Die For Me by Shirlene Obuobi came to me highly recommended by a truly remarkable number of authors that I love and respect, so naturally I was excited to read this unique, paranormal, age-gap romance. In addition to the glowing pre-release reviews, the gorgeous cover art drew me in, and once I picked up this story, it was impossible to put it down.
Sean Sullivan, a successful interventional cardiologist, is a self-sufficient, confident woman, not easily taken in by bullshit.
At a tense, awkward wedding, she meets an impossibly alluring, inhumanely handsome younger man who has her questioning it all. Against her better judgement, she agrees to a date.
Sean is not at all sure about Julian, but he’s persistent, and, well, gorgeous. As they get to know each other, and their connection becomes more powerful, strange things start happening. Strange and terrifying things.
Sean has to confront hard truths and decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for love.
Sean, Julian, and the supporting characters that surround them are all complex, dynamic characters that feel true to life despite the paranormal elements of the story.
Throughout the story, Sean and Julian have the capacity to surprise readers. Julian particularly experiences a great deal of character growth and development.
There is something off about Julian in the beginning, something intangible. He says and does all the right things, but the readers, and Sean, can tell that something is not quite right, and it adds an ominous, tense feeling to the story.
My body burns with warmth and want and wildness. I feel like an iron thrust into coals, a freshly spun pot glowing hot in a kiln. I feel like I’m about to be transformed or destroyed or both.
Die For Me is written with enticing prose that’s beautiful and descriptive without overcomplicating things. The book is peppered with poignant observations and witty remarks, and even the dedication hits.
While this book is unquestionably a romance, it almost reads like a thriller. Sean and Julian and their relationship are at the center of this book, but the way that it is paced and the way it reads add to the mystery surrounding Julian.
There is spice, and while it’s not particularly plentiful, it is scorching hot. The way the sex scenes appear is perfectly complementary to the plot.
Die For Me is a gloriously unexpected, unconventional romance. It stands out in a crowd of incredible books in the space this year, and it’s one I won’t forget any time soon.
Leave a Reply