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Hello, Listener: An Erotic Horror

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The life of Thalia Smith is the epitome of routine. Get up, go to work, check social media. The only thing that keeps her life from becoming mundane is the hour she allows herself to listen to her favorite true crime podcast.

She never expects how much her life would soon change when she attracts the attention of the host and the producer of the show.

"Who are you, new listener...I can't wait to find out."

Hello, Listener is an Erotic Horror novel with some elements of Extreme Horror and of the subgenre of horror known as Splatterpunk. It contains many forms of content that are not meant for anyone under 18 such as but not limited
-Stalking
-Strong sexual content
-Alcohol abuse
-Infidelity
-Strong acts of violence

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2024

115 people are currently reading
1198 people want to read

About the author

Lorien Ray

4 books26 followers

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5 stars
131 (39%)
4 stars
97 (29%)
3 stars
71 (21%)
2 stars
25 (7%)
1 star
9 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Yvonne (the putrid Shelf).
972 reviews377 followers
September 14, 2024
Dark romance, it’s a genre that undoubtedly polarises readers. Is romance really supposed to be rainbows and glitter with a little bit of medicore sex thrown in? Maybe i want the nuances of real life. People aren’t just black and white, there are shades of grey, I like to see people being, well, people and Hello, Listener does just that.

Lorien Ray has done a phenomenal job of making me care too damn much. The men in this story are just mind numbinly hawt! I couldn’t choose which one I wanted to fantasize about more. The scenes made me cringe, fan the fires and read with one eye closed all at once. A writing style that was simple yet highly addictive.

I love a podcast format and this was done so well. Man i think I need a minute!
Profile Image for Sara.
104 reviews9 followers
September 2, 2024
Fantastic!!! as a debut novel I am so impressed!! I seriously could not put this book down! I loved it extremely fucked up, but the story was just so good!!! Absolutely loved all the characters!! The ending shocked me!!
Profile Image for Eve L. Fell.
Author 11 books74 followers
September 11, 2024
4/5 ⭐️
1/1 🎙️

Thalia loves podcasts. Especially a specific podcast hosted by two men who have nice voices. She is a tad obsessed with the podcast. She is also a bartender who posts on her Instagram often. Which is problem if you don’t want someone to know your location.

One night the man of her dreams walks in and it just so happens to be one of the men from the podcast she is obsessed with and his name is Lee. Her friends push her to enjoy herself with Lee. Eventually she also meets Alan the other host. She is in heaven meeting her true crime idols.

But we have to think do you ever know really know people? Is Thalia putting herself in danger chilling with her idols or are they the ones in danger?

I enjoyed this book, I’m excited to see more from this author. I’m also looking forward to a sequel 🩵
Profile Image for Xtina Reads.
179 reviews29 followers
September 7, 2024
Fantastic debut from this author! I actually haven’t been reading anything with spice lately but this has put me back in the game! I really liked the concept of this story, it kept me guessing, it kept me engaged and it had me blushing at times too! I kinda had an idea about the plot twist and I was right but the story was still enjoyable. If you like spice, suspense, and violence, you’ll enjoy this book! (there’s a list of trigger warnings before the story)
Profile Image for Duck.
136 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2024
EXCUSE ME, WHAT?

The level of ✨UNHINGED✨ that this man was had me LITERALLY screaming out loud at this book.
It ended and I said, “This can’t be it. Where is the rest?!”

What a damn good read.
Profile Image for Angie .
339 reviews
September 12, 2024

Incredible debut novel! I loved the fast pace and the twist and turns of the overall plot.

Thalia - beautiful, talented, quiet and addicted to her fav podcast and will listen to episodes whenever she can. The hosts, Alan and Lee, are her fantasy fuel. She is floored when they walk into her bar one night.

Alan - ex jock turned lawyer stuck in an unhappy marriage with a passion for true crime and runs his own podcast

Lee - fashionable ladies man, has the tatts and the growly Mustang. Runs a true crime podcast with his best friend Alan

I loved the banter between Alan and Lee. They would bust each others balls, but one beautiful woman has caught both their eyes.

Thalia meets the men behind the voices who are fueling her fantasies, and daaaammmmmmm they do not disappoint. Both men are more than willing to do what it takes to make Thalia their own. Each becomes obsessed and possesive of her in their own way.

