Let's get straight to it: was Caught Up as good a read as Lights Out? No. Nope, no siree, it was not. Don't try and compare them or you'll be disappointed. That said, it was still an enjoyable read.

Junior was absolutely delicious. A walking red-flag of over protectiveness that I adored.
Lauren was uninhibited and unapologetic and I loved that... But she was also bitchy, distrustful and a bit annoying. However, they worked and I liked them together.

The secondary characters - namely Lauren's roommates, Lauren's Nonna, and Junior's brothers - were fantastic and I loved Josh and Ali's appearances.
What I didn't like was that there wasn't a whole lot to the story beyond Junior stepping back into Lauren's life and making his move for a life outside the family biz.

So, all in all, it was good but it wasn't great. I liked it, I enjoyed it, but I'm unlikely to ever want to read it again or think about it... And I have exactly zero enthusiasm for book three. I couldn't give a rat's ass about Tyler. Now, Junior's brothers? Heck yes! But not Tyler.

Omg such a fun book!! A great follow up to lights out. Loved the spice and the relationship between Junior and Lo.

Wow I will never stop thinking about this

Dark romance written with humour. Nic is a walking red flag with the biggest heart. Navessa Allen is a genius managing to make me fall in love with this man through her humorous and heartfelt words. I love how sex positive this book was. I feel Lauren’s character was written sensitively and gave an insight into a world I know very little about. Lauren was strong in the best ways. The humour in this book works well to balance out the darkness. The tension was built well throughout the book both between Lauren and Nic and Nic and his dad. There was lots of spice in this book but I liked how much of it was driven from a deep love the characters have for one another.

Book two and boy did we get straight into it!

Caught up is dark, spicy and chaotic and I was immersed right from the beginning. It was so much more than just a dark romance. The emotional depth was a surprise, balanced out with humour and spice to keep pages turning.

Junior is caught in a cross roads, wanting to escape the mafia and do something more purposeful with his life. He has spent a decade obsessing over the girl that got away but does everything in his power to protect her whilst living in the shadows.
Lauren is a cam girl and not afraid to flaunt it. When discovering Juniors ploy she is willing to give him a second chance, but determined to stay true to herself and not change for anyone.

The spicy between the two hot. The scenes are intense and I loved how Lauren took the lead to open Juniors eyes to explore his hidden desires. He is so supportive of her connection to velvet club and is willing to sacrifice everything to make her see this.

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

I enjoyed how much Ally and Josh were included within this book, continuing on from Lights out. Shout out to Nonna who was hands down my favourite character. She had me laughing throughout with her give no shits attitude.

A great second book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus books for the ARC.

I absolutely loved Light up, and whilst I enjoyed this one, it didn’t blew me away in the same way. I missed a deeper plot, I loved the mused stalker mystery of the first book and wished to have a bit more conflict in this one. I did really enjoy the characters and Allen’s writing style, the spice was spicing and I’m excited for the third book!

Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4.5/5

Am I surprised I loved this book? Not in the slightest 😅 I adored Lights Out so I was both nervous and quietly optimistic for this one. It was dark, dirty, funny, full of heart and as totally addictive like book 1. Full of all our dark romance favourites: Stalker, Mafia, Possessive MMC, hand necklaces and even spicy time in a confessional 🫠

All the characters felt really organic and well fleshed out and it was really interesting to read the sex worker POV and social undertones that come with it. In particular Lauren and her friends dynamic was so freaking heartwarming I couldn’t cope at times not to mention they were freaking hilarious.

We all know I love a possessive MMC but I also loved Junior’s character development and how everything he did was for Lauren but in the end to better his own life too my sweet stabby baby 🥹 and I am sucker for a book boyfriend who’s not afraid to grovel.

We do get a cute reunion with Ally and Josh which I loved as well as the budding bromance between Junior and Josh (I’m so here for it!) and I’m not ready for this series to end honestly. I just want to live in this dark rom com world forever please 🙏

It wasn’t quite as heavy on the comedy as lights out which is fine because it’s a different vibe but I did miss that a little. I think I would’ve really liked to have a bit more of the back story of Junior and Lauren when they were teenagers (not in a creepy sexy way) I just love reading about the build up to the first time characters fall in love with a second chance book. I feel like it makes it hit harder when they come back together but that’s just my personal preference and the book was still thoroughly enjoyable.

Funny. Hot. Spicy. But also sweet? Caring. And charming. I have looooved it. The kind of book who's dark but light enough to devour it so quickly.

Navessa Allen’s Caught Up is a second-chance romance that hits like a gut punch and soothes like a slow-burning fire. With razor-sharp dialogue, irresistible chemistry, and a deep emotional core, this novel is a standout in the genre—gritty, seductive, and unflinchingly real.

