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All Because of You
In this thrilling debut, author Lissa Lovik plumbs the murky depths of a man’s mind as he insinuates himself into the life of the woman he’s determined to have and to hold . . . forever.
For Chris, it’s love at first sight. After their grocery store meet-cute, it’s easy to get her name from a fallen Serena. A quick online search reveals Serena’s status (single mom), address, and workplace. And once he discovers she’s a Realtor, Chris schedules a house showing right away. But he isn’t pushy—he’ll wait to ask her out.
In the meantime, he’ll just watch. And listen in. He wants to learn everything about her, so he can make her happy. It’s not creepy; it’s true love.
From their first date, their relationship is perfect. But Serena’s best friend keeps getting in the way. She thinks he’s just a friend, but Chris knows better. He knows better about a lot of things. Keeping her in line is getting harder, but their love is worth the effort.
The stars aligned when Chris and Serena met in that Winn-Dixie. And they’re going to be happy together . . . even if it kills them.
For Chris, it’s love at first sight. After their grocery store meet-cute, it’s easy to get her name from a fallen Serena. A quick online search reveals Serena’s status (single mom), address, and workplace. And once he discovers she’s a Realtor, Chris schedules a house showing right away. But he isn’t pushy—he’ll wait to ask her out.
In the meantime, he’ll just watch. And listen in. He wants to learn everything about her, so he can make her happy. It’s not creepy; it’s true love.
From their first date, their relationship is perfect. But Serena’s best friend keeps getting in the way. She thinks he’s just a friend, but Chris knows better. He knows better about a lot of things. Keeping her in line is getting harder, but their love is worth the effort.
The stars aligned when Chris and Serena met in that Winn-Dixie. And they’re going to be happy together . . . even if it kills them.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
556 people are currently reading
6322 people want to read
About the author
Lissa Lovik
1 book45 followersI live on a farm with all the animals and a few small children. My life is Word docs, fictional characters, children, dogs, books, shoes, and baths. (It sounds a little sad when I type it out like that.)
IG: @lissalovik
IG: @lissalovik
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
December 30, 2025
I was literally drawn to this book like a moth to a flame & I can't begin to tell you why. I saw it on Netgallery and thought it looked interesting. But I'm hoping to be approved for some great looking books on Netgallery, therefore I try to be mindful of my numbers. So on I went, but for whatever reason I just could NOT stop thinking about this book.
AND THIS IS WHY WE LISTEN TO OUR GUTS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was the best suspense book I've read in a longgggggggg time
I make comparisons a lot. Not necessarily because I think two books should be in competition with one another, but more because I personally have always found comparison making a useful tool in determining whether or not something might be for me.
Why do I feel the need to say this on this particular review and not on all the rest? Glad you asked.
Because I know this comparison I'm about to make is a big one. But you have to hear me out until the end.
Everyone who wanted to love the Haunting Adeline series, but found it "too much" (which I can understand) this one's for you.. This is like the vanilla version, believable version..Now these books are very VERY different, in a lot of ways!.. But they have the same stalker/Joe from YOU vibe.. similar to Haunting Adeline..So if Haunting Adeline was something you truly wanted to love but found it too dark for you and you wanted something a little less intense & a little more believable, this is the book! 5,000%!
For me this was the kind of book that pulls you in and makes you forget the outside world around you even exists. Not even kidding, it's a good thing there wasn't some type of major catastrophe while I was reading this because I would have failed to notice.. I could of been inside a burning building but would of had no clue, because I just HAD to know what happened next here.
I wish reviewers were given one gold buzzer inspired 6 star review a year, this book would definitely be in the running for my buzzer.
It's safe to say this is a book I will definitely be recommending & buying!!
Until next time,
Hades
AND THIS IS WHY WE LISTEN TO OUR GUTS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was the best suspense book I've read in a longgggggggg time
I make comparisons a lot. Not necessarily because I think two books should be in competition with one another, but more because I personally have always found comparison making a useful tool in determining whether or not something might be for me.
