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Lovely in Red

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What starts as a secret obsession quickly turns into a passionate romance when LittleRed, a shy camboy with a crush, and TheWolf, his number one fan with a secret, take their online flirtation into real life.

Atticus, a man who lies, manipulates, and hurts people without remorse isn’t above breaking the law when it suits his needs. But when his online persona and real-life identity collide, will LittleRed be able to forgive him? Or will the consequences of his criminal behavior destroy any hope Atticus has for a Happy Ever After?

Calix knows everything he needs to know about pleasing a man from behind a camera. But when his online flirtation turns into a real-life relationship, will he be able to handle the intensity of TheWolf’s affections? Or will his stalker’s obsession be too much?

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2023

37 people are currently reading
528 people want to read

About the author

Odessa Hywell

28 books386 followers
Odessa Hywell is a taboo MM romance author with a book addiction and coffee problem, who lives in the Southern United States with her husband, their teenage son, who mocks her for being short, and way too many animals.

Aside from writing and reading, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and playing video games.

Her favorite season is winter—hello, snow—but in the summer, she travels as much as possible.

Some of her favorite spots are The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Dead Horse Point, Moab UT, Gatlinburg TN, Helen GA, Silverton CO, Roswell, NM—plus honestly, a lot more. The list is nearly endless.

A few places she plans to go in the future are New Orleans, LA and Salem, MA during spooky season, Smuggler's Notch, VT during autumn, the Colorado Mountains during the winter, New York City, Washington DC, a cruise to anywhere, on a hot air balloon ride, on a train trip down the California Coast . . .

In 2021, she decided because she is married to a twin it was best NOT to publish her books featuring twincest and other questionable themes under her married name as her husband would not approve.

—His loss, honestly.—

If you know who Odessa Hywell is, don’t be a snitch.
Like Benjamin Franklin said, “Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.”

🚨 Social Media & Newsletter: https://linktr.ee/OdessaHywell

🎉 www.odessahywell.com/shop

➡︎ Signed paperbacks, artwork, and stickers can be purchased from my website.
➡︎ Direct Download eBooks can also be purchased from my website.

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5 stars
109 (29%)
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126 (34%)
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90 (24%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
Profile Image for Stacy.
345 reviews159 followers
May 17, 2023
4.5 Stars

Check out my review on Instagram.

This was my first book by Odessa Hywell and will not be my last! It was fantastic! Also, hi Odessa, I loved the dedication. Onto the review.

Calix (aka LittleRed) is a cam boy and he has a favorite fan who he only knows as TheWolf. Even before LittleRed and TheWolf (Atticus) meet in person, their interactions were cute and steamy during their private chats.

TheWolf: You’re doing so well, LittleRed.

LittleRed: Make me come. Devour me. Please, Wolf? I need you.

TheWolf: I’ll make you scream for mercy as I hold you down and fuck you. Will you beg me to open a line on your thigh, LittleRed? Do you want to bleed for me? You’d look so lovely in red.


Atticus has to be the sweetest stalker I've ever read about. He can stalk me any day. Honestly, I think that’s part of the reason why Calix wasn’t freaked out about it. He’d already gotten to know Atticus as TheWolf and was really into him. And when they first have sex. WOW.

A moan tears out of my throat as something hot and wet lands on my hole. His tongue. Holy fuck.

You might say Atticus has overstepped a few bounds along the way, but surprisingly Calix doesn't seem to mind. Calix hasn't noticed, but Atticus has been secretly doing little errands and chores for him to help him out around his house and take care of him. This is the kind of stalking I can get behind.

With him, I feel protected, untouchable by anything or anyone that could ever want to hurt me. Nothing else matters—just him.

The elevator scene!!! Holy shit that was hot and just what Calix needed after dealing with his dad. Calix’s dad can go fall off a cliff btw, but I did enjoy the rest of his family.
I really appreciate how supportive and encouraging Atticus is of Calix. He doesn’t want to change Calix at all. He just wants to be with him.

“You’re my person, Calix. I don’t have a better reason than that. Do I really need one?” I’m his person. He just woke up one day and decided that.

Even though we had to listen to his dad spout nonsense while they were over Calix’ apartment, the sassy comebacks and oversharing from Calix were hilarious!!! It was one of my favorite parts of the book.

“I’ve been keeping him well fed, Mrs. Litten. Promise.” “Milk with every meal. Scout’s honor,” Calix says, a smile fighting for space on his face. I bite back a laugh. Did he really just say that to his own mother?

I really want to know if there will be more books set in this world? I am intrigued by the stalker mystery and definitely interested in learning about "the twins". This is a sweet stalker cam boy romance with some blood play and dubcon.

“I want the heat of your body under mine, around mine. I want you to beg and barter for more as I lick the blood from your body and coax orgasm after orgasm out of you.”

