Ana Huang’s Twisted Love is the explosive first book in her bestselling Twisted series, a modern dark romance that dives deep into the tortured psyches of two compelling protagonists: Ava Chen, the sunshine-hearted photographer with a dark past, and Alex Volkov, the brooding billionaire driven by vengeance. Set against a backdrop of elite universities, emotional repression, and concealed trauma, this “brother’s best friend” romance transcends its trope to explore how grief reshapes love, and how love, in turn, complicates justice. Twisted Love is a satisfying entry into Huang’s world—though not without its imperfections.
The Allure and Angst: Plot and Pacing
At its heart, Twisted Love by Ana Huang is a story of opposites attract—grumpy versus sunshine, cold logic versus emotional resilience. Ava and Alex are seemingly worlds apart, but Huang writes them into each other’s orbit with intensity and undeniable chemistry.
When Alex, the best friend of Ava’s overprotective brother Josh, agrees to look after Ava while Josh is abroad, the story launches into a taut emotional entanglement. As neighbors, their worlds collide repeatedly, igniting a tension that crackles with forbidden attraction and quiet resentment. Huang is deliberate in her pacing—lingering just long enough on small domestic moments (like Ava’s red velvet cookies) before plunging us into suspenseful bursts of emotional or physical confrontation.
Where the novel thrives is in its seamless blend of romance and revenge. Alex’s pursuit of vengeance for his family’s past—a subplot involving corporate corruption and childhood trauma—offers a high-stakes narrative thread that elevates the romance from a predictable trope into something deeper. Ava’s arc, too, unfolds compellingly as she wrestles with memory loss and an emotionally abusive ex, allowing her character to stand as more than just a love interest.
However, the pacing does waver. Certain revelations feel rushed, and emotional resolutions occasionally lack the psychological depth the story deserves. Still, these dips don’t wholly undermine the magnetic force of Huang’s storytelling.
Meet the Twisted Lovers: Ava and Alex
Ava Chen: The Light that Endures
Ava is crafted with warmth, empathy, and subtle strength. She’s a dreamer with a camera lens—someone who captures the world’s beauty despite having survived a childhood shrouded in trauma and neglect. Huang writes Ava as a beacon of emotional intuition, making her immensely likable without turning her into a manic pixie cliché.
Yet, she’s not all softness. When faced with Alex’s cold detachment and condescending behavior, Ava holds her ground. Her arc—remembering forgotten horrors, standing up to toxic relationships, and forging her independence—is one of the novel’s strongest elements. She’s vulnerable, yes, but never passive.
Alex Volkov: The Devil with a Pulse
Alex is Huang’s most tortured archetype to date. Born of tragedy and groomed into precision, he embodies the ‘emotionally unavailable billionaire’ trope with an added layer of moral ambiguity. He’s calculating, often harsh, and hyperrational—but his protective instincts toward Ava gradually peel away his icy façade.
Through Alex, Huang explores how memory—specifically the inability to forget (he has hyperthymesia)—can be both a gift and a curse. His trauma isn’t just a plot device; it’s ingrained in every calculated action, every sleepless night, every quiet act of tenderness he reluctantly offers Ava.
Love and Violence: Themes That Linger
Ana Huang doesn’t shy away from darker undercurrents. Twisted Love explores:
- Trauma and Memory: Both protagonists are shaped by what they remember—and what they cannot. Ava’s repressed memories and Alex’s inability to forget paint a compelling contrast.
- Control and Autonomy: The power imbalance between Ava and Alex is constantly at play. Yet Huang ensures Ava never becomes submissive—she’s assertive in her agency, even in moments of vulnerability.
- Revenge vs. Redemption: Alex’s vendetta fuels much of the plot, but Ava challenges him to choose healing over destruction. The tension between justice and love gives the book its philosophical core.
- The Cost of Protection: Josh’s protective instincts—well-meaning but paternalistic—are mirrored in Alex’s overbearing concern. Ava’s fight for independence becomes symbolic of a larger female narrative.
Critiques: Where It Falters
Despite its emotional highs, Twisted Love by Ana Huang isn’t without stumbles:
- Repetitive Tropes: The “grumpy sunshine” and “billionaire alpha” dynamics are familiar to fans of dark romance. Huang handles them better than most, but occasionally leans too heavily on genre expectations.
- Dialogue Dips: While Huang excels at internal monologues and atmospheric tension, some dialogue—especially in heated confrontations—feels melodramatic or on-the-nose.
- Alex’s Redemption Arc: Though powerful, it sometimes skirts the line of believability. A few of his controlling behaviors are swept aside in service of a romantic resolution that feels a touch too neat.
Still, these are forgivable missteps in an otherwise compelling emotional journey.
The Twisted Series: Where It Leads
Twisted Love is the first in Ana Huang’s Twisted series, followed by:
- Twisted Games (2021) – A slow-burn bodyguard romance featuring Ava’s best friend Bridget and her royal duties.
- Twisted Hate (2022) – A spicy enemies-to-lovers story about Jules and Josh that pushes the boundaries of banter and bitterness.
- Twisted Lies (2022) – The darkest and most morally complex of the quartet, starring the enigmatic Christian Harper and Stella.
Each book focuses on a different couple while expanding the emotional world Huang has created. The character crossovers enrich the experience, especially for readers invested in female friendships and male vulnerability.
Together, the series explores what it means to love dangerously—and to survive that love.
Author’s Craft: Ana Huang’s Voice
Ana Huang writes with emotional urgency and cinematic vividness. Her prose is clean, sensual, and often rhythmic, especially in Alex’s introspective chapters. She alternates between Ava’s romantic optimism and Alex’s tightly wound cynicism with precision, allowing readers to dwell in both sweetness and tension.
What separates Huang from her contemporaries is how she balances steam and psychology. Yes, Twisted Love is steamy (there are some heated scenes here that rival anything in Fifty Shades or Birthday Girl), but the emotional stakes always feel heavier than the heat. That weight gives the story its staying power.
Similar Reads for Romance Enthusiasts
If you enjoyed Twisted Love by Ana Huang, here are other dark or emotional romances worth checking out:
- Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas – for a taboo age-gap romance with depth
- The Fine Print by Lauren Asher – billionaire romance with similar “grumpy hero” vibes
- It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover – for readers drawn to emotional trauma and healing
- Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie – features complex protagonists and slow-burn chemistry
Final Verdict: Should You Read Twisted Love?
Yes, if:
- You enjoy angst-ridden romance with a touch of psychological drama.
- You appreciate complex characters with morally gray edges.
- You’re looking to dive into a series that builds a multi-layered universe of love, friendship, and power.
No, if:
- You prefer light-hearted romance without emotional baggage.
- Tropes like “billionaire with trauma” feel tired to you.
- You’re looking for airtight realism—this one leans a bit into the heightened world of fantasy.
Overall
Twisted Love by Ana Huang is as much a character study as it is a romance novel. It brims with fire, fury, and fragility—sometimes all at once. Huang’s ability to dig into wounds while still crafting a steamy, addictive love story is a testament to her skill. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it sharpens the spokes.
It’s not just about twisted love; it’s about untangling it, thread by thread.