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Stay With Me
Not yet published
Expected 22 Feb 26
Some love stories refuse to be forgotten.
They met as children… a friendship that grew into something purer, deeper. But fate had other plans, binding them not as lovers… but as family.
Years later, captivity forces them to confront everything they tried to bury. The line between love and survival begins to blur and in the harshest reality imaginable, two souls cling to the only truth they know… each other.
A dark contemporary romance about trauma, captivity, and finding love after everything is taken from you.
They met as children… a friendship that grew into something purer, deeper. But fate had other plans, binding them not as lovers… but as family.
Years later, captivity forces them to confront everything they tried to bury. The line between love and survival begins to blur and in the harshest reality imaginable, two souls cling to the only truth they know… each other.
A dark contemporary romance about trauma, captivity, and finding love after everything is taken from you.
- GenresDark Romance
514 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 22, 2026
76 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 8, 2026
4⭐️ Thank you so much to Luna for giving me this book as an ARC. Isaac and Veronica’s love was so intense and deeply felt from the very beginning. What these two go through is genuinely brutal at times, but watching their growth and healing unfold was incredibly rewarding. Isaac completely owns my heart and has officially secured his place as one of my favourite MMCs, he the biggest walking, talking green flag. 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Author
"All I want to do is restore whatever part of her that’s missing, give her all the pieces of me until she’s whole again."
Wow!
This wasn't just a story, this was a journey through two people's lives.
Isaac Vargas must be protected at all costs. his love is all consuming and will never leave you. Completely selfless, always putting Ronnie above everything, even his own feelings and healing. My heart broke for him, I just wanted to pull him in and tell him "I got you, stay with me!" (Yes, punch intended 😆)
Their story is probably the most heart wrenching i've read in a while.
Beginning at their meeting for the first time as children, a blossoming friendship which only grows over the years .. the hurdles thrown their way, to absolutely devastating trauma, where their feelings only grow stronger.
This took me longer to read than usual. It was so realistic and emotional.
"My sunflower is barely hanging on, and I'm helplessly watching as she slowly loses her petals."
The chemistry, tension and connection between Ronnie and Isaac seeps into your bones. It's sweet and tender, until its not 😭 their life spins on a course that I didn't see coming.
Luna gave this story and her characters deep emotional complexity, that cannot be overlooked.
I often find character development can get lost in the narrative sometimes, I can assure thats not the case here.
Ronnie's emotional healing journey is beautifully represented.
I was so invested in isaac, I don't think he really recognised his own trauma, but rather invested everything he had into Ronnie, even when that meant he was chipping away at himself 😢
Such a beautiful ending to their story, thus proving that true love conquers all and I'm so happy that Ronnie fully healed and didn't harbour any resentment.
DARK Contemporary MF Romance - Second Chance- Childhood friends to Forbidden Lovers - Emotional Healing - Captive FMC & MMC - Angsty and Yearning.
As always please familiarise yourself with the content before reading.
Wow!
This wasn't just a story, this was a journey through two people's lives.
Isaac Vargas must be protected at all costs. his love is all consuming and will never leave you. Completely selfless, always putting Ronnie above everything, even his own feelings and healing. My heart broke for him, I just wanted to pull him in and tell him "I got you, stay with me!" (Yes, punch intended 😆)
Their story is probably the most heart wrenching i've read in a while.
Beginning at their meeting for the first time as children, a blossoming friendship which only grows over the years .. the hurdles thrown their way, to absolutely devastating trauma, where their feelings only grow stronger.
This took me longer to read than usual. It was so realistic and emotional.
"My sunflower is barely hanging on, and I'm helplessly watching as she slowly loses her petals."
The chemistry, tension and connection between Ronnie and Isaac seeps into your bones. It's sweet and tender, until its not 😭 their life spins on a course that I didn't see coming.
Luna gave this story and her characters deep emotional complexity, that cannot be overlooked.
I often find character development can get lost in the narrative sometimes, I can assure thats not the case here.
Ronnie's emotional healing journey is beautifully represented.
I was so invested in isaac, I don't think he really recognised his own trauma, but rather invested everything he had into Ronnie, even when that meant he was chipping away at himself 😢
Such a beautiful ending to their story, thus proving that true love conquers all and I'm so happy that Ronnie fully healed and didn't harbour any resentment.
DARK Contemporary MF Romance - Second Chance- Childhood friends to Forbidden Lovers - Emotional Healing - Captive FMC & MMC - Angsty and Yearning.
As always please familiarise yourself with the content before reading.
February 8, 2026
ARC review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stay With Me is one of those dark, haunting love stories that lingers in your chest long after you turn the last page.
This is not a sweet, fluffy romance. It’s raw, traumatic, and deeply emotional built on a foundation of childhood friendship that was twisted by fate into something forbidden, complicated, and impossible to forget. The fact that they grew up together, loved each other in that innocent, pure way, and then were forced into a different role adds such a painful, heartbreaking layer to everything that follows.
The captivity element is intense and heavy, but it’s handled in a way that highlights survival, trauma, and the desperate need for connection. When everything is stripped away of freedom, safety, identity; the only thing they have left is each other. Watching their bond shift from childhood comfort to something darker, more desperate, and emotionally tangled is both beautiful and devastating.
What really stood out is how the story explores love under impossible circumstances. The blurred lines between affection, dependency, and survival make this a gripping psychological and emotional journey. You’re constantly questioning what love looks like when the world is cruel and choices are taken away.
If you love dark contemporary romance, trauma-bonded characters, intense emotional depth, and stories that hurt so good, this one is absolutely worth reading. Bring tissues and maybe a comfort read for afterward because Stay With Me does not play gentle with your heart. 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stay With Me is one of those dark, haunting love stories that lingers in your chest long after you turn the last page.
This is not a sweet, fluffy romance. It’s raw, traumatic, and deeply emotional built on a foundation of childhood friendship that was twisted by fate into something forbidden, complicated, and impossible to forget. The fact that they grew up together, loved each other in that innocent, pure way, and then were forced into a different role adds such a painful, heartbreaking layer to everything that follows.
The captivity element is intense and heavy, but it’s handled in a way that highlights survival, trauma, and the desperate need for connection. When everything is stripped away of freedom, safety, identity; the only thing they have left is each other. Watching their bond shift from childhood comfort to something darker, more desperate, and emotionally tangled is both beautiful and devastating.
What really stood out is how the story explores love under impossible circumstances. The blurred lines between affection, dependency, and survival make this a gripping psychological and emotional journey. You’re constantly questioning what love looks like when the world is cruel and choices are taken away.
If you love dark contemporary romance, trauma-bonded characters, intense emotional depth, and stories that hurt so good, this one is absolutely worth reading. Bring tissues and maybe a comfort read for afterward because Stay With Me does not play gentle with your heart. 🖤
February 2, 2026
Wow, I loved this book so so much. Finished it in less than 24 hours as I just couldn’t put it down!
Iz and Ronnie are everything. Their chemistry on page is instant, and I absolutely adored them navigating their way to each other. Their journey is messy, it’s ugly and it’s not how it was ment to go. But somehow Iz and Ronnie make their way back after a horrendous event shatters their lives, leaving them stuck in turmoil. It’s raw, and unfiltered. The blows kept coming and honestly I was a blubbery mess for about 40% of the middle. Damn Luna pulled at my heart, i was so so sad for them…. 😭😭 and I was rooting for them so hard. Iz is complete perfection, from the moment they meet as kids and as they grow as besties, Iz is nothing short of amazing and the yearning PLEASE🧎🏻♀️we love a man who yearns and yearn he did. Ronnies so selfless, always putting others first. Her character progression was great, she blossomed into this head strong woman who owned her scars, and Iz loved her even more for it. They fought hard for their ending, it was so bittersweet but utterly perfect. I just adore them sm… I’m so sad it’s over.
A really great read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Iz and Ronnie are everything. Their chemistry on page is instant, and I absolutely adored them navigating their way to each other. Their journey is messy, it’s ugly and it’s not how it was ment to go. But somehow Iz and Ronnie make their way back after a horrendous event shatters their lives, leaving them stuck in turmoil. It’s raw, and unfiltered. The blows kept coming and honestly I was a blubbery mess for about 40% of the middle. Damn Luna pulled at my heart, i was so so sad for them…. 😭😭 and I was rooting for them so hard. Iz is complete perfection, from the moment they meet as kids and as they grow as besties, Iz is nothing short of amazing and the yearning PLEASE🧎🏻♀️we love a man who yearns and yearn he did. Ronnies so selfless, always putting others first. Her character progression was great, she blossomed into this head strong woman who owned her scars, and Iz loved her even more for it. They fought hard for their ending, it was so bittersweet but utterly perfect. I just adore them sm… I’m so sad it’s over.
A really great read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️
What an incredible read! Ronnie and Isaac’s story left me completely speechless, I finished it feeling emotionally drained in the best possible way!
The characters in this book written so well, our FMC Ronnie is incredible, she endures so much, and I found myself heartbroken for her time and time again. Yet she never stops pushing forward. Watching her reclaim her life and grow stronger after such trauma was handled beautifully with so much care. And then there’s Isaac - the king of yearning who now has my whole heart. The love he has for Ronnie is unwavering; he’s truly a walking green flag. I’ve never read a character quite like him. He suffers deeply as well, but instead of letting it consume him, he steps up and becomes the best version of himself.
