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Crew: A Tragic Love Story
At sixteen, a young man is beaten and thrown onto the streets of New York City by his own father for being who he is. By morning, the boy he used to be is gone. A year later, in his place is another youth, one named Crew, who learned hard and fast that his body was a commodity people were willing to pay for.
Four years later, Crew's world runs on rules, prices, and three Auntie Gia, who offered shelter and protection when he had nothing; Rocco, best friend, brother, and sometimes lover, devoted enough to kill for him; and Father Robert, whose fortnightly arrangement has evolved into something Crew refuses to name. These are the closest thing he has to family, but even they are kept at a distance. Letting them in would be a sign of weakness, and weakness leads to exploitation. To abandonment. To the kind of pain that almost killed him twice already. So he keeps them at arm's length, where it's safe. Where "just business" means he stays in control.
Then a new client, grunge rocker Cassandra Morgan, enters his life and refuses to play by his rules. She offers a safety, sanctuary, a place where he can finally let down his walls. She expects nothing in return except his heart. And that's something Crew doesn't know if he possesses anymore.
A Tragic Love Story is a raw portrait of survival at the margins—where sex is currency, safety is temporary, and the walls that keep you alive can also imprison you. Unflinching and unsentimental, this novel explores what it costs to allow those walls to crumble when they are the only thing keeping you safe.
Four years later, Crew's world runs on rules, prices, and three Auntie Gia, who offered shelter and protection when he had nothing; Rocco, best friend, brother, and sometimes lover, devoted enough to kill for him; and Father Robert, whose fortnightly arrangement has evolved into something Crew refuses to name. These are the closest thing he has to family, but even they are kept at a distance. Letting them in would be a sign of weakness, and weakness leads to exploitation. To abandonment. To the kind of pain that almost killed him twice already. So he keeps them at arm's length, where it's safe. Where "just business" means he stays in control.
Then a new client, grunge rocker Cassandra Morgan, enters his life and refuses to play by his rules. She offers a safety, sanctuary, a place where he can finally let down his walls. She expects nothing in return except his heart. And that's something Crew doesn't know if he possesses anymore.
A Tragic Love Story is a raw portrait of survival at the margins—where sex is currency, safety is temporary, and the walls that keep you alive can also imprison you. Unflinching and unsentimental, this novel explores what it costs to allow those walls to crumble when they are the only thing keeping you safe.
354 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2026
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February 12, 2026
As someone who has built internal walls and has a hard time letting them down to trust, I could relate to the main character. Gritty, heartbreaking at times, and with a cast of characters who I would love to learn more about, from Auntie Gia to Rocco to Father Robert. The ending is sad but hopeful, and I admit to being very curious about where the next book goes. But I guess I have to wait until the end of the year to find out.
Displaying 1 of 1 review