Pastel Bones

by Aveline Knight

Artists are the ones who turned their knives inward, and called it art.

We were born with blood in our brushes, taught to make beauty out of pain before we could name the thing bleeding inside us. Some of us mold our grief in clay. Others carve it into bone.

We don’t scream, we paint.
We don’t run, we compose.

And when it hurts too much to breathe, we put it on a canvas and dare the world to look away.

At Alaria University for the creatively damned, art is survival and reputation is currency. I know that better than anyone. When whispers start swirling about my past, my secrets, and what happened the night everything changed, I end up at the center of a rumor mill sharp enough to gut someone.

And then there’s Dorien. Cruel in all the right ways. Always knowing exactly where to look when I’m trying not to be seen.

We were there the first time everything went wrong. Neither of us ever said what that did. Maybe because we’d have to admit how close it came to ruining us.

I told myself I’d never survive it happening again.
And then it did.

ebook

Expected publication July 23, 2026

About the author

Aveline Knight can’t help herself from writing about morally grey idiots that struggle endlessly to repair their broken hearts. She especially loves matching them to badass ladies and creating the perfect world where love stories flourish in the depths of darkness.

Reviews

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

It's giving Gossip Girl but make it art school angst!

I read this entire book in one sitting. I'm talking I read for 5 hours straight. I loved that this was more character driven although it did still have a really good plot. This story felt so "fresh" and unique.

You will fall in love with so many of the different characters. I am DYING to see who is everyone's favorite and which couples everyone ends up shipping together. ;)

The ending almost made me throw my Kindle but I seriously can't wait for the next book in this series!

I don't want to spoil anything since the book isn't out yet, so that's all I'll say for now hehehe.

[Lex Mak · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This was unique and unlike anything I’ve read yet!
Dark academia in an art school with a group of friends/family, with a lot of history.

There are multiple stories going on throughout of 3 different POV’s, our main FMC June is getting bullied by an unknown person over text and her and her best friend try to find out who it is. She’s also been trying to avoid her childhood friend over a past event that happened, who she may or may not have feelings for, which brings me to our second POV which is said childhood friend.

The last POV being June’s brother which I really enjoyed his story. It was filled with a lot of emotional depth and yearning, and boy he really went through it.

I really liked how the story progressed, especially with the multiple POV’s and storylines. The mystery kept me engaged and kept me guessing I literally thought it was someone the entire time and, thought how absolutely obvious it was but I was wrong 😂 didn’t see that coming.

There are some triggers in here that aren’t for the faint of heart. It was hard to read parts, some tears were shed.

The only reason it’s not a 5 star - it read a little YA at times with the childish banter, and some repetitiveness with information. Which aren’t deal breakers at all. I’m just a picky bi*ch, haha. I still really loved this book!

I can’t wait to see where this goes because after that ending, I’m literally wondering wtf was happening. I kept saying wtf, over and over again because like what? How can you end a book like that lol. I was getting so mad!! So I need more of this world!! Need book 2 asap pleassseeee. 🤍♥️

(Thank you to the author for an ARC copy)

[sue_zees_bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastel Bones (The Unfinished Gallery, #1)
by Aveline Knight


5⭐️
2🌶️
4😭

Oh my goodness gracious 🥺 …I’m utterly wrecked 😭and at a loss for words! I can’t even describe how tragically beautiful and poetic this book was! Bravo 👏🏼 Aveline!!!

Thank you ☺️ for writing such a unique story about the struggles and heartbreaks that these characters endured!
I had such a connection with this book and certain characters.
It almost felt like some of my life experiences were echoed in it!


So the story centers around June and Dorien , two students attending an art school and their struggles with family , friends and just trying to navigate life.
Their hot and cold relationship is built on years of shared trauma.
June and Dorien have this undeniable magnetic connection!
It also comes through with their love of being artists 🎨 and a traumatic event that occurred as children.
They both express themselves through their “art” which I found to be very healing and refreshing. Absolutely loved it!

