Reading mafia romance and novel has always been a guilty pleasure of mine and though I acknowledged the fact that my taste in books now is different from before, I still pick up books that interest me.

With ITCOK being a debut novel ft. a rivals to lovers between Tasha Nicastro and Leo Danesi, MCs who are next in line to be the leader of their family's company only to find out that it's an underground mafia organization that they have manage, I did not have a hard time finishing this since the storyline is definitely intriguing.

One of the things that I really liked about ITCOK is the way the author developed the backstory as a critical element in the story. Both Tasha and Leo spent their childhood being part of the same circle of powerful families but due to several circumstances, they end up separated and distant. Now they are being prepped to be the heir of the Nicastro, Danesi legacy, their shared history added an insurmountable tension that left me wanting to read more and find out what they will do individually and together.

ITCOK also discussed about family dynamics and power. Being involved in criminal legacies, Tasha and Leo grew up with different type of family which is significant because the way they are treated affects how they react outside of their territory. Along with it comes the presentation of how power and influence plays a crucial part in society. Being a novel that is following the heirs of New York's top mafia orgs, commentaries about power system are expected and it also tangents with how our society is mostly patriarchal.

Intense, angsty, and unputdownable - I rated ITCOK, 4stars