situation was kind of crazy, and the people around her were kind of way too chill about it. Obviously Oliver searched and what not, but still with him I felt like they didn't know each other that well and he was the only one that seemingly cared and was actively looking for her.

✨ A Romeo and Juliet remix with guns, grit, and gorgeous prose.
Imagine falling in love just in time to get kidnapped—Mina and Oliver did. This book grabs you by the heart, rips it out, then hands it back with a poetic apology. It's like if The O.C. collided with John Wick and sprinkled in a bit of La La Land melancholy.

Dark, intense, and weirdly beautiful—perfect for readers who like their romance with a side of trauma and their thrillers with feelings.

I really enjoyed the Narration. However the story itself self felt slow. Also I didn't realise that this was a duology unfortunately

"Love & Other Cages" by Emilia Ares is a compelling exploration of love, confinement, and the struggle for freedom. The narrative weaves together poignant themes of personal growth and emotional resilience as the protagonist navigates the complexities of relationships while feeling trapped in her circumstances. Ares' writing is both lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into a world where love can be both a sanctuary and a prison. The characters are richly developed, making their journeys relatable and impactful. With its blend of romance and self-discovery, "Love & Other Cages" offers a thought-provoking and engaging read that resonates long after the final page.

I don't remember too much of what I read but it was high-suspense with great stakes and character development. The romance was cute and the characters were well-fleshed out. However, I was kinda confused for most of the book because I didn't realize it was the second book in the series until after I requested it lol

Anyway, recommended for those who want an action-packed quick read with intense teenage romance

Once I got through the roller coaster ride I was bowled over by thre cliffhanger. Is it bad to read other reivews before you start a book? I propbably should have. I do not give good reviews to books with cliffhangers. I do not like them.

I did not get around to reading this one, I did start it but never continued due to how busy life got

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Genre: New Adult | Thriller | Romance | Contemporary Romance
Theme: Dark | Violence
Author: Emilia Ares
Publication date: First published October 15, 2024
Book Cover first thoughts: Cute but I don’t love covers with people on them
Audiobook Narrator: Will Collyer and Emilia Ares
Audiobook Length: 15 hours 12 minutes
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 5/5

One Liner: Couldn’t put it down!

Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping / trafficking theme. 17+ age guide, the characters are in high school but the material is definitely not for teenagers in my opinion.

Story Review / Summary: I enjoyed this story! I ate it up. I always enough dual POVs so that is typically an instant 4 star for most books. I am bummed I didn’t realize this was the 2nd book in the series until I was half way through and went to look it up. I wish I would have read the first book first LOL but overall still an amazing read. I enjoyed all of Mira and Oliver’s story. I didn’t want it to end. The book ends on a cliffhanger so I am hoping that means there is going to be a book 3.

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Thank you to #NetGalley and SERA Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of #LoveandOtherCages by #EmiliaAres
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 15, 2025.
This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

This book is so incredibly different from the first one that it may as well be a different series. I kept seeing that this book could be read as a stand-alone. I got this one before I read the first one and started it. Let me tell you it can not be read as a stand-alone. Not at all. There is so much that happens in the first book that directly ties into this book that you will be lost. Which was why I had to stop reading this book and read the first book, because I was utterly lost. Where book one is a coming-of-age, budding romance of two figures who have had different but hard lives. This one has no romance; it says it's a romantic suspense. It isn't. Yes, Oliver spends the entirety of the book looking for Mina, and they think about each other, but they don't interact beyond a few pages. Why, you may ask? Because Mina is kidnapped and tortured, not light torture, electrocution, beating until near death, manipulation, etc. While this is happening, Oliver is digging himself deeper into the underworld to find the organization that took Mina. This is a book that I enjoyed, but could not begin to describe well. It somewhat reminded me of Natasha Romanoff's (from the Marvel movies version) Russian spy training, except way more torturous. The last book focused more on Oliver and his struggles, and this one focuses more on Mina, though we do see Oliver open up a bit more and develop some friendships, something he did not do easily in book one. No one is in school anymore, just quit that altogether, I mean Mina didn't have a choice....Anyway, this book still seems YA, but an older YA due to dark themes. It has the torture, the angst, two 17/18 year olds separated and one searching for the other while one tries to survive, but the thought of the other keeps both grounded. You have some Russian spy stuff and more C.J. and his wife. It's an entertaining story, and this one, much like the first, ends in a cliffhanger.

Love and Other Cages is a young adult novel with romance, suspense, and drama.
This book is the second in the Love and Other Sins series, though it can be read on its own, I think it’s better if you start with the first book to fully understand the story.

This book follows Mina, a girl that is kidnapped by a criminal organization. From that moment on, Mina’s life changes drastically, living a dangerous situation, she must not only fight for her life but also protect her mother.
Meanwhile, Oliver is looking for her. He does everything he can to rescue his girlfriend, facing risks and tough decisions along the way.
What I like about this novel is that it's told from both Mina and Oliver POV’s. This allowed me to understand their emotions, fears, and thoughts much better during the plot.
I truly love the dual narrative in romance books, because it builds a deeper connection with the characters and the reader.

The author is very good at explaining the atmosphere, writing in a very visual and emotional style, making it easy to imagine everything that’s happening.

The trigger warnings of this novel are: kidnapping, human trafficking, violence.
But Emilia Ares handles these topics with care and sensitivity, while still showing the seriousness of the events.
A think this book it’s perfect for readers looking for a realistic love story full of challenges, as well as a plot that keeps you on edge.

⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this amazing audiobook! I am obsessed with this book! I loved the writing style, the narrators, the characters and this story so much! Nina and Oliver’s relationship was so beautiful and the way my heart was breaking for them throughout this story. The story took such a turn during Nina’s kidnapping, I was obsessed with knowing what would happen next with Nina throughout this story and watching Oliver fight so hard to find her! The ending has me needing the next book right now! I can’t wait to see what will happen next with these two and will try my best to patiently wait for the next book! Thank you again to NetGalley!📚💕

DnF at about 50% I’ve picked this one up several times and I just haven’t been able to get into the right head space for it. The Narrators do a great job and the audiobook.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy! This one wasn’t for me or the right fit for my mood at the time.

Love and Other Drugs is a true testament to what you would do for the ones you love.

Rating;⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice; /5

Mina and Oliver, have already tested the waters with past traumas in love and other sins. But what happens when trauma occurs and they cannot save the other at this points.

We start the book with Mina witnessing the most terrifying crime a child could go through. Only to have to step up and get blood on her own hands.

Oliver rushes to her aid. But was too late as the roots of the scars have sunk in.

This book is beautifully tragic in every way! From murder to sex trafficking, Oliver’s love does not diminish or weaver… but will he make it in time to save her?
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I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.