Why do I feel the need to say this on this particular review and not on all the rest? Glad you asked.
Because I know this comparison I'm about to make is a big one. But you have to hear me out until the end.
Everyone who wanted to love the Haunting Adeline series, but found it "too much" (which I can understand) this one's for you.. This is like the vanilla version, believable version..Now these books are very VERY different, in a lot of ways!.. But they have the same stalker/Joe from YOU vibe.. similar to Haunting Adeline..So if Haunting Adeline was something you truly wanted to love but found it too dark for you and you wanted something a little less intense & a little more believable, this is the book! 5,000%!
For me this was the kind of book that pulls you in and makes you forget the outside world around you even exists. Not even kidding, it's a good thing there wasn't some type of major catastrophe while I was reading this because I would have failed to notice.. I could of been inside a burning building but would of had no clue, because I just HAD to know what happened next here.
I wish reviewers were given one gold buzzer inspired 6 star review a year, this book would definitely be in the running for my buzzer.
It's safe to say this is a book I will definitely be recommending & buying!!
Until next time,
Hades
March 18, 2025
Chris Fox has a casual encounter with Serena Archer in a grocery store and in very Joe Goldberg-esque fashion, he becomes immediately obsessed with her. He stalks her and manipulates his way into her life, initially coming across to her as the perfect guy. But it’s not long before Chris starts exhibiting red flags and Serena realizes he is not the great guy she initially thought he was.
This entire book (which I read in one day) is told from the perspective of Chris. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the title of this book is All Because of “You” and as someone who watched and enjoyed the Netflix series, I could hear Joe Goldberg’s voice narrating in my head as I read.
Although this touches on many of the same themes as “You”, this one felt a bit more serious and believable and the theme of domestic violence is much more prominent. I’d actually consider this a bit of a cross between “You” and “It Ends With Us”.
This was a dark and captivating read and I will definitely be on the lookout for anything new from Lissa Lovik. With thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to preview this ARC in exchange for my review.
This entire book (which I read in one day) is told from the perspective of Chris. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the title of this book is All Because of “You” and as someone who watched and enjoyed the Netflix series, I could hear Joe Goldberg’s voice narrating in my head as I read.
Although this touches on many of the same themes as “You”, this one felt a bit more serious and believable and the theme of domestic violence is much more prominent. I’d actually consider this a bit of a cross between “You” and “It Ends With Us”.
This was a dark and captivating read and I will definitely be on the lookout for anything new from Lissa Lovik. With thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to preview this ARC in exchange for my review.
dnf
July 14, 2025DNF @ 10% - No rating!
I gave this novel a try, but unfortunately, it’s just not clicking with me. The writing style and character development aren’t working for me, and I’m finding the plot hard to engage with. I knew early on it might not be a good fit - for example, the opening lines felt inconsistent and didn’t inspire much confidence. At this point, I don’t think it’s worth continuing, and I’d rather DNF than end up rating it low, and dragging down the average rating.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Lissa Lovik for the e-ARC.
I gave this novel a try, but unfortunately, it’s just not clicking with me. The writing style and character development aren’t working for me, and I’m finding the plot hard to engage with. I knew early on it might not be a good fit - for example, the opening lines felt inconsistent and didn’t inspire much confidence. At this point, I don’t think it’s worth continuing, and I’d rather DNF than end up rating it low, and dragging down the average rating.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Lissa Lovik for the e-ARC.
October 7, 2025
What! This was so good 😆😆😆
It read like a fun romance novel with a side of stalking and obsession.
I loved the female love interest, she was the exact kind of quirky, solid, boss single mother I’d want to be when I grow up 😆 and I even liked the main character despite his stalking and spying tendencies, in fact I even kinda liked him more because of it, I mean 10 points for effort and attentiveness 😆 who wouldn’t want someone to be so obsessed with you they just want to be with you and make you happy idk the stalking doesn’t sound so bad to me 😂😂 I jest I jest.
