Lights Out: An Into Darkness Novel: 1 (Into Darkness Series)

I ABSOLUTELY love this book. I am midly dyslexic so I suck at reading, but I found this book easy to read, and I found myself reading several chapters a day, listening to the audiobook, too, and excited for every new chapter comping, and the book is very pretty. The characters are interesting, have personality, funny, and I found not always too unrealistic. I found myself smiling, gasping, and laughing throughout the whole book and as much as there are ‘intense’ themes, there are also some nicer moments too and focus on the overall plot and not just ‘action’. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark romance, romance-coms, and are very interested in the different POVS of characters. I like that you get to see both characters POV and it felt like a movie I could imagine. Only downfall I would say is for some who enjoy lots of detail on what is going on outside of the characters, this book is more focused on the thoughts feelings and actions of the main characters, but you also do get good glimpse of the world around them too. I will be reading again and am onto the second one🩷

I admit to not being a fan of many tropes in dark romantasy. Stalker fantasies leave me cold, and lack of consent I find repulsive and depressing. But given this genre's popularity I've been trying more and coming up unimpressed each time. But not with this book. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty here I didn't like. It starts with a stalker fantasy for one, the plot was stretching the limits of my belief to begin with and just went into fully overboard unbelievable in the middle (why is everyone in dark fiction connected to the Mafia/is a super hacker?) so there was plenty I was sighing at, but what I would say is that the main characters save this book and make it special. The romance between the main characters is wonderful, after a rocky start it's a perfect blend of pain and pleasure, demonstrating that sex and relationships dont need to be conventional or always gentle to work, reminding me of The Secretary, which remains one of my favourite films. The main characters themselves are self-aware, traumatized people who find comfort and redemption in their kinks and relationship and once it all became fully consentual (not far into the book, actually, which was reassuring) I was onboard. Both main characters are strong, interesting people with flaws and a dark sense of humour, and I was so relieved by Aly, the woman, because she was not (as I have read in other books) some terrified, pathetic, conventional damsel in distress flailing about uselessly, but a woman of courage, conviction and with layers to her personality. This book has a lot of dark humour, which is fine but I didn't really find it lol funny, and there's certainly some areas pressing on the morally dubious. But my biggest issue with dark romantasy is always consent, and although there's some pretty murky moments with this at the beginning, this issue is resolved fast. To me, at least, consenting adults getting up to whatever they want is fine, but remove the consent and you're into territory which I don't find dark, novel and exciting but rather conventional, historic and depressing. For thousands of years women had very few rights over consent, being given away in marriage or otherwise with no reference to their wishes, so dark romantasy harking back to that is just dull and depressing, imho. The trouble is some people seem to think it's novel, new and exciting, which depresses me even more. So this book was a shining star to me in this trip I've made into dark romantasy, and I recommend it highly. A truly interesting tale, great main characters, and I'll be looking for more from this author who seems to understand the nuances of a relationship which pushes boundaries, explores bdsm, and travels to dark places certainly, but is respectful and loving at the same time, and never ends in abuse. Good work!

I added this to my TBR from a book group recommendation ages ago and had completely forgotten everything about it so went in blind. To be honest, I was a little put off by the ‘TikTok’s favourite’ because the last time I read a ‘TikTok’s favourite’ it was absolute trash! At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it as the MMC is so different to your normal dark romance, brooding bad boy. Turned out that’s what makes this book so good! It’s the lightest of dark romances really, it gets a little dark but it’s all done with full consent, respect, friendship and humour. It’s like the author read a bunch of dark romances and thought ‘what would a relationship like this be like in real life? If you could have the kink but safely with someone who wasn’t a walking red flag?!’ It’s still spicy and hot but also funny, realistic and a (mostly) healthy relationship. It’s really well written, no typos or mistakes (that I noticed), a good plot outside of the relationship that complements the romance rather than detracting from it. Lots of humour without being silly. Really likeable and well developed characters whilst managing to avoid the usual stereotypes and cliches. I really loved this book and can’t wait to read everything else the author has ever written!

