I’ve read other books by Catherine Doyle and I was surprised by this book (series).

I’m excited for their rerelease!

Overall the characters are dorky. It felt like a lighthearted mafia romance?

Overall the story was entertaining and the characters were likable!!!

I have adored other works by this author however this one i didn't enjoy ass much. The writing didn't have the same feel as to her other books which is what originally made me what to pick up this series

I had so much fun reading this book.

Mafia style Romeo and Juliet twist, romance with non of the cheesy gooeyness that typically comes in a YA book.
I absolutely adored the friendship between Sophie and Millie, something really healed me reading them together and made it feel like an actual real life friendship.
Nicolo... Your bad boy with morals.
I loved reading about the brothers. Their loyalty to one another, you knew there was a darker side to them all but you didn't care. Just happy to be along for the ride.

I will say, I feel like I want to see more of Luca in the next books. And for some reason I feel like there could also be something with him... maybe I'm reading into it too much but I hope there is more.

And that is to say I will definitely be reading the next books when they are re-released. Already got me hooked.

The only reason I gave a one star is because of the love triangle or love triangle to be. I had an inkling that would happen and I was not disappointed. I mean I was disappointed because of the love triangle. I have nothing against people who likes that but I personally can't stand them. And ONCE AGAIN I'm getting burned because of false marketing. I mean hello you mention Romeo and Juliet yet do a love triangle, sorry did I miss that in the original version.
Such a disappointment, and I really started to like this book.

I have to say that I've requested this ARC because of the blurb, the cover, and the author ; I didn't expected to find out it's a new publication of a book already published back in 2015. And sadly I think that this book would be way more popular back then, but with the work done on it from this publication - there's too many book like this one out now.

It's a "Young Adult Mafia Romance". And it wasn't really credible with the ages, but still enough entertaining for me to reading it quickly without the want to dnf it. I was actually way more interested in the male characters, especially Luca whom seemed to be the most complex character out of the five brothers (the other being either obvious or really blant), than having the main character's POV as Sophie. Because just like Lucas said in his bonus chapter, "she's definitely not smart", and god this is so true. She has no survival instinct, she's naïve, doesn't think enough, and just plainly stupid.

On the Mafia side, we only start talking about it close to reading the 60% mark, which makes it very low ; but then the Mafia plot gets really interesting. I would have actually prefered to have more on the "not like the others" Mafia side, than getting plot focused on the romance which happened to be pretty dull, without much chemistry.

Otherwise, this book stays YA : there's an attempted r*pe, and physical violence and shooting, but it's still like those evening fight movies that has violence but can totally be seen by kids so it's not PG rated low.

Vendetta by Catherine Doyle
4 star

This book was released nearly ten years ago, but has now been republished and it makes me so happy because I read this book MANY moons ago, and I absolutely loved it. But now, I have pre-ordered all 3 from Waterstones with the beautiful sprayed edges.

For a YA book this is actually incredibly enjoyable for adults, there was nothing about it I didn’t enjoy. Catherine has such an incredible skill in her writing, I have now read every single book she has release, and I do not feel ashamed about it. I thoroughly enjoy all of her work because her writing is nothing short of spectacular.

The plot in this one is brilliant. I’m talking mafia, Romeo x Juliette retelling, and just pure drama. I loved it. There isn’t much I don’t like about this book at all, even as a YA book there are some dark subjects, but honestly, read it.

Romeo and Juliet meets The Godfather but make it YA? Sign. Me. UP. 💋🖤

This book hooked me SO fast. Mafia families, forbidden romance, secrets on secrets—I ate it up. And while I guessed a few twists, it didn’t even matter because the drama was DRAMMING, and I couldn’t stop flipping pages.

Sophie as a lead? I really liked her! She’s relatable and strong, but omg girl… wake UP where Nic is concerned. Like, she’s so blind to his flaws, and I just wanted to shake her sometimes. Nic is charming and all, but honestly?

LUCA supremacy. 🖤🔥 Listen, I know Nic is supposed to be the swoony bad boy, but Luca? He stole the show for me. I’m an enemies-to-lovers girly through and through, and Luca brings that grumpy, dangerous, soft-on-the-inside energy that’s impossible to resist. Sorry not sorry.

Sophie’s friendship with Millie? A highlight. Ride-or-die besties who balance out the chaos? WE LOVE TO SEE IT. Millie is the kind of friend every MC needs, and their bond gave me so much life.

⚠️ Heads-up: This book does go dark in places. There are moments of drugging and a near-assault that might be tough to read for some, so definitely check content warnings if needed.

Overall, Vendetta is pure YA mafia gold. ✨ It’s dark, angsty, and full of tension—exactly the kind of story you pick up when you want a mix of danger and swoon. The pacing? Fast. The vibes? Immaculate. And the ending? Rude. I’m already grabbing books 2 and 3 because I NEED to know how Sophie’s story plays out.

If you love forbidden romance, morally grey bad boys, and family secrets with a side of Mafia chaos, this one’s for you. 🔥📖

3.5

This plot was interesting, I think more world-building and character development and a bit of a slow burn would make this a 4-star, but I look forward to reading books 2 and 3. I do hope the dialogue gets a little more mature in the other books, I know this is a YA but I just felt like it read very juvenile, perhaps because it was written in 2015 and Doyle has obviously grown immensely as an author.


