Unhealthy Love: A Dangerous Obsession

by Octavia Grant

This novella is not for the faint of heart. A book so twisted and taboo filled, you'll find yourself running to the nearest altar to pray. Some affairs are so heinous that some people never escape the mental turmoil of living through it. Lavanya "Lava" Jackson, is that person. For years she tried to escape her past, but somehow it seems impossible. Things take a drastic turn when secrets she never knew are exposed. Will Lava finally escape her past, or will she become swallowed by the truth.

133 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2020

About the author

Octavia Grant discovered her passion for creative writing in 2002 during her junior year at Georgetown High School in Georgetown, South Carolina. She began writing professionally in 2016 and, two years later, took full ownership of her literary career by becoming an independent author. A bestselling black thriller author and the bestselling author of Cutthroat, Octavia has penned more than 30 novels known for their psychological depth and gripping suspense.
Her work and voice have earned national recognition, including speaking on the Thrilling Tales Author Panel at ESSENCE Fest, Thriller Panelist at National Book Club Conference (NBCC), interview with Narrator iiKane, literary reviewer and film commentator Tamara Walker of Tam Telling Tales, and features in WYB Lifestyle, VoyageJacksonville, Canvas Rebel, and Bold Journey. She has also been honored as one of 160 Black Women in Horror and received multiple accolades for her psychological thriller novella Dear Vicky, including the Black Girls Who Write It’s Lit Award for Best Black Mystery/Suspense, the Audio in Black North Star Award, and the AAMBC Award for Mystery/Thriller Book of the Year.
In addition to these achievements, Octavia has been named Best Thriller/Suspense Horror Author by the Literary Gem Awards and Best Female Author by the Get Caught Up Podcast. Her storytelling continues to push boundaries within the thriller genre, centering bold narratives that captivate, challenge, and resonate with readers worldwide.

Reviews

[Demetrius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, okay, okay…. What the fuck did I just read? I thought I was ready for this book but I wasn’t 😭. Ms. Grant, I’m sorry but ima have to stop reading your books for awhile, only because I’m going to therapy. I’ll make sure I’ll send you the bill 😩

This has to be the most twisted book I’ve ever read. I’m not sure how you came up with it but it’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me !

The ending made me cry . 😭

“She’s a danger to herself because she can’t escape the fantasy of her own mind. That makes her dangerous to society.”

“Looking around my room, I knew I needed to call an interior decorator as soon as possible. All the white padding on the walls and on the floor, just wasn’t the right décor for me.”

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhhhh…. Whew! I knew by the synopsis that this book would be something, but I was not in the least bit ready for what I just read! 😤 I finished this early this morning, and I had to sit with it for a minute before I could write my review. I mean, it kept me awake as I could not get these characters out of my head! Ma’am you did not lie when you said this was not for the faint at heart. I figured how bad could it be. Y’all…….. this was dark, disturbing, traumatic, sad, and oh so twisted!! After the first chapter, I almost put it down because I was could not believe what I read, and it scared me a lil bit! But, I pushed on, and well….. now I will be forever scarred! 🤯😥

Dr. Lavanya Jackson is like no other character I have ever read before and will probably never see again! The heinous things that she went through with her parents, did a number on her psyche and that was all she wrote. I thought I understood what an unhealthy love was, noooooo Ms. Grant taught me a thing or two! As I continued, I couldn’t tell what was real or was I beginning to lose my mind? This story just sucks you in, and I felt like I was in the passenger seat watching as it all went down with Lavanya.

Toward the end when things started to connect, I wondered who was minding the store? I mean the psychiatric hospital. It was the blind was leading the blind here! I just…. did that really…. happen??????🤯🤯🤯

Ms. Grant honey your imagination is of another world, cause how did you come up with this thang here? Imma need to read some foolishness after this cause I am just a mess! 😥 I’m going to have to do your reads in doses ma’am, cause I can’t with you. 👀 Imma be on them people’s pills! Just wow!

[Kim’s Kindle Reads. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not even sure .. for real. I don’t know what that was but it was A LOT. I don’t know if I need therapy or a drink. I thought Andrew was crazy… he had nothing on Lava. This was very dark and even more twisted.

[adoseof.adri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excuse me???

[Candee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟
Ms. Octavia, come to the front neowwww!! Cause ain’t no wayyyyy!!

[Jahda · Rating 4 out of 5]

you already know what to expect with Octavia 🤯

[Elonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! This novella is fast paced, a true page turner, and all types of crazy!!! I absolutely loved it. Run to KU to read it! 😂❤️

[Symone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm questioning what the fuck I just read. Octavia had me regretting I started this book by page 2..... but she laces her penmanship with something because I was hooked. I couldn't stop reading this wild ass book.

[thebookcritic_ · Rating 1 out of 5]

no

A scattered story that was all over the place. It’s like the author was like what’s the most crazy, disturbing story I can come up with and just ran with it. Lava was just like everybody she hated. How did the governor even get in her house? How did she preserve “it” that long? Literally makes no sense. How are they twins but different ages? Book needed to be heavily edited.

[Nedra N · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unhealthy love

I did not enjoy this book. I was one of the saddest incestuous book I have ever read. I thought it would have a happy ending but I was very disappointed.

[Pages With Pantina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟 I have absolutely no idea what I just read!!! Like, I'm not sure what did or did not happen tbh.
All I do know is Octavia Grant is keeping this pregnant mama outta a book slump and no other author writes unreliable narrators like her!

