Caught Up by Navessa Allen
this may be more of a rant than a review
I read Caught Up as my first book for February. I was given this copy by a friend, with the idea that I’d read it first, and he’d read it after me, making it our February buddy read. UNFORTUNATELY I went into it blind, and didn’t so much as read the blurb provided on the back. My mistake. Had I taken the time to read the more palatable, but still poorly written blurb, I would have at least had warning that I wasn’t here for the prose, but for the sex.
While I don’t typically read erotic fiction (is it dark romance now?) on purpose, it’s not a genre I avoid, and usually the books are pretty good! A strong erotic novel, for me, has an intense backstory, good character chemistry, and buildup that forces me to slow down so that I don’t rush to the fun part. Caught Up gave me none of that. I found myself rushing through all the dialogue, partly because there was so much of it, but really because the backstory didn’t interest me in the slightest.
Caught Up focuses on two main characters, Lauren and Junior, star crossed lovers who finally reconnected after a serious fall out 10 years ago. Coming from traditional Italian families in what I can only assume is lower Manhattan’s Little Italy (no love for Bensonhurst!), Lauren and Junior both have mob ties, though their intensity wavers. Lauren’s family owns the local Italian deli, serving members of the mob under the table and out the back, usually far away from Lauren. Junior isn’t quite so lucky, his father being a boss meant for Junior that he had to live the life, and pledge his service and loyalty to the family.
Now, I love a good mob story. I’ve got movies, documentaries, and books on my shelves, but this book was not a mob book. The mob was an element, but it doesn’t read as though Allen did much research on that part of her story. The kink part of the book was very well researched, and although I didn’t love it, I can admit that I’m just not the target audience for literature focusing on kink culture. HOWEVER — the way the b plot was treated had me completely disinterested in anything else this novel had to offer. There is no world in which the son of a prominent mob boss can just tell his whole family at the dinner table that he’s leaving the life and going legit, with no real consequences.
I couldn’t help but notice all the inconsistency not only of the supposed New York setting, but especially how the mob handles their business and their contacts. Obviously I’m no expert, but as a native New Yorker, it was so embarrassing for me to read about how business is done on the docks. Not specific ones, not that any location really was actually specific, but mentions of Little Italy and the docks have me feeling like Allen wanted a cool, historic setting (NYC), but no realism. New York is great! But it doesn’t feel great when it’s a vague, sexy, dangerous setting. Lauren gets relentlessly stalked by Junior after he ruined her reputation so thoroughly she had to change schools, and she still decides it’s not a deal breaker and they can pursue a serious relationship.
There was definitely an attempt to soften Junior’s character. He apologized to Lauren, and we understand that being threatened by a grown mob man as a teenager would compel someone to not want to admit touching his daughter, but this gets barely any time between all the sort of - not quite finished - sex. Lauren and Junior are constantly interrupted and being questioned by Lauren’s friends (understandable), and it just doesn’t give me hot taboo romance vibes. Junior is very easy for Lauren to fold, and while he is wounded for most of it, there’s not enough time spent on him being a gruff criminal. Junior wants out of the mafia, but it barely feels like a criminal organization with how soft the men we’re supposed to feel are written about.
Overall, this was 2/5 for me. I could barely focus on the few descriptive paragraphs we got between dialogue, and I just find it difficult to read a book where only the a plot is polished. I would recommend this book to readers who want just spicy scenes, with some pesky regular stuff thrown in. Personally though, if I’m reading smut, give me something good to read!!!
