The Red Room had the potential to be great if it had been developed into a full-length novel. As a shorter novella, much of the potential plot felt underdeveloped. I’m usually a laid-back mood reader, but there were things I just couldn’t overlook here. Did they really go from meeting to BD$M k!nk shmex within five minutes? The male lead claimed he wanted to get to know her better, but that only seemed to happen in the most literal, physical sense. The subplot involving her father also had the potential to add tension and depth but ultimately felt rushed and unresolved. While I managed to power through, this was not an enjoyable read for me.