Sometimes you pick up a book knowing exactly what you're getting into—something dark, something twisted, something that will make you question your life choices and possibly your sanity. Lauren Biel's "Unethical" delivers on all fronts and then some, serving up a therapist-patient romance so gloriously wrong that it feels right in all the ways it shouldn't. This is the book equivalent of that friend who tells you things you shouldn't want to hear but secretly live for—the one who whispers the forbidden thoughts everyone else is too polite to say out loud.
The Plot: When Professional Boundaries Meet Criminal Intent
At its core, "Unethical" follows Sarah Reeves, a court-appointed therapist who finds herself assigned to Maxim, an ex-convict fresh out of prison and mandated to complete therapy as part of his probation conditions. Sarah, described in her professional photo as "prim and proper, with her dark hair parted to the side, a fake smile plastered on her face, and big brown eyes that said, I'll analyze the fuck out of you," is not exactly thrilled about her new assignment.
Maxim, on the other hand, has been obsessing over Sarah long before their first session. After seeing her picture, he becomes completely fixated, spending his time stalking her, following her to the grocery store (yes, including that infamous cantaloupe incident), and generally being the kind of unhinged hero that dark romance readers both fear and adore. As Maxim himself puts it: "I've spent the last four years in prison, so I can only hope she's a gray-haired bat with a sharp nose. I'm not sure how well I can hold myself back if she's hot. Self-control isn't a strength of mine. Dangle a hot piece of ass in front of me, and I might fuck the judgement out of her."
What follows is a delicious descent into ethical violation territory, where therapy sessions become psychological warfare, professional boundaries are not just crossed but obliterated, and both characters find themselves drawn into a relationship that's equal parts terrifying and intoxicating. The book asks the question: Can Sarah break through Maxim's psychological barriers, or will Maxim end up breaking Sarah's career, sanity, and possibly a few other things along the way?
The plot moves quickly—this is a novella, after all—but it packs in enough escalation to feel earned. From Maxim's initial stalking to masked encounters in the woods, from therapy sessions filled with unspoken tension to moments that will make you side-eye your breakfast fruit forever, the story delivers exactly what the title promises: something completely and utterly unethical.
The Characters: Broken People Finding Connection in All the Wrong Places
Sarah Reeves: The Therapist Who Needs Therapy
Sarah is a fascinating character because she's supposed to be the professional, the one with the boundaries, the person who should know better—but she doesn't. As one reviewer perfectly noted, "Most mental-health providers have darkness of their own. Their own problems inspire their career choice. No one understands fucked-up like those who are also a bit fucked." Sarah embodies this truth completely.
She's described as having "at least 10 years under her belt" as a therapist, making her older than your typical romance heroine—a refreshing choice in the genre. She's smart, professional, and completely out of her depth when it comes to Maxim. Her internal struggle between professional responsibility and undeniable attraction creates the central tension of the story. As she reflects: "How strange that I don't take the time to find my happiness, yet I'm expected to help others find theirs."
Sarah's journey is one of moral compromise, of finding herself drawn to the very kind of darkness she's supposed to help others overcome. She's not perfect—some readers found her "terrible at her job," which honestly makes her more interesting. Who wants to read about a perfect therapist anyway? Give me the one who's as messed up as her patients any day.
Maxim: The Patient from Hell (and Heaven)
Maxim is exactly what you want in a dark romance hero: completely unhinged, utterly obsessed, and dangerously appealing. He's fresh out of prison, has a history that includes childhood trauma, and possibly murder (the details are deliciously vague). He has "no heart," but he "does have a brain, and that organ is mildly obsessed with her."
What makes Maxim compelling is that he's not pretending to be anything other than what he is—a dangerous, obsessed man who wants Sarah and will stop at nothing to have her. As he observes early on: "I see her jotting down notes in her little notebook. Psychopath. Deranged. No empathy to be found. She doesn't yet understand just how right she is, but she will." The delicious irony here is that while she's analyzing him, he's busy figuring out how to possess her completely.