That ending!!!! I cannot!! I need more. Feed me more!!!!

Profile Image for Marley.
267 reviews123 followers
March 3, 2025
What happens when dark romance, thriller and splatter punk make a bookbaby? This book, that's what.

I DEVOURED this. The story, the character, the mystery, the spice, the gore. I LOVED it.
The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat, I want mooooooore! Amazing read, exactly what I needed to get out of a reading pause.
Profile Image for Stephanie Vicente.
512 reviews29 followers
September 10, 2024
This book immediately caught my interest from the first page. I thought this was a creative and fun read! I love that it kept me guessing and overall was an amazing debut novel.
Profile Image for Tiannah  J♡.
112 reviews
September 7, 2024
I am in awe that this is truly a debut novel. I absolutely loved it!!!

I was hooked from the prologue, as it immediately piqued my interest. This book was so hard to put down! In the last half of the book, it was actually painful to have to put it down because I was so enthralled by all the chaos within the pages.

So so good!! Thalia is a beautiful bartender who loves to listen to a good true crime podcast episode hosted by her favorites in her free time. When she meets these men in the bar she works at, & they're as gorgeous as their voices, her whole world shifts.

If you love erotic horror, this is absolutely for you! It is packed full of gore, spice & even more gore.

Please check for triggers if you need!

Thank you, Lorien, for the opportunity to read your book!!
Profile Image for ✧ jay ✧.
77 reviews6 followers
November 26, 2024
DNF at 27%

There isn't anything wrong with this story concept, I actually love it. What I don't love however, is reading the same scene over and over again from three different POV's. It doesn't flow well and it doesn't lend to a good reading experience.
Profile Image for Nyx Reviews.
126 reviews10 followers
October 9, 2024
ℌ𝔢𝔩𝔩𝔬, 𝔏𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔯 𝔟𝔶 𝔏𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫 ℜ𝔞𝔶
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
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Fav Quotes:
“ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴʏ ɪɴᴄʟɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ᴅᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ? ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ? ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ɴᴏ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɪᴅᴇᴀ.“

“ᴛʜᴀʟɪᴀ, ʏᴏᴜ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴘᴏꜱᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ ꜱᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴍᴇɴ. ꜱᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴍᴇɴ ᴡʜᴏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ. ꜱᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴍᴇɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴇ. ᴍʏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜɪɴɢ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴠɪᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʏ ꜱᴋɪɴ ᴛɪɢʜᴛ. ɴᴇᴡ ʟɪꜱᴛᴇɴᴇʀ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ?“

“ᴀʟʟ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪꜱ ʜᴏᴡ ꜱʜᴇ’ᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ʙᴏᴜɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʟᴀᴘ. ɪ’ᴍ ᴄᴜʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ɪɴ ʀʜʏᴛʜᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙʀᴇᴀꜱᴛꜱ. ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ꜱᴏ ʙᴀᴅʟʏ ᴛᴏ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴇᴍ—ᴛᴏ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ.“

“ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ʜᴀᴢᴇʟ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀꜱ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ɪꜱ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴄᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍʏ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀꜱ ᴇɴᴛᴀɴɢʟᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴜʀʟꜱ ʜᴀꜱ ᴍʏ ꜱᴋɪɴ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴛ.“

“ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ, ꜱᴏ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ʜᴇʀ. ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴍᴇʟʟꜱ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴅᴇʟɪᴄɪᴏᴜꜱ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴏᴋɪᴇꜱ? ɢᴏᴅ, ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀꜱᴛᴇ ʜᴇʀ. ɪ ʙᴇᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴀꜱᴛᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴋᴇᴅ ɢᴏᴏᴅꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴍᴇʟʟꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ. ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ ᴅᴇʟɪᴄᴀᴄʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪʟʏ ᴇᴀᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.“
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Review:
I have no words. Like I’m being for real when I say that this book took me in for loophole. Lorien respectfully- HOW DARE YOU?! This was my second erotic horror and can I just say it didn’t disappoint as you can see for my reaction, I started this today and I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what other crazy shít I had to witness. Plot twist after plot twist I, I couldn’t even guess what was going to happen next. AND THE ENDING?! Lorien- I need book two like now. I highly recommend as long as you do read trigger warning considering this is an EROTIC HORROR, not a dark romance, your mental health matters most 🫶🏼
Profile Image for Rissa.
178 reviews3 followers
August 31, 2024
Yall……
This book was WILD from start to finish
I went into this book blind, as Lorien Ray is a new author, and this was such a great erotic horror read, SO many twists and turns. FMC, Thalia is obsessed with this Murder Mystery podcast, religiously listening to episodes, until one night the men from the podcast are standing infront of her.
There is so much I wanna say about this book but I don’t wanna spoil it.. GO read it when it comes out in a few weeks! And don’t forget to check your TW’s because there is no chill!

