Book review: Under Your Scars

Well I did ask for it "Shatter my heart.." goal accomplished. I am a freakin mess. I don't know if l have ever been broken by a book before... If ever I was, it would be this one. I, at my own risk, do not read trigger warnings. I know what that means for my mental state. In some ways, not reading the trigger warnings lets me be surprised by what I am reading, but it also let's me see maybe some of the same traumas I have from someone else's perspective. I fully appreciate this book. Sometimes your past sneaks up on you, slaps you in the face, and rolls down your cheek. While this might not have been 100% exactly like the trauma I have, I identify with it. Thank you @Ariel Anderson I know it was not easy for you to write. So I want to say - you don't know me, and I don't know you but l proud of you!

@Joe Arden - as always, you have reached me at my soul

@Lee Daniels This was my first book with you, and you did not disappoint!

@Blue Nose Audio thank you for brining me into this world and keeping me here!

#smallbooktoker #audiobook #darkromance #bluenoseaudio #joeardennarrator

2025/9/26 Edited to

... Read moreAfter my initial raw reaction, I wanted to dive a bit deeper into why 'Under Your Scars' absolutely gutted me – in the best way possible! If you're like me, searching for more about Christian Reeves and Elena, or trying to wrap your head around 'The Silencer,' let me share a bit more of my thoughts, without giving away all the twists, of course! First off, the characters: Christian and Elena. Oh, these two. Their dynamic is just... everything. Christian Reeves is such a complex character, isn't he? He's got this dark, intense aura, but you can feel the layers of pain and vulnerability beneath. He’s not your typical hero, and that's precisely what makes him so captivating. Elena, on the other hand, is incredibly resilient. Her journey through trauma and her fight to reclaim herself is truly powerful. Watching their relationship unfold, the push and pull, the undeniable chemistry – it's just so well-penned. You find yourself rooting for them even when things get incredibly messy and dark. The OCR even called Christian and Elena 'Favorite Characters,' and I wholeheartedly agree! Now, let's talk about 'The Silencer.' This is the mystery that truly keeps you on the edge of your seat, isn't it? The way Ariel N. Anderson weaves in this 'Crime, Serial Killer, Thriller' element adds so much suspense. Is Christian 'The Silencer'? The book plays with your expectations, making you question everything you think you know about him. It creates this incredible tension that elevates the dark romance aspect, turning it into something truly unforgettable. It's not just a love story; it's a battle against darkness, both internal and external, and the puzzle of 'The Silencer' is central to that. And for those of you wondering about the 'spicy chapters' – yes, they are absolutely there, and they are intense. But what I appreciate about them is that they're never gratuitous; they serve a purpose in deepening Christian and Elena's connection and exploring their vulnerabilities. The chemistry is palpable, and these scenes contribute significantly to the emotional rollercoaster you experience while reading. They’re woven into the narrative in a way that feels organic to their tortured but passionate relationship. The audiobook experience, especially with Joe Arden's narration, is phenomenal. He brings Christian to life in a way that truly penetrates your soul (as I mentioned in my initial review!). Lee Daniels also did an amazing job, making the whole experience immersive and keeping me glued to my headphones. This book really delves into themes of trauma, healing, and finding light in the darkest places. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and it resonates deeply. If you're looking for a dark romance that challenges you and leaves a lasting impression, 'Under Your Scars' is definitely one to pick up. Just be prepared for your heart to be shattered – in the best, most cathartic way.

Related posts

A hand holds the book "All Along You Were Blooming" by Morgan Harper Nichols, featuring a blue floral design on an orange cover. The text overlay reads "the prettiest poetry book" and "182 pages," with bookshelves in the background.
An open book displays the table of contents for "All Along You Were Blooming," showing sections titled "For the Heart," "For the Mind," "For the Body," and "For the Soul," with corresponding page numbers.
An open book shows a poem about hope, growth, and remembering supportive people, set against a subtle watercolor floral background. The poem encourages seeing what is still growing.
sometimes self-care is a book of poetry 📖 ✨
hi friends! first off — thank you SO MUCH for 700 followers, that's insane! 😭 💕 a thank you post is coming soon, but first: i simply HAD to share this book with you! if you aren't following MHN on Instagram, what are you doing? she shares posts weekly, containing excerpts of these
Grace Anne

