Listened to it for a bit, and then learned that this is the second story in the series. I haven't yet read the first one, but I enjoy this one so much I'm definitely going to check it out first. Rating this one four stars in the meantime. Definitely purchasing it for myself.

Oh my God, I don’t think I can appropriately put into words how awesome this book was to listen to. It’s so fast paced, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The mysteriousness of Mina and her family really drew me in and kept me questioning everything. Oliver, our sweet golden retriever was wonderful in every way. I’m so happy the author chose to do a dual point of view as it provided the dynamics needed to make this story as immersive as possible.

Our FMC is powerful yet vulnerable in a way that quickly made me connect with her. The way she would mentally reframe and take on everything that happened, is just, insane. But what’s great is that it felt remarkably realistic, she isn’t this fictional being of power, she’s a girl and she scared but she tries her best regardless. The inclusion of her panic attacks and anxieties was one of my favorite parts about this book. It’s extremely realistic due to the traumas she has endured and the way she handles them or doesn’t handle them brings immense transparency into the world of mental illness.

Our MMC, I love a great cinnamon roll, golden retriever type. He is sweet and kind and obsessed from the very beginning, but he is more than just his love for her, which tends to be a flaw in most characters with this archetype, but not this one. I can’t wait to find out more about him and his back story. I feel like there’s so much more to know about him.

The complexities and realities of this story are so beautifully written, I felt entranced from the beginning. However, I will warn you there are some definite TWs I would take note of if you are sensitive to these kinds of things.

I highly recommend giving this a read, it’s a bit outside of my norm, but it was refreshing and I loved it! Can’t wait to dive into the Prequel!

TWs:
Abuse
Violence
Torture
Abduction
Drug use
Attempted R*pe
Sexual Assault
Organized Crime
Foster care mentions
Infidelity
Addiction
Anxiety Attacks
Suicidal Ideation
Involuntary medical treatment
Starvation & Dehydration
**this is most of what happens but things of the like happen and it’s rough

Mina and Oliver are young and in love. It is just as high school should be. Mina lives with her mother and her father is a very wealthy business man who hardly has time for her. Oliver more than understand as he has no family to speak of and is financially secure on his own despite his young age. Everything is going well until one night Mina comes home to find intruders questioning her mother about where Mina is. Mina outsmart them and actually kills two of the men before they flee, but her mother is severely injured and may not survive. It is later at the hospital that Mina is convinced that the only way to help her mother is to let herself be kidnapped. Once she is taken, Oliver stops at nothing to try to find her. He searched harder than the police and finds some promising but dangerous leads.

I loved where the story was heading and the details that got us there but the ending was not a good fit. It was not satisfying. The rest of the story was amazing and the details were perfect. I loved the characters and really was fighting for Mina and Oliver to come out on top. I feel that for as fast-paced and exciting as the majority of the book was, the ending was lacking.

It was ok, nothing particularly exciting..I think it just didn't have a big enough spark to stand out to me. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, just wasn't my taste I guess.

💗Love and Other Cages🥺by Emilia Ares
Thank you @netgalley for this ALC, this is my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💭My thoughts: Love and Other Cages can be read as a standalone but is the second book after Love and Other Sins. The cover is absolutely stunning and is what drew me in immediately. I went in blind, not reading the blurb and was pleasantly surprised to find out it’s an adult romantic thriller. The author did amazing at adding depth to so many scenes. My heart hurt for Mina and Oliver. They must have went through so much together to finally be together at the beginning of this book, just to be separated and chucked right back into darkness again. I’m definitely going to go back and read the first book now. Definitely recommend!

First off, I'll say that the audiobook is narrated well and the actors did a great job. Now, as far as the story goes, I thought it was a bit much. Parts of the story are great and other parts not so much. I think there was a lot going on and it didn't all blend seamlessly as one story to me. This book is the second in a series which I did not know and I don't think it is necessarily marketed as such and technically can be read as a standalone but I feel I was missing some context. This also ends on a cliffhanger and I didn't love that either. This one may work for others but for me it was a miss.

