Dear Reader

Devil's Backbone, Book 1

De: Tate James

Narrado por: Lilly Drake, James Joseph, Corvin King, Gregory Salinas, Michael Gallagher

Dear Listener,

You want my advice? Never look a gift horse in the mouth. You don’t want to see the rotten teeth.

In this case, the gift is a scholarship to attend the prestigious Neveah University. The rotten teeth? Well, they came in the form of my brand new stepbrother and his little cohort of entitled, arrogant best friends. Four dangerously handsome and stupidly wealthy men who made up their minds about me long before we met. Men who are used to getting everything they want no matter what the price.

I was a big girl, I could ignore them. Then came the secret society hazing. Kidnappings. Crazy parties. Insane stunts. Mindblowing prizes. Even so, I could handle myself… until the secret and stolen moments with men I had no business falling for. It was enough to give a girl a nightmares.

©2025 Tate James (P)2025 Tate James

Completely Unexpected, and EXCELLENT!

Absolutely excellent- the writing, the narrations, everything!! I could not put it down- I got through this in one day! I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book, but it was amazing! This book kept me glued to it all day, I literally could not put it down. It was unexpected, different, and the cliffhanger ending broke my heart, left me with an ache in my heart, and I will be impatiently waiting for the next one!

The ending

Overall really enjoyed however there are parts that just could have been omitted. Seemed like a bit of filler then rushed ending with a cliffhanger. But I want to continue the series and may actually read the physical book because the other two aren’t on audible

What a crazy cliffhanger

Breath of fresh air. Very unique storyline honestly. And wow left us hanging at the end (literally) LOL

Fabulous book and narrators!

Let me just start with, oh my god that ending!? Im not gonna be able to wait for the audible. I can't even. This book was sooo good. So much mystery throughout this book. I need answers. So much suspense. The spice is hot! I love all the guys even Nate. I cannot wait for more! Fabulous narrators! I love the duet style narration. He character was brought to life perfectly!

What the Duck Tate

Tate James never ceases to amaze me with the endings of her books! She leaves my jaw on the floor and rips my heart out every time. I loved Dear Reader so much, Ashley and the DB boys have my heart and now I’m going to wait to find out if I truly need to cry or not.

New favorite Tate story

I love having Tate back in my life 🤩🤩
This is definitely one of her best yet! I love the first book in a Tate series as we get to know the guys and the plot gets set up. I really admire Ashley as a FMC, she’s strong and determined to take zero crap from her new stepbrother and his friends. I enjoyed the set up of a secret journal and Ashley trying to uncover just how sinister the Devil’s Backbone society really is. 🤔🤔 the suspense is a perfect pace as you’re questioning just as much as Ashley is as new dangers pop up. As usual, it’s hard to decide on a favorite Tate MMC but I’m leaning towards Carter. There’s something about him 😅 BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT CLIFFHANGER???? Tate how could you make us wait for the next book like this????
Note: Full cast narration was absolutely phenomenal. All the male narrators knocked the guys out of the park and Lilly Drake was perfection for Ashley’s character

Awesome!!

Totally took me by surprise!! The cliffhanger and now waiting for book 2!! Might need to hold off until closer to book 3!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 | 🔥2 spice

As a Madison Kate fan through and through, I was pumped to dive into Dear Reader—and let me tell you, this secret society, dark academia rollercoaster did not disappoint.

We’re dropped into a world of elite college kids, creepy secret traditions, and potential mind control (yeah, it gets weird fast). Our FMC Ashley ends up at Nevaeh University after her mom marries rich—and suddenly she’s got a broody stepbrother Nate, plus his drool-worthy friends Royce, Heath, and Carter. Helloooo, trouble 😏

What starts as a typical rich-kid-university drama quickly turns into a thriller when Ashley finds the diary of Abigail, a former society member who—oh yeah—was murdered. Ashley starts digging into the Devil’s Backbone society, and let’s just say… they don’t love being investigated.

While not a full-blown reverse harem (yet?), we’re very much in “why choose?” territory with Carter and Heath vying for Ashley’s attention. And even though I know Tate James can bring the heat, this one was a little light on the spice for me. (Did someone forget to turn the burner on?)

Still, the pacing is fast, the plot is juicy, and that tragic cliffhanger at the end? RUDE. I’m crossing my fingers the next book gives me more answers… and more heat. 🔥

Bring on book two—I’m not done with these twisted secrets yet.

Another Tate James banger!!

I’m obsessed! Infinite 🌟’s. I don’t know what to say or what to do with my life after that cliffhanger! What the 🦆 Tate!!! I need book 2 like I need air to breathe!!

Reader beware, this author doesn’t mess around when she’s out to destroy you! But she’ll have you loving it and on your knees begging for more.

🎧 If you are into audiobooks this one is phenomenal! It’s multicast and each narrator could not have delivered a more perfect performance! A+++

That Cliffhanger!

Okay wow that surprise cliffhanger ending was worth the whole audio. The story grabbed me at the very beginning and at the very end. Everything in between was completely unrelatable to downright annoying. A bunch of entitled rich kids doing dumb things because they can and they’re bored. And you have a naive FMC that is so boy crazy she can’t see straight. I found myself huffing in annoyance by her actions. I love a good why choose, but this was a..I’m not sure. Not really a why choose, but just being passed from one guy to the next. Not super spicy, kind of suspenseful, mysterious, secret society, in an academic setting.

The narrator’s were fabulous. A multicast with heavy hitters such as Corvin King, Gregory Salinas, James Joseph, Lilly Drake, and Micheal Gallagher. It was sometimes hard to hear one of the narrators at times unless I was listening with my headphones.

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice ⭐️⭐️💫
Narration ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