I didn't know what I was in for reading this book, tbh I signed up because I saw it was step siblings, and I am so glad I did. If you love a dark and gritty love story then this is the book is for you!
Be sure to check the trigger warnings before starting Stay With Me, as it tackles several heavy and sensitive topics. It does end with a HEA, but not before completely emotionally wrecking you along the way.
Thank you so much Luna for sending this arc for review.
What an incredible read! Ronnie and Isaac’s story left me completely speechless, I finished it feeling emotionally drained in the best possible way!
The characters in this book written so well, our FMC Ronnie is incredible, she endures so much, and I found myself heartbroken for her time and time again. Yet she never stops pushing forward. Watching her reclaim her life and grow stronger after such trauma was handled beautifully with so much care. And then there’s Isaac - the king of yearning who now has my whole heart. The love he has for Ronnie is unwavering; he’s truly a walking green flag. I’ve never read a character quite like him. He suffers deeply as well, but instead of letting it consume him, he steps up and becomes the best version of himself.
I didn't know what I was in for reading this book, tbh I signed up because I saw it was step siblings, and I am so glad I did. If you love a dark and gritty love story then this is the book is for you!
Be sure to check the trigger warnings before starting Stay With Me, as it tackles several heavy and sensitive topics. It does end with a HEA, but not before completely emotionally wrecking you along the way.
Thank you so much Luna for sending this arc for review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
02/08 This book was given to me as an ARC for a review from Luna and her team so thank you so much. I wanna go ahead and say, this is it, this is my favorite book of the year so far. I’ve never cried so much through a book, literally I am just a leaky faucet reading this. This gives the vibes of “still beating” by Jennifer Hartman so if you like that, you’re gonna love this one. Luna you outdid yourself, I cannot even.. wow, I’m just.. so shocked. This has everything I want in a book, childhood lovers, angst, yearning, LONGING, I will use all the similes lol. This book was rough but god it has such a good HEA. We have hella trauma but the healing ride, it makes it worth it and it is such a ride. The art in this book is phenomenal. The writing was so wonderfully done and let’s talk about the Spanish endearments. Luna you got me there. A man like Isaac who will speak filthy and say loving things in Spanish to his girl, I WANT TO BE VERO SO BAD JUST TO HAVE THIS MAN. This story was wild but god it was so good. Thank you for letting me read this masterpiece, I truly am so honored.
02/02 Thank you Luna for giving me your newest baby as an ARC! I am so excited to jump into this book next! 🥹❤️
02/02 Thank you Luna for giving me your newest baby as an ARC! I am so excited to jump into this book next! 🥹❤️
February 7, 2026
✨ 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬. ✨
❝𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞. 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈’𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨.❞
When Luna said this book comes with emotional damage, she absolutely meant it. This story had me crying, laughing, gasping in shock, and melting with “awww” moments, sometimes all within the same chapter. Truly, prepare to be shattered and then slowly pieced back together.
❝𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫?❞
Isaac and Veronica go from best friends, to hidden crushes, to step-siblings, creating a complicated and emotional journey. Veronica tries to bury her feelings because she believes they’re wrong, while Isaac only wants a chance for them to embrace the love they share.
❝𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫.❞
The trauma, heartbreak, longing, passion, humour, and raw emotion were written beautifully. I found myself reading through tears yet feeling comforted and healed by the end. Such a stunning and emotional read.
❝𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦… 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨.❞
🩵 step-siblings
🩵 childhood friends
🩵 trauma
🩵 captive FMC & MMC
🩵 emotional healing & redemption
🩵 second chance romance
🩵 dark contemporary romance
⭐️ 4.25/5
🌶️ 3.25/5
February 10, 2026
6 ✨ I haven’t cried this hard since finishing Releasing 10. The yearning, the angst, the healing, the love.. I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest and stomped upon. It’s a devastating story about a beautiful love. And I am so happy that I signed up for this ARC.
“We are two halves of one soul—that I’m certain of. My love for him transcends time and space, and it doesn’t matter that fate opposed us when our very souls chose long before we did.”
“Everything hurts.”
“Wanna be my queen?”
“Take me with you.” ❤️
“We are two halves of one soul—that I’m certain of. My love for him transcends time and space, and it doesn’t matter that fate opposed us when our very souls chose long before we did.”
“Everything hurts.”
“Wanna be my queen?”
“Take me with you.” ❤️
February 8, 2026
Luna, you had me tear up at the end.
What a beautiful story 🫶🏼
RTC
What a beautiful story 🫶🏼
RTC
February 10, 2026
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐊. 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝
🗓️Releasing February 22nd
“𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡… 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤. 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙢.”
𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙗:
Some love stories refuse to be forgotten.
“They met as children… a friendship that grew into something purer, deeper. But fate had other plans, binding them not as lovers… but as family.
Years later, captivity forces them to confront everything they tried to bury. The line between love and survival begins to blur and in the harshest reality imaginable, two souls cling to the only truth they know… each other.”
Luna, thank you for trusting me with your ARC. This was easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me. 🥲
& Holy freakin crap… this was a beautifully tragic, raw and devastating book. It took me days to finish as I had to take numerous breaks while reading. I’m pretty sure she stole my heart, and Stay with Me will hold a piece of my soul forever. I haven’t felt this moved or emotional since Still Beating. Iykyk… 🫠
I loved both Ronnie, and Isaac so damn much. I had cried so many times following their trauma, healing, resilience, and their endless love. ❤️🩹
This isn’t your “typical” romance where the childhood best friends/first love run off into the sunset. It’s about heartbreak, longing, passion, envy, yearning, abüse, trauma, and healing. Luna is going to rip your heart out and piece it all back together.
“𝘔𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘦.”
Iz is the BIGGEST walking Green Flag, and seriously one of the best MMCs I’ve seen written. He’s dark, and flawed but through his imperfections man can he LOVE. And his love is endless. 💔
“𝘎𝘰, 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘫𝘦 𝘭𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘺𝘰.”
Read if you like
🦋Dark Contemporary Romance
⛓️💥Taboo
🦋Captive MMC & FMC
⛓️💥Angst & Yearning
🦋Second Chance
⛓️💥Emotional Healing & Trauma Bonded
🦋Childhood BFFs to Lovers
⛓️💥Hispanic Rep
🦋HEA
For my Dark Romance enthusiasts I cannot recommend this book enough, but please read with caution. Love you all, and happy reading. 🦋
🗓️Releasing February 22nd
“𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡… 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤. 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙢.”
𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙗:
Some love stories refuse to be forgotten.
“They met as children… a friendship that grew into something purer, deeper. But fate had other plans, binding them not as lovers… but as family.
Years later, captivity forces them to confront everything they tried to bury. The line between love and survival begins to blur and in the harshest reality imaginable, two souls cling to the only truth they know… each other.”
Luna, thank you for trusting me with your ARC. This was easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me. 🥲
& Holy freakin crap… this was a beautifully tragic, raw and devastating book. It took me days to finish as I had to take numerous breaks while reading. I’m pretty sure she stole my heart, and Stay with Me will hold a piece of my soul forever. I haven’t felt this moved or emotional since Still Beating. Iykyk… 🫠
I loved both Ronnie, and Isaac so damn much. I had cried so many times following their trauma, healing, resilience, and their endless love. ❤️🩹
This isn’t your “typical” romance where the childhood best friends/first love run off into the sunset. It’s about heartbreak, longing, passion, envy, yearning, abüse, trauma, and healing. Luna is going to rip your heart out and piece it all back together.
“𝘔𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘦.”
Iz is the BIGGEST walking Green Flag, and seriously one of the best MMCs I’ve seen written. He’s dark, and flawed but through his imperfections man can he LOVE. And his love is endless. 💔
“𝘎𝘰, 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘫𝘦 𝘭𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘺𝘰.”
Read if you like
🦋Dark Contemporary Romance
⛓️💥Taboo
🦋Captive MMC & FMC
⛓️💥Angst & Yearning
🦋Second Chance
⛓️💥Emotional Healing & Trauma Bonded
🦋Childhood BFFs to Lovers
⛓️💥Hispanic Rep
🦋HEA
For my Dark Romance enthusiasts I cannot recommend this book enough, but please read with caution. Love you all, and happy reading. 🦋
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: Stay With Me by Luna K. Wicked
⭐ ∞
🌶 4
I had ONE job: read my most anticipated book of the year and I don’t think I was prepared for how completely it would undo me. This book is art and also a personal attack.
Stay With Me is one of the most profound, heart-wrenching, beautiful love stories I’ve ever read. It’s the kind of book that frustrates you to no end, because all you want—all you ache for—is for them to stop fighting it. To stop denying themselves. To just choose the happy ending already.
Isaac and Veronica (Ronnie) are inevitable.
From stolen glances and butterflies to years of self-denial, this story explores what it means to love someone when the world insists you shouldn’t. So, the emotional tension? Brutal.
This book is devastating.
Like rip my heart out, stomp it, hand it back, then kiss my forehead devastating.
It goes dark. It goes heavy. But never carelessly. The pain is there to show survival, agency, and the long, messy, real aftermath of trauma and it HURT. The love doesn’t fix everything. It stays. It holds space. It chooses patience and consent and showing up.
Lo terminé...¿o me terminó a mí?