I really enjoyed this and will be keeping my eye out for more from this author!
The narrator did a great job too 👍🏼
Thank you for the gifted copy!!
Publishes: July 29th
It read like a fun romance novel with a side of stalking and obsession.
I loved the female love interest, she was the exact kind of quirky, solid, boss single mother I’d want to be when I grow up 😆 and I even liked the main character despite his stalking and spying tendencies, in fact I even kinda liked him more because of it, I mean 10 points for effort and attentiveness 😆 who wouldn’t want someone to be so obsessed with you they just want to be with you and make you happy idk the stalking doesn’t sound so bad to me 😂😂 I jest I jest.
I really enjoyed this and will be keeping my eye out for more from this author!
The narrator did a great job too 👍🏼
Thank you for the gifted copy!!
Publishes: July 29th
April 8, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy of All Because of You by Lissa Lovik. First off, I can't believe this was a debut novel! It felt like I was reading a very seasoned author's work. I love thrillers and read them very often so it's sometimes hard for me to be wow'd by specific themes and tropes in thrillers. This book did just that.
A chance meeting in a grocery store one day creates a domino effect of obsession, lust, and chaos for two people. Boy meets girl. Boy stalks girl. You know that kind of love story. This book honestly creeped me out with the amount of sinister details there were. You truly never know who you are meeting when encountering a stranger.
Single mother and real estate agent Serena has been unlucky in love. Raising a teenage son and just trying to keep her head above water in all aspects of her life gets swept off her feet by a stranger she meets in the grocery store. Chris seems too good to be true but that is only because Serena has been always unlucky in love.
This is a heart pounding thriller that will have you at the edge of our set. I finished it in about a day because I could not put it down. This book releases July 2025 so be sure to add it to your summer thriller list. I have a feeling it will be a top read of the summer!
A chance meeting in a grocery store one day creates a domino effect of obsession, lust, and chaos for two people. Boy meets girl. Boy stalks girl. You know that kind of love story. This book honestly creeped me out with the amount of sinister details there were. You truly never know who you are meeting when encountering a stranger.
Single mother and real estate agent Serena has been unlucky in love. Raising a teenage son and just trying to keep her head above water in all aspects of her life gets swept off her feet by a stranger she meets in the grocery store. Chris seems too good to be true but that is only because Serena has been always unlucky in love.
This is a heart pounding thriller that will have you at the edge of our set. I finished it in about a day because I could not put it down. This book releases July 2025 so be sure to add it to your summer thriller list. I have a feeling it will be a top read of the summer!
May 23, 2025
Hard to believe this is a debut. Wow….I loved this book. It's about a romantic obsession and the way this author puts us into the mind of our main character. So chilling and disturbing.
I don't want to give to many details about this one. I'm going to be vague. Chris meets Serena at a grocery store and it's an immediate love at first sight for him. He comes about finding her online, and he goes about setting up a meeting with her. From there, they develop a relationship. But his pursuit of her is definitely out of the ordinary. He is obsessed and he is determined to have Serena no matter what. And he can justify all his actions, which are so creepy.
Highly recommend this one. The character development was great. She nailed this one. I flew through this one. Suspenseful and tense.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
I don't want to give to many details about this one. I'm going to be vague. Chris meets Serena at a grocery store and it's an immediate love at first sight for him. He comes about finding her online, and he goes about setting up a meeting with her. From there, they develop a relationship. But his pursuit of her is definitely out of the ordinary. He is obsessed and he is determined to have Serena no matter what. And he can justify all his actions, which are so creepy.
Highly recommend this one. The character development was great. She nailed this one. I flew through this one. Suspenseful and tense.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2025
Very well written story of a toxic romantic pursuit.
