Book Review: Under Your Scars By Ariel N. Anderson

Under Your Scars By Ariel N. Anderson

Under Your Scars - Standalone Romantic Tragedy

Tropes: Dark Romance, Stalker, Billionaire, Romantic Tragedy, Workplace Romance, No HEA, Serial Killer, Obsessive Love, Trauma, Morally grey antihero

Summary:

Under Your Scars is a haunting and unforgettable dark romance that explores the line between love and destruction. When Elena crosses paths with a man known only as the Silencer, a serial killer haunted by his past and consumed by his sins.. her world is shattered forever.

What begins as a chance encounter turns into a tragic, all-consuming love story that tests the boundaries of morality, redemption, and fate. Anderson’s writing is sharp and devastating, pulling you deep into a story that refuses to let you go, even long after the final page. 

💚 LD -⁠

Wow. What. A. Book.

This story had one of the biggest emotional holds on me I’ve ever experienced. I couldn’t put it down, even when I wanted to. Under Your Scars completely consumed me from the very first page. The writing, the tension, the heartbreak, it was perfection.

I usually prefer romances that end with hope or happiness, but this book deserved to break the rules. It’s haunting, raw, and emotionally gutting in the best way possible. Ariel N. Anderson doesn’t just tell a story; she makes you live it. Every chapter pulled me deeper until I was completely lost in Christian and Elena’s world.

Did it hurt? Absolutely. Did it destroy me? Without a doubt. But would I do it all over again? 100%. This isn’t just a book, it’s an experience. If you can handle the pain, the darkness, and a story that lingers long after you finish, Under Your Scars is worth every heartbreak.

“Okay baby... Just turn around and count to one hundred, and I'll get you some pancakes, okay?”

🤍 AD - ⁠

When Ariel N. Anderson said Under Your Scars was a romantic tragedy, she meant it. This book doesn’t just break your heart, it crushes it, rebuilds it, and then rips it apart again. I went in knowing it would hurt, but nothing could have prepared me for how deeply this story would affect me.

The Silencer is one of the most haunting characters I’ve ever read. He’s terrifying, magnetic, and heartbreakingly human all at once. You shouldn’t root for him, but you can’t help it. His darkness is written so beautifully that you start to see the light flickering inside him.

And Elena… her journey is raw, brutal, and full of quiet strength. She’s not a damsel in distress; she’s a woman who walks straight into the fire and still finds pieces of herself on the other side. Their connection is instant but filled with fragility, danger, and soul-deep pain.

By the end, I was sitting in silence, completely shattered and in awe. It’s not a love story that feels safe, it’s one that claws at your heart and never lets go. Five stars. Absolutely unforgettable. And yes, I’ll never look at pancakes the same way again.

“My love isn’t perfect, and it isn’t beautiful. It’s broken and scarred and ugly, but all of it is yours. I will always be yours.  ”

💙 AG - ⁠

Under Your Scars is a masterpiece of emotional destruction. I knew going in that it wasn’t going to end happily, but I wasn’t prepared for just how deeply it would wreck me. Ariel N. Anderson doesn’t just write stories, she writes heartbreak in its purest form.

The plot twist near the end left me absolutely stunned. I had to stop, reread, and just sit there processing what I’d just experienced. It’s one of the few books that genuinely left me speechless. The emotional intensity, the unpredictability, and the raw humanity of it all were breathtaking.

Elena and Christian felt painfully real. Their connection was equal parts beauty and brutality. You understand why they shouldn’t be together, but you also know there’s no world where they could stay apart.

This book left me staring at the wall, replaying scenes in my mind long after finishing it. It’s tragic, gripping, and unforgettable, a story that’s as beautiful as it is devastating.

“If you’re so concerned about my humanity, Elena, then reach into my soul and find it, because I’m not sure I have any left.”

If you love stories that make you feel, the kind that hurt, heal, and haunt you all at once; Under Your Scars is a must-read. Ariel N. Anderson doesn’t just write romance; she writes emotional carnage. This book is dark, tragic, and painfully beautiful. It’s not your typical happily ever after, but that’s exactly what makes it so unforgettable.