Tuesday Reviews: Look, Don’t Touch by Meg Everly

 

The scars you see are only the beginning.

Hailey Fitzpatrick

When people see me walking on a New York City sidewalk, they think mousey b*tch and stuck-up c*nt. How do I know? It’s NYC. They yell it to my face. I smile to myself and keep walking. After all, I have clients that need me.

I’m wrapping up my first decade as a licensed clinical psychologist. Things are as good as they’ve ever been. Still, I get the itch. The tattoos worked into my skin take the edge off.

When one of my first clients goes on s*icide watch and on of my newest challenges the very ground on which I stand, I seek relief only being blindfolded and bound can bring.

Arlo Judge

Look all you want. Don’t f*cking touch me. No one does.

I’m no longer that little boy who cowers in fear. I’m six three, two hundred fifteen pounds of muscle, and own the largest conglomerates in the States. Still, that boy’s demons live inside me. One in particular looms over my shoulder, always ready to strike.

When I see her, perfectly poised and in command, I think nothing of the beautiful exterior. Then I see the demons lurking in her striking green eyes. I’m intrigued. Hooked. Obsessed.

I need to know how they came to be and how she hides them so well. I need to dig them out and set her free. I never expected that she could do the same for me.

Doctor Fitzpatrick is now accepting new clients!

Look, Don’t Touch is a dark romance. It is the first in the Pieces of Us Trilogy. It’s an MF, four jalapeño, HFN novel with graphic depictions of s*x and k*nk. Trigger Warning for talks of ab*se, death by s*icide, and m*rder.

Pieces of Us is a polyamorous romance trilogy. Book 2, Forever We Fall is an MM, three jalapeño, HFN novel. Book 3, Hard to Judge is an MMF, four flaming jalapeño, HEA novel.

Meg Everly’s debut, Look, Don’t Touch, is a spicy, dark romance that explores complex themes of trauma and therapy, breaking away from traditional romance tropes. The book dives deep into the emotional scars of its characters, making it a standout in the genre.

The story features intense spice and kink, executed flawlessly, with no toxic elements. While the first quarter is slow and the book sometimes feels longer than its 378 pages, the spice is scorching and the chemistry between the leads develops into something truly captivating.

Hailey is a complex and passionate character who grows throughout the book, though she has realistic backslides. Arlo, initially broody and enigmatic, becomes a softer figure with a dark edge, though his motivations can be puzzling.

The supporting characters add depth, and while some threads are left hanging to set up the trilogy, they are intriguing and leave me wanting more. Overall, Look, Don’t Touch is an interesting read that combines deep emotional exploration with sizzling romance, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.