My Dreadful Darling
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she carries her father's sins like a death sentence — and he's spent years making sure she never forgets it. but he's not the only one who wants her to drown.
tropes in this book
verdict
everybody in this book is carrying ghosts. hers just happen to have his mother's face. it's messy, painful, frustrating at times, and about as far from a feel-good romance as you can get. i ate it up.
vibe
this book is dark. not "he's a little mean and then immediately obsessed" dark. i mean he genuinely puts her through it. both of them are carrying the weight of things that happened long before they met, and every page feels heavy because of it. if you're looking for something easy, this isn't it. if you're looking for angst, pain, and two people who are absolutely wrecked by their pasts, welcome.
spice
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 — very spicy. the emotional intensity is already high and the spice absolutely matches that energy.
reader fit
you want a romance that hurts a little. okay, maybe a lot. if you like books where nobody is emotionally stable, everyone needs therapy, and the tension feels sharp enough to draw blood, this will probably work for you.
you need your romances soft, comforting, or low stress. this book spends a lot of time putting both characters through hell and doesn't apologize for it.
content warnings
this is a dark romance dealing with grief, trauma, bullying, violence, and the aftermath of murder. her father killed his mother, and neither of them escaped the damage that left behind. definitely check detailed trigger warnings before picking this one up.
standalone + hea
book one of the hollow graves duet, which means you're not getting all your answers here. plan accordingly before you get attached.
pinterest moodboard
My Dreadful Darling aesthetic
My Dreadful Darling quotes
‹ all quotes“You’ve ingrained yourself so deeply in me, I would die if I cut you out.”
— My Dreadful Darling by H.D. Carlton
‹ all quotes“All I dreamed about was you.”
— My Dreadful Darling by H.D. Carlton
‹ all quotes“You’re going to meet God in one of two ways, Reverie,” I whisper. “Either way, I’ll be between your legs when you do.”
— My Dreadful Darling by H.D. Carlton
‹ all quotes“You can’t make a deal with the devil, and then expect God to save you from it, darling.”
— My Dreadful Darling by H.D. Carlton
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