I genuinely don’t think I’m the same person who started this book. Because I think this book actually ended me.
This story hurt me. It frustrated me. It shattered me. It healed me.
If you’re looking for a romance that is messy, painful, beautiful, and deeply human then Stay With Me will own your heart.
Please check content warnings.
Read responsibly. Hydrate. Prepare to be emotionally humbled.
⭐ ∞
🌶 4
I had ONE job: read my most anticipated book of the year and I don’t think I was prepared for how completely it would undo me. This book is art and also a personal attack.
Stay With Me is one of the most profound, heart-wrenching, beautiful love stories I’ve ever read. It’s the kind of book that frustrates you to no end, because all you want—all you ache for—is for them to stop fighting it. To stop denying themselves. To just choose the happy ending already.
Isaac and Veronica (Ronnie) are inevitable.
From stolen glances and butterflies to years of self-denial, this story explores what it means to love someone when the world insists you shouldn’t. So, the emotional tension? Brutal.
This book is devastating.
Like rip my heart out, stomp it, hand it back, then kiss my forehead devastating.
It goes dark. It goes heavy. But never carelessly. The pain is there to show survival, agency, and the long, messy, real aftermath of trauma and it HURT. The love doesn’t fix everything. It stays. It holds space. It chooses patience and consent and showing up.
Lo terminé...¿o me terminó a mí?
I genuinely don’t think I’m the same person who started this book. Because I think this book actually ended me.
This story hurt me. It frustrated me. It shattered me. It healed me.
If you’re looking for a romance that is messy, painful, beautiful, and deeply human then Stay With Me will own your heart.
Please check content warnings.
Read responsibly. Hydrate. Prepare to be emotionally humbled.
February 6, 2026
This book was all levels of amazing.
Definitely read your trigger warnings. It touches on topics not often so openly spoken, or written about.
Beautiful story about best friends who LOVE EACH OTHER- but turn into step siblings.
This longing for the love they have for each other and back and forth with the will they or won’t they… til one day - something super traumatic happens to them for months…
Coming back from the trauma takes a toll on both of their mental healths and exposes their love for each other in unhealthy ways.
Ronnie realizing in order for her to survive and get better she needs to get away and get help, she does just that. Upon her return - they find their way to their way to a beautiful happily ever after.
This story talks about friendship, connection, envy, jealousy, lust, abuse, mental and emotional trauma, physical trauma, love, relationships, family dynamics, painful truths and survival.
It was everything. Luna blew my mind! Such an incredible read.
Definitely read your trigger warnings. It touches on topics not often so openly spoken, or written about.
Beautiful story about best friends who LOVE EACH OTHER- but turn into step siblings.
This longing for the love they have for each other and back and forth with the will they or won’t they… til one day - something super traumatic happens to them for months…
Coming back from the trauma takes a toll on both of their mental healths and exposes their love for each other in unhealthy ways.
Ronnie realizing in order for her to survive and get better she needs to get away and get help, she does just that. Upon her return - they find their way to their way to a beautiful happily ever after.
This story talks about friendship, connection, envy, jealousy, lust, abuse, mental and emotional trauma, physical trauma, love, relationships, family dynamics, painful truths and survival.
It was everything. Luna blew my mind! Such an incredible read.
February 6, 2026
Heartbreaking 💔 story of love and trauma. Can Isaac and Veronica make it back to each other after being torn to shreds in captivity?
Isaac and Ronnie meet when they are children already their lives have had traumatic starts. From best friends at 8, to crushing so hard in middle school, then to be in love in High school where everything changes for them.
Their love becomes forbidden and Ronnie wants to do the right thing for her mom.
The love Isaac has for Veronica is unyielding. He will do anything for her and it’s everything! He will wait a lifetime for her if he has to.
As sad as this book is, there is something beautiful in the story and the love the characters have for one another. They find peace and love in the aftermath of the worst time of their lives. I am especially happy that they took the time to heal themselves and came back together for their happily ever after. If any one deserves it iz and Ronnie do!
If you like Still Beating pick this book up. It will wreck you in the best way possible, It’s so heartbreakingly beautiful! Check your Trigger warning before reading.
Isaac and Ronnie meet when they are children already their lives have had traumatic starts. From best friends at 8, to crushing so hard in middle school, then to be in love in High school where everything changes for them.
Their love becomes forbidden and Ronnie wants to do the right thing for her mom.
The love Isaac has for Veronica is unyielding. He will do anything for her and it’s everything! He will wait a lifetime for her if he has to.
As sad as this book is, there is something beautiful in the story and the love the characters have for one another. They find peace and love in the aftermath of the worst time of their lives. I am especially happy that they took the time to heal themselves and came back together for their happily ever after. If any one deserves it iz and Ronnie do!
If you like Still Beating pick this book up. It will wreck you in the best way possible, It’s so heartbreakingly beautiful! Check your Trigger warning before reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2026
I’m so thankful that I was given an arc, I absolutely loved this story! It was deviating and beautiful.
Truly a tragic beautiful love story.
I fell in love with both the characters and grew to care for them as I got to know them more, my heart broke for them. I cried for them and I cheered for them in the end.
I recommend this to those who aren’t afraid and can see the beauty in the dark tragic love stories.
Truly a tragic beautiful love story.
I fell in love with both the characters and grew to care for them as I got to know them more, my heart broke for them. I cried for them and I cheered for them in the end.
I recommend this to those who aren’t afraid and can see the beauty in the dark tragic love stories.
February 5, 2026
… i don’t understand what’s happening to me. But this might be on the top of the best book I’ve ever read in my entire life…
Holy fucking shit. The love Iz has for Ronnie is actually so intense and wow.. the twist i did NOT see coming, with the perfect ending EVER
I’m not sure how im supposed to go on from this one. Wow
Holy fucking shit. The love Iz has for Ronnie is actually so intense and wow.. the twist i did NOT see coming, with the perfect ending EVER
I’m not sure how im supposed to go on from this one. Wow
Review of advance copy received from Author
"“I did grow up, and still, I can only offer sex, not my heart. That belongs to you. It’s been years, and I’m still stuck in that god damn sandbox."
I just literally have no words. This is probably one of those reads that will stay with me for a long time (heh see what I did there?) speaking of the way Luna weaved the name of the book into the story was heart breaking and cruel but, also beautiful. Veronica and Isaac's story was absolutely brutal to read - heart wrenching, agonizing, and yet the healing and love between them was everything. So many times I had to just sit there with myself and go "holy shit" and take a breath. I don't get triggered and I wouldn't say I was but, I was in pain reading their captivity. It cut me like a knife and their healing after was so hard and jagged - every time I thought they were finally going to see the light at the end life tugged the rug out from under them. I felt so much devestation and heartache for them both but, my sweet Isaac hurt me the most. That man YEARNED, like give him an award for yearning. He was the worst kind of man for any other woman because there was ONLY one woman for him. So often I wanted to shake the hell out of Ronnie for what she put them through but, you can't help but ache for her too. Because while she was better at hiding it, she was hurting just as much.
The way Luna wrote their story made it impossible to put down. Each "Part" had it's own aches, even from when they met as kids. Imagine finding your soul mate as a child and then your parents fall in love and force you to be step siblings and so you spend over a decade yearning and aching for them, forced into a role neither of you wanted and one of you being too scared of the domino effect so you just cut your soul mate from you even if they have your heart and soul the entire time. That was Iz and Ronnie's life and then they get kidnapped and forced into captivity, assaulted for a deranged couple's "greater good" and trying to find the light in each other during it, thinking you find it - escaping and then life STILL says "hey you can't be together" and they're pulled apart again. These two fought tooth and nail for their love and eventually get their hard earned HEA but, by the Gods was it a hard road.
I felt all the emotions - I wanted to throw my kindle so many times. But Luna did right by their healing, even if it hurt Iz and Ronnie and my heart along the way. Healing ISN'T linear and the way she made sure these two had to experience it was harsh but, faithful to life.
These two are cemented into my soul. Days later I'm still just reeling from it all. I somehow need more from these two - a bonus epilogue, a novella, something - I'm not ready to just say bye to them after the absolute havoc they wrecked on me.
The man Isaac Vargas is, my absolute undoing. Truly the way he loved Ronnie was beautiful and everything you could need or want in an mmc and Ronnie.. fuck is that girl so damn strong and resiliant even when she didn't think she could be. I need to inject these two into my veins.
“You’ve got me. Even if the world turns its back on us, we have each other. I love you so fucking much, and if you can’t love yourself, then allow me to love you for both of us, allow me to remind you every day how strong and deserving you are. Let me give you all the pieces of me."
Tropes:
🦋 Playboy x Good Girl
💙 Taboo (Step Siblings)
🌻 Captive MMC & FMC
🦋 Forced Breeding
💙 Forced Proximity
🌻 Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
🦋 So Much Angst and Yearning
💙 Dual POV
🌻 Trauma and Healing
I just literally have no words. This is probably one of those reads that will stay with me for a long time (heh see what I did there?) speaking of the way Luna weaved the name of the book into the story was heart breaking and cruel but, also beautiful. Veronica and Isaac's story was absolutely brutal to read - heart wrenching, agonizing, and yet the healing and love between them was everything. So many times I had to just sit there with myself and go "holy shit" and take a breath. I don't get triggered and I wouldn't say I was but, I was in pain reading their captivity. It cut me like a knife and their healing after was so hard and jagged - every time I thought they were finally going to see the light at the end life tugged the rug out from under them. I felt so much devestation and heartache for them both but, my sweet Isaac hurt me the most. That man YEARNED, like give him an award for yearning. He was the worst kind of man for any other woman because there was ONLY one woman for him. So often I wanted to shake the hell out of Ronnie for what she put them through but, you can't help but ache for her too. Because while she was better at hiding it, she was hurting just as much.