-Erotic horror
-Two obsessed men
-Two pages of trigger warnings
-Tons of gore
-Podcasts
-True Crime
-Stalkers
-Lots of spice
Profile Image for Shania.
29 reviews3 followers
September 14, 2024
Y’all I finished my ARC read of Hello, Listener by Lorien Ray and holy mother of all things stalker! 🙌🏻 YES! It was everything I wanted and then some! A solid 4.5 ⭐️ definitely advise you to read the TWs lol this book is not for everyone but it was absolutely for me! It had a little why choose vibes , heavy spice after all it is an erotic horror /splatterpunk romance you have to expect anything can happen! Her writing is absolutely intoxicating and the more I read the more I needed, before I knew it I found myself coming to the end of the book! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to come out! I need more from this brilliant author!
Profile Image for Danee.
145 reviews6 followers
September 17, 2024
American Psycho Meets True Crime Podcast

Alan and Lee are two ridiculously cool guys who host a true crime podcast show together.
Thalia is just a girl with a cat who works long hours as a bartender in the big city and has an obsession with a local podcast about true crime.

Unfortunately, Thalia has learned nothing from her hours or listening so when her world collides with the men of Manhattan Murders, it leads to hot car sex, severed limbs and an ending I absolutely did not see coming!

Dark romance and splatterpunk readers will devour ‘Hello Listener’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Profile Image for Erin.
39 reviews
September 18, 2024
What an incredible read! This book had me hooked from the beginning. The twists and turns this book had made it a wild ride. This was an amazing debut novel. The plot, characters, character development, the spice- all fantastically done. Had very many "What?!?!" moments while reading and didn't want it to end. The ending though? Absolute chefs kiss!!! Mind those trigger warnings, it is a heavy book. Congrats Lorien on an amazing first book. I can't wait to read more from you!

-Multiple POVs
-True Crime
-Podcasts
-Stalking
-Obsession
-Gore
-A long list of triggers
-Serial Unalivers
Profile Image for Paige Ray.
1,103 reviews62 followers
December 17, 2024
Such a fantastic debut! I read this in two sittings. I was so invested in this story and I had to know how it would end.

Hello, Listener follows Thalia, a young bartender, who is quite obsessed with this particular true crime podcast and uses it to help her sleep ;)

The two masterminds behind the podcast, Lee and Alan, insert themselves into Thalia's life when they notice she is one of their new followers. She is beautiful and irresistible in their eyes. She also doesn't keep her settings private on Instagram which makes it even easier to find her.

As Thalia gets to know both of these men her life begins to change. Her nightly routine is replaced with the physical thing now. ;) Meanwhile, there is a killer lurking in the shadows. Will Thalia be its next victim?

This story had me in such a chokehold. If you love erotic horror and true crime then this is the book for you! I highly recommend checking this one out.

I hope to see more from this author in the near future!
Profile Image for Tiffany J McLay.
158 reviews9 followers
August 31, 2024
This book had me yelling 'Noooooo, don't' about 100x in the best way.

This book is incredibly intense and kind of addictive in the sense that if I didn't have kids and a husband, I probably would have read this in one sitting.

I don't just want more, I NEED more.

This would make a fantastic horror TV show!!!

It had me grasping my chest and my eyes wide!

***As always please read content warnings before reading. It contains a lot of intense and scary triggers, which are all listed for your mental health
Profile Image for Emelie  L.
39 reviews7 followers
September 21, 2024
Wow, I don't even know where to begin I absolutely loved this erotic horror! An amazing debut novel, I'm impressed!!

We follow Thalia in her everyday life where everything goes on by routine, until one day when she meets the producer and host of her favourite podcast. They both seem to have their eyes on the same price, and that price is Thalia.

