Beneath the Silence and With These Words is a masterclass in writing romantic realism. The conclusion to Eden and Hakeem’s journey to peace has solidified this series as the best romance released this year. Hakeem and Eden’s character development, chemistry, and individual storylines are stellar and incredibly well-crafted. Raw-dialogue, a fully developed plot, and a beautiful message about chosen family makes these installments of The Things Unseen series an absolute knockout. 

What makes our MC’s so compelling is the care that was taken to develop them individually outside of their union. There is a tenderness in the way Hakeem becomes a loving father figure in Isaiah and Jayce’s life in a way he himself didn’t have growing up. The lack of love from his mother, the abuse he experienced at her hands, and the insatiable rage that developed from that loveless environment did not impede on his ability to love as an adult. 

There is beauty in the way Eden evolved from being a sacrificing people-pleaser into a woman learning that her validation comes from within. When she allowed herself to no longer let the sting of her past hinder a possibly beautiful future, she was able to realize that she was deserving of more than what she had been given. 

Despite a few typos, K. Lashaun has penned the best book in her catalogue about a love that refused to lose against the formidable opponent called life. Hakeem and Eden are proof that despite being broken, beaten, mistreated, and misunderstood happiness is never out of reach. Beneath the silence, words of love can fill the space with the sound.