Chris Fox sees Serena Archer at a grocery store. His obsession with her starts right away. He digs out her details – address & phone. She is a real estate agent, with a 13-year-old son Cole. Chris approaches her as a client asking to look at a few houses to buy. She does not realize what she is getting into – finding him to be a nice person genuinely interested in her. Unknown to her, Chris is monitoring everything she is doing through the day. The warning signs surface in a few months, but Chris vows that he is committed to her and their relationship.
The character development is excellent and ideal for the story. Chris - obsessive, possessive, controlling & dogged & quite extreme at that; Serena – sweet, caring, trusting & honest. Interestingly, we read the story from Chris’ perspective – his behaviour is creepy and disturbing (if we follow the news, this is not behaviour confined only to stories sadly). Chris’ ideas are wicked and clever – and I found myself hooked till the end. I found a murder as part of the story to be an unnecessary distraction. There are not too many ways for the story to end, and yet felt the last sections could have been a little better.
A recommended read!
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
Chris Fox sees Serena Archer at a grocery store. His obsession with her starts right away. He digs out her details – address & phone. She is a real estate agent, with a 13-year-old son Cole. Chris approaches her as a client asking to look at a few houses to buy. She does not realize what she is getting into – finding him to be a nice person genuinely interested in her. Unknown to her, Chris is monitoring everything she is doing through the day. The warning signs surface in a few months, but Chris vows that he is committed to her and their relationship.
The character development is excellent and ideal for the story. Chris - obsessive, possessive, controlling & dogged & quite extreme at that; Serena – sweet, caring, trusting & honest. Interestingly, we read the story from Chris’ perspective – his behaviour is creepy and disturbing (if we follow the news, this is not behaviour confined only to stories sadly). Chris’ ideas are wicked and clever – and I found myself hooked till the end. I found a murder as part of the story to be an unnecessary distraction. There are not too many ways for the story to end, and yet felt the last sections could have been a little better.
A recommended read!
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
August 6, 2025
"I kiss his furry head, stroke his cheeks the way he likes, feeling like a villain in my lair, petting my cat, except that I'm not. A villain, I mean. I love her."
WHOA. A dark stalker tale that puts you right in the mind of the antagonist, and it's a disturbing place to be. Chris sees Serena in the grocery store and it's LOVE at first sight. They have a brief friendly exchange that seems perfectly normal. What's NOT normal is that when Serena accidentally drops her grocery list written on the back of a receipt, Chris has what he needs to gather information about her online, and soon enough, he has her home address...
I'm not gonna lie, I found Chris to be somewhat charming in the beginning, similar to Joe in 'You'. I was kind of rooting for him. At first. I would even cringe when he just couldn't help but let loose his controlling and clingy behavior. Like, Chris...my dude, you're BLOWING IT. Things begin to take a downward spiral, because of course they do, he's a STALKER! Though the story is told entirely in first person from Chris' perspective, Serena holds her own as an interesting character. The way she moves through life and deals with Chris as he becomes increasingly unhinged feels realistic and believable. My FAVORITE character is Sirius, Serena's dog. Sirius is such a larger than life presence throughout adding a touch of the unpredictable as well.
On one hand there isn't much humor and the story gets dark pretty quickly and on the other hand, I wanted it to be even a touch DARKER. That isn't to say it didn't get uncomfortable and go off the rails, it absolutely did. In some ways, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU feels like a cautionary tale. How much of yourself are you putting online? Private details? How similar is your daily routine? Am I little more paranoid now than I was before I read this? Maybe, and maybe that's a GOOD thing. Then again, I'm the type to cover the cameras on my devices, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Ifyou're like me, and find being in the mind of an unstable person fascinating, a little scary and hard to look away from, this one is definitely for you!
____
Thank you Lissa Lovik for my gifted copy. All thoughts are mine own.
