I really enjoyed this book. I was not aware it was part of a series but you didn't really have to read the prior book to understand these characters.
Mina goes through a lot and Olive does everything in his power to get to her. Mina has been decieved after an incident at her home. Oliver sets out in an attempt to get her back. I thought that Mina was extremely strong and resilient, while Oliver was still very immature and did not think things through before acting. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger and leaves you wanting to hear more about what will happen to them.

Unfortunately, I am quite disappointed by “Love and Other Cages”.
Now, as a disclaimer: I did not read the previous book in the series. Though, I feel this book explains well enough what is going on, so I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot of context from the previous instalment.

Starting with some of the issues…
A major problem for me in this book is how completely unrealistic it seems - the main plot point revolves around something that would just never happen. I absolutely refuse to believe that (and this is not a spoiler - this plot point is established very early on into the book..) any authority would ask a MINOR to let themselves get KIDNAPPED by a gang because apparently that will help the authorities bust said gang.

Of course, the problems don’t end there - there numerous things that happen after the kidnapping that just don’t make any sense… This makes the whole story really hard to believe and causes a lack of immersion for me personally - and I hate to say it but my entire reading experience has been that of the likes of reading a Wattpad mafia story.

Also.. This is being marketed as a New Adult Romance and Thriller. Romance? Where is the romance? The only time the couple that this story is told through are actually together is in the first few chapters, and a few towards the end, and even in those, they have numerous problems in their relationship. There’s nothing that feels genuinely romantic and I think it would make more sense for this book to have just been described as a thriller.

Without giving anything away… I feel like the ending was definitely.. odd to me, and it felt like the author added a twist just for the sake of it. I understand that this is done to prolong the series but I would have much rathered the ending without it, especially because I won’t be reading any further instalments of this series.

The characters were okay… I feel they don’t really have much depth or personalisation at all, though. I suppose that’s to be expected given the quality of the plot and the rest of the book as a whole..
Despite that, the author did do a good job keeping a continuous narrative from Oliver - him being short tempered and reactionary is something that is present from the very start until the end, for the most part. Additionally, to expand on that, I think the character work with Mina was also alright - it had its moments where I felt like I was more able to connect with her, but, the character work in this is definitely not something to marvel at.

I think that the only other somewhat positive thing I have to say for the writing is that the story wasn’t.. boring. It was compelling to read on at times, particularly during the last 20%.
Now, I feel I should say: if I was reading this physically, I would have DNF’d early on. I simply would not have been able to continue. But, the audiobook was actually quite high quality! The acting was better than I had expected, and I feel like both narrators could have an established career in voice acting if that was something they were to pursue.

But to wrap this up.. I definitely don’t think I’ll be recommending this to anybody that I know personally - but to anyone who tends to enjoy chaotic YA mafia-style stories: you may perhaps enjoy this more than I did.

Thank you to SERA Press for providing this Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley!

WOW! What a surprise read!!
First I am thankful to have gotten the audioARC and the eARC for free from Netgalley and the author so I can leave my voluntary review.

I was out of audio books and needed one to listen before bed so I looked at ones I could listen to immediately and came across this. It looked interesting enough so I got it. Afterwards I saw that it was available in print as well through NetGalley so I got that as well to be able to do a tandem read as those opportunities don’t come up often on NetGalley.

Anyway, within the first 10% of the experience I dropped e-galley as the audio version was so engrossing and well done. If you follow my reviews you know that I don’t enjoy dramatic versions of audiobooks. I want the narrators to read with enough feeling to be engaging but not go overboard where it completely shapes how I need to interpret the material.

Well this is a bit different. It was a bit more dramatic of a reading than I typically like but it was fantastic! It was as though the female narrator completely brought the FMC to life and was so in tune with her. It wasn’t until I was 90% done that I checked out who the narrators were and saw the female was the author 😝.

So it makes complete sense now! I feel because she knows the characters best that she was able to be a bit more dramatic with the reading and come across as completely authentic. The author Emilia Ares is an actress as well and honestly that doesn’t always equate to a good audio reader!

Anyway, on top of the the recitation of the book being fabulous, the book itself was outstanding too! While the FMC and the MMC are 17 and in high school which fits in with the YA genre it’s not at all. It is New Adult for sure and it’ll speak to general and women’s fiction lovers as well.

I ended up listening to it in one sitting as i completed a project at 1.5x speed rate as it put it at a perfect speed. I definitely liked Mira’s chapters so much that I wanted Oliver’s to hurry up but his were very much needed to pull the story together. It was just that Mira’s were full of the action and you want to know what happens!

I didn’t realize that this is the second book in a series but can also be read as a stand alone. By the 20% mark I made sure to put the first book in my kindle library.

This book comes out October 15th 2024 and I highly suggest you preorder it now! I am 100% getting my own copy through Audible come October and a print copy. Now I’m off to reread the eARC to see what else I can get from this story!

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Mina is the unfortunate victim of her father's actions. When she is kidnapped by the Russian mob to make her father toe the line , her boyfriend Oliver will stop at nothing to find her. Mina goes through horrible torture and brainwashing. It was sometimes difficult to listen to because it was so raw and brutal . But the story was so gripping I had to keep going.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a wonderful job. I always enjoy dual narration. This was the second in the series. I didn't read the first but did not feel lost. The author did a good job of filling us in. I can't wait for the next book as this ended on a cliffhanger.

⭐️ 3.5/5 - overall
📚 3/5
🎧 4/5
🩷 2/5

It was not advertised on NetGalley as a sequel.
I was lost in some parts. Shame, it seems like it could have been a decent story with all the context.
It might have been a better experience if I had read book 1.
Please remember to advertise the book number in the series.

