However You Want Me

by W. Winters, Amelia Wilde, Willow Winters

From Best-selling authors Willow (W.) Winters and Amelia Wilde comes a twisted, dark romance with psychological thriller vibes that will have you hooked until the very end.

There was a girl in the corner.

She saw what they did to me and I saw what they did to her.
Except when the lights were off and when they put us in confinement.
I was 16 and I don't know how old she was.
We couldn't talk; we couldn't even look at each other.
That would lead to punishment. I was punished a lot because I had to see if she was there.

There were dozens of us and yet at night, it was only her that helped me sleep in that nightmare of a boarding school.
They thought I was bad when they sent me there... little did they know the monster they created.

I didn't know her name, but I knew who ran the school.

Years later and with blood on my hands, I got my revenge planned years ago when I was only a child.

Then I found a name.
Her name.

If you thought they f**cked me up, you should see what happened to her.

My angel.

"At its heart, this is a second chance romance but with a twist that absolutely caught me off guard. It also includes powerful trauma representation and so many emotional, heartfelt moments. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, it would throw me another curveball. I was hooked from start to finish and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romance that’s as moving as it is unpredictable." - sisters_bonded_by_books

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Psychological Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense, Thriller, Mental Health

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2025

About the author

Willow Winters is so happy to be a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and #1 Contemporary Best Selling Author!

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All the other details you need to know: https://linktr.ee/willowwintersauthor

Willow started writing after having her little girl, Evie, December 2015. All during her pregnancy with Evie she continued to read and she only wanted to read romance. She was reading a book a day — sometimes two.

In January 2016 Willow was staying up late with Evie and just thinking of all these stories. They came to her constantly so she finally sat down and just started writing. She always wanted to do it so she figured, why not? Today Willow cannot be happier for making that decision!


Merciless World

A Kiss to Tell

Possessive
Seductive

Merciless
Heartless
Breathless
Endless

All He’ll Ever Be

A Kiss To Keep

A Single Glance
A Single Kiss
A Single Touch

Hard to Love
Desperate to Touch
Tempted to Kiss
Easy to Fall

Merciless World Spin Off

It’s Our Secret

Standalone Novels:
Broken
Forget Me Not

Sins and Secrets Duets:
Imperfect (Imperfect Duet book 1)
Unforgiven (Imperfect Duet book 2)

Damaged (Damaged Duet book 1)
Scarred (Damaged Duet book 2)


Standalone Novels:
All I Want is a Kiss
Tell Me To Stay
Second Chance
Knocking Boots
Promise Me
Burned Promises
Forsaken, cowritten with B. B. Hamel

Collections
Don’t Let Go
Deepen The Kiss
Kisses and Wishes

Valetti Crime Family Series:
Dirty Dom
His Hostage
Rough Touch
Cuffed Kiss
Bad Boy 

Highest Bidder Series,
cowritten with Lauren Landish:
Bought
Sold 
Owned 
Given

Bad Boy Standalones,
cowritten with Lauren Landish:
Inked
Tempted
Mr. CEO

Happy reading and best wishes,
Willow xx

Reviews

[Jacklyn B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up! This book is dark and twisted and steamy and will keep you guessing!! No spoilers here, so I can’t tell you much…but I can say I absolutely loved this story.

We have these characters who are dealing with past trauma and a serial unaliver who seems to be targeting people from their past…

I love books that push and surprise me as a reader - there is one twist that had my jaw on the floor!

Again, no spoilers…but there is one scene in particular that had me raging, and dare I say rooting for the “villain.”

But maybe by the end you’ll be asking who the real villain in the story was….

✨What To Expect:
🖤Dark Romance
🥀Psychological Thriller
🔪Serial Unaliver
💋St@lker
❤️‍🔥Dark & Twisted
💔Trauma
✌️Second Chance

[April Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Little did they know the monster they created.”

