Hooked: A Dark, Contemporary Romance (Never After Series)

Hooked - the first in the Never After Series by Emily McIntire- is the dark, twisty, and sinfully delicious reimagining you never knew you wanted of the classic, Peter Pan. Wendy’s - our female protagonist - coming of age journey throughout the book not only makes for a wonderful tale, but is also quite relatable. We see her find her voice as she learns to accept that the world isn’t the comforting black and white she thought it was. Who hasn’t been there? Then, of course there is James, aka Hook and all I have to say is...that man is a trauma survivor. The fact that he ended up twisted, dark, and cruel should surprise no one as we learn all the little details that make him tick, tick, tick. The story being told in dual perspective paints the full picture as we get to see it unfold through both Wendy’s and James’ lenses, getting to see the growth of both characters throughout the book. Wendy starts out as a sheltered, door-mat of a girl who feels unseen and unheard by not only the world, but also her father, Peter. James on the other hand has seen too much of the seedy underbelly that the world has to offer and has constructed his own barriers so nothing else can ever be taken from him. They couldn’t be more opposite, but they happen to be exactly what the other needs to be able to truly evolve in the people they are meant to be. If he is the darkness, then she is the stars; causing a yin and yang effect on their relationship. By the end, Wendy might have a bit more darkness within, but James has also let the light in and so they remain balanced. As someone who went into reading this book with a knowledge of the original, the references back to the influence was greatly appreciated. From the Jolly Roger to the Lagoon; from NevAirLand airplanes to pixie dust being the drug of choice; from Smee to Tina Belle; I couldn’t get enough of them all sprinkled throughout. Those details made the child in me happy, while many other moments made the women in me just as happy. The spice was there and if that’s what you’re looking for then it doesn’t disappoint one bit. One slight negative is that even though part of me was incredibly proud of myself for figuring out the big reveals, I wouldn’t say that it was too difficult to figure out. However, this is a romance novel and not a mystery, and if you can justify why Hook may have missed some red flags (as I have) this one critique is quite minor in the grand scheme of things. Just do as I have and pat yourself on the back for feeling like a super sleuth. I applaud Emily for starting this book off with a warning to the readers and I concur with it one hundred percent. This book could have a lot of triggers for people who have gone through a variety of traumatic experiences, so I would recommend heeding those warnings. Other than that, I would highly recommend this book to others. If you like reimagined stories, steamy scenes galore, and of course an ending that doesn’t disappoint...you should read Hooked!

I can’t remember the last time I was so consumed by a book and flipped to the last page and wanted more right away 😂. I expected this to be a typical Peter Pan retelling/story, but in this story, the tables are turned. Peter is the bad guy, and James Barrie (Hook) is both villainous and delicious anti-“Hero” material. He is definitely a dichotomy. While there were plenty of tropes typically present in most romances, I enjoyed the way they were woven into the plot, along with the lore and characters of the Peter Pan story in the world building. This is a brand new author for me, and I’ve never read a Peter Pan inspired story before so I was really taken in by the writing and world! 💗 I could easily see this becoming a movie. 🐊 Spoilers: The only thing I took a star off for was in the second half, a lot of secrets/betrayal comes to the surface and Hook appears in some circumstances and scenes as if he is unable to discern treachery in his ranks, so essentially quite a few of his loyal followers end up tricking him, I didn’t really think this was that believable because he’s Hook! How could he be that oblivious?! Does he have some weaknesses like any good old fashioned character in a story like this? Of course! And I guess one could argue he wasn’t interested that much in his own people, as far as what they do in their spare time etc. So could Hook have been a bit self involved? And maybe that’s why he was easily duped? Perhaps. But I just didn’t expect him to be fooled quite so easily, especially when he had done his homework/research on the h and her father. Why didn’t he extend that in depth study to his own crew and other significant players in his world? That is ultimately my only gripe though! It didn’t make me love the story any less. This story was really addicting, easy to read in a short time span and I was engaged with the plot and characters! I’m hoping for more books like this one in this universe! I’m also intrigued by the h’s brother, John and hope he eventually gets a book and finds his match too! He deserves love, poor guy! 💗🐊 🕰 Breakdown: 🔥Standalone 🔥HEA 🔥Criminal Romance/romantic suspense 🔥Filthy talker H 🔥H has Jekyll/Hyde moments 🔥Scarred Hero 🔥h’s character arc was really good 🔥 H who can only be soothed by the heroine 🔥 Virgin, sheltered heroine who’s always done what she’s been told 🔥Absentee father 🔥Choking/breath play/lots of praise kink 🔥Absolutely no condoms in sight! 🥂 🔥 H tracks her, drugs her, chains her up in his basement 💁🏼‍♀️ (although I wouldn’t call this a really dark romance, but it does have some of those elements) 🔥 H is okay with the idea of accidentally getting her pregnant 🤰🏼 🔥 Action/Betrayal/Family drama/Warring sides/Secrets/ Open door Steamy scenes 🔥Great world building 🔥H is a street king/criminal/bar owner/sells “pixie” 🔥No cheating (once h and H get together, she is it for him) 🔥 Side characters/major players that I actually cared about 🔥 No long character separations over silly stuff, but Hook also wouldn’t let her leave anyway lol 😂 🔥 Only some short flashbacks weaved into the story to add integral background info to the plot. No back and forth every other chapter, or major time jumps! (There is 1 time jump of 2 years in the epilogue only 😉 ) 💗 Triggers: Child abuse Gun violence Graphic violence (torture scenes, Hook using his knife on several people)

