This book is about Everlynne and her journey after loss and finding herself again. Also, this book will have scenes that will make you want to shake your reading device and yell as you pretend that Everlynne can hear you. Everlynne definitely struggles with loss that keeps her from being able to move on and actually live. But her cat running away helps her to begin her journey to finding her true self and learning to let go and live for the future. Everlynne had so much support but it just took her awhile to realize it. This book was such a beautiful journey and I can’t wait for everyone to get the chance to read about Everlynne and her life.

This book is everything I didn’t realise I needed. The constant twists and turns, push and pull of the characters and the secrets oh so many secrets I was completely engrossed.

Leigh never fails to make me smile, laugh, cry, want to throw my kindle basically go through every emotion while I read her books not many authors can make me feel like that and this book is no exception, with the added angst of a love triangle Leigh’s words held me ransom.

I don’t want to give too much away in this review because Leigh has a way of making you question EVERYTHING with her writing and to say I was shook at points is an understatement, and when I thought just maybe we wouldn’t get the happily ever after my heart was in my throat. In my eyes we get the right happily ever after because your soulmate always wins never play it safe.

Final Score - 4 Stars

Everlynne, Joe, and Dom. The triangle and focus of this book. Two men. One woman. An impossible decision. Who will end up with whom?

I have to say, I did not like how this whole story unfolded - nor what/how it all went down.

Dom. I was rooting for you to come out on top - at first. Then, I saw the writing on the wall and like a train about to hit someone, I so wanted to look away; yet I couldn't. This train-wreck needed to be witnessed in order for it to make some kind of sense to me. Everylnne has suffered loss. I know how she feels, and yet every decision she made has impacted her life - negatively. And it didn't need to happen! SMH Her choices screamed WRONG. She knew it, yet she did it anyway. Ugh!!! Joe had me frustrated beyond belief. But I at least understood why he made the decisions he made. The knowledge he had and then kept to himself though? Seriously?! SMH

By the end, I was just glad I made it thru their messy life. I didn't love any of the main characters. And I never say that, nor feel it after reading. The side characters were the saving grace of this books , especially Nora and Pippa - the real MVP's of this story. I could use friends like these women.

At times, I just cried tears of frustration, grief, and anger whenever Everlynne, Joe, and/or Dom made a choice/decision. I've never read a book I didn't absolutely like or love. This was my first. Hopefully it will be my last. I just did not feel any connection to the Ever, Joe, or Dom -nor could I relate to them. Having suffered loss recently, the choices Everlynne made still have me reeling and wanting to shout at her "WTF are you doing??

Quite honestly, I'm still struggling with just expressing how I feel about this book less than 10 hours later. I doubt I'll ever find the words ...

Beautiful Graves by L J Shen is a stand-alone novel. Have you ever read a book that dominated your attention no matter what you were doing? Working, sleeping, showering…. through it all I could not get my mind off this book! It absolutely gutted me, inspired me, made my cry and sing with a hope filled heart. This book was a wild ride through every emotion imaginable. You will fall in love with Everlynn and at the same time want to rip her face off! She is so beautifully flawed…and tragically coping with the sh*t-show that is her life! I want to tell you about the plot line, but don’t want to ruin anything for you. I was floored with the plot twists! You just have to read this book for yourself!

Shen’s latest offering isn’t good—it's magnificent! Usually, when I start a book of this calibre, I read it in one sitting; however, this was not the case because, you know, life has a habit of getting in the way. And while I was doing whatever, I never stopped thinking about Beautiful Graves and couldn’t wait to dive back into it.

Unquestionably, Shen put a lot of thought into the plot and character development, and there wasn’t one moment when the protagonist’s story felt rushed. Although the title piqued my curiosity, I held back from reading the synopsis as I like the element of surprise, and WOW, Shen didn’t just deliver; she went a step further by blowing my mind.

When I thought I knew what would happen next—BAM—she threw in even more twists and turns than I could ever have imagined. So, I sat back and enjoyed the ride. Well, maybe saying enjoy is the wrong word since some angsty scenes had me bawling my eyes out.

Making the right decision regardless of the pain it will cause others and learning how to redeem oneself, face past truths and lies, and overcome them in the present is what Shen has driven home to her readers with her hand on her heart.

Despite being a massive fan of Shen's storytelling, I can honestly say I adored her newest narrative style that breaks out of the norm. Yes, it’s hot, but the steaminess took second place. Yes, I had my heart in my mouth, but she gave me hope. Graciously told? No doubt about it. My recommendation! Go in blind; keep an open mind because nothing is what it seems, and everything is possible. Simply bravo, Shen!

ARC kindly received from Montlake via NetGalley for an honest review

This book surprised me in so many ways and it’s why I loved it so much.

Beautiful Graves is such an angsty story with twists that’ll have you reading non-stop. This book is different from the author’s other books so that’s something that immediately captured my attention. The characters are intriguing and the storyline is something that had me on the edge of my seat. Ever is a character I will never forget. Everything about her was intriguing to me and getting to know her has put me through many emotions!! From excitement to heartbreak, I really experienced it all reading her point of view. It was also written in a way where you can easily connect with her. She is absolutely strong in so many ways, even just by continuously wanting to keep moving forward.

