Lights Out by Navessa Allen was released on February 28th, 2024, to much fanfare. It quickly rose to number sixty-four at the Amazon Kindle store (that’s out of the entire Kindle store!) and a few weeks later made it to number fifteen, which is in-freaking-credible for an indie book. This is one of those rare scenarios where I purchased the book because of the hype, and after reading it I can attest that it’s amazing.
I first encountered Navessa Allen in early February on Threads when she was posting about book marketing strategies and how she grew her Instagram account by posting daily reels. Her reels at that time were promoting Lights Out in humorous and effective ways. Needless to say, I was intrigued and bought her book.
Prior to reading Lights Out, I wouldn’t have said I was a masked stalker romance girlie. New kink unlocked. This book was incredible. It’s dark. It’s scary at times (but not over the top). And amid the blood and the fear, there are elements of humor to lighten the mood.
Update (02 May 2024): Lights Out has just been picked up by Zando-Slowburn (same publisher as Butcher & Blackbird). I’ve updated the Amazon link accordingly.
Affiliate Disclaimer: I participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. As such, if you make a purchase through one of my links below, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Lights Out: A Dark Stalker Romance
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
(you can find my rating and spice system here)
POV & Tense: Dual POV, first person, past tense
Genre: MF Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Dark Romcom
Tropes/Themes: Masked Cinnamon Roll Stalker, Kinky Overworked Nurse, Ex-hookup’s Roommate, Primal Play, Knife Play, Sexy Home Invasion, Fear and Desire, The Cat is the Real Star, Morally Grey MCs
TWs: Go ahead and read the list of trigger warnings on Navessa Allen’s website first to ensure you’re down with all that goes on. I had no problems with anything that happened, but then again I’m hard to squick 😉
Synopsis:
Overworked trauma nurse Aly doesn’t have a great work-life balance. She doesn’t have time for a real relationship, and her precious few off hours are dominated by scrolling Instagram thirst traps—specifically the Faceless Man, a buff tattooed man in a ghost mask who often dons fake blood and holds a very sharp knife—and fantasizing about being chased through the woods. She never expected one drunk text to change her life.
Why me? And why now? And why was I so fucking turned on by it when I knew I should run screaming from my house instead?
My Review:
I loved everything about Lights Out. It’s sexy. There are tense, scary moments. Both morally grey mcs are relatable and meant for each other, and there’s a much bigger story that takes you along for a ride. It’s not for the squeamish, but if you love dark romance, are fine with the tws, and have a dark sense of humor, you’ll love this.
It was another test. Most likely, she was about to call the cops, but on the off chance she didn’t, she was about to take the first step toward becoming mine.
Morally Grey MCs
I can’t choose. I love Aly and Josh equally. Aly spends her days caring for others, giving everything she can, and she desperately needs someone who will pay attention and care for her in return. Josh is the son of a serial killer. He doesn’t trust himself and is afraid of turning into his father. Wearing a ghost mask and fake blood for Instagram thirst traps gives him a release and creates a sense of control, a safe environment where he can act out his depraved desires. But when his roommate’s ex-hookup starts commenting on his reels, he can’t help but wonder if she wants to play for real.
There is a gorgeous line between fantasy and reality, and there is a delicious push and pull between Aly and Josh when they begin to cross that line. Aly is terrified yet intrigued. Josh can’t help himself but is deeply afraid he’ll end up in jail. Having both POVs helps toe the line and ensures the reader isn’t too frightened, although there are a few moments where I was left thinking, You’re a cinnamon roll, Josh. Right? … RIGHT?!!!
His body was a goddamn masterpiece. Pretty priviledge was real because looking at him made me want to forgive him for all manner of sins.
Fred, the Cat
As much as I love Aly and Josh, let’s be real. Fred is the real star of the book. He’s hilarious, needs to use the litter box at inconvenient times, and hates all men—except for Josh. Always trust your cat’s opinions about potential partners (even if Aly declares that cats are sociopaths).
Of Miscellaneous Bodies
The tagline of the book is “The couple who slays together, stays together” and naturally there is a major subplot involving the disposal of a body. I won’t say anything more, because spoilers, but this subplot is fantastic. There are many heart-in-throat moments and other scenarios that reveal much about both our main characters. (And the Gilmore Girls references are on point.)
I didn’t want him morally grey. I wanted someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.
Lights Out by Navessa Allen (Into Darkness Book 1)
Final Thoughts:
I’ll shout it from the rooftop once more: I loved Lights Out immensely. I enjoyed Navessa Allen’s writing style, and I will keep an eye out for future books and look into her backlist. Highly, highly recommend this one.
Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
Navessa Allen is a multi-genre romance author (contemporary, historical, paranormal, and fantasy).
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Banner Image Credit: Dark Forest
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