Lights Out

Lights Out 

Lights Out is the latest novel to be checked off my to be read list. I will be the first to admit that I bought this book based simply on the cover. I thought it was gorgeous and intriguing. I did the same with Butcher and Blackbird, and ended up loving that one. So I thought I would give this one a try as well. 

You know the saying, don’t judge a book by its cover? I’m here to admit I totally did that and bought it just based on that. I haven’t decided what exactly that says about me yet, but here we are. 

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“Stupid kink making me lust after a man who probably wanted to carve my skin off and make himself a pair of gloves with it.” 

Navessa Allen, Lights Out

Have you read Lights Out? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

About Lights Out 

The viral TikTok stalker dark romance, burning with high heat, hilarious banter, and a love story like you’ve never seen before. Can you handle the ride? 

I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it. 

Trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality. 

I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love. 

Josh Hammond has spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer. 

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with. 

Lights Out is a fast-paced dark romance with a morally gray male lead. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book.

Tropes

• Stalker romance
• Morally grey MMC
• Masked stalker
• He falls first
• Black cat x golden retriever 
• Kink friendly 

Trigger Warnings 

Lights Out is a dark stalker rom-com with heavy themes. Reader discretion is advised as this book contains: 

• Sexually explicit discussion and scenes including anal play 
• Alcohol consumption 
• Mention of (off-page) rape 
• Child abuse (remembered) 
• Medical content 
• Blood and gore (in a hospital setting) 
• Discussion of mental health 
• Mention of serial killers and their crimes 
• Limited description of a mass shooting 
• Stalking 
• Invasion of privacy 
• Home invasion 
• Hidden cameras 
• Hacking 
• Theft 
• Unintentional cannibalism (remembered) 
• Death 
• Car accident (remembered) 
• Description of violent death (remembered) 
• Death of a parent 
• Breath play 
• Knife play 
• Gun play 
• Fear play 
• Primal play 
• Mask play 
• Consensual dubious consent 

Book Playlist

• “Please” by Omido and Ex Habit 
• “The Summoning” by Sleep Token 
• “Hot Demon Bitches Near U” by Corpse and Night Lovell 
• “Living Life, in the Night” by Knox 
• “Babel” by Gustavo Bravetti 
• “You’ve Created a Monster” by Bohnes 
• “Morally Grey” by April Jai 
• “Dangerous Hands” by Austin Giorgio 
• “Cravin’” by Stileto and Kendyle Paige 
• “A Good Day to Die” by Arankai 
• “She Knows” J. Cole, Cults, and Amber Coffman 
• “Woman” by Emmit Fenn 
• “Middle of the Night” by Elley Duhé 
• “Gomd” by Sickick 
• “Demons” by Hayley Kiyoko 
• “Royalty” by Egzod, Maestro Chives, and Neoni 
• “Saints” by Echos 
• “On the Hunt” by Houndrel 
• “FU In My Head” by Cloudy June 
• “I’m Fine” by Witchz 
• “Monster” by Chandler Leighton 
• “Playground” by Bea Miller 
• “Worship” by Ari Abdul 
• “Fumes” by Oscen 
• “Don’t Save Me” by Twentythree 
• “Beg” by Aryia 
• “Heavenly Bodies” by Arankai 
• “Love Me” by Ex Habit 
• “Circus Psycho” by Diggy Graves 
• “The Death of Peace of Mind” by Bad Omens 
• “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” by Two Feet 
• “Change” by Deftones 
• “Be Quiet and Drive” by Deftones 
• “Daisy” by Sorry X 
• “Angry Too” by Lola Blanc 
• “Outta Your Mind” by Lil Jon and LMAFO 
• “Control” by Bryce Savage 
• “Skin and Bones” by David Kushner
• “Hot Killer” by Julia Wolf 
• “Monster” by Roby Fayer and YOTAL 
• “Long Hair and Some Tattoos” by Bryce Savage 
• “Half Life” by Livingston 
• “Breathe” by Kansh 

Thoughts on Lights Out 

“She was more annoyed by flowers than a home invasion?” 

Navessa Allen, Lights Out

I’m not normally one who pays much attention to trigger warnings, as I don’t need them. I’m glad they are there for people who do though. But after reading them, my first thought was, what the actual fuck am I about to start reading? It actually gave me a bit of a pause and I started second guessing my brilliant idea of buying a book based on the fact it had a pretty and intriguing cover. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. But I decided I’m reading it either way, and we’ll see if this was a good idea or not. I’m not a quitter. 

The first half was seriously hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times, and enjoying it. I texted a close friend and said, I didn’t realize I needed dark romantic comedy books in my life, but here we are. Which sparked a whole discussion about mask kinks, and if I should be amused or go buy more ammo in case people really did things like stalk someone just to break into their house and have sex with them while wearing a mask. 

The second half felt more like it was a lead-in to the second book in the trilogy, called Caught Up. Although that one hasn’t been released at the time I’m publishing this review. But based on the description, that was the vibe I got. I don’t really know if I was as much of a fan in the second half, but it certainly took an interesting twist, and I was definitely compelled to continue reading. I still enjoyed it because it kept me wondering what was coming next. 

I found it hard to really connect with the two main characters. They made sense, and there was nothing wrong with them. But neither were relatable to me in any way. I did find it funny that Josh Adopted Aly’s cat, Fred, and he became their first “child” though. Fred seemed to fit that role really well, and that certainly lightened things up as the story went along. 

I found myself wanting to keep reading and finish the book, and mad about doing adult things like sleeping and going out to lunch with my husband, just because I hit the point where I was driven to finish it and find out what happens. Do I get the happily ever after I always want in books? I needed to keep reading and find out! 

Final Thoughts on Lights Out 

“My panties were soaked not because of how achingly turned on I was but because I’d developed sudden-onset incontinence, and that was the story I was sticking to.” 

Navessa Allen, Lights Out

I’m calling Lights Out a solid four star read. It was funny, dark, and entertaining. I’m not sure if I would read it a second time, which is one criteria for a five star rating for me, but I really did enjoy it, and I’m looking forward to finding out where the Into Darkness trilogy takes me next with the second book. 

I’ve read that if you like the Butcher and Blackbird trilogy, and/or Haunting Adeline, you’ll enjoy this book as well. I haven’t read Haunting Adeline yet, it’s actually up soon on my to be read list, and now I’m really curious about that one. Which is what a good book should do. It should spark discussions and also lead into recommendations for other books. 

Discussion 

Have you read Lights Out or any other writing from author Navessa Allen? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

About the Author 

Navessa Allen lives in northern New England on a 200-year-old farm with her husband, their cats, and an assortment of farm animals. 

Purchasing Lights Out 

If you are interested in buying the paperback version of Lights Out, click here.

Click here for the Kindle version.

Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

More from Navessa Allen 

Did you enjoy my review of Lights Out? Need another great Navessa Allen novel to read? Here are my favorites! 

Lights Out 

Caught Up 

Amazon Notice 

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