The way Luna wrote their story made it impossible to put down. Each "Part" had it's own aches, even from when they met as kids. Imagine finding your soul mate as a child and then your parents fall in love and force you to be step siblings and so you spend over a decade yearning and aching for them, forced into a role neither of you wanted and one of you being too scared of the domino effect so you just cut your soul mate from you even if they have your heart and soul the entire time. That was Iz and Ronnie's life and then they get kidnapped and forced into captivity, assaulted for a deranged couple's "greater good" and trying to find the light in each other during it, thinking you find it - escaping and then life STILL says "hey you can't be together" and they're pulled apart again. These two fought tooth and nail for their love and eventually get their hard earned HEA but, by the Gods was it a hard road.
I felt all the emotions - I wanted to throw my kindle so many times. But Luna did right by their healing, even if it hurt Iz and Ronnie and my heart along the way. Healing ISN'T linear and the way she made sure these two had to experience it was harsh but, faithful to life.
These two are cemented into my soul. Days later I'm still just reeling from it all. I somehow need more from these two - a bonus epilogue, a novella, something - I'm not ready to just say bye to them after the absolute havoc they wrecked on me.
The man Isaac Vargas is, my absolute undoing. Truly the way he loved Ronnie was beautiful and everything you could need or want in an mmc and Ronnie.. fuck is that girl so damn strong and resiliant even when she didn't think she could be. I need to inject these two into my veins.
“You’ve got me. Even if the world turns its back on us, we have each other. I love you so fucking much, and if you can’t love yourself, then allow me to love you for both of us, allow me to remind you every day how strong and deserving you are. Let me give you all the pieces of me."
Tropes:
🦋 Playboy x Good Girl
💙 Taboo (Step Siblings)
🌻 Captive MMC & FMC
🦋 Forced Breeding
💙 Forced Proximity
🌻 Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
🦋 So Much Angst and Yearning
💙 Dual POV
🌻 Trauma and Healing
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some love stories are gentle. This one is a car crash you can’t look away from — brutal, devastating, and somehow achingly beautiful in the wreckage.
Isaac (Iz) and Veronica (Ronnie) don’t fall in love easily or cleanly. Their connection is immediate, yes, but everything after that is tangled, painful, and painfully human. From childhood friendship to something deeper they’re never allowed to fully claim, their lives become an endless exercise in restraint, sacrifice, and denial. Every look they don’t take, every word they swallow, every choice made “for the greater good” feels like another small heartbreak stacked on top of the last.
And then the story shatters completely.
What follows is dark, harrowing, and deeply uncomfortable — but never gratuitous. The trauma isn’t there for shock value; it exists to show what survival actually costs. The aftermath is messy. Healing comes in jagged pieces. Love doesn’t magically fix the damage — instead, it lingers quietly, offering patience, safety, and space when everything else feels impossible. That realism hurt more than anything.
Isaac is the definition of devotion. The kind of man who ruins you for fictional love interests forever. His longing is constant, relentless, unwavering — there is no world where he ever belongs to anyone but Ronnie. Watching him carry that love, especially when he believes he’s not allowed to have it, is agonizing in the best way.
Ronnie, though — she is strength forged in fire. Selfless to a fault, terrified of consequences, and yet growing into someone who eventually owns every scar life gave her. Her journey isn’t about becoming unbreakable; it’s about choosing herself even when it feels selfish, even when it’s terrifying. And Isaac loves her not despite her pain, but because of her resilience through it.
This story made me angry. It made me ache. I had to put the book down just to breathe more times than I can count. I wanted to scream at them to stop running, to stop punishing themselves, to just choose each other already. But that frustration is exactly the point — because real love, real trauma, real healing are never linear or convenient.
By the time the ending arrived, it felt earned in blood and tears. Bittersweet, yes — but perfect in the way only hard-won happiness can be. They didn’t stumble into their ending. They fought for it.
Days later, I’m still thinking about them. Still missing them. Still wishing for one more glimpse into their lives because saying goodbye feels unfair after everything they endured.
This book didn’t just make me cry — it cracked me open and stitched me back together differently. If you’re looking for a romance that’s raw, painful, deeply emotional, and unapologetically real, this one will take your heart and never fully give it back.
Check the content warnings. And maybe clear your schedule — you’re not walking away unchanged.
And yes… Isaac Vargas deserves a lifetime achievement award for yearning.
Isaac (Iz) and Veronica (Ronnie) don’t fall in love easily or cleanly. Their connection is immediate, yes, but everything after that is tangled, painful, and painfully human. From childhood friendship to something deeper they’re never allowed to fully claim, their lives become an endless exercise in restraint, sacrifice, and denial. Every look they don’t take, every word they swallow, every choice made “for the greater good” feels like another small heartbreak stacked on top of the last.
And then the story shatters completely.
What follows is dark, harrowing, and deeply uncomfortable — but never gratuitous. The trauma isn’t there for shock value; it exists to show what survival actually costs. The aftermath is messy. Healing comes in jagged pieces. Love doesn’t magically fix the damage — instead, it lingers quietly, offering patience, safety, and space when everything else feels impossible. That realism hurt more than anything.
Isaac is the definition of devotion. The kind of man who ruins you for fictional love interests forever. His longing is constant, relentless, unwavering — there is no world where he ever belongs to anyone but Ronnie. Watching him carry that love, especially when he believes he’s not allowed to have it, is agonizing in the best way.
Ronnie, though — she is strength forged in fire. Selfless to a fault, terrified of consequences, and yet growing into someone who eventually owns every scar life gave her. Her journey isn’t about becoming unbreakable; it’s about choosing herself even when it feels selfish, even when it’s terrifying. And Isaac loves her not despite her pain, but because of her resilience through it.
This story made me angry. It made me ache. I had to put the book down just to breathe more times than I can count. I wanted to scream at them to stop running, to stop punishing themselves, to just choose each other already. But that frustration is exactly the point — because real love, real trauma, real healing are never linear or convenient.
By the time the ending arrived, it felt earned in blood and tears. Bittersweet, yes — but perfect in the way only hard-won happiness can be. They didn’t stumble into their ending. They fought for it.
Days later, I’m still thinking about them. Still missing them. Still wishing for one more glimpse into their lives because saying goodbye feels unfair after everything they endured.
This book didn’t just make me cry — it cracked me open and stitched me back together differently. If you’re looking for a romance that’s raw, painful, deeply emotional, and unapologetically real, this one will take your heart and never fully give it back.
Check the content warnings. And maybe clear your schedule — you’re not walking away unchanged.
And yes… Isaac Vargas deserves a lifetime achievement award for yearning.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So happy I received an ARC for this book!
Iz and Ronnie's story is so heartwrenchingly amazing I'm finding it hard to put my review into words of any kind. If you had told me the words "stay with me" would have a completely new meaning by the end of the book...
These two meet when they are 8 years old and become inseparable almost immediately, they grow up together and their friendship starts showing the possibility of something more - until their parents get married. Ronnie quickly pushes away any feelings she has and tries to "live normally" while Iz just basically lives in hell waiting for her.
Luna did such a great job making us feel for these characters almost immediately - not just Iz and Ronnie but their parents, Nixie, Alexa, Sledge, Max. You can feel the love between the entire family but especially between Iz and Ronnie. After parts one and two I was sitting here like "what more could you possibly throw at us" and Luna just cackled through my kindle and said BUCKLE UP
Isaac is definitely my favorite MMC of Luna's so far - and after Roman I didn't think that was possible! He gives up SO MUCH of himself for Ronnie without a second thought throughout the entire book, constantly giving pieces of himself to give her what she needs and it had me crying for him more than once. And knowing with other Luna's other books I was terrified how this book would ultimately end so was SO happy with the ending we got.
I loved seeing not just the healing for the characters but the dark parts that come prior to the healing too - Iz and Ronnie were good for each other until like Iz said "While we think of each other as medicine, it's become the opposite. We're each other's poison". Seeing how hard it was for them both not only navigating each other and their family but their new reality with everything that happened to them in captivity was so raw and real I couldn't stop reading until I finally got to that last page.
Also - we ALL need parents like Mariana and Nelson. They are both so incredibly supporting and loving it was so nice to see our characters have a decent support system after the hell they escaped from. And their level of understanding with the entire situation is one that I was so grateful for.
MMC: Isaac "Iz" Vargas
FMC: Veronica "Ronnie" Vargas - Sunflower/Trouble/Butterfly
Iz and Ronnie's story is so heartwrenchingly amazing I'm finding it hard to put my review into words of any kind. If you had told me the words "stay with me" would have a completely new meaning by the end of the book...
These two meet when they are 8 years old and become inseparable almost immediately, they grow up together and their friendship starts showing the possibility of something more - until their parents get married. Ronnie quickly pushes away any feelings she has and tries to "live normally" while Iz just basically lives in hell waiting for her.