There is also June and Aeron. Who are sister and brother.
They have a complicated relationship filled with uncertainty and Aeron feeling he was a mistake and never wanted by their mother.
Unlike June who is the golden child and basically walks on water in her mother’s eyes.

Oh my sweet Aeron definitely stole my whole heart and soul! I could relate on many levels on what he was going through. He is definitely a character I will never forget!
And Cinna ( who is June’s best friend) all I have to say about her is karma is coming for you babe ! lol 😂 she made me so angry!

And that 🤯ending! WTF 😳 I was cursing 🤬 at my kindle at first!😅
But now I’m absolutely dying to see what’s going to happen in the next book!!

Overall I loved every little detail of this book !
So if you like a angsty dark academia with a bunch of drama , healing art therapy, and story that will tear your heart out! Then I would highly recommend “Pastel Bones” 🩷👏🏼🩷

Thank you to Author Aveline Knight and Love Notes PR for the arc! These opinions are my own.

[Dana Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thoughts after finishing this is what the f*** just happened?!!! And of course the author leaves me on ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER 😂😩

June and Dorien they remind me of Romeo and Juliet accept it’s not the families keeping them apart but it’s the damn universe.

Childhood friends but go through something traumatic. Then as they get older and attend college they keep their distance from each other until one day they start to heal only for another traumatic thing to happen. The universe is trying to keep them apart but will there love be enough to push through the darkness once and for all? I can’t even answer that because again cliffhanger so you don’t know what’s coming next.

June and Aeron. Older sister and younger brother. I myself am an older sister to a younger brother who actually is my ride or die but reading about these two characters opened my eyes. I can see why June is the way she is because when it comes to my own brother I am the same way. All you want to do is keep him safe, protect him, and make sure he doesn’t make any of the mistakes you did. But sometimes you need to let them make their own decisions, give them breathing room and not be the overprotected, overbearing sibling. Aeron 😢 gosh I just wanted to pull you out of this book and tell you that YOU ARE ENOUGH. If I could actually do that I swear I would never let him go. I really hope we see June and Aeron’s sibling bond get better 🤞🏻🙏

One thing I hope June will learn throughout this series is that you can’t push everyone away or not allow them to make mistakes. Everyone is human and we can’t hold it against them forever. I hope Carter comes back and I need to know if Dorien actually tells her the truth about what happened?!

This story is beautiful, raw, emotional, and there are plot twists everywhere.

Now I need to go mental recover since I am still lost for words. 🫣😬😭

5 ⭐️

[Desiree Viruet · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Pastel Bones by Aveline Knight is a hauntingly beautiful start to what promises to be an unforgettable series. Equal parts dark academia, psychological romance, and emotional character study, this book dives into grief, guilt, obsession, and the messy ways people try to survive after trauma.

The atmosphere is easily one of the strongest parts of the novel. Alaria University feels alive—beautiful on the surface but hiding cracks underneath, where art becomes both an escape and a weapon. Every page carries an underlying tension that kept me wanting to know what happened in the past and how those secrets would unravel.

The relationship between the main characters is filled with emotional repression, longing, and enough angst to make every interaction feel significant. If you love slow-burn romances where every glance and every conversation carries weight, you’ll probably eat this up. Their chemistry isn’t built on instant attraction—it’s built on shared pain, complicated history, and an undeniable pull toward one another.

One quote that perfectly captures the heart of the story is:

“Artists are the ones who turned their knives inward, and called it art.” (Love Notes PR)

That line alone sets the tone for the entire novel.

My only reason for giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is that the pacing occasionally slows while establishing the mystery and emotional depth. There are moments where I wanted answers a little sooner, but the payoff makes the wait worthwhile.

