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Dead of Summer
Camp Friends Are Forever Friends
Or so the motto of Camp Crestview says.
Having been a camp counselor for the last three summers, I can handle most situations that come my way courtesy of rowdy children. This year shouldn’t be any different, even with a new counselor who’s everyone’s type and too good to be true. But even so, Kayde Lane is nothing I can’t deal with.
Until I stumble upon him at night with an ax and sinister intentions towards the campers we're meant to protect
Unable to let him kill anyone, I strike a dangerous bargain with Kayde, only to realize the true extent of his darkness. With every demand he makes, pushing me to the brink of my moral boundaries, I'm torn between survival and the haunting allure of his control.
As the nights pass and Kayde's demands escalate, I find myself teetering on the edge of sanity, questioning my own desires and the twisted games he plays with my mind.
Seven nights are all I need to survive with Kayde, and if I can do that, everyone lives.
If I can believe the words of a serial killer obsessed with breaking me, that is.
Dead of Summer is a 160k+ word dark romance M/F standalone. It features a possessive, over the top hero and themes that not all readers may appreciate, and may be triggering to some. For a full list of TWs, please see the author's note.
Or so the motto of Camp Crestview says.
Having been a camp counselor for the last three summers, I can handle most situations that come my way courtesy of rowdy children. This year shouldn’t be any different, even with a new counselor who’s everyone’s type and too good to be true. But even so, Kayde Lane is nothing I can’t deal with.
Until I stumble upon him at night with an ax and sinister intentions towards the campers we're meant to protect
Unable to let him kill anyone, I strike a dangerous bargain with Kayde, only to realize the true extent of his darkness. With every demand he makes, pushing me to the brink of my moral boundaries, I'm torn between survival and the haunting allure of his control.
As the nights pass and Kayde's demands escalate, I find myself teetering on the edge of sanity, questioning my own desires and the twisted games he plays with my mind.
Seven nights are all I need to survive with Kayde, and if I can do that, everyone lives.
If I can believe the words of a serial killer obsessed with breaking me, that is.
Dead of Summer is a 160k+ word dark romance M/F standalone. It features a possessive, over the top hero and themes that not all readers may appreciate, and may be triggering to some. For a full list of TWs, please see the author's note.
556 pages, Paperback
Published June 20, 2024
1028 people are currently reading
4835 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Merlin
37 books2,107 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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 585 reviews
November 1, 2025
There was a TON of filler going on. Genuinely, this book did NOT have to be 500+ pages long because there was so much damn dialogue between the fmc and the campers and yes I get we love our dear Kinz and Liza, but please…stfu. We can save you guys for another book and I’ll thoroughly enjoy it just as much as long it’s not like the is and ends up being 500+ pages and a lot of unnecessary bs.
I loved the mmc, he is gorgeous and one of the few blondies in a book I’m a big fan of.
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room that is…grey.
Why the FUCK was this random ass serial killer thrown into the mix? I have no clue, but it really seemed like one of those types of movies where you think you’re super fucked and then out of nowhere the director decided to say fuck it all and throw in something random as hell to save the plot with no context…that’s what it felt like.
Because after she was saved and all said and done with the plot, he literally sends a post card with flowers and all said and done…uhm what?
All in all…2 stars. Definitely not my favorite book by AJ Merlin, but that’s alright I’m still a big fan of her writing and will continue to thoroughly enjoy things she writes!
I loved the mmc, he is gorgeous and one of the few blondies in a book I’m a big fan of.
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room that is…grey.
Why the FUCK was this random ass serial killer thrown into the mix? I have no clue, but it really seemed like one of those types of movies where you think you’re super fucked and then out of nowhere the director decided to say fuck it all and throw in something random as hell to save the plot with no context…that’s what it felt like.
Because after she was saved and all said and done with the plot, he literally sends a post card with flowers and all said and done…uhm what?
All in all…2 stars. Definitely not my favorite book by AJ Merlin, but that’s alright I’m still a big fan of her writing and will continue to thoroughly enjoy things she writes!
May 11, 2025
DNF’d @ 40%
The dirty talk was hot but I just could NOT get past the fact he could be a child killer like?? It was so unnecessary wtf 😭
The dirty talk was hot but I just could NOT get past the fact he could be a child killer like?? It was so unnecessary wtf 😭
July 16, 2024
4.75 - 5 Stars!
