Warning: this post contains spoilers for The Art of Scandal by Regina Black.

I'm someone who loves all the infamous book tropes when done right.
Yes, even cheating and miscommunication.

Though the latter is really never done right. So like, do I like it? idk. Different topic for a different day LOL.

What got me thinking about this was a book I just finished, The Art of Scandal, by Regina Black. Mannnnn was it a time. It had been on my TBR for quite a time, and I bought it a while ago. I even met Regina Black at Steamy Lit two years ago. She's so sweet and brilliant.

But I wanted to talk about the book and cheating "done right" in books.
The FMC didnt set out to get her lick back on her cheating politician spouse, but she did. And how she did it mattered. I love a FMC who was stifled, put in a corner and then rebirthed to be the baddest bitch on the planet. Or an FMC where her spouse is just used to her, but then the REAL MMC comes in and is absolutely dazed when it comes to her. ive been there before.

What makes this book so good to me is the prose. It was fucking amazing.
In my Goodreads review, I called it achingly romantic. My chest was hurting with all the sweet love words and the pouring of feeings. Even the slight banter between the FMC & MMC was brilliant. The FMC was BRILLIANT. She was beautiful but imperfect. I along the way I understood why she was making the decisions she decided to make. Everything made sense.

And THAT is how you do the cheating trope. Even though cheating by itself does not make sense, making sure the FMC gets her mfing lick back in a way that does?

YEAH I NEED THAT.

I’m now kneeeee deeeeeeep in Jahquel J’s Delgato/Inferno/Caselli series and I ain’t going ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON! 

Hoopla has been carrying me through this, so I love that for me. 

Anyways, I wanna talk about what’s at the center on this book: GRIEF. 

Everyone has someone they are missing and it pulls at my heart strings how bad both Blair & Quasim are going through it😭 

These two? Their story? How they are working through what they are? I can’t. I’m almost in TEARS. I always enjoy Jah’s writing but this book is where I really see her pen getting stronger. I’m seeing the development and I truly love it. 

I can’t recommend this book enough. However, as we all know this isn’t the beginning & it damn sure isn’t the end. 

I’m also falling in love with side characters FINGERS CROSSED there’s more books and everybody gets a series LOL.

I preordered this whole series at BRBF and I’m so glad I did.  Having shelf trophies for this series that are signed are gonna be my holy grail LOL.