I cannot lie; I underestimated the themes in this story. If nothing else, reading The Cherry Auction helped me learn what things I do not like reading- turns out I am simply not a dark romance girly. Through cringed faces and uncomfortable eye covering – I persisted!

The “virgin auction” premise is what drew me in. It was… so much more than that. Almost too many things. The amnesia, the mental struggles, the history between the characters, the plot twists with more demented history… so many dark tropes. The first half was pure smut. The mmc was too far gone in his revenge and mental illness, and I felt it made the whole dom/sub aspect feel particularly icky. The plot finally unfolded in more depth in the second half. Again, interesting twists? But yikes. It was very hard to read. I typically like to leave constructive reviews, but I was truly focused on surviving this story and wading through the very loaded triggers.

The writing was done well enough, the pacing was… sporadic, but at the end of the day it was an interesting story.

My overall takeaway was: “know your limits”.

Cherry Auction by Stasia Black is a second chance dark romance.
Carnal is a high class spicy club that is auctioning one night with a v!rg!n. Hence, the title of the book.
Our FMC is Brooke, she was a recent head trauma victim and now suffers from amnesia. With no clue of who she is she is determined to start a new life for herself.
Domhnall is an Irish billionaire, he is a member at Carnal and is ultimately who ends up purchasing Brooke.
No one truly knows how unhinged Domhnall is until he ends up kidnapping and locking Brooke in his dungeon for an entire week.
His reasoning is where the book takes an interesting turn, it’s also what causes the story to plunge in a dark direction.
Some of the events were predictable but then there were a few that surprised me.
The author did an amazing job being respectful when writing about the trauma that both characters had endured.
I felt all the emotions as if I was the one that had lived through those experiences and I think it’s only because of the great job Stasia did.
I wasn’t sure if it would be a HEA or not and I won’t ruin it for the next reader, you’ll just have to read it and see for yourselves.

**Lots of triggers, please read the warnings before reading
🖤🖤🖤
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was a no for me- which was super disappointing. I desperately wanted to love it! But it dragged on for me & to be honest I continued on with the hopes at some point it would pull me back into the story.

This book will definitely have people that love it and I'm excited for those people to read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Girl this book was absolutely mental, I love you now. I couldn’t believe what I was reading half the time and to be fair I prefer dark romance with a bit of a shock factor to it. Still in awe that I read this and simultaneously wondering if the author wants to be friends because I feel like I’d get her 😂 thank you so much to @netgalley for my copy of Cherry Auction in exchange for an honest review

This was SO GOOD! Definitely a new one for the dark romance girlies. Reminded me of a dirty tangled. Overall great pace and story. Very well written!

Wow. Where do I even start! This book got so unexpectedly dark - if you have triggers, please familiarise yourself with this book's triggers to see if it is suitable for you. If you don't have triggers, then please go in blind!
I really enjoyed this book - I thought the twists and turns were crazy and engaging, and I felt the trauma and mental health aspect of the book was done really well.
I doubted at times we would get a HEA, but rest assured there is one! Just need to work for it.

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on the book.

This is the kind of book you have to be in the mood for. It's fast-paced, over the top and as a reader you need to know where you line is. To me, it was just beyond my line of shock value over character development and distracting switching names of the main characters.

Okay to say that this book was a wild ride would be an understatement. I read it in less than 24 hours because, once I started, I just could not get enough of this story and these characters. It was definitely a dark romance but I didn’t think there was anything too triggering but I definitely recommend reading all the warnings.

There was not one believable thing that happened in this book but it was A+ entertainment. I felt like I was reading a dark soap opera which was exactly what I wanted out of this book.

This book is a very dark romance. There is no other way to put it. I’m not sure which one of the main characters is more damaged, perhaps both in different ways. While the setting is obvious from the books’ title, the rest of the physiological aspect unfolds as you read. Brooke/Moria has more going on than amnesia and Domhnall is from her past who loves her but feels she is responsible for his past.
There are a lot of twists and turns throughout this book that should have captured my attention but didn’t, and it may have been not getting a connection with Brook and Domhnall.

2.5 ⭐️

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review, and while I went in knowing the general plot, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. The BDSM elements weren’t my cup of tea, and the first part of the book felt more like a marathon of steamy scenes rather than laying the groundwork for a compelling story. I kept waiting for the plot to kick in, but the heavy focus on sex made it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

It had its moments, and I can see how fans of steamy, trope-heavy romances might enjoy this. If you’re in the mood for something that brings the heat and don’t mind sacrificing a bit of plot realism, this might be perfect for you.

Today, I bring you a review that will undoubtedly leave you wanting more. If you enjoy dark romances filled with unexpected twists and a good dose of emotional tension, this book might be exactly what you’re looking for. Set against the provocative backdrop of a BDSM club, the story delves into secrets, old wounds, and an attraction that can’t be ignored. Beyond its daring premise, it offers betrayal, redemption, and a past threatening to shatter the present.