Grace Anne

54 likes

A book cover for "Under Your Scars" by Ariel N. Anderson, featuring a gun and flowers. Overlays describe it as dark/stalker romance with an unhinged MMC, heavy spice, obsessive love, and heavy triggers. Four out of five stars are filled.
A blurb for the book "Under Your Scars" on a paper graphic with a paperclip. The text describes a serial murderer known as "The Silencer" and mentions it's a dark romance for mature listeners with trigger warnings and no HEA.
A star rating guide on a crumpled paper graphic. It defines 1 to 5-star ratings, from "DNF" to "absolutely love this book; book hangover, highly recommended." The reviewer is Mari Montalban.
🖤Book Review : Under Your Scars
Book: Under Your Scars Author: Ariel N. Anderson Rating: 4.5⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🎧 Audiobook: 5/5 ⭐️ 👉🏼 Available at Kindle Unlimited ⚠️‼️Please be sure to read trigger/ content warnings‼️ “If you’re so concerned about my humanity, Elena, then reach into my soul and find it, because I’m not
Mari Mont 📚🎧

Mari Mont 📚🎧

6 likes

A title card for a 'My Favorite Book Boyfriends (Part 2)' list, featuring eight plain book spines on a dark background, with a note about mild spoilers.
A collage for John Tucker from 'The Goal,' featuring images of a couple, a hockey player, and text quotes, along with character traits like 'protective' and 'underrated.'
A collage for Dean Di Laurentis from 'The Score,' showing images of a couple, a hockey player with kids, and text quotes, highlighting traits like 'protective' and 'reformed playboy.'
fav book boyfriends
🚨I’m making another, comment your fav book boyfriends and I’ll add them!!🚨 i’m almost done with twisted games and rhys larsen is so. oh my god. #lemon8bookclub #letschat #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendations #BookReview #bookjournal #books #bookboyfriend #bookwormsoflemon8
mads

mads

707 likes

A collage featuring the book cover for "Healing the Heart of a Detroit Gangsta" by Kyiris Ashley, showing a man, a woman, a wheelchair, a person in a wheelchair, and hands performing a massage, reflecting themes of healing and romance.
Book Review
Whew! Kyiris Ashley did what needed to be done with this one! Healing the Heart of a Detroit Gangsta had me locked in from start to finish—a raw, emotional, and deeply satisfying journey of healing, redemption, and unexpected romance. ✨ What’s Juicy? • Reason Alexander—a man with power
SheReadsFire

SheReadsFire

35 likes

The book cover for 'Anthony and Asia: A Thug Romance' by M. Skye, featuring a man with tattoos and a woman in a black top and gold bracelets, representing the urban romance and drama of the story.
Book Review: Anthony and Asia 1 &2
Book Review: Anthony and Asia by M. Skye ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars M. Skye really did something special with Anthony and Asia. If you love urban romance, drama, and unforgettable characters, this book is a MUST-read. From the first page to the last, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that pulls you into
Readingwitvee

Readingwitvee

30 likes

A collection of Anua skincare products, including cleansing oil, cleansing foam, toner, serum, and lotion, displayed with text overlays indicating a "REAL TALK Anua Skincare Honest PRODUCT REVIEW."
A bottle of Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil on a green towel, described as a pore cleanser that effectively removes dirt without stripping the skin.
A tube of Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam on a green towel, highlighted for its soothing properties, foamy texture, and ability to make skin feel smooth and clean.
Korean Skincare Review
Hopped on the Anua Trend and let me talk you, it’s 100000000% worth the hype it has received! I have used these products 3 times now and within my first wash, I could already tell an immediate difference from everything else I’ve ever used. I’m a big skincare girly, like I have so much and ha
Saraya

Saraya

1405 likes

The Jesus Bible review
This is an amazing Bible. It is easy to understand and read and have a bunch of benefits. It is in NIV btw. Each chapter has a timeline at the top of the page plus the history behind the book, details and facts about the author. There's two book marks so that you can flip from one book
Callie Blair

Callie Blair

1143 likes

A book titled 'Under Your Scars' by Ariel N. Anderson, featuring a couple embracing by a stormy sea and lighthouse on its cover. Beside it, an open notebook lists 'BOOK REVIEW' points: Dark & Angsty, Scarred Lovers, Healing & Obsession, Small Town Drama. The scene is decorated with candles, roses, and small stones.
book that emotionally damaged me
🖤 Book Review: Under Your Scars by Ariel N. Anderson 🖤 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) I was not prepared for what this book was going to do to me. Under Your Scars absolutely wrecked me in the most beautiful, devastating way. This isn’t just a romance — it’s an emotional descent into love that’s raw, obse
Jordan

