What do you think?
Rate this book
Pretty Obsessions #3
Pretty Little Monster
Release date will be moved up
Blurb coming soon.
Pretty Little Monster is the third and final book in the pretty obsessions trilogy
Blurb coming soon.
Pretty Little Monster is the third and final book in the pretty obsessions trilogy
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2024
455 people are currently reading
1298 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Merlin
44 books2,062 followersAJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
August 26, 2025
Me in my review for book two “I am ready to see Blair in her revenge bad ass psychotic era in book three.” 🧎♀️💪🏻🧎♀️💪🏻
Me after finishing book three: 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
If only this finale had literally any semblance of a plot.
The first half of the book is AWFUL. absolutely not needed. Doesn’t add anything to the plot. Unnecessary scenes that waste time and go nowhere. And so incredibly boring.
The second half actually introduces an interesting segway which finally got me excited to continue reading but the entire thing was severely lacklustre, rushed, and in the end a bitter disappointment.
Reasons why I’m disappointed
1. Nothing happens. Absolutely no semblance of a plot.
2. nothing that happened in the last two books is even remotely relevant to the finale and there’s so many loose ends
3. filled with unnecessary scenes that just waste time
4. FMC becomes in tolerable
5. MMCs are written weirdly like the author forgot their personalities
6. rushed ending
7. so many typos and weirdly worded sentences
8. timeline jumps all over the place with no explanation and you have to figure out how long it’s been and why
9. did I mention no plot?
Me after finishing book three: 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
If only this finale had literally any semblance of a plot.
The first half of the book is AWFUL. absolutely not needed. Doesn’t add anything to the plot. Unnecessary scenes that waste time and go nowhere. And so incredibly boring.
The second half actually introduces an interesting segway which finally got me excited to continue reading but the entire thing was severely lacklustre, rushed, and in the end a bitter disappointment.
Reasons why I’m disappointed
1. Nothing happens. Absolutely no semblance of a plot.
2. nothing that happened in the last two books is even remotely relevant to the finale and there’s so many loose ends
3. filled with unnecessary scenes that just waste time
4. FMC becomes in tolerable
5. MMCs are written weirdly like the author forgot their personalities
6. rushed ending
7. so many typos and weirdly worded sentences
8. timeline jumps all over the place with no explanation and you have to figure out how long it’s been and why
9. did I mention no plot?
December 13, 2024
I tought this was going to be the last one bit after reading this I wish there will be a forth so much. Didn't think I would enjoy following couples for more then two books but I'm really living the series, even if book two was really tough to read because of the topic.
March 18, 2024
Well, this was a letdown.
I wasn't expecting anything big, after all, I read this author for the unhinged romances and the way her stories make me switch off my brain.
Still, I was expecting this third book to be about the trio finding their rhythm as a throuple and Blair finding her feet as a killer after the ending of book two.
What I got instead is a book full of her not talking about what's going on in her head and a plot full of unnecessary drama and main characters that feel off at times, which makes it all resemble a dog chasing its tail: fun at first, annoying and tiring by the end.
Add in a rushed finale and a miracle like resolve to all the issues and what I think is that this should've been a duology and should've ended when they move out of the city. I would've been certainly more okay with that ending instead of this mess.
I also wish the series had been edited a bit more so it would've lost that first draft feel and a couple of inconsistencies would have been addressed.
I wasn't expecting anything big, after all, I read this author for the unhinged romances and the way her stories make me switch off my brain.
Still, I was expecting this third book to be about the trio finding their rhythm as a throuple and Blair finding her feet as a killer after the ending of book two.
What I got instead is a book full of her not talking about what's going on in her head and a plot full of unnecessary drama and main characters that feel off at times, which makes it all resemble a dog chasing its tail: fun at first, annoying and tiring by the end.
Add in a rushed finale and a miracle like resolve to all the issues and what I think is that this should've been a duology and should've ended when they move out of the city. I would've been certainly more okay with that ending instead of this mess.
I also wish the series had been edited a bit more so it would've lost that first draft feel and a couple of inconsistencies would have been addressed.
November 7, 2024
Well, That Was a Rollercoaster… of Eye Rolls
Alright, so here’s the thing: I was invested enough to want to know how this whole saga ended, but man, it was a journey. And not in the epic, soul-stirring way—more in the "why is Blaire still asking herself this question 500 pages later" kind of way. Seriously, the same inner monologue ran on a loop like it was stuck on shuffle for three entire books. By book two, I was skipping chapters just to escape the existential hamster wheel of Blaire’s thoughts.
Now, let’s talk about Blaire herself. Conflict? Not her thing. Communication? Not in her vocabulary. Putting herself in obvious danger because she doesn’t think things through? Oh, that she can do! It’s like she saw a big red flag and decided, "You know what, let’s run right into it and then whine about it later." Somehow, she managed to be terrified and reckless at the same time—a true talent, really.
But her avoidance issues? That was her pièce de résistance. Anytime her relationship needed a good, healthy confrontation, Blaire decided, “Nope, let’s just ask ourselves the same unanswerable question again instead!” I mean, I don’t want to say she ruined the story for me... but, yeah, she kind of did.
Alright, so here’s the thing: I was invested enough to want to know how this whole saga ended, but man, it was a journey. And not in the epic, soul-stirring way—more in the "why is Blaire still asking herself this question 500 pages later" kind of way. Seriously, the same inner monologue ran on a loop like it was stuck on shuffle for three entire books. By book two, I was skipping chapters just to escape the existential hamster wheel of Blaire’s thoughts.
Now, let’s talk about Blaire herself. Conflict? Not her thing. Communication? Not in her vocabulary. Putting herself in obvious danger because she doesn’t think things through? Oh, that she can do! It’s like she saw a big red flag and decided, "You know what, let’s run right into it and then whine about it later." Somehow, she managed to be terrified and reckless at the same time—a true talent, really.
But her avoidance issues? That was her pièce de résistance. Anytime her relationship needed a good, healthy confrontation, Blaire decided, “Nope, let’s just ask ourselves the same unanswerable question again instead!” I mean, I don’t want to say she ruined the story for me... but, yeah, she kind of did.
March 23, 2024
March 2024
Kindle edition
Hmm, I dunno. Blair seemed a bit whiny at the beginning and then a bit TSTL after they'd moved. Poor Rook seemed to be the only stable one. Both Blair and Oliver seem like they'll go spree. I was hoping Alice's boyfriend would be dealt with in this book. I was a little gutted about Elijah, he had the makings of a good mentor...at the start. As soon as he mentioned a mentor, I thought it would be funny if it was Rook. Lessons learned and all that, but I'm surprised none of them have gotten close to trouble yet. Bhodi was cute and Rook being teased was interesting. Rook and Oliver do baby her a lot though telling her nothing is her fault in response to her repeated apologies. The bit that stuck with me was the warning from Juniper and the confrontation with the wife. Doesn't feel like that's over with.
