Lights Out & Love in the Dark

Welcome back to The Chapter Café, where stories are always on the menu and comfort is served by the chapter. I’m your host, Kristen, and tonight we’re dimming the lights, pouring something strong, and stepping into the shadows with a dark romance that’s as twisted as it is tender. On today’s menu? Lights Out by Navessa Allen—a story of trauma, obsession, and the strange, electric pull between two broken souls.

So settle in, light a candle, and let’s turn the page together.

Aly is a trauma nurse by day, a woman with a sharp tongue and a guarded heart. By night, she scrolls through social media to decompress—until she stumbles upon the videos of a masked man known only as “the.faceless.man.” His content is dark, magnetic, and oddly comforting. She leaves a comment. He notices.

That man is Josh, a cybersecurity expert with a notorious family legacy—his father was a serial killer. Josh has spent years hiding behind a mask, both literal and emotional. But Aly’s comment? It cuts through the noise. And suddenly, he’s obsessed.

Their connection begins online, but it doesn’t stay there. What follows is a slow-burn descent into a relationship that’s as dangerous as it is intimate.

Here’s what’s on our appetizer plate:

Setting: A modern, digital world where anonymity is armor and connection is currency.

Themes: Obsession and control, trauma and healing, blurred lines between fantasy and reality, consent and power dynamics.

Tropes: Mask kink, morally gray hero, emotionally guarded heroine, dark romance with gallows humor.

Vibes: Think late-night DMs, flickering screens, and the kind of chemistry that feels like a live wire.

Lights Out is not your typical romance. It’s a story that asks: what happens when two people with jagged edges try to fit together? When trauma isn’t just backstory—it’s the lens through which every interaction is filtered?

Aly is sharp, funny, and deeply human. She’s not looking to be saved. She’s looking to be seen. Josh, for all his darkness, sees her. Not just the curated version she shows the world, but the messy, aching, complicated woman underneath. And she sees him too—not just the mask, but the man behind it.

Their relationship is built on negotiation, boundaries, and trust—but it’s also built on kink, control, and the thrill of surrender. Navessa Allen doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable. She leans into it, crafting a story that’s as emotionally raw as it is erotically charged.

And yet, there’s humor here. There’s banter. There’s a cat named Fred. There are moments of softness that feel like exhaling after holding your breath for too long.

This book is perfect for:

Readers who love dark romance with emotional intelligence and ethical nuance.

Fans of morally gray characters who are more than their trauma.

Anyone who enjoys psychological tension paired with deep, earned intimacy.

And those who believe that love can be found in the most unexpected—and unfiltered—places.

If Lights Out left you breathless and craving more, here are a few literary desserts to keep the shadows company:

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton – A dark, obsessive romance with a stalker twist and a heroine who pushes back.

Praise by Sara Cate – A taboo romance exploring kink, power, and emotional healing.

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier – A dark academia romance with secret societies and twisted games.

Sweet Dandelion by Micalea Smeltzer – A trauma-informed slow burn between a student and her guidance counselor.

Each of these books explores the darker corners of desire, where love isn’t always gentle—but it’s always transformative.

That’s it for today’s episode of The Chapter Café. Whether you’re curled up in the dark or walking under streetlights with your headphones in, may your stories be bold, your characters unforgettable, and your heart open to the strange beauty of connection.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a fellow reader who loves their romance with a little edge. And if you’ve got a favorite dark romance or a book that made you feel seen in the shadows, send it our way—we’re always hungry for more.

Until next time, I’m Kristen, and this has been The Chapter Café. Keep reading, and keep cozy—even in the dark.