Luna did such a great job making us feel for these characters almost immediately - not just Iz and Ronnie but their parents, Nixie, Alexa, Sledge, Max. You can feel the love between the entire family but especially between Iz and Ronnie. After parts one and two I was sitting here like "what more could you possibly throw at us" and Luna just cackled through my kindle and said BUCKLE UP
Isaac is definitely my favorite MMC of Luna's so far - and after Roman I didn't think that was possible! He gives up SO MUCH of himself for Ronnie without a second thought throughout the entire book, constantly giving pieces of himself to give her what she needs and it had me crying for him more than once. And knowing with other Luna's other books I was terrified how this book would ultimately end so was SO happy with the ending we got.
I loved seeing not just the healing for the characters but the dark parts that come prior to the healing too - Iz and Ronnie were good for each other until like Iz said "While we think of each other as medicine, it's become the opposite. We're each other's poison". Seeing how hard it was for them both not only navigating each other and their family but their new reality with everything that happened to them in captivity was so raw and real I couldn't stop reading until I finally got to that last page.
Also - we ALL need parents like Mariana and Nelson. They are both so incredibly supporting and loving it was so nice to see our characters have a decent support system after the hell they escaped from. And their level of understanding with the entire situation is one that I was so grateful for.
MMC: Isaac "Iz" Vargas
FMC: Veronica "Ronnie" Vargas - Sunflower/Trouble/Butterfly
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall Thoughts
Stay With Me is the kind of story that aches from the first page and never really lets you breathe. It’s heavy with yearning, survival, and a love that feels carved into bone rather than chosen. The pacing balances softness and brutality beautifully moments of tenderness wrapped around something sharp and devastating. Emotionally, this one doesn’t just tug at you… it grips and refuses to let go.
It feels intimate. Raw. Soul-bound.
Vibes & Tropes
Tropes: Dark contemporary romance, taboo, captive MMC & FMC, angst & yearning, second chance, emotional healing, trauma bonded, childhood BFFs to lovers, Hispanic rep, HEA
Vibes: Soulmates against fate, survival love, aching devotion, soft intimacy in dark places, “you’re my only home” energy
Genre: Dark contemporary romance
POV / Structure: Dual POV, emotionally immersive, character-driven
What Worked
Deeply emotional writing that feels personal and intimate
The childhood best friends to lovers arc hits with real weight
Trauma and healing handled with sensitivity and heart
Captivity tension that heightens the emotional stakes
Hispanic representation woven naturally into the story
A romance that feels fated without losing its vulnerability
Standout Quotes
“I have to be her escape. I need to be her anchor, but I’m falling apart too.”
“Can she feel the song my heart has made for her?”
“We are two halves of one soul—that I’m certain of. My love for him transcends time and space.”
“My girl. Even when you’re walking away from me.”
“Some wounds never heal… they aren’t meant to. Instead, they bloom.”
Content & Tone Notes
This is a dark contemporary romance that explores captivity, trauma, taboo elements, and emotional survival. It leans heavily into angst and healing through connection. Please check content warnings before starting.
Final Take
If you love stories about childhood soulmates, second chances, trauma-bonded devotion, and romance that survives the unthinkable, this will absolutely hit. It’s painful, tender, and deeply romantic all at once. A dark read—but ultimately hopeful.
Filed Under
Genre: Dark contemporary soulmate romance
Vibes: “Take me with you” energy, forever love, healing through fire
Emotional damage level:
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Full devastation. Soul-crushing yearning. Crying at 2am but in love with the pain.
Stay With Me is the kind of story that aches from the first page and never really lets you breathe. It’s heavy with yearning, survival, and a love that feels carved into bone rather than chosen. The pacing balances softness and brutality beautifully moments of tenderness wrapped around something sharp and devastating. Emotionally, this one doesn’t just tug at you… it grips and refuses to let go.
It feels intimate. Raw. Soul-bound.
Vibes & Tropes
Tropes: Dark contemporary romance, taboo, captive MMC & FMC, angst & yearning, second chance, emotional healing, trauma bonded, childhood BFFs to lovers, Hispanic rep, HEA
Vibes: Soulmates against fate, survival love, aching devotion, soft intimacy in dark places, “you’re my only home” energy
Genre: Dark contemporary romance
POV / Structure: Dual POV, emotionally immersive, character-driven
What Worked
Deeply emotional writing that feels personal and intimate
The childhood best friends to lovers arc hits with real weight
Trauma and healing handled with sensitivity and heart
Captivity tension that heightens the emotional stakes
Hispanic representation woven naturally into the story
A romance that feels fated without losing its vulnerability
Standout Quotes
“I have to be her escape. I need to be her anchor, but I’m falling apart too.”
“Can she feel the song my heart has made for her?”
“We are two halves of one soul—that I’m certain of. My love for him transcends time and space.”
“My girl. Even when you’re walking away from me.”
“Some wounds never heal… they aren’t meant to. Instead, they bloom.”
Content & Tone Notes
This is a dark contemporary romance that explores captivity, trauma, taboo elements, and emotional survival. It leans heavily into angst and healing through connection. Please check content warnings before starting.
Final Take
If you love stories about childhood soulmates, second chances, trauma-bonded devotion, and romance that survives the unthinkable, this will absolutely hit. It’s painful, tender, and deeply romantic all at once. A dark read—but ultimately hopeful.
Filed Under
Genre: Dark contemporary soulmate romance
Vibes: “Take me with you” energy, forever love, healing through fire
Emotional damage level:
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Full devastation. Soul-crushing yearning. Crying at 2am but in love with the pain.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️ Infinity Forever
This is the ONE book that I’ve ever read that I could not write a review for immediately after finishing. Purely because I felt too much. I’ll explain. This book is over 500 pages and I started and finished it in a day. I haven’t done that In years. But for Stay With Me, everything else stopped and I sat, laid down sobbing while eating Nutella, walked around, cried, shouted at inanimate objects, kicked my couch, nearly threw my kindle at the wall and then laid down again and let the end of the story take me to the culmination of all the heartache and what happens when you come out of the other side.
Isaac (Iz) and Veronica (Ronnie) are two of the best written characters I’ve read in a long time. Iz is just pure love. No one will ever feel for Ronnie a fraction of what Iz feels for her and you never question that throughout the book. Sometimes Ronnie frustrated me, too much white noise from other people impacted her love story and I wanted to shake her and say “Choose YOUR love story”….
Until Iz and Ronnie experience a situation that changes everything. It’s a situation where you don’t leave it the same. Luna is excellent at putting these situations into books that will hurt your heart…but make you think. Trigger Warnings must be read before this book. YOU are responsible for YOU. Not the author, trigger warnings are there to protect you.
It’s a story about young love that spans years. It’s about how life can throw the absolute worst at you but how you must fight to come out the other side. It’s about how even when you come out the other side, you’re still trying to survive with your new reality and sometimes things that happen in the dark can follow you into the light. But there’s also hope, knowing that no one can try to heal you but yourself but then the small gaps that are left in you, can be filled together with the person who is yours……Who you find in a sandbox and share a blue popsicle with and talk about a King and his Queen.
Read this book. It’s love, life, heartache, sadness, and survival. It’s a love story, but you have to go through it, to make it out alive and allow your hearts to heal.
Just like Iz and Ronnie did.
This is the ONE book that I’ve ever read that I could not write a review for immediately after finishing. Purely because I felt too much. I’ll explain. This book is over 500 pages and I started and finished it in a day. I haven’t done that In years. But for Stay With Me, everything else stopped and I sat, laid down sobbing while eating Nutella, walked around, cried, shouted at inanimate objects, kicked my couch, nearly threw my kindle at the wall and then laid down again and let the end of the story take me to the culmination of all the heartache and what happens when you come out of the other side.
Isaac (Iz) and Veronica (Ronnie) are two of the best written characters I’ve read in a long time. Iz is just pure love. No one will ever feel for Ronnie a fraction of what Iz feels for her and you never question that throughout the book. Sometimes Ronnie frustrated me, too much white noise from other people impacted her love story and I wanted to shake her and say “Choose YOUR love story”….
Until Iz and Ronnie experience a situation that changes everything. It’s a situation where you don’t leave it the same. Luna is excellent at putting these situations into books that will hurt your heart…but make you think. Trigger Warnings must be read before this book. YOU are responsible for YOU. Not the author, trigger warnings are there to protect you.
It’s a story about young love that spans years. It’s about how life can throw the absolute worst at you but how you must fight to come out the other side. It’s about how even when you come out the other side, you’re still trying to survive with your new reality and sometimes things that happen in the dark can follow you into the light. But there’s also hope, knowing that no one can try to heal you but yourself but then the small gaps that are left in you, can be filled together with the person who is yours……Who you find in a sandbox and share a blue popsicle with and talk about a King and his Queen.
Read this book. It’s love, life, heartache, sadness, and survival. It’s a love story, but you have to go through it, to make it out alive and allow your hearts to heal.
Just like Iz and Ronnie did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was my first read from Luna K. Wicked, and I can honestly say I absolutely loved it.
From the very beginning, this story grabbed me in a chokehold and refused to let go. The emotional tension only eased in the very last pages, and even then, it left its mark. There’s no better way to say it, this book will break you.
