Okay, hold up. 😤 I really wanted to love this one. After scoring the ARC with both the audiobook AND the digital copy (huge shoutout to NetGalley and SERA Press, btw), I was hyped. But... yeah, this was a straight-up disaster. I pushed myself to 43% in the audiobook and 11% in the ebook before I had to throw in the towel. How on earth does a book about crime families, abductions, and forbidden love end up being SO unrealistic and boring?! I am shook. 🤯

Let’s talk about the romance—or lack thereof. Mina and Oliver? Yeah, no. I couldn’t care less
about them. The chemistry was non-existent, and their connection felt as forced as two wet socks rubbing together. 👎 I honestly didn’t buy for a second that these two were in love. The entire time, I was waiting for something, anything, to make me care. Spoiler alert: nothing ever did. 😒

Now, the pacing… oh boy. It was like the book was trying to be a slow burn, but forgot to actually, you know, burn anything. 🔥 I kept waiting for the plot to pick up, but it was like watching paint dry—nothing interesting happened, and when it did, it felt like a cheap knockoff of something I’d already read before. The dialogue? Cringe 😬. These are supposed to be teens, but they talked like they were written by a 30-year-old who hasn’t spoken to a teenager in years. “But Fairuz,” you might say, “it’s a YA thriller!” Yeah, well, that’s no excuse for dialogue this awkward. 🧐

And, speaking of unrealistic, can we just talk about the major plot holes? A minor with a sick mom just leaves to check into a hotel alone? A teen volunteers to be used as bait?! 🤯 I mean, c’mon, that’s not even remotely believable. I felt like my suspension of disbelief was shattered into a million pieces. 🙄 It was not the fun, immersive experience I was hoping for.

But honestly, the story had potential. I could see where it could’ve been cool, especially with the crime family angle and the abduction drama. But noooo, it just got weighed down by filler and unnecessary “dark” vibes that didn’t land. What a waste of a good idea. 😩

And the narration? Well, Will Collyer was fine, but Emilia Ares? Oh no. Her performance did NOT match the vibe of the story, and I found myself cringing at some of her choices. 🙅‍♀️ So props to Will for saving the day a little, but the overall narration still couldn’t salvage this hot mess.

So yeah, I cannot recommend this book. If you’re into romance thrillers, there are WAY better options out there. This one was a total miss for me, and honestly, I’m not even sorry about it. 🤷‍♀️

I will start by saying that I didn’t know that this was the second book and did not read the first. With that being said, this book started off quick. There are two narrators and I liked them from the start and typically don’t like audiobooks. The story sweeps you away quickly. There are some trigger warnings such as violence and abuse. Without giving too much away, this story follows Oliver and Mina as their relationship is really starting. Unfortunately, Mina is soon kidnapped to pay for things that her father has done to the Russian mob. We follow Mina as she navigates this world and Oliver as he stops at nothing to get her back.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and Emilia Ares and Will Collyer did a fantastic job bringing Mina and Oliver to life. It took a bit for me to get into the book. Once I did, I consistently wanted to know how things would turn out for Mina. I like the premise of this book, but I found some of the outcomes to be a bit far fetched. I read that this is the second book in a series, yet can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book. I felt like I was missing some of the connection between Mina and Oliver. Maybe their relationship would’ve felt more meaningful if I read the first book beforehand. I still think this book is worth reading, but you may want to read the first book in the series before picking this one up. Thank you NetGalley, Emilia Ares, and SERA Press for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The read was fast paced and exciting, based around Mina, a high school senior, being chucked into the darkness of an underground criminal gang that has crept into her family, destroying what she once had. Mina's boyfriend Oliver, is willing to do anything to find Mina to escape the grasps of the Gang. The story is exciting, and full of spy style programmes, and Russian mobs. And that cliffhanger !!

Emilia's writing style is really smooth and easy to follow, with 2 POVs that builds a great and engaging story. This is the perfect thriller read! I wont go into too much detail as I fear I will give away spoilers, but this isn't my normal read, but I really enjoyed this book.

I wasn't aware that this was part of a series, and was book 2. Despite this, I think the book reads really well as a stand alone, though I did miss out on some context from not reading book 1. Such as the history of Mina family involvement in the gang, and what had Oliver done in the previous book?!

I was lucky enough to get a copy of Love and Other Cages as an audiobook through Netgalley for which I am really grateful.

I really enjoyed Love and other cages, when I signed up and got the book I didn't realise this was book 2, however I don't think that hindered the reading or the understanding/enjoyment because I felt the history was mentioned enough to get an idea of what previously happened. I mean I'd definitely recommend reading book 1 to get the whole experience but from my time frame I didn't have enough to do two readings.
Love and other cages I felt was written exceptionally well, the story felt like it just flowed off the page with ease. I felt engaged with the storyline, the characters all had a depth to them that really brought a sense of realism and I was fully commited to the journey that played out in front of them.
The storyline itself was interesting and I was eager to find out the answers to the events that happened. I really enjoyed how this novel played out.