“I’ve come pretty far. I owe that to my girl. Even when my head is fuzzy with the other things, I know she’s there for me. She’s the one who keeps being there for me. My girlfriend showed me that we don’t have to stay there forever. We existed before we got sent away. We exist now. Everything that happened in the middle is just part of us. It’s not all of us.”

Tropes & Themes:
Trauma Bond
Retribution / Revenge
“Treatment Facility” for “troubled youths”
Past and Present / non-linear timeline
Trauma & Abuse
Serial Killer
Adult Content/Themes
Trapped
All Consuming Love
Stalker
❤️‍🔥 twisted and f’d up
Second Chance

“I’m glad she found me. I didn’t know how to find her, but she was able to find me.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
However You Want Me, cowritten by Willow Winters and Amelia Wilde, is a second-chance dark romance about an all-consuming-love, retribution, and deeply rooted trauma (from a shared experience during childhood) bonding the pair. It’s dark, spicy, and painfully real; evocative of the nineties and early 2000’s, when a living hell masquerading as “schools” for troubled youths operated freely and unchecked, taking children from their homes, sometimes filmed and aired on Talk Shows and TV for ratings despite the obvious exploitative content of men dragging teens out of bed unawares, arresting them in their pajamas for bad grades or misbehavior. To witness it was horrifying. It looked like a kidnapping because it was. Cedar Wood Academy, where Dean and Hailey attended, was structured like one of these programs and the unpredictability of such a place had me at the edge of my seat. Vile and revolting scenes were the norm, shaping Dean and Hailey’s future. A future that they could control because they were now free — broken to bits but free.

I loved the non-linear timeline, skipping between past and present tense. I finished this read in one sitting, fully engaged from beginning to the end. I also listened to the audiobook which I also adored. (ALC review below⬇) I annotated, used a zillion sticky tabbys, and underlined many beautiful and powerful quotes to my heart’s content. The reread cleared up questions I had, leaving me shocked and multiple times in awe of the masterful writing. The big reveal was completely unexpected, imaginative, believable and realistic — considering the harrowing circumstances and the fragile psyche of a teenager. I loved this revelation and how it played an important role in not only Dean and Hailey’s love story, but in Dean’s healing and ultimately Hailey healing through his love. The reveal also makes the title click in like a jigsaw puzzle piece, the meaning crystal clear.

I loved the characters, getting to know them past and present. Dean worked in an auto-shop and Hailey is a therapist who admittedly needed to take her own advice. I loved the careers they chose and the myriad of reasons that lead then to their jobs and back to one another. The magnetic pull between their hearts, Hailey’s “ride or die” attitude, Dean’s “touch her and 💀” and the sizzling chemistry was absolutey swoonworthy.

Thank you so much Hambright PR, and Willow Winters for the paperback, bookmark, ALC, and the Kindle ARC!

ALC Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narration ✔ Hearing the voices of Dean and Hailey was a captivating experience and I was fully engaged throughout. The narrators each skillfully brought the couple to life, setting the pace, and capturing not only the dark atmosphere but also the weight of their emotions through the desperation in their speech. It was an amazing listen that brought a lot of emotions out of me. I dragged my sleeves across my eyes more than a few times to control the floods… 🌧

Full Review ➡ https://awellreadwomanblog.wordpress....



Dark Romance-Suspense Fiction
Dark Fiction 🔞
Dark Romantic-Thriller

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years prior, Dean and Haley were ripped from their homes and forced into a “school” for delinquent youth.

Cedar Woods Academy is not what it appears and neither are Dean and Haley.

This is my first read by the duo and it was intense. Most will probably figure out the twist before it’s revealed, but it made for an interesting component to the storyline. I’m on the fence about whether or not I wish it was longer or if it was just enough. As for the ending, it’s unclear if it was written with the intention of more to come or simply a HFN.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😳😢🤬😬😶
Ending: 💕 {HFN}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Psychological Thriller

✨ Tropes: Trauma Bonding
 
💫 Microtropes: n/a

💋 Kinks: n/a

⚠️ Warning: n/a

🚩 Safety Squad: There are potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: However You Want Me is a standalone.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Veronica LaRoche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another dark and twisted read that had me glued to my kindle. I couldn’t get enough of Dean and Haley’s story. Another amazing story with incredible characters.