Jordan

1 like

✨There’s a book 2✨
Amari thought she’d seen it all, but betrayal hits harder when it comes from those you love the most. Cutting ties was the easy part, but the scars run deep—especially when her baby daddy tossed her under the bus, leaving her friendship with Yara hanging by a thread. On the surface, things look bri
Butleronbooks📚

Butleronbooks📚

39 likes

book opinionz 👀
I’ve seen this trend on tiktok but i wanted to join in too! So here are two books i think are overhyped, two books i think are underhyped, and two books i think are hyped up the appropriate amount!! 👀 The Silent Patient and Powerless both reallyyyyy let me down :/ The direction The Silent Pa
molly

molly

792 likes

The book 'Wildfire' by Hannah Grace, the second in the Maple Hills series, is displayed with three highlighters and text indicating a review of the book.
The book 'Wildfire' is shown with a 5/5 rating and descriptive tags like 'Romantic Comedy,' 'Mental Health Rep W/ Family Problems,' 'Forced Proximity,' 'Secret Dating,' and 'SPICY.'
A page from the book 'Wildfire' is shown with highlighted text about a character's humorous dialogue regarding cuddling and sleeping, overlaid with 'WTF?' and a laughing emoji.
Book Review: Wildfire
Book name: Wildfire (2nd book out of 3 in the Maple Hills series). Author: Hannah Grace Genre: Romantic Comedy Intro: It’s about this pair of college kids, Aurora and Russ, they have a one night stand. They then go to camp, thinking that they will never see each other again but they do— a
Rachal Sullivan

Rachal Sullivan

258 likes

A hand holds the cover of the BL manhwa 'Love is an Illusion! Vol. 6' by Fargo, featuring a large group of diverse characters. Overlays read 'BL MANHWA Review', 'Omegaverse, Healing Trauma, Found Family', and 'Lemon8 @cozywulfe'.
BL MANHWA REVIEW : ROAD TO HAPPINESS
📖 Name of the Book: Love is an Illusion Vol. 6 📄 Plot: Kyungsoo finds out about Chowon's crazy side and what he did to Heesoo and Dojun. Heesoo and Dojun have a very merry Christmas. Dojun gifts Heesoo a dog! They can raise it together. 🥹 Hye-sung's parents find out about his marriage
Cozywulfe | BL Reading Diary

Cozywulfe | BL Reading Diary

79 likes

The book cover for 'Hidden Scars' by Andi Jaxon features two muscular men in black tank tops, in a close, intimate pose, rendered in black and white. The title 'Hidden Scars' is prominently displayed in blue and white text, with the author's name 'Andi Jaxon' at the bottom.
🏒📚 Book Review: Hidden Scars by Andi Jaxon
Hidden Scars is an emotional and intense MM hockey romance that explores trauma, healing, and the power of unconditional love. The story follows two college hockey players whose relationship begins with hostility but slowly develops into something deeply meaningful. The novel blends dark subject ma
tattooednerd📚

tattooednerd📚

8 likes

A dark, eerie illustration of an old, multi-story house with glowing windows, a large bare tree, and a woman in historical attire near a river. Text overlays read "Book REVIEW" and "Genre: Horror," with an arrow pointing to "MORE ON THE OTHER SIDE."
The book cover for "1689" by Amy Cross, featuring a dark, imposing house with illuminated windows. The cover is set against a spooky landscape with a bare tree and a covered wagon. Text indicates it is "1 in a 13 SERIES."
An open book displays a two-star review, highlighting "SPELLING ERRORS" and "ONLY A COUPLE OF GOOD PARTS." The background depicts a dark, atmospheric scene with an old house, a large bare tree, and historical figures in a rural setting.
Book Review - 1689 by Amy Cross👻
Book name: 1689 📖✨ Author: Amy Cross Genre: Horror / Ghost Fiction 👻 My rating: ⭐️⭐️ My review: Had really high hopes for this book (and series) because the covers alone had me really wanting to dive in. There are many spelling and grammar errors throughout the book. Even on a specific part it
tbrwithchelsea✨

tbrwithchelsea✨

24 likes

💋 BOOK REVIEW 💋
Mental health matters, so please be sure to check the trigger warnings 🌺 Under Your Scars is one of those books that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s intense, emotional, and will have you feeling all kinds of things. The character development is really well done, and the pl
Tiffanee ☀️