I bought this book after a friend read it and recommended it..I hadn't heard of it before nor have I seen hype about it as I'm not on TikTok. I initially refused because the premise didn't seem like something I would enjoy (not a fan of the stalker-trope being romanticised). But eventually I gave in because I'm too curious. This was an easy read and strangely addictive, especially in the first half of the book. I listened to the audio book while reading along and I think that improved my experience, the voice actor for Josh was excellent and seemed to really bring his narration to life. The characters: The book follows Aly and Josh, with alternating chapter POVs. Overall they were both relatively well written, but they did come across a bit samsie with their voice and their thoughts. Aly Out of the two, hers were probably the more boring and I think her character could have done with a bit more focus to work out why she was into the things she was into. We don't really get an explanation except for Josh's assumption somewhere in the latter half of the book. She even says herself it was a recent kink she developed and couldn't understand it herself. Which just fell a bit flat. I didn't need an explanation for her kink, but her recognising it was something she had always been into would have been sufficient. The recent development plus the lack of explanation was what made it feel more forced for the sake of the story. She does make some questionable choices when confronted with a break in and I think the author needed to decide if Aly was actually afraid. Because Aly often said she was but then didn't behave this way, making me believe it was more anticipation or excitement than fear and the word "fear" was used to grip the reader. It didn't really work for me. Josh I found Josh to be more well developed. His backstory is explored throughout the book so you get an idea of what's going on in his head quite well. You can also understand why he behaves the way he does and a lot of his nervousness at the beginning is well written, in my opinion. He thinks he needs someone dark, because that's how he sees himself and experiments how much Aly is into it via the stalking. From his point of view, his actions make sense. He is humourous and a bit of a softie as well, which just makes him endearing. He did some across as a bit of "Gary Stu" in that he is described as handsome, physically flawless (with rippling muscles, mysterious tattoos and of course a huge dick), kind and considerate, smart and funny. So... His flaws are that he is a control freak and a mother hen... Which aren't the worst "flaws" The Plot (spoilers ahead) Let me start with the main problem: premise. I believe the synopsis of the book to be rather misleading in this regard when it mentions a threat to Aly. This isn't really the case. Despite being told by her supervisor not to, Aly goes to treat a rapist at the hospital to "get him out of the hospital as soon as possible". She's angry about it, even though a male nurse would have been able to do it if she'd just taken over his emergency instead, and the rapist, Brad, provokes her into snapping at him. This just felt like a forced way to bring some tension, as at this point (about halfway) we know Aly is into Josh so there's no real tension there anymore. The next day, Brad breaks into her house (while Josh is there), in possession of a "kill kit" and Josh knocks him out with one punch. That's it. That's the extent of Brad's stalking and we end up finding out that he just searched her address online and was actually more obsessed with a different nurse (one he never got the chance to attack). The unconscious Brad is chloroformed (with his own chloroform) and gagged by Josh, who, despite being described and shown as a super smart guy, tapes over his nose and mouth, thus accidentally suffocating him while they drive his presumed unconscious body to his last victim's family's house to let them finish him off. That's the climax of the book. It happens halfway through the story. It's a bit insane that the second half of the book is essentially dedicated to the resolution. This is where the mob get involved because Aly's uncle is in the mob and they go to his place when they realise Brad is, in fact, dead. I have seen reviews that find