Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

When I first picked up Cherry Auction, I had my doubts. The premise, a young woman auctioning off her virginity, immediately raised questions. Yet, as an avid fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, I was intrigued enough to dive in. What I discovered was an intensely emotional, well-crafted narrative that delivers more than just a provocative premise; it offers deep character exploration, psychological nuance, and a gripping, tension-filled romance.

Stasia Black does not hold back in immersing me in Brooke’s world. The initial setup might seem unconventional, but the author carefully constructs Brooke’s motivations: her memory loss, her dire need for financial stability, and makes them believable. While the premise may require some suspension of disbelief, Black skillfully ensures that Brooke’s choices feel organic within the world she has built. Then there’s Domhnall. His presence on the page is electric. The moment he recognizes Brooke on stage, the dynamic between them shifts dramatically, drawing me into a past shrouded in mystery and pain. The "she forgot him, but he never forgot her" trope is executed with just the right amount of angst and intrigue, heightening the stakes and making their interactions all the more compelling. And honestly, that made it such a page turner for me.

The novel is also my first foray into BDSM romance, and Black’s handling of the subject is commendable. She delivers an experience that is both explicit and sophisticated, striking a balance between raw sensuality and emotional depth. The writing is immersive, highly descriptive without feeling gratuitous, and the tension between the protagonists is palpable. However, some scenes do feel prolonged, which occasionally slows the pacing. A tighter edit in certain sections could have made the reading experience even more gripping.

What truly elevates Cherry Auction beyond its steamy romance is the depth of its characters. Brooke and Domhnall are not simply two people entangled in a high-stakes romance; they are individuals shaped by trauma, searching for healing and understanding. The inclusion of therapy, discussions on boundaries and consent, and the respectful portrayal of past hardships add layers of authenticity. Black does not use trauma as a plot device for shock value but instead integrates it meaningfully into the characters' arcs, ensuring their growth feels earned and impactful.

If there is one aspect that left me wanting more, it was the exploration of their past. While the present-day narrative is strong, additional flashbacks could have further deepened the emotional resonance of their story. Still, the dual POV structure is effective, keeping the momentum strong and allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in both Brooke and Domhnall’s perspectives. The novel’s conclusion is deeply satisfying, delivering a well-earned resolution that solidifies the journey these characters have undertaken. By the final page, I found myself not only thoroughly invested in their story but also eager to explore more of Stasia Black’s works.

Final Verdict: Cherry Auction is a bold, emotionally charged romance that offers both heat and heart. While some scenes may feel drawn out, the rich character development and thematic depth make this a standout read in the genre. If you’re looking for a novel that blends passion with psychological complexity, this one is worth picking up. 3/5 stars.

This book was SPICYYYY🔥 5/5 on the spice scale.
That being said it’s not all about spice. I was very surprised with how well the trauma responses and mental health was portrayed! The things that happens to these characters are very dark but sometimes life can be dark and I really enjoyed seeing them triumph through it and seek help to heal.

3.75/5 ⭐️ & 🌶️🌶️🌶️

As soon as I read the blurb I knew I was in for a ride, and I was so ready to buckle in. I went in expecting a spicy dark romance feat. some trigger warnings and boy was there so much more. There ended up being psychological thriller vibes, and while it was a surprise, it was a welcome one.

Both the MMC and FMC have some really deep trauma, and I thought the characters were really well written and complex. Especially in the beginning, I felt Domhnall’s struggles with his emotions and affection were portrayed really well and loved his POV chapters.

I will definitely be thinking about this book for a time. The heat was HOT, the twists were unexpected, and the whole thing was a fun, dark read.

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing and Stasia Black for the digital ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading.

The blurb and the cover were eye catching and I was excited to read this book because I was in the mood for some dark romance but unfortunately, the beginning itself disappointed me. With the way some things were described, I couldn't understand what was going on in the world and the character introduction also wasn't proper tbh. <spoiler> Mads had a confusing personality but things about it made sense after the second half. But Domhnall was just unlikeable to me. There was nothing appealing about him and I wanted to see him grovel but that did not happen which was another disappointment. There was too much smut and not enough focus was shed on the character development and relationship building between the main characters. The side characters were also very dull and played a small part but contributed nothing to the story. </spoiler > The plot definitely had potential but the execution was poor which runied the book for me, ngl.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

This book was really good! I loved the plot and characters! i recommend this book to any who loved a good plot with smut

Listen, I love a good taboo romance but this was downright cruel- and not in the fun bully romance way either. Our main character Brooke is known by another name to Dom, Madison. She's the girl who broke his heart as teenagers and he and his sister were forced to run away and assume new identities, while her and her father ran off with his money. All these years later, she's up for a virginity auction claiming amnesia. Dom wins her, and proceeds to spend the next several days edging her while she's tied up, trying to break the amnesia schtick he is so confident she is faking. The first 50% is pure smut with little payoff because we don't know either of these characters. At around 50% we hit a little bit of plot, but at this point we've now sunk hundreds of pages into this story. While it has an interesting premise, this is one dark romance that is just too long.

