This feels like a Christmas-y cross between You and Lights Out. I've read stalker romances before that I didn't mind (I think maybe because they realized they were being "stalked" early on, and it turned into a game between them) but the FMC was unaware and remained unaware of being watched for a while and became physically involved with her stalker before realizing it. Even after he "came clean", he still didn't tell her about being watched on a hidden nanny cam. All of it gives me the ick. Red flag after red flag, even if the MCs intentions were "good". Chloe was so worried about Tyler and got bad vibes from him... but I don't see much of a difference between Tyler and Jack, except with Jack, she liked him. This was entertaining but I think it is just too questionable for me to actually like. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Creepy, clever, and just the right amount of unhinged—He Sees You When You’re Sleeping is a holiday horror novella that flips Christmas cheer on its head. With sharp writing and a twisted sense of humor, Sara Dobie Bauer gives us a stalker Santa story that’s both unsettling and oddly entertaining.

It’s a quick read, but it doesn’t skimp on atmosphere or tension. The pacing is tight, the dark elements are well-executed, and there’s just enough psychological edge to keep you on your toes. Perfect for readers who love holiday horror with a satirical bite.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of He Sees You When You’re Sleeping.

This was an okay stalker romance, but it didn’t quite hit all the marks for me. I did enjoy the holiday theme—there’s something fun about mixing festive cheer with a darker, spicy twist. It would actually make a great pick for a spicy book club read around the holidays!

That said, the story was pretty predictable. You can see the conflict coming from miles away, and the dialogue gets repetitive. The characters also lacked depth—I never really felt connected enough to truly care about their journey or root for them.

Still, I don’t regret reading it. It had some fun moments and was a super quick read, which helped. It’s not the most memorable romance I’ve read, but it delivered what it promised well enough for a light seasonal escape.

Christmas stalker book? Sign me up! This book follows Jack the firefighter and Chloe the influencer (with a little spicy side). Although Jack was stalking Chloe for years, I still respected the man for looking out for her. He was a sweet, mostly respectful stalker. Call me a romantic.


Chloe suspected she had a stalker, but never expected it to be Jack. And the real reason that he has been watching her all these years honestly melted my heart.He’s truly a good man at heart.


Even though I read this in August, I loved the Christmas vibe. I gave four stars because I was hoping for a little more witty banter. Still a fantastic read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ | Dark, steamy, and suspenseful
He Sees You When You're Sleeping is a Christmas-themed stalker romance that blends holiday cheer with dark obsession. Jewelry influencer Chloe Hallman finds herself drawn to two men: a mysterious fan of her secret online persona and Jack, a fireman who has been quietly watching over her since a tragic accident. As their lives intertwine, Chloe discovers that Jack knows her better than she knows herself, leading to a passionate and dangerous game of love and control.

This novella offers a quick, spicy read for fans of dark romance, featuring a morally gray hero and a heroine with a hidden side. While the pacing is brisk and the chemistry undeniable, some readers may find the themes intense and the characters' actions morally ambiguous.

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping was my pick for the August 2025 She Reads Romance Books Romance Book Reading Challenge which is to read one dark romance. The summary intrigued me since stalker romance seems to be all the rage. While I liked the cinnamon roll- like hero turned stalker with a conscious, the writing could have been a bit better, but I do think it is worth checking out if you want to dip into something not too dark in this category. It has a bit of everything from cam girl moments, voyeurism, exhibitionism, sex club visit, and some good dirty talk texting. It’s also a quick read if you’re short on time over the holidays but it can be read any time of year.

I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I loved it. The characters were very well written and loveable. I enjoyed everything that came with this storyline. The plot was great. Quite spicy in parts but not overdone. Nice flow of storytelling by Author.

If you're craving a Christmas read that gives you dark and twisted with a shot of sugar-sweet, He Sees You When You're Sleeping delivers exactly that. Alta Hensley blends holiday cheer with stalker vibes in this dark romance that leans heavily into voyeurism and obsession. It gave me Lights Out vibes but with a more serious, seductive tone that ups the intensity. The tension simmers throughout, making it hard to put down. Definitely not your average Christmas story—but if you’re looking to spice up your holiday TBR with something deliciously dark and different, this one's worth a look.

Looking for something spicy and hot to read for Christmas? Look no further! This is so yummy!
Chloe symbolizes most of us I think, in that we are who we are during the day but we also need to give into our desires time and again. Chloe is a fashion influencer by day but by night she is a woman hungry for dark desires. Little does she know that right outside her bedroom window is her greatest desire.
Jack likes to watch. This Christmas, will he finally get to join Chloe?
So, so, good!

Ok. Here me out - he’s a sweet, actual protective stalker. Wait but maybe there are 2 stalkers?

Chloe is stuck between two worlds: her jewelry ambassador job (with morality clause) and her kinkier side that no one knows about.

Jack is a lovable good guy, fireman…but he’s been stalking Chloe for TWO YEARS. But it’s kind of for good reason - he was one of the firemen that responded to a life altering call that changed the course of Chloe’s life.

As these two circle each other both in their sweet wholesome personas and in their dark sides, they begin to realize there’s more to what they each think about the other.

Let’s not forget Sloan, Chloe’s friend and coworker - we love a good supportive friend who suggests a visit to a sex club to just, you know, see what happens.

I can see some comparisons to another well known stalker romance, but this one is less “dark” and much more, let’s call it public.

A super quick read that I for one thoroughly enjoyed.