Isaac and Veronica’s story is not an easy one. The emotional tension? Absolutely brutal. Their love feels inevitable, yet everything seems to be stacked against them. What they go through is heartbreaking, and the pain feels incredibly real: raw, authentic, and deeply emotional. This isn’t angst for the sake of angst, every emotion feels earned.
But as devastating as this story is, it’s also about healing. About finding strength in the middle of breaking. Even when everything is falling apart, these two are so damn strong, and watching them grow through their pain made the story hit even harder. There were so many moments where I had to stop, put the book down, and just breathe because some scenes hurt in a way that stays with you.
Luna’s way of breaking their story into smaller parts is pure chef’s kiss. Each part carries its own hurt, but it adds so much depth layer by layer, you understand who these characters are, what they’re facing, and why. It makes the emotional impact so much stronger.
Isaac and Veronica completely own my heart. Iz is one of the biggest green-flag MMCs you’ll ever find. He shows his love through devotion and action, and even when he’s hurting, he is always all in when it comes to supporting Ronnie. And Veronica oh my god that woman has my whole heart. My heart broke for her, for them, and for everything they had to fight through.
This book is overflowing with emotion, and the ending feels so incredibly earned. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. I already know this book will live in my heart for a very, very long time.
Thank you so much, Luna, for trusting me with this ARC. It was absolutely amazing, and I’m beyond excited to dive into more of your books, right after I recover and restock on tissues.
From the very beginning, this story grabbed me in a chokehold and refused to let go. The emotional tension only eased in the very last pages, and even then, it left its mark. There’s no better way to say it, this book will break you.
Isaac and Veronica’s story is not an easy one. The emotional tension? Absolutely brutal. Their love feels inevitable, yet everything seems to be stacked against them. What they go through is heartbreaking, and the pain feels incredibly real: raw, authentic, and deeply emotional. This isn’t angst for the sake of angst, every emotion feels earned.
But as devastating as this story is, it’s also about healing. About finding strength in the middle of breaking. Even when everything is falling apart, these two are so damn strong, and watching them grow through their pain made the story hit even harder. There were so many moments where I had to stop, put the book down, and just breathe because some scenes hurt in a way that stays with you.
Luna’s way of breaking their story into smaller parts is pure chef’s kiss. Each part carries its own hurt, but it adds so much depth layer by layer, you understand who these characters are, what they’re facing, and why. It makes the emotional impact so much stronger.
Isaac and Veronica completely own my heart. Iz is one of the biggest green-flag MMCs you’ll ever find. He shows his love through devotion and action, and even when he’s hurting, he is always all in when it comes to supporting Ronnie. And Veronica oh my god that woman has my whole heart. My heart broke for her, for them, and for everything they had to fight through.
This book is overflowing with emotion, and the ending feels so incredibly earned. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. I already know this book will live in my heart for a very, very long time.
Thank you so much, Luna, for trusting me with this ARC. It was absolutely amazing, and I’m beyond excited to dive into more of your books, right after I recover and restock on tissues.
February 4, 2026
🦋 Stay With Me ARC Review 🦋
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished this ARC in under 24 hours, and I’ve been struggling to articulate how to write about it since last night, so here goes!
This story is about two people, stripped down to their rawest forms, trying to navigate in a world that has only wanted to provide them with heartache and pain. Best friends who fell in love, but were too afraid to admit it too each other until fate said “Fuck You”, your parents are now in love and you’re going to be step siblings.
Im not sure why it’s hit me so hard to be honest. I’ve read plenty of darkness before, but this was so deeply painful that it was unlike anything I’ve read.
It’s raw.
It will break your heart and rip your soul.
What they go through together is brutal.
But, underneath it all, is a journey to healing, growth, acceptance and love.
My boy. Isaac. Iz baby. Fuck.
The amount of times I cried for this man. He was the most beautifully patient, kind, thoughtful and loving baby. How he kept going, and sacrificing everything just to love Ronnie 🥺🥺🥺
I lost count of how often I just wanted to hold him and tell him it would be ok. There’s a reason Luna has named him the yearning king 💔💔💔
Veronica. Ronnie. Poor sweet girl. My heart hurt for her and what she put herself through, so others could be happy. All of it was at a sacrifice to herself, which meant she only caused her own pain, scars and heartache.
Then having to go through what they did….what a fierce fucking woman.
If you want emotional damage on a high scale, then jump right in baby’s, grab the tissues and hold on tight.
Because I might have finished this book, but it 100% finished me. 💙
Ps. When you read this, drop into my inbox and I’ll share that pain with you.
Then tell me, you can look at this book title “Stay With Me” the same again after Iz says it….🥺🥺🥺. IYKYK 💔
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished this ARC in under 24 hours, and I’ve been struggling to articulate how to write about it since last night, so here goes!
This story is about two people, stripped down to their rawest forms, trying to navigate in a world that has only wanted to provide them with heartache and pain. Best friends who fell in love, but were too afraid to admit it too each other until fate said “Fuck You”, your parents are now in love and you’re going to be step siblings.
Im not sure why it’s hit me so hard to be honest. I’ve read plenty of darkness before, but this was so deeply painful that it was unlike anything I’ve read.
It’s raw.
It will break your heart and rip your soul.
What they go through together is brutal.
But, underneath it all, is a journey to healing, growth, acceptance and love.
My boy. Isaac. Iz baby. Fuck.
The amount of times I cried for this man. He was the most beautifully patient, kind, thoughtful and loving baby. How he kept going, and sacrificing everything just to love Ronnie 🥺🥺🥺
I lost count of how often I just wanted to hold him and tell him it would be ok. There’s a reason Luna has named him the yearning king 💔💔💔
Veronica. Ronnie. Poor sweet girl. My heart hurt for her and what she put herself through, so others could be happy. All of it was at a sacrifice to herself, which meant she only caused her own pain, scars and heartache.
Then having to go through what they did….what a fierce fucking woman.
If you want emotional damage on a high scale, then jump right in baby’s, grab the tissues and hold on tight.
Because I might have finished this book, but it 100% finished me. 💙
Ps. When you read this, drop into my inbox and I’ll share that pain with you.
Then tell me, you can look at this book title “Stay With Me” the same again after Iz says it….🥺🥺🥺. IYKYK 💔
Review of advance copy received from Author
Stay With Me by Luna K. Wicked 🖤
“Stay with me” is a journey through the raw, devastating path of trauma. It’s about the way pain acts as a catalyst—tearing us open, stitching us back together, and leaving us forever altered. It leaves scars that will forever remind us of the cost of our survival.
The story begins with our main characters, Veronica (Ronnie) and Isaac (Iz). They are children meeting for the first time. We get to watch their initial encounter blossom into a beautiful first love. Only to watch that love be drowned in a pit of intense heartache and torment.
Iz is a man who is always the one standing alone amidst the storm, an unmoveable pillar amongst the destruction surrounding him. His love is something that transcends life itself. Even with his own pieces scattered around him, he remains Ronnie’s silent guardian. He illustrates this perfectly, “I’ll be behind her, collecting [the pieces] as we go.”
Ronnie is a broken, tormented soul who fights their connection so hard it creates a raw jagged wound that ends up hurting them both. I honestly struggled with Ronnie's character. Her choices felt selfish, and I watched her destroy Iz one encounter at a time. I couldn't understand why she couldn’t just pick him, pick them. But then, I realized I was watching the messy, ugly reality of how trauma rewires a person.
Luna K. Wicked is a master at illustrating pain and its raw depths. She paints a picture where light pierces the thorny thicket of our trauma—a brightness that guides us out of the brambles even when we feel lost. I felt so raw after reading this book, there were moments where I recognized my own journey to rediscovery after trauma. In a sense, it helped me, showing me that I am not alone, and that we all heal in our own way.
“Stay with me” is a journey through the raw, devastating path of trauma. It’s about the way pain acts as a catalyst—tearing us open, stitching us back together, and leaving us forever altered. It leaves scars that will forever remind us of the cost of our survival.
The story begins with our main characters, Veronica (Ronnie) and Isaac (Iz). They are children meeting for the first time. We get to watch their initial encounter blossom into a beautiful first love. Only to watch that love be drowned in a pit of intense heartache and torment.
Iz is a man who is always the one standing alone amidst the storm, an unmoveable pillar amongst the destruction surrounding him. His love is something that transcends life itself. Even with his own pieces scattered around him, he remains Ronnie’s silent guardian. He illustrates this perfectly, “I’ll be behind her, collecting [the pieces] as we go.”
Ronnie is a broken, tormented soul who fights their connection so hard it creates a raw jagged wound that ends up hurting them both. I honestly struggled with Ronnie's character. Her choices felt selfish, and I watched her destroy Iz one encounter at a time. I couldn't understand why she couldn’t just pick him, pick them. But then, I realized I was watching the messy, ugly reality of how trauma rewires a person.
Luna K. Wicked is a master at illustrating pain and its raw depths. She paints a picture where light pierces the thorny thicket of our trauma—a brightness that guides us out of the brambles even when we feel lost. I felt so raw after reading this book, there were moments where I recognized my own journey to rediscovery after trauma. In a sense, it helped me, showing me that I am not alone, and that we all heal in our own way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All the stars. Take them all. Infinity.
💫God Tier read
💫Next best seller
Stay With Me releases on 2/22.
