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dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Emilia Rossi/Emerson is a new favorite for me. This is the fourth book I have read by her and I cannot get enough.
I loved Romeo and Juliet's story. I was worried it was going to be cheesy, but it wasn't, at least in my opinion. I loved the focus on mental health and the characters' understanding of Juliet's struggles. I loved that Romeo wasn't afraid to show his emotions to Juliet, and wasn't afraid of her demons. As someone who had/has (but a somewhat better handle on it now) agoraphobia, this was such a good story with such an accurate depiction of what it's like. It was also amazing to see Romeo embrace this with Juliet and not push her out of her comfort zone (which a therapist of mine did recommend to my significant other and that ended about as horribly as you can imagine).
I loved that these characters found a home in each other. I can definitely relate to that feeling. I also loved getting to see Mateo, Sofiya, and Noodle again. The animal side characters actually being present and part of the story always makes me smile. I am eagerly awaiting Sienna and Dimitri's story. I am anxious to see how Mateo handles that one 😂
I loved Romeo and Juliet's story. I was worried it was going to be cheesy, but it wasn't, at least in my opinion. I loved the focus on mental health and the characters' understanding of Juliet's struggles. I loved that Romeo wasn't afraid to show his emotions to Juliet, and wasn't afraid of her demons. As someone who had/has (but a somewhat better handle on it now) agoraphobia, this was such a good story with such an accurate depiction of what it's like. It was also amazing to see Romeo embrace this with Juliet and not push her out of her comfort zone (which a therapist of mine did recommend to my significant other and that ended about as horribly as you can imagine).
I loved that these characters found a home in each other. I can definitely relate to that feeling. I also loved getting to see Mateo, Sofiya, and Noodle again. The animal side characters actually being present and part of the story always makes me smile. I am eagerly awaiting Sienna and Dimitri's story. I am anxious to see how Mateo handles that one 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Trafficking
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Rape, Torture
Minor: Sexual assault, Trafficking, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Romeo & Juliet...what a roller coaster ride for them both but they DESERVE IT!!!! I knew Emilia wouldn't end that without an HEA but the first half of the book my heart couldn't take the slow burn!!! But it was so worth it. Everyone deserves a partner that is obsessed with them but also saves the other from themselves and supports them unconditionally. Definitely my favorite couple in the Empire of Royals series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, Abandonment
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I will never be the same person I was before I read this book and that is a very, very good thing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Trafficking, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia, Stalking, Murder
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual assault
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it until the mafia men come home… Emilia Rossi/Emerson can do no wrong. The creation of Romeo may be at the top of her greatest hits. This book was so wonderful, from beginning to end. From the moment Romeo bursts into the picture (literally) he’s a lover boy and damn does he fall hard. I loved Romeo from His Tesoro, so I was thrilled to see him get his own story and HEA. It was so sweet to see the crew again - with the newest addition, baby Clementine! AND NOODLE, working hard, as always 😇
While this story is so sweet, there are definitely triggers - so if you are someone who needs to review them, please do! I love an author who isn’t afraid to talk about mental health without just glazing over it, and Emilia does it so well.
My favorite character might be Arturo 🙈 I love a side character who stands out!
Anyway, I’ll be shouting about this from the rooftops. And if you love mafia men who fall first (and hard), thrive on taking care of their girl, are overprotective and possessive, rich, with unusually large c*cks who know how to find the clit and get you through a panic attack? Emilia has got you with Romeo and Juliet 🫶🏼 So thankful for another opportunity to advance read for Emilia!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Tropes: Mafia romance, vaguely a Romeo & Juliet retelling, disabled FMC, protective MMC, touch her & d!e, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, praise k!nk, he spoils her
FMC - Juliet: bookstore manager, agoraphobic, previously abused, inner strength, wants to grow & love & explore
MMC - Romeo: Italian Don's second in command, wants someone to love, extremely loyal, secretly sweet
TW: make sure to check (detailed self h@rm)
Wow wow wow. I absolutely ADORED Romeo & Juliet. Somehow, Emilia Rossi was able to use those names for her MCs and not once did it feel cheesy, forced, or contrived. Both characters were illustrated so completely. I wish I could be Juliet's friend and chat about books with her! The way she blooms under Romeo's tutelage?? I adored their dynamic and her healing journey throughout. It would have been so easy for her to continue locking herself away from the world, but she pushes against all of her fears and anxieties, and opens herself up to love and friendship.
I felt every emotion while reading this book. It was a journey from start to finish! Emilia Rossi was able to encapsulate the human experience of trauma, hope, healing, and love so realistically. I felt parts of my own inner hurts healing as I read. Despite the trauma and the inherent dark romance elements of writing a mafia romance, this book was full of sweet and romantic moments. Romeo doesn't posture to Juliet, he immediately gives his kindness, his friendship, and his love. And a lot of gifts!
I also loved how Matteo and Sofiya show up from book 1. They're in it enough to be satisfying without overtaking the plot from Romeo and Juliet. I can't wait to see who gets a book next because I can see multiple ways for the story to continue.
FMC - Juliet: bookstore manager, agoraphobic, previously abused, inner strength, wants to grow & love & explore
MMC - Romeo: Italian Don's second in command, wants someone to love, extremely loyal, secretly sweet
TW: make sure to check (detailed self h@rm)
Wow wow wow. I absolutely ADORED Romeo & Juliet. Somehow, Emilia Rossi was able to use those names for her MCs and not once did it feel cheesy, forced, or contrived. Both characters were illustrated so completely. I wish I could be Juliet's friend and chat about books with her! The way she blooms under Romeo's tutelage?? I adored their dynamic and her healing journey throughout. It would have been so easy for her to continue locking herself away from the world, but she pushes against all of her fears and anxieties, and opens herself up to love and friendship.