Do you like romances where the sociopathic murderer gets the girl? Then this is your book!
Did you like Merlin’s Pleasure & Prey series? Then this is your book!
Do you like kinky steam, a hero that’s both brutal and soft, and a heroine that’s sweet and badass? Then this is your book!
Dead of Summer, while longer than I was expecting, was SO good. Summer is a counselor at camp and runs into Kayde the killer. In exchange for not killing her campers, Summer agrees to be Kayde’s plaything. Kayde doesn’t hold back on anything and Summer takes it all.
Kayde never sees Summer coming but he certainly doesn’t run away from it. Summer tries to hold onto her self preservation but Kayde is convincing in many ways and it WAS HOT.
Seriously this book delivered on the steam and I just adored Kayde and his MINE attitude. He was all alpha teddy bear for his girl and saw what she didn’t show the world. He knew what she needed before she knew she needed it. And he never took no for an answer in the sweetest and most deviant ways.
Summer was a little messed up from her past but her heart was always in the right place. I loved how she fell for Kayde and clung to him in all the ways he needed.
Gah, I just loved this book. Full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Please don’t stop writing in this world Merlin!!
Do you like romances where the sociopathic murderer gets the girl? Then this is your book!
Did you like Merlin’s Pleasure & Prey series? Then this is your book!
Do you like kinky steam, a hero that’s both brutal and soft, and a heroine that’s sweet and badass? Then this is your book!
Dead of Summer, while longer than I was expecting, was SO good. Summer is a counselor at camp and runs into Kayde the killer. In exchange for not killing her campers, Summer agrees to be Kayde’s plaything. Kayde doesn’t hold back on anything and Summer takes it all.
“You were so good for me, sweetheart,” my ax murderer whispers against my hair, just over the sound of the water. “Just relax for me, baby. I’ve got you.”
Kayde never sees Summer coming but he certainly doesn’t run away from it. Summer tries to hold onto her self preservation but Kayde is convincing in many ways and it WAS HOT.
Seriously this book delivered on the steam and I just adored Kayde and his MINE attitude. He was all alpha teddy bear for his girl and saw what she didn’t show the world. He knew what she needed before she knew she needed it. And he never took no for an answer in the sweetest and most deviant ways.
Summer was a little messed up from her past but her heart was always in the right place. I loved how she fell for Kayde and clung to him in all the ways he needed.
Gah, I just loved this book. Full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Please don’t stop writing in this world Merlin!!
“All mine, for the rest of your life. I don’t really believe in an afterlife, by the way. But if there is one, you’re mine there as well.”
“What if we go to separate places in the afterlife?” I ask, scoffing a low laugh “Last I checked, heaven isn’t for murderers.”
“Then I’ll just have to drag you down to hell with me.”
August 19, 2024
I don’t think I’ve ever dnfed a book at 90% before, so this is a first for me! Usually I’d just keep pushing if I made it this far but I just can’t do it anymore.
I’m a little lost on how to rate the book because I did really enjoy the first 50% or so, and was racing thru this book quickly and getting sucked in. So, I was willing to suspend my disbelief and accept that serial killer #1 was more interested in banging the unremarkable heroine than he was in murdering an entire campground of people. I accepted it and I was willing to keep moving forward. But then, a second serial killer happens upon this random campsite in the middle of nowhere. And then! Then! One of the camp counselors who had literally been working there forever, seemingly normal the whole time, has now also developed antisocial tendencies and seems to be a burgeoning serial killer? wTF is in the water at this place?!?!?! No!!! No!!! It was too much to accept!!! The statistical improbability of this concurrence of events was simply too much to bear! So I had to dnf this and was left with a feeling of disgust for myself for enjoying the first half.
4 stars for the first 50 pct or so… 0 stars for what it became… averaging to 2.
Also!!! The word “feral” to describe the campers was used…maybe…. 3884848393 times? That did persistently bother me even during the first half.