*** I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion. ***
Profile Image for Drusilla.
1,073 reviews430 followers
May 2, 2024
Caution, do not read in public! Oh and be sure to read the trigger warnings!
There’s sex and sex and sex. So sex from page one to page 226.
Lest for misunderstanding the theme of the book 😊 There is in fact a storyline though and both are interwoven in Odessa's wonderful style and so brilliantly written.

This is the sweetest stalker romance I’ve ever read.
Atticus’ obsession is dripping from the pages. It’s intense but oh so good.

„Calix.” My name sounds like a prayer the way he says it. He drags his thumb across my cheek, teases the corner of my mouth. “I’ll murder anyone who hurts you and the body will never be discovered.“ 😳❤️🖤

Couldn’t put the book down, breathing was really hard. Just wow …

No part of him was left untouched, untasted. I know what he feels and tastes like, inside and out. 👀

Fucking him should be considered an Olympic sport. And I’m going for gold. 😂

Definitely a different kind of romance, but romantic nonetheless.

He fixed my sex hair.
I’m not sure why that matters but . . . it does.
😍
Profile Image for Lilly [Hiatus due to School] .
939 reviews443 followers
May 10, 2023
Calix or LittleRed, a young and virgin cam boy, becomes the focus and obsession of one of his fans, TheWolf. He's drawn to him and despite all the red flags soon, their virtual connection soon enters real life.

Atticus has Antisocial Personality Disorder. Through the help of therapy and time, he has a better handle on himself. However, he still doesn't feel empathy, manipulates, and breaks laws as it suits him. He has low empathy and really cares about one other person until meeting 'his person'. For Calix he is willing to do whatever it takes to have him.

Odessa really knows how to edge their readers. It sounds disturbing, but the way they're able to build up the sexual tension between Atticus and Calix is wild and you're right on the edge with them especially during the JOI sessions. These two do not even meet in person until around the 30-35% mark but goodness you feel that tension. It's steamy, filthy and twisted. I loved it.

I also love love Odessa's writing so much. They manage to write such messed up but sweet and romantic stories.

I found their relationship, particularly the way Atticus was obsessed with Calix, oddly sweet? Twisted for sure, don't get more wrong (if this was real life one should call the police and go into hiding) but it wasn't dark or depraved but I adored them as a pair. Atticus is really the sweetest stalker ever.

The family dinner - oh boy. I love seeing that side of Calix come out. It was hilarious.

There are lots of kinks explored, such as blood/knife play, JOI, CNC (?), rape play and more. This story not dark but it is twisted, so please check TWs. I also wonder if there's something more with Evan, Matt, and Atticus's father?

Overall I enjoyed Lovely in Red and had a good time reading it. I can't wait for what is next to come from Odessa.
Profile Image for Kati *☆・゚.
1,299 reviews696 followers
dropped
June 2, 2024
***no rating***
dropped @55%


I mean, it was hot until… it got really, really creepy.
I guess I’m not into stalker romances after all. *shudder


“Why?”
“Because—” he pauses, […] “You’re my person, Calix. I don’t have a better reason than that. Do I really need one?”

I’m his person. He just woke up one day and decided that.

Profile Image for Audi♡.
763 reviews78 followers
May 13, 2024
"He watched me fuck myself so much he fell in love"

^he said that to his dad 🤭

I loved this!
Atticus is by far the cutest, most thoughtful stalker ever!
He makes sure his pretty baby has milk/eggs and sends him care packages when he's sick. HELL, HE EVEN DID HIS LAUNDRY.
Calix was just like
🧎‍♂️OK. Fuck me (same tho)
But really, he said

"At least I'll never have to worry about him forgetting a special day or ignoring an important milestone."

The steam was really steamin'
Pickle is tickled.
Holy hell, that elevator scene and their lil rape fantasy 🥵 Heck even their phone sex before they met was delicious, Atticus's dirty mouth was yummy.

I really loved how Atticus spoke to Calixs dad about his camboy job (his dad's a total dick)

"My only job as a respectable boyfriend is to support and respect him - whether he's naked or not."

Swoon.

There isn't much of a story.
Little drama.
The cam boy stalker sounded interesting and scary. Hopefully, we will get Matt and Evans story with him.
No cheating.
No OM.

Ps- this author has a bunch of taboo/incest books. I highly recommend them.
Profile Image for Dani (Daniiireads).
1,982 reviews328 followers
May 1, 2023
- camboy/fan
- stalker
- virgin mc
- dubcon
- kinks on kinks on kinks

Calix, better known to his fans as LittleRed, has no idea that his biggest fan and secret crush TheWolf (aka Atticus), has been obsessed with him and stalking him for months. Not that Atticus would ever hurt Calix, not without his permission.