If you’re looking for:
🖤 Dark academia
🎨 Emotionally damaged characters
🥀 Slow-burn romance
📚 Found family
✨ Multiple POVs
💔 Angst, secrets, and healing through art

…then Pastel Bones absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastel Bones is a raw portrait of trauma and confusion and sorrow, wrapped in an artistic, dark academia coated package.

A story of deep-set old sorrows, interspersed with moments of levity, mystery, and newfound pains, Pastel Bones scratches the itch for a beautiful disaster.

The way Aveline Knight depicted June and Aeron’s familial dynamic was perfectly raw. The pain and history between June and Dorien made their story all the more aching and bittersweet. Adding in the mysteries of the past and present, betrayals and self-loathing, and an undercurrent of art beneath it all, Pastel Bones depicts the lives of these college artists in a brutally realistic way.

The depictions of each characters’ thoughts brought us inside their heads to really understand each of their unique pains and motivations. I especially loved Dorien’s reasoning behind smoking. Aveline has crafted a cast of characters that each feel like they have their own important role to play (even if they’re not all the “main characters” themselves).

The undercurrent of artistic expression running beneath the entire story was a beautiful recurring theme. It was a perfect choice to showcase each characters’ emotions through their art pieces, as that truly is what art is for. Their self expression through their chosen mediums drew us deeper into their characters with each piece they created.

I can’t wait to see where the next book will take us because that ending has me on pins and needles waiting for more!

“Most people spend their whole lives running from what they feel. You make it into something beautiful.”

[MN Book Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while for me to get into this book. And then it ended on a semi-cliffhanger.

June and Dorien have a history. It's not pretty, and they haven't told many people about it. Now, as college students, they bicker a lot and avoid each other where possible. But Dorien's good friends with June's cousin who lives with her and her family, and therefore it's hard to avoid him sometimes. Especially after they end up in an art exhibition together, then a class together. Someone's targeting the students who were in the exhibition, and they're targeting June hard. So what happens when it's someone who's closer than she thinks, and they really target her brother hard?

This is book one of at least a duet and leaves off on a cliffhanger.

I may be getting too old for college-aged romances, as it took too long to get into this book; then at the end, I really didn't care that there was a cliffhanger and there was a second book. The drama seemed forced and petty. But underneath that, the struggles that Dorien and June were going through from what they had gone through, and the few chapters and struggles that Aeron was going through, were compelling. But beware, this is where the triggers come in. I do have to wonder if we had seen a chapter or two from the cousin, if he would have been fighting as many demons as both his cousins, or if he was really happy-go-lucky as he seemed.

I received an advance review copy from Love Notes PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5 ⭐️

MY LORD. This book.

June, a sophomore at Alaria University, is in a pickle. She’s fighting her feelings for Dorien, another student who went through a traumatic ordeal with June when they were kids, and is receiving horrendous texts from an unknown number, spreading rumours and lies to and around the people she loves.

Aeron, June’s younger brother who’s also at the university, is struggling with home life, art, and feelings for Cinna (June’s best friend). He feels like the odd one out of his family’s dynamic and spirals more and more as the book goes on. It was hard to read and watch as he falls more apart.

It switches from June, Dorien and Aeron and it was a perfect amount of each of their POV’s. Every time it switched it was clearly written and there was no confusion to what was happening. I LOVED the writing style and it hooked me in straight away.

Aeron’s story in this book was hard. I really felt for him.
June annoyed me with how controlling she was with Aeron, but learning what June and Dorien’s childhood trauma story was, oh my god, how horrendous. No wonder they are the way they are. Those two brought me so many feelings: happiness, joy, sadness, anger, shock!

I can’t wait for the next book - I need to find out what happens next! 🫶🏼🖤

[Brittany Furnish · Rating 5 out of 5]

****ARC READER REVIEW****

Pastel Bones is a haunting, intimate portrait of trauma, grief, and the quiet ways people try to survive themselves. It’s dark academia wrapped around a beating, bruised heart, messy, artistic, and beautifully devastating.