Now.. I’ve never been the biggest fan of love triangles but Beautiful Graves just had something that made me want to know more about the story. It was incorporated to the book well and it made it such an enjoyable and emotional read. I don’t want to spoil anything but if you’re looking for an angsty read with characters that have flaws yet strive to keep on moving forward EVEN after so much heartbreak, then you’ll definitely enjoy Beautiful Graves!

Beautiful Graves is being promoted as a love triangle and that's a LIE!!! Okay, fine...."technically" there's a triangle and it gets chaotic but for me, the story is SO MUCH MORE than that, and to be honest the love triangle took a back seat to what was truly happening with these characters.


Joe & Everlynne "Ever" meet and their eternal bond is instant. First love. Joe saves her. Everlynee has something so devastating happen to her that she completely dissociates from her life....no more school. no more family, no best friend no more Ever and no more Joe, she's a shell of her former self. During this time of her life self doubt, depression and insecurities seep in.

Then, years later due to the disobedience of her cantankerous cat Loki she meets Dom. Dom is actual perfection, I mean he is so freaking sweet you'll get a tooth ache. He's everything anyone would want in a beautiful man and he wants Ever just the way she is with her warts and all. Eventually he breaks down a few of her 50 walls and they fall in love.

What happens next is a PLOT FCKING TWIST that had me crying, and shouting and throwing my kindle, cursing LJ but also enjoying this messy ride! It is so soooo emotional, and angsty, and explosive.

In my opinion this is different from anything Leigh has ever written, it's like she stripped herself down ( metaphorically) and was in such a naked and vulnerable place. Extremely character driven, raw & real, Beautiful Graves gives us a honest and painful insight into the complex human condition.

This is so different from LJ Shen’s other books and
I’m amazed and in love with it. I’m not a huge love triangle fan but I am not bothered by this one. I knew what I wanted out of this story and so glad I got it.

The angst in this was killer but oh so good. I was so invested and begging for it to work out. This book made me emotional numerous times and surprising enough not for the romantic aspects (most of the time). This book also delves into dealing with grief and rebuilding relationships with family and friends. Those hard conversations Ever had with her family hit deep and I wasn’t entirely okay.

I say that like the romance wasn’t spectacular but believe me it was. This book has so many ups and downs as Ever tries to forgive herself and find herself again. She is such a real character dealing with life and not knowing anything about it anymore. Yes, she makes decisions that as a reader you’re thinking “come on Ever, we both know that’s a horrible idea” but it’s so very real in her position. I loved watching her journey and seeing an ending she rightfully earned and deserved all along.

So here I am after finishing this amazing book around 17 hours ago still trying to gather my thoughts for telling you why Miss Shen created an other Masterpiece again. Hope you get more from my thoughts and feelings than I think.
First of all this book is something new from This author even without trying to hard. And even I love her dual PVO books for this story the choose of just one PVO was amazingly right. Because it’s the heroines story to tell and deals with her insecurities.
I’m learning to love love triangles more and more with every book that I read in this trope. This book however puts love triangle in a complete new direction fir me I’ve never read a book like this before.
This story was just a bang to me from beginning to end. It was so hard to put this book down and I always was amazed by what happend next to the characters and while reading i oft had this no that just don’t happened right now feeling.
From the first page on there are so many so may intense emotions in all these characters. Even trough we only got to see it from the heroines pov I was able to get the thoughts and feelings of all the other characters also. While reading one more than one occasion the letters started swimming before my eyes. Those we’ll choosen words made that reading experience even better for me. I did something I don’t often but I wanted this story to last longer so even if I already had read 24 percent I went back to the beginning and started reading again.
Everlynn is really special women because she has her own way to deal with life. She is strong in her own way and doesn’t shy back from making mistakes. Also this women has problems with forgiving herself
All In all if you’re ready to not be ready for an emotional roller coaster and a story that takes you to new ways of an love triangle than you’re totally right with this book.

I just finished reading and I don't know what to do with myself, I feel drained, my heart aching, broken, and as I write this I can't help crying again because this journey with these characters was beyond everything I expected and owns a part of my soul and heart, my heart is overwhelmed with so many emotions.

The story feels completely DIFFERENT, but it is MIND-BLOWING and UNPUTDOWNABLE. The plot is unique and original, the author did a masterful job creating such real characters, the story between them is raw, intense, moving, and as the plot unfolds, we see their struggles, their pain, their angst is palpable through the pages, my heart ached for them. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat, the sizzling chemistry, and the twist, wow, I felt like addict, I couldn't get enough of the characters

Majestic, life-changing and intense, Beautiful Graves is a raw and compelling romance that left me breathless, I have no words, made me feel so much at the same time, it was so painfully beautiful, so heartbreaking, I loved it, this unforgettable story will stay with me forever, the author slayed again! 10+ stars!