At its heart are Nico “Junior” Trocci and Lauren “Lo” Marchetti, two people who should have moved on from each other years ago but never really did. Junior is a textbook antihero—brooding, brutal, emotionally armored—but Allen never lets him fall into cliché. He’s complex, self-aware, and painfully human. And Lauren? She’s the perfect match: whip-smart, vulnerable without being naïve, and unwilling to let Junior (or anyone else) dictate her worth. Watching her step into her power while still navigating the messy terrain of old wounds is one of the most rewarding aspects of the book.

Their chemistry is magnetic—tension simmers in every glance, every near-miss, every sharp word. But Caught Up is more than just heat and angst. Allen writes with nuance about trauma, loyalty, family expectations, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive. Junior and Lauren’s relationship is a battlefield, but it’s also a place of reckoning, where both must choose whether love is worth the risk of exposure and vulnerability.

Allen’s writing is vivid and emotionally rich, effortlessly balancing grit with tenderness. The inner monologues are sharp and believable, the pacing never drags, and the supporting cast—especially the Marchetti family—is layered and memorable, adding both heart and weight to the story.

This isn’t a fluffy romance. Caught Up is messy and raw, exploring what it means to love someone who’s hurt you, and whether people truly change. But for readers who crave depth with their steam, and characters who bleed on the page, it delivers in every way.

Not sure what’s wrong with me, but I went into Caught Up expecting it to be a bit more unhinged than it actually was. That said, there were definitely parts I enjoyed.

I really loved the FMC. She was strong, knew exactly who she was, and had a brilliant sense of emotional intelligence. Nico was ok. He didn’t quite land for me but he wasn’t bad either.

It was an enjoyable read overall, I just found myself wanting a bit more from it. I really missed the banter that was such a highlight in Lights Out. That back and forth between the main characters made a big difference for me, and I was hoping for a bit of that spark here too.

I did appreciate that Caught Up wasn’t trying to be a replica of Lights Out. It had its own feel and direction, which I liked. Some of the side characters stood out and there were a few scenes that will definitely stick with me.

All in all, a solid three stars from me. Worth a read, but didn’t quite reach the level I was hoping for.

I finished this book in 2 days!

I went into this one expecting something similar to Lights Out - same rom-com energy, fast-paced and spicy, and while it had all of that, Caught Up felt a bit darker. It touched on some deeper, more serious themes that added weight to the story in a way I wasn’t expecting. I thought the dual perspective was executed perfectly, and there was the right mix of action and spice to keep things exciting.

While I liked Nico and Lauren, I was a lot more invested in Aly and Josh. That being said, I definitely recommend Caught Up if you like spicy mafia romances!

This was sooooo gooooood!! I love navessas writing! Nothing can beat the first book but this was pretty close. 😮‍💨 thank you for an arc of this.

All I can say is wow.

I loved the first book in the series and was so excited to read this one but it completely blew my expectations out of the water.

The characters have so much depth to them, and I loved reading their interactions with each other.

Also, this book has some of the most well written erotic scenes I have ever read. I finished this book days ago and I still keep replaying some of the scenes in my mind.

I can't wait to read more of this series!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for providing me with this arc

Navessa Allen is back & better than ever! I adored the premise of this book even more than 'Lights Out' and please tell me why there aren't more FMC sex workers in romance books - we need to see them more. Such a deliciously spicy read from page to page, I adored it.

Junior is hilarious! The scene when Lauren panics and asks what he's doing here and he replies with 'filing my taxes, you?' Genuinely made me giggle. Phenomenal brotherly banter with Alec and Junior, it was really funny to read and helped break up the seriousness so effortlessly. Also one of my favourite quotes in the entire book is when all the guys are in the van, a bad smell starts to circulate and one of the guys says 'Jesus, Vinny...did you eat gluten again?' That caught me off guard and cracked me up so much haha.

There was some 5 star wording in this ('moldy note in the air that spoke of neglect'; 'ravenous because it had barely gotten a taste ten years ago and had been starving ever since'). I also hate to be a hater, but the wording of 'hate sex, hate sex, hate sex' was possibly one of the most confusing things in the entire book - I genuinely couldn't tell if it was meant to be read as a type of sex or hate of sex. Also I really wasn't a fan of 'shoved so deep that I felt him hit the back of my teeth' - that felt icky and kind of confusing! I also don't know what a 'mob moll' is and maybe never will?

It also couldn't be a full review without me mentioning Lauren and Junior's chemistry. It is off the scale. Their banter and flirting is wonderful. When Lauren says 'my lips are sealed' and Junior looks at her lap and replies 'don't break my heart' it just felt so playful and fun and that was the vibe throughout despite the darker undertones and backstory. And I was forever a fan of Lauren's friends they are so funny, supportive and just amazing side characters to read. Also Ryan having they/them pronouns was such a wonderful touch - can we also see more gender fluidity and use of pronouns in the romance genre please?!