I’m a little lost on how to rate the book because I did really enjoy the first 50% or so, and was racing thru this book quickly and getting sucked in. So, I was willing to suspend my disbelief and accept that serial killer #1 was more interested in banging the unremarkable heroine than he was in murdering an entire campground of people. I accepted it and I was willing to keep moving forward. But then, a second serial killer happens upon this random campsite in the middle of nowhere. And then! Then! One of the camp counselors who had literally been working there forever, seemingly normal the whole time, has now also developed antisocial tendencies and seems to be a burgeoning serial killer? wTF is in the water at this place?!?!?! No!!! No!!! It was too much to accept!!! The statistical improbability of this concurrence of events was simply too much to bear! So I had to dnf this and was left with a feeling of disgust for myself for enjoying the first half.
4 stars for the first 50 pct or so… 0 stars for what it became… averaging to 2.
Also!!! The word “feral” to describe the campers was used…maybe…. 3884848393 times? That did persistently bother me even during the first half.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2024
June 2024
Kindle edition
For a book with that many killers or future killers, there was a surprising lack of death. Mostly I’m surprised Darcy got through unscathed. It was a little too long and felt like there was a disconnect between pining for Kayde and Kayde coming back. It felt like I’d gone into a sequel. Suddenly there was Shawn and Grey, and Kayde was no longer the intense serial killer, more a retired one ready to settle down.
Summer was an alright FMC, the self sacrifice thing started to get annoying towards the end, as well as the blind spot of not seeing that Shawn was trying to hurt her. It started to feel like Shawn was meant to be a red herring because surely someone couldn’t be that clueless.
The lack of a buddy system bothered me. The kids were okay, not quite the feral monsters they were made out to be. Melody was probably the star of the show and I’m curious how she’d turn out.
Camp councillors summer romance with blackmail not to go on a killing spree. The spit was ick, the rest was slow, but did feel dragged out and a touch repetitive with the somno. Curious about Gray. It was alright but the cover made it seem like things would be darker. Drug use and the FMC having too many close calls via drowning etc.
Kindle edition
For a book with that many killers or future killers, there was a surprising lack of death. Mostly I’m surprised Darcy got through unscathed. It was a little too long and felt like there was a disconnect between pining for Kayde and Kayde coming back. It felt like I’d gone into a sequel. Suddenly there was Shawn and Grey, and Kayde was no longer the intense serial killer, more a retired one ready to settle down.
Summer was an alright FMC, the self sacrifice thing started to get annoying towards the end, as well as the blind spot of not seeing that Shawn was trying to hurt her. It started to feel like Shawn was meant to be a red herring because surely someone couldn’t be that clueless.
The lack of a buddy system bothered me. The kids were okay, not quite the feral monsters they were made out to be. Melody was probably the star of the show and I’m curious how she’d turn out.
Camp councillors summer romance with blackmail not to go on a killing spree. The spit was ick, the rest was slow, but did feel dragged out and a touch repetitive with the somno. Curious about Gray. It was alright but the cover made it seem like things would be darker. Drug use and the FMC having too many close calls via drowning etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2024
This is probably the last A.J. Merlin book I'll ever read. I've read 2 others from her before and I don't think she's for me as an author. For whatever reason, she likes to write her FMC as dumb as possible and that doesn't work for me.
The book started off good. The story is about Summer, a camp counselor who makes a deal with Kayde, the newest counselor this year to do anything he wants in an effort to stop him from killing the kids at the camp and the other counselors when she catches him with at night with an axe.
The first half of the book I enjoyed, the tension, the high stakes, the chemistry between Summer and Kayde and the sex I really enjoyed. However, the last 200+ pages fell apart terribly. First of all, Summer is a terrible protagonist. At no point in the book did I think she was smart. Most of the decisions she made were stupid. Also, while she did have good chemistry with Kayde, Summer was boring. Imo there was nothing about her interesting. I didn't understand why Kayde was obsessed with her. She gave absolutely nothing the whole book except sarcastic quips and having a dumbass self sacrificial lamb complex.