Kindle edition
Hmm, I dunno. Blair seemed a bit whiny at the beginning and then a bit TSTL after they'd moved. Poor Rook seemed to be the only stable one. Both Blair and Oliver seem like they'll go spree. I was hoping Alice's boyfriend would be dealt with in this book. I was a little gutted about Elijah, he had the makings of a good mentor...at the start. As soon as he mentioned a mentor, I thought it would be funny if it was Rook. Lessons learned and all that, but I'm surprised none of them have gotten close to trouble yet. Bhodi was cute and Rook being teased was interesting. Rook and Oliver do baby her a lot though telling her nothing is her fault in response to her repeated apologies. The bit that stuck with me was the warning from Juniper and the confrontation with the wife. Doesn't feel like that's over with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
This was super disappointing. I was so eager after book two to see Blair come in to herself. I really thought book 3 would be the three of them getting into a rythm together both in their relationship and in their murderous lifestyle, but instead there were so many time jumps with no context that left you wondering if you accidentally skipped 8 chapters without knowing. The first time jump that happened actually had me checking to see if I accidentally skipped ahead on my kindle. It was so confusing. There were a few too many typos, which I would normally give a pass for if that was the only issue, but since the plot felt almost nonexistent the typos just irritated me even more. Blair (the FMC) gets so insanely annoying in this book. She makes stupid mistakes that Blair from books one and two never would have made, trusts a random stranger with her and her partners criminal details, and refuses to talk about her feelings with her actual partners. My #1 book ick is miscommunication and what made this worse is that it was INTENTIONAL. She didn't misunderstand something someone said, no, she purposefully did not talk about her feelings with her partner and then LEFT while he was trying to talk to her about it.
This whole book felt like it was written by someone else who read the first two books 3 years ago, not by the same author. I would recommend reading the first two books, pretending they moved in together and lived happily, murderously, ever after.
This whole book felt like it was written by someone else who read the first two books 3 years ago, not by the same author. I would recommend reading the first two books, pretending they moved in together and lived happily, murderously, ever after.
March 15, 2024
Less than impressed by this ending.
This book was wish washy. Time jumps. No character development. No connection or growth at all.
Just the fmc failing to communicate with the mmcs. They all move and there’s nothing about finding their strides together until the literal final pages and only because the failed apprentice reappears and fmc almost has trail by fire to be saved at the precise moment.
By book three there should be so much more. But then this follows the theme of the first two books with no character depth, half a**ed unaliving, and a lot of smut scenes.
There was plenty of smut but yeah, I am still disappointed in this conclusion.
This book was wish washy. Time jumps. No character development. No connection or growth at all.
Just the fmc failing to communicate with the mmcs. They all move and there’s nothing about finding their strides together until the literal final pages and only because the failed apprentice reappears and fmc almost has trail by fire to be saved at the precise moment.
By book three there should be so much more. But then this follows the theme of the first two books with no character depth, half a**ed unaliving, and a lot of smut scenes.
There was plenty of smut but yeah, I am still disappointed in this conclusion.
March 19, 2024
Honestly how did we get through three books and Blair is still this insecure, naive, immature? There is no growth from her except now she also kills people? Girl has no personality at all in this one and can’t even talk to her boyfriends about her feelings. I really can’t imagine Rook putting up with the emotional immaturity she shows. Really disappointed.
November 25, 2025
one of my favorite seriessssss
April 10, 2024
“I cry myself to sleep every night that you don’t break into my room through my unlocked window because you can’t get enough of me. Every morning I wake up and you haven’t kidnapped me back to your apartment leaves another mark on my fragile heart”
romance is alive and well ❤️
okok i’m going to ranttt, im MAD like seriously MAD this is not the final book i was expecting from this series.
first. the title is called pretty little MONSTER right?? i thought what happened from book 2 is gonna be her moment to realize that theyre just like the men, which is insanee ppl. so i was expecting blair badass era but NO!! all i got is blair still from the first book with little character development, that annoyed me. give me a monster, make her take ten bodies a day or something insane, make her do some batshit crazy stuff, make her crazier than the men that they start to worry about her and lock her up idk. something that represents a monster. somewhere in the book i just hope she own up, be just like them, stop apologizing and kickasss!!!
second. what the hell is going on with rook and oliver? theres a time where they feel out of character like they just switch up. how the hell they didn’t start looking up for her new guy friend (who is a serial killer) when they found out about it? like another serial killer is befriending your girl and you just?? dont care?? not even searching for him or worried abt it? rook and oliver from book 1 and 2 would do SOMETHING, like stalk her when shes out with that guy to make sure shes okay or threatening him if he do something to her.
third. a lot of telling and not showing. i really wish instead of telling that they’re doing this and that, the author would show what they’re doing.. i think mfm or reverse harem need multiple povs because a single pov really limit the readers view of their relationship. i just wish we get more of their dynamic, bonding, depth with each other. also would like to know more about oliver and rook relationship.
fourth. i wish we got more of the backstory of oliver and rook and what made them that way because i remember they mentioned it in the second book but it just surface level.
this book feels incomplete, it doesn’t feel like a final book.
gotta give an applause to my man rook for being so patient, considerate and so understanding (i love him sm) because if it were me it’d be a different story.
i still enjoyed it though, cause im pretty attached to these characters and i love reading about them no matter what the hell happened.
well this series ends right here, and i enjoy it while it lasts. im gonna miss my babies so sos sososo much ❤️
———
before reading
OMG I CANT WAIT!! this better have oliver’s and rook’s pov as a bonus chapter or something AA IM SO EXCITED
March 29, 2024
unfortunately, this is the first a j merlin book that i really didn’t like. this book made me hate blair as a character.
she becomes incredibly naive and selfish and stupid in this one. she refuses to ask any questions about what she actually wants to know, refuses to express herself when she’s feeling weird, and most frustratingly, she spends the entire book whining about how rook doesn’t trust her.
of course he doesn’t!!! you have killed exactly one person all by yourself, and it was unplanned, impulsive, and could’ve easily gotten you (and both of your boyfriends) caught and thrown in jail. and yet, the whole time, she doesn’t ask rook to teach her anything. she doesn’t ask to learn from oliver. she just pouts about how they don’t trust her. and she doesn’t trust them either, especially not rook.
and of course, she trusts a stranger, because she’s exactly as naive and immature and stupid as she’s trying so hard to prove that she’s not. and it puts her in danger. and honestly, the entire scene where it bites her in the ass, i was sitting there thinking she fucking deserved it.
and rook and oliver are falling all over themselves to be like “no, you have nothing to apologize for, you didn’t do anything wrong.” they are incorrect. she should be sorry. she puts all of them in jeopardy because of her hurt feelings.
she didn’t seem this stupid in the last two books, but she has this obnoxious thing where she just assumes that without knowing literally anything about this, she’s gonna be great at it and doesn’t need any help, all she needs is to prove herself.
