Bound

De: Ali Hazelwood

Narrado por: Brittany Pressley, William Macleod

A reluctant con artist and a professor with too many secrets are bound together in Ali Hazelwood’s intoxicating new dark academia romance—available only in audio!

Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle.

It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her—politely—and makes an unusual offer: forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him.

Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to wonder: what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?

©2025 Ali Hazelwood (P)2025 Spotify Audiobooks

Don’t pass on this one

Honestly, I ate this book up. I loved how it read. It was so well done for the shorter length. It has con-artists mixed with urban fantasy. The world building was actually pretty strong. The audiobook narrators were at 12/10. Definitely don’t pass this up. I want more stories in this world.

Another great Ali book

I wasn’t sure about the MMC voice at first, but I got used to it. Otherwise loved the story and the relationship between the main couple.

Oh my love!

I went into this blind, but knowing anything Ali Hazelwood is perfection and I was not disappointed!

Oh my goodness I love this book! And the narration is perfection! ❤️

great listen, but no closer.

This book is an audio-first publication.
Meaning the audio came out before the print or ebook?????
Ok.
So I got a lot of conflicting overviews online.
What the book actually delivered was very unique and unexpected.

▪︎Slightly Academia
▪︎Dark
▪︎Paranormal
▪︎Secret Society'ish

Veronica has a striking appearance, Marie Antoinette Syndrome has turned her hair silvery white, and facial piercing.

FMC~Veronica (Vero) Mercer~
MMC~Dr. Viktor Ashworth~

Vero is an art history major at
Rock Heaven University, as well as her side hustle as a reluctant forger
for an antiques broker.
~Sphinx cat Cosimo~
Slow burn.. slow.
The ending was not exactly a cliffhanger, but hells bells we need answers..

A lil mystery, a lil romance, A lil forgery

Ali hazelwood always delivers! Another one that although I wish was in book format because I love to read, listening was just as good. The FMC is interesting, she had past that pushes her into a world of forgery to save the ones she loves…..Enter the MMC who wants her to write something for him to save people he cares for. Their nights of writing a book develops a relationship that is lovely to read. But with any good story an evil protagonist is about and stirs up trouble. But Veronica and Victor must prevail.

Couldn’t stop listening!

Binged this in one setting! Loved everything about this! I hope 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼I HOPE.. there is a second book! I need more!!!

Short but sweet

I liked the narrators—felt like they fit the characters very well. Cute shorter story with all the Hazelwood elements I love!

Fun listen!

Wasn't sure what to expect from this but I loved everything a out it! From all the bookish content regarding binding, forgery, rare books, collecting, etc. To the mystery behind those who took Veronica.
Its a fresh take on "vampires" and I enjoyed the unique world amd the slow but study romance build up. Made for such a satisfying connection 😍

Fun and easy listen :)

4.25 Stars ⭐️

This was a very fast and easy listen that I went into completely blind and ended up having a grand 'ole time listening to. I did not look it up prior to starting it, but I think that this is more of a short story length or novella length. All I know is that I listened to it in one sitting and it kept me interested and entertained the entire time.

The story revolves around our FMC Veronica “Vero” Mercer who is a graduate student getting her PhD when we meet her. Through a series of events, she ends up partnering with the owner of an antique store creating books that are not exactly what they seem. Is that a different way of saying that she is forging books? Yep, yep it is.

She ends up in the path of our MMC - Dr. Viktor Ashworth - and he starts her on a different path when he gives her an opportunity to "create" an important book, this time for a substantial amount of money. There is a fairly long timeline needed to do this right and Vero just might be falling for the professor.

But, is there something a bit different about him? Hmmm, you need to listen and find out :)

I enjoyed this and ended up with a smile on my face and a happy feeling when all was said and done.

This just didn’t do it for me

I typically love everything Ali Hazelwood writes. This one just wasn’t it for me. I didn’t get invested in the FMC. The story was well written. The narration was well done. I just wasn’t all that interested in the characters and their story. I almost DNF it. It did get better by the end, and I liked the premise. It just didn’t deliver for me.