Tiffanee ☀️

9 likes

A hand holds the cover of the BL manga 'Fangs Volume 3'. The cover depicts two male characters, one with fangs, eating pizza and drinking champagne amidst confetti. Overlays read 'BL MANGA REVIEW' and 'LIPS SO SWEET'.
BL MANGA REVIEW: WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A VAMPIRE
📖 Name of the Book: Fangs Volume 3 📄 Plot: En questions Ichii about Megi but is only able to get part of the truth-that Ichii was a part of the harem created to purify himself. However, when En asks about the dissolution case of the Harem Ichii flat out tells him that he can't tell En about
Cozywulfe | BL Reading Diary

Cozywulfe | BL Reading Diary

117 likes

54321 Book Challenge
I loveee seeing everyone’s book choices! #booktok #BookReview #bookshelf #readingaesthetic #darkromancebooks
jay

jay

15 likes

✨️ Book Review 📚 ✨️
Ruthless Creatures by J.T Geissinger was one I could not put down!! every chance I could get I was readinggg, its about a mafia romance with 2 people bound together by a debt that must be collected. This was my first mafia romance book & I'm definitely liking it, can't wait to get into
myrka✨️

myrka✨️

67 likes

On my book list this month!!!
#books #blackgirlbookreview #justagirl
neshiaZ

neshiaZ

15 likes

A Kindle device displays the cover of "Little Secrets" by Jennifer Hillier, a suspense thriller. The cover shows a woman's face with the title in pink. The device is on a woven tray with a potted plant. Text overlays include "BOOK REVIEW," "Kindle unlimited," and "Suspense thriller."
Book Review: Little Secrets ✨🤫
Little secrets By: Jennifer Hiller Thriller/Kindle Unlimited 5/5 ⭐️ 💫A heartfelt, page-turning suspense novel. “LITTLE SECRETS” is a story that begins with any parent’s worst nightmare…..the disappearance of a child, kidnapped from under his mother’s nose on a busy day at a market.
Iliana Valencia

Iliana Valencia

8 likes

A book review title for "King of Scars" by Leigh Bardugo, featuring a person in an ornate black and gold military-style jacket. The image indicates a 10/5 rating and warns of spoilers.
A book summary for "King of Scars" by Leigh Bardugo, describing King Nikolai Lantsov's journey to confront dark magic and save himself and his country.
A quote from Leigh Bardugo, "Stop punishing yourself for being someone with a heart... To live is to grieve," overlaid on a cropped image of a person in an ornate jacket.
King of Scars 👑
This book. THIS BOOK. 10/5. Every second had me hooked until the very end when I nearly THREW my kindle. It was spectacular! Sitting at 511 pages, you will be immersed in such a beautiful place that you’ll never want to leave. Now, onto Rule of Wolves. 🐺 #booksoflemon8 #BookReview #bookstag
rayray

rayray

11 likes

⭐️Under Your Scars Series Review⭐️
★★★★★ BOOK REVIEW ★★★★★ I finished Under Your Scars and Delilah: An Under Your Scars Novella and I genuinely don’t think I’ll ever recover emotionally. 😭 Both books were EASY 5 stars for me. The writing, the tension, the emotional damage??? Absolutely insane. I got attached and by the end of
Kathy

Kathy

6 likes

The book cover for 'Under Your Scars' by Ariel N. Anderson, featuring a gun with red fabric and white flowers against a dark city skyline. Text overlays include 'Tragic Romance,' 'Dark Romance,' 'Revenge,' 'He Falls First,' and 'Billionaire Romance,' with a Lemon8 logo.
A book review for 'Under Your Scars' by Ariel N. Anderson, displaying a 4-star rating and 4 chili peppers for spiciness. The text describes it as a 'beautifully broken love story' with 'deep emotional weight' and 'steamy scenes,' set against a dark city skyline.
A 'Playlist' featuring five Spotify album covers, including 'PERCEPTION' by NF, 'Happier Than Ever' by Billie Eilish, 'BADLANDS' by Halsey, and two others, with Spotify playback bars. The background is a dark city skyline.
Book Review 🖤💋💵
Book name: Under Your Scars Author: Ariel N. Anderson Genre: Romance My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hot Chili Perpper Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ #romance ✨ #sad romance #book #darkromancereads🖤🖤🖤 #booktok
Faith Faleel

Faith Faleel

6 likes

See more