and i guess i get that this is kind of foreshadowed by her weird perfectionism about her grade, but trying to put that same energy into her approach to murder just really makes it feel like blair thinks this is all a fun game. she doesn’t take it seriously enough to actually try to figure out why rook doesn’t think she’s ready for this. and rook’s right, she’s not ready.
ugh i hate feeling like this because usually i love all of a j merlin’s work, but this one just took an interesting character who could’ve had extremely compelling development, and basically just…undeveloped her?? in a way that made her seem insufferable and immature.
she becomes incredibly naive and selfish and stupid in this one. she refuses to ask any questions about what she actually wants to know, refuses to express herself when she’s feeling weird, and most frustratingly, she spends the entire book whining about how rook doesn’t trust her.
of course he doesn’t!!! you have killed exactly one person all by yourself, and it was unplanned, impulsive, and could’ve easily gotten you (and both of your boyfriends) caught and thrown in jail. and yet, the whole time, she doesn’t ask rook to teach her anything. she doesn’t ask to learn from oliver. she just pouts about how they don’t trust her. and she doesn’t trust them either, especially not rook.
and of course, she trusts a stranger, because she’s exactly as naive and immature and stupid as she’s trying so hard to prove that she’s not. and it puts her in danger. and honestly, the entire scene where it bites her in the ass, i was sitting there thinking she fucking deserved it.
and rook and oliver are falling all over themselves to be like “no, you have nothing to apologize for, you didn’t do anything wrong.” they are incorrect. she should be sorry. she puts all of them in jeopardy because of her hurt feelings.
she didn’t seem this stupid in the last two books, but she has this obnoxious thing where she just assumes that without knowing literally anything about this, she’s gonna be great at it and doesn’t need any help, all she needs is to prove herself.
and i guess i get that this is kind of foreshadowed by her weird perfectionism about her grade, but trying to put that same energy into her approach to murder just really makes it feel like blair thinks this is all a fun game. she doesn’t take it seriously enough to actually try to figure out why rook doesn’t think she’s ready for this. and rook’s right, she’s not ready.
ugh i hate feeling like this because usually i love all of a j merlin’s work, but this one just took an interesting character who could’ve had extremely compelling development, and basically just…undeveloped her?? in a way that made her seem insufferable and immature.
September 24, 2024
Sigh. This book was a disappointment to the first two and I was close to dnfing it at 60% in, but my friend talked me around to give it a second chance, and though I'm glad they got a good ending. It kinda let me down. Massively.
I was kinda looking forward to Carl's murder (I'm currently shocked at myself for thinking that) and the only good thing in this book was Blair rescuing a dog.
I kinda felt like I was reading the first 80% of ACOTAR with the amount of bitching I did with that as well (No hate, I love the series but Feyre in the first 80% was annoying as fuck and I'm allowed to have my own opinion and I'm aware this book is different genre.)
I know the author needed somewhere to end the book. But this ending was flat. I wanted more of ending where the trio went out with a bang... or murder since you know... they're murders.
I was kinda looking forward to Carl's murder (I'm currently shocked at myself for thinking that) and the only good thing in this book was Blair rescuing a dog.
I kinda felt like I was reading the first 80% of ACOTAR with the amount of bitching I did with that as well (No hate, I love the series but Feyre in the first 80% was annoying as fuck and I'm allowed to have my own opinion and I'm aware this book is different genre.)
I know the author needed somewhere to end the book. But this ending was flat. I wanted more of ending where the trio went out with a bang... or murder since you know... they're murders.
April 11, 2024
What an extremely disappointing end to this series. I was waiting for something interesting to happen, for someone to get caught or something to happen with her parents/Juniper but nothing!
Tons of plot holes and storylines that just didn’t go anywhere. The whole thing felt rushed and I was also put off by the typos. The ending was actually so bad, I was like is that it?!
Tons of plot holes and storylines that just didn’t go anywhere. The whole thing felt rushed and I was also put off by the typos. The ending was actually so bad, I was like is that it?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2024
Sooo good
Guess I have a new favorite series from this author, I’m literally in love with men who are serial killers and we aren’t talking about the morally gray kind. Unless, it’s toward Blair these men are villains. One is more calculating about his kills than the other but the other one kills for kicks and because he just can’t help himself. Unlike Blair he doesn’t require his victims to do something for him to kill them. I love that these men are so powerful but so soft with Blair and so incredibly wrapped between her fingers.
Not going to lie, I like Blair but she drove me crazy in this book and didn’t make the smartest choices, this sounds terrible but I’m glad she learned from them. I’m all about character growth even when it’s the fmc. The men were perfect, and I question myself because of how much I adored them in this book. They are literally serial killers but they are just soooo. Ugh, I love them and I can’t wait to read more of this series.
UPDATE ~
I’m updating my review because after reading other people’s review I realize that this is the last book in the series which makes me sad, because I feel like it ended in a way where there’s room for another book. I love where the romance ended, because it’s very clear the men care about Blair and I love that the men were so good at communicating that, but this doesn’t feel like a closed ending of a series or book. I want more and I hope the author considers another book for the series. I wasn’t quite ready to let all these characters go. Like what is Blair going to pick as a career choice, is she going to keep making content with Oliver. What about Alice and her abusive BF, professor Langfords wife. I want to know what happens… all in all though I really loved this series even if I don’t quite feel entirely satisfied with the end and it’s only because I’m not quite ready for these character’s story to be done.
Guess I have a new favorite series from this author, I’m literally in love with men who are serial killers and we aren’t talking about the morally gray kind. Unless, it’s toward Blair these men are villains. One is more calculating about his kills than the other but the other one kills for kicks and because he just can’t help himself. Unlike Blair he doesn’t require his victims to do something for him to kill them. I love that these men are so powerful but so soft with Blair and so incredibly wrapped between her fingers.
Not going to lie, I like Blair but she drove me crazy in this book and didn’t make the smartest choices, this sounds terrible but I’m glad she learned from them. I’m all about character growth even when it’s the fmc. The men were perfect, and I question myself because of how much I adored them in this book. They are literally serial killers but they are just soooo. Ugh, I love them and I can’t wait to read more of this series.
UPDATE ~
I’m updating my review because after reading other people’s review I realize that this is the last book in the series which makes me sad, because I feel like it ended in a way where there’s room for another book. I love where the romance ended, because it’s very clear the men care about Blair and I love that the men were so good at communicating that, but this doesn’t feel like a closed ending of a series or book. I want more and I hope the author considers another book for the series. I wasn’t quite ready to let all these characters go. Like what is Blair going to pick as a career choice, is she going to keep making content with Oliver. What about Alice and her abusive BF, professor Langfords wife. I want to know what happens… all in all though I really loved this series even if I don’t quite feel entirely satisfied with the end and it’s only because I’m not quite ready for these character’s story to be done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2024
5/5⭐️ I’m so sad the trilogy is over. I’m gonna miss Rook, Oliver, and Blair so much!
