Author Spotlight Saturday!

Welcome to the very first Author Spotlight Saturday, a weekly series where I gush about my favorite authors, their standout books, and why they deserve all the love. Whether you're new to their work or already obsessed, this is your place to get inspired to add more to your TBR.

This week’s spotlight: Emily McIntire – the queen of dark romance with a fairytale twist. If you haven’t read one of her books yet… you’re seriously missing out.

About the Author

Emily McIntire is known for writing emotionally rich, dark romance that explores the twisted sides of love — often with fairytale-inspired flair. Her books are filled with morally gray characters, intense chemistry, and powerful character growth. She doesn’t shy away from exploring trauma, healing, and redemption in messy but beautiful ways.

https://www.emilymcintire.com/about-emily

Emily McIntire is the dark romance fairy godmother you didn’t know you needed. She’s best known for her Never After series — where villains take center stage in twisted, emotionally rich retellings.

Why She’s a Must-Read

Emily doesn’t just write love stories — she writes characters you want to both scream at and hug. Her books are sharp, sexy, emotional, and poetic in their own way. Whether it’s a tortured villain with a tragic backstory or a heroine who’s clawed her way through pain, her characters feel raw and human.

If you love:

• Dark romance

• Morally gray characters

• Fairytales turned upside down

• Spice with soul

Then you need her books on your TBR. Immediately.

Notable Books by Emily McIntire

Never After Series

The Never After series reimagines classic tales from the villain’s POV — dark, spicy, and unforgettable.

Modern, steamy, villain-driven reimaginings of classic stories:

• Hooked (Peter Pan)

• Scarred (The Lion King)

• Wretched (The Wizard of Oz)

• Twisted (Aladin)

• Crossed (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

• Hexed (Little Mermaid)

Sugarlake Series (Small Town, Deep Emotion)

Small town, big emotions. Childhood friends, second chances, and all the soft heartbreaks in between.

Before she went full dark romance, Emily started with emotional small-town love stories. These books are softer, but still carry her signature emotional depth.

• Beneath the Stars

• Beneath the Stands

• Beneath the Hood

• Beneath the Surface

Stand Alone

A coastal murder town. A grumpy fisherman. A broken girl. And one haunting love story.

A haunting and lyrical enemies-to-lovers romance with heavy themes of grief and second chances.

Defying the Stars Series (New!)

For the dreamers and the ones who burn brightest—this is where stardust meets survival.

The Defying the Stars series is where Emily McIntire blends raw emotion with poetic prose and big, aching themes. Starting with Burning Daylight, she steps away from fairytales and small towns and into something more intimate—more celestial.

These books feel like they live in the space between heartbreak and hope. Expect characters who are beautifully flawed, navigating trauma, love, self-discovery, and the messiness of human connection. If Never After is fire, this series is starlight—soft, slow-burning, and still just as dangerous.

While only one book (Burning Daylight) is currently released, this series has already promised more depth and intensity than expected. And with three more books planned, it’s one to watch if you love:

• soul-deep character growth

• lyrical writing that punches you in the chest

• love stories wrapped in grief, resilience, and destiny

This series is for you if...

• You highlight your books like it’s a love language

• You crave emotional unraveling

• You believe healing doesn’t happen in straight lines

Where To Start

If you're new to Emily McIntire, here’s how I’d suggest jumping in:

• Start with Hooked if you want steamy, dangerous vibes

• Try Scarred if you love broken royalty and emotional redemption

• Go with Be Still My Heart for something deeply lyrical and emotional

• Dive into Burning Daylight if you want to catch her newest work early

Why She’s My Spotlight This Week

Emily McIntire has mastered the art of creating beautifully broken characters who still believe they’re worthy of love — even if the world (and sometimes they themselves) don’t. Her books challenge the idea of “good” vs. “evil” and live in the gray space where real hearts exist.

Whether it’s a villain who just wants to be loved or a heroine learning to take up space in the world, her stories hit where it hurts — and then heal you with the kind of love that fights.