Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Hello my friends! I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend. It was cool and overcast this weekend here on Cape Cod, but that definitely did not stop people from visiting our wonderful Cape and the beaches. I hope you all, regardless of where you are, got to spend some time reading. As May is Get Caught Reading Month, I have made sure that whether I am in Starbucks or on the beach, I grab my latest read and do just that. This weekend I spent some time listening to my newest book from the lovely folks at NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, Loving the Wicked by Rebecca Johnpee. This book releases in just one week, on June 2nd, 2026.

This book has a list of triggers in the beginning. It is very important that you read them. As with all dark novels, if this is not your cup of tea then it is okay to put it down. Your mental well-being should always come first.

Now, if you are okay with this list, let’s talk about Loving the Wicked. This book starts up where The Wicked leaves off. Zahra is still up to her old tricks in this novel. They are working to find the lost painting and hard drives that the street team was searching for in book 1. Only this job takes some unexpected turns along the way. Zahra and Elio’s relationship evolves in this newest installment and does not disappoint. The couple is learning to navigate their relationship with the baggage of both characters, including mental health issues, which was interesting to see.

The audiobook narration is wonderful. Jaclyn Kelso does read Elio with an accent when it is her turn on the mic, but it definitely does not detract from the story. The way she portrays Zahra, though, is pure gold. She does a great job of bringing the highly secretive and untrusting Zahra to life in the best possible way.

Now if anyone deserves an award for their narration, it is Marcio Catalano. The way he voices Elio is top notch. He does such a wonderful job and made me not want to stop listening for a moment. His voice rivals my favorite male narrators, and I am definitely going to be looking for more books with him.

I highly recommend picking up this book if you are a fan of dark romance. Just a warning, book 2 leaves off much the same way book 1 did, with a cliffhanger. I cannot wait to get my hands on book 3 because of this. Luckily, you only have to wait a week to get your hands on book 2 when it releases on June 2.

Until then, friends, I hope you have a great week and find time to indulge in a good read.