The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur

✨ Tropes: sapphic romance, deal with the devil, morally grey love interest, forced proximity
🎧 POV: single (third person)
🔥 Steam: moderate — emotional tension over heat

Review:
Alexandria Bellefleur takes a creative swing with The Devil She Knows—a sapphic, deal-with-the-devil romance that blends supernatural whimsy with emotional chaos. The concept hooked me immediately: a woman desperate to win back her ex makes a bargain with a pink-clad demon who smells like heaven and grants wishes with a hellish twist. It’s witty, original, and full of potential.

But while the premise shines, the execution stumbles. The first 70–80% of the book spins in circles as Sam chases after her ex, Hannah, long past the point of reason. I found myself frustrated—less by the setup and more by how little emotional growth happens until the very end. The repetitiveness makes sense within the story’s structure, but it slowed the pacing considerably.

Daphne, though, completely steals the show. She’s mischievous, clever, and layered in ways I wish the book had explored more deeply. Sam, meanwhile, is sympathetic but often exasperating—her devotion to Hannah feels unfounded without flashbacks or emotional context to ground it. By the time the romance with Daphne takes center stage, it feels a bit rushed, like we skipped the best part.

The final 20% finally delivers—fast-paced, funny, heartfelt, and full of the kind of emotional payoff that could’ve made the whole book shine if it had arrived sooner. I also think the story might’ve benefited from dual POVs or a first-person perspective to give Daphne’s side of things more weight.

All that said, Bellefleur’s wit and creativity are undeniable. Even when the story lost me, the writing sparkled with humor and heart. The Devil She Knows isn’t my favorite of her books, but it’s absolutely her most ambitious—and I applaud the risk.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5) — inventive concept, strong banter, but pacing and emotional connection fell short.