I don’t even know how to put into words what I felt reading this book, two guys just a BDSM auction for virgins where his ex shows up?? has potentially amnesia?? so he buys her for revenge?? honestly very confused the whole time, while struggling to get through almost 600 pages of storyline which could have been 40% of that. This was not for me at all and I am not even sure I know what actually happened.

This book should be read knowing as little as possible. I have no questions about the plot as a whole, but some of the characters' actions were frankly surprising at times and seemed out of character for them, which made the plot twists themselves strange and unrealistic and spoiled the experience a bit.

Book Review: Cherry Auction by Stasia Black

Stasia Black’s Cherry Auction is a wild ride, packed with all the angst, tension, and twisted chemistry that fans of dark romance crave. From the moment you start reading, it’s clear that this is a story about more than just love – it’s about obsession, power, and everything in between.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic here is intense, and I mean intense. The main characters start out with a real hate for each other, and that animosity quickly turns into something much hotter. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry sizzling, and the emotional rollercoaster they go through is both thrilling and exhausting (in the best way possible). It’s that kind of slow-burn tension that makes the payoff feel all the more satisfying.

What really stands out in Cherry Auction is how Stasia Black handles the darker elements. This is definitely not a light read – there’s power play, manipulation, and moments that will make you cringe (in the best way possible, if you’re into that kind of thing). But despite all the darkness, there’s a real vulnerability between the characters that makes their eventual connection feel earned. Their journey from hatred to something more is messy and complicated, but that’s what makes it so compelling.

The pacing is fast, the writing is sharp, and the tension doesn’t let up for a second. It’s one of those books that grips you by the throat and doesn’t let go. If you’re a fan of dark, angsty romances where the lines between love and hate blur, this one will absolutely hit the spot.

That being said, Cherry Auction isn’t for everyone. The themes are heavy, and the characters make some questionable decisions that could turn off readers who prefer their romances on the sweeter side. But for those who love a good, gritty, heart-pounding romance, it’s a must-read.

Overall, if you’re into enemies-to-lovers with a dark edge, Cherry Auction is a book you won’t be able to put down. It’s messy, intense, and totally addictive. Just buckle up – it’s a bumpy ride.

It's a dark psychological romance that involves tragic childhoods, amnesia, bdsm, kink, and pet play. The two main characters are both so toxic and have traumatic childhoods but yet in a weird twisted way are perfect for each other. Ive read stasia black's books before and they are great.

Before reading please check the trigger warnings. There were definitely moments I was wondering if I wanted to keep reading but I’m glad I did. This book had a few twists I didn’t see coming and the ending was worth the wait. Looking forward to see who the next couple will be in the sequel.

The idea and blurb of this novel drew me in. A virgin auctioned off to a man she destroyed in the past, only she can’t recall it at all due to her recent diagnosis of amnesia.


I went into this wanted to love it and I struggled through the first half of the book. I felt like it dragged on and was more smut than plot, but then you get a total flip and all of a sudden there’s a bunch of twists to the plot and I was hooked.

Make sure to check your triggers before reading this as it does have very dark moments. Overall the idea was great it just wasn’t executed as good as it should have been. It needed to move quicker in the first half to match the second half.

Overall

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

First things first, yes this is advertised as dark and twisted (to which i love) but please check the TWs before reading. This book is not for the faint hearted, but i will say, i loved the morally gray aspect of this book.

I really did enjoy the amnesia aspect of the book, and the red flag that was the MMC? Sold it for me. I thrive for the red flags in fictional men.

This definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me? I loved it. With the character development and the spice, alongside the aspect of a dark romance book, i really did enjoy this.

Given the basic premise of this book, I expected it to be pretty dark—and it did not disappoint. Lots of very spicy content (as expected) but an equally interesting storyline. Come for the spice, but stay to see where the story leads.

this is my first book by stasia black and WILL not be my last. domhnall helps host a virgin auction for his friend who owns a sex club when a girl from his past steps out. brooke has amnesia after being attacked and doesn’t remember domnhall, but boy does he remember her. the journey these two go on, even in the beginning of the book when he’s training her to be his sub. i didn’t expect the amount of angst in this book and was thoroughly shocked. the twists? oh god get outta here with that! i’m not sure how i was expecting the last 20ish% to go but that wasn’t even on the radar. i thoroughly enjoyed this and had such a fun time listening to this. the narrators did a phenomenal job bringing all the angst to life as well as these characters.

