Dear Vicky

by Octavia Grant

Delusional /dəˈlo͞oZH(ə)nəl/ (adjective) - characterized by or holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, typically as a symptom of a mental condition

Grocery store bag boy, Andrew, hates his job. No career growth, rude customers, and the forced customer appreciation greeting have taken a toll on his mental stability. Though his job gives him the flexibility to attend community college, he can find no other enjoyment there. That is until he met the woman that would change his life. During Andrew’s mundane day of grabbing and bagging, Victoria, a customer with an infectious smile and playful personality, gives him the attention that he’s been missing. Attention that now has Andrew believing that he and she are now in a committed relationship. Victoria has no idea that her friendly demeanor has landed her in the crosshairs of an unwell man. But she’ll soon learn that the old adage is You can’t be nice to everyone.

Get to know Andrew Patterson and discover how dangerous a delusion can be.

Genres: Novella, Thriller, Horror, Fiction, Audiobook, Short Stories, Psychological Thriller

70 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2023

About the author

Octavia Grant discovered her passion for creative writing in 2002 during her junior year at Georgetown High School in Georgetown, South Carolina. She began writing professionally in 2016 and, two years later, took full ownership of her literary career by becoming an independent author. A bestselling black thriller author and the bestselling author of Cutthroat, Octavia has penned more than 30 novels known for their psychological depth and gripping suspense.
Her work and voice have earned national recognition, including speaking on the Thrilling Tales Author Panel at ESSENCE Fest, Thriller Panelist at National Book Club Conference (NBCC), interview with Narrator iiKane, literary reviewer and film commentator Tamara Walker of Tam Telling Tales, and features in WYB Lifestyle, VoyageJacksonville, Canvas Rebel, and Bold Journey. She has also been honored as one of 160 Black Women in Horror and received multiple accolades for her psychological thriller novella Dear Vicky, including the Black Girls Who Write It’s Lit Award for Best Black Mystery/Suspense, the Audio in Black North Star Award, and the AAMBC Award for Mystery/Thriller Book of the Year.
In addition to these achievements, Octavia has been named Best Thriller/Suspense Horror Author by the Literary Gem Awards and Best Female Author by the Get Caught Up Podcast. Her storytelling continues to push boundaries within the thriller genre, centering bold narratives that captivate, challenge, and resonate with readers worldwide.

Reviews

[Rashawnda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“After scrolling through Vicky's 2,300 Instagram followers and her 4,532 Facebook Friends list, I finally found the man who was in the picture with her.”

This is the type of insanity we were dealing with in “Dear Vicky” and I have one question, 🗣️WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ?!?!? 🤯🤯🤯 Y’all this was next level delusion!!! I mean forget 51/50 this was psychoneurotic behavior and I don’t know how to even process this story. This is definitely a book where you have to turn your brain completely off and just go along for the ride!! 😆😆

Andrew is a 20 year old college student that works part time bagging groceries at the local market. After Vicky walks into his store and ends up in his checkout line, Andrew is mesmerized and has to have her by any means necessary and I do mean 🗣️BY ANY MEANS NECESSARILY!!! Andrew starts out as a seemingly normal 20yo infatuated by a beautiful woman but it doesn’t take long to determine that Andrew’s cornbread ain’t done in the miiiidddleeeee!!!!! I mean it’s wet wet ain’t preheated the oven or nothing 😩😳😵‍💫

This story gets major points for creativity and suspense alone because just when you think things couldn’t take a turn for the worse Andrew said “surprise surprise” and took it to the next level!! Somebody get Pat Walsh on the mainline because I’m ready to give my anonymous tip!! 🤣😩🤣🥴

If this story taught me one valuable lesson, it’s don’t make eye contact with NOBODY at the grocery store 🤣🤣

Yall!!!!! Whew!!! I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this psychotic rude!! That’s all I can say! Read at your own risk 😆😆

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️
- This book is wild and unhinged! I genuinely don’t know if I can ever rate a book by this author less than four stars because of how unique and absolutely wiiiiiild her books are to read!! Andrew is a character that kept my mouth hanging open the entire book because of his wild decisions.
- If you’re in a book slump and need a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, read this book! You won’t want to put it down and you’ll find yourself saying WHAT THE HECK AM I READING and then ordering more of this authors books.
- Finished this book in one sitting and can’t wait to read more of her writing. It’s so unique and freaky. You never know what direction the story will take!

