I am at a loss for words to help describe this book. There were so many twists and turns that I had a hard time keeping up with who was part of the conversation, situation, just in general who the characters were. It was beautifully written, just not overall my favorite read, but I guarantee this will hit some one's list as a can't miss.

ARC Review – 3.5⭐️ rounded up

Summary:
Daisy is the golden girl—sweet, obedient, and ready to take the next step in her relationship with her boyfriend, Marcus. But as she tries to step into her own desires, it becomes clear that Marcus’s complicated family—particularly his father Nic and brother Mac —have a grip on her she can’t quite escape. As lines blur and boundaries shift, Daisy’s world gets a whole lot more tangled, emotionally and sexually.

Review:
This book wastes no time getting sultry—the heat level is high and stays there. The erotic scenes are explicit, intense, and frequent, so if that’s your thing, this one delivers.

The point-of-view shifts are really well done—clean, seamless transitions that helped the pacing and deepened the character moments. That said, I had a hard time keeping track of the many characters introduced early on. A family tree or relationship chart at the beginning would’ve gone a long way toward easing that confusion.

I’ll be honest: I’m not entirely sure I understood the full scope of the story—or the layered dynamics between Daisy and Marcus, Mac, and Nic. It felt emotionally complicated in a way that didn’t always clarify itself.

Bottom line: A bold, erotic story that throws you straight into the heat. Great POV work and atmosphere, but the character web is dense and at times confusing. If you like high-heat reads with complex emotional entanglements, this might work for you.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 10%.

This was not the book for me. There was way too much mention and emphasis on the fact that the FMC Daisy was "finally 18". It was super creepy to me and I could not get passed. it.

There is a huge possibility this book was great (especially based on other reviews) but I just don't have it in me to continue when everytime I pick up the book I get the ick.

Yes! What a ride reading this book was. I was intrigued and entertained while reading. Black did a fabulous job crafting this story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The “Reader’s Contract” at the start of this book had me hyped. It promised a passionate, powerful, messy, and “not safe” ride. But when I actually read it? It was messy, just not in a compelling way. It raced through some parts while dragging over insignificant details in others. I felt like I was experiencing a fever dream: who are these people? What’s really happening? And why is Daisy essentially being handed over to Marcus?

I struggled with it, I struggled with the characters, the unfulfilled promises, the plot, and the repetitive writing. It just didn’t deliver the intensity or clarity that the contract promised.

The writing style of this book - mostly stream of consciousness with sudden switching between perspectives - can take a while to get used to and certainly isn't for everyone. Unfortunately I did find it repetitive at times without much character development or plot to balance it.

I think there is potential here though: Daisy's sexual awakening and learning to step into who she is and the reality of sexual chemistry and communication. But it did fall short for me in terms of the 'mystery' and secrets (so much unexplained by the end of the book), inconsistent characters and extra unnecessary details and information that didn't seem to contribute much at all to the plot.

It's likely that the story will be more developed in the rest of the series but there wasn't enough for me in this first book where I could connect with any of the characters nor feel invested in the plot at all.

But if you're here to enjoy a dark spicy read with lots of tension and a FMC coming-of-age struggle - then you might love this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Francesca Black for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! (Sorry for my low rating!)

The Wallflower Book by Francesca Black 🚪👀🥲 - These are my personal reviews.

Rating 1/5 🤦🏻‍♀️- I did not like this. It was too fast in some areas and then proceeded to drag in others. It definitely wasn’t something that made me question everything I’ve ever knew. I found it lacking in so many ways. This one really let me down.

Spice 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Lots of spice. Little to no true romance. If you aren’t a sucker for that sort of story and prefer just spice, look no further.

Overall Review: I didn’t like the FMC or MMC. I didn’t like anyone except Jules, really. This obviously wasn’t what I was expecting. I just kind of felt uncomfortable the whole time. The FMC being attracted to like everybody gave me the ick. She gave me super gross vibes. The MMC just seemed like he knew better than everyone else. The super confusing father situation was off putting. To sum this up, I was just disappointed. There is a lot of meat to the story but most of it is useless information.

