Little Stranger

(AUDIOBOOK) This was a wild ride! Part 1 does a great job of setting up the relationship that Olivia and Malachi have. It also sets up the messed up family dynamics of her adoptive parents. Although they are "brother and sister" in title, Olivia keeps saying it's wrong but keeps referring to themselves in the sibling aspect whereas Malachi reassures her they aren't related by blood. I really enjoyed the fact that Malachi was mute. It added a whole new dimension of a power psycho. His demons not only lived in his depths, they were trapped and screamed through him yet he wasn't able to do the same. The ending of part 1 shows that Olivia is just as obsessed and deranged as Malachi, but Malachi is true to himself where Olivia hides back her true self. I love that Part 2 is mainly all Malachi. His journey back to Olivia and his desire for retribution but still craving to have her. You get to see his broken rawness as he confesses his love for Olivia even though it's not a typical version of love. The narration for this book is powerful. Heather did a great job portraying Olivia's hesitance but desire for Malachi. You could hear her pain as she brought Olivia to life. It's hard to compare the 2 narrators as Malachis character is far more animated and calls for more of a dramatic performance. You hear Malachi crack as he pleads his love and his need for her. Joe has this way of reaching into your heart and soul and squeezing. I don't want to go on and on about how amazing Joe was with delivering Malachi from a mute character to a speaking character because the praise could go on and on. Heather and Joe both did phenomenal jobs with these broken characters. Malachi demanded more depth and psychosis so it puts Joes narration on a different level. The characters themselves demand differing layers of narrative performance.

I read Little Stranger at the end of last year and it was one of my favorite books of the year. The story itself just has so much emotion in it between the characters Malachi and Olivia that you can’t help but feel utterly heartbroken for the both of them (but especially Malachi). I have to say that this has to be one of the best audiobooks that I’ve listened to probably ever. The story itself is full of heartbreak and emotion and (of course) spice! But to actually hear that emotion on audio was amazing. The fact that Malachi is mute and uses sign language in the book and Joe Arden was able to translate that into audio speaks volumes about Joe Arden’s talent as a narrator. Heather Firth did a phenomenal job bringing Olivia to life as well and I honestly will be seeking out more books she’s narrated in the future because of how well I think her voice fit Olivia’s character. I also feel like both of these narrators worked really well together on this book. From my experience with a dual POV audiobook, if it’s the MMC chapter, he will also narrate the female lines in that chapter and vice versa and I tend to not like that because it distorts the character for me. However, Joe would narrate Malachi’s lines and Heather would narrate Olivia’s regardless of chapter POV so I didn’t experience that same distortion and I think it made the story come even more alive for me. Needless to say, this was a fantastic audiobook and if you’re a dark romance girlie and you haven’t read Little Strangers, you need to. And then you need to listen to the audiobook after that because babbyyy this was 👩🍳💋💋💋 *Please check triggers before reading or listening to this book!*

What's to dislike here? A great taboo foster sibling romance with two MC's that have to battle feelings they know are wrong and don't want to have. A possessive and protective MMC and FMC who needs a protector from her own adoptive parents. The MC's are likeable, though at times frustrating, but that's to be expected... nobody is perfect. I do really enjoy authors who write about characters with some sort of impairment, in this case the MMC is a selective mute from childhood. I love the willingness of others to overcome their own discomfort or challenges along with that whom is impaired (in this case, learning ASL to communicate with her new brother). They're twisted in the best ways and come together despite social norms and worries of their own family. Captivating and engaging story I was unable to put down! I need more from this author ASAP. Leigh should be recognized more on social media to get all their books out there!

I read this book while listening to the audiobook, and the audiobook is so good, Joe Arden - wow! Insane, really dark and a masterpiece upgraded by the narrators!

Book was great despite the dynamics of them being foster siblings. The ending was way too short and there are a lot of things unanswered. Firstly what on earth is going on with the mum, why is she pimping her daughter out the way she is?! And why is the dad just letting this all go on. It’s very very odd behaviour! I felt quite bad for Malachi he was obsessed and in love with Olivia and she wasn’t always so nice to him. Her jealousy over hearing he allegedly slept with Anna while she’s out sleeping with the men her mum tells her to and Malachi has no idea. The lies she told sending him to jail and how after finding out he is the biker man, sleeping with him and so coldly telling him she don’t want him was evil. I would note tho if Malachi meant to be so deranged as he was earlier in the books and can’t function like “normal” because he a pyscho I don’t think he could just give her up like he did. Although there’s no further book to this that mum is blatantly going to do the same to poor Molly. I also wonder why the dad changed his mind in the end and told Olivia go be with Malachi. Another book could deffo be made from this. The almost husband didn’t seem very happy with being left at the alter after the deals the mum made. So much story to be made from this small snippet. Was a great read

5⭐️ This is so unhinged I adored it. It is probably my favourite dark romance read of the year and it’s only February. I’m calling it, that’s what’s happening. This is perfection. The characters and all the plot pieces, everything is in alignment. It’s full on, it’s depraved I am here for every single word on the page! Except I did the audio version. Daddy Joe. Oh my goodness you need like an award is there like Oscar awards for audio narrations? Whatever it is in your world you need one bro, this was an amazing performance. The signing/mute/trauma aspect in this is very well done. I really enjoyed that side and dynamic of their relationship. Leigh has done a great job capturing the mental health side of someone with a PD. He is so disconnected and his obsession, goodness that hits next level too. Oh goodness the step sibs angle in this was next level inferno! Goodness me it was spicy and sinful. The primal, masked kiss chasey scene was intense and everything thing spooky goth girl could dream of! Love love loved this read!

Little Stranger is an intense rollercoaster of emotions, every feeling was pulled out of me while reading. Malachi knew exactly what & who he wanted the moment he set eyes on Olivia. It took Olivia way too long to realize what was in-front of her the entire time, society standards be damned, even though he deserved better. I digress though, she eventually got there. I devoured this book, it consumed me entirely. Malachi is perfect, nothing but green flags waving around🖤 [Ps. I’d love to see an extended epilogue of the two of them]