🎧 I will add the narration style was good. The female was too tier. The male was a great performer but I think the voice didn't suit the character. Great audio production though. The audio was a comfortable listen 🙌

Ich habe mich über das Buch sehr gefreut. Es ist nicht nur fließend zum lesen sondern auch sehr spannend.

⭐️⭐️.75/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Before picking up this book don’t do what I did and jump straight into it, though you’d get on just fine, I do recommend reading the first book, ‘Love and Other Sins’. This book was hard to get into in the beginning, maybe it was because I was jumping head first into the middle of a series and the connection between the characters was already built. Though between the author’s incredible writing and the intriguing audiobook narration (and a little bit of stubbornness), I found myself enjoying aspects of it and in the end was invested in the characters and story. There is a cliffhanger at the end of this book, that really leaves you wanting more for the possible book 3. The plot was not predictable by any means and you were left questioning how all the little peaces fell together and connected. The characters were well fleshed out, some parts were annoying but that’s human and it built the depth. I loved the MFC, Mina, what she goes through and her storyline is very interesting and well thought out. The MMC, Oliver, I found annoying at time but you can tell how much he cares for Mina. I do believe I would’ve benefited more from knowing his background in the first book. I also listened to the audiobook and I loved it, OMG the author of the book voiced Mina’s chapters and I feel like she done an amazing job, Emilia Ares is a multitalented author by all means. The narrator choice for Oliver was also a good choice, the accents to the performance was incredible. The only thing that would’ve made it better would’ve been duet narration. However the narrators made the story work and worth investigating in. Overall story, characters and plot made this book, but my experience with going straight into book 2 and also my experience with YA books left me giving this book the rating I gave it. I do recommend this book though because even if my experience was lacklustre, maybe yours will be better.

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did!!! 6 starts
this was an audio book and the narrator's voices were so enjoyable and easy to follow, also the storyline is just so gripping!! it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger which I cannot wait to see whats next. it will definitely be a book I will recommend ofter.

Just wow! I didn't realize when I started that this was the 2nd book in a series, but was able to follow along and will absolutely be going back and reading the first book! I'll always be anxiously awaiting the next book because that ending!! 🤯

Mina is so strong and Oliver is so devoted. They're both great characters and the duel POV was done very well. My jaw was on the floor the whole time.

Thank you for the chance to listen and review!

I didn’t realize this was second in a series until about 1/3rd of the book and thought “maybe some background would be nice”. Then realized it’s the second book and went back and listened to the first book. Came back to second book. Very long books with very little happening. The story, plot etc were good, but the books could’ve been much shorter in my opinion.
Narration was fine.

After the first 20% of this listen I wasn't sure if Emilia was going to be able to pull me in. However, I got drawn in and listened to the back half in one go.

Mina is such a strong female lead. In other books with similar plots, I typically find the main characters to be a bit rash and frustrating with their choices. Emilia Ares wrote an amazing female lead that I was able to emphasize within an impossible situation.

The plot kept me on my toes the entire time, and as the book went forward so did the pacing. The dual POV was well done, I felt like neither POV was more or less entertaining than the other.

I will be looking forward to reading Emilia Ares's next book!

First, I didn't realize this was the second book in the series so I'll absolutely go back to read the first. I didn't feel too lost though reading this. The author gave just enough of a synopsis so you'd eventually pick up what's going on.

Love and Other Cages starts extremely chaotic. Mina, a high school senior, is abducted after a break-in at her home, which left her mother hospitalized. After her abduction, her boyfriend, Oliver, works with his best friend, Xavi, and Mina's best friend, Nyah, to help uncover what happened and find Mina. I hope there is going to be a third book because I'm dying to know what happens after being left on a cliffhanger!!

This gave me Natasha Romanov origin story vibes and I enjoyed it!

Seems well written and entertaining enough, just not my cup of tea. sorry. If the author ever writes anything more fantastical I will be sure to give it a try.

I really enjoyed the voice actors in this book. I thought they were chosen well. I loved both POVs and even the side characters I felt like I knew them. Would definitely read the next installment.

The title is quite a frightening one and the book follows the same lines. After a bloody start the book moves into adulthood for Lila who is struggling in her life, torn between the cage of her mariage and the duty that is expected of her, and that she expects of herself and her desires more more and for different. The voice of the book is very introspective, an almost inner monologue of Lila and where she is and how the world is containing her and constraining her. Daniel and Maria are the other main characters and both are depicted in a very internal way with a detailed exploration of guilt and its impact on daily decisions and lives. All three characters are relatable, the way that they are depicted helps, and their flaws are given a lot of air time and this makes them real. They are not always likeable but they do come alive.
The audio book is well read and moves along between the voices well.

wow. this is my first audiobook and i couldn’t stop listening. the characters are so well developed and the story so intriguing it’s impossible to not get drawn into the world of Mina, the main character. there was so many twists & turns to the story and it left my mind reeling with theories and different possibilities. i cannot wait to see how this series ends.

Mina‘s mother has been brutally attacked in their own home. To ensure her mom’s safety moving forward, she agrees to hand herself over to the guys who did this and gather information. Oliver, her boyfriend, is left in the dark and would do anything to find her.

I had not appreciated that this was the second book in the series, but nonetheless, it was really gripping. It reminded me a lot of the black widow and I enjoyed watching Mina work for her survival.

I think you can enjoy this book without having read the previous book, but I do think it would’ve added some needed context to fully enjoy the story.

This series is made for fans of mafia, survival, and he will do anything for her vibes.

The narrators - Will Collyer and Emilia Ares - are really amazing!

The writing is good but it is too slow for me. So yes expect a slow burn kind of second chance romance from the book.

I love the cover so much!

Thank you, SERA Press, for the advance reading audiobook.