Twisted Love (Twisted #1) by Ana Huang

 Book Review: Twisted Love (Twisted #1) by Ana Huang

Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ (3.5/5)

Synopsis:

Alex Volkov, a calm, composed, and seemingly emotionless billionaire, moves in next door to Ava Chen to keep an eye on her while her brother is away in South America for two years. As Alex’s presence looms over her, Ava and her friends devise a plan to uncover any hidden emotions beneath his stoic exterior. What begins as a mission to crack his emotional shield soon morphs into something far more complicated—an undeniable, intense attraction that neither of them can ignore.

Review:

Twisted Love kicks off the Twisted series with a somewhat lukewarm start. The premise is intriguing—Alex, the ultimate brooding alpha, and Ava, the headstrong woman who’s determined to figure him out. The tension between them is palpable, and while there’s no denying the chemistry, I found myself feeling a bit in the middle about the book overall. The romance definitely has moments of heat, but it's not quite the slow-burn I expected; more of a medium burn with instant attraction and plenty of "my body is betraying me" moments. This dynamic keeps the "will they or won’t they" tension alive, but there’s not as much of the drawn-out anticipation that I was hoping for.

There were some genuinely funny moments during Ava and her friends’ Operation Emotions to uncover Alex’s feelings. These scenes brought a smile to my face and showed that Ana Huang has a knack for writing lighthearted moments amidst the tension. But, as for the darker aspects of the story, I’m not entirely sold. I expected more of a dark romance, but it felt more like a contemporary romance with some rougher sex and psychological trauma sprinkled in. The intensity and obsession that come with the "dark romance" label weren’t as present as I anticipated, which left me feeling confused about the genre classification.

One thing I really enjoyed was Huang’s writing style. It’s smooth, accessible, and filled with some great quotes. Her prose flows easily, making it a fast read despite my lukewarm feelings about the plot. The push-pull dynamic between Alex and Ava was engaging, though at times it felt like they were actively pursuing each other only to pull away again, which can be frustrating. Still, the chemistry between them is clear, especially in moments like their scorching first kiss and the unforgettable sex scenes (yes, the business call in the middle of it was a highlight!).

Despite these moments of steam and the growing attraction, I struggled to feel fully invested in the romance. The plot felt predictable, and while Ava’s character is well-developed, Alex didn’t feel as original as I’d hoped. Still, there’s enough intrigue and chemistry between them to keep me curious about the rest of the series. I also found myself skimming parts of the book as I was in the midst of a reading slump—though I’m open to revisiting it when I’m in a better headspace.

The tropes in this book, however, are ones I’m excited to explore more in the next installments, as they seem to align better with my preferences. The steam factor definitely helped bump this up from 3 stars to 3.5. Overall, while I didn’t feel the full zap of the romance, Twisted Love has enough tension, heat, and potential to make me want to continue with the series.

Conclusion:

Twisted Love is a solid start to the Twisted series—steamy and intense, with moments of humor and enough chemistry to carry it through. Though it didn’t entirely hit the mark for me, especially in terms of pacing and emotional depth, it’s a fast-paced, enjoyable read for fans of steamy contemporary romance. I’m hopeful that the next books in the series, which align more with the tropes I enjoy, will offer the depth and intensity I’m looking for.