Lights Out by Navessa Allen
⭐ 2/5 | 🌶️ 4/5
I went into Lights Out by Navessa Allen fully ready to fall head over heels for a dark, twisty stalker romance — and at first, I kind of did.
The concept? Insanely hot.
The vibes? Dark. Dangerous. Addictive.
Josh? An absolute sweetheart in a leather jacket
⚠️ Content & Trigger Warnings:
Lights Out is a dark stalker rom-com with heavy themes and explicit content.
Reader discretion is strongly advised. This book contains:
- Sexually explicit scenes and discussions (including anal play)
- Alcohol consumption
- Mention of off-page rape
- Recollections of child abuse
- Medical content, including blood and gore in a hospital setting
- Discussions of mental health
- References to serial killers and their crimes
- Limited description of a mass shooting
If you’re sensitive to any of these topics, please proceed with care. 💗
Aly is a trauma nurse with some very specific kinks and a fantasy involving a masked man who hunts her down in the sexiest ways possible. One drunken text later… her fantasy turns real. Yes, this is that kind of book. 😏 And yes, the spice absolutely brings the heat.
But here’s where it lost me.
After such a fast, filthy, high-stakes start, the second half of the book felt like a completely different story. Once Aly’s family entered the picture, the tone shifted hard. The romantic tension fizzled, the plot slowed down, and suddenly we were setting up storylines for the next book instead of wrapping up this one. It just didn’t flow. The emotional build between Alys and Josh got buried beneath a heavier backstory that, while clearly meaningful, made the last 100+ pages drag.
I understand the setup for a series — but I wanted more payoff for the romance this book promised.
That said, Josh is still a total golden retriever boyfriend, and the spice in the first half? Chef’s kiss. It just wasn’t the dark, dirty thrill ride I expected all the way through.
With lipstick smudges & plot twist,
ShayAnn
Have questions on our ratings scale? Check out our Intro to Hearts & Highlights post HERE for detailed breakdown.
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