WHOA. A dark stalker tale that puts you right in the mind of the antagonist, and it's a disturbing place to be. Chris sees Serena in the grocery store and it's LOVE at first sight. They have a brief friendly exchange that seems perfectly normal. What's NOT normal is that when Serena accidentally drops her grocery list written on the back of a receipt, Chris has what he needs to gather information about her online, and soon enough, he has her home address...
I'm not gonna lie, I found Chris to be somewhat charming in the beginning, similar to Joe in 'You'. I was kind of rooting for him. At first. I would even cringe when he just couldn't help but let loose his controlling and clingy behavior. Like, Chris...my dude, you're BLOWING IT. Things begin to take a downward spiral, because of course they do, he's a STALKER! Though the story is told entirely in first person from Chris' perspective, Serena holds her own as an interesting character. The way she moves through life and deals with Chris as he becomes increasingly unhinged feels realistic and believable. My FAVORITE character is Sirius, Serena's dog. Sirius is such a larger than life presence throughout adding a touch of the unpredictable as well.
On one hand there isn't much humor and the story gets dark pretty quickly and on the other hand, I wanted it to be even a touch DARKER. That isn't to say it didn't get uncomfortable and go off the rails, it absolutely did. In some ways, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU feels like a cautionary tale. How much of yourself are you putting online? Private details? How similar is your daily routine? Am I little more paranoid now than I was before I read this? Maybe, and maybe that's a GOOD thing. Then again, I'm the type to cover the cameras on my devices, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Ifyou're like me, and find being in the mind of an unstable person fascinating, a little scary and hard to look away from, this one is definitely for you!
____
Thank you Lissa Lovik for my gifted copy. All thoughts are mine own.
March 18, 2025
My Rating: 1⭐️ Just a super letdown, I feel disappointed that I kept going!!
Love is blind…. Well not for Chris, it’s love at first sight when he bumps into Serena at the grocery store. Every step of the way is curated to ensure that Chris meets Serena again… they are meant to be he knows it!!
She will know it too…. Chris is the perfect man, made just for Serena she just doesn’t know it yet. She is perfect for him too, in every way, even the ways that need changing to ensure “their” ultimate happiness.
Its a lot of effort to keep an eye on Serena all the time, but love is worth the effort and Chris will stop at nothing to get and keep Serena all to himself.
OK… this sounded juicy and started out good. It was very YOU in its initial execution (to be clear I haven’t read it only watched season 1) and to be fair I should have known this might let me down these stalker books are very hit and miss and always pretty similar.
I did like the writing, that was engaging and it kept me interested (there are buts) and it was told from Chris’s POV which is expected… its creepy enough, but it didn’t have that full on ominous feel to it that I was really hoping for. I wanted to feel super uncomfortable … these types of books are supposed to send a chill down your spine and make your hair stand on end… that didn’t happen.
Don’t get me wrong it was creepy but just not enough for this kind of story. To me it was predictable and again these stories usually go the same way (I was hoping for something weird and unhinged that we haven’t seen before, but it didn’t happen), so if they are going to be predictable they need to be done 100% right.
It was lacklustre, and the characters sort of got to a spot and then it went flat. Chris was a good bad guy… but then he kind of was flat too. Everything just fell away and it was like the author went oh well I am out of ideas… lets do this and this and wrap this baby up.
I was really let down with the ending.
Overall, I think this will be a huge hit… but like always I am on outlier island and there will be a few of my regular GR friends that will agree with me, some of my GR friends will love this and honestly go for it… I hope you do love it. If nothing else it was an easy read. But yeah for me it was a huge miss.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Love is blind…. Well not for Chris, it’s love at first sight when he bumps into Serena at the grocery store. Every step of the way is curated to ensure that Chris meets Serena again… they are meant to be he knows it!!
She will know it too…. Chris is the perfect man, made just for Serena she just doesn’t know it yet. She is perfect for him too, in every way, even the ways that need changing to ensure “their” ultimate happiness.
Its a lot of effort to keep an eye on Serena all the time, but love is worth the effort and Chris will stop at nothing to get and keep Serena all to himself.
