If I Could Drag You Under: A Sapphic Thriller Dark Romance

I knew it was dark but damn that about broke me at the end! This book does deal with suicidal ideation and the supernatural. This book was well written and a new type of dark romance for me. Mira had really been through so much and I could feel her at the cliffs edge. I’m on the fence about the epilogue…what kahli did, did she do it for herself or for Mari?? You will have to read it to decided for yourself.

3.5 stars and 2 chilis in spice This was my first foray into Kelly's work, and I was very thankful to them for reaching out to me to give me an eARC of their book. I liked the premise of this book a lot. I think that the plot was a bit slow, but it had moments that were thriller-esque that kept me captivated when it lulled a bit. Mira and Kahil were both interesting characters. Mira had a very dark vibe about her in the beginning; as the story progressed, it was clear that darkness lessened the more she was around Kahli. Spoiler warning: Kahil was mysterious, and while I, as the reader, could tell that she was a mermaid, it made sense that Mira couldn't. It was clearly a well-kept secret, end spoiler. The climax of this story occurred around 75% through the book. I didn't particularly like that at the point when the climax occurs, Mira still hadn't figured out that Kahli wasn't human. At this point we really have had very little mermaid lore, and I would have loved to see more of it, as well as a full mermaid-human relationship between the two MCs. I also do feel like some of the side stories in the plot weren't fully wrapped up. Spoiler here: we don't find out what happens with her wife in the divorce or have any follow-up about Benny, either. I would have loved to hear more about them, end spoiler. Overall, I did enjoy the book, and I would give Kelly's books another read in the future.

ARC provided by the author. I devoured this book in less than two days. I did not want to put it down and absolutely stayed up too late reading it, but it was worth it. I was happy to over caffeinate so I could keep reading. If you pick this book up (which I recommend you do!) make sure to check TWs first because it does have some DARK themes that a lot of people may not be in a good place to read. If it’s not the book for you, that’s okay! Mira has reached an all time low and has decided she’s done, so she rents a house on the beach to live out her final days. She quickly meets Kahli, a local who suddenly becomes very interested in Mira. Despite Mira being a grouch, Kahli is able to connect with her. Strange things start happening around the beach house, and Mira has a hard time making sense of them. Spooky and dangerous things seem to be a common occurrence in the sleepy town, and Kahli makes it clear she wants to protect Mira. This was the first book I read by Kelly Preston, and I look forward to reading more!

This is my first book I've read by this author. This will definitely not be my last. Mira is the main FMC, and you will definitely grow throughout the book with her. She's dark, moody, and depressed and dealing with both generational trauma and a missing spouse. She also has a chronic illness, which is represented well. Her battles with her mental health issues lead her to take a vacation. She escapes from reality to a seaside town with legends of sea creatures who hunt humans. Her seaside escape is fueled by over indulgence with substances. This journey is reckless and wild and full of the despair that permeates her life. While walking she meets Kahli, who helps to ground and heal her as do others in this town. The sea holds many mysteries but who or what is hunting Mira? I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's always refreshing to have main characters that are deeply flawed. I think it helps for a greater depth of storytelling. Did I want to shake Mira at times, yes. But that feeling comes with getting invested in her journey. Tropes and triggers: small town, fertility issues, sa, divorce, mythical monsters, chronic illness, mental health, dependence issues, generational and family trauma, age gap, grumpy vs sunshine

This review is based on an ARC read. All feedback is that of my own. This book is awesome. I loved the storyline and honestly I spent a lot of time trying to guess what the plot twist was going to be. I absolutely loved that Mira wasn’t this perfect human being and I found it really easy to relate to her because of this. The story is so well written and so interesting I highly recommend reading it. The only feedback I would ever offer would be to bring the final scenes in clearer before we time jump. I honestly was a bit miffed before I read on and found the information later as we wrapped up the book. I loved the book, the writing style and the characters. I definitely hope that there’s a book two because I love the storyline. Definitely a must read for anyone who likes a bit of supernatural and enjoys a real character that the average person can relate to.