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

Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Caught Up: Into Darkness, Book 2 by Navessa Allen

62 reviews

frawst_disasta_reads's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I want to start off by saying the three narrators, ESPECIALLY KACI, did a phenomenal job. They poured so much emotion into this book and even when I wanted to throw the book (metaphorically speaking, since I had the audio), they drew me back into the story.

This book handled sex work SO beautifully. Sure, they’re faced with discrimination and stigma, but there are the truly beautiful sides and support from their community. Lauren’s roommates were two beautiful souls and I am grateful Ryan, the nonbinary character, received their own voice.

My one main issue with this book is how Junior felt unoriginal. Josh from book one was funny and supportive and I couldn’t help but love him. Junior gave me a headache at times. But I still really enjoyed the book and I loved the ending.

Content Warnings

fanboyriot's review against another edition

5.0

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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

Hilarious and filled with all the dark romance vibes a person could ask for. I really enjoyed Lauren’s friends and all their banter not to mention Taylor’s choice of a weapon when she thought someone was breaking in, iconic 😂. There were so many moments of comfort with this book and at times it felt like being apart of their found family and I was all the way here for it.

Nico (Junior) was just as amazing as Lauren. They were really such a well balanced couple and seeing their history it was an entertaining read to see how things progressed when the odds weren’t in their favor.

Also Lauren’s grandmother was a total icon and I loved her comments so much. And of course, I loved the mentions of Aly and Josh and their children (the cats). Josh being a friend to Junior was hilarious and oddly wholesome.

This book definitely lived up to the high hype I had for it! I even got the audiobook on Libby to follow along as I annotated the paperback. The narrators did an amazing job!!

Read For

✓ Found Family

✓ Amazing Friends

✓ Stalker Romance

✓ Sex Work (Positive)

✓ Childhood Crush to Lovers

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Sad Level: 💧

Plot: 10/10

Pace: 10/10

Ending: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Enjoyability: 10/10

Writing Style: 10/10

Would I Recommend? Yes

Favorite Character: Nico and Lauren

Favorite Quote: ❝ "You can't hit on your employee, you ho bag. It's unethical." ❞

POV: Duel, First Person

Pages: 342

Format: Paperback

Language: English

Release Date: 10, June 2025

Rep/Extras: Sex work (positive), Non-binary (side character)

Content Warnings

coco78337's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

juperson's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

Content Warnings

perfumedpossum's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark 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: Yes

This was a highly anticipated read (or listen, I guess) for me! I want to give Nico and Lauren the credit they deserve while saying if you expect them to be Aly and Josh 2.0, you will be disappointed. Caught Up feels a little darker, despite touching on less heavy subject matter and still having its funny moments. I’m usually not a mafia girly and was surprised at how much I enjoyed that aspect. I loved all the supporting characters, especially Junior’s family. Fingers crossed Junior’s brothers get their own books in the future. I thought Lauren and Nico’s chemistry was good…but not great. Nico’s chapters held my attention but I found myself wanting to rush through Lauren’s and becoming irritated with her for getting upset when her mob boyfriend did, I dunno, mob shit? The character felt underdeveloped, and besides being a cam girl and having a bad dad, I doubt I could tell you anything I just read about her. Nevertheless, still a four star read and Navessa remains the reigning queen of morally grey MMCs.

Content Warnings

chronic_listener's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

this gets so much shit for being different from Lights Out but that doesn't mean it's bad? chill, people
I found this super entertaining and bingeable and really enjoyed the sex positivity + character development. we love a mmc down bad

Content Warnings

winchesterm89's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional funny 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: Complicated

This was a fun, spicy book. It avoided the sophomore slump. I actually prefer this over the first book. I like the focus on destigmatizing sex work and the inclusion of queer characters who felt well-rounded instead of plot points. I like that Nico walked away from toxic masculinity he was exposed to so he could be a better partner to Lauren. I love that Lauren’s biggest cheerleader was her 80 year old grandma who did not use “growing up in different time” as an excuse for being a bigot. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series (the epilogue sets up a possible third book for a douchey gym bro who may secretly have a heart of gold).

Content Warnings

honeybeewitched87's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

Content Warnings

jessanicolesingh's review against another edition

4.5

dark funny tense medium-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

Second in the Into Darkness series, this highly anticipated book exceeded my expectations! While still a dark rom-com, the novel didn't have quite the same tone as Lights Out, mostly because of the difference in the character's personalities. As much as I loved Josh in the first book, I was relieved and appreciative that it didn't feel like a copy & pasted MMC and made for a good separation between the two books. This book was also a lot more explorative in the world of kinks, identities and orientations than its predecessor, creating a very sex positive message. The buildup of sexual tension between Lauren, by far the most confident FMC I've ever read, and Nico, previously sheltered by his rather misogynistic mafia upbringing, blossomed at the perfect rate.

I am very intrigued to see where the final installation of this trilogy goes, with the brief setup of Tyler & Stella’s introduction in the final pages.

Content Warnings

cedar_salt_citrine's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional funny hopeful 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

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