I don’t even have words to express how much I love this book! I mean literally, this has to be my 5th (and final) attempt at writing a review for Little Stranger. Okay without giving too much away, I’ll start with how I love that this book is almost split into two completely different vibes. It starts with the inexperience and innocence of two traumatized youth, maturing into adolescence, and then early adulthood from the FMC POV, then it switches to an undercurrent of rage from the hardened, vengeful POV of the MMC years later. Leigh Rivers did a phenomenal job balancing plot and spice, making this not only an extremely hot taboo, but captivating romance as well. I feel as long as you’ve read the trigger warnings, it’s best to go in blind to everything else, but really, check trigger warnings first!! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

So I actually heard about this book from a bad review in a book group--if spiked my curiosity and I have to say, I'm glad I decided to see for myself because I really enjoyed this book. In the comments of the review people mentioned how Malachai could never measure up to Zade-- but I personally *hated* Zade 🤣 100% would rather have a Malachai. Anyway, the storyline and plot (you know, because this book actually has those things) held my attention and while it wasn't like groundbreaking or anything, it worked perfectly for this story and these characters. I did find some parts a bit repetitive, but overall this was exactly what a dark "taboo" romance should be. And the spice--whew-- it was spicing. 5/5 🌶

This book....Leigh Rivers is one of my favorite authors by far! This book is dark, twisted, romantic and emotional. I loooooooved it. I can't wait to read the next book! Also the narrator, Joe Arden, put his whole heart and soul into the book. I don't think this book would have hit as deeply without the audio. If you can, I HIGHLY advise getting the audio. He adds SO MUCH EMOTION to this book. I'm blown away.

Okay where do I begin ? Everybody said this book was someone else and honestly, I was hoping they were right. If I'm being totally honest, the book wasn't bad but it wasn't. It is dark and a taboo, as everybody was saying. So the two main characters, olivia and malachi, they both were adopted by the same family. Olivia was adopted first coming from a bad family and then seemed like a few years later, her now adopted family adopted malachi, a troubled mute boy who never said anything but came from a family that what's into drugs.And he watched his mother be murdered in front of him. Without giving you the whole story, because mind you, there's part one in part two. Part one is when they were kids growing up, and in part one, they talk about their feelings towards one another, how as little kids, it's just fun and everything else. But as they became teenagers, hormones play a big role in advances. Come out. In part one things happen between Malachi and Olivia to wear a big plot twist. I should say habits. A twist in a way that you really don't see coming.But in a way you might. Now up to this point it's just them growing up, living with the feeling that they are feeling towards one another.Oh, stuff happens, but I'll let you read into that. Part two is eight years later, and you get malachi's point of view. Olivia had part one, we get Malachi. In part 2, because now he is older, and he's trying so hard to speak. Now, part two is a little darker in a way a little, not a lot, a little than part, one things happen that some of you might not like it's just a book, but iano people are out there who just can't stand certain things. With that being said, you learn a lot about Malachi. In what heat is going through, you also learn what is going on with olivia in the past eight years. The one thing that will shock a whole lot of you is a certain person. He's more like the villain in this whole story.Then you think. Honestly, in other books, it's always the certain person that is the mastermind. Behind how they went their family ran but not in this story. This story is somebody totally different. Anyways, in part 2 Malachi is seeking a little bit of revenge with stalker's tendencies and doing things that he should not be doing, but he's doing that and again, some of you are not gonna like it which it's fine, but it's not that bad. Believe me if the main character enjoys it. Eeu can enjoy it tip. With that's little stranger, is not the darkest book I have ride. It's dark, I would say it's probably a 5 on my scale. The things that he does maybe a six at the most, seven, if i'm pushing it, but I have no triggers, so he it's a six, okay. Yes, they have sex. They're not blood related by any means, and they do not come on the same dysfunctional families, by any means. They were just adopted into the same foster family at different times in their lives. That's the only thing they have in common, and she understands him more than anybody else. Of course, he's a male and he can be a manipulative man, but she sees him in a way that she would do anything for it. Now, with that said, if you're brave enough to pick up this book and read it go for it, I gave it four stars, just because I thought it was, it was good. I heard the audio the audible book. Is even better, but that's your choice. Enjoy.

This book has lots of smut and little plot however, the plot is does have is good, this book is a great lil story to get you over a book hangover. It also became one of my top 20 favorite reads of the last year. Malachi is perfect and I love the chapters from his POV they're top tier. Olivia got on my nerves a lil bit but she's still a good fmc and overall this was a great book and I cannot wait for the second to come out! I'll be buying any and all special editions when I can get my hands on them. Leigh knows how to write dark romance, this book was 10/10 and I highly recommend for all my dark romance girlies <3

I've been in a reading slump lately, not able to finish books or getting bored of them. This one kept me entertained and it's a quick read. The pacing was nice and the spice was great. The story was well written. The only critique I have is for the mmc. His disorder was more romanticized to fit the plot than what someone with the disorder would be more likely. I still liked him as a character but he seemed more closer compared to mafia than mental illness.

This is one of the most intense dark romance books I've read in a while. I loved it from start to finish! Leigh Rivers did an amazing job of making me feel all the feels while reading this book. I was so immersed in every chapter, every twist and turn. The descriptions were perfect for every scene. I could easily picture it in my head, as if it were a movie. If you love a book that's dark, taboo, and thoroughly spicy...this one's for you.