Wow. I am left speechless. Beautiful Graves is absolutely phenomenal. This story was raw, powerful, gripping and so intoxicating. And the end result? I am left with an epic book hangover dying to return to Ever's beautiful love story!

I won't lie. The minute I read the blurb I knew that an angsty love triangle might kill me. But an L.J. Shen love triangle? Good Lord - THIS STORY SLAYED ME! The banter, passion and the beautiful depiction of one woman's journey torn between two completely different men left me spellbound and obsessed! I absolutely loved the epic plot twists, gut punches and the elusive breadcrumbs that all made sense in the end.

This story is everything I could have wanted and nothing I would have ever expected. It is so different from what Shen has previously written but quite frankly it is nothing short of extraordinary. I am left in awe after reading and already know this will be one of my 2022 favorites!! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula

Beautiful Graves delivers all the emotions that touched deeply my heart. Love, tragedy and guilt might look as something universal, but at the same moment... author serving us all those things in a very uniqe way.

LJ Shen is proving another millionth time, that she's the master storyteller, and Beautiful Graves feels, like the real life, stormed into bookish fiction in the flesh.

This author never stops to amaze me! Beautiful Graves is her writting style at the finest, but, at the same moment Everlynne Lawson is delivering something totally different, than we know from LJ Shen. Love Triangle, never looked like this one here. Tragedy, never brought so much heartbreak. Love, nevel felt so wrong and right, at the same moment. Nothing seems to look, like it should be.

Beautiful Graves is complicated, angsty, surprising and not typical love story. The world LJ is introducing us to, is full of unexpected events, which are leading to growing up, life decisions,love and.... forgiveness. I'm fully aware that everyone can see this story in different way, but It's the way I feel it. Life is not easy, it's making choices every single day... Even mistakes are also important, because in the end of the day, everything above "shaping" us into people we are.

Why You won't hear any word from me about the storyline ? Into books like this one You need to jump as blind as You only can.

Beautiful Graves is billed as a romance and yes there is definitely a romance (and an HEA) but this story is so much more than that. This is a cautionary tale of what happens when you let grief run wild. How if you allow fear to build roots from it then it can consume you tainting every decision you make. How if you let it you can make wrong choice after wrong choice over and over again out of the necessity to avoid more pain.

I was worried about the love triangle but it seemed pretty clear to me who was end game which made it easier for me to handle the usual anxiety I get from these stories. My heart absolutely shattered for Everlynn and her man. They were faced with one obstacle after another until it felt like the universe itself was conspiring to tempt them only with what they could never truly have. They became experts on denying the truth at all costs to keep up the charade that everything is fine. Until it all comes to a head and they are forced to see how not fine they are. How unrecognizable they’ve become to themselves and those around them in an attempt to stop the flow of pain. How healing isn’t any easy over night process that we can wrap up into a pretty bow with a handsome man and a few pretty platitudes.

If you are looking for an emotionally charged, angsty, gritty journey from loss to healing with a dash of romance then this one is for you. This is unlike anything LJ has ever given us before. The pages of BG are jam packed with raw at times almost overwhelming feelings that will stick with you long after you’ve finished the last page and finally achieved redemption for our fated lovers. It wasn’t an easy journey but none of the ones worth reading about are.

This freaking book shattered my heart and fed my soul!

The depth of emotion, multi dimensional characters, and angst of young love imprinted on my heart. This writer never fails to impress me with her gorgeous writing and the level of emotion portrayed in her stories, but this one eclipses everything!

This is A Must Read!

Happy Saturday Friends 🥰

A week before I started reading Beautiful Graves, I had seen LJ Shen post about the book describing one of the relationships as "messy"

I had a little laugh to myself about this, but mostly I was so amazed 😂 I had never heard of an author describing their book as messy before 😅

Now almost a month later, as I'm writing this review - I know exactly what she meant. Beautiful Graves has one of the most intensely complicated & insanely messy relationships I've ever read about ... but in the very best way possible !! 😫

These characters will pull at your heartstrings and make you question your sanity - but I'll tell you what friends Beautiful Graves is an absolute must read.

And this is coming from somebody who absolutely despises love triangles but willingly read a 300+ page book about one 🙈

We see these characters make a million bad choices and really go through it, but I think there's something so great about that (reading about perfect characters would be super boring anyway) & knowing that there's happiness to be found after life seems like a big fat mess is all kinds of wonderful ❤️‍🩹

Beautiful Graves releases October 4th, Mark those calendars friends. 🗓️🤍

{Absolutely random information that I just have to mention here, LJ Shen has twin babies 🥺 and the week I finished this read - I found out that I'd be spending the next year taking care or brand new twin babies myself! It all felt very serendipitous and so it makes the end of this Review 😂❤️}

(📚 : A huge thank you to Darci from Montlake Publishing for sending me an e-Arc!)

Ahhh this book broke me and then made me whole again. I really loved and enjoyed it. It was soo good. I just know I’m gonna be non-stop talking about this and so recommending from now on. can’t wait enough for it to be out and out about in the world.