This series is definitely one of my favorite dark romances of all time. None of the three books have let me down and every single scene is perfect! The banter is so funny and top-tier (so is the spice), and I just love reading about the characters. Everything Blair struggles with is validated by her boyfriends and they always try their best to reassure her and make her comfortable and happy with no complaints.
Oliver is such a psychotic golden retriever! He’s so cute and adorable, but crazy at the same time. Oliver is so clingy to not just Blair, but Rook too. Rook is Oliver and Blair’s grumpy, strict, college professor who puts Oliver and Blair in their places. I just love everyone’s dynamics! I love how obsessed Rook and Oliver are with Blair.
This is definitely one of my all time favorite serial killer romances and I hope I get to see more of them!
Tropes:
-why choose (MMF)
-serial killer romance
-forbidden romance
-age gap romance
-boy (or boys in this case) obsessed
-touch her and 💀
This series is definitely one of my favorite dark romances of all time. None of the three books have let me down and every single scene is perfect! The banter is so funny and top-tier (so is the spice), and I just love reading about the characters. Everything Blair struggles with is validated by her boyfriends and they always try their best to reassure her and make her comfortable and happy with no complaints.
Oliver is such a psychotic golden retriever! He’s so cute and adorable, but crazy at the same time. Oliver is so clingy to not just Blair, but Rook too. Rook is Oliver and Blair’s grumpy, strict, college professor who puts Oliver and Blair in their places. I just love everyone’s dynamics! I love how obsessed Rook and Oliver are with Blair.
This is definitely one of my all time favorite serial killer romances and I hope I get to see more of them!
Tropes:
-why choose (MMF)
-serial killer romance
-forbidden romance
-age gap romance
-boy (or boys in this case) obsessed
-touch her and 💀
March 15, 2024
TITLE: Pretty Little Monster
GENRE: Dark Romance
AUTHOR: AJ Merlin
TROPE: Stalker, Serial K!ller, Suspense, Ménage, MM, MFM
TYPE: Series (Pretty Obsessions Book 3)
POV: 1st Person
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
🔪 Stalker
🔪 Serial ☠️
🔪 Cam Girl
🔪 MMF
🔪 Suspense
I have loved this series from the start until the end, and Pretty Little Monster did not disappoint! Only AJ Merlin can make a serial unaliver like Oliver feel like a golden retriever boyfriend, LOL. I love the dynamic between Blair, Oliver & Rook. Pretty Little Monster was a spicy, dark and engaging read that I devoured too quickly. It meets my criteria for being a book I will reread, making it a 5 / 5 Star rating, in my opinion.
GENRE: Dark Romance
AUTHOR: AJ Merlin
TROPE: Stalker, Serial K!ller, Suspense, Ménage, MM, MFM
TYPE: Series (Pretty Obsessions Book 3)
POV: 1st Person
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
🔪 Stalker
🔪 Serial ☠️
🔪 Cam Girl
🔪 MMF
🔪 Suspense
I have loved this series from the start until the end, and Pretty Little Monster did not disappoint! Only AJ Merlin can make a serial unaliver like Oliver feel like a golden retriever boyfriend, LOL. I love the dynamic between Blair, Oliver & Rook. Pretty Little Monster was a spicy, dark and engaging read that I devoured too quickly. It meets my criteria for being a book I will reread, making it a 5 / 5 Star rating, in my opinion.
January 18, 2025
rook and oliver would of killed ‘elijah’ aka liam ages ago and not only to mention but blair was so stupid?? why did she not care about the fact liam was stalking her
the second half of the book was a lot more interesting than the first though I would prefer if the first and second book was a duet I don’t think the third was needed
i’m going to miss 1st and 2nd book rook and oliver
the second half of the book was a lot more interesting than the first though I would prefer if the first and second book was a duet I don’t think the third was needed
i’m going to miss 1st and 2nd book rook and oliver
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2024
really disappointing. all of the characters felt bland and there wasn’t any sort of growth or arc for them and virtually no plot was present. it felt completely disjointed from the previous two books
April 9, 2024
great book
I like the way the series ended. This is one of my favorite series so far. I can’t wait to read more from AJ Merlin. And I’m sure that I’m gonna be just as impressed with the next one.
I like the way the series ended. This is one of my favorite series so far. I can’t wait to read more from AJ Merlin. And I’m sure that I’m gonna be just as impressed with the next one.
March 25, 2024
I love A.J.s work! This was another great read! Hopefully not the last from this series!
April 22, 2024
It’s an interesting plot but was extremely repetitive.
I wound up skipping most of book 2 and 3 just to find out how it ended. The same inner monologue struggle repeated over and over for 3 books got old very quickly.
Blaire was incredibly whiny and avoided conflict like the plague which caused issues in her relationship because she couldn’t communicate. She was constantly afraid but also constantly put herself in extreme danger with her naivety. Always asking the same questions in her head over and over for 3 books and whining because she couldn’t figure out the answer or make a flipping choice. I was not a fan of her, if you can’t already tell lol. She ruined the story for me.
I wound up skipping most of book 2 and 3 just to find out how it ended. The same inner monologue struggle repeated over and over for 3 books got old very quickly.
Blaire was incredibly whiny and avoided conflict like the plague which caused issues in her relationship because she couldn’t communicate. She was constantly afraid but also constantly put herself in extreme danger with her naivety. Always asking the same questions in her head over and over for 3 books and whining because she couldn’t figure out the answer or make a flipping choice. I was not a fan of her, if you can’t already tell lol. She ruined the story for me.
March 21, 2024
Well the itch has been scratched. Probably should have just left this alone but wanted to see how this unhinged triology ended. I was disappointed and the bar was on the under the house.
Did I expect Pulitzer Prize winning content? No. I expected crazy bitches doing crazy shit. What did I get? Miscommunication and self doubt. Boring.
Did I expect Pulitzer Prize winning content? No. I expected crazy bitches doing crazy shit. What did I get? Miscommunication and self doubt. Boring.
March 21, 2024
Have I been patiently waiting to get my hands on the final book in the Pretty Obsessions series? No. I’ve been absolutely itching to read it. Was it worth the nine-month wait? 100%. Although Pretty Little Monster sees a bit of a shift from Pretty Little Tease and Pretty Little Killer it’s perfectly on point with the other books and perhaps even a little more sinister.
The first part of the book sees Blair finishing up her time at college and graduating. After the end of Killer saw the trio “playing” in their victim’s blood, things could have been easy for Blair. Instead, she’s plagued with doubts about her new identity as a killer and losing who she was. She also fears that when Oliver and Rook move after graduation they’ll leave her behind. Although Blair does discuss her identity crisis with the two men, she never examines why she thinks they’ll leave her and instead comes to the conclusion that she can’t be without them and agrees to move with them.