the reaction of Josh and Aly to finding Brad's dead body unbelievable. I didn't. Josh, the traumatised, abused son of a serial killer, but still a decent, rather kind guy pukes his guts out knowing he's killed. His fear is becoming like his dad and that comes across well here when he thinks it's the first step down that path. Aly is pretty indifferent about him being dead. I gotta say, if this happened to me I would probably feel the same way if my would-be rapist-and-killer was accidentally murdered before he could attack me. So I didn't find it unbelievable or messed up, just that she's an unforgiving person (which is where her interaction with Josh earlier in the story needed work, because she just forgives him despite being "afraid" - at least if she registered she was into it and more excited (as she does ask him to break into her house) then we would know he doesn't need to be forgiven). The mob: This solely takes place in the resolution phase (or, the second half) of the book. And it's really just the mob cleaning up what Aly and Josh have done and mildly threatening Josh, who threatens them back. I guess this was meant to lead to the actual climax of the book (a family dinner where Nico, Aly's mob uncle, starts to threaten Josh, only for Josh to blackmail him and threaten him right back). But this is the final chapter (minus the epilogue) so doesn't fit your standard storyline structure. We also find out that a character Aly mentions in passing as working at the hospital and being a member of the mob is actually her cousin and she got him the job. That would have been a good time to foreshadow that a bit better in the earlier mention of him. But anyway.. The epilogue: This is longer than most of the chapters and accounts for two of the trigger warnings. It was a long scene that could have been cut completely in my opinion or even shortened to the last two pages. Pacing: The glaringly obvious lack of a climax / a premature climax throws the pacing of this book off. The first half is pretty good. We do get a weird subplot where Aly enlists Josh to help her track her "Stalker" (Josh's alter ego, known as the Faceless Man) and instantly knows Josh and The Faceless Man are the same person. But there's this clever sideline where Josh was careful with his DNA and that all falls flat and acts only to tell Aly that he's the son of a serial killer (something she didn't know because she doesn't watch True Crime). I have a few problems with this 1) It feels like it was just a chance for Aly to fancy Josh while his alter ego was messing with her 2) It subverted expectations when Josh went to such extreme lengths to convince Aly he wasn't the Faceless Man 3) If Josh's dad was so infamous and likened to Bundy and Dahmer, Aly must have seen his face. Josh is described as looking identical to his father. But because Aly "isn't into True Crime" she doesn't recognise Josh. It just had me questioning if his dad was that well known or not. The second half is slow and basically revolves around covering their tracks about Brad's murder and carrying on with their sex-obsessed relationship. A bit boring really as there's no tension anymore. With that said, it was, as I've mentioned, a very easy read. And if you just want to escape into a different story this is quite a good book to do that. Yes, it's not perfect. If you look into how the book came to be, you can also explain the plotholes and random storyline progression, it just would have been nice if these issues were fixed before it was printed and sold. Like, actually dumping an unconscious Brad at the other house only to learn someone is still messing with Aly and trying to work out if Brad was dead or not. That would have kept it going, could have involved the mob storyline still for them to help Aly work it out, and would have kept the tension. Or even have it not be Brad. Something. Anything that meant we didn't have a 200 page resolution. Note: Scanning through some of the negative reviews, it looks like a large portion of them could have been avoided if the person had read what this book was: i.e. an adult fiction stalker-to-lover dark romance. So please do look into the story before you buy it, it's not the author's fault if you don't check the synopsis or trigger warnings before buying.

