Book Review: Lights Out by Navessa Allen

Rating: ★★★☆☆(4/5)

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Introduction:

Quick Facts

• Release: Read:
• Reading Time: 8-12 hours. I listened to the audio book on 1.5 speed.
• Format Recommendation: Audiobook is recommended for the intense emotional nuances, but the physical format offers a more tactile connection to the text.
• Perfect for: People who want to dip their toes into lava. I have not read a ton of spice that is this explicit and dark. I think it is a good first step into the spicy pool. Some might not find it as spicy as I do but the graphic depictions is what makes me put the levels that I do.
• Genre and Writing Style: Dark Romantic Comedy
• Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
• Trigger Level:💀💀💀💀💀https://navessaallen.com/lights-out/

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Summary: A Brief Overview (Without Major Spoilers)

“I don’t need another kink.”

That thought pops into my head whenever I pull up my favorite social media app, but alas, every time I scroll, I learn something new about myself, and another one is born. And yes, I know I’m responsible for what the algorithm shows me, but I’m trying to ignore that fact.

Lately, my feed has been dominated by masked men. I’ve favorited videos with them dressed in full cosplay, decked out in futuristic military apparel, and wrapped up like ghouls.

But more than anything else, my FYP is filled with shirtless men wearing ghost masks. Bonus points if they’re heavily tattooed, wielding a knife, or covered in fake blood. At night, I dream about being chased by them, of them catching me and doing deliciously dark things to my more than willing body.

I never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become my new reality.

Lights Out is a fast-paced dark romance with a morally grey male lead. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book.

https://navessaallen.com/lights-out/ You can also get them here.

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What Worked for Me:

“Monster Adjacent Like Joe and Dexter”: Josh does not want to be ‘Monster Adjacent’ but Josh comes off as a Wish Version of Joe Goldberg. Joe was so obsessed with Beck that unalives people to get what he wanted. Josh is willing to go that dark just not with the object of his obsession. He is more like Dexter in that way. He is a combination of the two and the only thing that puts that into the W column for me is that he is morally gray enough that he’s not fully a monster. He still has limits and he still has a conscience and it shows.

Aly’s Physical Description: She is described as strong and curvaceous. She can beat up men fifty pounds heavier than herself. She is not a breakable Damsel in Distress and I love that. A lot of books focus on the FMC being this skinny and petite flower; this one makes her a badass.

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What Didn’t Work for Me: Trigger Warnings and Criticisms

The Kink Level: I am not into the idea of someone breaking into my house with a mask and fucking me. Not my kink. I could appreciate that these were two consenting adults but I would not ever feel safe in my home again if someone did what Josh did to Aly.

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Final Thoughts:

📚 Study Guide (taken from https://newbookrecommendation.com/summary-of-lights-out-by-navessa-allen-a-detailed-synopsis/)

Tips for Readers: Be prepared to reflect on the darker themes throughout the story; journal your feelings to unpack the complexity of characters and their relationships.

• Discussion Questions:
  1. How does Aly’s perspective shift throughout the narrative?
  2. Compare Josh’s two personas; how do they reflect internal conflict?
  3. What does the evolution of Aly’s emotional states signify about her character growth?