[Hannah Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wild!! I thoroughly enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting because I refused to put it down.

Basically, the MMC and FMC are sent to a really fricked up “school” as teenagers (watch The Program on Netflix… unfortunately, this is not completely made up). The school does some horrible things to them, and others, and these two want revenge. 😳🔪

There is a plot twist that I thought I figured out, but it didn’t go exactly as I expected. Be prepared for your heart to hurt while reading this book; regardless, I did like it a lot.

I also feel special because I got the special edition prior to release date which was really freaking cool!! 💕

[Philippa - (The British Bibliophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

'Hang onto your hatchets, W.Winters teams up with Amelia Wilde to birth into the book world a dark romance, psychological thriller that reaches out from the pages to grab you in a chokehold, staling your very breath.' - The British Bibliophile

Thank you to Willow & team for sending me an e-ARC for me to read and review as part of Willow's ARC team. This is an honest review

NOTE - This is a spoiler-free review, safe for all to read. Please be aware that references made to the book's contents refer to the blurb of the book, not spoilers. If you do not wish to know what happens, going into this read blind instead, please exit my review now.


┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀📖 A R C ⠀ R E V I E W 📖
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

'From Best-selling authors Willow (W.) Winters and Amelia Wilde comes a twisted, dark romance with psychological thriller vibes that will have you hooked until the very end

However You Want Me is a dark romantic suspense, psychological thriller co-written novel by W.Winters (Willow Winters), and Amelia Wilde. A standalone read that pulls no punches when it comes to the nitty, the gritty, the raw and the gruesome. If you think you've read a twisted story before, think again. You're about to be shown what true twisted is and how far--and beyond--it can go.

Dean Quinell noticed the girl in a corner. A girl that noticed him as much as he noticed her. At least, during the day or when the lights were on. The moment the lights went out, they could no longer see one another. Or when one or both was dragged into confinement. At sixteen years of age for him, unknown for her, this was his life. If you could even call it that.

It was forbidden for 'students' to talk to one another, to look at one another. Doing so would guarantee punishment to both parties. Dean was punished a lot. Why? He couldn't resist checking to see if the girl was there with him. Was she worth it? The punishment for a single glance? Yes. Every. Single. Time. Despite the dozens of students that were at the 'school', it was only the thought of her, of her being under the same roof as him that helped him sleep--what little he was able to get--night after night.

Originally sent to the school because he was "bad", the people who sent him there clearly didn't know what would become of him as a result of being there. If they thought he was bad before, they were in for a nasty surprise at the monster that was born from being...educated.

One thing that Dean didn't know, was the name of the girl. The girl who kept him as sane as one could be under the circumstances and situations that happened within the school walls. However, he did know the name of the individual who ran from the place and years later, blood coating his hands, Dean got his much-needed revenge that was planned when he was a mere child. A teenager with vengeance thrumming through his veins and silent within his mind, lurking and blossoming until it was the time to carry out what had to be done.

The fruits of his labour bore the sweetest reward of all. A name. HER name.

If what had been done to him all those years ago made him he f**ked-up man he is today, then no one has seen nothing compared to what had been done to the girl that he was new, now a woman unlike any other he's ever seen. His angel.

Despite there not being trigger warnings at the start of this book, I think that if there were, it would have seriously underestimated just how hard those triggers would hit. In a good way, of course. You're very safe when reading a Willow co-write, in this case with Amelia Wilde, but oh my fictional gods did the scenes, situations and everywhere else they were used bowl me away and then some!

