My Hannaford Prep Complete Series Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Hannaford Prep by J. Bree is a dark, twisty, and additive high school-set mafia reverse harem romance spread across four books. The story follows Lips, a gritty, battle-scarred heroine who escapes a brutal upbringing and carves a place for herself at the ultra-elite Hannaford Preparatory Academy. She’s a scholarship kid in a world where privileged students play by mafia rules—and the school itself is a dangerous game. Lips quickly earns the enmity of the ruling clique but, through wit and stubborn defiance, gains the grudging allegiance (and eventually love) of a trio of alpha protectors: Blaise, Harley, and Ash. The series delivers a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers journey with found family, fierce friendships, and unrelenting suspense. Each book brings escalating danger, mystery, action, and deeply rooted emotional arcs as Lips and her crew face criminal threats, betrayals, and cutthroat high school drama—where surviving graduation means surviving everything thrown at them together.
Why I Love This Series
I love this series for its unapologetically complex, flawed characters. Lips is a powerhouse survivor—never meek, always evolving, and deeply loyal to those who earn her trust. The guys aren’t cookie-cutter; each is messed up, devoted, and raw, bringing a depth of chemistry that powers the “why-choose” romance beyond mere trope. The slow build pays off with explosive steam and devotion as the crew becomes an unbreakable unit. J. Bree’s world is saturated with action, darkness, outrageous twists, and actual found family—Lips and her misfit gang don’t just love and protect, they choose each other despite the chaos. The series balances high school antics and mafia danger, emotion and brutality, and love and vengeance in a way that sucked me in and kept me up reading all night. Addictive, bloody, twisty, and, ultimately, surprisingly full of heart.
Who Will Like This Series
If you crave dark romance, slow-burn polyam relationships, mafia intrigue, and fierce, wounded heroines, this is for you. It’s perfect for fans of bully romance, found-family dynamics, angst, and dark contemporary drama with high stakes and high heat. People who enjoy character-driven stories with morally grey choices, broken pasts, and big, cathartic payoffs will find a ton to love.
⚠️ Content warnings: Includes explicit sexual content (spice heats up after book 2), bullying, parental abuse, violence, crime, trauma, and emotional distress. The omnibus edition features all four books—Just Drop Out, Make Your Move, Play the Game, and To the End—plus bonus content from alternative POVs.
Tagged As
reverse harem, why choose, dark romance, mafia romance, academy, bully, found family, enemies to lovers, slow burn, action, trauma, suspense, strong heroine, possessive MMCs, loyalty, friendship, indie romance, series, explicit
Steam Level
Expect detailed on-page heat—especially after book 2—with explicit scenes built on deep emotional bonds, loyalty, and chosen family. Not for fans of fade-to-black or sweet, easy romance, but perfect for readers craving intensity and ferocity in their love stories.
