Priest, Saint, and Sinner by Sierra Simone

Priest – Tyler and Poppy

Father Tyler Bell unfolds as a confessional narrative from a Catholic priest deeply shaped by trauma: his sister Lizzy died by suicide after being abused by a priest, leaving Tyler with a fractured relationship to faith, guilt, and institutional religion. Now stationed at St. Margaret’s Church in the Missouri town of Weston, Tyler becomes entangled with Poppy Danforth, a wealthy young woman who has deliberately severed herself from her elite family and former life. Poppy arrives in Weston after leaving both Dartmouth and New York behind, having previously worked as a dancer at an exclusive Kansas City club before transitioning into a behind-the-scenes business role. When she steps into Tyler’s confessional, an intense attraction ignites that neither of them can contain, forcing Tyler to confront the dissonance between his vows and his desires.

As their secret relationship deepens, Tyler and Poppy discover that what binds them isn’t just physical desire, but shared intellect, humor, and a yearning for meaning outside rigid expectations. Poppy becomes embedded in the life of St. Margaret’s, helping modernize the church and working alongside its pragmatic bookkeeper, Millie, who quietly protects their secret. Tyler’s struggle becomes spiritual rather than merely moral: he begins to believe that love itself—messy, imperfect, and human—may be a form of holiness. This belief is tested when Poppy’s manipulative ex, Sterling Haverford III, attempts to reclaim control over her, ultimately exposing Tyler and Poppy’s relationship and detonating Tyler’s future in the priesthood.

After the scandal forces Tyler out of public religious life, he leaves the country, then returns months later to rebuild himself academically and emotionally. Only then does he learn the truth: Poppy sacrificed their relationship to protect him, even allowing Sterling to misinterpret her actions. Tyler finds her in Queens, where she has transformed inherited wealth into a dance studio that offers free lessons to young people, reclaiming both her body and her agency on her own terms. Their reunion reframes the entire confession—not as a fall from grace, but as a passage toward a faith rooted in compassion rather than denial. The novel closes with Tyler choosing a life with Poppy, redefining holiness as devotion freely chosen, outside the Church that once defined him.

Sinner – Zenny and Sean

Sean Bell has been living life on the edge, constantly looking for his next high. Girls, money, and anything in between are what keep him balanced, though his brother Tyler tells him he should look to religion to truly stay grounded. Since their sister’s death, however, Sean wants nothing to do with religion—until he is briefly reunited with his best friend’s younger sister, Zenobia Iverson, or Zenny.

Zenny has devoted her life to becoming a nun and is close to taking her vows. When Sean meets her, he tells her that she hasn’t fully lived and should experience more of the world before committing herself completely. Zenny agrees and asks Sean to help her fulfill her worldly desires. For weeks, the two spend nights together, and little by little, they fall in love. Zenny ultimately leaves her vows behind but remains deeply devoted to her faith. While it takes Sean time to come to terms with Zenny’s religion, he eventually finds a version of the Church that works for him.

Saint – Aiden and Elijah

Aiden Bell, now Brother Patrick, has spent nearly five years in a Kansas monastery, seeking solace and purpose after leaving behind his old life as a wealthy, impulsive man—and, most painfully, his beloved Elijah. Despite the peace and routine of monastic life, Aiden’s heart aches with memories of Elijah, his brother’s best friend and the man he loved deeply. The silence and discipline of the abbey are both balm and torment, as Aiden tries to root out his longing for Elijah and devote himself wholly to God. Yet dreams and memories of their passion persist, making Aiden question whether he can ever truly let go or be fully present in his chosen life.

It all changes when Elijah arrives at the monastery as a writer, planning to write about the monastery and its winery. He intends to stay for a few weeks, and Aiden immediately learns that Elijah is now engaged to a man named Jamie. As weeks pass, the two try to keep their distance, but they inevitably grow closer. Eventually, Jamie and Elijah break their engagement, which frightens Aiden enough that he asks to be transferred to another monastery. He travels through monasteries across Europe, writing to Elijah all the while. When Aiden finally returns, the two reunite and resume their relationship.