I also was not a fan of the Shawn and Grey subplot. It made no sense. Shawn went from being the most background character ever to randomly having a role in the story in the last act of the book. Why? We already had a psycho with Kayde, we didn't need Shawn. We damn well didn't need Grey, some random new character written in to be a psycho as well. The back half of this book was disjointed as hell. It seemed like the author wanted to do too much at once and it didn't work for me. At all. Kayde, as a character was neutered. After he came back from being gone for 3 days, the only thing he cared about was getting Summer to love him. He no longer had an interest in trying to kill anybody, Summer was even dumber than before and again the Shawn and Grey subplot was a terrible decision and badly written. This book started off with promise but unfortunately it didn't end that way. Add on, Summer never asking Kayde any questions. Like how long has he been killing? Why is he killing? Hell, how many has he killed? Is another reason the book fell apart. Along with the most important reason of all. There was no killing!!
What was the point of making it known that Kayde was a serial killer when he literally killed nobody the whole book but one person. Yes, he agreed to Summer's deal but we could've at least gotten something. He should've been allowed to kill Darcy as well or something. Again, the book started on a high but it ended on the lowest of the low.
The book started off good. The story is about Summer, a camp counselor who makes a deal with Kayde, the newest counselor this year to do anything he wants in an effort to stop him from killing the kids at the camp and the other counselors when she catches him with at night with an axe.
The first half of the book I enjoyed, the tension, the high stakes, the chemistry between Summer and Kayde and the sex I really enjoyed. However, the last 200+ pages fell apart terribly. First of all, Summer is a terrible protagonist. At no point in the book did I think she was smart. Most of the decisions she made were stupid. Also, while she did have good chemistry with Kayde, Summer was boring. Imo there was nothing about her interesting. I didn't understand why Kayde was obsessed with her. She gave absolutely nothing the whole book except sarcastic quips and having a dumbass self sacrificial lamb complex.
I also was not a fan of the Shawn and Grey subplot. It made no sense. Shawn went from being the most background character ever to randomly having a role in the story in the last act of the book. Why? We already had a psycho with Kayde, we didn't need Shawn. We damn well didn't need Grey, some random new character written in to be a psycho as well. The back half of this book was disjointed as hell. It seemed like the author wanted to do too much at once and it didn't work for me. At all. Kayde, as a character was neutered. After he came back from being gone for 3 days, the only thing he cared about was getting Summer to love him. He no longer had an interest in trying to kill anybody, Summer was even dumber than before and again the Shawn and Grey subplot was a terrible decision and badly written. This book started off with promise but unfortunately it didn't end that way. Add on, Summer never asking Kayde any questions. Like how long has he been killing? Why is he killing? Hell, how many has he killed? Is another reason the book fell apart. Along with the most important reason of all. There was no killing!!
What was the point of making it known that Kayde was a serial killer when he literally killed nobody the whole book but one person. Yes, he agreed to Summer's deal but we could've at least gotten something. He should've been allowed to kill Darcy as well or something. Again, the book started on a high but it ended on the lowest of the low.
June 19, 2024
BOOK REVIEW - Dead of Summer by AJ Merlin
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
do you like:
🥀dark romance
🥀serial k!ller
🥀summer camp
🥀enemies to lovers
🥀jealous/possessive hero
🥀touch her and 💀
🥀spicy spice
Then this is the book for you!
As you probably know from my page, I am obsessed with AJ’s books, and when Dead of Summer was announced, I just knew this book was going to blow me away - and it did. I’m super lucky to have received an ARC and read this in under 24 hours - that’s how obsessed I was🤭
Camp Friends Are Forever Friends
Or so the motto of Camp Crestview says.
Heading back to her summer job of being a camp counsellor, Summer, doesn’t expect anything major to happen. Maybe a few accidents and arguments amongst the kids, but nothing Crestview can’t handle.
Whilst her best friend Kinsley drools over the camp nurse, Summer’s left to navigate this season, trying to figure out what she wants.
Well that’s until she stumbles across the new golden retriever counsellor, in the woods with an ax in his hand…
So what does she do, you may ask?
She strikes up a deal with him, to stop him hurting anyone at camp… she’s to do whatever he wants, for each night of camp.
His demands become dark, twisted and possessive but she has no choice, fighting her own demons and desires…
This book is my favourite read of the year, I don’t know if anything can top it.
AJ has hit the nail on the head with these characters, I absolutely LOVE how Kayde has two different sides of himself, the golden retriever, perfect gentleman to the dark, unhinged sociopath.