Maxim's perspective is pure chaos, filled with possessive thoughts and absolutely zero regard for boundaries. "I drink up her unease. My mere existence terrifies her," he thinks at one point, and you can practically hear the satisfaction in his internal voice. He's the kind of hero who will follow you to LIDL, watch you touch a cantaloupe, buy that same cantaloupe, and then... well, let's just say the fruit will never be the same again.
The Quotes: Lines That Will Make You Blush, Cringe, and Question Everything
Lauren Biel has a gift for dialogue that ranges from hilariously self-aware to disturbingly intense. Some standout lines include:
"This book is dedicated to the good girls who think stalkers are just a little misunderstood."
"He's a piece of fucking art to look at, but this pretty painting is also cursed."
"No matter how pretty she is, she can't break through the barrier I built to keep everyone out. She can't make me spill my feelings, and she can't fix the fuckery in my mind."
"All the schooling in the world won't help her once she delves into my pitch-black depths. My fucked-up brain."
"I'll have to sit in front of her and pretend I'm not rabid for pussy at this point. More specifically, her pussy."
And perhaps the most telling line of all: "Instead of allowing her to force me to confront my demons with her words, I made her confront hers with my dick."
These quotes showcase the book's unique ability to be both self-aware and completely unapologetic about its dark content. The writing knows exactly what it's doing, and it doesn't care if you're here for it or not—but you probably are.
Trigger Warnings: Please Read This Section Seriously
This book is not messing around with its content warnings, and readers should take them seriously. According to the author's website, triggers include:
- Stalking (obviously, and enthusiastically)
- Obsession (the romantic kind, which is somehow more concerning)
- Forbidden (therapist x patient relationships)
- Somnophilia (sleep sex, because why not cross every boundary?)
- Dubious consent/non-consent scenarios
- Primal play (hunting and capturing, metaphorically and literally)
- Come play (yes, exactly what you think it means)
- Ruining a food (RIP cantaloupe, you died too young)
- History of childhood abuse and neglect
- History of murders (because every good romance needs a body count)
As one reviewer helpfully added: "dubious consent, nonconsensual ingestion of semen, stalking, sexual assault, mentions of child murder (by another child), murder, abuse." This is not your grandmother's romance novel, unless your grandmother is deeply concerning and possibly needs to be reported to the authorities.
The Tropes: All Your Favorites with a Criminal Twist
For readers who love their tropes, this book delivers the classics with a dark twist:
- Therapist x Patient (the most forbidden workplace romance)
- Age Gap (he's younger, she's established—delicious reversal)
- Forced Proximity (therapy sessions count, right?)
- Stalker (he's not just following her, he's writing her story)
- Unhinged MMC (Maxim is serving chaos main character energy)
- He Falls First (hard, fast, and with zero subtlety)
- Mask Play (because nothing says romance like hiding your identity)
- Forbidden Love (so forbidden it should be illegal)
- Touch Her and Die (literally, he's got murder in his past)
- Mine (the three-word romance that needs no explanation)
The book is categorized as "MEDIUM GRAY" dark romance, which means it's dark enough to be concerning but not so dark that you need to call a therapist after reading it (unless you become obsessed with your own therapist, in which case, that's on you).
The Writing Style: Sharp, Witty, and Completely Unapologetic
Lauren Biel's writing style in "Unethical" is like a perfectly executed psychological manipulation—smooth, compelling, and leaving you questioning your own judgment. The author has described her work as "where light meets dark," which perfectly captures how her witty humor compliments the depravity in every story.
The dual POV works exceptionally well here, giving us both Sarah's professional panic and Maxim's obsessive thoughts. The pacing is brisk—this is a novella, after all—but it doesn't feel rushed. Each scene serves a purpose, whether it's advancing the "plot" (and I use that term loosely) or escalating the psychological and physical tension between the characters.
One of the strengths of Biel's writing here is its self-awareness. The book knows it's ridiculous, it knows it's unethical, and it leans into those facts with gusto. There's a certain joy in the depravity, a celebration of crossing boundaries that makes the reading experience feel liberating rather than concerning.
