I tried so hard to get into this book, but I couldn't get past 15%... I did not read the 1st book, but I saw in other reviews this could be read as a stand alone. It was a slowww start and very unrealistic. I had to keep reminding myself that these characters were supposed to be teenagers. You could not tell by the language they spoke. There was too much detail in the conversations that did not matter between the characters and not enough background information up front. I sadly had to DNF this read. I look forward to seeing other publications from this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Wow! The best way for me to describe this book is a reluctant spy novel with romance. The beginning starts off fast and intense. It pulls you in and doesn't stop. I enjoyed the action, characters, and relationships that formed. I don't typically read spy novels or books featuring many Russian characters, but I had fun with this book!

I didn't realize this was the second book until I read other reviews. I don't think I missed too much, only some references, but I would recommend reading the first one before this one! I know I'm going back to read it.

Three-star reviews are the most difficult for me to write. I was all over the place with this novel. While there are some definite positives and negatives about this one, it felt like I read two different books; one I liked and one I didn't. I hated the early chapters so much that if this hadn't been an ALC I would've DNF it within the first ten minutes. I try hard to stick with ARCs though, so I trudged on. The novel makes an abrupt shift towards the middle, and I was stunned at how much the plot improved.

The biggest downfall of those early chapters is how overwritten everything is especially, the dialogue. There is repetition galore that should've been edited down. The character behavior seems farfetched, and the teen dialogue sounds like it's trying too hard to sound young. Teenagers don't speak like that. When I noticed some of these issues creep back up toward the end, I realized that the immature interactions between the two main characters are unnatural, cringey even. The romance plot thread was weak. The villains seem cheesy in the first section. I kept envisioning them as mustache twirling cartoonish cutouts. I couldn't take these guys seriously.

The middle section of the book was interesting, and I was floored by the change of pace. The agent training the FMC receives is scary and fascinating. It reminded me of an underground spy network. The book is better when the main characters aren't in scenes together. The stronger plot lies in this section, notably minus the romance. Even the villainous characters hold their own better in the second half.

This is a dual perspective audiobook and is narrated by Will Collyer and Emilia Ares. The author voices the main character herself.

If you're considering this one, it is book 2 but can be read as a standalone. It also ends on a cliffhanger. There are dark themes so be aware especially if considering this for a younger reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Listening Copy

I listened to this as an audiobook, courtesy of NetGalley (thank you for the opportunity!). One thing I didn’t realize at first was that this is the second book in a series. While it’s often said that it can be read as a standalone, I felt like I missed some of the backstory between Mina and Oliver.

The story alternates between Mina and Oliver’s perspectives, which I wanted to love, but it felt disjointed. Mina’s experiences in the Russian underground, including intense moments of torture, contrasted sharply with Oliver’s business struggles and attempts to find her. His storyline felt less compelling, with dialogues that seemed wordy and less impactful. I wish Mina’s side had taken center stage, showcasing her strength more vividly from the start, rather than implying it only once she reached training. The sudden shift there felt a bit abrupt.

Another challenge was the narration. The female narrator’s enunciation and overly dramatic tone, even in less significant scenes, made it hard to stay engaged. While the book certainly has moments of intense, heart-wrenching drama, the narration seemed overdone across the board.

In hindsight, I think reading the first book might have helped me appreciate this one more, and I probably would have enjoyed it more as a traditional read rather than an audiobook. Still, if you’re drawn to intense, multi-layered stories, this one might be worth exploring (perhaps with a different format!).

“Love and other cages” is an action packed, YA romantic thriller that takes you on an unexpected journey. The story starts with Mina and Oliver and their fledgling relationship. We then take a hard right when Mina and her mum experience a terrifying home invasion that leaves a man dead and Mina’s mother in a medically induced coma. A scared and on-edge Mina is then approached by the CIA and told she is going to be kidnapped and to let it happen because they will track her. But months later and deep in the Russian crime underbelly Mina is losing hope and Oliver is ready to try anything to find her.