Good book really liked it. Worth the read. Is it the best dark romance book ive ever read no, but it is an enjoyable quick read. I like the MC banter.

I really enjoyed this book! The duet narration audiobook was so good to listen to this dark stalker rom com. I loved both main characters and they definitely complimented each other throughout the story. The FMC Aly is extremely hard working, feisty, stubborn, sassy, quick-witted, honest and brave. The MMC Josh is an extremely good computer whizz and hacker who is funny, flirty, sexy, observant, smart and carries a level of dominance to make your knees quiver. I really liked the plot as it was entertaining and gripping. The balance of the plot and smut is great and I loved the humour throughout. I think it's well written, funny and exciting. It is steady to fast-paced in parts, which is great for the storyline and delivers a great amount of emotions throughout. I love the games they play with each other, stimulating their adrenaline and desire for each other. In my opinion, this is a great start if you want to dip your toe into darker romance books. I would HIGHLY recommend it! I am really glad that I have discovered this author. I look forward to reading the next book within this series.

4.5 ⭐️ 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. And Josh’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.

perfect intro into dark romance, it’s not too dark but it’s a good starter point for people who want to ease their way into dark romance. Brilliant book and storyline.

The book was in good condition and I had so much fun reading it! Even though I probably would have called the police the first chance I got if this ever happened to me, this book is hot and the funny scenes, the banter... I lived for it! Here's to hoping I'll find more books like this in the future!

⭐ Lights Out ⭐ 5 Stars | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ This was the perfect palate cleanser. I went in expecting a dark romance and came out smiling through almost the entire book. The combination of humor, romance, and spice worked so much better than I expected. Josh completely stole the show for me. His inner monologue is hilarious, and despite the premise, he somehow manages to be one of the most lovable MMCs I’ve read in a long time. The chemistry between the main characters is fantastic, and even during serious moments the story never loses its sense of fun. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — very spicy, but balanced with strong character chemistry and plenty of humor. ⭐ 5 stars Funny, addictive, sweet, spicy, and exactly the kind of book that can pull you out of a reading slump. 😍📚

Il libro mi è piaciuto molto, interessante, accattivante, originale. Mi sono innamorata anche io di Josh! Non credo sia indicato a un pubblico adolescente, per via dei contenuti e della scene esplicite. Tuttavia, da adulta, l'ho decisamente apprezzato e non vedo l'ora di leggere gli altri due libri.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (because 5 stars just aren’t enough) 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Please, please check the trigger warnings before diving in. This book goes deep and handles heavy themes. That said… Wow. Lights Out by Navessa Allen wasn’t just good; it was an all-consuming, heartbreaking, sexy, heartwarming, and surprisingly funny rollercoaster. This book had everything. Dark, deep, intense, and still made me laugh? Perfection. Josh… swoons. A brand new top-tier book boyfriend, no doubt. Whew, I had to fan myself with the book. 🔥 And Aly? An absolute powerhouse. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I adored her. What really takes this book to the next level is the character development. The backgrounds and emotional journeys of both Josh and Aly are so raw and well-crafted that you can’t help but fall for them, scars and all. Navessa Allen created something truly special with this one. I’m obsessed. 💥

Lights Out by Navessa Allen Genre: Dark Stalker Romcom, 18+ My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ • TW: Sexually explicit scenes, stalking, mention of (off-page) rp3, child abuse (remembered), medical content, blood and gore, discussion of mental health, limited description of mass shooting, mention of serial killers and their crimes, invasion of privacy, home invasion, death, death of a parent, breath play, knife play, gun play, fear play, primal play, mask play, consensual dubious consent. See book for full list. • Here it is at last—my first five star read of the year. Lights Out by Vanessa Allen was truly a delightful read that had me from the start. It is the most fun I’ve had with a contemporary dark romance in a long time. It was funny, engaging and entertaining. Both the FMC and MMC, Aly and Josh, were a delight to get to know. I genuinely enjoyed watching their relationship blossom into something more than just an obsession. I also want to mention the true crime aspect of the story. It tied so well into not only the plot, but the characters themselves. It offered unique challenges, and allowed the reader to see a new side to the characters that we might not have gotten otherwise. The true crime really helped to round out the story as whole, and it’s something I wouldn’t mind seeing other dark romances do. Now the spice. THE SPICE! I said it before, but I’m going to say it again, Navessa Allen writes smut of the highest calibre. You know the book is going to be spicy, but boy does it deliver! There is nothing vanilla about what goes on between Aly and Josh, and I am here for it. If dark romance is your jam, DO NOT WAIT to read this book. Get your hands on it ASAP! You won’t be disappointed. Thanks again to @navessa.allen for letting me be an ARC reader. It was an absolute pleasure. 🖤