Beautiful Graves by L.J. Shen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

They say first loves are oftentimes the end of one’s innocence.

Those words couldn’t ring truer for Everlynne Lawson, whose first brush with romance came with a heartbreak…and the thing that seems to follow her everywhere she goes. Death.

After a great tragedy, Everlynne loses all she cares about—her dreams, her family, and her soulmate, Joe.

Guilt-ridden, Everlynne decides to isolate herself in Salem, Massachusetts. A shell of the woman she once was, she takes her days one at a time, careful not to allow herself the joy she believes others in her life were robbed of. But when the mysterious, handsome Dominic storms into her life, it becomes more difficult to stay in solitude. Dominic is adventurous, joyous, with lust for life and a passion to make her his.

Everlynne is on the cusp of reinventing herself once again when the old wounds of her past are resurrected, rawer than ever. There is nothing worse than being in love with two men.

Especially when one of them hates you.

Learning to Love Again

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩷💚❤️💙
Spice/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂😁🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Solo Narration

Characters and Plot

Beautiful Graves centers on Everlynne Lawson, a young woman living in Salem, Massachusetts, far removed from her family and the painful past she cannot seem to escape. Everlynne carries deep guilt tied to a tragic event that claimed her mother’s life and altered everything she once knew, including her relationship with her former boyfriend Joe, who she lost touch with after her mother’s death. Her father and brother Renn continue to call her home, insisting she is needed, but Everlynne resists, choosing distance over confrontation.

Enter Dominic Graves, a man who feels almost like the opposite of Everlynne’s emotional turmoil. Dom is kind, steady, and quietly magnetic. He has his own past shaped by survival, having battled blood cancer as a child, which lends him a grounded perspective on life and love. What begins as Everlynne’s desire for friendship becomes something more complicated. Dom makes it clear he cannot settle for friendship when his feelings run deeper, and Everlynne, reluctant but unwilling to lose him, agrees to try a relationship despite believing her heart still belongs to the past.

The story unfolds as a deeply emotional exploration of grief, healing, and the fragile process of opening oneself to love again.

Highlights and Limitations

One of the strongest aspects of this novel is its emotional depth. L.J. Shen crafts characters who feel raw and authentic, particularly Everlynne, whose grief and guilt are palpable throughout the story. Her internal struggle is messy in a way that feels real, and readers will likely find themselves empathizing with her even when her choices are frustrating.

Dom stands out as a refreshing romantic lead. His patience, emotional intelligence, and quiet strength make him incredibly compelling. His backstory adds nuance without overwhelming the central romance, and his dynamic with Everlynne creates a strong emotional core.

This is one of those books that I had trouble understanding. The relationship between Dom and Everlynne confuses me. Maybe it is just because the whole book is told from Ever’s point of view and she doesn’t seem like she is as invested in the relationship as she should be. I just didn’t see any overwhelming chemistry between the two of them. At one point there is a big reveal about Ever’s past, and everything is explained but everything gets so much more complicated when that happens. The story picks up a lot at that point.

The pacing leans heavily into introspection, which works well for character development but may feel slow at times for listeners looking for more external plot movement. Some moments can feel repetitive in Everlynne’s internal dialogue, particularly regarding her guilt and unresolved feelings, which may test patience depending on the listener’s preference.

Narration

Cassandra Campbell delivers a strong solo performance that captures the emotional weight of the story. Her voice carries a natural warmth and maturity that suits Everlynne’s reflective and often conflicted mindset. She effectively differentiates between characters without making the transitions feel forced.

I don’t like it when romance books are narrated in solo narration. I like hearing both a male and a female voice. I generally don’t bother with books with solo narration unless I really like the author or the narrator. I have been reading L.J. Shen books all week and this one was free to read & listen via Kindle Unlimited, so I decided to give it a try.

Campbell shines most in the quieter, more emotional moments, where subtle shifts in tone convey grief, longing, and vulnerability. Her portrayal of Dom balances tenderness with quiet strength, helping to bring his character to life even without a dual narration format. I have been doing the reading and listening thing where I read along as I listen to the audiobook at 1.5 speed. It has been working well for me.

Final Opinion

Beautiful Graves is a poignant and emotionally driven romance that explores love through the lens of loss and healing. While the pacing may feel slow in places, the depth of character and emotional resonance more than make up for it. It has some unpredictable surprises that turn it into a very different story than what it begins as. There is a lot more emotional growth, and I loved the way that tragedy is turned into an opportunity for the main characters.

For listeners who enjoy introspective romance with flawed but deeply human characters, this audiobook offers a rewarding experience. Combined with Cassandra Campbell’s thoughtful narration, it becomes an immersive journey through grief, growth, and the courage it takes to love again.

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