The Mysteries of Udolpho

This book was a complex but enthralling read. The main characters are deeply flawed and the way that they heal each other is toxic but somehow attractive (this book inspired a moral change).

I have a love-hate relationship with the FMC, Grace. I admire her resilience and her devotion to being an amazing mom to her son despite having deadbeat parents. I sympathized with the dark and abusive chapter in her life but the way she acted with the MMC and crashing out to the point of harming herself was insane to me. But I appreciated Emily B. Rose's PTSD representation.

The MMC, Benny, was flawed but made morally grey sexy as hell. He made it clear that Grace was his focus and proved it, albeit in unorthodox ways. I had to put my book down a couple of times to scream into my pillow because I went through every damn emotion.

The ending made me take a couple days to contemplate everything, including betrayals and the absolutely sinfully hot spicy scenes. Emily, this book was indeed "Poison" and I'll happily imbue it again in the future