Thank you NetGalley and SERA Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

*Love and Other Cages* by Emilia Ares is a gripping continuation of the *Love and Other Sins* series, blending romance and suspense with a touch of intrigue. The story follows high school seniors Mina and Oliver as their intense connection is tested by unexpected tragedy and danger. While Mina pushes Oliver away to protect him, Oliver fights tirelessly to reunite with her, navigating a world filled with dark twists and turns.

This book kept me invested with its fast-paced narrative and emotional depth. Though I recommend starting with the first book for full context, the story stands strong on its own. The audiobook narration by Will Collyer and Emilia Ares was a standout, adding layers of emotion to the characters and their journey.

With its mix of romance, action, and dark themes, this book is a great pick for younger readers who enjoy thrilling stories. Just be mindful of the mature content. Overall, a compelling read, though not my usual genre.

This is the second book in the Love and Other Sins series. I started it and didn't realize it was part 2 until a couple of chapters in, but by then, I was so invested in the story that I couldn't stop. I do recommend reading the first book before this one for a better reading/listening experience.

This story is about two high school seniors who are madly in love but are torn apart after Mina and her mother are attacked in their home. Mina is on a mission to protect everyone that she loves which forces her to push Oliver away. This is all while Oliver fights for answers to help him reunite with Mina and keep his business afloat.

This story is full of suspense and takes unexpected turns. This isn't my go-to genre but I am interested in reading the first book and seeing where the story goes. I would recommend it for a younger reader (like early 20s) interested in thriller and romance, but please be mindful of the content warnings of violence and dark themes.

This was an audioARC and the narrators, Will Collyer and Emilia Ares, did an amazing job conveying the story along with the characters' emotions. Their narration made me even more invested and connected to the story.

I want to thank SERA Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to this AudioARC via NetGalley. I'm happy to provide my honest review in exchange.

Love and Other Cages by Emilia Ares is a captivating story of first love intertwined with mob violence. The dual narrators bring the narrative to life, with Mina's terror and Oliver's desperation deeply resonating throughout. While the pacing slows a bit in the middle, the tension and intrigue never waver, making it a gripping and thought-provoking read overall.

The world of star crossed lovers, mafia, family and the choices that choices we make which impact not just us but those around us also. The story was interesting and kept me listening? The back and forth from the past to the current wasn’t as clear through audiobook as it likely was when reading so fair warning. The quality of the audio and both the author and the narrators voices were soothing and easy to listen too. I don’t want to give away spoilers but your heart is going to break, melt and then start the process all over again. Up’s and downs will pull you in quickly and then at the end…leave you hanging and waiting for the next book.

This story follows two people who are thrust into a life they didn't ask for. Now told in dual POV these two characters are going to have to figure out how to keep the other safe and how to make it back to each other.

I was very confused at the beginning of the book due to not knowing it is a "second" book. Once the story started to flow it got easier to understand. I enjoyed the story from about 4o% mark and on. I thought both narrators did a fantastic job at acting out as the characters. I felt the emotion throughout the book from both of them. Also the cliff hanger that this book left off on ! I think I will be reading the rest of the series.


Overall: 3.5 stars
Performance:4.5 stars
Story: 3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Sera Press & Emilia Ares for the ALC!
I was initially unaware that this was the 2nd book in the series. So I did read book one before requesting this ALC, and I HIGHLY recommend it.
The narrators were amazing and really fit the characters.

This is a dark romantic thriller & ends on a total cliff hanger.

DNF @41%
So to review the 41% that I listened to, this is more of an action thriller/drama/suspense with a romance subplot and to be honest I don't think this was accurately portrayed in the blurb. I was expecting it to be more about their romance.
I do think it's really well written, but I felt like there was a lot of missing backstory/context, especially for the MMC. The story started off pretty high intensity and maybe more was explained by the end but there was enough missing that it seemed more like it was left out.
I also found a lot of unbelievable given they're HS seniors. I think as I get older I just really don't like children being put in adult situations in books. I realize that it happens in real life obviously but the MCS are showing a level of maturity that you don't often find and 17/18 year olds
The reason for my DNF though was when they amped up their...techniques...for hurting Mina to convince her father to come out of hiding. Maybe if it hadn't been about a high schooler it wouldn't have bothered me so much but listening to the graphic violence toward kids is something I'm not interested in.