I liked this book. There was a twist that turned the direction of what I thought the whole book would be about (making money from a virginity auction) which turned into more twists. Not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. While I liked the epilogues, I felt they could better served as novellas. The author expressed writing more stories with these characters. Thank you for the opportunity, NetGalley and the publisher.

You must check your trigger warnings before reading this book. I found this book very backwards in terms of the spice and story. Majority of the spice was at the beginning of the book and more of the story in the 2nd half of the book. I would say this book is about 65% smut and 35% plot. It’s been a while since I’ve read any dark romance and it was a nice change up for me from my typical sports or college romances. It’s quite a sad story really to see how messed up they’ve both become from the same person. As the story goes on, it gives you answers and you’re like ‘ohhh, that’s why they’re so messed up!’.I really enjoyed reading about her dissociative disorder, this something I’ve not really heard of before, I feel like the author did a good job at explaining what it is. I found it easier to understand due to the change of chapter perspectives towards the end between the main character and ‘her’. If this book becomes part of a series, I will be reading the rest of them.

I wish we could see more emotional communication than physical. I waited to get through the halfway point of the book to see almost any character development from just reading smut, which made it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the male main character's attitudes and reactions seemed unnecessary, even though this was a dark romance.
2.5 Stars

Be sure to check the TW before diving into this one. Dark romance meets psychological thriller type vibes with disassociative disorder. Definitely ran through all of the emotions, but loved every minute. Cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I wanted to start with the fact that the second half of the book was much better than the first. In the very beginning Donny talks very derogatory to his sister and then treats the FMC like a dog. I did not find that sexy at all. It was forced and dub con. Half way thru it becomes more of a story that they are trying to better themselves. There was too many story lines to follow and then the ending was like 3 continuous endings. I just didn't appreciate some of content, the bulling, the kidnapping, and the constantly changing plot. Amnesia? Hypnotized? Just didn't do it for me, sorry! Ladies want a respectful strong lead not a person to talk down to them.

Cherry Auction by Stasia Black is an enticing and steamy romance novel that explores the world of high-stakes auctions with a dark, suspenseful twist. The story follows a thrilling mix of passion, power dynamics, and intense chemistry. Black’s writing delivers both tension and vulnerability, making for an engaging, if somewhat intense, read. While the plot keeps the pace fast, the characters could use more depth, but it’s a captivating choice for fans of edgy, dramatic romance.

This book is geared towards dark romance lovers. The topics discussed are incredibly heavy and psychological which can leave readers with a mix of emotions. As someone who does not read dark romance often this book was incredibly out of my comfort zone. The standard dark romance reader would probably love this book so long as trigger warnings are properly understood prior to reading! For me personally this is not in my wheelhouse but feel the writing is easy to follow and understand!

I thought I would read a nice spicy, somewhat dark book. But it was so much more! Definitely one of the darker smut books I have read, but there was so much more depth than I expected. A strong main character with her own problems, but one who puts her shoulder to the wheel!

Wowza...this book was terrible! I can't believe I actually finished reading it.

*Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity in exchange of my honest opinion.

3.5 stars! This book kept me on my toes, and the twist?! Didn't see that coming from a mile away!! This was emotional and raw and I enjoyed how much you felt like you knew the characters and their background of what made them who they are. The beginning caught me off guard with his accent at first, but once I knew more about his character it made sense. For sure a good read and recommend!

I was drawn in at the beginning, but my interest started to wain halfway in. The book is definitely spicy and dark and something you need to be in the "mood" for. The story could have been better fleshed out and a bit shorter. Wasn't for me, but I can see a lot of people enjoying the story.

I want to thank NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

This was an enjoyable read that i was pulled into straight away, it is very spicy and very dark but that doesn't bother me the spicier and darker the better. I do however think it could have been a little bit shorter perhaps

This was dark phscological/thrillery with a touch of f*d up romance. I don’t know how much research the author did into DID or the complex ptsd of the childhoods both of the main characters had but I just feel like it wasn’t resolved in the right amount of time and felt weird.
Moira the sister has her own set of major issues with I assume would be explored in the next book but I don’t know if I would pick it up.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.