Her

I’m not going to lie, Her and I had a bit of a rocky start. The premise immediately caught my attention, and the opening throws us straight into Nix’s brutal world. But after that strong start, the story slows down as it introduces Charlie’s grief, financial struggles, and reasons for proving herself as a cop. That background matters, but there’s a lot of setup before I feel connected to the mystery. I kept waiting for things to click, and the slow start nearly made me DNF the book.

Charlie goes undercover in the operation Nix works for, hoping to find the person at the top and help save the victims. The two of them are drawn to each other even as they hide things from one another, which gives the romance and investigation plenty of tension. Charlie’s compassion and determination make her easy to root for, especially when she sees people in danger and wants to help them, even when it could put her cover at risk. I also appreciated that she’s a confident plus-size heroine whose body isn’t treated as something that needs fixing.

Nix is a complicated character. He’s part of a horrific business, but he also tries to protect Charlie from its darker side and shows moments of compassion toward people caught in it. That contrast made me curious about him, but it also means his change has to carry real weight. His shift toward becoming a better man is compelling, though I would have liked more time to see him face the harm he’s caused and earn the trust he wants from Charlie. Their chemistry is fiery hot, and the romance is intense, but their feelings develop quickly.

The world of the story is dark and unsettling, especially in its scenes involving the wealthy, masked clients and the operation’s reach. Those details make the danger feel real, but I wanted more depth around how the network works and how the investigation could realistically bring it down. A few of the choices made by the undercover team stretched my belief a bit. The plot still kept me curious, though, and some of the twists genuinely surprised me.

Thankfully, once the suspense kicks into gear, the stakes rise and the mystery deepens. I became far more invested in Charlie and Nix, and the second half held my attention much more than the first. There are several major revelations close together near the end, so the final stretch feels rushed, and I would have liked more time with the fallout. Even so, the twists and growing tension made me glad I pushed through.

WOULD I RECOMMEND HER? I’d recommend Her to readers who enjoy dark romance, suspense, morally complicated characters, a confident heroine, and a high level of spice. The opening took a while to win me over, and the subject matter is heavy, so I’d check the trigger warnings before starting. But if you’re willing to give the story time to build, the mystery, chemistry, and unexpected twists may draw you in too.

MY FINAL VERDICT: Her didn’t hook me as quickly as I’d hoped, but once the suspense took hold, I became much more invested in Charlie, Nix, and the mystery surrounding them. The slower beginning, quick character turnaround, and rushed ending kept it from earning five stars, but I still found it to be a good book, and I’d read it again.

Final Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) | Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5

Trigger warnings: Please read the author’s full trigger warnings before starting. They include rape references and implications, adult sex trafficking, heavy violence, drug use, necrophilia (not involving the main couple), selling corpses, death and loss of loved ones, blood, pornography, and heavy sexual content.

NOTE: I received a digital ARC of Her from the author. This review reflects the copy I read from Netgalley on August 3 and may not reflect any revisions, corrections, or updates made to subsequent editions.