Quick Take
- Narration: Giada Bonanomi narrates the Italian-language edition with polished emotional range; she handles the tension between Christian’s controlled menace and Stella’s careful warmth well.
- Themes: Obsession and protection, secrets that define identity, the cost of vulnerability
- Mood: Intense and atmospheric, with the slow burn of a story that takes its darkness seriously
- Verdict: For Italian-language listeners who have followed the Twisted series, this duet edition is a satisfying culmination; Ana Huang’s signature billionaire intensity translates effectively in Bonanomi’s reading.
A note before I begin: Twisted Lies (Duet Edition) as listed here is an Italian-language audiobook produced by Mondadori Libri, narrated by Giada Bonanomi. If you’re looking for the English-language version of Ana Huang’s novel, this is not it. For Italian-speaking listeners or readers comfortable with Italian audio, this review covers what you need to know about this specific edition.
I encountered Ana Huang’s Twisted series through its English-language following, a readership that has made her one of the more commercially significant voices in contemporary new adult romance over the past several years. The fourth book, Twisted Lies, focuses on Christian Harper, a character who has orbited the earlier books in the series, and whose presence has been generating reader anticipation long before this volume arrived. The Italian publishers at Mondadori clearly understood what they were working with: the duet format, running over eighteen hours, suggests they wanted room to let both halves of the story breathe rather than compress them.
Our Take on Twisted Lies (Duet Edition)
Christian Harper is the kind of romance protagonist whose appeal depends almost entirely on how carefully he’s written. The synopsis describes him as a monster hidden inside the impeccable clothing of a gentleman, a formulation that’s doing a lot of work, and that works only if the author provides evidence rather than assertion. Based on the reception across languages, Huang appears to have delivered on that promise. The Italian reviewer who called him “il classico tipo tenebroso” while noting he’s not simply a bad boy, that he’s constructed more carefully than the archetype, is pointing at what distinguishes the novel from less successful iterations of the same template.
Stella Alonso, the heroine, is described as sweet and shy, someone who has learned to keep desire in check because two jobs and limited time don’t leave space for complications. When fate intervenes, the novel’s word, and it’s accurate to the genre’s conventions, what follows is a relationship built on secrets and lies, with the recognition that when those things come to light, they may destroy what’s been built. Bonanomi’s narration manages the imbalance between Stella’s accessible warmth and Christian’s layered coldness without flattening either character into a single note.
Why Listen to Twisted Lies (Duet Edition)
Italian-language readers who have followed the Twisted series through its earlier volumes will find this the most emotionally complex entry. Reviewers in Italian consistently describe the series escalation, “Questo e il piu bello,” the same judgment applied to each successive volume, which suggests Huang has managed the difficult task of making each installment feel like the best one rather than a diminishing continuation. Christian’s story specifically has been the one readers were holding out for, and the payoff lands according to most accounts.
The duet format is worth noting as a structural choice. Rather than splitting the story across separate volumes requiring separate purchases, this edition presents the complete arc in a single listening experience. For a romance that depends on extended tension and resolution, that format decision matters: the release of the emotional pressure that accumulates across the first half is paid off in the second without requiring a waiting period.
What to Watch For in Twisted Lies (Duet Edition)
One honest reviewer noted that Stella felt somewhat passive in the first half of the book before her character development became visible. In a romance where the hero commands every scene he enters, there is a genuine risk that the heroine becomes an object of fascination rather than a subject in her own right. The reviewer who flagged this also noted that the development became evident, which suggests the arc is there, but that patience is required in the early sections. For listeners who find themselves frustrated by the initial imbalance, holding on through the midpoint appears to pay off.
This is also a Huang novel, which means the emotional intensity runs high and the relationship dynamics have a proprietary quality, Christian’s obsession with Stella is not framed as a problem requiring resolution but as evidence of depth. Readers who prefer romance leads with cleaner emotional boundaries should approach accordingly.
Who Should Listen to Twisted Lies (Duet Edition)
This edition is specifically for Italian-language listeners. Within that audience, it is well suited to fans of the Twisted series who have been waiting for Christian’s story, readers of dark new adult romance who appreciate a hero built with some actual psychological scaffolding, and anyone who has enjoyed Huang’s previous work in translation. Listeners new to the series would benefit from starting with the earlier volumes to understand the world and character connections before reaching this fourth installment. For Italian-speaking romance listeners, Bonanomi is a strong narrator, and the eighteen-hour runtime across the duet edition offers substantial listening value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same content as the English-language Twisted Lies, just in Italian?
Yes. This is an Italian-language edition of Ana Huang’s Twisted Lies, published by Mondadori Libri and narrated by Giada Bonanomi. The content is a translation of the original English novel, not a separately written Italian work.
Does the duet edition include both parts of the story, or just one?
The duet edition presents the complete story as a single audiobook running over eighteen hours. It is not split into separate volumes, both halves of the narrative are included, which allows listeners to experience the full emotional arc without interruption.
Is it necessary to have read the earlier Twisted books before this one?
The earlier books, which follow different couples in the same world, provide context for recurring characters and the world Huang has built. Twisted Lies can be followed without that context, but the emotional resonance of Christian’s arc is richer for readers who have spent time with the surrounding cast across the series.
How does Giada Bonanomi handle the dynamic between Stella and Christian?
Bonanomi differentiates the two leads clearly, Stella’s accessible openness and Christian’s contained, controlled intensity are rendered as distinct vocal registers rather than a single blended tone. Reviewers of the Italian edition describe the narration as emotionally engaging, with the relationship’s tension reading as earned rather than performed.
