Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc.

Red by S. Belle is an emotional and suspenseful dark romance that blends forbidden love, family expectations, and morally gray characters into a compelling story. Arielle Rhodes appears to have the perfect life on the surface, but beneath her carefully crafted image is a woman struggling to be seen for who she truly is. When she meets Royce Cooper, a powerful and guarded businessman with demons of his own, their connection feels both inevitable and dangerous.

What makes this story stand out is the depth of the characters. Arielle's journey toward self-acceptance is just as engaging as the romance, while Royce's protective nature and emotional walls make him a captivating antihero. The mafia undertones, family conflicts, and suspenseful elements add tension without overshadowing the relationship at the heart of the novel. While some of the drama can feel a bit drawn out, the chemistry, emotional stakes, and character growth make Red a rewarding read. Fans of darker romances with flawed characters and plenty of angst will likely find themselves invested from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed this one overall, especially the characters and the dynamic between Arielle and Royce. Their connection had a great push and pull to it, and I liked watching them slowly break through each other’s walls. Royce’s emotional distance paired really well with Arielle’s struggles, and their relationship had plenty of tension and chemistry without the romance completely taking over the story.

One thing I really appreciated was Arielle’s characterization. The representation of bipolar disorder felt genuinely thought through and woven into the way she experiences and processes her emotions rather than feeling like a label added for the sake of representation. That made her feel much more like a real, complicated person to me, and I appreciated the care that went into it.

The story itself kept me interested with plenty of twists, tension, and drama, although I did feel like the pacing was a little rushed in places. Some developments happened so quickly that I occasionally found myself going back to make sure I hadn't missed something. I think slowing down some of those moments would have given the characters and their relationship more room to breathe.