I have been a reader of Willow's for many years now, dabbing into Amelia's work here and there when I've been able to get my hands on a work of hers, and never in the case more of the former than the latter have I ever read such a guttural, raw, gruesome, dark read as I have here. Again,I mean that in a good way. Just when I think I've read Willow at her darkest, writing the most bloody, stomach-churning scenes, I'm left thinking again when books like this come along to prove my thoughts, and me, wrong. Amelia's touch clearly has positive influence here, in how impressive Dean and Haley's story was. Granted, I've not read as many of her works as I have of Willow's, but I can confirm this. If this is the result of these two ladies getting together? I'm not on my feet giving a standing ovation but I am instead on my knees, bowing at their collective prowess.

Praise also has to be given to these ladies for navigating the aspect of the mental conditions independently suffered by both main characters. I won't disclose as to what they are, as that would ruin a good few sub-plot points, as you need to slowly unfurl what those are yourselves as you read this book. I will say though, that they were both highlighted and handled with dignity and respect. Not just for ticking a box for a device without the awareness of them actually occurring within the real world, which they do. One of the two conditions I haven't read about before in any romance novels I've come across, so it was interesting to find out my own reaction to something I've yet to read about.

Though I am not a reader of dark romance, psychological thrillers by choice, I am glad that I took a chance on this one. I was in great hands with Willow and Amelia as they gifted to us Dean and Haley, and I would most definitely read this story again a little while into the future. I'd like to read enough books to put the plot twist out of my mind so when I re-read the story, I will be caught out instead of accidentally guessing it.

Still, how it was written did make me gasp because of how it was done. Brilliantly, in case you were wondering.

Please, ladies. Can I have some more of these kinds of stories?


┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 G E N R E S 📚
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

⠀⠀⠀↳ Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Dark Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Psychological
⠀⠀⠀↳ Thriller
⠀⠀⠀↳ Romantic Suspense

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀T R O P E S
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

⠀⠀⠀↳ Stalker
⠀⠀⠀↳ Serial Killer MMC
⠀⠀⠀↳ Dark Romance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Second Chance
⠀⠀⠀↳ Plot Twist
⠀⠀⠀↳ Twisted & F**ked Up

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀ ⠀ 🌶️ S T E A M Y/S P I C Y? 🌶️
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

⠀⠀⠀↳ In a league all of its own
⠀⠀⠀↳ F**king the trauma away
⠀⠀⠀↳ 3.5/5 on the spice-0-meter

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀T R I G G E R S?
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

⠀⠀⠀↳ Torture
⠀⠀⠀↳ Punishment
⠀⠀⠀↳ Blood
⠀⠀⠀↳ Murder
⠀⠀⠀↳ Psychological Trauma
⠀⠀⠀↳ Mental Illness
⠀⠀⠀↳ Institutionalisation

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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀M U S T ⠀ R E A D?
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⠀⠀⠀↳ A must for suspense readers
⠀⠀⠀↳ Ideal for lovers of psychological thrillers
⠀⠀⠀↳ If you want to read something hella dark? YES!

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ARC P R O V I D E R:
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

⠀⠀⠀↳ Willow Winters - ARC Team

[Deb Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dean and Haley met while they were both “attending” a boarding school. In fact, their parents had sent them to a sort of “scared straight” program for their perceived bad behavior. While there, the two were not allowed to communicate, but they were aware of one another and became obsessed. Ten years later, the two are adults living their lives while some of the “teachers” from the school are being murdered.

I don’t want to say too much about this book and give things away. Suffice it to say that it’s a very dark read with some twists and turns and surprises. Both Dean and Haley are permanently scarred from their time at Cedar Woods Academy, but they’ve come out on the other side seemingly stronger having forged lives for themselves. The world building in this one is especially good. The school setting and adults at the school are well written even if visceral and horrible. The characters are interesting. The plot is thought provoking and dark. I wasn’t sure at first where the story was headed, but it held my attention. You’ll be thinking about this short novel long after you’ve finished it.

I recommend However You Want Me. Check your trigger warnings. Read it and let me know what you think - I’d love to discuss.

