What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

To Hell With You is a dark psychological romance novel by Samama Reza, published in October 2025. Moving away from the lighthearted tone of her debut, Anti-Romantic, this book takes a much heavier, more intense look at toxic relationships and emotional survival.

The Setting: A small family flat in 1990s and early 2000s Dubai.

The Protagonist: Leila, a young woman raised on Bollywood films, borrowed lipstick, and grandiose ideas of romance. She wants a love that feels like thunder—wild, consuming, and unforgettable.

The Love Interest: Abdullah. Cold-eyed, possessive, and dangerous. He does not treat her like a fairy-tale princess; instead, he completely dominates her world.

The Core Theme: The book deliberately frames itself with the warning: "This is not a love story." It explores how Leila gets caught in a tight, psychological chokehold, romanticizing control and quiet bruises until she completely vanishes inside the relationship.