The narrators really made this story come alive. I really enjoyed this audiobook - now need to wait for the next with that cliff hanger!! Thank you for allowing me to listen and review.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the bond between Mina and Oliver. Even though this can be read as a standalone, I felt I needed more of their backstory or even much more of their relationship since those were the bits I enjoyed the most. The author descriptions are vivid and she definitely knows how to write romance. Craving for more of that beautifully written love story.
I loved that it's a rollercoaster, an emotional rush and you don't know where the author is gonna take you next, so be prepared for a wild ride.
This book won't bore you since it is full of thrills, action, romance, and heart wrenching in so many ways.
What kept me from giving this book a full 5 star rating were the chapters focused on the mob. It kind of confused me a little and took the excitement away from me. I wanted more of everything else instead, but I understood it's a crucial part of the story.
The ending left me wanting more, which is great.
I recommend this book to those who love a good love story with the right amount of conflict and emotional pain.

I tried so hard to get into this book, but I couldn't get past 15%... I did not read the 1st book, but I saw in other reviews this could be read as a stand alone. It was a slowww start and very unrealistic. I had to keep reminding myself that these characters were supposed to be teenagers. You could not tell by the language they spoke. There was too much detail in the conversations that did not matter between the characters and not enough background information up front. I sadly had to DNF this read. I look forward to seeing other publications from this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Wow! The best way for me to describe this book is a reluctant spy novel with romance. The beginning starts off fast and intense. It pulls you in and doesn't stop. I enjoyed the action, characters, and relationships that formed. I don't typically read spy novels or books featuring many Russian characters, but I had fun with this book!

I didn't realize this was the second book until I read other reviews. I don't think I missed too much, only some references, but I would recommend reading the first one before this one! I know I'm going back to read it.

Three-star reviews are the most difficult for me to write. I was all over the place with this novel. While there are some definite positives and negatives about this one, it felt like I read two different books; one I liked and one I didn't. I hated the early chapters so much that if this hadn't been an ALC I would've DNF it within the first ten minutes. I try hard to stick with ARCs though, so I trudged on. The novel makes an abrupt shift towards the middle, and I was stunned at how much the plot improved.

The biggest downfall of those early chapters is how overwritten everything is especially, the dialogue. There is repetition galore that should've been edited down. The character behavior seems farfetched, and the teen dialogue sounds like it's trying too hard to sound young. Teenagers don't speak like that. When I noticed some of these issues creep back up toward the end, I realized that the immature interactions between the two main characters are unnatural, cringey even. The romance plot thread was weak. The villains seem cheesy in the first section. I kept envisioning them as mustache twirling cartoonish cutouts. I couldn't take these guys seriously.

The middle section of the book was interesting, and I was floored by the change of pace. The agent training the FMC receives is scary and fascinating. It reminded me of an underground spy network. The book is better when the main characters aren't in scenes together. The stronger plot lies in this section, notably minus the romance. Even the villainous characters hold their own better in the second half.

This is a dual perspective audiobook and is narrated by Will Collyer and Emilia Ares. The author voices the main character herself.

If you're considering this one, it is book 2 but can be read as a standalone. It also ends on a cliffhanger. There are dark themes so be aware especially if considering this for a younger reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Listening Copy

I listened to this as an audiobook, courtesy of NetGalley (thank you for the opportunity!). One thing I didn’t realize at first was that this is the second book in a series. While it’s often said that it can be read as a standalone, I felt like I missed some of the backstory between Mina and Oliver.

The story alternates between Mina and Oliver’s perspectives, which I wanted to love, but it felt disjointed. Mina’s experiences in the Russian underground, including intense moments of torture, contrasted sharply with Oliver’s business struggles and attempts to find her. His storyline felt less compelling, with dialogues that seemed wordy and less impactful. I wish Mina’s side had taken center stage, showcasing her strength more vividly from the start, rather than implying it only once she reached training. The sudden shift there felt a bit abrupt.

Another challenge was the narration. The female narrator’s enunciation and overly dramatic tone, even in less significant scenes, made it hard to stay engaged. While the book certainly has moments of intense, heart-wrenching drama, the narration seemed overdone across the board.

In hindsight, I think reading the first book might have helped me appreciate this one more, and I probably would have enjoyed it more as a traditional read rather than an audiobook. Still, if you’re drawn to intense, multi-layered stories, this one might be worth exploring (perhaps with a different format!).