I was not a big fan of this book. There was an uncomfortable amount of highly sexualized content given that these characters are teenagers.

📱E-Book Review📱

Love And Other Cages
Emilia Ares

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the second book in the Love And Other Sins series and you will have spotted that I reviewed the first book just a couple of weeks ago...and loved it!

After being left on a pretty drastic cliffhanger at the end of the last book, I was so pleased that I already had book 2 to dive straight into, so wasn't left dangling for too long.

This book starts where we left off which was brilliant as having just come out of the thrill of book 1, I was instantly drawn back into Mina and Oliver's world.
The action kicks in straight away and if I'm honest, it never let up the whole time.

We again see some tough topics explored, which whilst they make this a difficult read, I do think that it's important to focus on some of these things as they do present a relatable and believable world and storyline.

These are also so well written and create an exciting narrative that keeps you on edge and hooked from start to finish.

I love the dual pov chapters as this really helps you get into the characters heads and means that I feel much more connected to them both. But I still feel there's a lot more to come from Oliver.....maybe for further on in the series.

Once again, we're left on a cliffhanger - this wasn't quite as much of a shock as last time, I kind of expected to be left dangling again - but this time, I'm sadly going to have to be patient awaiting book 3 .....

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Love and Other Cages is a thrilling YA romance novel and the second book in the “Love and Other Sins” series. The story follows high school senior Mina Arkova, whose life is upended when she becomes entangled with a crime syndicate and gets abducted. Her boyfriend, Oliver Mondell, who has a past of abandonment issues, becomes determined to rescue her. The story is fast-paced and unpredictable and can be read as a standalone, as there is sufficient backstory to easily follow the narrative.

Ares’ writing is rich with vivid descriptive prose, and her talent in capturing the characters’ raw emotions so intricately is evident. The story is told in a compelling dual narrative that provides readers an immersive perspective into the motivations and inner workings of both Mina and Oliver. Mina is a fearless protagonist whose courage in harrowing situations makes her very admirable. Oliver’s unwavering love and commitment to save her nicely balance out the heavier elements of the story.

Although the book is marketed as YA, it includes some mature content, including violence and sexual assault, which may be more suitable for adults. The middle section of the story drags in parts, with some scenes lingering too long, and readers will have to be patient before the pacing picks up again. The story escalates in intensity in the second half, with a few pleasing twists that keep the story engaging and interesting. The ending is open to interpretation and thought-provoking and may frustrate readers who desire more resolution for the characters—but it also sets up great anticipation for the next installment.

Overall this book is an intense thriller with a compelling high-stakes romance. The audiobook is performed by the author and actor Will Collyer, who deliver authentic and emotionally intense performances that keep listeners fully engaged. If you enjoy intense thrillers, complex characters, and romantic subplots, this book is a great option to consider!

I listened to the audiobook version of this through NetGalley. The narrating was fantastic and I enjoyed the dual narrators throughout the plot. The plot itself just wasn’t for me.

I’m surprised this is considered a young adult read as some of the content seemed pretty advanced for YA. In the beginning I was a little bit bored. Toward the end of the book I started enjoying the plot and wondering what was going to happen.

The ending fell flat for me and left me with lots of questions.

I love the narration immensely. I am just maybe not the right listener for this. I was expecting something else. It was good, I was just feeling jaded. I know other people are going to love this one.

Thank you SERA press and the author for an advanced listen copy of this book.

I read the first one in preparation for this book. I do not know where I expected this to go but it wasn't this direction. Talk about a surprise. The cliff hanger ending was actually so wild.

A heart wrenching romance, with an insane mafia thriller twist.

Read if you like the idea of the movie Taken where the girl actually can help herself.

Well narrated book …like a picturesque romance and action and drama.
A good story about young true love