Doyle also tends to entertain more than one love interest, 3 series and I am starting to see a pattern. I am not complaining, she is one of the very few people who can write love triangles, if you can call it that well. However, I always end up liking the guy the fmc does not pick which is a bummer lol. Right now I do not have a preference for Nic or Luca for Sophie, but I think she might pick Luca at the end?????

Thank you, Simon and Schuster for the arc

I love Catherine Doyle's writing so to have the chance to read this early was sensational for me. Romeo and Juliet meets the Godfather in this superb new romance that you won't be able to put down.

I really liked it. Loved the story. There was just something I didn't like about the MFC, maybe immaturity but then she is 17. I felt this was quite a young YA novel and maybe that was the issue as I'm alot older lol but i still enjoyed it and I will read the second book as I need to know what happens next. I do love this author writing though, she just keeps you at the edge and needing to know what happens. Thanks for the ARC.

Oh wow, I was sucked in straight away!! Who wouldn't be obsessed with the Falcones? Especially Nic and Luca. This book does deal with dark themes, so check triggers, but they are portrayed really well. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!!

I desperately wanted to love this given how incredible the twin crowns series is but it was predictable and the characters didn't have enough substance. The dialogue didn't make sense as YA in parts. Just not for me.

After Sophie's dad was imprisoned last year, she is determined to spend the summer laying low whilst working in the family's diner in Chicago with her best friend, Millie. However, when a new family move into the supposedly haunted mansion at the end of Lockwood Avenue, things take a very different turn for her. Sophie finds herself drawn to Nic, one of the five brothers who have moved into the house, despite being warned away from them by a family friend. When secrets about both families come to light, Sophie's world changes forever and she needs to pick a side: her family or the boy she is falling for.
I love Catherine's middle grade books, as well as the Twin Crown series she writes with Katherine Webber, so discovering her new YA, Vendetta, on Netgalley was exciting.

Ok; short version of my review: This book is brilliant and I loved everything about it!

Now, for the more detailed bit...

From the beginning, this book is one that drew my attention and lured me in: the promise of romance combined with danger is an intoxicating one; add in the unknowns and you have all the qualities you need for a truly gripping read.

You know that life isn't easy for Sophie: her father is in prison but you don't know why; all you know is that she and her mum are doing all they can to make ends meet, with occasional help from her Uncle Jack who is managing the diner whilst her father is away. Millie is her best and only friend and the pair both work in the diner. It's whilst Sophie is walking home from an evening shift that she realises that the big, deserted house on what is known as Priestly corner is finally occupied again. Curiosity gets the better of her and she is compelled to take a closer look ... and it's this chance encounter that changes everything.

Vendetta is everything I'd hoped it would be and more. It's a grippingly immersive read and, even though I devoured it in 2 days, I found myself thinking of Sophie and the plot whilst I wasn't reading it (so keen was I to finish it on Saturday, that I fell asleep with it in my hands in bed!) Good versus evil is most definitely brought into question here - what happens when good isn't completely good and when evil is doing it for what they believe are the right reasons? The book is full of twists that will keep readers on their toes and will entice them to read just one more chapter.

Vendetta is the perfect blend of darkness and hope; forbidden love and the lure of attraction; it's discovering that everything you thought was true is actually very far from that. Secrets are revealed, family loyalties are tested and lives will be changed forever in this truly wonderful read - I know the book is yet to be published (2nd January) but I'm already desperate to read the second book in the trilogy. Vendetta is definitely a YA to pre-order if you want to guarantee to avoid the January blues.

✨2.5 stars ✨

I really wanted to enjoy this book, especially after reading quite a few of Catherine Doyle’s other books and giving them all at least four stars! However, this one just didn’t hit the spot as much of her other ones.

This book just felt incredibly cheesy and is filled with tropes that I don’t particularly like reading (e.g. love triangle and insta-love 🤮). This book was originally published in 2015 and I could definitely tell with the common cliches in this, so if you enjoy similar YA books written at that time, or you are are a fan of Catherine Doyle’s writing then you may enjoy this.

This book just wasn’t for me (it might have been when I was younger). Therefore, I won’t be continuing with this series.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Read this in a handful of hours, it's incredibly addictive writing with so many questions you just need to know the answer for. Twisty, dark with a undercurrent of hope this was everything this story needed to be. Definitely recommend to fans of the Naturals and the Inheritance Games, it had the darker tone of the first and similar addictive plot of the second. One to pick up!

This was such an enjoyable and thrilling read from start to finish! I loved the idea of two young souls connecting despite the history and complexities of their families, all set within a modern mafia backdrop.
I devoured this book over two days, and even when I wasn’t reading, my thoughts kept drifting back to it. I couldn’t stop wondering what would happen next and was eager to jump back in to recapture the immersive feeling it gave me.
The bonus chapters were such a treat, and I was thrilled to learn there will be at least one more book in this series, so I don’t have to say goodbye to these characters just yet.
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster UK Children's for the ARC via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this book.