Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Caught Up: Into Darkness, Book 2

Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Caught Up: Into Darkness, Book 2 by Navessa Allen

74 reviews

kimberlyyyreads's review against another edition

4.0

dark hopeful 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

Wait y’all,

I truly enjoyed this book more than Lights out…🤭

Exhibition kink perhaps? I plead the fifth.

Lauren & Nico, HOT AF. I’m talking about sheet clenching, legs shaking, jaw on the floor kinda HOT.

I love a good book with a Camgirl FMC, Lauren has the kind of confidence that I need to unlock in my life 🙂‍↕️. I appreciated how this book talked about camming as a serious job. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of stereotypes that portray any kind of sex work as less than but Lauren always advocated for herself and her colleagues work which really made me enjoy this novel.

Nico, Eldest brother, and ex-boyfriend who’s apparently stalked his ex all along because he never stopped loving her, Jr? Catch me in line cause I want him too!

He knew it was her all along and was willing to wait as long as she needed to until she was ready. That’s HOT.

This book is definitely different than Lights Out but not in a bad way. At least in my opinion, it’s original and has some great content.

Thank you Navessa for such a great horny read, May your pillow always be cold and your coffee be made just right for the rest of your days ❤️

Content Warnings

caitlinastrid's review against another edition

3.5

dark funny 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

micaelamariem's review against another edition

3.5

dark funny reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Caught Up by Navessa Allen is the second book in the Into Darkness trilogy and the sequel to Lights Out. I listened to the audiobook of Lights Out a few months ago and really enjoyed the humor of it, so I decided to give the audio for this one a shot too. It didn't hurt that a book club was also reading it.

Caught Upfollows the cousin of the FMC in the first book, Nico "Junior" Trochee, a son stuck in the mob, and his second chance romance with Lauren, a camgirl. Things aren't so easy when Junior's mobster father doesn't approve, however, or when Lauren won't easily forgive Junior for the past. The author, Navessa Allen, is a woman of many trades turned full-time romance author.

As a relatively short read, there isn't a lot of room for the characters to grow, and I'd argue only Junior provides significant character development despite the dual perspective. He learns he can be redeemed and can deserve love. Lauren, on the other hand, seemed nearly self-actualized from the beginning--proud of who she was. I still liked her as a character, but she was pretty static. I adored her friends, who added to the "found family" and provided comic relief. This read wasn't as humorous as the first book, so I appreciated Taylor and Ryan's antics.

While the characters in Caught Up were darker than those of Lights Out, the atmosphere wasn't--nor was it as funny. I think this was mainly where the narrative was liking. I still enjoyed the overall story, but I think it failed to live up to the balance of darkness and humor the first novel had.

I also thought the plot wasn't as thorough as the first book had been. It was very much a "can these two characters forgive each other (or rather forgive him) and move on from the past" type of ordeal, with low stakes. It was a fun read, but I was expecting more shock factor--though I suppose we get that with the play club.

Despite this, I still appreciate Allen's writing style that was accessible and conversational, yet still providing witty banter between characters. In addition, Allen portrayed sex work and kink as something that can be empowering which was a fresh take.

There wasn't much intrigue with the book, other than worrying if the characters will get together, if Junior's father will let them, and if the play club will continue. Which I guess in hindsight is a fair amount of intrigue, especially for a romance. I just didn't find myself glued, wondering what's going to happen because I accepted it all as a foregone conclusion. But again, that's just romance.

I do think the book was a lot more logical and cohesive than the first book. The events that played out, albeit a bit rushed at the end, made sense, and I couldn't see it going any other way.

I really overall enjoyed the book. It wasn't complex, but it was a fun time, and really, isn't that the most important thing?

I think I'd give this book 3.5 stars. I preferred Lights Out, but still had a fun time with Caught Up and the voice actors did a phenomenal job. I appreciated the fresh perspective and the witty side characters. I didn't as much like the stale plot and pacing. But overall, I had fun!

Now beware that the trigger warnings include organized crime, violence, child abuse, and portrays scenes that would need very explicit consent.

Content Warnings

vicky_g12's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

the_wistful_word_witch's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I love how sex positive this book was! And how pro-sex worker it is. Also, the storyline is sort of minimal with with a whole lotta spice. Definite PWP. 😉 But if you're looking for story that's similar to Lights Out, this is not it. It's much darker, as it partly follows Nico's journey to escape the mob.

Lauren and Nico are a couple of dummies. Their big fight just made me wanna bang my head on my desk, lol. Okay, they're obviously wrapped up in the heat of the moment, but COME ON! 😂 Like, she knew he was dangerous and still decided to try to get the drop on him.... And then Nico just letting those words tumble out of his mouth in anger. But the make-up sex was definitely good. 😏

Kasi Hollowell and Teddy Hamilton did a great job on the narration.

I'm hoping we get Tyler's story next, and then the rest of the Trocci brothers' stories. And maybe even a lil flashback novella for Moira and Nico Sr. 😉

Content Warnings