“Love and other cages” is an action packed, YA romantic thriller that takes you on an unexpected journey. The story starts with Mina and Oliver and their fledgling relationship. We then take a hard right when Mina and her mum experience a terrifying home invasion that leaves a man dead and Mina’s mother in a medically induced coma. A scared and on-edge Mina is then approached by the CIA and told she is going to be kidnapped and to let it happen because they will track her. But months later and deep in the Russian crime underbelly Mina is losing hope and Oliver is ready to try anything to find her.

•••

It is claimed that you can read this as a standalone and while the core story line is all within these pages, the character building and the building of their relationship was done in the other book so I feel like I lost some of their motivation. The kidnapping happens so early on that their “love” didn’t feel as palpable as I would have liked.
The detail included in the Russian underground was remarkable. Either Ares has a great imagination or she did extensive research. The middle dragged a little bit for me but the writing was effortless and enticing.
The cliff hanger! I was not expecting that kind of ending on this book.

Thankyou NetGalley for this arc

I've never read anything by Emilia Ares and although this is apparently book #2 of "love and other sins" I don't think I really missed any of the gist.
The narrating was really good and I was really impressed by the Russian accents, I wonder if the narrator is a native speaker.
This book was exciting and although it was on the "long" side and sometimes felt repetitive I was still engaged in listening. Looking forward to more.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher ( and narrators) for the opportunity to listen and share my thoughts.

This audiobook became cringey pretty quickly, I’m not a fan of listening to a book like that. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

Wow. This book isn’t like anything I’ve read before. I loved how the author put her own spin on the Russian mob but still made it high stakes. I love a good espionage plot. Mina is a strong FMC and I absolutely adore Oliver. The two have definitely been put through the wringer in this story. I would like to see a bit more world building and the pacing seemed slightly rushed, but overall it was an action packed book that kept me on my toes. I have a lot of questions though, so I hope they are answered in the next book!

I listened to the audiobook version, and thought the narrators did a great job! The Russian accent was top notch and both displayed emotion very well.

4 stars!

Honestly I started in the middle of the night because I couldn’t sleep and can’t get into it, I don’t love the audio narrator.

This book was a refreshing change from my usual reads! It’s a lighthearted yet vibrant story, beautifully balanced between action and character development. I especially enjoyed the connection between Oliver and Mina, which added a lot of depth and emotion, making the story even more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Love and Other Cages by Emilia Ares continues the emotional journey of the characters from the first book, Love and Other Sins. This second installment delves deeper into the lives of Mina and Oliver as they navigate complex emotions, family dynamics, and the challenges of young adulthood. Mina, a spirited young woman with a complicated past, and Oliver, a sensitive musician haunted by his own struggles, find their relationship tested by both external circumstances and inner turmoil. Their love story is both heartfelt and tumultuous, as they attempt to define themselves while staying connected.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the pacing of the story, which kept me engaged from start to finish. Ares skillfully balances moments of tension with heartfelt scenes, giving readers a realistic and relatable look into the characters’ lives. The depth of Mina and Oliver’s emotions is palpable, drawing you into their world and making you feel invested in their journey.

One of the highlights for me was the audiobook performance, which featured the author, Emilia Ares, herself. Her narration added a unique layer of authenticity to the story, allowing her personal connection to the characters and their emotions to shine through. This made the listening experience truly immersive, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative.

For those who haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend starting with Love and Other Sins before diving into Love and Other Cages. The two books together provide a rich, continuous storyline that adds depth to the characters and their evolving relationships.

Love and Other Cages by Emilia Area is a gripping thriller that delves into the depths of love, sacrifice and the lengths one would go to protect the ones they cherish.
Mina, a diligent high school senior, finds her life abruptly disrupted when she is abducted by a dangerous criminal organisation.
Oliver. a man grappling with his own past, is devastated by Mina's disappearance. As oliver delves deeper into the criminal underworld, he uncovers a web of danger, determined to rescue Mina and restore their shattered world.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Narration: 5 Stars

Holy man!! This book was such a rollercoaster! I found Love and Other Cages on NetGalley while browsing for audiobooks and am SO glad I did.

I didn’t realize this was book two in a series 😅, but luckily it stands completely on its own. I never felt like I was missing backstory, and the action kicks off early—which I love! Now, I’m definitely excited to go back and read the first book, Love and Other Sins.

The narration was a solid 5 stars. Emilia Ares and Will Collyer brought such depth to their roles, making every twist and emotion hit even harder. At one point, I had to remind myself I wasn’t actually in the story—it was such an immersive listening experience!

Love and Other Cages is a YA Romance but a touch of darkness that had me in a complete chokehold! Emilia Ares’s writing shines with detailed secondary characters and raw, emotional depth in the leads. Mina and Oliver’s journey is high-stakes, gripping, and intense—a romance that battles fate itself. I’m already looking forward to the next installment!

Note: This one covers some dark topics, so definitely check trigger warnings, especially for younger readers.