What Works: The Brilliance in the Brokenness
The book's greatest strength is its commitment to the premise. This isn't a story that pulls punches or tries to make itself palatable for mainstream romance readers. It's dark, it's twisted, and it's proud of both. The chemistry between Sarah and Maxim feels genuine despite (or because of) its unhealthy foundation.
The audiobook narration by Mariana Olmeda and Christian Alexis deserves special mention, with many reviewers noting that the voice performances elevated the material significantly. Christian's "sleepy, drawl" voice apparently captures Maxim's dangerous energy perfectly, making the listening experience particularly immersive.
The character development, while brief due to the novella format, is effective. Both characters feel like real, broken people rather than caricatures. Sarah's internal conflict about her career versus her desires is relatable, even if her choices are questionable. Maxim's backstory, while not fully explored, gives enough context to make his obsession understandable, if not exactly justifiable.
What Doesn't Work: The Point Deduction
No book is perfect, and "Unethical" has its flaws. The biggest issue, as many readers noted, is the length. At 188 pages, it feels like a preview of a longer, more developed story. As one reviewer lamented: "This needed to be a full-length novel. If this had been expanded, with more time to explore the twisted psychology between Sarah and Maxim, this could've easily been a five-star read."
Some readers found the pacing choppy, particularly in the timing between chapters. Others had issues with Sarah's professional competence (or lack thereof). As one reviewer bluntly stated: "The heroine was TERRIBLE at her job. she's at work a lot of the time in this, so it really grated. I don't think the author has ever been to a therapist or psychiatrist lol."
The cantaloupe scene, while memorable, was either brilliant or completely bonkers depending on your perspective. Let's just say that some readers will never look at melon the same way again, and not necessarily in a good way.
The 4/5 Rating: Why It's Almost Perfect
Despite its flaws, "Unethical" earns its 4 out of 5 stars through sheer audacity, excellent character chemistry, and unapologetic commitment to its dark premise. The point deduction comes from the length and pacing issues, as well as the fact that some readers might find the content too extreme even for dark romance.
But for readers who love this kind of content—who live for the forbidden, the dangerous, the ethically questionable—this book is practically perfect. It delivers exactly what it promises: something unethical, something hot, and something that will make you question your reading choices while secretly wanting more.
Who Should Read This Book
"Unethical" is perfect for readers who:
- Love therapist-patient romances (yes, they're a thing)
- Enjoy obsessed, unhinged heroes who don't understand boundaries
- Don't mind graphic content and questionable consent scenarios
- Want something different from typical workplace romances
- Appreciate dark humor mixed with depravity
- Are looking for a quick, steamy read that doesn't pull punches
- Have always wondered what happens when professional ethics meet criminal obsession
Who Should Skip This Book
You might want to skip this one if you:
- Are triggered by any of the warnings listed above
- Prefer your romance with actual, you know, romance
- Work in mental health and don't want to cringe yourself into oblivion
- Have plans to eat cantaloupe anytime in the near future
- Believe therapy should be therapeutic rather than traumatic
- Think "stalker" is a dealbreaker rather than a selling point
- Want a heroine who makes good life choices
Final Thoughts: Deliciously Depraved
"Unethical" is exactly what it claims to be—a dark, twisted, unethical romance that somehow manages to be both concerning and compelling. It's the book equivalent of that friend who tells you things you shouldn't want to hear but secretly can't get enough of. Lauren Biel has created something that pushes boundaries while delivering exactly what dark romance readers crave: danger, obsession, and heat in equal measures.
As Maxim so perfectly puts it: "I have no heart. But I do have a brain, and that organ is mildly obsessed with her." That's exactly what this book is—mildly obsessed with its own darkness, completely unapologetic about its depravity, and utterly captivating in its wrongness.
Sometimes the best reads are the ones that make you question your judgment, and "Unethical" definitely delivers on that front. It's not perfect, it's not pretty, and it's definitely not ethical—but it is unforgettable, and sometimes that's exactly what you need in a romance novel.
Just maybe keep your distance from the produce aisle after reading.
Rating: 4/5 Stars Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Trigger Level: 💀💀💀💀 Recommended for: Dark romance lovers who want their boundaries crossed and their breakfast foods ruined
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