📚 Book Details
Title: Lights Out
Author: Navessa Allen
Series: Into Darkness (book 1)
Format Read: eBook + Audiobook
Genre: Dark Romance / Romantic Suspense
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️️
See my ⭐ & 🌶️ rating system here →
CW/TW Warning: This book includes dark themes including stalking, violence, trauma, and consensual kink dynamics (fear play, knife play, breath play, etc.).
→ For a full list of content warnings, click here.
✨ The Quick Take
Dark, chaotic, hilarious, and wildly addictive—Lights Out is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat (lovingly… consensually… 👀) and doesn’t let go. If you like your romance morally grey, tension-filled, and just a little bit unhinged, this is the ride.
📚️ Story Snapshot (Spoiler-Free)
Aly is a trauma nurse running on fumes—burnt out, sharp-witted, and carrying more than she lets on. Her coping mechanisms? Dark humour… and some very specific fantasies.
Enter Josh—a masked, viral thirst-trap creator whose online persona blurs the line between fantasy and something far more dangerous.
What starts as intrigue spirals into a high-stakes game of tension, obsession, and vulnerability as Aly’s inner world collides with very real external threats. Beneath the heat and chaos lies something deeper—something that might just change both of them.
💭 My Reading Experience
🤯 Overall Thoughts
Lights Out is an absolute gem that completely blew my mind.
This book is dark, witty, and unapologetically bold—a rare combo that had me hooked from page one and absolutely reeling by the end. Navessa Allen doesn’t just dip into multiple genres—she owns the blend. Suspense, romance, humour, emotional depth… it all feels seamless, intentional, and so well executed.
And let’s talk about that mask kink… 👀
It’s not just there for shock value or spice. It’s deeply tied into the emotional and psychological core of the story—exploring themes of power, safety, vulnerability, and control. It adds layers to both the romance and the tension in a way that feels intelligent, not gimmicky.
Bold? Yes.
Different? Definitely.
Did it absolutely work? 100%.
❤️🔥 Characters
Aly
An exhausted trauma nurse with a razor-sharp sense of humour and a tendency to put herself last. She’s complex, self-aware, and quietly struggling—and watching someone finally choose to protect her? Yeah… that hits.
Josh
Honestly? Unhinged perfection.
He’s giving “golden retriever in a wolf mask” energy—clingy, chaotic, morally grey, and deeply protective. There’s this constant push-pull between danger and softness that makes him ridiculously compelling.
Their Dynamic:
- Terror meets desire
- Deep emotional intimacy
- Absolute gremlin-level banter
It’s chaotic in the best way—like emotional whiplash you willingly sign up for.
🎢 Plot & Pacing
The pacing? Flawless.
It starts strong and just… doesn’t let up. The tension builds in waves—every time you think you can breathe, something else pulls you right back in.
There’s a solid suspense/thriller backbone here too—this isn’t just vibes and spice. There’s real danger, real stakes, and hints at a larger world being built for future books.
It genuinely feels like:
“oh no” → “OH YES” → “wait WHAT” → repeat
🔥 Romance & Spice
Okay… let’s not pretend we’re not here for this too.
There is a lot of kink—and it’s intense. But what stood out most is how intentional and consensual everything feels. It’s not thrown in randomly—it’s part of the characters, their connection, and their emotional growth.
And the mask scenes?
Top. Tier.
✍️️ Writing Style
Navessa Allen’s writing is:
- Dark but easy to devour
- Hilarious without breaking tension
- Cinematic when it counts
The humour is chef’s kiss if you like it a bit twisted—think inappropriate jokes at the worst possible moments, sharp banter, and a level of self-awareness that makes everything land even harder.
❤️ Tropes, Vibes & Favourite Quote
🔥 Tropes:
- Morally grey MMC
- Masked identity
- Stalker romance (consensual dynamics)
- Protector energy
- Trauma meets healing
- Obsession → connection
✨ Vibes:
- Dark romance chaos 🖤
- Unhinged but lovable MMC 😈
- Tension you can feel 🔥
- Banter & bite 🗯
- ️“This is questionable but I love it” energy 👀
💬 Favourite Quote:
“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.”
🎧 Audiobook Section – Narrators
Narrators: Elena Wolfe & Jacob Morgan
This narration? Chef’s kiss.
The MMC narrator absolutely understood the assignment. He delivers Josh with this energy that feels like:
Deadpool… but darker, sexier, and somehow even more unhinged.
Snarky one second, dangerous the next, then unexpectedly soft—it works so well.
The FMC narrator brings Aly to life perfectly—her exhaustion, humour, and emotional depth all land exactly right. And her comedic timing? Spot on.
The duet narration is the real star here.
Having each narrator perform their respective character’s lines avoids that awkward voice-switching—and makes the whole experience feel like a fully immersive performance.
✨ Aesthetic Extras
📸 AI Realistic Polaroid:
🎧 Spotify Playlist
📌 Pinterest Board:
💌 Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely—but with caveats.
If you love:
- Dark romance with real tension
- Morally grey, slightly unhinged characters
- Spice that actually means something
You’ll probably eat this up.
If you’re unsure about heavier kink elements or darker themes, definitely check content warnings first—this one doesn’t hold back.
🖤 Final Thoughts & Come Chat
Lights Out is one of those books that feels bold, different, and completely unforgettable.
It made me laugh, gasp, question my life choices (in the best way), and fully lose track of time. It’s chaotic, emotional, intense—and somehow still incredibly fun.
And honestly?
I’m already so ready to dive deeper into this world.
Have you read it yet?
Are you a Josh apologist, or are we having a discussion? 👀
Between the Pages & Pixels 