June, Aeron, and Dorien’s tangled histories feel painfully real. Their family wounds, betrayals, and self‑loathing make every interaction ache. Aveline Knight writes their dynamics with such raw honesty that you feel the heaviness sitting in your chest. Each character’s inner world is so vividly drawn that their pain becomes impossible to ignore.

The art threaded through the story is stunning, every piece feels like a confession, a way for these characters to say what they can’t speak aloud. Their creativity becomes a lifeline, a window into their emotions, and one of the most powerful parts of the book.

This cast doesn’t feel like side characters orbiting a main plot; they feel like real people with their own scars, secrets, and roles to play. Even the smallest details like Dorien’s reason for smoking hit with unexpected tenderness.

And that ending? I’m still on edge thinking about it. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us.

[Allison Stepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review

First and foremost, read the trigger warnings.

O.M.G… this book absolutely wrecked me. I genuinely don’t even know how to put into words what I just read. The emotions felt so real that there were moments I had to stop just to process everything.

June and Dorien completely stole my heart. Their relationship is beautiful, but it’s built on years of shared trauma that makes every moment between them feel so much deeper. The way they understand each other without needing words broke me over and over again.

Then there’s June and Aeron. Their sibling relationship isn’t one of healing or easy forgiveness—it’s hurt. It’s painful, complicated, and filled with the kind of wounds that don’t magically disappear. Watching that heartbreak unfold was just as emotional as everything else in this story.

This quote perfectly captures how I felt while reading:

“The whole piece has a rawness to it that makes my throat tight. It’s raw like the things you say at 3 a.m. that you can’t unsay. Raw like an open wound still deciding whether to scar.”

That quote is this book. Every page feels raw, emotional, and achingly real.

I closed this book with my heart in pieces, and now I’m desperately counting down until book two because I need to know what happens next.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5 ⭐️

MY LORD. This book.

June, a sophomore at Alaria University, is in a pickle. She’s fighting her feelings for Dorien, another student who went through a traumatic ordeal with June when they were kids, and is receiving horrendous texts from an unknown number, spreading rumours and lies to and around the people she loves.

Aeron, June’s younger brother who’s also at the university, is struggling with home life, art, and feelings for Cinna (June’s best friend). He feels like the odd one out of his family’s dynamic and spirals more and more as the book goes on. It was hard to read and watch as he falls more apart.

It switches from June, Dorien and Aeron and it was a perfect amount of each of their POV’s. Every time it switched it was clearly written and there was no confusion to what was happening. I LOVED the writing style and it hooked me in straight away.

Aeron’s story in this book was hard. I really felt for him.
June annoyed me with how controlling she was with Aeron, but learning what June and Dorien’s childhood trauma story was, oh my god, how horrendous. No wonder they are the way they are. Those two brought me so many feelings: happiness, joy, sadness, anger, shock!

I can’t wait for the next book - I need to find out what happens next! 🫶🏼🖤

[Merlinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pastel Bones was such an emotionally charged start to this series. If you love dark academia with messy, complicated characters, simmering tension, and relationships built on trauma, guilt, and yearning, this one absolutely delivers. The story leans heavily into emotional intensity with a slow-burn romance, found family, and dual POVs, creating an atmosphere that's equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking.

I especially enjoyed the emotional complexity of the characters. None of them are perfect, and their flaws, grief, and inner struggles made them feel authentic. The slow burn had me invested, and I appreciated that the relationships developed over time instead of feeling rushed.

The pacing occasionally slowed, particularly in the middle, and I found myself wanting a little more momentum in a few scenes. But the angst was compelling and would definitely recommend this book.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally obsessed with this book and author. Pastel Bones is angsty and mysterious and drama filled. While I did peg the “villain”, the ending was just diabolical. I cannot wait for the second book.

I would say this book is more character driven than anything. There’s a lot of interconnected moments between characters and backstories and relationships which makes the multiple POV’s helpful.

