A review by _fiendfyre_books
Madness by Jack Whitney

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Madness: A Young Decay Novel by Jack Whitney

Blurb

ANDI For a decade, l've managed to dodge getting assigned to photograph my brother's rock band, Young Decay. That is until one of our photographers tries to get a photo of the band's most elusive and private member. It's only for ten days. Just long enough to capture their Halloween homecoming show run and while they find a permanent replacement. I'm set for home, thinking I can avoid all the fears going home comes with. Fears that l've been running from for years now. I expect the darkness of the past to dig its claws into me and threaten never to let go. However, I don't expect to find someone who sees my darkness not as a flaw but as another beautiful part of who I am. And I especially don't expect that someone to be my brother's best friend, Young Decay's masked bassist, Mads Tourning. Or as I know him... Maddox Keynes MADDOX Since Young Decay's early days, my privacy has been a part of me l've clung to. I'm used to wearing the mask day in and day out, hiding myself from anyone who might want a glimpse. They don't expect to find a monster running from his past, hoping people will forget he even exists. Yet, here I am heading home for our band's Halloween homecoming run. I'm ready to shed my mask and finally breathe a little in front of the people who took me in as a kid, and even to see the woman l've had a crush on for a decade. I never expected to one day have her in my arms, to share the darkest corners of my soul with. And now that I have her... I'll do anything to keep her. Even if it means losing everything.

Spoiler Free Review

4/4 ⭐️ 4/5 🌶️

I received an ARC for Jack Whitney’s newest book Chaos which in turn made me want to obviously read this first. This was my first time reading a novel by Jack Whitney.

The plot was good! Had me hooked the entire time. And the spice was 😏. There was so much to take in reading this novel. And the characters were written well! I loved the depth both Maddox and Andi had.

Another thing I loved about this is how it takes place around Halloween. And if anyone knows me Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday. So bonus points for that 😉. 

Tropes:

Rockstar romance
Brother's best friend
Slight reverse age gap
Hidden identity
"Who did this to you?"
Trauma Bonding

Triggers:

Graphic depictions of assault
domestic abuse
death
stories of childhood abuse
past trauma
suicide / self-harm
explicit sex scenes including breath play, masks, and bondage.