My My Dark Romeo Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
My Dark Romeo by L.J. Shen and Parker S. Huntington is a modern, decadent enemies-to-lovers romance about Dallas Townsend, a Southern debutante with a salty sense of humor, and Romeo Costa, a cold, calculating billionaire with revenge and family drama at his core. A chance, scandalous encounter at a society ball sends Dallas crashing into Romeo’s orbit, unraveling her engagement, shattering her reputation, and tying her fate—and her future—to his. Driven by schemes and old resentments, Romeo leverages their sudden scandal into a forced engagement and unmoves Dallas to his mansion under strict rules and constant watch. Their marriage is cold, contractual, and full of fireworks: Dallas refuses to submit, Romeo plots to maintain control, and a war of wills (with plenty of heat and humor) ensues. As secrets, past hurts, and real danger threaten them both, the couple must decide if their passion is just another power play, or if it can become something that heals and transforms.
Why I Love This Book
I love this book for its addictive tension and sharp wit. Dallas jumps right off the page; she’s stubborn, sassy, and refuses to take any of Romeo’s crap. She’s not your typical pampered heroine—she’s relatable, chaotic, and surprisingly sweet. Watching her outmaneuver Romeo (and make him apologize, sometimes multiple times) is honestly the best part. The banter between Dallas and Romeo is electric. No matter how cruel he tries to be, Romeo can’t quite resist her. Their love/hate chemistry is constant—one moment they’re plotting each other’s undoing, the next they’re forced to admit their growing attachment.
The emotional swings hit hard. There’s playful sabotage, manipulation, and genuine vulnerability layered underneath all the plotting. I enjoyed how the book slowly peeled back Romeo’s armor to reveal the broken, longing man beneath. His icy control meets Dallas’s unpredictable chaos, delivering moments that are funny, raw, and sometimes achingly tender. I also appreciate how the story doesn’t shy away from darkness or broken family ties, yet offers enough hope and sweetness to keep me invested in their happily ever after.
The setting—a lavish mansion filled with secrets, awkward parties, and even a forced honeymoon in Paris—amplifies the “enemies” dynamic. Every stage of their relationship feels earned. By the end, I believed in their growth, forgiveness, and the strange comfort they find in each other. If you want a love story that takes risks, never gets boring, and makes you laugh even when it’s messy, this book delivers.
Who Will Like This Book
If you like dark, angsty romance with a relentless enemies-to-lovers energy, you’ll eat this up. It’s perfect for readers who want forced proximity, arranged marriage drama, ruthless billionaires, and sharp, sassy heroines. There’s plenty of high-stakes power play, sabotage, and even some genuine healing underneath it all. The humor keeps it from ever getting too heavy, but there are darker themes—abusive parents, neglect, betrayal, retaliation, grief, and even a poisoning plot arc—for those who want intensity with their steam.
⚠️ Trigger warning: The book contains manipulation, emotional abuse, controlling relationships, childhood trauma, grief from sibling death (SIDS), parental neglect, and attempted murder by poisoning. The story takes on difficult family baggage and power dynamics, with some rough edges throughout. Consider these factors if you’re sensitive to them.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, dark romance, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, billionaire romance, forced proximity, reluctant bride, revenge, slow burn, angsty romance, anti-hero, dual pov, alpha male, strong heroine, snarky heroine, power struggle, emotional baggage, family secrets, Paris setting, found family, mental health, open-door romance, HEA, standalone, series
Steam Level
The attraction is off-the-charts, and the intimate scenes are intense and explicit. The steam builds slowly, with banter and tension leading up to passionate, detailed encounters that match the emotional chaos of the story.
This novel is #7 on our list of 8 Best Ghost Romance Novels. View the full list.