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! Such a good story line! It had me in a chokehold and it was impossible to put it down.

Hooked had an interesting premise and some entertaining moments, but it didn't completely pull me in. The chemistry between the characters was decent, but parts of the story felt repetitive and dragged on. It was an enjoyable read overall, just not one that really stood out to me. I'd still give the rest of the series a chance.

Great book , the ending is great. Has action and twist and turns i loved it . Will read the rest of the series

4.5 🌟 3.5 🌶️ I'M HOOKED!!! This dark, spicy, stalker, contemporary romance was EVERYTHING! This book offers a delightful and expertly crafted twist on the classic Peter Pan story. If you crave obsession, rage, forbidden love, the allure of touching her with deadly consequences, a happily ever after, and an abundance of tension and spice, then this book should be at the TOP of your reading list! ✨ This man screams power, and for a split second. I wonder what it would be like to dive into his brand of trouble. To live without limits, just for a while." ✨ Hooked is a compelling, character-driven read that challenges traditional notions of heroes and villains. If you’re looking for a seductive, revenge-fueled love story with a fairytale twist, you will find it hard to put down!! 🖤Tropes: • Dark Romance • Villain x Innocent Girl • Forbidden Romance • Revenge Plot • Trauma & Healing

Hooked was not at all what I would consider a healthy romance. It’s violent, psychologically twisted, and explores ideas of love, obsession, attraction, and revenge that are definitely dark and unsettling at times. Readers should absolutely pay attention to the content warnings before diving in. That said, I have to give credit where it’s due. Emily McIntire crafted a fractured fairy tale that was both creative and compelling. I enjoyed the way she wove familiar elements of the Peter Pan story into something entirely new, turning villains into complex characters and reshaping a beloved childhood tale into an adult dark romance. While the relationship dynamics weren’t something I found romantic in the traditional sense, the story itself was well written, immersive, and undeniably unique. The tension kept me turning pages, and I appreciated the author’s ability to take recognizable pieces of a classic story and transform them into something unexpected. If you enjoy dark romances, morally gray characters, and twisted fairy tale retellings, Hooked is worth experiencing—as long as you know exactly what kind of ride you’re signing up for. I think that’s what struck me most about Hooked: I didn’t necessarily approve of the romance, but I could still appreciate the storytelling. Those are two very different things, and Emily McIntire handled the retelling aspect exceptionally well.

I actually really loved this and reminds me how much I loved Peter Pan and makes me want to rewatch the movies again. Also loved some of the surprise twist. A few I could guess. Spicy scenes are hot!!!

No es un libro para todos, pero es muy bueno.

Adorei esse conto que referência Peter Pan...adorei o pinto de vista do autor de descontrair a história e contar uma nova com todos os elementos...foi perfeito e Hook pela mor... que homem... que macho Alpha... que homem quente....Wendy me conquistou e roubou meu coração ❤️ e o amor deles foi difícil, com todos os percarsos, vinganças, mas lindo

¡Esta edición de coleccionista de Hooked de Emily McIntire es FABULOSA! La portada es ideal, viene firmado por la propia Emily y con un lazo para saber donde te has quedado leyendo. ¡Me encanta! Un must para tener si eres fan de los libros de Emily.

Très populaire chez les jeunes. Version en anglais. Il s agit d un beau livre broché.

I didn't enjoy it