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.
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book boyfriend:
Dreadful Sharpe
tropes in this book
in the bybookishbabe library
this book belongs because…
a book that shows the true blur between love and hate
fictional bf
Dreadful Sharpe + reverie
the vengeful bully who has every reason to hate reverie—and cannot stop orbiting her. their dynamic blurs punishment, inherited grief, obsession, and attraction.
meet Dreadful Sharpeverdict
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
chapter index
My Dreadful Darling spicy chapters
- 14
- 15
- 21
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.
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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
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frequently asked questions
My Dreadful Darling faq
what is my dreadful darling about?
a spicy dark bully romance fueled by revenge: reverie’s father killed dreadful’s mother, and her silence about it made him hate her.
is my dreadful darling spicy?
yes—very. it is explicit and unconventional, including a scene in a crematorium.
is my dreadful darling a standalone or part of a series?
no. it is book one of the hollow graves duet and ends on a cliffhanger.
does my dreadful darling have a happy ending?
the hea is unknown at the end of book one because the story ends on a cliffhanger.
who is the fictional bf in my dreadful darling?
dreadful sharpe is possessive, obsessed, and mean—but you understand his anger. his toxic relationship with reverie makes you want to scream, “just talk to each other.”
what are the content warnings for my dreadful darling?
there are a lot. check the author’s full trigger-warning list before reading—this is a true bully romance.
book details last checked July 21, 2026 · based on Autumn’s reading notes, edition information and current retailer listings