Based on the back cover description and listed genre this book was not at all what I expected it to be. I went in thinking I was getting a spicy book in the Erotic category about a guy named Dan that likes candy and a woman named Elle that is going to spend some sweet times with them. I cannot say this enough. This book was not what I was expecting.

Instead of erotica I got an engaging, yet heartbreaking, book about a woman suffering from severe PTSD and trauma navigating meeting and eventually dating a man that is patient enough to allow her time to heal. It is an tangled story of some of the worst family trauma possible and eventually a shining story of healing.

This essentially makes this book hard for me to review. As an erotic genre book I would rate it a 2-3. The spice is there but it isnt 5-alarm spice. The rollercoaster of emotions and mental health does not make for a light and spicy read with lots of hotness that I seek in this genre. Now, as a womens fiction book with some spiceness, with an idea going in that I am going to have an FMC with some seriously horrible backstory and an path towards healing I would rate this a 5.

As this was listed and presented to be as an erotic book my star rating reflects as such.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I have already read this. Didn’t realize it was an old title. Still enjoyed that spicy threesome scene tho! 🔥

Dirty by Megan Hart was one of the weirdest books I have read.

Elle is a very flawed human. She overcomes the best she knows how. The she meets Dan, he sees her, like truly who she is and it weirds her out. At times it seemed like Dan knew what Elle needed a bit too well, it creeped me out, it's like he has done it several times before.

The book itself is very detail oriented and definitely has you picturing what you read. Which is good for some scenes but not so great when you are reading scenes that are already harder to read, such as scenes of assault.

Overall I think this is an interesting book, that might divide people on their opinion of it. If your looking for a book completely different from what you have read before then this may be the book for you.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

3.5⭐️
Not my usual genre and my feelings towards the book changed constantly throughout.
The erotic scenes were well written and pitched to give progression of the relationship which worked for me. However they were a little formulaic and always seemed to end in Elle and Dan arguing.
Some of the dialogue at times made me cringe.
The author attempted to deal with big themes and to a degree this was successful. The relationship with Elle and her mother was frustrating and the storyline with Gavin was laughable at times which really wasn’t the aim. This was a clunky plot line which added nothing - when Elle asked Gavin (a 15 year old boy) to remove his top (so she could examine his self harm wounds) I almost gave up on this. Elle was pitched as a smart woman with a traumatic past, would she not have been more aware of the implications of a friendship with a young male?!
There’s a follow on book but I’m not loving these characters enough to read more.

I found this book a little strange. As good as it was the plot took a long time to grip me. I didn’t quite hit the spot.

Dirty is, well, dirty!

From the very beginning, I thought it would be a typical erotica novel. You meet a guy for the first time at a candy store, and he starts seductively whispering in your ear. It wasn’t realistic, but at that point, I thought I knew what to expect and didn’t anticipate it to be this intense.

However, as I progressed through the book, I realized that there were serious issues that the main character, Elle, was grappling with from her past. It was a heavy subject, and I appreciated how the author handled it somewhat realistically. Elle didn’t confide in anyone or the reader about her struggles, she was trying to work through them. Only when she fully trusted the man she was with did she let it all out.

The romance scenes were incredibly hot and well-written. The tension between Elle and her partner was brilliant, especially at the bar. However, I noticed that the romance scenes seemed to follow a pattern. After each romantic encounter, there would be a fallout or a consequence that Elle had caused.

While I don’t necessarily require a happy and optimistic female protagonist, I felt like there was a persistent gloomy atmosphere throughout the book. The beautifully detailed sex scenes, however, didn’t seem to complement this tone well.

I’m interested in reading more of the author’s work based on the recommendations I’ve received, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with this series.

Thank you for letting me read this ARC copy.

This was an enjoyable read that made me feel all of the feelings. The writing is good and the plot is captivating. I especially loved the main character. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a good read!! I loved the writing style and the plot kept me interested enough! Was not drawn out

This book does not lack spice, but for me, I couldn't emotionally connect to the characters. I found this odd because the story itself was set up to be packed full of emotion but it just wasn't there for me. The writing is great and I appreciate getting the chance to read and review it!

This was a good book!, it was an obsessive love or lust story. It was showing a lot of the things that people don’t like to talk about. I do think it was well written and it was an enjoyable read and it was thought provoking

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Megan Hart’s Dirty is a book that has a lot to offer, both in terms of emotional depth and physical intensity. At its core, this novel is a story of self-discovery, exploring the complexities of desire, intimacy, and trauma. If you’re looking for a book that will ignite your passions, Dirty certainly delivers with its steamy scenes — and I mean steamy. There’s an abundance of sex in this book, making it impossible to ignore how central this theme is to the narrative. But it’s not just about physical connection; it’s also about the raw emotional undertones that come with those interactions.

While the heat is undeniable, the story also delves deeply into darker and more painful themes. The characters are shaped by their pasts — especially in terms of emotional abuse, pain, and broken relationships. The narrative doesn’t shy away from exploring the impact of these experiences on their present lives, making for a complex emotional journey. This combination of intense passion and deep sadness creates a compelling dichotomy that adds depth to the book.

The pacing is quick, which allows you to get swept up in the emotional rollercoaster of the story. Despite some difficult themes, Hart does an excellent job of balancing the sadness with the connection and healing the characters undergo. The emotional complexity of the characters makes the hot sex scenes feel purposeful and meaningful rather than gratuitous.

It's a heavy read, but one that you can’t help but keep turning the pages of, and ultimately, it's one that offers a blend of pain, healing, and desire.

I've read this in 2013, and man Megan Hart does deliver,

This story was so amazing that i've read the second book in the series right after.

Hot stuff going on there.

Not the best story I have ever read but it wasn't horrible either. I enjoyed it for what it was. The cover is awesome! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.