I felt every emotion while reading this book. It was a journey from start to finish! Emilia Rossi was able to encapsulate the human experience of trauma, hope, healing, and love so realistically. I felt parts of my own inner hurts healing as I read. Despite the trauma and the inherent dark romance elements of writing a mafia romance, this book was full of sweet and romantic moments. Romeo doesn't posture to Juliet, he immediately gives his kindness, his friendship, and his love. And a lot of gifts!
I also loved how Matteo and Sofiya show up from book 1. They're in it enough to be satisfying without overtaking the plot from Romeo and Juliet. I can't wait to see who gets a book next because I can see multiple ways for the story to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Oh Romeo, you art thou most romantic Mafia man.
And Juliet, she's so sweet and lovely despite all life has thrown at her.
Possibly my favorite Romeo line:
“I need you to listen to me, Juliet. The day I get bored eating your sweet p-$$y… well, you can shoot me in the head.”
Emilia took two people and made them sweet and loving in spite of their traumas. Romeo is not your typical emotionally unavailable Mafia man, and that had me hooked in this story from the beginning.
And Juliet, she's so sweet and lovely despite all life has thrown at her.
Possibly my favorite Romeo line:
“I need you to listen to me, Juliet. The day I get bored eating your sweet p-$$y… well, you can shoot me in the head.”
Emilia took two people and made them sweet and loving in spite of their traumas. Romeo is not your typical emotionally unavailable Mafia man, and that had me hooked in this story from the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt
INFINITY READ
This is a Shakespeare retelling as Mafia romance with tropes like found family, mental health rep, curvy fmc, down bad mmc, and touch her & die.
No joke, I'll read anything this author writes! I have absolutely loved this new mafia romance from page one of the first book and book two hit/surpassed every expectation I had for it!
I love mafia romances with an overprotective and possessive mmc, so this definitely delivered with Romeo as the mmc. We first met Romeo in "His Tesoro" (recommend reading first but definitely can be standalones) and I fell in love with his lighter personality as the enforcer to stoic and strict mafia Don, Matteo. Romeo's jokester side definitely continued in this book, but we got a much deeper look into him and saw that he has a very dark side as well as some trauma pushed far down that causes him to dig himself into a lonely personal life outside the Family.
As for Romeo's fair rose, Juliet was an fmc I related to so much (unfortunately). Her struggles with mental illness and self-harm were very close to my own. It made me feel a tight connection to her from the moment she appeared on page. I especially loved, though, how the author had her sparky and bratty personality shine through even when Juliet thought of herself as nothing more than broken. We as the reader got glimpses of more and it was so beautiful to read Juliet's journey with healing and seeing herself in the way both we and Romeo (and other characters) do.
The chemistry between these two was fire! I loved how it was a slow burn but at same time didn't feel like it, if that makes sense? Slow on them actually being together, but the tension and yearning was so much that I didn't even notice! Romeo and Juliet are very much a ying/yang couple and that dynamic served both of them so well -- Romeo brought love, family, and laughter into Juliet's self-doubt darkness & Juliet brought calm and light into Romeo's self-imposed darkness from his line of work. They both had trauma to process and the way they helped each other made me feel so much love!
Overall, I cannot recommend this book (and series) enough! The way the side characters (especially main characters from book one) were utilized really make you feel the found family aspect and the morally grey parts from the mafia setting were perfect for me. Even better - no 3rd act breakup, just a badass 3rd act saving!
I cannot wait for the future books in this series and to dive further into more characters' lives and personalities! Thank you a million Emilia for the chance to read early with the e-ARC. Review is my own opinion.
This is a Shakespeare retelling as Mafia romance with tropes like found family, mental health rep, curvy fmc, down bad mmc, and touch her & die.
No joke, I'll read anything this author writes! I have absolutely loved this new mafia romance from page one of the first book and book two hit/surpassed every expectation I had for it!
I love mafia romances with an overprotective and possessive mmc, so this definitely delivered with Romeo as the mmc. We first met Romeo in "His Tesoro" (recommend reading first but definitely can be standalones) and I fell in love with his lighter personality as the enforcer to stoic and strict mafia Don, Matteo. Romeo's jokester side definitely continued in this book, but we got a much deeper look into him and saw that he has a very dark side as well as some trauma pushed far down that causes him to dig himself into a lonely personal life outside the Family.
As for Romeo's fair rose, Juliet was an fmc I related to so much (unfortunately). Her struggles with mental illness and self-harm were very close to my own. It made me feel a tight connection to her from the moment she appeared on page. I especially loved, though, how the author had her sparky and bratty personality shine through even when Juliet thought of herself as nothing more than broken. We as the reader got glimpses of more and it was so beautiful to read Juliet's journey with healing and seeing herself in the way both we and Romeo (and other characters) do.
The chemistry between these two was fire! I loved how it was a slow burn but at same time didn't feel like it, if that makes sense? Slow on them actually being together, but the tension and yearning was so much that I didn't even notice! Romeo and Juliet are very much a ying/yang couple and that dynamic served both of them so well -- Romeo brought love, family, and laughter into Juliet's self-doubt darkness & Juliet brought calm and light into Romeo's self-imposed darkness from his line of work. They both had trauma to process and the way they helped each other made me feel so much love!
Overall, I cannot recommend this book (and series) enough! The way the side characters (especially main characters from book one) were utilized really make you feel the found family aspect and the morally grey parts from the mafia setting were perfect for me. Even better - no 3rd act breakup, just a badass 3rd act saving!
I cannot wait for the future books in this series and to dive further into more characters' lives and personalities! Thank you a million Emilia for the chance to read early with the e-ARC. Review is my own opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Trafficking