[Yashoda Jaikaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[Aqeelah✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice:🌶️🌶️

I received this ARC from @hambright_pr in exchange for an honest review—and honestly, I was expecting something a little different. The description had me ready for a twisted dark romance filled with tension, suspense, and steamy drama. But what I got felt more like an emotional monologue on loop, with less heat and more trauma.

And the spice scenes? They popped up at the most unnecessary times. One moment we’re knee-deep in heavy emotional trauma, the next we’re… suddenly making out? It felt a bit jarring and out of sync with the rest of the story. One scene in particular had me pausing like:
“F*ck me hard,” I beg, pushing my face into the pillows, “Please,” I beg. “I will,”her promises.”

⬆️ Wait… what? You will? Okay…thanks for the update, I guess 😭

I think this book had potential, but for me, it just didn’t land the way I’d hoped. So maybe this just wasn’t my cup of dark, twisty tea.

[jenniferlea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dean & Haley met at “school”….one of those schools where they came & grabbed you out of bed in the night because your parents were done & said you were out of control
Years later they found each other again

Dean has a “to do” list….to right the wrongs that were done to him & his peers….yes please
& a twist I definitely didn’t see coming….I kept thinking I missed something & then it just clicked
You do get a full picture of events….you get to see what the characters went through 10yrs ago & how that has affected their present

I actually listened to this one
Loved the book….loved the narrators….only thing I didn’t love was whoever’s POV it was read both parts…if you have a male & a female I prefer the male read the male & the female read the female no matter the POV…it’s just my personal preference & I know no matter which way it’s read not everyone is going to be happy….& that’s ok

You'll love this book if you enjoy:

❤️‍🔥 dark romance

❤️‍🔥 stalker

❤️‍🔥 serial killer

❤️‍🔥 second chance

❤️‍🔥 twisted and f'd up

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a dark romance thriller well-done! Though I typically don't read psychological thriller but the suspense and extremely dark romance element here totally draw me in from the beginning to the end. Willow Winters and Amelia Wilde completely nailed it with Haley and Dean's story. It's a relatively short story, with only 158 pages, but I'm entertained nonetheless. Besides, the ending is beyond flawless. Haley and Dean have come a very long way and I'm happy to see they eventually get the HEA they more than deserve. Highly recommend!

***Thanks to the authors and Hambright PR for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

[Anna Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in one day ... xD

I will say overall I liked it (obviously). My heart hurts so much with what the main characters went through. This book is fiction, but it honestly reminded me so much of the Ruby Franke situation where their parents were willing to do terrible things to their kids/have other people do terrible things to force obedience.

There were a few moments where I could tell the author was trying to nudge me in a direction but my dumb ass didn't pick up on any of them, so I was shoked with the twist.

Definitely worth a read since it's a quick dark romance. Heavy on the trauma and lower on the spice, but both were done well.

[Live2readbookluva · Rating 4 out of 5]

However you want me is a fast paced, suspenseful, dark romance. It's told in dual pov and follows the MCs Haley & Dean. The audiobook is dual narrated by Angelina Rocca & Scott Rose. It was a good listening experience. The narrators made me believe all of the emotions, angst, and lust which were apart of these characters’ journey. The storyline itself is a bit tricky. It follows a now and then format and bounces back between their past time at a boarding school and the present day timeline. The story was an interesting combo of dark, sexy, and twisted. If your looking for a quick dark romance with thrillerish vibes give this one a try.

Themes & Tropes:

❤️Dark Romance
🩷Stalker
🖤Serial 🔪 & Revenge
❤️Second Chance Romance 
🩷Twisted Plot
🖤Boarding School
❤️Trauma-bond

Features sensitive content, check your triggers ⚠️

Overall, liked this read.

[Lia Lovelace · Rating 3 out of 5]

at first i was confused (and was going to deduct points) but it tied together in the end. might be easier to follow if i physically read it rather than listened (idk maybe just me). but a nice, short, but eventful-enough story of Haley and Dean. not much to report back as i feel neutral :)

[Wall to Wall Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

However You Want Me from Willow Winters (writing as W. Winters) and Amelia Wilde isn't just dark, it's twisted dark and intense. And it's so brilliantly written, I found it hard to put down. 