This book has such an intense and gripping storyline to make it a dark and angsty love story. The character development that occurs throughout the story is wonderful — watching them navigate the traumas they endured was nice to see.

The chemistry between these two characters was next-level and hard to look away from. The whole enemies-to-lovers premise was heavily present and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Please note that there are many trigger warnings for the story!

This book was a little all over the place, but definitely a spicy dark romance. There were all sorts of trigger warnings so keep that in mind. The amnesia trope was a lot and the Irish brogue didn't feel super genuine. Overall this seems like it is a debut but I would read more from this author in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

Spice and a good story always a good combination and I learned something about myself, although this is not my kink, I really did enjoy the story. If Dom Sub is your thing you'll love it

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review. I love dark romance and the auction theme but this felt like such a mix of so many tropes. I won’t mention them here because spoilers but let’s just say it was a lot and could have used some editing to streamline.

This book was very predictable and all over the place. Lots of triggers if people need it. I felt like to many trope themes were put in that it added to the unbelievable factor to me. If the story was shortened condensed would have been better.

This was such a twisted dark book that was just so captivating. Dark and Twisted are perfect ways to describe this one. It will not be a book for everyone check the trigger warnings. Brooke has amnesia and just trying to figure out who she is. The connection and relationship she forms with Domhnall is very interesting. It’s a wild emotional ride with several twists.

I both loved this and didn't love it at the same time.
It is great dark romance but the amnesia trope is so cliché I found myself rolling my eyes at the predictability of where this was going to go, but it saved itself with the spice that was spicing in all the right places.

Cherry Auction by Stasia Black is a dark, twisted romance that delves into themes of lies, revenge, and obsession. The story centers around a man who buys a woman named Brooke at a high-stakes auction for fifty million dollars. He believes she is responsible for ruining his life and is determined to exact his revenge. However, Brooke claims to have amnesia, adding a layer of mystery to her character.
As the plot unfolds, their relationship becomes a complex and dangerous game of hate and desire. The man struggles to untangle his thirst for vengeance from his growing attraction to Brooke. The novel explores the psychological dynamics between the characters, making readers question the fine line between love and hate.

This story is as advertised: a dark romance with triggers galore. I liked and didn't like this story. The premise was interesting, she has amnesia so has no memory of her past. Then she decided to auction herself off and the person who buys her not only knows her, he's the one who could tell her about the things she can't remember. But first he has to punish her, and the triggers appear. I love dark romance but the sometimes it feels like triggers are in the story more for having it in the story than because it fits the story. That's what these triggers seemed to be for me.
One of the other issues is it's so freaking long, if half of the story was cut, I'm almost certain it wouldn't be missed. It doesn't deliver on the premise.
Was it awful, no? Will I read it again? Not unless someone paid me.

This premise sounded good but it expired before I could download and review this title.
Rating it 3 stars because I can't submit this without giving a star rating.

Cherry Auction by Stasia Black is a wild, dark ride filled with psychological tension, intense chemistry, and a hero teetering on the edge of obsession. Domhnall is deeply damaged, channeling his past trauma into a rigid world of control and sadism—until Brooke, a woman from his past, unknowingly walks back into his life through an auction. What follows is a twisted, possessive, and volatile journey between two broken people trying to make sense of their pain, desires, and the undeniable pull between them.

This book leans into its darkness, featuring heavy BDSM elements, impact play, humiliation, degradation, and even light pet play, balanced by moments of aftercare and tenderness. However, the true darkness lies in the characters’ pasts, which are revealed in layers as the story unfolds. The amnesia aspect adds intrigue, but some plot choices in the second half feel inconsistent, making certain character actions difficult to reconcile.

The spice is undeniably scorching, and the tension between Domhnall and Brooke is ultimately what kept me reading, even when I considered DNFing. However, pacing issues and some third-act developments detract from the experience, which accounts for my 3.5-star rating. If you enjoy truly dark romance with morally gray characters, obsessive love, and a psychological edge, this one may be worth diving into—just be sure to check the trigger warnings first.

Story: 3.5⭐
Spice: 3.5🌶️