It’s an unusually gloomy and overcast day smack dab in the middle of summer in the Nevada desert and I thought what better way to uproot my TBR then to pick up a Nightmare before Christmasish stalker romance?

This was silly romantic in a kinky way. Consider me firmly on team stalker.

Thank you Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Christmas in July for me! He Sees You When You’re Sleeping has been on my radar for a while since KU recommends it often. This was a cute stalker romance that I would totally love to rate higher but I’m knocking off a star because there’s nothing worse that characters doing dumb stuff that doesn’t make sense only to further the plot. <spoiler>Eg, when Jack plants the nanny cam but continues to watch her from the window, when Sloane checks the equivalent to OF from her corporate computer, and don’t get me started on Chloe having a Dark Secrets account for free. Girl, get that bag. 🤦🏻‍♀️ </spoiler> It was still a fun read and if you want something that kinda gives Glitch vibes (obsessed MC) but make it Christmas, hit this up if you think you can overlook my gripes and aren’t really expecting dark…maybe more like a mid-gray.

The sequel to this, He Knows When You’re Awake, comes out in a few months with Sloane as the FMC so I’ll prob read that in December when I’m in the mood for something festive. 🎄

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon a for providing a copy via NetGalley although I did read this using my KU account so I could support the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. This book was a fun time and a fast read. I love stalker romances and this one fit the bill. It is the perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and I love the exploration into all side of the characters personalities and desires. I do wish the book was longer! I would have loved a bit more character development especially when it came to the relationship with Sloane. Maybe a bit more development with the Tyler situation too. But if you are looking for a cute stalker romance set at Christmas time that you can quickly devour, this is the one for you!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this ebook.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The actions of the side characters really puzzled me. I just felt like their was a lot of unauthentic behavior to keep the plot moving along.

Wow this was so hot! As a staunch dark romance reader this was everything I loved in a book. The stalking and the steam were incredible! But on the other hand there was sweetness and these very tender moments intertwined into the story that balanced it out and I really enjoyed it! Chloe is an influencer and doesn’t realize that the sexy fireman she just met is actually her stalker that has been watching her for two years! Add in a sexy cam account and a night at a sex club and these two are just unstoppable! I really enjoyed this book a lot it wasn’t too long and I read it all in one sitting. And I love that the next book will be about Sloane! I loved their friendship so much! This was so fun and is already getting me ready for the holiday season!

This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings:
- [ ] Use of nanny-cam to spy on FMC (nonconsensual)
- [ ] Attempt of blackmail/rape by superior at work
- [ ] Invasion of privacy

I think the moral of this book is that people contain multitudes. It may be odd to talk about morals in a book that’s essentially stalker smut, but there is an attempt by the author to flesh out the world and provide a limited backstory for each of her MCs.

By day, Chloe is a 30ish influencer who works with jewelry companies as part of their street team to get likes/follows/purchases. By night Chloe has a different persona as BlackAsChlo where she livestreams on an OF style platform for free. She likes to keep boundaries between the two sides of her life.

Jack is a 30ish firefighter in the city of NY. He has a general good boy/Boy Scout demeanor by day, but at night he is a straight up stalker. He’s been stalking Chloe for two years by the time the book starts.

The book begins in December, and acts as a Stalker Hallmark style movie, but one where the stalker is the good guy/main character. Chloe lost her parents two Christmas’s ago in a car accodent, and Jack was one of the firefighters on the scene who pulled her from the vehicle. He knew her parents had passed and he felt an overwhelming amount of protectiveness for her. That Protector persona is what started the stalking. Maybe it wasn’t sexual in nature at first, but it did evolve into an obsession.

Chloe doesn’t officially meet Jack until he helps her lift her neighbor from a fall, and then she keeps running into him everywhere. Jack finds out about her alternate persona as BlackAsChlo and begins an online “relationship” with her as his alter ego, WinterWatcher while simultaneously dating her IRL.

Worlds collide and identities and obsessions are found out. Ends with a HEA. Stalker and stalkee together at last.

Now, I won’t harp on why NONE of that is ok, I really don’t feel the need to say stalking is bad, and betrayal of trust, and non-consent, because those things are all a given. I would recommend this book if you enjoy a stalker romance and find that kind of obsessive love appealing in some way. If you do not, steer clear, because no amount of “good intentions” wipes away the invasion of privacy inherent in this book.

Thanks to Avon for the Netgalley copy.

DNF at 55%

I can't believe I'm DNFing a smutty stalker romance. The writing and the characters are too bland to keep my attention. I can forgive the plot if there are chemistry but these two wet wood can't make sparks fly.