•••

It is claimed that you can read this as a standalone and while the core story line is all within these pages, the character building and the building of their relationship was done in the other book so I feel like I lost some of their motivation. The kidnapping happens so early on that their “love” didn’t feel as palpable as I would have liked.
The detail included in the Russian underground was remarkable. Either Ares has a great imagination or she did extensive research. The middle dragged a little bit for me but the writing was effortless and enticing.
The cliff hanger! I was not expecting that kind of ending on this book.

Thankyou NetGalley for this arc

I've never read anything by Emilia Ares and although this is apparently book #2 of "love and other sins" I don't think I really missed any of the gist.
The narrating was really good and I was really impressed by the Russian accents, I wonder if the narrator is a native speaker.
This book was exciting and although it was on the "long" side and sometimes felt repetitive I was still engaged in listening. Looking forward to more.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher ( and narrators) for the opportunity to listen and share my thoughts.

This audiobook became cringey pretty quickly, I’m not a fan of listening to a book like that. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

Wow. This book isn’t like anything I’ve read before. I loved how the author put her own spin on the Russian mob but still made it high stakes. I love a good espionage plot. Mina is a strong FMC and I absolutely adore Oliver. The two have definitely been put through the wringer in this story. I would like to see a bit more world building and the pacing seemed slightly rushed, but overall it was an action packed book that kept me on my toes. I have a lot of questions though, so I hope they are answered in the next book!

I listened to the audiobook version, and thought the narrators did a great job! The Russian accent was top notch and both displayed emotion very well.

4 stars!

Honestly I started in the middle of the night because I couldn’t sleep and can’t get into it, I don’t love the audio narrator.

This book was a refreshing change from my usual reads! It’s a lighthearted yet vibrant story, beautifully balanced between action and character development. I especially enjoyed the connection between Oliver and Mina, which added a lot of depth and emotion, making the story even more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Love and Other Cages by Emilia Ares continues the emotional journey of the characters from the first book, Love and Other Sins. This second installment delves deeper into the lives of Mina and Oliver as they navigate complex emotions, family dynamics, and the challenges of young adulthood. Mina, a spirited young woman with a complicated past, and Oliver, a sensitive musician haunted by his own struggles, find their relationship tested by both external circumstances and inner turmoil. Their love story is both heartfelt and tumultuous, as they attempt to define themselves while staying connected.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the pacing of the story, which kept me engaged from start to finish. Ares skillfully balances moments of tension with heartfelt scenes, giving readers a realistic and relatable look into the characters’ lives. The depth of Mina and Oliver’s emotions is palpable, drawing you into their world and making you feel invested in their journey.

One of the highlights for me was the audiobook performance, which featured the author, Emilia Ares, herself. Her narration added a unique layer of authenticity to the story, allowing her personal connection to the characters and their emotions to shine through. This made the listening experience truly immersive, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative.

For those who haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend starting with Love and Other Sins before diving into Love and Other Cages. The two books together provide a rich, continuous storyline that adds depth to the characters and their evolving relationships.

Love and Other Cages by Emilia Area is a gripping thriller that delves into the depths of love, sacrifice and the lengths one would go to protect the ones they cherish.
Mina, a diligent high school senior, finds her life abruptly disrupted when she is abducted by a dangerous criminal organisation.
Oliver. a man grappling with his own past, is devastated by Mina's disappearance. As oliver delves deeper into the criminal underworld, he uncovers a web of danger, determined to rescue Mina and restore their shattered world.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Narration: 5 Stars

Holy man!! This book was such a rollercoaster! I found Love and Other Cages on NetGalley while browsing for audiobooks and am SO glad I did.

I didn’t realize this was book two in a series 😅, but luckily it stands completely on its own. I never felt like I was missing backstory, and the action kicks off early—which I love! Now, I’m definitely excited to go back and read the first book, Love and Other Sins.

