Sinners Anonymous by Somme Sketcher Summary

Sinners Anonymous follows 21-year-old Rory Carter, who is engaged to Alberto Visconti, the powerful leader of the Italian-American mafia Cosa Nostra, to save her sick father. Her carefully constructed facade crumbles when she meets Angelo Visconti, her fiancé's dangerous nephew, sparking a forbidden romance that threatens everything. The book explores themes of moral ambiguity, loyalty, and desire as Rory navigates her dual identity through weekly confessions to a hotline while falling for the one man she shouldn't.

Somme Sketcher is an internationally bestselling author specializing in dark mafia romance, best known for her Sinners Anonymous series and the East Coast Devils trilogy. She's famous for writing the "slowest of the slow burns" and creating morally complex characters in dangerous underworld settings. When not writing, Sketcher enjoys trying new hobbies like pottery and ice skating, and is an avid true crime podcast listener. Her work has garnered over 230,000 ratings on Goodreads, establishing her as a prominent voice in contemporary dark romance.

Sinners Anonymous is perfect for readers who love dark mafia romance with forbidden love dynamics and slow-burn tension. Fans of authors like Danielle Lori or RuNyx who appreciate morally gray characters, arranged marriage tropes, and enemies-to-lovers chemistry will devour this book. The novel appeals to adult romance readers seeking intense emotional narratives with dangerous underworld settings, complex anti-heroes, and strong heroines with hidden depths. If you crave patient character development over instant gratification, this slow-burn romance delivers.

Sinners Anonymous has earned international bestseller status with over 231,000 ratings and a 4.04 average on Goodreads, indicating strong reader satisfaction. Fans praise the book's witty banter, intricate plot twists, and the chemistry between Rory and Angelo, though some note the slow pacing. The novel's strength lies in Sketcher's ability to build tension through deliberate character development and morally complex situations. For readers who appreciate detailed world-building and emotional payoff over quick romance, the 14-hour journey is highly rewarding.

Sinners Anonymous centers on the ultimate forbidden romance: Rory Carter is engaged to mafia don Alberto Visconti but falls dangerously in love with his nephew, Angelo Visconti. This taboo relationship violates both family loyalty and mafia code, creating high-stakes tension throughout the narrative. The forbidden nature is amplified because Rory's engagement isn't just personal—it's a transactional arrangement to save her dying father, making her attraction to Angelo both emotionally devastating and practically catastrophic. Sketcher uses this trope to explore themes of duty versus desire and moral boundaries in the criminal underworld.

Sinners Anonymous is the first book in a five-book series of the same name, though each novel features different couples and can be read as standalones. The series continues with:

• Sinners Condemned
• Sinners Consumed (Rafe and Penny's duet)
• Sinners Atone
• Sinners Absolve (Gabe and Wren's duet)

While Rory and Angelo's story concludes in the first book, later installments explore interconnected characters within the same mafia universe. Readers can enjoy Sinners Anonymous independently, but the series offers deeper immersion into Sketcher's dark romance world.

The Sinners Anonymous hotline is Rory Carter's confessional outlet where she admits her darkest thoughts and actions weekly, serving as both a narrative device and metaphor for her inner turmoil. Through these anonymous confessions, readers glimpse the "charred soul under this angelic exterior" that Rory hides from everyone around her. The hotline represents her struggle between the good person she wants to be and the morally questionable decisions she must make in the mafia world. It's a unique storytelling mechanism that adds psychological depth to the romance plot.

Rory (Aurora) Carter is the 21-year-old protagonist from Devil's Dip, engaged to Alberto Visconti despite her hidden dark side and complicated motivations. Angelo Visconti, Alberto's nephew and a dangerous mafia enforcer, becomes Rory's forbidden love interest, creating the central romantic tension. Alberto Visconti, the elderly Cosa Nostra leader, represents the arranged marriage Rory must honor to save her father. Sketcher crafts these characters as morally gray individuals—Rory isn't a simple gold-digger, and Angelo isn't just a stereotypical bad boy, giving them nuanced complexity.

Sinners Anonymous exemplifies Sketcher's signature "slowest of the slow burns," with readers noting minimal explicit content until approximately 85% through the book. The tension builds through witty dialogue, forbidden glances, and emotional connection rather than immediate physical intimacy. Sketcher deliberately paces the romance to develop deep character understanding and genuine stakes before the relationship consummates. This approach allows the mafia intrigue, family dynamics, and moral dilemmas to unfold alongside the romance, creating layered storytelling that rewards patient readers with emotional payoff.

"Out of all my sins, you're my favorite" captures the forbidden nature of Rory and Angelo's romance within the context of moral transgression. "I know war is coming, but with her, all I know is peace" reflects Angelo's transformation and the sanctuary their relationship provides amid chaos. These quotes embody the book's central tension between the violent mafia world and the redemptive power of love. Sketcher's dialogue balances darkness with romance, creating quotable moments that resonate with readers seeking emotional depth in their mafia romance.

Sinners Anonymous contains mature romantic content, though it's positioned at approximately 85% through the narrative due to Sketcher's slow-burn approach. The book is classified as dark mafia romance, which typically includes explicit scenes once the tension breaks. Readers should expect adult content including steamy romance scenes, though the focus remains on building emotional connection and chemistry before physical intimacy. The delay in explicit content serves the plot, making the eventual payoff more impactful for readers who appreciate gradual romantic development.

Sinners Anonymous stands alongside popular mafia romances by Danielle Lori and RuNyx, sharing themes of forbidden love and dangerous anti-heroes. While books like Lori's "The Sweetest Oblivion" also feature arranged marriage and age-gap dynamics, Sketcher distinguishes herself through extremely slow pacing and witty character banter. Unlike faster-paced mafia romances, Sinners Anonymous invests heavily in character development before romantic payoff. The book's strength lies in its morally complex protagonist—Rory's hidden darkness makes her more nuanced than typical mafia romance heroines. Fans of intricate plotting over instant gratification will appreciate Sketcher's methodical approach.