Summer on the other hand, has a backbone, she likes the fight and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves whilst getting tangled in Kayde’s dark and kinky web.
Melody was incredible, I won’t say too much but her moments made me laugh so much, I think she’ll be very loved from this book.
Not only is the plot incredible but the spicy scenes as well, for all of my dark romance friends, you seriously don’t want to miss out on this book - especially if you like sp!t and BDSM🤭
August 21, 2024
watch out yall, i’m back in my slasher era!! 🔪🩸💀‼️
Overall Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating 4.5/5 🌶️
why was this actually the best slasher romance i’ve ever read???? out of every single Aj Merlin book (love you sm!!!) i’ve had the pleasure of reading, Dead of Summer is by far the best one and my FAVORITE read of hers - I LOVED IT (so much that i ordered a physical copy while reading a digital copy)!
I adored the 80’s summer camp slasher movies vibes & i think this one may have ruined me for all other slasher books maybe… i can’t stop thinking about it and i can’t stop thinking about kayde. kayde is officially my #1 unhinged sociopath serial killer bf and i firmly stand by that!
there was such good balance of plot, romance, spice (the spice yall!!!! immaculate & will leave you a throbbing mess on the floor!!!) suspense/mystery, and even some of that good action/gore that comes with typical slasher books and it was just so so good, I can’t recommend this book enough to everyone!! now i’m definitely gonna need a book about melody… and grey….(i need his lore)
🔪💀❤️🩸❤️💀🔪
I had the pleasure of buddy reading this book with emily & jordan and absolutely can’t wait to read more aj merlin books with them!! ❤️
Overall Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating 4.5/5 🌶️
why was this actually the best slasher romance i’ve ever read???? out of every single Aj Merlin book (love you sm!!!) i’ve had the pleasure of reading, Dead of Summer is by far the best one and my FAVORITE read of hers - I LOVED IT (so much that i ordered a physical copy while reading a digital copy)!
I adored the 80’s summer camp slasher movies vibes & i think this one may have ruined me for all other slasher books maybe… i can’t stop thinking about it and i can’t stop thinking about kayde. kayde is officially my #1 unhinged sociopath serial killer bf and i firmly stand by that!
there was such good balance of plot, romance, spice (the spice yall!!!! immaculate & will leave you a throbbing mess on the floor!!!) suspense/mystery, and even some of that good action/gore that comes with typical slasher books and it was just so so good, I can’t recommend this book enough to everyone!! now i’m definitely gonna need a book about melody… and grey….(i need his lore)
🔪💀❤️🩸❤️💀🔪
I had the pleasure of buddy reading this book with emily & jordan and absolutely can’t wait to read more aj merlin books with them!! ❤️
August 14, 2024
boooooo the slasher isn't even scary
February 3, 2026
This author loves to make her female leads tstl but she writes some of the best smut.
Safety: no virgins. There is no info about the mmc but the way he acts in the bedroom definitely gives off experienced. The only owd is from a girl that works at the camp who constantly tries to hit on him but it’s completely unwanted and he threatens to kill her every time. The fmc had a few relationships but again nothing great 🙄. There is no omd until the very but it’s actually a plot twist.
Safety: no virgins. There is no info about the mmc but the way he acts in the bedroom definitely gives off experienced. The only owd is from a girl that works at the camp who constantly tries to hit on him but it’s completely unwanted and he threatens to kill her every time. The fmc had a few relationships but again nothing great 🙄. There is no omd until the very but it’s actually a plot twist.
October 27, 2024
the plot wasn't that good but the dirty talk was top tier omg
August 6, 2025
Güzeldi. 🤝 Daha kanlı ve karanlık bir kitap bekliyor muydum? Kesinlikle evet. Ama olayların bu şekilde gelişmesine de okeyim.
Summer çocuklara 7günlük kamp yapma fırsatı veren bir işletmede yıllarca çalışmış 23 yaşında bir kadın. Kamp yapmayı çok sevdiği için işini de çocukları da seviyor. Akıllı, pratik ve alçakgönüllü biri. Özellikle başkalarının iyiliği için kendi konfor alanından çıkmaya biraz fazla takıntılı.