Pre-order it here - https://a.co/d/5cEDIk8
🖤Forbidden Lovers (Step-siblings)
🖤Possessive MMC
🖤Captive MMC & FMC
🖤Yearning - so much yearning
🖤Second Chance Romance
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Dark Contemporary Romance
🖤Emotional Healing
🖤Redemption
💝HEA
*As always, be aware of your triggers prior to consuming any content. Your mental health matters.*
This is not my typical genre of choice. I typical cannot read a book that is constant push and pull (I want this but can't vibes). Luna K. Wicked has broken this barrier with me through this book. Absolutely shattered it. At just under 550 pages I read this book in under 10 hours. Her captivating writing kept me turning page after page. I absolutely could not put it down.
Luna's writing is so compelling. You feel everything. You hurt with these characters. You cry with them. You root for them. This is the first time a book has ever brought me to tears. Yes, I'm serious. There are some heavy themes in this book. Heavy, serious situations. And no, grape is not romanticized. Every word in this book has a purpose and I felt like I was in the book.
The cover of this book is outstanding. Once you get into the book even the cover will give you all the feels. The title really hits you where it counts.
The artwork tucked within the pages is a treat in and of itself.
Buy this. Read it. Cherish it.
Thank you @luna.k.wicked and her publisher for the ARC for this incredible God tier read. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
#lunakwicked #StayWithMe #darkromance #yearning #forbiddenlovers
All the stars. Take them all. Infinity.
💫God Tier read
💫Next best seller
Stay With Me releases on 2/22.
Pre-order it here - https://a.co/d/5cEDIk8
🖤Forbidden Lovers (Step-siblings)
🖤Possessive MMC
🖤Captive MMC & FMC
🖤Yearning - so much yearning
🖤Second Chance Romance
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Dark Contemporary Romance
🖤Emotional Healing
🖤Redemption
💝HEA
*As always, be aware of your triggers prior to consuming any content. Your mental health matters.*
This is not my typical genre of choice. I typical cannot read a book that is constant push and pull (I want this but can't vibes). Luna K. Wicked has broken this barrier with me through this book. Absolutely shattered it. At just under 550 pages I read this book in under 10 hours. Her captivating writing kept me turning page after page. I absolutely could not put it down.
Luna's writing is so compelling. You feel everything. You hurt with these characters. You cry with them. You root for them. This is the first time a book has ever brought me to tears. Yes, I'm serious. There are some heavy themes in this book. Heavy, serious situations. And no, grape is not romanticized. Every word in this book has a purpose and I felt like I was in the book.
The cover of this book is outstanding. Once you get into the book even the cover will give you all the feels. The title really hits you where it counts.
The artwork tucked within the pages is a treat in and of itself.
Buy this. Read it. Cherish it.
Thank you @luna.k.wicked and her publisher for the ARC for this incredible God tier read. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
#lunakwicked #StayWithMe #darkromance #yearning #forbiddenlovers
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐
Stay With Me is a deeply emotional story that evokes conflicting reactions from the very first chapters, alternating between moments of tenderness and intense pain. The narrative stands out for the way it explores the characters’ silent suffering, particularly that of the female protagonist, who suppresses her feelings in order to protect those she loves, creating a strong and consistent emotional impact throughout the book.
The relationship between Isaac and Veronica is complex and intense, marked by a love that is both beautiful and toxic. The impossibility of being together and the sacrifices made in the name of protection and loyalty add layers of depth to the story. Isaac emerges as an emotionally present male character, whose love is shown through devotion and actions, while Veronica reveals an emotional strength shaped by pain and resilience.
The book maintains a high emotional intensity, with particularly striking chapters that reinforce the sense of accumulated anguish and passion, culminating in an ending that feels earned and coherent with the characters’ journey. Overall, it is one of the most intense and memorable love stories I have read, not only for the pain it conveys, but for the honest and sensitive way it portrays love, loss, and hope, lingering in the reader’s mind long after the final page.
I would also like to thank the author, Luna, for trusting me with my first ARC. It was an extremely rewarding experience and further strengthened my desire to read more of her work. The book will be released on 22 February.
Favourite quote: “You live in my heart. Loving you is all I’ll ever know. All I ever want to know. You’re all I’ll ever want. In this life and the next.”
Stay With Me is a deeply emotional story that evokes conflicting reactions from the very first chapters, alternating between moments of tenderness and intense pain. The narrative stands out for the way it explores the characters’ silent suffering, particularly that of the female protagonist, who suppresses her feelings in order to protect those she loves, creating a strong and consistent emotional impact throughout the book.
The relationship between Isaac and Veronica is complex and intense, marked by a love that is both beautiful and toxic. The impossibility of being together and the sacrifices made in the name of protection and loyalty add layers of depth to the story. Isaac emerges as an emotionally present male character, whose love is shown through devotion and actions, while Veronica reveals an emotional strength shaped by pain and resilience.
The book maintains a high emotional intensity, with particularly striking chapters that reinforce the sense of accumulated anguish and passion, culminating in an ending that feels earned and coherent with the characters’ journey. Overall, it is one of the most intense and memorable love stories I have read, not only for the pain it conveys, but for the honest and sensitive way it portrays love, loss, and hope, lingering in the reader’s mind long after the final page.
I would also like to thank the author, Luna, for trusting me with my first ARC. It was an extremely rewarding experience and further strengthened my desire to read more of her work. The book will be released on 22 February.
Favourite quote: “You live in my heart. Loving you is all I’ll ever know. All I ever want to know. You’re all I’ll ever want. In this life and the next.”
February 9, 2026
🦋 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙈𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙗𝙮 𝙇𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙆 𝙒𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 🦋
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 Spice
🦋🌻🦋🌻🦋 5/5 “Some wounds never heal… they aren’t meant to. Instead, they bloom.”
Phew. 😮💨 That.. was.. intense. I have to say, this is probably the heaviest read, emotionally, that I’ve done. When Luna says to trust the process… TRUST 👏🏻 THE 👏🏻 PROCESS 👏🏻 This book will absolutely, 100%, most definitely put you through it. It will spark emotions such as: shock, anger, sadness, heartbreak, fear, frustration, devastation, hope, happiness (with tears though), joy, and pride.
This story follows the emotional rollercoaster of a life lived by Isaac (Iz) and Veronica (Ronnie.) They are childhood friends turned step siblings, and are thrown through obstacle after devastating obstacle. Their journey is unbelievably difficult, but trust me when I say that it’s truly beautiful how Luna brings it all together. Just as the quote earlier says… some wounds never heal… but we learn to bloom from them. That’s exactly what this story is about.
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Tropes:
🦋 Childhood friends to forbidden lovers
🌻 Taboo (step siblings)
🦋 Possessive MMC
🌻 Captive MMC & FMC
🦋 Angst and Yeaaarninnnggg
🌻 Second Chance Romance
🦋 Emotional Healing and Redemption
🌻 Contemporary Dark Romance (𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘉𝘚𝘖𝘓𝘜𝘛𝘌𝘓𝘠 𝘊𝘏𝘌𝘊𝘒 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘛𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘎𝘌𝘙 𝘞𝘈𝘙𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎𝘚 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘐𝘕𝘛𝘌𝘕𝘚𝘌 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.)
___________
Quote:
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘪𝘵, 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘹, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 Spice
🦋🌻🦋🌻🦋 5/5 “Some wounds never heal… they aren’t meant to. Instead, they bloom.”
Phew. 😮💨 That.. was.. intense. I have to say, this is probably the heaviest read, emotionally, that I’ve done. When Luna says to trust the process… TRUST 👏🏻 THE 👏🏻 PROCESS 👏🏻 This book will absolutely, 100%, most definitely put you through it. It will spark emotions such as: shock, anger, sadness, heartbreak, fear, frustration, devastation, hope, happiness (with tears though), joy, and pride.
This story follows the emotional rollercoaster of a life lived by Isaac (Iz) and Veronica (Ronnie.) They are childhood friends turned step siblings, and are thrown through obstacle after devastating obstacle. Their journey is unbelievably difficult, but trust me when I say that it’s truly beautiful how Luna brings it all together. Just as the quote earlier says… some wounds never heal… but we learn to bloom from them. That’s exactly what this story is about.
__________
Tropes:
🦋 Childhood friends to forbidden lovers
🌻 Taboo (step siblings)
🦋 Possessive MMC
🌻 Captive MMC & FMC
🦋 Angst and Yeaaarninnnggg
🌻 Second Chance Romance
🦋 Emotional Healing and Redemption
🌻 Contemporary Dark Romance (𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘉𝘚𝘖𝘓𝘜𝘛𝘌𝘓𝘠 𝘊𝘏𝘌𝘊𝘒 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘛𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘎𝘌𝘙 𝘞𝘈𝘙𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎𝘚 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘐𝘕𝘛𝘌𝘕𝘚𝘌 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.)
___________
Quote:
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘪𝘵, 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘹, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Did Luna K. Wicked title Stay With Me as a warning? Because I finished this book and spent the next day emotionally wrecked, trying to process how deeply it affected me.
This is a dark, emotionally intense story, and the trigger warnings should not be ignored. The author does not shy away from trauma, grief, or the long, painful aftermath of survival. The emotions are raw and unfiltered, and at times it feels like you’re holding your breath right alongside the characters.
What stood out most to me was the depth of the character writing. Not just the main characters, but every person on the page felt layered and intentional, adding weight to the story and making the emotional moments hit even harder.
