A spicy, romance book which includes the mafia makes for an interesting read. The spicy scenes are spicy. There’s also some very dark and disturbing scenes. This is definitely not a light read. Interesting to read about the mafia but found it rather confusing at times.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

Okay... This was supposed to be a dark 🪦romance, but honestly, it felt very light compared to what you'd expect.

Side note: I did not realize this was 18+🙅🏽‍♀️ sometimes I miss those tags🕶️. I don’t like smut and avoid 18+ reads, but that didn’t affect my rating at all, because I should have seen the tags🥴.

Insta love... They meet and suddenly it’s like “I’d die for you” within two chapters😝?? The pacing was so rushed and their relationship felt forced🔫, like we skipped the entire getting-to-know-you stage and dove straight into dramatics🤡. Fee's supposed to be this rule-following daughter under her father’s thumb, yet she’s out here running with Leo like she’s got zero consequences🌞?? Make it make sense.

Also, how does no one know anything about the arranged marriage👽? None of the characters have any information on it🙈???

Fee’s entire personality is just... contradicting. One moment she’s like “I can only be around people for two hours max,”🌚 and the next she's half-naked peeing in the ocean with a stranger💫🙊?? I’m sorry WHAT?

Then there’s the whole “I don’t want to go against my father” moment... Mam😬, you already HAVE💀. You’re miles🏎️ past that point.

Also Leo. This man says he won’t wait for a married woman👰🏽‍♀️... but he’s cozy with an engaged one💍. The logic is not logicking📑. And don’t even get me started on the “we’re just friends” line that he just accepts with a nod like... sir? What kind of friends😒?

The writing also threw me a few times. “I turned around so fast I almost got whiplash” had me physically cringing😖. No... just no. That line should've stayed in the drafts❌, sorry.

Fee being the billionaire she is 💷seriously thought her father wouldn’t notice anything👩🏽‍🦯. Come on now.

Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC 🎥🎭🙊

Tell Me A Secret was an intriguing storyline with tons of spice! I did find the FMC’s family to be quite fantastical and at times unbelievable, but the chemistry between Fee and Leo made up for some of that. The conclusion of the story left me totally bereft and I definitely wanted more closure, but that was explained, as I was unaware this was going to be a series. Overall a great romance if a bit unbelievable, and I really liked some of the characters enough to continue and see where their story goes. Many thanks to @netgalley @authoranais and @escolasticapress for the ARC

Anais Ventura’s Tell Me a Secret is a beautifully written, emotionally layered story that explores love, betrayal, and the complicated nature of trust. The author does a fantastic job of drawing readers into the hearts and minds of her characters—each one flawed, real, and compelling. The slow unraveling of secrets kept me turning the pages, eager to uncover the truth while simultaneously dreading what I might find. Ventura’s writing is evocative, with just the right balance of tension and tenderness.

What truly stood out was the emotional depth of the characters and the way their pasts shaped their choices. While there were moments where the pacing slowed and a few plot twists felt slightly predictable, the overall impact of the story was powerful.

This is a book that lingers in your thoughts, reminding you that secrets—no matter how deeply buried—always find their way to the surface. A great read!

the book has a bit of mafia, a bit of romance, a bit of spice.
i dont usually read this kind of book so i was surprised in a good way. and it must have succeeded because ive been googling similar ever since and will certainly be reading more of the genre soon.
i think its definitely a darker twisty tail on the genre which perhaps is what hooked me in even more as i do love a good thriller. i liked it alot because apart from her murdering and criminal deeds of course) i did think Felicity was a kick ass character and i liked how her meeting of our MMC somehow then arced together to reveal more secrets and family dynamics at play.
i didnt want this book to end without the proper happy ending conclusion between the pair though! i dont want to think they might face more angst in the future. but of course now i need to read the next book in the series. but this is the things about series you really like...the wait is awful!!
a brill book. and two spicy characters who i need to have a happy ending please Anais.

This book is a little bit of romance, a little bit of spice, and a little bit of thriller all rolled into one.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Felicity, her crooked family, and Leo. There are several trigger warnings given for this book, but none of the scenes go into too much detail. Well, none of them except some of the spicy scenes!!!

I really thought I figured out what the secret was that Felicity's father was keeping, as well as the secret that Leo's father was keeping, but the author never really explained what they were. That was my biggest complaint about this book.

I can't wait for the second book to come out so I can continue reading about their lives!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Release Date: 28 April 2025

This book offers a unique twist on the mafia romance genre, a non-mafia mafia romance, with a reversed take on gender norms. The story follows two passionate characters locked in a fiery love affair that exudes a certain Romeo and Juliet energy. The tone of the book is fluid and playful, with an almost unserious vibe, making it a quick and easy read. I finished it in two days, and the romance—especially in the early chapters—was undeniably moving.