Review (3.5 stars):
Domhnall never imagined he would cross paths again with the girl who destroyed his life at 17. Years later, at an unconventional auction, Brooke—or Mads, as he remembers her—reappears. But she claims to remember nothing, not even who she truly is. Is she lying, or is there something deeper behind her amnesia? This revenge romance keeps the tension high from start to finish, with twists that will leave you perplexed. The chemistry between the protagonists is intense, though some emotional scenes feel rushed, and the uneven pacing slightly detracts from the immersion. Nevertheless, it’s an addictive read that dark romance fans will appreciate.

Trigger warning: Make sure to check the content warnings! This book touches on dark and sensitive topics that may not be suitable for all readers.

In conclusion, while some details could have been further polished, the book delivers an intriguing plot and complex characters that will keep you engaged. If you enjoy stories about revenge and second chances, give this one a try!

𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒔.

Cherry Auction is a raw, dark, twisted, and heart-wrenching book, but it was so good.

𝑴𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒇--𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

Please check the trigger warnings in this book; it deals with many heavy topics that will trigger some.

Cherry Auction was such a wild ride. You will experience so many emotions during this book; it gave me Eyes Wide Shut, Fifty Shades of Grey, Alice & Frankie, and Sybil vibes.

𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝒎𝒆.

The trauma these two characters endured was heartbreaking, and the twists in this book were mind-blowing.

I wanted to reach into the book and give these characters a big freakin hug because they needed it and so much more.

𝑭--𝒌, 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒂 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍. 𝑶𝒇 𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒂. 𝑶𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒂. 𝑶𝒇 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

Domhnall and Brooke/Madi loved each other so hard and fought through so much pain and trauma. If anyone deserved a HEA, it was them.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Ruined Vows. I hope we see more of Dom and Brooke/Madi because I love these two and would love to read more from them.

Black writes another intriguing novel. This is dark romance so has its triggers that you need to double check. While this is a book with some kink in it I was impressed at the way it was handled, even though Domhnall's actions contribute to the "dark" in the romance there is still respect for safe words which is important. This story had a few big twists I wasn't expecting at all which contributed to me liking the book because I love when a book can surprise me. It kept me reading 3 hours staring and ends with an HEA. I would recommend this book to fans of super dark romances with a kidnapping trope, kink, and enemies to lovers trope

Some readers may find issue with a morally black MMC who boarders on abusive and though he regrets it and changes, the basis for it all is his backstory which can give some the ick. But I enjoyed this ARC read and need to buy a physical copy now.

I saw this book on NetGalley and went into it completely blind. This book was just personally not for me. There was alot going on and things were changing on a dime in this book. The romance felt forced and very lacking. I just personally didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would.

⚠️check your TWs⚠️

Cherry Auction by Stassia Black is a steamy, fast-paced romance that offers plenty of spice and an engaging storyline. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and the plot keeps you hooked from start to finish. However, the overuse of the word "feck" in the narration became a bit grating, pulling me out of the story at times. Despite this minor annoyance, it was an enjoyable and satisfying read for those who love a spicy romance with a touch of drama.

This was a no for me while I read a lot of dark romances I just didn’t enjoy the execution of the plot. Made it about halfway thru before DNFING

I did end up finishing this book, however, I admit I lost interest in it after about 70%.

The plot was very intriguing to me and unfortunately the end fell flat. I found it hard to believe parts of the storyline and I feel like the book could have been further edited down as it seemed long.

This was my first Stasia Black book but I am not sure if I would pick up another one. I can definitely see how this may be someone's cup of tea, but I am not sure I was the target audience.

This book earns 2 ⭐ from me due to its bizarre and often absurd storyline, which occasionally bordered on unintentionally humorous. The plot centers around a BDSM club that hosts a "Virgin Auction," a concept that felt both unrealistic and unsettling. The protagonist, Domnhall, encounters his ex-girlfriend at the auction—an ex who supposedly betrayed him profoundly and is now feigning amnesia. In a bid for revenge, he purchases her for an exorbitant sum and subjects her to various BDSM activities. Their interactions lacked authenticity, and the overemphasis on sexual content overshadowed any meaningful plot development.

Moreover, the depiction of familial relationships was discomforting. The siblings exhibited a blatant disregard for boundaries and privacy, engaging in behaviors that were both inappropriate and off-putting. The narrative's excessive length further detracted from its appeal; a more concise approach, with fewer repetitive BDSM scenes, might have enhanced the storytelling.

In summary, while there were moments that elicited a chuckle due to their sheer absurdity, the book failed to deliver a compelling or cohesive narrative. I am unlikely to seek out other works by this author.

This was a no for me- which was super disappointing. I desperately wanted to love it! But it dragged on for me & to be honest I continued on with the hopes at some point it would get better or more interesting but it just didn’t happen, imho.

Definitely of the belief that this will be a huge hit for lots of people- as always, I recommend reading and determining on your own if this book is a hit or miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Cherry Auction* by Stasia Black is a fun, over-the-top romance with a wild premise—auctioning off the main character’s “cherry” to the highest bidder. The story is entertaining and super spicy, but it feels a bit rushed at times, and the characters don’t have a ton of depth. Some parts are funny and addictive, while others are kind of predictable or cheesy. It’s definitely not a super serious or deep read, but if you’re in the mood for something playful and steamy, it’s worth a shot. Just don’t expect it to blow your mind.