OK… this sounded juicy and started out good. It was very YOU in its initial execution (to be clear I haven’t read it only watched season 1) and to be fair I should have known this might let me down these stalker books are very hit and miss and always pretty similar.
I did like the writing, that was engaging and it kept me interested (there are buts) and it was told from Chris’s POV which is expected… its creepy enough, but it didn’t have that full on ominous feel to it that I was really hoping for. I wanted to feel super uncomfortable … these types of books are supposed to send a chill down your spine and make your hair stand on end… that didn’t happen.
Don’t get me wrong it was creepy but just not enough for this kind of story. To me it was predictable and again these stories usually go the same way (I was hoping for something weird and unhinged that we haven’t seen before, but it didn’t happen), so if they are going to be predictable they need to be done 100% right.
It was lacklustre, and the characters sort of got to a spot and then it went flat. Chris was a good bad guy… but then he kind of was flat too. Everything just fell away and it was like the author went oh well I am out of ideas… lets do this and this and wrap this baby up.
I was really let down with the ending.
Overall, I think this will be a huge hit… but like always I am on outlier island and there will be a few of my regular GR friends that will agree with me, some of my GR friends will love this and honestly go for it… I hope you do love it. If nothing else it was an easy read. But yeah for me it was a huge miss.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 16, 2025
When I picked up this book, I expected a horror thriller—something dark and intense, maybe even full of twists. The cover drew me in, and I didn’t think twice. But what I got was something completely different. Not just a story, but something that pulled me in so deeply it was almost suffocating.
What made it even more gripping was that it was told from the point of view of, let’s say, the villain. That made everything feel even more intense. Being inside his mind was infuriating—you want to scream at him, to stop him, to protect everyone around him. And yet, you can’t look away. It’s rare to read a book where you’re so conflicted, torn between rage and fascination.
But what hit the hardest was how real it felt. How easy it is to fall into something that starts off as warmth and love, only to realize too late what’s hiding underneath. The slow realization, the fear, and then the strength it takes to finally leave—it’s something that stays with you. I wish it were always that simple in real life.
This book wasn’t what I expected, but it was something even more powerful. A must-read.
What made it even more gripping was that it was told from the point of view of, let’s say, the villain. That made everything feel even more intense. Being inside his mind was infuriating—you want to scream at him, to stop him, to protect everyone around him. And yet, you can’t look away. It’s rare to read a book where you’re so conflicted, torn between rage and fascination.
But what hit the hardest was how real it felt. How easy it is to fall into something that starts off as warmth and love, only to realize too late what’s hiding underneath. The slow realization, the fear, and then the strength it takes to finally leave—it’s something that stays with you. I wish it were always that simple in real life.
This book wasn’t what I expected, but it was something even more powerful. A must-read.
May 1, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In a unique twist, we get a book from a stalker’s point of view. From the moment Christopher laid eyes on Serena in the grocery store he was obsessed with her. He needed to be in her life. He finds that she’s a relator so he uses that to make a connection. Before long, Christopher is taking Serena out on their first date. And that’s just the beginning!
I was immediately sucked in from the very first page. This was a great debut! I look forward to more books by Lissa Lovik. 4.5 stars rounded up.
In a unique twist, we get a book from a stalker’s point of view. From the moment Christopher laid eyes on Serena in the grocery store he was obsessed with her. He needed to be in her life. He finds that she’s a relator so he uses that to make a connection. Before long, Christopher is taking Serena out on their first date. And that’s just the beginning!
I was immediately sucked in from the very first page. This was a great debut! I look forward to more books by Lissa Lovik. 4.5 stars rounded up.
August 22, 2025
"All Because of You" by Lissa Novik is a solid debut that clearly tips its hat to "You" by Caroline Kepnes, though it skips the biting dark humor that made "You" so memorable. At its core, this is the story of Chris, a man who refuses to let anything, or "anyone", stand in the way of his obsession with Serena.
