My The Sweetest Oblivion Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
I picked up The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori because I craved a mafia romance with forbidden love, messy families, and plenty of tension. The book follows Elena Abelli—labeled “Sweet Abelli” for her docile reputation—who’s always tried to be the perfect mafia daughter in New York’s Cosa Nostra. But under the polished surface, Elena is shadowed by the fallout of an old scandal and haunted by guilt.
Her little sister is set to marry Nicolas Russo, the notorious Made Man with a lethal reputation. Elena is supposed to watch from the sidelines, but sparks erupt the instant she and Nico cross paths. No matter how hard they try to fight it, their mutual attraction grows until it threatens to blow their world apart. There’s family drama, arranged marriage, forbidden touches, and a struggle between loyalty and longing. All of this is set against the backdrop of New York’s criminal underworld, with a story that moves from slow-burn tension to seriously high heat.
While this is the first book in the Made series, it stands on its own, introducing supporting cast and world-building that set the stage for future books—but Elena and Nico’s journey is the focus.
Why I Love This Book
I love how this book makes forbidden romance feel truly forbidden—every secret look and all that pent-up longing just ratchets up the tension. The sexual chemistry between Elena and Nico is absolutely fire, and I kept rooting for them even as the odds piled up. It isn’t just about steam; what makes it work is the build-up and how conflicted both characters are.
Elena is both strong and vulnerable—she acts sweet on the outside but carries real guilt and fear, and I related to her desire to do the right thing even when her heart won’t let her. I loved watching her peel back her own layers and realize she has a dark streak she can’t suppress. Nico, for his part, is possessive and obsessive in a way that somehow feels more hot than scary—his vulnerability peeks through all the bravado, and every time he shows his gentler side, it lands all the harder.
What really sold me was the stakes: these characters have so much to lose, and that makes every forbidden touch feel risky and meaningful. Even the family drama and mafia world feel real, giving texture without turning the book into just another “mob boss romance.” I also appreciated the writing—it has bite and even some dark humor alongside the angst.
Who Will Like This Book
If you love dark, forbidden romance with a heavy dose of mafia drama, broody antiheroes, and “tension you can cut with a knife,” this is for you. It’s perfect for fans of taboo setups: arranged marriage, sister’s fiancé, strong possessive heroes, and heroines who aren’t just surface-deep. If you like high heat and lots of angst, you’ll find it here. The violence level is moderate for mafia romance, but there are still crime elements, aggression, and adult situations.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Graphic sexual content, violence (including murder and beatings), family trauma, some slut-shaming, and power struggles. There are also references to past scandal, guilt, and mafia-coded morals. If those are issues for you, check for full content warnings before reading.
Tagged As
mafia romance, dark romance, forbidden romance, sister’s fiancé, arranged marriage, possessive hero, obsessive hero, forced proximity, angst, found family, strong heroine, open-door romance, explicit romance, trauma, flawed characters, slow burn, dual pov, series, standalone, indie romance, kindle unlimited
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Insanely Hot