This book is beautifully written and very detailed. It kept my interest hooked throughout and was fast paced, and honestly every time I thought I had something figured out there was a new twist thrown my way! This book is SPICY, beautiful, bloody, eerie and I really love the authentic feel that this could actually happen. The way Lorien describes the emotions and the insanity was just chefs kiss.

I really loved the characters and that you got to follow from diffrent perspectives. It made me feel closer to each of them and it felt like you were in their head. I was super stressed out while reading because I cared so much for them all.

I was lucky to receive an arc of this book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a spicy horror with some hot stalkers! I can't wait to read more from this author! Please check trigger warnings if you need them, because it does get dark.
Profile Image for K.R. Richard.
Author 3 books19 followers
September 5, 2024
I need a second book more then I need my morning coffee. 🙄

This was an amazing read. I was hooked from the very beginning! I wouldn't have known this is a debut novel if I hadn't been following Lorien on her writing journey.
Hello, Listener gave me everything I wanted from twist, turns, and make you brush spice!

This book passed my expectations! Anything written by the author will be an immediate buy!

5/5 read ⭐️
4/5 spice🌶
10/10 for making me feel crazy about rooting for the bad guy. 😂
Profile Image for Nicole.
164 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2024
Wow! Omg! I’m so mad at myself for reading this on a busy week! I really wished I could have read this in one sitting! From the very beginning I was hooked!! All the twists and turns omg! I never wanted to put it down!! Definitely check your triggers for this book! This book was a ride I was alllll for it!!
Profile Image for Brittany.
64 reviews14 followers
September 11, 2024
This is such a fantastic debut novel and when I say I loved it, I mean it. My little macabre heart was so into this, the gruesome parts are some of the best I have read. I loved Thalia and could picture every outfit she wore. I also related heavily to her being a creature of habit. I felt like I was yelling "Omg no, don't do that, don't go there, stop girl" constantly. It was a wild ride. The ending had me shocked! I hope it means that Lorien Ray has more in store for us.
Profile Image for Rachel.
50 reviews6 followers
June 6, 2025
this was absolutely fucking wild, unhinged, pure freaking perfection. i wouldn’t even call it romance because the level of obsession Alan reaches for Thalia is beyond anything i’ve read before. (but in a good way😉) i was genuinely shocked and surprised by the twists and turns that Lorien Ray took us on in the book. What an incredible debut for this author! i can’t wait to read more.
Profile Image for Ashlyn Palmisano-Rojas.
117 reviews
September 3, 2024
Okay listen, I love gory messy books and this one was a mind f***. It took a left turn so quickly and I think it altered my brain chemistry. I’ve never read a book with a podcast in the story and I thought turning a true crime podcast into a sinister plot is GENIUS. I can’t wait for the next book I need to know what happens with Lee!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kaity Den Reads.
261 reviews19 followers
September 13, 2024
still reeling

This was SO good! It kept me engaged the whole time. I found myself saying WTF several
Times and I am honestly impressed with some of the unaliving scenes! Can’t wait to read more from this author!
26 reviews
September 15, 2024
Yup, you should read it

Strong writing, good storyline. Funny that her “heals” would be from her Achilles heel. I was really hoping she might be secretly do the same things as Alan. Sorry, trying so hard to not to say spoilers but I just have to comment on a few things hahaha good book, you should read it!
Profile Image for Chrys Rogers.
76 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2024
Wow!!!! Hello.Plot twist… this book is a roller coaster!!! Absolutely loved it from start to finish. I fell in love with the characters and reading the twists had me in a chokehold!!! I didn’t want to put the book down!!!! Great erotic horror book and cannot wait for the story to continue!!!!
Profile Image for Brittany Thomas.
231 reviews7 followers
August 30, 2024
Honestly this book hit the spot.
I was quickly falling in love with all three main characters and trying to piece it all together!

It had fire ass spice, a wild plot that kept me guessing the entire story, and incredibly descriptive gore.
And to be a debut novel?!?

I can’t wait to see what else Lorien has in store for us.
Profile Image for Bookaholic__Reviews.
1,051 reviews150 followers
September 13, 2024
This book is absolutely insane. The storyline is perfect .The characters are so much fun. It combines some of my favorite things into one crazy story. It gives us serial killers, a podcast, a decent amount of gore, and some fantastic smut! What's not to love?

I received this in exchange for an honest review.
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