Review: Enigma Rose: First Love by S.E. Reynolds

Ghosts from the past collide with present desires of the flesh in Enigma Rose: First Love by S.E. Reynolds, a steamy and unpredictable slice of romance, bursting with passion.

Rose Umbra is building a new life, and finding new lovers, attempting to leave tragedies and secrets behind as the new owner of a small bookshop in the Virginia countryside. However, her murderous and manipulative ex-lover, Joshua Steadman, has begun gathering power in a nearby town, and it doesn’t take long for him to drop by and stir the pot.

As the new mayor of Chester, Virginia, Josh has regained a title and some petty amount of power, and intends to use it to leverage what he most desires. The resurgence of Josh’s obsession with Rose makes him an easy character to dislike in an age of gendered violence pushing back against female autonomy and equality. His previous treatment of Rose and Virginia is cruel and appalling, his mommy issues are manifold, and his political stance is regressive. Reynolds writes his narration with unmistakable intention – a grown-up incel who hasn’t learned to process his trauma, and therefore passes it onto others.

Thematically, trauma is a major undercurrent of the story for multiple characters, including emotional, physical, sexual, and psychological forms. Addressing such a raw subject is challenging for any author, but there is nuance and sensitivity in Reynolds’ exploration, which gives even greater insight into each three-dimensional character. Annabelle is an outcast daughter who accidentally killed her only brother, only to have her life further torn apart by a “monster in the woods.” Virginia is trying to ease into a healthy new life and a loving relationship, but her previous manipulation at the hands of Josh, and her involvement in the mysterious death of his young wife Stacie, threaten to destabilize her fantasy come true.

The sparking connection between Rose and Annabelle is immediate, and a pleasure to read, particularly for anyone who feels like bookstores were designed for falling in love, or finding your soul mate. Rather than adding a token LGBTQ relationship for contemporary flair, Reynolds digs deep into the emotional dynamics of the couple, shining a light on the intense cultural navigation it can require. Those who have read Reynolds’ first Enigma Rose novel will understand the high stakes and deadly seriousness that haunts these characters, although this sequel does feel like it could stand alone.

Despite the framework of a pulp romance, the writing is meticulously crafted with surprising depth and the language flows smoothly. Reynolds seems to delight in the occasional double entendre or splash of suggestive dialogue as much as her characters, giving the prose an edge of flirtation and barely contained lust. While there are very rare proofreading slips in idiomatic language (e.g. “hell hold” vs “hellhole”), they don’t impact the reading experience, which is in turn steamy, suspenseful, and reflective.

Overall, Reynolds masterfully builds a scintillating level of suspense, and with a cast of flawed but engrossing characters chasing down their demons, First Love is a slow-burn romantic thriller that truly delivers.