🌹 Firefighter x jewelry influencer
💕 Stalking
🌹 Praise
💕 Christmas romance

Now where can I find my own WinterWatcher 👀

I giggled and kicked my feet so much with this one. The internal dialogue of the MMC was great. Gotta love a delusional character

Unfortunately, there was one part that I wasn’t a fan of. In a scene where the fmc was rescued from a situation, her response was to brush it under the rug and remain in close proximity with that person. Thankfully the MMC shut that down

Other than that particular scene I adored this Christmas themed book. Chloe and Jack are exactly what each other needs. I’ve always been a fan of characters having a soft side but when it comes to sexy time they turn into a completely different person and this book nailed that

If you’re in the mood for a Christmas romance with stalky vibes add this to your tbr

I loved this book. It’s definitely a dark romance with lots of spice. The characters are lovable and realistic despite what some may consider “questionable” actions. The chemistry is amazing and the supporting characters are great also. My only critique for this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed, but not the worst I’ve ever read by far.

i liked the writing style, i liked the genre i like the storyline and how it was written. i wish i wouldve waited to read till december or something bc of the cover alone but i enjoyed it

This dark holiday romance pushed me into morally gray territory I didn’t know I wanted. Chloe, a jewelry influencer with a secret seductive persona, begins to wonder who’s been logging into her life—and the man checking in via snow footprints is Jack, the fireman next door, who’s been obsessed (protectively in his mind) ever since a tragic fire two Christmases ago. The tension between savior and stalker is electric—and unsettling in the best way. Every page pulses with fear, attraction, and moral ambiguity; I questioned whether I hated or secretly rooted for Jack as his obsession deepened. You don’t know what to expect next: a comfort, a confession, or a crossing. I riled at my own empathy for Chloe as she wrestles with shame, privacy, and lust—and for Jack, whose devotion feels sincere yet warped. The brief hospital confession scene made me gasp. Despite the darkness, I loved how the author made the characters feel—complicated, flawed, edgy—and you could almost taste the winter wind and the adrenaline. Fair warning: this romance is twisted, smoky, boundary‑crossing, not Hallmark, and definitely not nice—but I devoured it in a single evening. If you’re drawn by psychological spice and emotional risk, it will hit you hard (just check the content warnings first).

Favorite tropes:
Stalker romance / obsession
Dark Christmas romance
Morally gray hero / protector-vs-predator tension
Firefighter hero
He falls first and hard
Kink-friendly

As someone who loved Lights Out, I knew this would be right up my alley. I enjoy a good holiday theme and our main characters were both content spending the season alone…until they “met” each other.

Characters who are able to keep up with multiple personas in a book bring a good perspective that people have many sides. Both of the characters struggling with who they are to others and who they are deep down was great to experience and see their growth. Their chemistry was excellent and I kind of enjoyed how the creepy coworker was thrown in there so that Chloe was speculative of her online watcher. I thoroughly enjoyed the reveal and the timing of it - perfection.

Overall an entertaining read, great for fans of holiday and stalker romances with some dark themes.

I've never read this author before but this book was sooooo good! The pacing was on point, the flow flowed. Perfect! Thanks for the ARC, I appreciate it!

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping by Alta Hensley is a semi-dark adult romance between 2 people who ~somehow~ keep finding themselves together. In this steamy, suspenseful Christmas stalker romance we follow a jewelry influencer, Chloe, who finds herself caught between a sweet but protective fireman and a dangerously obsessed admirer; Exploring passion, secrets, and the chilling side of love..

I have to admit, Jack is a terrible stalker. Not in the “he gets caught” kinda way, but more in the “I’m a terrible person and I shouldn’t be doing this” mindset kind of way. Every time he did something morally wrong, he would get so in his head and the whole time I was just hoping he would just succumb to the dark side. And on the flip side, Chloe could not decide what she wanted. Did she want the sweet cinnamon roll fireman that made her feel safe? Or did she want someone to fulfill her darkest desires? But also, WHY AREN’T COMMUNICATING? Just tell the man what you want and see how he responds!! Idk I had a very love hate relationship with both of them.

Other than these character flaws (flaws in my head, mind you), I did really enjoy this book. I loved the “meet cute” and all the little interactions these two had together. I also really enjoyed the side characters, besides Tyler that scumbag, and the Christmas Day scene at the firehouse! This book mixes dark romance with the sweet contemporary romance feel and it was different, but nice. I enjoyed the conversations they had and how the relationship progressed over just a few weeks of them actually ~knowing~ each other. And the spice? Very well written and left me feeling some type of way, I won’t lie…

If you’re looking for a steamy Christmas romance with morally grey themes and a possessive stalker MMC who falls first, He Sees You When You’re Sleeping should be your next stop!

Thank you Avon Publishing and Alta Hensley for providing me this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Were there red flags screaming from the MMC? Yes, but this is fiction and he had his reasons. This was on a lighter side of dark romance for me, but that's not a complaint. This was a good read; I devoured it within two days. The MMC's distinct personality was a trip to read; his constant second guessing himself was relatable. The FMC's job wasn't really clicking for me, but it was different enough that it was an interesting perspective. The way the two interact feels very appropriate for the era and I think many millennials will connect with that. The plot twist was somewhat obvious but also worked well in this story. You could tell me this was a Lifetime movie and I would accept it.

*previously read December 2024*

Wow! This was probably one of the best stalker romances I’ve ever read. I loved Jack so much. He was a golden retriever with a dark side & Chloe had two very different sides of her as well. They matched so perfectly. I loved how Jack was always looking out for her and making sure she was safe!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the arc of this book. This is the first book I have read by this author. This book is a stalker dark romance set around Christmas time. This book is a dual point of view. This book does get decently spicy. The male main character had me rooting for him from the start. Overall I enjoyed this book.