Dean and Haley's story is heartbreaking, emotional and one of survival. It switches between the past and the trauma they lived through and the present with them trying to heal by putting things right. 

The dual POV and dual timeline gives more detail and insight into the story and the charcters. And that ending....that was one hack of a twist that I didn't see coming and definitely was not expecting.

[Amanda Price (LifeWithAmandaP) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️

What to Expect:
🩷Dark Romance
🖤“Boarding School”
🗡️Trauma Bonding
🩷SPICE
🖤Found Family
🗡️Serial K!ll3r💀
🩷Second Chances
🖤Revenge
🗡️MAJOR PLOT TWIST

What. Did. I. Just. Listen. To?! However You Want Me was one of the most intense, chilling, and ridiculously emotionally gripping stories I’ve ever read. From the very first chapter, I was so drawn into the story—completely glued to earbuds, unable to press pause, could NOT put this one down. The story follows Dean and Haley, two teens ripped from their lives and their homes and thrown into Cedar Wood Academy, a brutal and abu$!v3 correctional school promoted and disguised as a reform facility. What unfolds is not just a dark romance—it’s a devastatingly beautiful trauma bond type of love.

The dual POV gave this book so much depth, especially with the shifts between past and present. Watching Dean and Haley’s history slowly unravel had me holding my breath and actually saying WTF outloud, forcing myself to anticipate the next devastating twist I knew was coming. Just when I thought I had something figured out, BAM—another twist I was definitely not prepared for. Their connection was raw, painful, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Despite all the horror they endured, the love between them felt like the only sliver of light in their isolated, terrifying worlds. I was emotionally destroyed in the best way.

And let’s honestly talk about the audiobook and the voice actors—pure perfection. Angelina Rocca and Scott Rose delivered every ounce of fear, desperation, and heartbreak with gut-punching intensity. It felt like I was right there at Cedar Wood, experiencing it all unfold. This wasn’t just a listen—it was an experience (a movie in your mind… IYKYK). The ending LEFT MY JAW ON THE FLOOR, and honestly? I’m still thinking about it. Willow did a phenomenal job on the writing and Angelina and Scott delivered it on a silver platter. SOOO WELL DONE!

A HUGE thank you to Hambright PR and Willow Winters for the chance to listen to this beauty!!!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

However You Want Me is a twisty, twisty read. The feel of this book has a mood and I swear that mood bleeds off the pages and into your soul. Leaving you haunted. We alternate between the past and present as the story of Dean and Haley is laid out. We get glimpses into their time spent at Cedar Woods Academy and how it began to shape their psyches. Now adults, they are trying to get past the trauma and lead lives that include jobs, friends and a relationship. But, leaving their pasts behind feels daunting with the people who hurt them the most just living their lives as if it never happened. This is quite a rabbit hole.

Kindle Unlimited: No
Stand-alone: Yes
Author: W. Winters and Amelia Wilde
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Dean and Haley
Trope(s): Dark Suspense, Fantasy Romance, Forced Proximity

‘Knowing I can have him-that I do have him- sends a heavier wave of heat between my legs. He’s been my cure to all I went through. The balm to everything broken inside of me.
That simple comfort is my therapy. My drug. My everything.’

Dean and Haley both “attended” Cedar Woods Academy ten years ago. A reform school that hid from the world all the horrors that took place within their walls for years. And, the only thing that kept them going was one another.

Having escaped the school once it was dismantled they moved on with their lives separately.

Until Haley found him.

They have made a life together both trying to move on.

But, the horrors of the time they spent there linger. In their minds, deep within their souls, and bodies.

Haley has found a way to take back control of their lives.

It all started with a list and a plan.

[Mireille (readingwithmrleo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting one for sure. The plot kept me intrigued until the end and even though it was confusing at first it still was captivating. The dual POV served the story well, and the back and forth between past and present let us in on important information gradually which I quite enjoyed.

