Lights Out

 

From the first chapter, Lights Out had me captivated. Nevassa’s writing style has a personal touch, and the story just flows effortlessly. It has everything you’d want in a dark romance—twisted characters, sharp banter, sizzling chemistry, and a storyline that pulls you in from page one. And let’s not forget, this story isn’t just about a stalker romance—it’s got depth, humor, and even an unbeatable cat dad!

Meet Josh: Hacker, masked thirst-trap, and sociopath. Josh, our morally gray hero, is trying to live life in the shadows. He’s a hacker genius and a near-carbon copy of his psychopathic (serial killer) father, though he’s hell-bent on proving to himself he’s different. By day, he hides from the world; by night, he transforms into a faceless masked figure who anonymously posts thirst-trap videos, relishing in the anonymity and the admiration of his fans. He’s intense, complex, and completely unhinged in the best way.

And then there’s Aly, a trauma nurse with a twist. Aly spends her days dealing with humanity at its worst. She’s slowly losing herself to her job and spends her free time thirsting over masked men online. When her dark fantasy quite literally walks into her life—well, breaks into her house—she’s caught between terror and excitement. Instead of calling the police, she plots revenge, and their encounters become a deliciously twisted game of cat and mouse.

Their chemistry? Off the charts. Aly’s back-and-forth banter with Josh is witty, funny, and totally addictive. AndJosh’s interactions with her cat? Pure gold. Cat daddy in its finest.

Simple said, they are the Perfect (and slightly unhinged) match. Josh and Aly may be twisted, but they’re perfect for each other. On the one hand, he’s a sociopath who’s broken into her home; on the other, he’s fulfilling the dark fantasy she’s been chasing online for months. She never imagined her online comments would manifest into reality, but now she’s facing the very thing she was asking for. Their connection is intense and unbreakable, with just the right balance of darkness and humor.

And best of all? There’s no unnecessary third-act breakup or dramatic miscommunication— just a dark, thrilling romance that makes total sense for these characters. Their bond is undeniable, and watching them navigate this messed-up connection was a breath of fresh air.

Lights Out takes an unexpected turn about halfway through, evolving from a dark, stalker romance into a spicy murder mystery with mafia intrigue. It’s like two books mashed together, and while the shift felt a bit jarring, it somehow worked. The first half is pure dark romance heaven—stalking, banter, kinks, and fantastic character development. The second half, while still engaging, loses a bit of that initial spark. Some parts felt long, and if it had been trimmed down a bit, it might have hit that perfect 5-star mark for me.

Despite the pacing issues in the second half, Lights Out is still an incredible read (or listen!). It’s dark, funny, and addictive, with unforgettable characters and a unique premise that keeps you glued to the story. Nevassa’s writing style is magnetic, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next book.

Oh, and let me just say this: Lights Out is an absolute must listen as an audiobook. The voice modulator used for the masked, faceless MC? Pure magic. It’s the kind of voice that melts you from the inside out, and I was completely hooked. I had the print copy on hand, and listening with headphones only a couple chapters, but it took the experience to a whole new level. It’s dark, spicy, funny, and all together a great read.