When Calix learns TheWolf/Atticus’s secret, instead of being terrified he loves the obsession, even if it’s a bit overwhelming. Atticus is everything he ever wanted and makes him feel safe, and the pair play out each others every dark and debauched fantasy.

I honestly wasn’t sure how Odessa was gonna make me like a stalker, but Atticus is honestly so swoony. Lovely in Red is oh so steamy, but totally red flag central. Poor baby Calix never had a chance because all the flags are red behind his rose colored glasses. Tbf I don’t blame him, this seriously had me questioning myself 🤣🤣🤣
Profile Image for Rin (indefinite hiatus).
595 reviews28 followers
May 17, 2023
I paid $$ for this book because of the high reviews but I should have known better.

Everything set up for this book fell flat like a sad trombone. I was pretty pumped for the first third maybe. It was hot and intriguing. But then it just… fizzled out.

Also. This isn’t taboo so I don’t understand why the author sold it on Smashwords. Makes me not want to purchase anything by her again despite having enjoyed a few of her books in the past.

Meh.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
462 reviews180 followers
April 30, 2023
"I will never be the same as I was before tonight. Something inside me changed on a cellular level."

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
POV: Dual, First Person
HEA: Yes
Spice Rating: 5/5 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

"It means I'll murder anyone who hurts you and the body will never be discovered."

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Overall Opinion
I don't know if this makes me sound like a lunatic but I thought this was such a sweet book, despite the billion red flags everywhere! It was SO spicy and SO wrong but boy was it perfect. Calix and Atticus were so good together in every way possible. Atticus is obsessed with Calix, an innocent camboy, literally stalking him in everyway possible, and when Calix finds out, he's all 'hell yeah I'm okay with that'. There was so much possessiveness but it was super sweet and passionate, and the author did an amazing job handling the characteristics that come with ASPD. It was a very low angst read, despite the content, and it was so warm and swoony I couldn't put it down!!

Read if you like:
❣️ MM Romance
❣️ Camboy
❣️ Size Difference
❣️ Hurt/Comfort
❣️ Praise Kink
❣️ Stalker

Trigger and Content Warnings: Stalking, dubious consent, homophobia, anti-sexwork attitudes, alcohol, discussion of sexual assault and rape, parental abuse, kinks (including D/s, JOI (jerking off instructions), lingerie and lace, orgasm control, exhibitionism, voyeurism, blood play, pain play, CNC, public sex, praise kink, light primal play).
Profile Image for Cyndi.
755 reviews45 followers
May 14, 2023
My mood and this book were not in sync. I tried, but I never managed to feel anything for either Calix or Atticus. The plot was fairly weak and way too easy. The sex scenes were good at first but became boring and repetitive (which they should not have been considering all of the kinks involved). Things finally got interesting around the 85% mark and my hopes soared, but there was no resolution because it predominantly involved side characters and was apparently just a set up for another book, which was disappointing. If the next book is released on KU, I might consider reading it because I'm sort of curious about the mystery of it all. However, I won't be dishing out any extra cash for it like I did this one.
Profile Image for BelleLovesRomance.
349 reviews291 followers
July 16, 2025
⭐️ 4.5/5 – Morally gray, disturbingly sexy, and deeply fucked up ☠️👀
🌶 4.5/5 – Bloody, obsessive, and hot AF heat 🫦🥵

This book is the perfect mix of 🚨 call the cops and 💍 put a ring on it. And since it’s fiction—and I’m a filthy little dark romance goblin—I sure as hell slapped that ring on real fast. 🙂‍↕️😌

"Lovely in Red" by Odessa Hywell is an MM dark romance that dives headfirst into the fucked-up, bloody, obsessive, and oh-so-deliciously unhinged side of love. 😈💘

Meet Calix—our sweet little virgin camboy who just wanted to stream in peace and be self-sufficient. Too bad fate (and a deeply unhinged man) had other plans. And then there’s Atticus—his top #1 fan turned stalker turned lover. A man so far gone he crossed every line with a smile on his face and love in his heart. 😍🖤

Atticus is, without a doubt, the most obsessed stalker with a capital RED FLAG I’ve ever read. Need proof? Here:
🚩 Stalked Calix for 7 months, snapping photos of him like a fucking serial killer in love. 📷
🚩 Tracked his real-time location and knew exactly when Calix left his apartment. 📍
🚩 Had access to Calix's email and socials—like, boundaries? What is that? 🙈
🚩 Broke into his apartment, made a spare key, and took pictures of him while he slept. 🔑
🚩 And yes… he has THAT WALL—photos of Calix collaged like a shrine. Unhinged. Obsessive. Terrifyingly hot. 👁👄👁

But then there's the other side—the part that fucks with your brain and your heart:
💖 Moved from Laurelhurst to Columbia City to be closer to Calix. 🧳
💖 Sent Calix a care package when he was sick—complete with meds, soup, hot chocolate, and a stuffed wolf. 📦 💊🫕 🐺
💖 Beat the shit out of a guy who harassed Calix—protective AF. 👊🏻
💖 Did Calix’s laundry, stocked his fridge for months, made sure he never ran out of anything. 🧺🥛🥚
💖 Bought him a coat, made him breakfast in bed, and even knew how he liked his coffee without being told. 🧥🥞☕️
💖 Thought Calix was perfect—physically and emotionally. Worshipped the ground he walked on like a damn religion. 🧎🏻‍♂️

What didn’t work for me:
🫤 At 64% — the scene where Atticus crashes Calix’s stream and fucks him—rough and raw—without a word? That felt off. I needed some damn communication there.
🤬 Calix’s homophobic dad can go choke. The toxic family drama was a little too much for me.

Still, I devoured it. I bled for it. And I’m definitely gonna be thinking about Atticus and Calix for a while. Oh... the sweet book hangover. 🫠

🖤 Read this if you are a dark romance girlie who:
✔️ Crave morally gray, hot, dangerous, extremely obsessive fictional men 🔪
✔️ Fantasize about someone feral and unhinged saying “You’re mine. Only mine.” 🪢
✔️ Don’t mind your love stories wrapped in red flags, tied with bloody ribbons 🚩

⚠️ Content Warnings? Read them!
This book is not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea—and that’s okay. But if you, like me, crave that twisted love where the man is a twisted stalker who would burn the whole goddamn world down for you—this is it. You just found your next filthy fix. ❤️‍🔥😏✨️

-
Quotes:

I never ask anything extreme of him. Aside from once.
Once, after a particularly hot session, I asked if he’d send his soiled panties to me.
He did.
-
Some do want to be taken slow and sweet—to be made love to like they matter, like they’re the only thing in the world that truly matters—and others want to be held down and fucked fast and rough until they’re nothing more than an exposed nerve. Most people want a mix of the two.
-
“You need rest but I’m not ready to part ways. Would you be willing to let me watch you sleep while I do some work?” I hold my breath and wait for his answer. He has no idea how badly I want to spend a night in his company with his permission.
-
“Just how much do you know about me?”
“More than you’d be comfortable knowing.”
I should be creeped out by his confession, not turned on. Maybe something is seriously wrong with me.
-
Calix is . . . I don’t have the vocabulary to explain how important he is to me, and all the ways I like him. And if I did, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough time to tell him. I’ll make the effort if he asks though.
-
“Everything about you makes me hard. I want you so fucking bad, Calix.”
-
“Good boy. Such a good boy for me. I’m so pleased with you.”
“I like being your good boy. It makes me happy.”
“I’m glad. I like making you happy.”
I live to make him happy. He just doesn’t know it yet.
-
He’s everything to me. The reason I breathe. I know it’s not the same for him and I should back off, give him time to adjust to me, to our new reality. The thought of slowing down makes me physically sick. He’s here, literally in my grasp, so close to being mine in all ways and I’m never letting him go.
-
“I can’t picture you in a frat.”
“Yeah. No.” I’d have murdered the whole house with zero regret. People exhaust me and college kids—” I shake my head. I wasn’t built for that kind of stupid, didn’t relate to it on any level, even as a younger adult.
-
If I die on the eve of losing my virginity I’m going to be pissed. Satan and I are going to have words.
-
Calix doesn’t have to ask permission to touch me, to do anything to me. I am his to do with as he pleases and there is nothing I won’t give him. Will I delay the giving if it will increase the pleasure of receiving? Yes, absolutely. But I will never outright deny him something he truly desires.
-
“Should I be scared of you, Atticus?”
“No.”
“What about other people?”
“Yes. Depending on the circumstances.”
“What does that mean for me?”
“It means I’ll murder anyone who hurts you and the body will never be discovered.”
-
"Can I walk you home?"
“If I say no will you follow me? Tell me, Atticus.”
“Yes.” The answer will always be yes. He shouldn’t have to ask. “I’ll follow you anywhere, Calix. There is nowhere you go that I won’t.”
-
“You’re mine, Calix. There is nothing I won’t do for you, pretty baby. Don’t you know that by now?”
-
Calix: Now I can stalk you.
Me: If that’s what you want to call it.
Calix: What would you call it?
Me: If we’re both aware? A long romantic walk.
Calix: If only one of us is aware?
Me: A long romantic walk where only one of us is aware.
-
“You want me to come in you, fuck my seed so deep you’ll never get it out?”
-
Nothing else matters but him. Society could collapse around us and I wouldn’t care, so long as I have him with me. Does he know that?
-
“Will you be a good boy and swallow, pretty baby?”
-
“I want everything with you, Calix. A whole life—move in together, get married, adopt a cat, have a baby—babies?—die old and ridiculously happy. But only when you’re ready. I’m not going anywhere.”
-

⚠️ Detailed spoiler below ⛔️

RC and MCs:
🐺📸 MM, strict roles
🐺📸 Atticus Chanyu aka TheWolf 29yo and Calix Litten aka LittleRed 28yo
🐺📸 Atticus: Branding consultant/digital graphic designer. Owner of Chanyu Designs. Mexican-American.
🐺📸 Atticus: Top, dom, black hair (shoulder length), blue eyes, 5 or 6inches taller than Calix, warm tawny skin, muscular
🐺📸 Calix: Bottom, sub, red hair, green eyes, pale skin, twink

Genre and tropes:
🐺📸 MM dark contemporary romance
🐺📸 Stalker obsessive fan x online camboy
🐺📸 Stalker to lover
🐺📸 Online relationship (for the first couple of months)
🐺📸 Virgin MC (Calix)
🐺📸 First times
🐺📸 Morally gray MC
🐺📸 J/P obsessive but also caretaker MC 💀
🐺📸 Mine mine mine
🐺📸 Kink exploration
🐺📸 ASPD (Antisocial Personality Disorder) MC
🐺📸 BIPOC rep
🐺📸 Size difference
🐺📸 Pet names: Pretty baby

Safety info:
🐺📸 Angst: Medium
🐺📸 OW/OM drama: No
🐺📸 Cheating/sharing: No
🐺📸 Third act breakup: No
🐺📸 Ending: HFN
🐺📸 Epilogue: No
🐺📸 POV: Dual, 1st person
🐺📸 Series structure: Standalone

Spice and kinks:
D/s dynamics, JOI (Jerking Off Instructions), feminization (lingerie, lace panties), sex toys (dildo), orgasm control, exhibitionism, voyeurism (online), praise (good boy), dirty talk, public sexual touching (discreetly in a sex toys shop and a restaurant), frotting, rimming, coming hands-free, blowjob, bareback, light primal play, blood play (biting, scalpel), cum play, pain play, CNC, degradation, public sex (bj and hj in the elevator, 2 people entered towards the end), pushes cum back in (mouth), cum swapping, snowballing

CW/TW:
Stalking, dubious consent, self-inflicted scars, bloodletting (for titillation), homophobia, anti-sexwork attitudes, alcohol, discussion of sexual assault and rape, parental abuse, breaking and entering
Profile Image for taylor :).
268 reviews60 followers
dnf
June 2, 2023
DNF at 53%.

This made me extremely uncomfortable. I was all for someone being obsessed over a camboy, but Atticus took it a little too far. This has a lot to do with his Antisocial Personality Disorder. Atticus stalked Calix for 7 months. He took pictures of him and put them on his wall. He literally broke into his house and watched him while he slept. He moved to a house just to be close to him after finding his identity by running his DNA from his underwear. And Calix thought it was sweet!!! He never once attempted to run for the hills. He was like aw <3. He’s just looking out for me :). What? Idk. This was just too weird for me, and I’m not going to continue. There was also a lot of sex, which isn’t bad, but it was like in every chapter.

In conclusion, I don’t think I like stalker books unless the stalker is the bad guy. But personal preference and all that. I’m glad others are enjoying it, though!!!
Profile Image for Janet (iamltr).
1,225 reviews86 followers
April 26, 2023
Wowzers

This may have been the sweetest stalker/stalkee story ever.

Ok so in here we have Atticus. He is obsessed with a camboy, Calix. He pays for private time with Calix and stalks him in real life.

Slight spoiler

During this time, Calix is seriously crushing on the mysterious benefactor. He gets sick and Atticus sends him a care package to his home address and Calix is all, "this is so sweet!"

Anyways, Calix decides to work on his camboy brand and hires the best person he can afford. Unbeknownst to him, its Atticus.

Ok, the whole meeting with Atticus and Calix about the branding had me rolling my eyes, cause there is no way you could not tell that the man you spend hours with online is the same person you just hired. It's not like he used anything to change his voice.

Outside of that, this was just really sweet and not as dark as I was expecting.
Profile Image for Peppa.
1,183 reviews98 followers
August 23, 2025
Okay, I'm kinda disappointed not gonna lie. This book had so much potential, but it just didn't deliver for me and honestly? I'm a little sad about it.

Let's start with the good stuff, because there was a lot to like. Atticus? Absolutely unhinged in the best way, a lovable sociopath who stalks the object of his affection (you know, as one does). And Calix was a total sweetheart. A virgin cam boy with that innocent vibe possessive heroes go feral for? Yes please!!
I also appreciated that Atticus didn’t drag out the whole secret identity thing. Being both the faceless "Wolf" online and the graphic designer IRL could’ve gotten weird, but the reveal was handled well.

But the promising dark themes were basically…teases. Stalking? Happened almost entirely off-page. Atticus’s personality disorder? Mentioned once and then dropped… hello?? that could’ve been such a compelling part of his character! And don’t even get me started on the blood play. The book talked a big game but barely delivered. I felt totally edged, where was the possessive, dark, deliciously twisted content I signed up for?!

The plot felt weak and way too easy, and even the spicy scenes, hot at first, got repetitive fast. With all the kinks involved, that should not have happened. Things finally picked up around 80% … and then my hopes crashed. No resolution, just a setup for the next book involving side characters. The ending was sudden and seriously unsatisfying.

So yeah. Mixed feelings. I liked the characters and the conceptbut man, it could’ve been so much more.

trops/kinks/safety
🖤stalker/camboy
🖤secret identity
🖤first time
🖤stalking
🖤dubcon
🖤CNC
🖤homophobia
🖤possessive/obsessive
🖤frotting
🖤anal
🖤Sex toys
🖤lingerie
🖤orgasm denial
🖤exhibition
🖤voyeurism
🖤blood play
🖤cutting
🖤pain play
🖤public sex
🖤primal

⭐️2,5
411 reviews31 followers
April 21, 2023
I cannot express how much I loved this book. This is by far my fave book by Odessa. I knew it’d be good, but it wasn’t what I was expecting and I love when that happens.

Not that you may want to know, but I am going to share anyway, this book was such a turn on. Holy shit I had the tingles. This book is full of it. Odessa’s writing of the sex scenes was amazing, the foreplay was spine tingling and had me fantasying being in that position (especially the sex shop scene). Even the jerking off scenes were written so erotically. It was fucking delicious.

We also get blood play!!! My fave kink in MM, and it’s written in a very realistic way, I like that it discusses it safely without taking away from the moment. Again it was so erotic.

This book is so addictive. Wolf is obsessed with camboy Calix, and that’s on a stalker level and I have to say Odessa convinces you that you want this stalker. It’s so hot whilst also adding unique twists to it which I won’t spoil. Again, an author is making us fall for all the bad signs telling you to run.

Calix our virgin camboy gets more than he bargains for, but what a little whore he turns into. I was in love with them.

The dinner scene with Calix’ family I will remember forever as I couldn’t stop laughing. This book has it all.

It’s smutty, sexy, red flag alarms everywhere, dirty, kinky, orgasm inducing, funny and a touch of darkness to it when you look at the reality of the situation.

Loved it so much. Available on Smashwords
Profile Image for Lori.
425 reviews24 followers
May 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this camboy and his stalker story! I love how an author has the ability to make you root for the so-called "bad guy" or the stalker in this scenario. Not that Atticus was really that bad, a bit unhinged, but was nothing but caring and supportive of Calix. Clearly, irl not sure if Atticus's revelations would have been well received, but that's what I love about books! They can be anything we want, and in this case, you want the stalker to meet his obsession and get their happy ending! They were so hot and sweet together, perfectly complimented each other. The blood play was so sexy, could have had more of that. I loved Calix and Atticus together and was left wanting more. Especially with Matt and Evans creepy stalker, wondering/hoping they get a story/novella as well. Read trigger warnings, if your jam, I def recommend!
Profile Image for Amos24601.
1,287 reviews44 followers
May 17, 2023
Atticus is the cinnamon roll of psychos. He is so soft for Calix. Imagine dating *coughstalkingcough* a guy for months and seeing every little thing they do and still being in love with them. For his part, Calix is hella accepting of Atticus’…quirks.

TheWolf, Atticus, has been watching LittleRed, Calix, perform on cam shows for a long time. He’s been engaging him in sexy private messages as well. I loved their banter. It didn’t feel forced at all and sealed their chemistry even more for me. I really loved that even after they met in person and Calix knew the depth of the stalking, he was like, sign me up for more!! These two were so freaking sexy together. While I liked the blood play, although I wish there had been more of it, I was all about the primal/rape play. Atticus was excellent at that!

There was a whole story line about an actual stalker in the cam boy world and he was extra creepy. The storyline didn’t have a conclusion in this book so maybe more in the future? I don’t know but I hope so. Overall, this was a great book. Atticus and Calix just jumped off the pages and I loved every minute of them.
Profile Image for rebecca.
631 reviews21 followers
January 13, 2024
3.5/5

I guess I am a bit disappointed. I expected more. The potential was definitely there. But the story didn’t fully deliver in my opinion and I am really rather sad about it.

So many little details of the story should and could have been explored more. Like the stalking (which was almost entirely off page) and Atticus’ personality disorder. It was mentioned once and that was that. Could have been such a big part of the story but it wasn’t and I’m kinda mad about it.

The ending was a bit sudden too and also wasn’t all that satisfying.

So yeah, generally a bit disappointing but I still liked the characters and the plot — even if it could have been so much more.
Profile Image for Barbie*.
123 reviews7 followers
May 10, 2023
"Lovely in Red" doesn't just mean the red hair or Calix's username--it also means the giant number of red flags that Atticus has. Not a bad story, just basically nothing but erotica and I feel like the stalking and everything got really, really glossed over just because Calix didn't mind.

Weirdly, this actually reminded me of Edward and Bella's dynamic in Twilight--all the massively creepy things Edward does are just glossed over because Bella doesn't mind at all, even though it makes both characters feel more flat.
Profile Image for Jessica.
512 reviews
July 10, 2024
I liked this until I didn't. I knew going into this it wasn't exactly going to be my cuppa, but I decided to give it a try. I was mostly invested for the first half, but once the blood play started I started to lose interest and had a hard time finishing it. I decided not to DNF and skimmed through the end instead. I didn't understand the point of including the whole plot with Calix's friends and the investigation, but I assume it's the setup for another book. I honestly don't know or care 🤷🏼‍♀️
Profile Image for vrstal.
621 reviews8 followers
January 6, 2025
5/5. Highlights may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Content Warnings for book: Stalking, dubious consent, homophobia, anti-sex work attitudes, alcohol, discussion of sexual assault and rape, parental abuse

Kink: D/s, JOI, lingerie and lace, orgasm control, exhibitionism, voyeurism, blood play, pain play, CNC, public sex, praise kink, light primal play

Y’all need to read this.

Atticus and Calix are the best. A relationship between a stalker and a cam sex worker, that has all the fun possessiveness without the harmful characterization of ASPD. This is really the first time I’ve ever seen an author explore the characterization of a person who has ASPD, and doesn’t demonize or demean them in the process. He is also a man of color, and while it doesn’t feature much at all, it’s something to note. For those of you who recoil at the word “psychopath” like I do, I think you could feel safe about this to some regard.

Calix is never forced to leave the sex work, having full autonomy over his comfort level with Atticus enjoying it and respecting him. The only real “angst” was the interactions with Calix’s parents, but Atticus is sweet and caring while supporting him. There is hurt/comfort, the idea of finding home within a person, and hot sex on top of it. There is also blood play in this, but it’s light and handled with the utmost care.

Overall, this is one of my favorites from Hywell! Even without the taboo element, I love a good stalker romance and 100% recommend this.
Profile Image for Adaline.
327 reviews1 follower
May 10, 2023
4 stars plus one extra due to the ASPD representation, which is the best I have read in a romance book. Though the bar is on the floor with that. It’s so refreshing to see an author do some research, and not just slap the label psychopath to whatever asshole MC they write. There is no “I can’t love cause I’m a psychopath” which honestly would make me want to give it 5 stars based on that alone.

Atticus has Antisocial Personality Disorder (sometimes referred as sociopathy/psychopathy in popular culture). He is manipulative, a proper stalker, impulsive, struggles with societal norms and it’s completely obsessed with Calix.

I loved how he doesn’t hide who he is. I loved the relationship with his dad (I adored his dad, I want to read a book just about their relationship). I loved that he is in therapy and takes medication. And I loved how unrepentant he was about the stalking. And how much Calix did love it.
Though to be fair if someone did my laundry I would also ignore red flags.

I would qualify this as more erotica than romance. There is lots of sex, but it doesn’t feel repetitive. Atticus is a kinky fucker and Calix just rolls with it while discovering he is also a kinky fucker. And Calix gets to continue being a cam boy.

I did not enjoy Calix family drama much. His dad was too stereotypically bad, and honestly I hated his mum and brother as well. Through the dad in the trash.

If you want a stalker romance that happens to be very sweet I really recommend it.
Profile Image for BeautifulSins.
20 reviews
December 18, 2024
soooooo hot

My cock is hard, dripping, slick with lube as I tease myself, eyes glued to the beauty on my computer screen. Maybe I’ll donate, just enough to get me what I want, now. But . . . Maybe not. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Ellie.
790 reviews78 followers
May 27, 2023
3 stars

Twisted but not as dark as I thought it deserved to be.

CW:
Representation: MC with ASPD

This managed to be super toxic, but also very cute. It's a kind of strange balance and I guess I wished it was actually darker.

It contains full-on, unhinged stalking but Calix isn't really bothered by it so it's very low stakes. It is probably the cutest use of stalking I've seen in a book like this: Atticus has been secretly doing Calix's laundry and buying him milk and eggs. Where can I sign up for this??

The conflicts are also low stakes, one part because it doesn't concern Calix and Atticus directly, and the other part is just family drama.

There was great variety in the sex, but it never really grabbed my attention. I suppose though speaking of lack of dark content, the scene where made me pretty uncomfortable in a good dubcon kind of way.

I thought this was a lovely way to sum up relationship expectations:
“I don’t need to be the center of someone’s universe but I want whoever I’m with to want me, to take up room in my life and allow me the freedom to do the same.”


I mostly liked the conclusion, in particular the fact that Calix does continue camming, but the, let's call it mystery, portion of the plot is entirely unresolved. We also never get the actual discussion between Atticus' father and Atticus about how he stalked Calix, which honestly would have been interesting. And the conflict with Calix's parents is also left hanging.

All in all, I liked it, but I just wished it delivered a bit more.


Sexual content: Loads of explicit content.
Kink:
Profile Image for Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§).
832 reviews75 followers
January 16, 2024
Odessa Hywell does write books that are way out there from the usual MM genre.
I did try reading one other just before ‘Lovely in Red’ but I couldn’t get past a certain aspect of it. That was just me. However, not deterred I started ‘Lovely in Red.

I’m so glad I did.

Camboy Calix is a sex worker and has a client base who watch his homemade sex videos. One of his regular clients is The Wolf, who likes to have a one-on -one chat with Calix after watching his show but doesn’t show his face. He pays Calix a lot of money for this extra time.

Both of them enjoy this extra time and soon things hot up between them. It isn’t long before Calix notices that The Wolf knows a lot about Calix’s daily life and his habits. When he finds out just how much The Wolf knows and how he got his information he is stunned and also a bit worried. Could The Wolf be a Serial Killer? How can he be so good to Calix?


Atticus Chanyu he is a very talented and sought after Graphic Designer despite the fact that he is a qualified MD. When Calix contacts him to revamp his Website they arrange a Facetime meeting to discuss his requirements. Calix is attracted to the handsome, blue eyed man with a long black ponytail. After they agree an outline, contracts are exchanged for work to be done.

What happens next is a rollercoaster ride of events that make this story so exciting, both Atticus and Calix have ‘issues’ with family matters. One father is a homophobic
Idiot and the other is Chief of Police.

Calix is confronted with strange things happening in his home, a couple of his Camboy friends are being harassed by a dangerous stalker. Plus, he’s developing feelings for The Wolf.

************************

So yes, I did enjoy ‘ Lovely in Red’ very much, it is very different trope to other MM books I’ve been reading. There are trigger warnings issued, mainly about ‘blood play’ and homophobic slurs etc.
Profile Image for Reading Rommance.
734 reviews14 followers
May 23, 2024
This was a fun, quick, surprisingly sweet read. I love how sweet and introverted Calix is and I love how possessive Atticus is. While I have to disagree with a lot of Atticus's methods, I do love reading about an obsessive, possessive MC. Not all the kinks were for me, but it was fun nonetheless. And the TWs are super helpful. I think I'd have rated it higher, but there was one scene I just couldn't vibe with (*spoiler alert* the first time Calix cams after getting together with Atticus). This book scratched the itch for a fun little stalker romance just like I thought it would! 4/5 spice levels.

Notes: stalker, possessive MC, obsessive MC, cam boy, lingerie, bdsm
Profile Image for Sabrina.
109 reviews22 followers
May 17, 2023

The least we can say is I will never see Little Red Riding Hood the same way again…

Atticus is a bit twisted and obviously so is Calix as he accepts without too much reluctance the absurdity of the situation... 🤪

But so did I, since I ended up loving them both, so no judgment from me here! 😅

I also really appreciated the tender moments between them which made a good contrast with the rougher times.

Love them together! 🔥🔥🔥

To sum up, I really enjoyed this book! 😍

⚠️ Definitely check the TW

🩸 Camboy
🩸 Stalker
🩸 Virgin
🩸 Size Difference
🩸 Blood Play
🩸 Praise Kink
🩸 Hurt/comfort

Favorite quotes:

I will never be the same as I was before tonight. Something inside of me has changed on a cellular level.

"You know none of this is normal, don't you, Atticus?"
"There is no such thing as normal."
Atticus continues to eat, completely unbothered. I... I don't honestly know what I am. Flattered? Disturbed? Somewhere smack dab in the middle of the two?

"Because- " he pauses, a forkful of eggs forgotten as he seems to think.
"You're my person, Calix. I don't have a better reason than that. Do I really need one?"

"I've seen you at your best, seeing you at your worst changes nothing for me."
Profile Image for Amanda.
541 reviews26 followers
September 6, 2023
Whew, this one is spicy! We’re talking every chapter, damn near every page. Given the intense tropes and the heavy spice, it’s still a surprisingly…sweet…story. Yes, I said it’s a sweet stalker romance. Atticus is the most self-aware, measured, and considerate stalker you could imagine.

I had a great time reading this. The pacing was solid right up until the end, when things got a bit rushed, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. There’s a decent amount of character development for the length. And it’s funny! As always, check CWs if you have triggers - there are a lot of kinks here. But if you’re looking for a quick read that’s sweet and spicy, you can’t go wrong here. I’m excited to explore more of Odessa Hywell’s work!
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