I am unfortunately DNFing this at 47%. I tried to just power through, but it all felt very predictable and didn't hold my attention.

We love a good stalker romance, and this one delivered with acts of service and some steamy moments it was such a fun read! I adored Jack and how deeply he cared for Chloe, especially as she navigated grief and trauma. The storyline had a great progression, though it felt like it dragged just a little toward the end.

Rating: 3.5/5

A woman deep in her grief who does not love Christmas, who has a stalker who loves Christmas, a match made in Christmas heaven.

This book just drops you into the lives of two people, one who has no idea that the other is stalking them. Jack is definitely not your weirdo stalker. There is a background to why he does what he does, but Chloe has no idea the majority of the story that she is being stalked. They meet during one of his stalker episodes and actually start a cute romance, but she does eventually put it all together together. There is a happy ending after they communicate about it all.

This book has all the stops; angst, tension, romance, and some very specific spice, so definitely check your triggers before reading. I really enjoyed this story, I enjoyed the characters and the overall arch. I was lucky enough to receive an arc of this amazing novel and am leaving a review of my own thoughts and feelings.

ARC REVIEW

The description of this book lends itself perfectly to the dark romance community. When I was first reading, I was fearful that this was a hallmark type romance but the book really ramps up in the middle. I would recommend this to someone who wants to dip themselves into dark romance but aren’t quite ready for stalking books like Lights Out or Haunting Adeline.

4/5

I read this during Christmas last year when it was indie, but it's now being trad pubbed, which is amazing! I really loved this book, and know so many others will too, especially those who love dark, stalker romances with a little holiday flair. This is basically Lights Out by Navessa Allen meets Christmas novella, and it's so fun and funny. I definitely think it leans a *little* too hard on Lights Out, like they're almost the same book, just add a holiday, but it's the sort of book that if you're into these themes and others like it, then you'll enjoy this one. I felt like the ending was a little rushed and some part of it were unrealistic, but overall, it scratches that itch. I have to give a lot of kudos because the MMC is firefighter and that just does something to me. Their connection with each other is really interesting too, and sets them up for their "meet cute" or... "meet dark"? Hmmm, not sure but it's a good time anyway.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alta Hensley, and Avon for the eARC of this book.

This was a fun read. Dark and spicy Christmas, yes please! Plus, a firefighter. Sign me up! The characters fit together well. Loved their naughty and nice aspects. Cute with some twists along the way. Enjoyed this read!

Ok the first half of the book I was fully on board. But the second half I got the ick from Jack and I felt like the plot was a little stunted. There’s little character development in this book because there’s too much smut for anything else to happen😂. If you’re interested in the stalker genre I say skip this one and go for Lights Out instead. Spice, plot, LOLs, and a MMC that isn’t icky. Also this had very little to do with Christmas.

I loved this fun holiday stalker romance. It is a great read that I couldn’t put down at all. I was sucked into the story from the very beginning

My Selling Pitch:
Lights Out: Christmas edition. Just another generic stalker romance that’s probably not worth your time.

Pre-reading:
If there's one thing I love, it’s a bad pun. See…like all of my Fable bookshelves. Last holiday read before the Christmas spirit leaves me! I'm expecting some Lights Out smutty goofiness.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Girlypop is hustling in NYC. I don’t believe for a second that she couldn’t thrift real designer and that she would be doing chintzy costume jewelry. Like they're such easy changes that would make the book feel truer. It should have more of that Netflix Girlboss or whatever it’s called show’s energy.

I think I critiqued it too fast. The indie designer aspect is clearly gonna be a part of the plot. I just think it’s a little dumb. (I retracted too fast lmao.)

I already hate this alter ego nonsense.

My dude, that is a threat.

I don’t think I’m equipped for these stalker romances. My kink’s too healthy. (Yeah, okay, whatever you say, you Saltburned slut.) And yet I keep picking them up. I just want to be one of the girls!

So it’s a cute story, but tranquilizers don’t activate immediately, so-

Oh, and it’s not a real story! Consider my critique null and void.

I LOVE that song, but that’s a weird favorite.

It’s not good, but I’m having a good time. It’s exactly like Lights Out.

Girlypop, I support your kink, but also get that bag. Have you seen this economy?

Romcom mentions serial killers sin.

I’m watching you, Wazowski. Always watching.

This book really goes 0 to 60 on the horny.

A piney boy

There’s some grammar errors in this that are really annoying.

