Ana Huang’s Twisted Love isn’t just a steamy brother’s best friend romance—it’s a sizzling psychological tug-of-war between trauma and healing, memory and forgetting, ice and flame. As the first novel in Huang’s bestselling Twisted series, Twisted Love lays the groundwork for a saga that explores dangerous love, complicated friendships, and deeply buried secrets. While the writing occasionally leans into genre tropes, Huang’s storytelling voice—equal parts angst and allure—creates an irresistible pull.
Series Context: The World of Twisted
Ana Huang’s Twisted series is a four-book journey that explores messy, magnetic relationships between powerfully flawed men and strong, ambitious women. The books can be read as standalones but gain thematic depth when read together:
- Twisted Love (2021) – Alex & Ava’s story: brother’s best friend, grumpy/sunshine, dark secrets
- Twisted Games (2021) – Bodyguard romance between Princess Bridget and Rhys Larsen
- Twisted Hate (2022) – Enemies-to-lovers slow-burn between Jules and Josh (Ava’s brother)
- Twisted Lies (2022) – Fake dating and possessive obsession between Christian and Stella
Twisted Love by Ana Huang serves as the emotional and thematic cornerstone of the series, introducing readers to a world where the line between love and destruction is razor-thin.
Plot Summary: A Love That Was Never Meant to Be
Ava Chen is a sunbeam wrapped in shadows—a spirited photographer haunted by the foggy trauma of a childhood she can’t fully remember. Enter Alex Volkov, her brother’s icy best friend, a wealthy, brilliant, and emotionally locked-down man with a past that has taught him to fear closeness.
When Ava’s brother Josh leaves the country, he entrusts Alex to look after her. What starts as mutual disdain and guarded cohabitation quickly turns into a slow, seductive unraveling. But the more they fall, the more their carefully constructed walls begin to shatter—revealing truths that threaten not only their future, but the very foundation of who they are.
What sets Twisted Love apart from the typical grumpy/sunshine formula is Ana Huang’s decision to embed real emotional trauma—memory repression, emotional abuse, familial betrayal—into the romantic arc. It’s not just about attraction; it’s about what love unearths.
Characters: Beautifully Broken
Alex Volkov – The Iceberg CEO
Alex is what you’d expect in a dark romance hero: brilliant, brooding, emotionally unavailable. But Huang cleverly subverts the stereotype by giving Alex hyperthymesia, a condition that renders him unable to forget any moment of his life. This constant recall makes emotional detachment a necessity for survival, not just a trope.
Yet beneath his calculated coolness lies a man molded by trauma, grief, and revenge. His emotional arc—from protector to partner, from vengeful mastermind to vulnerable lover—is the heart of the novel. At times, he veers into morally gray territory, but Huang never lets him fall into caricature.
Ava Chen – The Dreamer with Scars
Ava may seem like the typical bubbly heroine, but she’s far from naive. Her trauma is less visible but no less profound. She’s driven by creativity, compassion, and the unrelenting desire to uncover the truth about her past. Huang gives her depth by showing how she balances her fears with fierce independence.
Her dynamic with Alex is the emotional axis of the book. While some of her choices can feel overly trusting, it’s a testament to how trauma manifests—not in weakness, but in the desperate search for light.
Writing Style: Sensual, Sharp, and Satisfying
Ana Huang writes with a cinematic flair. Her prose is polished, sensual, and well-paced, moving seamlessly between humor, tension, and emotional gravitas. She uses dual POVs (Alex and Ava), giving readers full access to the characters’ inner landscapes.
Huang’s strongest stylistic choices include:
- Sharp banter: Witty, biting, and often emotionally charged.
- Lush description: Especially in intimate scenes—never gratuitous, but undeniably steamy.
- Emotional layering: Each chapter adds a new hue to the central romance, turning what could’ve been a surface-level love story into something psychologically nuanced.
However, some transitions—especially in the second act—feel rushed, and supporting characters could’ve used more page-time. Still, for a new adult dark romance, the writing is confident and evocative.
Themes: Memory, Healing, and Power
At its core, Twisted Love by Ana Huang is a story about memory—what we choose to remember, what we suppress, and how the truth reshapes us.
Key Themes Include:
- Revenge vs Redemption – Alex’s quest for justice threatens to destroy everything he’s built, including his love for Ava.
- The Weight of Memory – Ava’s amnesia and Alex’s hyperthymesia create a powerful dichotomy. One forgets to survive, the other remembers everything—both are imprisoned by the past.
- Love as Catharsis – Their romance isn’t a fairytale escape; it’s a crucible through which both must confront their deepest wounds.
Strengths: Why Twisted Love Works
- High Emotional Stakes – The emotional arcs are steep and satisfying.
- Unique Psychological Elements – The use of hyperthymesia and trauma recovery adds depth.
- Crackling Chemistry – The sexual tension between Alex and Ava is palpable from their first scene.
- Memorable Quotes – Lines like “He has a heart of ice…but for her, he’d burn the world” stay with you.
- Natural Dialogue – The back-and-forth between characters feels authentic and character-driven.
Critiques: Where It Falls Short
Despite its many strengths, Twisted Love by Ana Huang isn’t without flaws:
- Overuse of Tropes – Grumpy/sunshine, brother’s best friend, rich male savior—they work, but they’re familiar.
- Plot Convenience – Some reveals feel too neatly placed, especially the third-act twist.
- Limited Side Character Depth – Ava’s friends Jules, Stella, and Bridget are intriguing but underdeveloped (though they feature in later books).
- Alex’s Redemption Feels Rushed – His transformation from cold strategist to vulnerable partner is moving but could’ve used more breathing room.
Where It Stands Among Similar Books
Fans of:
- The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
- Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
- The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori
…will feel right at home in Ana Huang’s world.
Yet Huang distinguishes herself with her commitment to multicultural characters, subtle exploration of trauma, and stylish prose. Twisted Love by Ana Huang feels like it belongs in the pantheon of modern dark romance, while also carving a distinct identity.
The Rest of the Twisted Series: A Glimpse Ahead
- Twisted Games explores forbidden love between a royal and her bodyguard, bringing more political intrigue.
- Twisted Hate delivers enemies-to-lovers fireworks with medical school stress and scorching tension.
- Twisted Lies dives into possessiveness and deception, wrapping up the series with a dangerous love story that plays with the idea of image vs. reality.
Each book builds on the emotional legacy of Twisted Love, but Alex and Ava remain foundational—perhaps the most emotionally complex couple of the quartet.
Final Verdict: Should You Read Twisted Love?
Absolutely—if you’re ready to fall hard for characters who will both infuriate and enchant you.
It’s not just a love story. It’s a tale of two damaged people fighting to become whole—not despite each other’s pain, but because of it. Huang doesn’t promise perfection; she promises intensity, complexity, and heat—and she delivers.
Wrapping It Up: Love Doesn’t Heal You—It Transforms You
Ana Huang’s Twisted Love isn’t afraid to ask hard questions: What do we owe the people we love? Can love bloom where trust is broken? And can two fractured souls ever truly be whole together?
With sensual writing, layered characterization, and an undercurrent of suspense, Twisted Love is the kind of romance that lingers—like a memory you can’t forget.