Kayde bu kamplarda ilk kez çalışacak bir danışman. Toplamda altı kamp evi var ve birini de o üstleniyor. Yüzünden gülümseme eksik olmayan, yardımcı olmayı seven sarışın bir Yunan tanrısı olarak kendini gösteriyor. Ama bir gece Summer ormanda keşif gezisi yaparken Kayde’yi uzun ceketli, eli baltalı ve tüyler ürperten bir gülüşle buluyor. Kayde yalan söylemiyor ve katliam yapacağını çabucak itiraf ediyor. Summer’ın yardım çağırması ya da onu alt etmesi mümkün değil bu yüzden kendine olan ilgisini fark ederek bir teklif sunuyor. Eğer kimseye zarar vermezse ona istediği her şeyi yapabilir, öldürmek dışında.
Summer’ın fedakarlık takıntısı cidden ilginçti. Yani bir noktada Kayde bitti başka kişiler için de kendini ortaya attı ve neredeyse ölüyordu. 🙄 ama yine de onu sevdiğimi söyleyebilirim çünkü uzun zaman boyunca Kayde’nin hislerine karşı kendini koruyabildi. Akıl sağlığını da kontrol etti ve çok tatlı bir kızdı.
Kayde de iyiydi. Sosyopat olarak bazı tüyler ürpertici huyları vardı ama günün sonunda çocuklara ya da Summer’a zarar vermedi. Ayrıca bana göre istediğim o duygusuzluğa, ölüm sakinliğine ve ani öfke ataklarına sahipti. Onun sosyopat olduğunu yazar size hiç unutturmadı.
Karakterler haricinde kitap tamamen smut odaklı darkromancelerden değildi. Kamp alanında onları bekleyen diğer tehlikeler, çocukların başlarına açtığı kazalar ve yan karakterlerin sahneleri de çoktu. Smut da güzeldi. Bir puan kırmamın tek nedeni biraz uzatılmış olmasıydı. Muhtemelen Summer’ın bir sosyopata aşık olmasını kabullenmesi için yazar daha fazla sahne eklemek istedi ama benim biraz canım sıkıldı.
Kitabı darkromance sevenlere tavsiye ediyorum.
Summer çocuklara 7günlük kamp yapma fırsatı veren bir işletmede yıllarca çalışmış 23 yaşında bir kadın. Kamp yapmayı çok sevdiği için işini de çocukları da seviyor. Akıllı, pratik ve alçakgönüllü biri. Özellikle başkalarının iyiliği için kendi konfor alanından çıkmaya biraz fazla takıntılı.
Kayde bu kamplarda ilk kez çalışacak bir danışman. Toplamda altı kamp evi var ve birini de o üstleniyor. Yüzünden gülümseme eksik olmayan, yardımcı olmayı seven sarışın bir Yunan tanrısı olarak kendini gösteriyor. Ama bir gece Summer ormanda keşif gezisi yaparken Kayde’yi uzun ceketli, eli baltalı ve tüyler ürperten bir gülüşle buluyor. Kayde yalan söylemiyor ve katliam yapacağını çabucak itiraf ediyor. Summer’ın yardım çağırması ya da onu alt etmesi mümkün değil bu yüzden kendine olan ilgisini fark ederek bir teklif sunuyor. Eğer kimseye zarar vermezse ona istediği her şeyi yapabilir, öldürmek dışında.
Summer’ın fedakarlık takıntısı cidden ilginçti. Yani bir noktada Kayde bitti başka kişiler için de kendini ortaya attı ve neredeyse ölüyordu. 🙄 ama yine de onu sevdiğimi söyleyebilirim çünkü uzun zaman boyunca Kayde’nin hislerine karşı kendini koruyabildi. Akıl sağlığını da kontrol etti ve çok tatlı bir kızdı.
Kayde de iyiydi. Sosyopat olarak bazı tüyler ürpertici huyları vardı ama günün sonunda çocuklara ya da Summer’a zarar vermedi. Ayrıca bana göre istediğim o duygusuzluğa, ölüm sakinliğine ve ani öfke ataklarına sahipti. Onun sosyopat olduğunu yazar size hiç unutturmadı.
