Author: T.E. Sullivan

Series: Redemption

First Published: 01 August 2025

“Besides, being in the dark isn’t so bad when you’re not alone.”

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Tegan for sending a copy my way!

Everyone deserves a second chance …

Committing a crime will land you a one-way ticket into the Redemption Program, where you will need to earn your freedom by completing Acts of Kindness. Fail this, and the punishment is death.

Ethan has just committed a serious crime. He prefers to speak with actions, not words, and his temper is what landed him in the Program.

Isaac is the personification of the sun; warm, positive, and willing to do anything to help others.

When Isaac is assigned to be Ethan’s Redeemer, a person entrusted with helping others to complete the Program, Ethan is less than impressed. It doesn’t take long for Isaac’s constant cheer and positivity to grate on Ethan’s nerves. But the more they get to know each other, the more Ethan slowly begins to lower his walls, and feels his defences come crashing down.

But what they don’t realise is that someone desperately doesn’t want Ethan to succeed in his Program, and they will stop at nothing to see him fail.

I’m not normally one for dystopian, but when T.E. Sullivan reached out and asked if I wanted to read her dark dystopian MM, I said yes, since I love me an MM romance. Beautiful Redemption had me hooked! I am fascinated by the world. The world has a slightly creepy and wholly sinister government program to help combat crime. Everyone gets a second chance, but only one more chance. ⁠

Ethan has a temper, which he mostly keeps under control. Until⁠ he discovers his sister’s boyfriend has been abusing her. Fuelled by rage, he tracks down his sister’s boyfriend to give him a taste of his own medicine. Ethan blacks out, only to wake in a sterile room, handcuffed to the bed with black tattoos. He’s landed himself in the Redemption Program. Ethan’s sentence is 10 acts of kindness and he has 6 months to complete them, or… die. Ethan is assigned a Redeemer, Isaac. A Redeemer an authorised support person to guide him through the program. Isaac is sunshine personified and always wants to help others. It doesn’t take long for Isaac’s positivity to grate on Ethan. But the more time they spend together, the more Ethan’s walls come crashing downn.⁠

I adore Isaac. He’s Ethan’s polar opposite and an absolute ray of sunshine. Ethan is his first solo case, so he is going above and beyond to make sure Ethan passes his punishment. I adore his people-pleasing self.

The romance in here is a serious slow burn. Ethan ⁠cannot stand Isaac, but the forced proximity causes some amazing banter and delicious sexual tension – looking at you, dream scene. The moment when they both opened up about ⁠their history had my heart aching for them!

The ending had my jaw dropped! Ethan’s actions are coming back to haunt him. I have no idea what will happen next, but I’m sure it’s going to hurt before we get Ethan and Isaac’s HEA.