In the end, I did see the big plot twists coming, but it didn’t alter my enjoyment of the story. I would have wished for more time with our characters actually being together and forming a connection instead of getting harsh mistreatment repeatedly. After a while, I get it, it was a disgusting place, they went through a lot but show me a bit of comforting things as well to compensate maybe? I needed more from these characters, that’s undeniable for me.

Like I said, the story was confusing, which did make for a suspenseful and thrilling vibe, but it was sometimes a bit too confusing, and some things made no sense to me but I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll stick to this.

As for the audio, the narrators did a great job, even though they didn’t leave a big impression on me. I must admit that audio maybe wasn’t the best option for me because it was already a super confusing story and English not being my first language I can get confused on my own while listening to audiobooks, so I did have a few times when I was like: am I the problem here? (and maybe I was)

If you like dark and twisted stories, you’ll surely want to try this one! It was short and easy to devour in one go.

Thanks to HambrightPR for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

[Cayla Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know when you drive past a wreck and know you shouldn’t look—but you just can’t help yourself? That’s exactly what this book felt like.

It’s dark. Really dark. So check your triggers before diving in. But once I started, I physically couldn’t put it down.

The story follows Haley and Dean—two so-called “bad kids” whose juvenile offenses were minor, but their parents saw it differently. They’re abducted and shipped off to a “boarding school for delinquents.” Sounds harsh, but manageable, right? Yeah… not even close. What they actually walk into is a brutal torture facility where obedience is beaten into them—literally and psychologically. It’s horrifying and heartbreaking.

One of the rules? No eye contact. But Dean can’t stop looking at Haley. And she can’t stay away either.

Told through flashbacks from ten years ago, the story shifts between their time in hell and the present—where Dean can’t stop obsessing over Haley. So much so that he starts stalking her… and eliminating anyone who had a hand in what happened to them.

There is spice, but this reads much more like a psychological dark thriller. And that plot twist? My jaw hit the floor.

I really hope this gets expanded because I have so many questions. This one will stay with me for a long time.

[Thao | lostinliterarybliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is far from your typical love story—it is a dark, emotional rollercoaster that had me hooked from the very first chapter. I listened to it on audio and genuinely could not stop. Every twist hit hard, and just when I thought I had things figured out… nope. Another jaw-dropper.

The story follows Haley and Dean, two teens thrown into a brutal correctional school where the idea of “discipline” is more like psychological warfare. Their shared trauma becomes the foundation for a complicated, deeply emotional bond that’s as haunting as it is compelling.

One thing I really loved was how the book moves between past and present, slowly peeling back the layers of their story. Definitely a must add to TBR! 💖

🎧Audio Notes🎧
Performed in duet style narration by the incredibly talented @scottrosevoice and @angelinaroccareads this audiobook was an absolute joy to listen to! They both brought so much raw emotion, intensity, and depth to the story. Highly recommend!

Grab your own copy on April 28, 2025!!

Thank you @willowwintersshouldbewriting Amelia Wilde and @hambright_pr for the ALC & ARC opportunity in exchange for my honest review, it was a wonderful read 📚💖

[Evelyn (S'more Books Please) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Hambright PR for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Ten years ago, Dean and Haley suffered unspeakable horror at a "school" for misbehaving teens. Meeting each other was the only positive that came from that terrible place. As adults, the pair struggle to move past their nightmarish experiences while finding comfort in each other. Perhaps some much-needed revenge on the guards who operated the "school" will give them some closure...

This novella was deliciously dark and twisty. I didn't plan to read it in one sitting, but I had to! The alternating POVs and flashbacks kept me guessing and biting my nails until the shocking conclusion. This is a perfect quick read for those who loved Lights Out. Dark romance readers should certainly add this one to their TBR!

Follow me on Instagram @smorebooksplease for more bookish fun!

[Laura Reads Too Much · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for Willow & Amelia's spice then you're on the wrong page HOWEVER if you're looking for a dark psychological thriller that will hurt your soul, then you're on the right page!!