Karakterler haricinde kitap tamamen smut odaklı darkromancelerden değildi. Kamp alanında onları bekleyen diğer tehlikeler, çocukların başlarına açtığı kazalar ve yan karakterlerin sahneleri de çoktu. Smut da güzeldi. Bir puan kırmamın tek nedeni biraz uzatılmış olmasıydı. Muhtemelen Summer’ın bir sosyopata aşık olmasını kabullenmesi için yazar daha fazla sahne eklemek istedi ama benim biraz canım sıkıldı.
Kitabı darkromance sevenlere tavsiye ediyorum.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2024
He’s very childish and when he’s trying to seem like a killer or badass he just gives me the ick
June 24, 2024
this author doesn’t know what horror/dark means.
June 24, 2024
I normally love this authors murdery books but this one just didn't do it for me.
There was no reason for this book to be as long as it was. It could've easily been 50% shorter. There was a lot of repetition, including a few parts where I thought sentences had been copied/pasted and maybe missed by an editor. And there wasn't really any murder until the very end. I guess I just expected more of that based on the previous works I've read and the blurb.
I found Summer to be a little annoying, especially when she kept bringing up what Kayde's original plans were for the camp. Again, it goes along with the repetitiveness. I was hoping we'd find out more about Kayde's past, and maybe some of his previous crimes since it sounds like visiting camps is his "thing" but we never really did. We just found out a few things from when he was in high school. And even that was a little meh.
I have to say, my favorite character was Melody, the camper. I'd love to see her get her own little novella or something. I'm curious about Grey as well.
I was just expecting more when it came to this book.
There was no reason for this book to be as long as it was. It could've easily been 50% shorter. There was a lot of repetition, including a few parts where I thought sentences had been copied/pasted and maybe missed by an editor. And there wasn't really any murder until the very end. I guess I just expected more of that based on the previous works I've read and the blurb.
I found Summer to be a little annoying, especially when she kept bringing up what Kayde's original plans were for the camp. Again, it goes along with the repetitiveness. I was hoping we'd find out more about Kayde's past, and maybe some of his previous crimes since it sounds like visiting camps is his "thing" but we never really did. We just found out a few things from when he was in high school. And even that was a little meh.
I have to say, my favorite character was Melody, the camper. I'd love to see her get her own little novella or something. I'm curious about Grey as well.
I was just expecting more when it came to this book.
September 17, 2024
Ok got 19% in DNF… was hot but like I kept hoping it was some kind of misunderstanding or game. I can get behind a morally grey character that kills other bad people, but I’m just supposed to be okay with a romantic interest with a guy who was just going to kill a whole camp with no remorse but is somehow willing to play to rules? Like nothing is keeping this guy from poisoning all the food or something else.
Also, I cannot be attracted to someone who hurts innocent people for jollies.
I tried to see if there were any spoilers about it being a mistake or something but I kept finding reviews that says he winds up saving her from another serial killer but he’s always been a bad guy and just wanted retire and that the second half of the book is from a completely different few point? Yea no I’m stopping here. Despite how damn hot that shower scene was
Also, I cannot be attracted to someone who hurts innocent people for jollies.
I tried to see if there were any spoilers about it being a mistake or something but I kept finding reviews that says he winds up saving her from another serial killer but he’s always been a bad guy and just wanted retire and that the second half of the book is from a completely different few point? Yea no I’m stopping here. Despite how damn hot that shower scene was
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2024
5⭐| 4🌶️
I cannot emphasize how much I love Merlin's story-telling, characters, and SPICE. Truly the best of the best when it comes to dark romance every single time. This new novel set at a summer camp puts a spin on the genre and keeps us guessing at every turn. DID I MENTION THE SPICE IN THIS BOOK???!!! I already want to read it again.
I cannot emphasize how much I love Merlin's story-telling, characters, and SPICE. Truly the best of the best when it comes to dark romance every single time. This new novel set at a summer camp puts a spin on the genre and keeps us guessing at every turn. DID I MENTION THE SPICE IN THIS BOOK???!!! I already want to read it again.