I really wanted to love this book, especially after seeing so many glowing reviews. But for me, it just didn’t land the way I hoped it would. The pacing dragged in the middle, and I found myself zoning out more often than I’d like to admit. The tension that should’ve kept me flipping pages just wasn’t quite there.
One of the biggest challenges, I think, was how hard it was to read this without constantly comparing it to "You". And unfortunately, that comparison didn’t work in this book’s favor. Rather than carving out its own lane, the story felt like it was chasing You's shadow, and never quite catching up.
As for the characters? Definitely in the “unlikable” camp, and that’s usually fine by me! I often enjoy stories with morally gray or difficult characters. But in this case, they felt exaggerated to the point where I somehow ended up sympathizing with the stalker. Which….yikes. I’m guessing that wasn’t the goal, but here we are.
At the end of the day, All Because of You had a lot of potential and an intriguing premise, but it just didn’t meet the high expectations set by early praise. That said, debut novels are often stepping stones, and I’ll definitely be curious to see what Lissa Novik writes next.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 Thomas & Mercer 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙫𝙞𝙖 #NetGalley 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.
I really wanted to love this book, especially after seeing so many glowing reviews. But for me, it just didn’t land the way I hoped it would. The pacing dragged in the middle, and I found myself zoning out more often than I’d like to admit. The tension that should’ve kept me flipping pages just wasn’t quite there.
One of the biggest challenges, I think, was how hard it was to read this without constantly comparing it to "You". And unfortunately, that comparison didn’t work in this book’s favor. Rather than carving out its own lane, the story felt like it was chasing You's shadow, and never quite catching up.
As for the characters? Definitely in the “unlikable” camp, and that’s usually fine by me! I often enjoy stories with morally gray or difficult characters. But in this case, they felt exaggerated to the point where I somehow ended up sympathizing with the stalker. Which….yikes. I’m guessing that wasn’t the goal, but here we are.
At the end of the day, All Because of You had a lot of potential and an intriguing premise, but it just didn’t meet the high expectations set by early praise. That said, debut novels are often stepping stones, and I’ll definitely be curious to see what Lissa Novik writes next.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 Thomas & Mercer 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙫𝙞𝙖 #NetGalley 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.
July 9, 2025
Update: July 9, 2025
Being trapped inside the head of Chris is a dark and twisted place to be. He is the epitome of a stalker. I see this one being compared to ‘You,’ but I thought it was very different from that one. It’s not campy, it’s realistic. I sometimes worry we glorify these monsters and I felt the author did an outstanding job with the characters of both the victim and the perpetrator. Chris is terrifying. There is some levity at times, but you never forget he’s a danger. Watching him get more and more possessive is so uncomfortable. I absolutely could not put this one down. Just when you think he can’t be more of a creepy stalker, he ups his game. The narration by Joe Knezevich on the audiobook production is perfectly Chris and I enjoyed the audio production even more than reading it in print.
Being trapped inside the head of Chris is a dark and twisted place to be. He is the epitome of a stalker. I see this one being compared to ‘You,’ but I thought it was very different from that one. It’s not campy, it’s realistic. I sometimes worry we glorify these monsters and I felt the author did an outstanding job with the characters of both the victim and the perpetrator. Chris is terrifying. There is some levity at times, but you never forget he’s a danger. Watching him get more and more possessive is so uncomfortable. I absolutely could not put this one down. Just when you think he can’t be more of a creepy stalker, he ups his game. The narration by Joe Knezevich on the audiobook production is perfectly Chris and I enjoyed the audio production even more than reading it in print.
July 15, 2025
This is a book that I can’t spoil in any way - all I can talk about is the synopsis, and say I finished it with a “wow”!