Thank you to NetGalley and Francesca Black for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Such mixed feelings on this one! I was super interested to begin with in our fmc's slow spiral of confusion as she begin to question herself and her relationship, but then the last third I felt completely lost. I couldn't tell who I was supposed to be rooting for or where we were at with each relationship.
However this was so binge-able and I flew through it, would definitely want to read book 2 if only toget some closure?? And figure out what's going on omg

3 stars!
Definitely had me hooked. I need to know what behind the doors?! I was confused the majority of this book yet I still really enjoyed it!
So much tension between them all?! Will definitely be continuing this series!

I couldn’t finish The Wallflower by Francesca Black. I DNF’ed it after just hitting the 50% mark because I never felt pulled into the story, nor connected with the writing style.

Although I’m familiar with dark romance tropes, this one fell flat. Despite trying to stay immersed, I simply never got into it, and the dual perspectives did not help—it just made the narrative feel disjointed . Both the male and female leads felt distant and unrelatable, so I had no reason to invest emotionally.

The pacing didn’t do it any favors either. It dragged—too many similar scenes recycled and not enough forward momentum. Rather than building tension, it felt repetitive, like it was spinning wheels but going nowhere .

Ultimately, the writing and character development failed to click with me. I expected intensity and depth, but instead got a shallow setup full of clichés that didn’t resonate. I reached halfway hoping it would “take off,” but it never did. This one wasn’t for me

Well I inhaled this! I don't think I've read anything quite so relentlessly intense as Wallflower.
So much hinted at but not revealed, emotionally devastating, the hottest consent conversation, delicious descriptions, Daddy energy, a sense of freedom and gilded cage, sexual discovery, possessive and creepy.
I adored the writing style! Sharp, precise, emotive.
Will definitely carry on this series for the atmospheric writing but also I need some answers! What's behind the doors??
Thanks to Francesca Black and Netgalley for the arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Read further for my jumbled thoughts on this one (it was that kind of story).

*Black’s writing holds answers and puts things you’ve haphazardly thought here and there into rich prose
*this whole book, I just let myself go with it
*’daddy’ energy-ish *interestingly entwined families
*Chuck’s ‘becoming a man’ speech is 💯 beautiful perfection
*wtf Marcus, I expected better
*I desperately need more of this series
*reading this felt like I was reading a love letter to all women, with our secret thoughts and wants
*Daisy (MFC) will remind you of who you are, or used to be - in ways, her inner voice reminded me of younger me

A debut that will doubtless leave readers wanting more of this series. Recommended.



Thank you to Francesca Black and NetGalley for the DRC

ARC Review of The Wallflower by Francesca Black
* * * * *
An eye opening look into seperate points of view in sex, first times, influence, kinks and the issues of communication in a relationship.

I was not one for the plot or the flow of the story. The wording had an effect on the mood for sure, but I felt it slightly dragged.
The topics that can be focused on in this read really are great issues to focus on, and something that has not been so indepth in other romance books I have come across.

Daisy and Marcus's first time is a major feature in this book. Two seperate people, two points of view on their partners and what they are wanting from their sexual experience.
Daisy is seen by Marcus as innocent and pure and everything he should cherish. Family and friends have already given their direction, advice and orders on what Marcus should focus on during their shared first time, highlighting that certain men are aware and have learned through their own experiences how women should be treated - thank the Lord. However, Marcus is facing his own internal conflict. When it comes to sex, he hides his possessiveness and darkness, believing it will hurt her.
Daisy may be a virgin as much as Marcus, but she is very aware she craves something beyond 'vanilla'. She loves the way Marcus treats her beyond sex, and is very excited to go deeper into their desires. Self aware and seeing a little 'show' from others, her mind and body demand a specific kind of pleasure.
When nerves hit, when expectations aren't met, and when you don't communicate with your partner after one of the biggest experiences you can share together...things will go down hill.

It's hard to put into words how I feel after reading this story.

Confused? Yes. Hooked? Yes. Absolutely want to read the next books in this series.

Such a slow burn with some mind games along the way.

Daisy vs the Holts - Nic, Mac & Marcus

Finishing her last year of school surrounding by these men who determine the rules and she's just there to navigate blindly through them.

I will say the writing style took a bit to get accustomed to and I'm not sure I'm a fan of it but that didn't stop me finishing the book. So that's my reasoning for marking this as a 4 star for me.

Thank you NetGalley & Francesca Black for this read.