The story centers on Tatum, a cartel princess whose family has promised her to the ruthless Veneto family. The problem? She doesn’t love her betrothed—and he’s downright terrible to her. Desperate to escape, she runs straight into the arms of Naeem Bulgari, the eldest son of the rival Bulgari cartel. This betrayal ignites a full-scale war between the families, dragging every ally and enemy into the fray.

The romance between Tatum and Naeem was intense, filled with passion, conflict, and plenty of heat. Their dynamic gave me serious Beauty and the Beast vibes, especially in the ways Naeem uses punishment as both a form of protection and discipline within their dom/sub relationship. It was dark, spicy, and completely engrossing.

I also loved that the story didn’t just focus on Tatum and Naeem. We’re introduced to Naeem’s younger brother, Khalil Bulgari, and his budding romance with Felicity Veneto. The forbidden fruit element added even more tension to an already action-packed plot, and I’m excited to see where Khalil and Felicity’s story leads in future installments.

Mesha Mesh nails the hallmarks of a great cartel romance: drama, power struggles, arranged marriage conflicts, and high-stakes decisions. The Bulgari Cartel was a wild ride from start to finish, and it’s the perfect kickoff to the Monsters Inc. series. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series to see how this tangled web of love, loyalty, and betrayal plays out!