The Wallflower
Book I of The Wallflower Series
by Francesca Black
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Pub Date 21 Jun 2025 | Archive Date 31 Dec 2025
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Description
“You can’t raise a girl in a glass house and expect her not to notice the cracks.”
Daisy Madden has always been the quiet one. The good girl. The one who watches everything from the sidelines.
But when she moves into Holt Manor for her final year of school, the game changes. The men in this house—the golden boy she’s always loved, the brother who terrifies her, and the enigmatic man at the center of it all—don’t just see her. They study her. They stir something in her she’s spent her whole life trying to bury.
As secrets unravel and desires sharpen, Daisy must confront the she was never meant to stay on the sidelines. She was made to play. But the rules? They're not hers.
And the price of curiosity is always the same.
A slow-burn psychological romance for readers who crave tension, power dynamics, and spirals they can’t escape.
If you loved A Court of Silver Flames, Babel, or The Secret History, this book was written for you.
A Note From the Publisher
Review Reminders: Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub are immensely appreciated.
Author Note: Thank you for reading—this story is personal, layered, and meant to spiral. I hope you feel something real.
Advance Praise
“Wants to stay right here, in this crack of light. In the space between change, before whatever’s coming next.”
Well, for hours I couldn’t find the right angle to write about this book... So this will be exactly how it comes.
It’s the first book in a series, and I won’t spoil anything.
I want to stay with my very first impression, because there are no other words to describe this book: WILD. PSYCHOLOGICAL. ICE. SHOWER.
The blurb didn’t prepare me. At all.
Sometimes I crave a good, dark, spicy romance to refresh my mind. The best way is to pick an ARC: no reviews, no spoilers, just a fresh start. And a debut? Even better! No background.
And so I picked this one. With a smile on my face I read the first bit - the ‘reader’s contract’ and thought, hell yeah, this will be fun. But the deeper I got, the more my smile dropped and not because I didn’t like it, but because I was in awe of it.
The way it’s written… hard to describe. As someone who rarely enjoys third-person POV, I have to say: this is one of those times it works perfectly. You can see and feel every character at once. It’s like traveling through bodies by magic, while watching the whole room through your own eyes, through a microscope. There’s not much dialogue, but when words do come, they hit in exactly the right place at the right time. The narration is detailed, so the dialogue feels like a climax.
Sometimes it reads like poetry. Like a secret diary. A whisper. Experience. Erotic.
I have a tiny hope that in the printed version, all the words, lines, and spaces stay exactly as they are - because this form holds its magic.
This world is dark, seductive, inviting, cryptic. No chapters of history lessons - just minimal hints, just enough to lead you deeper. And still, you’re blindfolded.
The story is about Daisy. Turning eighteen. A young woman wanting ‘things’ to happen. Finding the parts of herself that scare her. Challenges. Finding the doors that invite her. Again and again.
All those things could live inside any woman, at any age. What do You desire? What do You feel? Can You be honest with yourself, or with someone else?
I feel like this story says: Keep digging. Find Your true desires. Maybe keep it just for you, like a confession.
What stood out to me is how women are described here and how the men are written, too. These male characters are still mysteries, distant enigmas with a power far deeper. This can be a wake-up call for women. And a lesson for men. Though honestly, I want some of those lessons for myself.
This psychological way of telling the story shows Why we crave dark and spicy romance - how it builds, how it breaks you open.
And to rate the spice level… Yes, there is an open-door scene, but the whole book is so intimate, so thick with sexual tension, hunger, lust, and raw, painful wanting that the system just… doesn’t work here.
My suggestion: don’t try to chase the plot. Look deeper. Take your time and think between the lines.
The other books in the series are coming soon too, and I feel like a starving celibate waiting for them.
I got this ARC via @Booksirens, and I cannot wait to see what’s behind those other doors. For Daisy. For me.
⭐5/5
🌶️?/5
Dark Romance ∙ Psychological Thriller ∙ Forbidden Love ∙ Obsession ∙ Slow Burn ∙ Good Girl ∙ Hot & Steamy ∙ 18+/Trigger Warnings"
- Dark Bedroom Books (102 reviews)
Marketing Plan
Launch Date: June 21, 2025 (Books 1–3)
Format: eBook, Paperback, and Audiobook (Audible)
Promotions:
• NetGalley ARC distribution
• Goodreads and Amazon review push
• Influencer outreach via Instagram and BookTok
• Targeted launch campaign via author newsletter
• Author website, www.francescablack.com, updated for launch
• Amazon KDP keywords and metadata optimized for high-traffic romance and thriller terms.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798286832866 |
| PRICE | US$4.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 454 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1554865
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.
Michelle S, Reviewer
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
Reviewer 1117540
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.
The Dragon Den B, Reviewer
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.
Kelly P, Reviewer
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.
Reviewer 1665467
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.
Reviewer 1693313
Still reeling from this story and I could not put it down. I had to immediately get book 2 and keep going. I’m not quite sure what I read but I was hooked. I finished in one night .
Kate T, Reviewer
a sharp and intense read this doesn't hold back right from the start. its intense and you are tense as just where this will go and what each characters is about to bring to the table. people are complex and this is ever present in this novel. there is a shade of unease in this book, every time i came back to it i felt a little unsure and as you are taken deeper into the story and roles within it you get more emotionally thoughtful on what you are reading. it certainly stirred the pot for me and definitely warrants its psychological definition.
this book is about Daisy who is just becoming an adult in age. but she is eager. eager for it all to begin. shes frightened of the things she wants but also wants it to come right this minute. what is her role. does she want to play it. and is this for others and if not who exactly is she? can you play a role but also be yourself. be light and shade for others because thats right but also be true to you? should you always bend or never?
i will say the start of this book gave it such added buzz. you are in. you are invested. you are intrigued. you feel like you are in this silent room watching the characters in a muted far off way. but also you are somehow so crisply and cleanly aware of whats going on. then next minute you are right there knowing what each character is doing,feeling. its such a skill that the author has given us this scope on every scene she sets for us.
the layout also adds to how its read and how you as a reader takes it.
this whole book feels thick with something. but i think that every reader will read it an negotiate just how it feel for them. to them. and what they take from it. i cant quite pin point my feelings. i cant quite pin point the book or characters. and somehow i love that.
Cindie B, Reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of The Wallflower in exchange for my honest review!
This book was such a lovely surprise. The Wallflower is the kind of slow-burn, emotional romance that sneaks up on you in the best way. Francesca Black does an incredible job capturing the feeling of being overlooked—of being the quiet one in the room—and turning it into something strong, soft, and powerful.
The main character is relatable, awkward, and endearing, and her growth throughout the book was beautiful to witness. I loved watching her come into her own. The romance felt sweet, yet simmering, with just enough tension to keep me flipping the pages.
This isn’t a flashy, over-the-top story—it’s heartfelt, cozy, and real. If you’re a fan of underdog heroines, second chances, and emotionally rich storytelling, this one’s worth picking up.
#TheWallflowerSeries #NetGalley #FrancescaBlack #BookReview #WallflowerRomance #ARCReview #RomanceBooks #SlowBurnRomance #EmotionalReads #RomanceReaders #UnderratedReads #eARC
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