🖤 Book Review: Delilah: An Under Your Scars Novella by Ariel N. Anderson (Kindle Edition)
A haunting, emotionally raw continuation of the Under Your Scars universe—Ariel N. Anderson delivers a dark romance novella that explores trauma, identity, and the desperate search for closure.
🧠 Overview
Published in February 2024, Delilah is a novella-length sequel to Anderson’s acclaimed novel Under Your Scars. Set seventeen years after the original events, the story follows Caroline Reeves, a woman still grappling with the devastating legacy of her family’s violent past. Each year, Caroline returns to Meridian City to visit her parents’ graves—an act of ritual and reckoning that forces her to confront the ghosts of her childhood.
This installment is not just a continuation—it’s a deep dive into Caroline’s fractured psyche, her struggle to reclaim her identity, and her longing for forgiveness in a world that refuses to forget.
🩸 Key Themes & Highlights
- 🧠 Survivor’s guilt: Caroline’s trauma is rooted in the brutal murder of her adoptive parents by her grandfather, Elliot—a tragedy she irrationally blames on herself
- 🧬 Legacy and stigma: As the daughter of a notorious serial killer known as “The Silencer,” Caroline is haunted by public shame and internalized guilt
- 🏚️ Return to ruins: Her visit to the abandoned Reeves Estate evokes powerful memories—both tender and terrifying
- 💔 Emotional catharsis: The novella centers on Caroline’s journey toward closure, identity reclamation, and emotional healing
“Seventeen years after the events in Under Your Scars, Caroline makes her yearly visit to Meridian City and is taken on a heartbreaking and bittersweet journey that gives her something she’s been searching for her entire life: closure.” — Goodreads summary
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.36/5 from over 19,000 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise Anderson’s emotional depth, lyrical prose, and unflinching portrayal of trauma
- 🧾 Many found Caroline’s character arc deeply moving, especially her refusal to change her last name despite societal pressure
- 💬 “Ariel N. Anderson writes grief and guilt with such brutal honesty. Caroline’s pain is palpable, and her resilience is unforgettable.” — Goodreads reviewer
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Novella format: At around 100 pages, it’s a compact but emotionally intense read
- 📚 Series continuity: Best appreciated after reading Under Your Scars, though it can stand alone with context
- 🧠 Dark themes: Includes references to murder, trauma, and psychological distress—recommended for mature readers
🏁 Final Verdict
Delilah is a powerful and poignant novella that expands the emotional landscape of Under Your Scars. Ariel N. Anderson crafts a deeply introspective story about grief, identity, and the long road to healing. If you’re drawn to dark romance with psychological depth and character-driven storytelling, this Kindle edition is a must-read.