This oversight follows the book into its second part as the trio moves to Nashville. During the journey, they stop at a gas station and Blair unexpectedly murders a homeless man. When Rook takes care of the cleanup without teaching Blair how to deal with her mess, it sows another seed of doubt in her mind; what if he doesn’t trust her to remain uncaught? The situation is compounded when Oliver gives into his killer urges and again Rook cleans up without involving the pair.
Blair’s descent into mistrust continues as she meets another serial killer, Elijah. He’s sly and manipulative and soon shows Blair how much Rook and Oliver are keeping from her. Her fears about their trust and the permanence of their relationship spur her towards spending time with Elijah to enable her to learn the skills she’s failing to acquire from her lovers.
This part of the book was a hard one for me to read because Blair’s actions felt like cheating. Okay, she isn’t sleeping with Elijah but she is essentially killing with him instead of with her killer lovers, and dancing around the truth of it when it comes to telling Rook and Oliver. The further she goes with Elijah, the more difficult it is for her to admit what she’s up to and express her feelings with her men. At the same time Elijah is skilful in his scheming and directs Blair to convince herself that although the men may love her, they do not trust her.
Elijah has a hidden side that would be revealed if only Blair would talk about her new friend. When Blair and Rook clash dramatically and come to realise that neither of them is communicating properly, it gives Elijah the perfect opportunity to move in and strike. Blair’s only hope is that her relationship with Rook and Oliver isn’t so damaged that they won’t find and rescue her from her predicament.
I found Blair less likeable a character in this book compared to the previous ones. In my view, this was because of her inability to sit down with Rook and Oliver and talk to them about her feelings and the resulting secrecy around her actions. That said, it didn’t make the book any less enjoyable; it was just a little different a read to the one I’d expected.
I’ll be honest, I’m waiting for another sneak attack from AJ Merlin. In this book, we meet cute bookstore owner Alice and her abusive ass of a boyfriend Carl. I was pretty surprised that neither Blair nor Elijah took him out during the story. As the final chapter comes to a close the tale is set up perfectly for another story. Will we see Blair and Alice again in another book? I certainly hope so.
Read more book reviews at Glowstars.net
The first part of the book sees Blair finishing up her time at college and graduating. After the end of Killer saw the trio “playing” in their victim’s blood, things could have been easy for Blair. Instead, she’s plagued with doubts about her new identity as a killer and losing who she was. She also fears that when Oliver and Rook move after graduation they’ll leave her behind. Although Blair does discuss her identity crisis with the two men, she never examines why she thinks they’ll leave her and instead comes to the conclusion that she can’t be without them and agrees to move with them.
This oversight follows the book into its second part as the trio moves to Nashville. During the journey, they stop at a gas station and Blair unexpectedly murders a homeless man. When Rook takes care of the cleanup without teaching Blair how to deal with her mess, it sows another seed of doubt in her mind; what if he doesn’t trust her to remain uncaught? The situation is compounded when Oliver gives into his killer urges and again Rook cleans up without involving the pair.
Blair’s descent into mistrust continues as she meets another serial killer, Elijah. He’s sly and manipulative and soon shows Blair how much Rook and Oliver are keeping from her. Her fears about their trust and the permanence of their relationship spur her towards spending time with Elijah to enable her to learn the skills she’s failing to acquire from her lovers.
This part of the book was a hard one for me to read because Blair’s actions felt like cheating. Okay, she isn’t sleeping with Elijah but she is essentially killing with him instead of with her killer lovers, and dancing around the truth of it when it comes to telling Rook and Oliver. The further she goes with Elijah, the more difficult it is for her to admit what she’s up to and express her feelings with her men. At the same time Elijah is skilful in his scheming and directs Blair to convince herself that although the men may love her, they do not trust her.
Elijah has a hidden side that would be revealed if only Blair would talk about her new friend. When Blair and Rook clash dramatically and come to realise that neither of them is communicating properly, it gives Elijah the perfect opportunity to move in and strike. Blair’s only hope is that her relationship with Rook and Oliver isn’t so damaged that they won’t find and rescue her from her predicament.
I found Blair less likeable a character in this book compared to the previous ones. In my view, this was because of her inability to sit down with Rook and Oliver and talk to them about her feelings and the resulting secrecy around her actions. That said, it didn’t make the book any less enjoyable; it was just a little different a read to the one I’d expected.
I’ll be honest, I’m waiting for another sneak attack from AJ Merlin. In this book, we meet cute bookstore owner Alice and her abusive ass of a boyfriend Carl. I was pretty surprised that neither Blair nor Elijah took him out during the story. As the final chapter comes to a close the tale is set up perfectly for another story. Will we see Blair and Alice again in another book? I certainly hope so.
Read more book reviews at Glowstars.net
December 15, 2025
I so loved this series! I devoured all three books. It was a super unique story in a lot of ways. It had some elements that I love to see: two hot MMCs, spice/ kinks, obsessive men, a bad**s FMC, and characters that truly love one another.
The FMC becoming a k!ller after something atrocious happens to her is definitely something I haven’t seeen before, at least not the process being shown, if that makes sense. Like normally if I read about a m*rderer, when the book starts the FMC would already be doing her m*rder thing lol.
It’s also not all too noble. Blair at least targets people she thinks are scummy, but that’s not like the best reason to unalive someone. And the other two, from what we see, are just cold-blooded k!llers. Normally I would have been extremely put off by Oliver’s actions in the first book and maybe even stopped reading, because those woman were completely innocent. But somehow this author really made me stick around and root for all three of these psychos and I think that is genuinely some real talent. It’s definitely a testament to how much I enjoyed these characters that I stuck with them, even knowing they were just truly terrible people.
I wished we got some more info/ got to know the characters a little more:
-Why did Oliver get a masters in criminal justice? Is it just because irony? Lol.
-What did Oliver love so much about photography that he audited the classes while also working ok a masters? Was it only Rook, or does he also love photography itself? Or did he grow a love for it because of Rook? We can insinuate things, but I wish we got just a little more info on that since it came up so often.
-Bringing us back to the first book—what was the reason that Oliver and Rook were so instantly enamored by Blair? They say they knew she was special, but like, why specifically ? Could they see the darkness wanting to come out? Or is it just ‘cause?
-Maybe I’m a weirdo but, we introduced some pet play elements in the first book and reference it occasionally, but we never really get a full scene of it and I’m a little disappointed. (Okay yes I am a weirdo lol). Maybe the author thought it’s a little too out there for her audience, but 1) I think it’s hot and 2) I dare say that nothing is too out there for us dark romance lovers!
-I wish we would’ve gotten more of a story on how Oliver and Room got together. It was discussed a bit previously, but not explicitly. It would’ve been cool to have like a throwback chapter or two on how they really got together.