The narration was a solid 5 stars. Emilia Ares and Will Collyer brought such depth to their roles, making every twist and emotion hit even harder. At one point, I had to remind myself I wasn’t actually in the story—it was such an immersive listening experience!

Love and Other Cages is a YA Romance but a touch of darkness that had me in a complete chokehold! Emilia Ares’s writing shines with detailed secondary characters and raw, emotional depth in the leads. Mina and Oliver’s journey is high-stakes, gripping, and intense—a romance that battles fate itself. I’m already looking forward to the next installment!

Note: This one covers some dark topics, so definitely check trigger warnings, especially for younger readers.

Love and Other Cages by Emilia Ares is a thriller that blends young adult romance with mafia drama, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While I can see how this book might appeal to fans of darker, tension-filled love stories, it wasn’t the right fit for my tastes, and I feel that my reading experience was influenced by not being the book’s intended audience. If I were a young adult, I might have been more invested in its emotional intensity and fast-paced plot, but as an adult reader, I had a number of frustrations with the novel’s direction and its tone.

The story revolves around Mina, a young woman kidnapped by the Russian mafia, and Oliver, her love interest with his dark passed and his own set of financial struggles. The central premise is certainly compelling—tension, danger, and protecting those you love—but my biggest issue with the book was its treatment of Mina’s captivity. While the novel comes with a content warning for dark themes, the prolonged descriptions of Mina’s torture felt excessive and, at times, difficult to stomach. It dragged on for far too long, creating an uncomfortable and jarring contrast with Oliver’s chapters, which dealt with financial matters and dealing with the police. The juxtaposition of her brutal suffering and his relatively mundane problems just didn’t work for me, especially in a novel that is otherwise grounded in a realistic, non-fantasy setting.

What makes this even more frustrating is that the narrative is told from both Mina’s and Oliver’s perspectives. While I understand the intention to provide a dual POV for emotional depth and to show the story from both sides, it often felt like the two storylines didn’t mesh. Mina’s harrowing ordeal felt so intense and immediate, while Oliver’s sections about money problems and police investigation felt almost trivial by comparison, which made the pacing uneven. The contrast in tone was hard to reconcile, and at times, I found it difficult to stay engaged with the plot as a whole.

Ultimately, Love and Other Cages didn’t resonate with me, but I can see how it might be more appealing to younger readers who enjoy fast-paced romance with an edge of danger. While I couldn’t finish the book, I acknowledge that it has its audience, and if you’re someone who enjoys high-stakes romance with mafia drama, this may be right up your alley. However, for readers who prefer more balanced narratives and are sensitive to the portrayal of violence, it may be worth considering the content warnings before diving in.

This novel was a fast paced tour de force! The setting was dark and ominous and gave the feel of being on the edge of a dangerous precipice. I loved both for the characters and the love that they had for one another. Can’t wait to see where the story takes us.

The cover grabbed my attention, but the pacing of the story....le sigh.

I really tried my best to not DNF but even after 60% in, the story was just not going anywhere. They said it could be read as a standalone, but I seriously doubt that. You need to be invested in the characters and their stories to have patience to go through this book. I HAVE A FEELING IT DOES GETS BETTER , just not when you start this book as a stand alone.

So unfortunately a dnf from me. Maybe someday I will come back to it or maybe not.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting for more and I had no idea this was a series! Now I’m going to have to wait for book 3! I would give it 4.5 stars! Some parts were just so unrealistic. I did listen to it on audio which I think is better hearing both voices!

For being a young adult mystery thriller, this has some really dark themes and I think a teenager over 16 would really enjoy listening to this. The voice actors were really nice to listen to which I feel is important with audio books.

This worked as a standalone book but it is a book 2.

I could tell. I have't read the first book and I felt like I was missing something.

It was damn good though! I would like to read book 1 now for extra context but whoo-weeeee this book had it all.

I loved the characters. I loved the whole feel of the book.

4 stars