My Sick Boys Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Sick Boys by Clarissa Wild is a dark, standalone romance set at Spine Ridge University—a school with secrets, powerful families, and a toxic social hierarchy. After her sister Eve dies by suicide, Penelope Ricci transfers to Spine Ridge driven by one need: to find out what pushed her sister over the edge. Armed with Eve’s cryptic diary, Penelope’s investigation centers on Felix, Dylan, and Alistair—the infamous, vicious “Sick Boys” of the Skull & Serpent Society. They rule the campus with fear and violence, and their connection to Eve’s past is immediate and unsettling. When they steal her only clue (Eve’s diary), Penelope strikes a deal: her body in exchange for their help. What begins as a search for truth becomes a tangled web of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden desire, as Penelope uncovers the corruption and cruelty festering at the heart of Spine Ridge. Twisted alliances, dangerous power plays, and raw, psychological tension drive this relentless story of revenge, trauma, and taboo romance.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Sick Boys doesn’t pretend there are any safe people here—not even the main characters, especially not the romance interests. The book is brutal, fast, and messy. Every relationship, every choice, feels dangerous. I was hooked by Penelope’s anger—she doesn’t shy away from violence or pain if it gets her closer to the truth, and her trauma is raw without being romanticized. The dynamic between her and the boys is pure chaos: sometimes hate, sometimes lust, always loaded with tension you can feel in your gut. The school itself is a perfect backdrop for secrets and cruelty; it added that extra heaviness and a sense of desperation. The story throws so many twists and shocking reveals at me that I couldn’t predict what would happen next. I like how the mystery unfolds, how complicated the characters are, and how unflinching the author is when it comes to crossing lines. The darkness pulls at me in ways most romance books don’t, and that’s what stands out. I was never bored, and—honestly—I wanted more by the end.
Who Will Like This Book
If you want truly dark romance—bully romance, reverse harem, morally gray everything—this is for you. You’ll need a strong stomach for violence, cruelty, and taboo power dynamics because this is not a book you can just skim for the steam and skip the pain. If you like flawed, sometimes unlikable heroes and heroines who fight like hell for answers, you’ll be invested. People who like dark academia, forbidden romance, campus secrets, and high-drama suspense will want to pick this up.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Sick Boys contains suicide, sexual assault, bullying, non-consensual acts, public humiliation, knife play, child abuse references, blood/gore, torture, physical and psychological abuse, animal death, and graphic violence. It’s not for sensitive readers. Check all trigger warnings before reading.
Tagged As
dark romance, bully romance, reverse harem, college romance, new adult, psychological, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, mafia, organized crime, forced proximity, trauma, mystery, secret society, morally gray, anti-hero, alpha male, possessive hero, explicit, violence, open-door romance, standalone, HEA, cliffhanger, kindle unlimited, indie romance
Steam Level
The steam is off the charts—graphic, frequent, and pushes every line. It’s not safe, gentle, or clean. The spice is tangled with power and darkness. If you’re in it for the heat, you’ll find more than enough, but be ready for scenes that are as disturbing as they are hot.
