Picture this: you’re scrolling BookTok, minding your business, when you stumble across a video of an author, Navessa Allen, pitching the wildest book idea ever. The book? Lights Out—a hilarious, spicy, and slightly unhinged dark rom-com that feels like a genre all its own. Intrigued? You should be. The review below is spoiler-free, so dive in to find out why this book is making waves.
The Plot: Ghostface Goes Rom Com in Lights Out
Aly, our FMC, is a trauma nurse with a taste for the dark and kinky—specifically, thirst traps featuring shirtless men in Ghostface masks, preferably smeared with fake blood and wielding sharp objects. (Look, we all have our preferences.)
Josh, our MMC, is the son of a serial killer and is absolutely terrified he is destined to be like his father. So, naturally, he channels his anxieties into crafting thirst traps of himself—shirtless, bloody, masked, and all—because nothing screams normal coping mechanisms like this, right?
When Aly sends a Ghostface thirst trap video to her hookup asking if he’s into it, he shuts her down (and drops the bomb that he’s seeing someone else). But instead of ignoring it, he shows the video to his roommate, Josh. Josh quickly realizes the video is his, the girl commenting on it is Aly, and Aly is into the exact same kinky stuff he is. His reaction? Break into her house (when she’s not home, thankfully) and post a thirst trap filmed in her bedroom. As you do. And so begins a truly unique love story.
What Makes Lights Out Stand Out
This isn’t your traditional romance packed with popular tropes. Instead, it’s a kinky, hilarious journey of self-discovery for Aly and a golden retriever MMC role-playing a morally gray MMC for Josh. Yes, Josh is essentially a cinnamon roll playing at being dark and broody, and it’s both ridiculous and endearing.
If you’re an audiobook fan, let me just say: Jacob Morgan’s performance as Josh? Chef’s kiss. He somehow makes Josh even funnier while nailing all those spicy, growly moments. (TikTokers are rightfully obsessed, and I get it—it’s iconic.)
What What I Loved About Lights Out
- Josh’s Inner Thoughts: His mix of hilarity and self-awareness had me (and the internet) cackling.
- The Unmasking Scene: Without giving too much away, when Josh finally removes the mask in front of Aly for the first time… perfection. Her reaction is everything.
- The Balance of Humor and Spice: This book manages to be laugh-out-loud funny without losing the tension and heat of a dark romance.
What I Didn’t Love About Lights Out
The second half of the book felt weaker than the first. The plot meanders a bit, and while the spice and humor carried me through, I couldn’t help but wish the storyline had a bit more depth. But honestly? It was still fun, so I’m not complaining too much.
Who Should Read Lights Out?
Lights Out by Navessa Allen is perfect for:
- If you’re curious about dark romance but don’t want to dive straight into the really heavy stuff, this is a great gateway.
- Already a fan of dark romance? Lights Out offers all the spice with a lighter, rom-com vibe.
- If you love golden retriever MMCs and unconventional kinks (paired with lots of humor), this one’s for you.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
There’s a reason Lights Out is blowing up—it’s funny, spicy, and an absolute good time. While it might not win any awards for plot complexity, it’s going straight to my favorites shelf for its sheer entertainment value.
Spice Level: 4.5 / 5 Chili Peppers ?️
A solid 4.5 out of 5 chili peppers. You know going in that this book is serving spice, kink, and everything naughty. But it’s not just spice—there’s an actual story, too.
What Did You Think of Lights Out?
Have you read Lights Out? Did it turn you into a dark rom-com fan too? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to know what you think!