That said, I think there needed to be a fourth book. Book 3 felt like the “conflict book” in a series. I’m totally making that term up, but you know what I’m talking about—when there’re 4 books in a series and the middle ones have to have some drama and new characters thrown in to keep you hooked. But the last book is usually where things calm down and we can put a “pretty little” 😉 bow on the series. So I wish there was a final book where we got to know some of the answers to my questions above, and really solidified the relationship, rather than Blair being too scared to talk to her boyfriends about any of her feelings the whole time. And given that Oliver’s behavior still kinda freaks her out, it would be nice to see a bit of resolution there, even if the resolution is that this is how he is and she has to find a solid way of dealing with it. Even an epilogue would’ve sufficed—it just felt a little rushed.
But as I always note when I feel like I want more from a series—that’s not necessarily a bad thing! I loved this series and these characters and I would love to see more from them. The relationship between the three of them is so sweet, and adorable, and hot 🥵
The FMC becoming a k!ller after something atrocious happens to her is definitely something I haven’t seeen before, at least not the process being shown, if that makes sense. Like normally if I read about a m*rderer, when the book starts the FMC would already be doing her m*rder thing lol.
It’s also not all too noble. Blair at least targets people she thinks are scummy, but that’s not like the best reason to unalive someone. And the other two, from what we see, are just cold-blooded k!llers. Normally I would have been extremely put off by Oliver’s actions in the first book and maybe even stopped reading, because those woman were completely innocent. But somehow this author really made me stick around and root for all three of these psychos and I think that is genuinely some real talent. It’s definitely a testament to how much I enjoyed these characters that I stuck with them, even knowing they were just truly terrible people.
I wished we got some more info/ got to know the characters a little more:
-Why did Oliver get a masters in criminal justice? Is it just because irony? Lol.
-What did Oliver love so much about photography that he audited the classes while also working ok a masters? Was it only Rook, or does he also love photography itself? Or did he grow a love for it because of Rook? We can insinuate things, but I wish we got just a little more info on that since it came up so often.
-Bringing us back to the first book—what was the reason that Oliver and Rook were so instantly enamored by Blair? They say they knew she was special, but like, why specifically ? Could they see the darkness wanting to come out? Or is it just ‘cause?
-Maybe I’m a weirdo but, we introduced some pet play elements in the first book and reference it occasionally, but we never really get a full scene of it and I’m a little disappointed. (Okay yes I am a weirdo lol). Maybe the author thought it’s a little too out there for her audience, but 1) I think it’s hot and 2) I dare say that nothing is too out there for us dark romance lovers!
-I wish we would’ve gotten more of a story on how Oliver and Room got together. It was discussed a bit previously, but not explicitly. It would’ve been cool to have like a throwback chapter or two on how they really got together.
That said, I think there needed to be a fourth book. Book 3 felt like the “conflict book” in a series. I’m totally making that term up, but you know what I’m talking about—when there’re 4 books in a series and the middle ones have to have some drama and new characters thrown in to keep you hooked. But the last book is usually where things calm down and we can put a “pretty little” 😉 bow on the series. So I wish there was a final book where we got to know some of the answers to my questions above, and really solidified the relationship, rather than Blair being too scared to talk to her boyfriends about any of her feelings the whole time. And given that Oliver’s behavior still kinda freaks her out, it would be nice to see a bit of resolution there, even if the resolution is that this is how he is and she has to find a solid way of dealing with it. Even an epilogue would’ve sufficed—it just felt a little rushed.
But as I always note when I feel like I want more from a series—that’s not necessarily a bad thing! I loved this series and these characters and I would love to see more from them. The relationship between the three of them is so sweet, and adorable, and hot 🥵
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2024
This was such a good follow up to how things were left at the end of book 2!! It really seemed to restore a lot of the lingering questions i had about Blair's character and how she was working through her trauma.
I didn't have any misgivings or worries about the relationship between her, Rook and Oliver, and knew that no matter what they would remain a solid unit throughout this too, even if there were some miscommunication issues.
I really loved how different the setting was this time with them all being completely out of education. It made for a more equal footing between the three of them, and made them all moving in together more interesting without the pupil x teacher mentality.
I did feel a bit bad for Blair though especially when they all moved in together. It just seemed like she was still really unsure of her role between the other two, and especially after everything that happened in book 2, it seemed like she felt she didn't deserve the two of them to be supporting her all the time. Whats a little bit of self sabotage huh?
Speaking of Blair, she does seem to go through a lot more growth and realizations about herself, namely that while she thinks some people deserve to die and she doesn't mind witnessing murder, actually planning and intending to kill someone isn't at all for her, especially if they don't deserve to die. It was also cool to see how all of this changed her relationships too. She started to really resent Rook for not trusting her with any of the killing aftermath (the cleanup) and thought that he didn't trust her, or thought she wasn't capable of handling herself.
Another huge thing was that she started to be AFRAID OF OLIVER again!! It was insane how quickly her character seemed to change, and it really freaked her out seeing him slip into this murderous haze, thinking that she wouldn't be safe with him anymore... Poor guy got really hurt emotionally...
The introduction of another character called Elijah was a curve ball that i didn't see coming at all. He is such an unattached, manipulative and weird guy that she starts to hand around a little too much. He starts 'teaching' her a bunch of different things about stalking and murdering that Rook kind of refused to include her in.
I AM SO FREAKING GLAD THAT HE WASN'T A LOVE INTEREST THOUGH!!! It would have killed me and made me hate Blair with every fiber of my being (not that it would have been hard to hate her, she was really doing my head in with all the miscommunication and lies).
It was also really cool to find out who Elijah really was! I kept changing my mind about what his connection to her was and why he was so interested/involved, but i really didn't see it ending the way that it did.
A solid final book, and a near perfect way of wrapping the story together that had me feeling nearly every emotion possible.
I didn't have any misgivings or worries about the relationship between her, Rook and Oliver, and knew that no matter what they would remain a solid unit throughout this too, even if there were some miscommunication issues.
I really loved how different the setting was this time with them all being completely out of education. It made for a more equal footing between the three of them, and made them all moving in together more interesting without the pupil x teacher mentality.
I did feel a bit bad for Blair though especially when they all moved in together. It just seemed like she was still really unsure of her role between the other two, and especially after everything that happened in book 2, it seemed like she felt she didn't deserve the two of them to be supporting her all the time. Whats a little bit of self sabotage huh?
Speaking of Blair, she does seem to go through a lot more growth and realizations about herself, namely that while she thinks some people deserve to die and she doesn't mind witnessing murder, actually planning and intending to kill someone isn't at all for her, especially if they don't deserve to die. It was also cool to see how all of this changed her relationships too. She started to really resent Rook for not trusting her with any of the killing aftermath (the cleanup) and thought that he didn't trust her, or thought she wasn't capable of handling herself.
Another huge thing was that she started to be AFRAID OF OLIVER again!! It was insane how quickly her character seemed to change, and it really freaked her out seeing him slip into this murderous haze, thinking that she wouldn't be safe with him anymore... Poor guy got really hurt emotionally...