However, there were a few elements that detracted from my overall enjoyment. One major issue was the lack of clear descriptions for the main characters. One is a spy/executioner/fashion designer/socialite surrounded by a cadre of bodyguards, with only one of them being remotely significant. Yet, despite their frequent mentions, these bodyguards and other secondary characters don’t play much of a role in the plot. There’s no emotional connection between the protagonist and her entourage, even though they’re all supposedly very close to her. It felt like they were more like background props than fully fleshed-out individuals. The other one instead… a tech startup owner. And he works…

Another aspect that stood out was the ethical ambiguity of many of the characters. The father, who is portrayed as the quintessential "evil" figure, seems to embody every form of abuse—except financial, it seems—but there are moments when he shows unexpected flashes of kindness or "not-so-evilness." The mother, on the other hand, harbors a deep, almost unnatural hatred for her daughter, with the father being unquestionably devoted to her. Then there’s the uncle, the embodiment of wit and power (and once again, evil…), who seems to just surrender by the end. Perhaps I didn’t fully understand these dynamics, or maybe they were intentionally left unclear, but it felt as though the characters’ motivations were either inconsistent or not fully explored.

Additionally, the ending felt rushed. After spending much of the story building up a BIG, BAD, EVIL force, the resolution comes too quickly and feels overly simplistic, with the conflict wrapped up in the last 10 pages in a rather elementary way.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, easy read. It's perfect for those who aren’t expecting deep character development or intricate relationships. If you can approach it as a romance between two passionate individuals, without expecting much else, you'll likely enjoy it. However, if you’re hoping for more complex character dynamics or a more satisfying resolution, you might find yourself frustrated, as I did.

-asya x

This wasn't my favorite by any means, but it did keep me entertained. It took me a bit longer to read than usual because I couldn't stay focused with it at times.

The second I saw this cover and its title I knew I had to get my hands on it. The colors of the night sky on the beach are gorgeous and very eye catching. The title is intriguing and makes you want to read it.

I think Anaïs Ventura had a great concept but unfortunately it wasn’t well executed. However, I do believe with some heavy handed editing this could be something great.

The books biggest issue was that the writing was very choppy. I got the feeling that English probably isn’t the author’s first language because there was no natural flow while reading the text. It think her editor really dropped the ball on this project.

With the characters it was the same problem. The idea of the characters and their personalities was definitely there but the execution fell short. Again, I think the problem boils down to the writing. It was hard to be immersed in the story when the reader has to constantly push through the awkwardness of the writing.

There was an interesting cast of characters but I wanted to see more from them. I would have loved to see more witty banter come from Nick to make his character leap off the page. When Fee and Leo first meet on the beach, that scene had all the right ideas. The setting was sexy, their encounter was cute, Leo and Fee are two interesting characters. Yet the interaction between the two of them just fell flat. Were being told they both think each other are so funny but I’m reading their interaction and dialogue and I’m like…. what’s so funny? This is where I would have liked to be shown over just being told. That being said, I was completely obsessed with Leo’s character. I really loved his and Fee’s love story and their spice scenes were top notch.

Another complaint I had was there were a lot of inconsistencies throughout the story. It was hard to believe Fee didn’t know Leo’s last name for that entire week. She had his log in info to access his medical records and we are supposed to believe she couldn’t see his name right there on the from of his medical record. Isn’t the patient’s full name usually their login name?!? Just little things like this were hard to ignore while reading.

That being said, my opinions on this book are a complete toss up. It’s definitely a story I will think about even months from now. I’m curious enough to read the next book in the series. As far as recommending it to people, I will not be recommending this book to people until some major editing is done.

This had some mafia vibes without the commitment to the genre. Overall the insta love/obsession story was sweet but was overshadowed by the Simon and his continued relationship with Felicity’s family. I appreciated that the author didn’t focus extensively on her past trauma but with the amount of it she had throughout her life, her intense dedication and loyalty to the family is a little surprising.

Thank you for NetGalley for this ARC.

The beginning of the book definitely got my attention! Although I noticed some minor inconsistencies at the start, I looked passed that. I loved the relationship between Fee and Leo off the bat, which is what kept me reading.

After their first official meeting, I wasn’t a fan of their story anymore. It felt very repetitive and their interactions seemed more cheesy. The characters contradicted themselves throughout the plot. Again, I looked past it in the beginning but then it was too much.

The overall idea of this story was amazing and I was looking forward to seeing where the characters ended up. But, after about 30-40%, it fell short for me.

I’m giving this book 2 stars because while I really liked the idea and there were some genuinely emotional moments, it just didn’t fully work for me. The writing felt a bit disjointed at times, jumping between scenes without much buildup, which made it hard to stay connected. I also think it could’ve been shorter, as the pacing dragged a bit in places. It had promise, but it just wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

A new gem in the dark romance genre! This was insanely beautiful I couldn't put it down - finished it in one sitting, truly a masterpiece of a book, the plot, writing style was so beautifully done, this is one talented author, you can tell she wrote the characters from her heart the romance plot and quotes were everything, they may be morally grey characters but they sure do have my heart forever! Infinite stars!!