My toxic little brain keeps reading it as weightwatcher.

This is dub con at BEST.

How good is this nanny cam?

G spot sin

I love a romance book where the dude isn’t afraid to taste his own splooge.

Also, hot. Not even sorry about it. Hot.

This is a little too long. The pacing’s not very good. So wishy washy and all miscommunication and like I get there’s not a book without it, but it’s annoying.

Nick Miller’s you get one wife!

She’s like so stressed about this Jack dude and yet she’s also like we haven’t gone on a date or kissed? And her bestie’s like do you see a future with him??? And I’m like girls, pump the breaks.

This book has made me crave Chinese.

This man isn’t even a real dom though. Girlypop just has no spine.

I’m both impressed and terrified that her WebCam can pick up all these different angles, and also what prescription does she have? Because I couldn’t read my computer from my bed even with my contacts in.

Mewl makes me gag every time.

I feel like a pocket watch is a weird gift for a fireman. Like won’t he not be able to take the metal into fires?

Why would you get the girl who works in jewelry jewelry that she can’t wear because of her non-compete clause?

I also like how she’s like I have to keep my identity a secret! and then uses her real legal name on her lien account.

Camaraderie🎶 I mean-

Sorry, but your friend is an idiot. Everyone knows you don’t look at porn on the work computer, come on.

I know the book is trying to be romantic, but like where’s the red flag guy.

She’s like are you insane? We just met! And meanwhile, her bestie was like who do you see a future with? and she just rode that train all the way to crazy town with her.

OK, so the book’s aware of how bad his behavior is, but they’re still gonna get back together. I don’t want that.

I really hate the love interest saves her from rape trope that so many of these dark romances hinge their third act reunion on.

Post-reading:
I don’t know how to rate books where I’m like wow, this was really bad, but I also expected it to be really bad and no one‘s gonna pick this up expecting it to be groundbreaking literature.

It reads like every other generic stalker romance. It’s aware it’s unhealthy and toxic, and it doesn’t care. And frankly, I don’t think its readers will either.

It is…readable. It’s a low bar, but one that most of these romances struggle to clear.

I honestly thought the sex would be kinkier and hotter. They’re kind of vanilla scenes TBH.

There’s not enough banter or chemistry from the couple. It’s very insta love.

It’s got a shoestring of a cliched plot, but I’m also like no one’s picking these books up for the plot.

It should probably be a 1.5 but I’m like it’s readable and I don’t give half stars. I save my one stars for the real garbage, you know? It’s not super Christmassy. It’s not funny. It’s not that hot, but like there’s worse out there. Now go read better.

Who should read this:
The stalker romance girlies
Lights Out fans

Ideal reading time:
Christmas. Duh.

Do I want to reread this:
Nope.

Would I buy this:
Nope.

Similar books:
* Lights Out by Navessa Allan-same book, different font. Dark rom com, stalker romance, revenge thriller, pornstar
* Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver-dark rom com
* Hooked by Emily McIntyre-Disney villain retelling smut
* Mindfuck by S. T. Abbey-dark romance, revenge thriller
* Neon Gods by Katee Robert-Greek myth retelling, dark romance, sex club
* A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone-Christmas rom com, pornstar

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

a Christmas stalker romance. It’s a little bit on the dark side but not pitch black some other stalker romances out there. Jack is a great guy with just a bit of an obsession with Chloe, who he’s been stalking for 2 years ever since he rescued her from a car crash on Christmas that took both of her parents lives.
🖤stalker
🔥firefighter MMC
🖤 man obsessed
🔥 heavy spice
🖤FMC living a double life
🔥amazing bed chem
🖤Christmas vibes

Despite myself when I read the synopsis for this, I immediately wanted to read it (it sounded so ridiculously fun).

Marketed as a dark romance, and steamy - I was disappointed on both counts as neither were really accurate.

Other readers may adore this but I found this one fairly boring.



Thank you to Avon a and NetGalley for the DRC

I'm a fan of dark romance and this one was great! I love a good Christmas book to get me through the holidays. It's slightly darker than grey but I think it's a good middle ground book for those wanting to go darker but not too dark.

Influencer with a secret dark side meets firefighter with dark side, this was a decent story that was a quick read that I enjoyed for the most part. Wish we had seen more develop with Tyler, could have added more mystery and suspense. The FMC's screen name on Dark Secrets wasn't very anonymous, and her simple response/overlooking ghe stalking so quicklu bothered me. I also got a bit lost because the formatting of the text messages & DM's, but overall still liked the story.