When you are forbidden from acknowledging each other, forbidden from even knowing their name and yet you feel a connection to them and are punished severely for it, it just makes you all the more determined to hang in there, to let them think you're broken, to bide your time and pray for release....


These two kids have been sent to a place supposedly for naughty kids, delinquents, and just plain misunderstood young'ens, however what goes on in this place is so far from normality that it's just evil!
It's hell, it's heartbreaking, it's angering and my heart hurts so bad for them.

Really enjoyed it. 4.5

[Paige Kateeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

However You Want Me by W. Winters & Amelia Wilde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

This dark romance x psychological thriller OWNED ME from the start. I listened to the audiobook in one sitting — it was that good. The narrators (Angelina Rocca & Scott Rose) were 🔥 and brought so much intensity to the story.

💀 Quick, twisted, & addictive — less than 200 pages but packed with tension and wild turns. Definitely pulled me out of a book slump!

Tropes:
❤️‍🔥 Dark romance
👀 Stalker
🔪 Serial killer
💔 Second chance
🖤 Twisted & f’d up

If you love your romance dark, obsessed, and a little unhinged… add this to your TBR immediately 😈

#BookReview #DarkRomance #PsychologicalThriller #AudioBookRecommendation #RomanticSuspense #BookSlumpCure #SpicyReads #QuickReads #Bookish
#arcreview

[Camis.little.library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical love story - in fact, this was an amazing dark twisty thriller romance that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I was able to listen to the audio, courtesy of Hambright PR and the author and loved the audio of it! So easy to follow along and such a quick listen.

-Dark Romance
-Serial unaliver
-Second Chance
-Trauma/Emotional bonding
-Spice

Without giving away too much, as this story is under 200 pages - this is about Dean & Haley and what they went through at an AWFUL school, and after they are out they reconnect years later.

There is a major twist at the end that I did not see coming but actually loved and connected so many things! It does end in a HFN ending - but I SO wish there was more!

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 years ago Dean & Haley were stuck at a “sch00l” that did unthinkable acts. That may be where their stories began but now they want to set things right, in their own way. A dark story that leaves you wanting more. I don’t want to say anymore as it’s best to go in blind to book one. Yes, things ends quite open ended but this is a stand-alone, leaving you to interpret what’s next. Please check any TW as this is a very real topic and at times diff/cult to read due to what’s happening. A twisted and tragic story is about to unfold. I did figure it the twist but still; Wow, Wow, Wow…that was intense! Told in past and present tense. Dual POV.

[Amber Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one took me on a rollercoaster ride! Twisted, Dark Romance with a side of Revenge what more could you want!

I seriously couldn’t stop reading this one! And finished it in one sitting!
This Twisted Dark Romance with Psychological Thriller Vibes had me so hooked! The suspense was addicting, the pacing was amazing!
I absolutely loved every aspect of this one! And that Twist I did not see that one coming!!
The only thing I can say is I wanted more of this story! And wish it was longer!!! Because I literally didn’t want this one to end because it was so good!

[Julie Workman-Bookaholic Sisters Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was unputdownable, from cover to cover I was completely consumed, the emotion, I felt to my core.
Hayley and Dean have been through the worst thing imaginable and trying to navigate the past whilst living in the present. It's a beautifully dark love story that's told in duel POV, it's raw and all kinds of f'kd up and I absolutely loved it.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking - suspenseful- almost true crime podcast feel of a story. Short and quick. Definitely had me angry most of it because of what the characters went through at the hands of the people that are supposed to love them most gave them up for ! BUT GREAT READ!

[Ashlie Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to W Winters and Hambright PR for this ALC!

I think this one was underwhelming for me because of the length. I didn’t feel like I had time to really connect with the characters, and I wanted to because their shared past was so horrific. I think I just wanted more.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
🌶️

The twist that occurred?????? I'm almost mad I didn't see that coming but my god this was a good mind f!ck novella that's for sure