June and Dorien are exactly how I picture artists. The way they pour their hearts out into their pieces and just the angst between them. Both their characters are so intriguing- they don’t fit into a clear mold.

I can’t wait to see where Aveline Knight takes this story next.

Tropes:
-slow burn
-angst
-shared trauma
-found family

-ARC READ. Thank you to the author for an e-arc of this book for my honest review.

[Alexis Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Magnolia Parks meets Gossip Girl goes to art school 💕

I honestly had a REALLY hard time rating this… I think it was really well written but there is something about a tragic love story that really throws me off. I felt like I was in a constant state of anxiety but in a good way??

I saw the ending coming from a mile away but I like all the twist and turns we took before the big reveal.

Now, it is worth calling out that I didn’t necessarily like ANYONE in this book. However the writing and the plot were so good that you didn’t need to. The characters felt real and their decision making felt like it fit their personalities.

P.S. this book made me realize I may have some newly discovered art school trauma that made me deeply relate to how some of these characters felt. Didn’t think that was something I would unlock at almost 30 lol

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ENDING……..

Every single character in this book is designed to make you love them & want to yell at them at the same time. I truly connected with every single one in their own way, whether it was the overthinking, the struggles, the banter, the relationships.

Reading Aeron’s POV through this entire book broke my fucking heart. A slow burn, painful, gut wrenching character who feels insufferable in parts but truly makes you cry.

This author did a PHENOMENAL job at creating the perfect character personalities but my favorite part BY FAR was the world building!!!!! The details and descriptions of the people, places, art, etc. is truly incredible!!!! 5 star for that alone.

AND AGAIN, THE ENDING….. yeah. Safe to say I am completely unprepared on where book two is going to take us but just know I am READY.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in shock.

Why the hell did it stop there 😭 I’m not okay. I was not expecting a cliffhanger! Oh to wait for the next release…

But I really enjoyed this book. The author has such an amazing talent of painting with her words. The characters are art students so it breathes so much life into the story with the vibrate descriptions.

The whole “gossip girl vibe” was just a taste in the torment of our mc’s. This deals with trauma, guilt and grief. It’s was great to have the multiple pov’s and made it even more raw. You as the omniscient reading can see where the characters are going and feel helpless to stop it. Great way to make the grief hit harder.

I’ll be keeping my eyes on a sequel.

Also how gorgeous is this cover?!!

[Becca Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an honest review.

At first you think the 2 main characters hate each other and thats why they avoid each other. That couldnt be further from the truth. Because of a tragic event that happened when they were younger, they avoid each other at all costs.
But what happens when they finally decide to take a chance? Will they get their happily ever after? Or will circumstances in their life once again make them guess their closeness to each other as a curse?
You also get chapters of Aeron, the fmcs brother and you see hes not as closed off as his sister portrays. This book does end on a slight cliffhanger but its not brutal like other books are sometimes. Very much looking forward to the next book.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot twists and college angst galore!

This was an emotional roller coaster to the nth degree. There are secrets buried in the past and current trials that test everyone’s resolve.

I only even realized this was book one, rather than a standalone, about 75% of the way through, which was quite a relief because I wasn’t sure how the author could wrap up so many threads in the amount of book left!

The writing was also lyrical and I found myself highlighting passages simply for their beauty. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

One note: please check the trigger warnings before diving in.

Thank you so much to the author and Love Notes PR for the advance copy!

[Mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.75/5) Holy yes. The DRAMA. This was so fun & unexpected. Wow, this was just a crazy, wild ride. By the end, I was crying, screaming, & throwing up.

I loved this plot, it was unique & something different (which I totally expected after reading her trilogy) but oh my god. I wasn’t quite sure where it was going 15-20% in but once I was in, I was hooked. Waiting for the next one will be torture. I ate this up, it was finished in literal hours. I love Aveline’s writing, it keeps me on my toes (& a little sick).