This novella is most definitely NOT for the faint of heart! Dr. Lavanya Jackson was completely deranged and the epitome of unhinged... Even though I empathize with all that happened to her in her childhood and teenage years, she had no business being a psychiatrist and needed all the help she could get. But what a wiiiiild, crazy ride once again! I shall be giving her books a break for my mental health though.

[Fatimah · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! This book was so insane, disgusting, & delusional but I couldn’t get enough! I ate this book up. On to the next Octavia Grant book.

[Ms. Bookworm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trigger warnings

This book was very sick and twisted. Lots of incest, rape, molestation, sexual abuse of every kind going on. I couldn’t finish this book. It made me cringe. And who plays with themselves while driving?? This author is a sick individual. How does she come up with this type of nonsense. Sisters eating each other out. Mom and brother sleeping together and has kids. Disgusting.

[Page Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually like books by this author, but I did not enjoy this one. It was written in such a way that I was too disturbed by the content to get into it. It didn't help that I didn't like any of the characters. I still like this author, but I guess every book is not going to be a hit for everybody.

[Simoné Wolmarans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This MFC was utterly and completely unhinged. I’ve read some messed up things in the last few weeks but this woman just takes the whole damn cake.

This book is filled with dark subject that would make the most evil person on the planet blush and/or cringe.

The twist at the end made my jaw drop. Was not expecting that at all and it made the entire book so much better.

READ YOUR TRIGGERS. This book is not for the faint of heart.

[Terra Jeniece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dark and twisted.

[Kswag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know where the author came up with this mess but worse why I love reading it. It’s so unhinged and uncomfortably addictive.

[michelle]

3.5 ⭐️ —— it was a bit too much for me, do NOT read this surrounded by strangers, people might peek at what you’re reading and think you’re nuts 😂😂😂😂🤦🏾‍♀️

[La Verne]

I really don't know what to say, I'm lost for words after reading this book. This was some wild going on in this book...lol! I have to read another book (pallet cleanser) 😂 Lawd have mercy.

[Liyah P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely entertaining but at the same time INSANE. We might need to do a wellness check on author Grant cause baby the FMC Lava is going to have you clutching pearls clutching anything you can get your hand on cause again INSANE. If can’t handle dark reading I would say you need to move on but if you can proceed.

[Mikayla]

I normally enjoy the crazy stories by Octavia Grant but I’m unsure how to feel about this one.

[Reading2escape · Rating 1 out of 5]

Umm I truly have no words for this book

[Alisha 🦋💗 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly couldn't event tell you wtf I just read. Octavia never ceases to amaze me and I really wish I could just pick her brain one day. I can't even fathom the ideas she has written down somewhere and has not published. I think this may be the craziest of her books I have read and that says a LOT! A quick read for sure and crazy as hell.

[Brooklyn Simpson-Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star level: 5 stars Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Trope: TABOO, sooo much taboo, relationship within family, death, cheating, harm to children, SA, rape, suicide, kidnapping, prison, mental illness,
Trigger: death, murder, toxic, SA, suicide, rape, suicide, child pedophilia
Fav quotes: “You need to remember that when you raise your hand to point the finger at someone, there are a few fingers on that same hand pointing back at you”
About the book: Blind I went into this book blind and my gosh was this book taboo! The. At the end had me questioning what did I just read. This book is taboo with lots of triggers be prepared. Lavany is a psychic doctor and she’s doing well for herself especially after everything that she has went through her past. 9 years 9 years she has been in this relationship with this man that she does things to keep people way no matter what. Normally I give very detailed review but I don’t want to give nothing away. But if you do read this book be prepared to rethink about what you just read, need a drink, and stare at a wall. Because now I want the pov from the people around her because I need more information for the questions I have.

[Shernina Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

What in the unhinged erotica plot twist did I just read

I…I don’t even know how to put into words the thoughts in my brain about this book. It was insane, unhinged, and extra smutty in a bad way😳 This book had me like 😯😦😧😮😲😳🤯 almost the entire time. The story line was decent, but the ending was rushed. I needed so many more answers. There was so much info and plot twist in that epilogue, that I had to breathe a second to wrap my mind around it all. There was so much going on and then BAM! The author’s shock value was definitely top notch, but gracious how did she even come up with this 😲🤯

[Anissa Sheppard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost put this down several times but I hate starting a book & not finishing it.
The issues Lava had were more than one person should have to deal with. First I was wondering why she would deal with a married man for so long. Then why she would even keep answering the phone for her mother. When the true paternity was revealed for her & her sisters I understood why I thought she wasn't working with a full deck. But it's the ending that pulled it all together. It wasn't so shocking, well some of it was.

[Antoinette Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

whew Honey let me pray

I would like to request an evaluation for Octavia Grant, as I found Unhealthy Love extremely disturbing. In fact, I was so repulsed that I didn't think I could continue reading past page 35. The content was sickening, and what's worse is that such things happen in real life. After finishing the book, I felt the need to pray for myself. Could ya'll please assist me with the evaluation process? Lol

[Jae Philon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was TOO WILD

Yooooo WHAT did I just read? This story was legit all over the place and just sick. I am literally questioning my sanity for even sitting through this nonsense. I gotta give it up to the Author though for being creatively insane to have thought this up and publish it. It so many unanswered questions that I don’t even have the mental capacity to ask.

[Brianna M · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I don’t know what I read but I know it was damn good
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[📚MekaG Readz📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

Talking about total mind fck!!!! This story right here was insane!!!!! Another one for the books with Octavia Grant!!!! Sheesh