Lights Out, But My Love for This Book Is Eternal

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.

Trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality.

I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.

Josh Hammond has spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer.

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with.

Lights Out is a fast-paced dark romance with a morally gray male lead. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book.

Lights Out is the absolutely perfect introduction to the shades of black world of the dark romance genre. Within its pages, you will find the perfect amount of sizzling spice, clever comedy, an intriguing plot, and of course, delicious romance. This delightful concoction kept me both captivated and entertained from start to finish!

Characters: 9/10

Aly and Josh felt authentic, each with their own motivations, flaws, and growth. While they were well-developed, I do wish they had bit more depth, and romantic chemistry, but overall, they made the journey worthwhile.

Atmosphere: 10/10

From the very first page, the setting pulled me in completely. The author crafted an immersive environment with rich sensory details, creating a world that felt tangible and alive. Whether it was the tension of a winter storm, the sterility of the hospital, or the darkness of Josh’s thirst trap videos, every scene was vivid and emotionally charged.

Writing Style: 10/10

Flawless! I have nothing more to say on the matter.

Plot: 9/10

The storyline was fun and well-structured, kept me engaged from start to finish. It was a bit predictive and cliche, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment.

Intrigue: 10/10

Lights Out had an irresistible pull—I couldn't put it down! Every chapter left me wanting more.

Logic: 10/10

The internal logic of the story was airtight. Character decisions felt realistic, plot developments made sense within the established rules, and there were no glaring inconsistencies. Everything aligned beautifully, allowing the narrative to flow smoothly without disruption.

Enjoyment: 10/10

I’ve had a difficult time finding a Dark Romance book that I enjoy. That said, Lights Out is a masterpiece! This book delivered an incredibly rewarding experience. It provided everything I could want in a great read. I’ll definitely be first in line for the sequel when it releases next month.

Overall CAWPILE Score: 9.7/10

With a near-perfect balance of everything that makes a great read, Lights Out proves itself to be a must-read. I highly recommend it for readers new to the genre and vets.