The introduction of another character called Elijah was a curve ball that i didn't see coming at all. He is such an unattached, manipulative and weird guy that she starts to hand around a little too much. He starts 'teaching' her a bunch of different things about stalking and murdering that Rook kind of refused to include her in.
I AM SO FREAKING GLAD THAT HE WASN'T A LOVE INTEREST THOUGH!!! It would have killed me and made me hate Blair with every fiber of my being (not that it would have been hard to hate her, she was really doing my head in with all the miscommunication and lies).
It was also really cool to find out who Elijah really was! I kept changing my mind about what his connection to her was and why he was so interested/involved, but i really didn't see it ending the way that it did.
A solid final book, and a near perfect way of wrapping the story together that had me feeling nearly every emotion possible.
March 22, 2024
Pretty Little Monster is probably the spiciest book of the series and the least gory there’s so much love, but can love conquer all?
AJ Merlin is an author that has such a unique writing style that I love and no matter what she writes her characters always have such a unique twist, a invisible illness, a visible illness, or a decline in their mental health. For Blair its intense insecurity and a lack of confidence something that I personally can relate too which is why I love this series so much. Blair is strong but on such a invisible level, she keeps going, she hides her insecurities trying to not let it ruin things but every once in awhile it comes out to play and for this book it’s Rook that she’s insecure about. Everything is new for Blair, she’s taken the plunge and moved with Oliver and Rook somewhere new, moving in with them and finally given in to her inner murderous urges. She’s trying to get comfortable whilst dealing with everything and Rook knows her better than anyone, he’s trying to protect her and she’s stubbornly infuriating. She’s trying to find her place in their new dynamic, Rook is no longer their professor, Oliver and Blair have graduated, Blair doesn’t have a job and she feels a bit a drift.
Oliver is the loveable golden retriever as always, he’s so clingy with Rook and Blair, I love his attitude, how happy he is all the time and how caring he is for Blair, he’s absolutely besotted. Rook is his usual grumpy self, but not as grumpy and cold as we are used to seeing him, after all he no longer has to pretend at work that he’s not in a relationship with two of his students. His nickname for Oliver, ‘Feral Child’ is so apt and just adorably sums him up. Love is a great foundation, a fantastic starting point but needs to be nurtured and it can’t be the only reason to be in a relationship. Blair, Rook and Oliver are all completely in love and my heart warmed at hearing them say it. However, Blair’s insecurities don’t help, they keep her mute not wanting to voice them, whilst the boys are amazing as always not pushing her, not rushing her, allowing her to set the boundaries and the pace.
I wondered what knew twist this author would add in to the third chapter of their lives and I was not disappointed by the addition of Elijah. Something had me off about Elijah from the start, I thought he might be a new addition to the harem but quickly dismissed that and cottoned on to his game. His presence shook things up and we finally got to see Rook in all his murderous glory!
AJ Merlin is an author that has such a unique writing style that I love and no matter what she writes her characters always have such a unique twist, a invisible illness, a visible illness, or a decline in their mental health. For Blair its intense insecurity and a lack of confidence something that I personally can relate too which is why I love this series so much. Blair is strong but on such a invisible level, she keeps going, she hides her insecurities trying to not let it ruin things but every once in awhile it comes out to play and for this book it’s Rook that she’s insecure about. Everything is new for Blair, she’s taken the plunge and moved with Oliver and Rook somewhere new, moving in with them and finally given in to her inner murderous urges. She’s trying to get comfortable whilst dealing with everything and Rook knows her better than anyone, he’s trying to protect her and she’s stubbornly infuriating. She’s trying to find her place in their new dynamic, Rook is no longer their professor, Oliver and Blair have graduated, Blair doesn’t have a job and she feels a bit a drift.
Oliver is the loveable golden retriever as always, he’s so clingy with Rook and Blair, I love his attitude, how happy he is all the time and how caring he is for Blair, he’s absolutely besotted. Rook is his usual grumpy self, but not as grumpy and cold as we are used to seeing him, after all he no longer has to pretend at work that he’s not in a relationship with two of his students. His nickname for Oliver, ‘Feral Child’ is so apt and just adorably sums him up. Love is a great foundation, a fantastic starting point but needs to be nurtured and it can’t be the only reason to be in a relationship. Blair, Rook and Oliver are all completely in love and my heart warmed at hearing them say it. However, Blair’s insecurities don’t help, they keep her mute not wanting to voice them, whilst the boys are amazing as always not pushing her, not rushing her, allowing her to set the boundaries and the pace.
I wondered what knew twist this author would add in to the third chapter of their lives and I was not disappointed by the addition of Elijah. Something had me off about Elijah from the start, I thought he might be a new addition to the harem but quickly dismissed that and cottoned on to his game. His presence shook things up and we finally got to see Rook in all his murderous glory!
June 18, 2024
Pretty Little Monster by A J. Merlin
Please check your trigger and content warnings before diving into this book along with the series please. I am completely obsessed with this series! Ever since finishing it I can't stop thinking about these characters and how obsessed with her they were.
Once again this book left off right where book two left off. Once I finished book two I knew I NEEDED to immediately dive into the last book because I needed to know what was going to happen next. Blair was still conflicted with wether or not she was going to end up moving with Rook and Oliver because they were moving after graduation. She knew that she loved them but just wasn't fully sure what she was going to do.
Rook and Oliver were in love with her and wanted Blair to be wherever they were going. Oliver was like completely unhinged and obsessed with her, he wanted her to basically follow him around no matter what and I freaking loved that. I can't get over how obsessed Oliver was with Blair it was so cute because he acted like a little puppy.
While Blair was graduating she was thinking she couldn't believe she actually haven't given them an answer to moving in together yet. She knew her answer deep down but seeing her parents after she walked across the stage and graduation was over she knew that she needed to hurry and make it to Oliver's graduation so she could tell him and Rook the good news.
I did not expect all the twists and that this book was going to take me on. A few times while reading i was wondering what was going to happen next, then I turned the page and I didn't expect what actually happened. I freaking could not put this book down because it was so good and had me on the edge of my seat while I was reading.
Please check your trigger and content warnings before diving into this book along with the series please. I am completely obsessed with this series! Ever since finishing it I can't stop thinking about these characters and how obsessed with her they were.
Once again this book left off right where book two left off. Once I finished book two I knew I NEEDED to immediately dive into the last book because I needed to know what was going to happen next. Blair was still conflicted with wether or not she was going to end up moving with Rook and Oliver because they were moving after graduation. She knew that she loved them but just wasn't fully sure what she was going to do.
Rook and Oliver were in love with her and wanted Blair to be wherever they were going. Oliver was like completely unhinged and obsessed with her, he wanted her to basically follow him around no matter what and I freaking loved that. I can't get over how obsessed Oliver was with Blair it was so cute because he acted like a little puppy.
