My Dreadful Darling review — H.D. Carlton (spice level, tropes & is it worth it)

this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

somehow…

it still exceeded every expectation i had.

this is book one in the hollow graves duet. it’s dark, spicy, genuinely unsettling at times, and one of the best examples of enemies to lovers i’ve read in a long time.

is my dreadful darling worth it?

yes.

without question.

if you’ve ever complained that enemies to lovers isn’t actually enemies to lovers anymore…

this is the book you’ve been looking for.

they don’t secretly want each other from chapter one.

they don’t exchange a few sarcastic comments and call it enemies.

they genuinely can’t stand each other.

and somehow watching everything slowly change became one of my favorite reading experiences this year.

the book

spice level breakdown

5/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

this book is dark.

the romance is dark.

the spice is dark.

there’s bullying, obsession, and enough tension that every interaction feels like it could end in either a fight or something significantly less appropriate.

exactly as advertised.

tropes in my dreadful darling

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

what to read after my dreadful darling

if you’re still recovering from my dreadful darling…

i’ve got you.

if you want another romance that fully commits to the dark academia bully vibe, read eternal next.

if it was the bully romance that completely pulled you in, alluring darkness should be your next stop.

and if you’re looking for another dark romance from leigh rivers with just enough tension to keep you saying “just one more chapter,” pick up satanic shadows.

book previews

🌶🌶🌶🌶

Eternal

Eva Simmons

bully romance

🌶🌶🌶🌶

Alluring Darkness

Raven Wood

bully romance

🌶🌶🌶🌶

Satanic Shadows

Leigh Rivers

enemies to lovers

or browse by trope:

→ dark academia

→ bully romance

favorite quote

“All I dreamed about was you.”

fictional boyfriend material?

dreadful sharpe is exactly the kind of fictional man that makes me question my own taste.

dark. obsessive. morally gray.

and somehow i still understood the assignment.

meet the fictional man

Dreadful Sharpe

from My Dreadful Darling

view full profile

my dreadful darling spicy chapters

just know you’re definitely not here for fade-to-black romance.

final thoughts

this is one of those books that reminded me why i love dark romance.

it never waters itself down.

it commits to the darkness.

and most importantly…

it remembers that enemies to lovers has to start with actual enemies.

just don’t make the mistake of starting this without book two nearby.

that cliffhanger is rude.

want more like this? say less.

the full romance library is waiting.

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 — 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.

is my dreadful darling on kindle unlimited?⌄

yes — my dreadful darling is on kindle unlimited. always check trigger warnings before you start.

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