I'd say some of the issues I had with 'Lights out' regarding realness of the plot bleed into this book too. In both books, I've always been personally alarmed at how chill the FMC is when she finds out she's being stalked/watched by the MMC and I will never understand it. After finding out Junior has literally been tracking her, she panics for a literal second before returning to being into him and I just want to grab her and ask why?! He's stalking you girlie, at least be a bit more freaked out!

This point kind of follows on from the last, but Lauren casually compares her attraction to Junior and him generally to actual serial killers? It felt a bit gross and distasteful that Ted Bundy and Ken Doll Killer who are actual serial killers of horrendous crimes were being mentioned in a romance fiction novel. They do not belong in a fiction novel in any romantic capacity in my opinion.

An incredibly endearing but equally spicy read with remarkable depth and character depth. I couldn't fault the plot and pacing if I tried and I would never want to because this book brought me so much joy.

⭐ARC REVIEW⭐
Caught Up by Navessa Allen,
4.25⭐

First of all: get your fans ready. The tension is wild!
Navessa conquers once again with an unusual rom-com. The themes are new, fresh, arouse curiosity and give a certain vibe 🔥.
I confess that for the first 30 % of the book I thought I was going to be disappointed. It wasn't gripping me like Lights Out did. I had high expectations.
But Junior and Lauren delivered! And wow!
This dark romance features a morally grey MMC and plenty of comedy, and ladies..., lots of interesting situations that come from Lauren.
I especially liked this point: the FMC is the strong character.
It was Lauren who taught Junior a few things, which isn't usual in novels. She's a powerful character, with revolutionary ideas and strong convictions
There's romance, there's mystery, there's secrets, there's spice (and the good kind!).
Bring the third one on!

📌 “That’s me, a real gentleman. Grab her hand in the streets and her hair in the sheets.”
📌 “Your happiness means more to me than my freedom.”

Thanks to the NetGalley platform, the publisher and the author for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Caught Up” by Navessa Allen is an unhinged, heartfelt masterpiece that had me howling one moment and holding my breath the next.

This book hits hard in all the best ways. It celebrates sex work unapologetically and portrays it with the nuance, respect, and badassery it deserves. Lauren, Ryan and Taylor’s friendship? Ride-or-die perfection. They look out for each other, hype each other up, and face creepy subscribers and cannibal scares with pepper spray, sarcasm, and genuine care.

The way Navessa tackles consent, safety, and boundaries—especially in an industry that's so often misrepresented—is just... chef's kiss. Nothing felt fetishized or sugar-coated. It was honest, funny, fierce, and rooted in love and real emotional intelligence.

And Junior? Oh my God. Feral, devoted, filthy, and lowkey romantic in the most chaotic way possible. His obsession with Lauren is intense but never possessive, and the fact that he respects her boundaries even when his heart is screaming? Iconic.

Also, this book is hilarious, tears-running-down-my-face levels of chaotic humour.

I'm obsessed. I want to read it again already. Thank you, Navessa, for this gloriously messy, funny, powerful story.

Absolutely loved this book. Such a unique take on a second chance romance. Perfect balance of spice, plot and banter. Loving this series.

First, thanks NetGalley, Quercus and Navessa Allen for this arc!

After reading Lights Out last month, I was looking forward to read Caught Up and it did not disappoint!
The spice o’meter was through the roof!!! It was very hot😮‍💨🔥

I really liked the characters, their dynamic and how the story was told. They had issues from the past to fix and they managed to do it, not without difficulties. I was glad to see glimpses of Aly and Josh throughout the story!
And the ending with Tyler!!! I cannot wait for his book!

I really recommend it if you liked book 1!

I absolutely loved Lights Out so I’ve been looking forward to Caught Up since it was announced. I started and finished it over the weekend because I could not put it down and I can confidently say I wasn’t disappointed!

The humour was slightly less bonkers in this one but I loved the pining and the will-they-won’t-they tension. I also really enjoyed the cameos from Aly, Josh and Fred. I’m not sure what the author has planned but I can see who might be in the running to take centre stage of a subsequent book.

This book is pure chaos—in the best way. The characters are a total disaster (emotionally and otherwise), but they’re so fun to follow. There’s plenty of sharp humor, a good dose of darkness, and just enough romance to keep your heart in it. Sometimes it goes a little off the rails, but honestly, that’s part of the charm. If you’re into love stories with bite, this one’s a ride.

A second-chance romance that will pull your emotions through the ringer of an addicting read, I couldn’t put Caught Up down. The substance of tension and heat within this book is very-well written and the plot is excellent. A fabulous read for everyone in search of a slightly dark romance.