Isaac is a standout MMC. He is deeply devoted, emotionally vulnerable, and quietly intense in his love. His loyalty and tenderness never feel overdone, and his presence adds an incredible amount of emotional depth to the story.
Ronnie’s journey was equally powerful. She is resilient, flawed, and painfully real. Her healing is not easy or linear, and I appreciated that she is never portrayed as someone who needs to be saved. She reclaims her agency and strength in her own time, while Isaac remains a steady support rather than a solution.
Their relationship unfolds. It is shaped by shared history, trauma, and mutual choice. They don’t heal each other’s wounds, but they do learn how to exist together with them, creating a connection that feels authentic and deeply moving.
This is a story about love, survival, and finding connection after immense loss. It stayed with me long after I finished the final page.
★★★★★
This is a dark, emotionally intense story, and the trigger warnings should not be ignored. The author does not shy away from trauma, grief, or the long, painful aftermath of survival. The emotions are raw and unfiltered, and at times it feels like you’re holding your breath right alongside the characters.
What stood out most to me was the depth of the character writing. Not just the main characters, but every person on the page felt layered and intentional, adding weight to the story and making the emotional moments hit even harder.
Isaac is a standout MMC. He is deeply devoted, emotionally vulnerable, and quietly intense in his love. His loyalty and tenderness never feel overdone, and his presence adds an incredible amount of emotional depth to the story.
Ronnie’s journey was equally powerful. She is resilient, flawed, and painfully real. Her healing is not easy or linear, and I appreciated that she is never portrayed as someone who needs to be saved. She reclaims her agency and strength in her own time, while Isaac remains a steady support rather than a solution.
Their relationship unfolds. It is shaped by shared history, trauma, and mutual choice. They don’t heal each other’s wounds, but they do learn how to exist together with them, creating a connection that feels authentic and deeply moving.
This is a story about love, survival, and finding connection after immense loss. It stayed with me long after I finished the final page.
★★★★★
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is raw. Dark. Emotionally charged to the point where you feel like you’re holding your breath the entire time.
Luna K. Wicked doesn’t pull punches. She drags you straight through the pain ,trauma, heartbreak, messy emotions, the kind of wounds that don’t magically disappear and forces you to sit in it with these characters. But that’s exactly what makes the growth feel so real. The healing isn’t pretty or easy. It’s hard-won. Earned. And that makes every soft moment hit ten times harder.
Can we talk about the mmc?!
Isaac.
Oh my GOD, Isaac.
This man is yearning personified. Down bad. Devoted. Aching. The kind of MMC who loves so deeply it almost hurts to watch. Every look, every touch, every quiet moment of “I’d burn the world down for you” energy had me melting. He isn’t just protective, he’s emotionally vulnerable, desperate in that tender, soul-baring way that makes you want to crawl inside the pages and hug him.
Top-tier book boyfriend material. No notes.
And then there’s Ronnie; an absolute badass. Strong without being cold. Fierce but still soft where it counts. She’s messy, real, and refuses to break even when life keeps trying to shatter her. Watching her fight for herself, for her healing, for love? Completely empowering. I loved that she wasn’t saved she saved herself, and Isaac just stood beside her.
Their relationship feels earned, not forced. It’s not insta-love fluff it’s two broken people choosing each other again and again.
Easy 5 stars. I loved every painful, healing, heart-squeezing second of it.
Luna K. Wicked doesn’t pull punches. She drags you straight through the pain ,trauma, heartbreak, messy emotions, the kind of wounds that don’t magically disappear and forces you to sit in it with these characters. But that’s exactly what makes the growth feel so real. The healing isn’t pretty or easy. It’s hard-won. Earned. And that makes every soft moment hit ten times harder.
Can we talk about the mmc?!
Isaac.
Oh my GOD, Isaac.
This man is yearning personified. Down bad. Devoted. Aching. The kind of MMC who loves so deeply it almost hurts to watch. Every look, every touch, every quiet moment of “I’d burn the world down for you” energy had me melting. He isn’t just protective, he’s emotionally vulnerable, desperate in that tender, soul-baring way that makes you want to crawl inside the pages and hug him.
Top-tier book boyfriend material. No notes.
And then there’s Ronnie; an absolute badass. Strong without being cold. Fierce but still soft where it counts. She’s messy, real, and refuses to break even when life keeps trying to shatter her. Watching her fight for herself, for her healing, for love? Completely empowering. I loved that she wasn’t saved she saved herself, and Isaac just stood beside her.
Their relationship feels earned, not forced. It’s not insta-love fluff it’s two broken people choosing each other again and again.
Easy 5 stars. I loved every painful, healing, heart-squeezing second of it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Read!!
Luna Wicked takes you on an emotional rollercoaster you don't ever want to get off. Best friends turned lovers who have to endure obstacle after obstacle to hopefully reach their happily ever after. More pain and anguish than anyone should ever have to deal with in their life. The descriptive writing of every single chapter just grabs you and pulls you into their world. You read every page feeling all the pain, the suffering, the torture, the love and healing both Veronica and Isaac go through. I have to admit a few times I had to put the book down because I felt like I was standing right there in the basement with them. I just wanted to jump through the pages and rescue them myself. I was furious with their parents for the role they played in keeping them apart prior to the basement and their continued efforts to keep them apart shortly thereafter. After their life altering ordeal, I was left frustrated with the couple themselves for not seeking the help they both obviously knew they needed. And for their friends and family not helping them see that they were both suffering and self destructing. Eventually "if you love it you have to let it go" became the them of the remaining chapters. Both Veronica and Isaac finally sought the help they both needed and readers got their HEA. Thank goodness, because after reading all that, I needed to have some closure. I needed to know all they went through wasn't for nothing. They made something beautiful out of an absolutely horrific situation.
Luna Wicked takes you on an emotional rollercoaster you don't ever want to get off. Best friends turned lovers who have to endure obstacle after obstacle to hopefully reach their happily ever after. More pain and anguish than anyone should ever have to deal with in their life. The descriptive writing of every single chapter just grabs you and pulls you into their world. You read every page feeling all the pain, the suffering, the torture, the love and healing both Veronica and Isaac go through. I have to admit a few times I had to put the book down because I felt like I was standing right there in the basement with them. I just wanted to jump through the pages and rescue them myself. I was furious with their parents for the role they played in keeping them apart prior to the basement and their continued efforts to keep them apart shortly thereafter. After their life altering ordeal, I was left frustrated with the couple themselves for not seeking the help they both obviously knew they needed. And for their friends and family not helping them see that they were both suffering and self destructing. Eventually "if you love it you have to let it go" became the them of the remaining chapters. Both Veronica and Isaac finally sought the help they both needed and readers got their HEA. Thank goodness, because after reading all that, I needed to have some closure. I needed to know all they went through wasn't for nothing. They made something beautiful out of an absolutely horrific situation.
February 4, 2026
Stay With Me Review!
5⭐️
3🌶️
I was so excited when this ARC hit my inbox and from the first page I was entranced. This is not for the weak. The amount of tears shed over these characters.. Man it’s been a long long time since I’ve felt this much heartbreak. As yall know I try to not give spoilers or too much to the story. I rather give you the raw emotions that I felt but this one deserves a little more. I finished in 36 hours and cried no less than 10x. There is video evidence 😆!
Our main characters Veronica aka Ronnie and Isaac aka Iz.. My babies. I’m crying writing this.
The KING OF YEARNING!! This man may have buried his love and heartbreak in other women and fighting but he would do ANYTHING for his girl. Who expects their parents to falling love when you have been in love with a girl for years.. Reading Part 1 and 2, seeing the beginning of where that childhood love came to be and move into adulthood was beautifully heartbreaking.
The trauma these two endure is devastating. Absolutely devastating. I can’t put into words how much I hated the brutality of it and not in a I hate this way but a PLEASE IS IT OVER YET??
My babies went through so much and came out on the other side so f*cking strong. GODS THE TEARS IM STILL SHEDDING!!
If you want emotional turmoil, raw devastation, and the need to find a therapist this is the one. It’s out February 22nd. I’ll forever be changed from this story. These characters will live rent free in my head forever.
5⭐️
3🌶️
I was so excited when this ARC hit my inbox and from the first page I was entranced. This is not for the weak. The amount of tears shed over these characters.. Man it’s been a long long time since I’ve felt this much heartbreak. As yall know I try to not give spoilers or too much to the story. I rather give you the raw emotions that I felt but this one deserves a little more. I finished in 36 hours and cried no less than 10x. There is video evidence 😆!
Our main characters Veronica aka Ronnie and Isaac aka Iz.. My babies. I’m crying writing this.
The KING OF YEARNING!! This man may have buried his love and heartbreak in other women and fighting but he would do ANYTHING for his girl. Who expects their parents to falling love when you have been in love with a girl for years.. Reading Part 1 and 2, seeing the beginning of where that childhood love came to be and move into adulthood was beautifully heartbreaking.
The trauma these two endure is devastating. Absolutely devastating. I can’t put into words how much I hated the brutality of it and not in a I hate this way but a PLEASE IS IT OVER YET??
My babies went through so much and came out on the other side so f*cking strong. GODS THE TEARS IM STILL SHEDDING!!
If you want emotional turmoil, raw devastation, and the need to find a therapist this is the one. It’s out February 22nd. I’ll forever be changed from this story. These characters will live rent free in my head forever.
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