November 26, 2025
i rlly loved this like... a lot!! i do agree w other reviews that it dragged a bit and so many random dialogue scenes could've and should've been cut BUT i am a reader and not an author so my opinion is MOOT. i loved kayde real real bad like that's a sexy man idc!! i did find myself just ??? at summer cos why was she so hell bent on putting herself in danger and also putting her campers in danger ie: mel and also the whole random tidbits of her having to be forced to eat for some reason ... darcy was also a character i struggled to understand why tf she was there and idk shawn lowkey came outta nowhere like idk. anyways it was a fun read regardless and so far aj has written nothing but bangers
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2025
instead of touching grass after this reread I jumped into Credence LMFAO
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i need to go outside and touch grass.
was I entertained? yes.
i highly recommend this book if you’re into dark romance, want a horror movie/summer camp vibe where the ax murderer gets the girl and you somehow come out being like…is he that bad though???
anyway, i need to stop reading books that have blonde MMCs that are making me like them
again: read this if you want unhinged and definitely you enjoyed aj merlin’s other series!
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i need to go outside and touch grass.
was I entertained? yes.
i highly recommend this book if you’re into dark romance, want a horror movie/summer camp vibe where the ax murderer gets the girl and you somehow come out being like…is he that bad though???
anyway, i need to stop reading books that have blonde MMCs that are making me like them
again: read this if you want unhinged and definitely you enjoyed aj merlin’s other series!
February 9, 2025
DNF’d at 70% .. wish i would’ve stopped reading after he threatened to kill a camp full of kids
July 15, 2025
3.5 Okay so this book is kinda like insane. I read like half of this book a few months ago and just finished the last half today. This book had a top tier plot. Like I really enjoyed it. You can kinda guess where it was going but I thought it was cute? If that is the right word for it. Don’t take this review to heart because this book was so dark I had to put it down for 3 months so I don’t remember all the factor for why I put it down but it wasn’t because it was a bad or boring book. It was because this made me very uncomfortable in the first half I can’t really say with out spoilers but the main character meeting were under some crazy circumstances and i don’t think i could ever get behind. But also I don’t want to give a book a bad rating because one part made me uncomfortable. The last half of the book was prefect and less dark. I don’t really know what to rate this book since it took me so long to finish but I feel like I would try and reread this book again to see if I can read it all the way through but I don’t think i will because I put this book down for a reason and normally dark stuff doesn’t phase me but this was kinda crazy so I will keep it at 3.5 but i’m debating 3 for even 2.5 stars but i just forgot how dark the first part is so idek. Now that i’m thinking about it this may be because I didn’t read it all at once but like the first half and the last half were completely different and didn’t have a flow but again I put the book down for 3 months. Anyways I don’t want to give this book a bad rating because how dark some of these takes are but I am definitely questioning the author sanity but i respect it because it’s bold and different.
February 14, 2025
camp slasher
7.5/10 overall
It started really strong but started to drag a bit at about 60%
However I was interested enough to see how it ended
7.5/10 overall
It started really strong but started to drag a bit at about 60%
However I was interested enough to see how it ended
August 1, 2025
3.5..?
The melody being a sociopath thing was soo weird like shes 11.
(that was my only complaint) oh and the fact that it was a way to long for not really anything to happen
The melody being a sociopath thing was soo weird like shes 11.
(that was my only complaint) oh and the fact that it was a way to long for not really anything to happen
August 18, 2024
loved. this.
April 14, 2025
2.5 Stars
December 24, 2024
Summer camp mix with unalivers and a dash of spice? Yes please! I wasn't sure what to expect with this book quite honestly and after I got to one of the first few chapters I kinda felt like "WTF did I get myself into!?" Because yah know some stuff is just too far. But I carried on and it turned out to be a pretty awesome story. The plot was good and the characters really mixed with with it. 4/5 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
February 8, 2025
okay… 5 stars for kayde but jesus christ everything else about this was a hot mess. there’s so much filler, we really didn’t have to come back for week 2 of camp, shawn???, the lack of editing got worse and worse as the book went on… it felt like a rough draft. but kayde? chefs kiss 10/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2024
I loved this book so much. I’m excited for the next one . Oh Kayden. How my heart melts for you
June 23, 2024
giggling & kicking feet when he called her his final girl 😭😭😭😭 romance is great again!
February 1, 2025
Forgot to mark this as read. From what I remember, I mostly enjoyed this, especially the MMC.
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