[Jahda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wtf did I just read…. No seriously Andrew is one SICK individual. It’s like with each chapter he got WORSE. I dont need nobody obsessing over me like Andrew was over his Vicky.

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erotomania…Clerambault Syndrome… straight up DELULU

When grocery bag boy Andrew comes across Vicky in the store, he immediately knows this is love at first sight and they are destined to be together, and he is not going to let anyone, and I MEAN anyone get in his way of his true love.

Andrew you have lost your damn mind, but I was all for this unhinged convoluted mess of it all!
Talk about a one sit read that takes you on a manic rollercoaster ride.

I genuinely was waiting for the pin to drop, and Andrew wakes up in cold sweat because its clearly just a very intense fever dream… RIGHT!?...WRONG!

Ms. Grant I had no idea your work was coming in like this but best believe I will be picking up your books from now on when I need a twisted messed up thriller/ novella!

This was 70 delusional pages that you will definitely read in one go because its just so insane!







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
In the need of something short, sweet and unhinged
I hear this is the book to choose!
Lets gooooooo!
❤️❤️❤️

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Andrew Andrew! This man is the epitome of delusional! He has literally created an alternate reality & considers anyone that he allows in his space lucky, as if he is the sane one. Imagine a single encounter, growing into a full blown obsession that puts you and your loved ones in danger. This short story had interested from the very first page to the very last. A must read that will have you questioning everything you know, including who you meet & encounter daily.

[*Ebony I* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obsessed

Can we say "UNHINGED!" 🥴

I can't say I've ever read a story about a more psychotic man. I mean he was the prime resident in De lu lu land. He unraveled from one page to the next. Eliminating anyone that was in the way of his precious Vicky. His obsession was unwarranted and unchecked.

All I gotta say is avoid being too nice at the grocery store check out, you do not want these types of problems. 😫😫

[Dahyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delulu
Adjective
Definition: Andrew Patterson.
That's it, that's the review.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the hell was that?!? If you look up delusional in the dictionary you will find a picture of Andrew!

This was so unbelievably unhinged! I read most of this with my mouth wide opened due to shock. And when I wasn’t shocked, I was laughing! So maybe I’m equally unhinged? 🤔 lawd this was great!

[LaToya Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ; I finished this last night and still don’t even know what to say. Andrew was a maniac and every time I thought this couldn’t get any crazier - it did! So much chaos.

[Teya 🤍 · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW 😳😱

Who knew that a visiting the grocery store would create a delusional stalker?! I felt so sorry for Victoria and this book scares me even more to know that crazy/delusional ppl like Andrew are among us. I highly recommend this book it was a great quick read

[BrownBookNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy. Unhinged. Violent. WTH did I just read 😳

[Nikita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delusion

I am shocked and terrified at the level of delusion. Andrew was delusional with a capital D, detached from reality. This book packed in the suspense with a lot of crazy.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love at First Sight 🩸❤️‍🩹
Andrew Patterson just might be more unhinged than Joe Goldberg. 🤣 IYKYK

[Kiara Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEWWWWWW !! When I tell you CRAZYYY & DELUSIONAL!!!!! I am loving Octavia’s book this is like my 4th book by her !!!!

[Keith Book Korner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book by the author I have read and both where completely unhinged.. I mean totally unhinged was the MMC.. This book so a short book packed a punch and I means gut punch.. All I can say is Completely Unhinged…

Now updating my review
After sitting on it for a while I have to highlight the mental health issue that is discussed I the book and how we need to be more aware of the signs and help people as much as we can.. Mental health issue a real illness that needs to be taken seriously and addressed…

[Sha Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew Chile this right here..one word DSM-5!!!! Because baby….Andrew was beyond crazy beyond delusional. It’s giving how many diagnoses can you possibly have….

[JBucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wheeewwww, what in the touched by the devil!? The insanity of it all! Let me gather my thoughts 💭!

[Latazia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don’t even know what I just read. This book was unhinged and chaotic but I was thoroughly entertained the whole time. Andrew was so delusional and deranged it was scaryyyy. I didn’t know what to expect going into this but I sure was not expecting what I got. This is my first read by this author and I was not disappointed. This was a quick and entertaining read so I’m not even mad at it

[Palesa Ntsiu · Rating 2 out of 5]

What did I just read??🤯

Delusional....it's scary to imagine being Vicky!!
This was a short story but it grabs you from the first page. Crazy, stalker!!

Overall quick easy read.

[Wind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew was delusional and psychotic. A great short read!

[Debbie Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew 🤯

Octavia Grant's "Dear Vicky" totally grabbed me from the jump and didn't let go till the end. Andrew, the main character, is so well-drawn out it's like you're right there with him, walking that thin line between reality and, well, not. The story hits deep, making me wish characters like Sasha and Andrew’s mom had bigger roles in his journey to getting his mind right. Felt like they could've helped him heal or at least help him to not go over the deep end. Reading this book was like being on an emotional rollercoaster—I was all in for the ups and downs. Grant really knows how to hit you in the feels, showcasing how mental health and the people around us can either trigger us or help us find our way.

[Monique B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whaaaaaaat did I just read?! 😂 Andrew, you didn't have to do all that man!!

"Dear Vicky" is fast paced, only 70 pages long & a wild ride, butttt... that's what makes it so unbelievable. Plus, it can use a good editor. 🥴 This short story was creative, funny & suspenseful. I didn't know what was going to happen next or at the end.

It made me aware of what erotomania is! A good read for those in a reading slump or who just want to shake things up a bit.

[Desiree’ Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

BABY THIS NOVELLA HAD ME THROUGH THE ROOF!!!!!

[Taylor Pope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Vicky really reminded me how wild it is that people can completely make up their own narratives about you in their heads—and then just run with it. I was genuinely mind-blown by how deep that delusion can go. Honestly, Andrew gives Joe from You a run for his money with the level of unhinged thinking in this book.

I loved that this story was short, fast-paced, and still wrapped up so well—even though it was absolutely crazy from start to finish. My husband and I read this together, and it was the perfect pace for someone with a short attention span. Quick, shocking, and straight to the point.

[Myracle ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

octavia really be finding ways to have me scratching my head at these characters because andrew genuinely had me like ?!?! the entire 70 pages. like my good sir, are you good? clearly we know the answer but are you?? 🤣🤣

this was chaotic and gave me the spooky itch I needed before the end of the month 🫶🏽

[⌞giselle⌝ · Rating 4 out of 5]

phew! this is as so entertaining as an audiobook. the level of delusion was astronomical! Andrew… 🥴🥴🥴 he needed some MILK! short, but still twisted, dark & thrilling. excited to read more by Octavia Grant!

[Symone · Rating 4 out of 5]

If delusional was a person 😐🥴

[Antoinette (_literaryaura_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was wild, Andrew was de-lu lu for sure.

[Lamaya ꨄ︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She was beautiful, and she stood out amongst all the shoppers in the store. It was as if everyone in the store stood still, and she was the only person moving.”

Andrew put the D in delusional chile!!! This mf created an entire fantasy in his head and stuck with it. Mental health is VERY important. And there’s people saying they want their man obsessed with them.. tuh! I think they need to read this story.

I never want to meet an Andrew a day in my life. I almost don’t even want anyone to bag my groceries. Who would’ve thought they’d get a stalker out of the man who bagged their items? This was some real unhinged shit. I enjoyed the read though.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be reading books about stalkers this year. This one got out of control so fast and I loved it. It’s a short book but packs so much punch in it.