While Blair was graduating she was thinking she couldn't believe she actually haven't given them an answer to moving in together yet. She knew her answer deep down but seeing her parents after she walked across the stage and graduation was over she knew that she needed to hurry and make it to Oliver's graduation so she could tell him and Rook the good news.
I did not expect all the twists and that this book was going to take me on. A few times while reading i was wondering what was going to happen next, then I turned the page and I didn't expect what actually happened. I freaking could not put this book down because it was so good and had me on the edge of my seat while I was reading.
January 9, 2026
Pretty Little Monster was honestly painful for me to get through. By the time I finished it, I was more frustrated than entertained, which is disappointing because I enjoyed parts of the earlier books in the trilogy.
The biggest issue is the constant theme of conflict that exists only because the main characters refuse to communicate. Over and over again, problems could have been solved with a single honest conversation, but instead everything is dragged out through misunderstandings, withheld information, and internal monologuing. After a while, it stopped feeling like tension and started feeling exhausting.
The characters themselves felt stagnant. Any growth that seemed possible earlier in the series stalled here, and their choices often felt repetitive and illogical just to keep the plot moving. Rather than dark, obsessive romance, it came across as unnecessary drama that undercut the emotional payoff this final book should have delivered.
While the atmosphere and writing style were consistent with A.J. Merlin’s tone, it wasn’t enough to make up for how drawn out and frustrating the story became. As the conclusion to the trilogy, I expected more resolution and emotional satisfaction, but instead it felt like conflict for the sake of conflict.
Overall, Pretty Little Monster was not an enjoyable read for me. I mostly finished it out of commitment to the series rather than genuine enjoyment.
The biggest issue is the constant theme of conflict that exists only because the main characters refuse to communicate. Over and over again, problems could have been solved with a single honest conversation, but instead everything is dragged out through misunderstandings, withheld information, and internal monologuing. After a while, it stopped feeling like tension and started feeling exhausting.
The characters themselves felt stagnant. Any growth that seemed possible earlier in the series stalled here, and their choices often felt repetitive and illogical just to keep the plot moving. Rather than dark, obsessive romance, it came across as unnecessary drama that undercut the emotional payoff this final book should have delivered.
While the atmosphere and writing style were consistent with A.J. Merlin’s tone, it wasn’t enough to make up for how drawn out and frustrating the story became. As the conclusion to the trilogy, I expected more resolution and emotional satisfaction, but instead it felt like conflict for the sake of conflict.
Overall, Pretty Little Monster was not an enjoyable read for me. I mostly finished it out of commitment to the series rather than genuine enjoyment.
September 25, 2025
This was a decent final entry to the series. A lot of the unresolved issues (mostly stemming from their difficulty communicating and understanding each other) between Blair and Rook were wrapped up and it seems that my favorite thruple is set for a happy, if bloody, future together.
The new setting was good and I liked seeing them work out the dynamics of their relationships outside the university setting. It's pretty obvious that Blair is struggling to shift out of student/professor mode with Rook, and he is struggling as well to treat her as an adult and equal rather than a pupil. I liked that this was a major focus of the book because I had really wondered how the relationship was going to function with such an obvious imbalance of power.
As usual, the spice was spicing and I do enjoy the way this author wrote the spicy scenes in this series.
For the series as a whole, I really enjoyed it overall and I honestly wish AJ Merlin would write a standalone reverse POV of the first book. That one in particular has a lot of potential to be super interesting from Oliver and Rook's perspectives. I really sensed a lot of manipulation and things going on in that book that Blair didn't notice because her naivety and clear attraction towards both men clouded her observations. It would be so delicious to get their POV as they plot to make her theirs.
Also, I just want more of these three. Blair is not always my favorite but Oliver and Rook are my favorite murdery men ever.
The new setting was good and I liked seeing them work out the dynamics of their relationships outside the university setting. It's pretty obvious that Blair is struggling to shift out of student/professor mode with Rook, and he is struggling as well to treat her as an adult and equal rather than a pupil. I liked that this was a major focus of the book because I had really wondered how the relationship was going to function with such an obvious imbalance of power.
As usual, the spice was spicing and I do enjoy the way this author wrote the spicy scenes in this series.
For the series as a whole, I really enjoyed it overall and I honestly wish AJ Merlin would write a standalone reverse POV of the first book. That one in particular has a lot of potential to be super interesting from Oliver and Rook's perspectives. I really sensed a lot of manipulation and things going on in that book that Blair didn't notice because her naivety and clear attraction towards both men clouded her observations. It would be so delicious to get their POV as they plot to make her theirs.
Also, I just want more of these three. Blair is not always my favorite but Oliver and Rook are my favorite murdery men ever.
December 16, 2025
3.5 Stars rounded up
This book really amps up the serial killer vibes and gore as Blair, Oliver, and Rook move from St Augustine, FL to Nashville, TN.
Blair is feeling like the third wheel, and a bit untrusted as they all settle down into their new life. She thinks that Rook doesn't trust her enough to clean up her own messes, which causes her to spiral into unhealthy Obsessions trying to prove her trustworthy-ness and resiliency.
But when Blair falls into a friendship with the wrong crowd, does she make herself even harder to trust?
This book did not have the excitement for me that the first two had. I'm not sure what it was lacking or if it just didn't attract the right part of my senses at the right time (sometimes books are a five star because I read them at the right time, not because they were actually the next great American novel.)
No matter what, I still love book one in this series, and Merlin is still a top fave for me. I can't get enough of their books!
Side note: Do you ever wonder if two worlds from your favorite authors ever collide with each other? Like, if this book crashed into Nikki Sloane's Nashville Neighborhood? And the frat Bros that Liam disappeared were actually in the same frat with Collin Novak and Preston Lowe? The world isn't that big, and I feel like I see the red lines of string weaving through all these novels, lol!!
This book really amps up the serial killer vibes and gore as Blair, Oliver, and Rook move from St Augustine, FL to Nashville, TN.
Blair is feeling like the third wheel, and a bit untrusted as they all settle down into their new life. She thinks that Rook doesn't trust her enough to clean up her own messes, which causes her to spiral into unhealthy Obsessions trying to prove her trustworthy-ness and resiliency.
But when Blair falls into a friendship with the wrong crowd, does she make herself even harder to trust?
This book did not have the excitement for me that the first two had. I'm not sure what it was lacking or if it just didn't attract the right part of my senses at the right time (sometimes books are a five star because I read them at the right time, not because they were actually the next great American novel.)
No matter what, I still love book one in this series, and Merlin is still a top fave for me. I can't get enough of their books!
Side note: Do you ever wonder if two worlds from your favorite authors ever collide with each other? Like, if this book crashed into Nikki Sloane's Nashville Neighborhood? And the frat Bros that Liam disappeared were actually in the same frat with Collin Novak and Preston Lowe? The world isn't that big, and I feel like I see the red lines of string weaving through all these novels, lol!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews