my dreadful darling review — h.d. carlton (spice level, tropes & should you read it)

May 16, 2026

looking for a dark romance with actual enemies to lovers, high tension, and a relationship that really shouldn’t happen… but does anyway?

my dreadful darling might be exactly what you’re looking for.

what you’ll find in this book

this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026.

and it overdelivered. like actually overdelivered.

(which if you know me… i don’t say that often.)

what this book does really well? the enemies part.

not tension for the sake of it. not “they dislike each other for a chapter.”

actual enemies. the kind where you’re sitting there thinking… how is this even going to turn into anything?

and then it does.

it’s dark, it’s spicy, and it’s genuinely addictive in that just one more chapter way.

my take

if they’re not actually enemies first… i don’t want it.

the book

most of the recs in the library are on kindle unlimited, which makes the spiral slightly easier to justify.

(i use it constantly, and it is very much part of the reader math.) try it here →

my dreadful darling
dark, addictive, and built on a dynamic that really shouldn’t turn into anything… but does anyway.

dark romance

My Dreadful Darling

H.D. Carlton
#1 • hollow graves duet series
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
My Dreadful Darling

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.

dark academia enemies to lovers he falls first touch her and die
✓ on kindle unlimited
amazon

spice level

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

this isn’t light.

tropes

  • true enemies to lovers
  • dark romance
  • morally gray characters
  • touch her and die energy
  • serial killer parent
  • ppd/struggling mother

see the book everyone is talking about... think ❤️‍🩹 forbidden love and ⏳ second chance romance see the weekly obsession

final thoughts

this is one of those books that reminds you why you like dark romance.

it commits. it doesn’t soften anything. and it actually lets the relationship build from something messy.

and yes — it ends on a cliffhanger.

just know that going in.

should you read it?

if you like dark romance, real enemies to lovers, and something that actually pulls you in… yes.

this one is worth it.

want more like this? say less.

the full romance library is waiting.

peek inside the society library

take me to the library →

morally gray men, slow burns, hockey romances, villains who should absolutely not be attractive… it’s all there.

frequently asked questions

is my dreadful darling worth reading?
yes — it wouldn’t be in the bybookishbabe library if it didn’t. if you like real enemies to lovers and darker dynamics, it hits.
is my dreadful darling spicy?
yes — i rated it a 5/5 spice rating.
is my dreadful darling part of a series?
yes — book one in the hollow graves duet. and it does end on a cliffhanger, so plan accordingly.
is my dreadful darling a dark romance?
yes — and it actually commits to it. darker tone, morally gray characters, and a dynamic that doesn’t feel safe.
does my dreadful darling have a cliffhanger?
yes. just know that going in… you’re going to want the next book.
is this enemies to lovers?
yes — real enemies. not just tension. it actually starts there.
are books like this on kindle unlimited?
many are — check individual listings to be sure. and always check trigger warnings before you start.

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