Thank you so much to the author & Love Notes PR for the arc! I cannot wait for the next one, I’ll only be thinking about it daily lol.

[J.C.]

I really enjoyed the art school setting, as I love oil painting in my free time!! The romance between June and Dorien felt very believable! The characterization was great in this novel and every character felt real to me!

Personally I should have read the trigger warnings because there are difficult subjects such as attempted suicide and use of hard drugs.

The ending was unexpected, I'm not sure I would finish the series but I'm glad I gave it a chance!!

Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for this advanced reader copy!

[mk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastel Bones 🎨💜

@avelineknight_author is on my “if she writes it, I’m going to read it” list. And I will forever scream about my love for her. Truly.

This book was everything I expected it to be. And I got even more than I thought she would deliver!

June and Dorian really pulled me immediately. Their history, their banter, their ability to make your mouth drop with anticipation and audacity. Their entire personalities were so strongly exhibited in just the first chapter. I’m talking like 2% in and I was already messaging her and giving my play by play.

Then you start to get the signature Aveline heartache and dooming feeling that you’re going to be broken. And you’re suffocating from needing more.

THEN you get Aeron. My sweet. Broken. Desperately caged loner. Everything about this man just clawed at my heart.

AND CARTER AND VIENNA?! I’m sat. I’m ready. I’m foaming at the mouth for every crumb of those two.

Aveline brings you a beautifully dark and angsty romance that is threaded through each individual character.

It releases July 23rd, please download and read immediately. I read this so fast and devoured every bit of it 🖤

[Cozy_Livie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all: I am SO glad I got an ARC of this book! It is amazing, the book ofc.

I get the "Gossip Girl but artsy" vibes. It has drama, angst, and uni parties. But it also has trauma, family issues, and an impressively diverse stack of characters! I will absolutely need to pick up however many more books there will be, because EXCUSE ME, what do you mean ending a book like that?! I am intrigued!

[xx.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of the ARC received from author.

Firstly, I cannot wait for the second book.
Now to this book, dark academia is so fresh, personally I haven’t seen an art college setting and it was done in such an amazing way.

The twist had me gasping because I really didn’t think she had that in her.
I don’t wanna spoil much but you gotta read this!
This was so much fun.

Also, I feel for Aeron, on so many different levels, the hurt was very visible. Very raw. ❤️‍🩹

[Ines Robles]

ARC read:
Im DNFing for now but I WILL come back to it when I feel the time is right.
The plot was intriguing and the characters were captivating, I just couldn’t connect with them enough.
I did really appreciate the way these characters talked about art and how passionate they felt about it. I think anyone who enjoys a dramatic, passionate read will enjoy this story :)
Thanks you so much for the opportunity to share my thoughts on this book!

[neve!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite possibly one of the most emotional books I have ever read.

I cried, I laughed, I threw my kindle in sheer shock. This book will not leave you disappointed.

AND THAT ENDING??!! OH MY GOD I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW.

Every single character in this book is written in a way that makes you completely fall in love with them, even if this ends up ripping your heart out eventually.

[Nayelys Segarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Read

This book had me in a chokehold. I could not put it down. I was a little in the fence about the multiple POV but then I was like oh, OH! And I absolutely loved it! I loved the storyline. But I think the book finished me instead of me finishing the book! And I can’t believe I have to wait for Book 2 now?! With that cliffhanger?! I can’t. I need book 2 right now!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so I did not expect this book to get me going all types of crazy and then have me on a cliff hanger at the friken end ! If you love gossip girls x pretty little liars I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading this one. Also may I add I cried so much at some point ! Aeron you are loved by me !

[Jennifer Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super slow to get into. What I loved about this book was how deep everything truly was within meaning. The author has a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to reading more of the author’s work.

[Rylee Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! The story was unlike anything I’ve read before. And the cliffhanger???? I can’t wait til the next one!

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOBBED!
A beautifully written masterpiece. finished it in the wee early morning , could not let it go.