Chris and Serena meet at the grocery store in what would normally be a cute story to tell later down the road. They both reached for the last jar of crunchy peanut butter, Chris was a gentleman and let her have it, then they went on their ways. Chris was in love at first sight though, and luckily, she left her grocery list behind. With it written on the back of a packing slip, he now has her name and address.
When he finds out she’s a real estate agent, he pretends to be an interested client, and eventually he asks her out to dinner. To his surprise, she said yes, and the two start dating. You’d think that would make Chris happy, but it’s making him more controlling, quick-tempered and possessive. His stalking actually increases once they are involved, and things became so unraveled as the book goes on.
This isn’t your typical stalker book; this is a book about psychological abuse, obsession and how our past traumas affect us. It is still a stalker book though, and a thoroughly creepy one. The story is written from Chris’s perspective, and let’s just say, it’s pretty unhinged. This was a definite page-turner that I didn’t put down until it was finished - I had to know how it ended, and it was quite a suspenseful experience. 4.5 stars, rounded up for being a debut!
(Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Lissa Lovik and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on July 29, 2025)
Chris and Serena meet at the grocery store in what would normally be a cute story to tell later down the road. They both reached for the last jar of crunchy peanut butter, Chris was a gentleman and let her have it, then they went on their ways. Chris was in love at first sight though, and luckily, she left her grocery list behind. With it written on the back of a packing slip, he now has her name and address.
When he finds out she’s a real estate agent, he pretends to be an interested client, and eventually he asks her out to dinner. To his surprise, she said yes, and the two start dating. You’d think that would make Chris happy, but it’s making him more controlling, quick-tempered and possessive. His stalking actually increases once they are involved, and things became so unraveled as the book goes on.
This isn’t your typical stalker book; this is a book about psychological abuse, obsession and how our past traumas affect us. It is still a stalker book though, and a thoroughly creepy one. The story is written from Chris’s perspective, and let’s just say, it’s pretty unhinged. This was a definite page-turner that I didn’t put down until it was finished - I had to know how it ended, and it was quite a suspenseful experience. 4.5 stars, rounded up for being a debut!
(Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Lissa Lovik and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on July 29, 2025)
July 3, 2025
All Because of You by Lissa Lovik. Thanks to @thomasandmercer for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chris falls for Serena the second he sees her at the grocery store. He gets to know her by watching before he asks her out. Once they start dating though so many things get in his way.
I just love a good stalker story and this one is fully entertaining. We are viewing from the stalker’s perspective, so get to hear his inner thoughts and demented thought process. It gets more and more exciting and drastic as time goes on.
“I always felt a little jealous of her tampons. Their constant carnal contact, how close they got to be to her.”
All Because of You comes out 7/29.
Chris falls for Serena the second he sees her at the grocery store. He gets to know her by watching before he asks her out. Once they start dating though so many things get in his way.
I just love a good stalker story and this one is fully entertaining. We are viewing from the stalker’s perspective, so get to hear his inner thoughts and demented thought process. It gets more and more exciting and drastic as time goes on.
“I always felt a little jealous of her tampons. Their constant carnal contact, how close they got to be to her.”
All Because of You comes out 7/29.
March 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of All Because of You.
Two words to describe this book: deliciously disturbing! The story felt like a train wreck... I didn't want to watch but I couldn't look away! A dark, binge-worthy, super impressive debut. I'll be looking forward to more from Lissa Lovik.
5 stars!
Two words to describe this book: deliciously disturbing! The story felt like a train wreck... I didn't want to watch but I couldn't look away! A dark, binge-worthy, super impressive debut. I'll be looking forward to more from Lissa Lovik.
5 stars!
August 5, 2025
Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5 stars)
All Because of You by Lissa Lovik
This debut thriller just hit the shelves, and I recommend it to anyone who loves delusional villains who think they’re the hero! Or if you need a reminder of how horribly wrong a “meet-cute” can go. And don’t listen to anyone who tells you a grocery store is a good place to meet a date. It’s not.
Meet Serena, a hardworking single mom and Realtor, who is completely unaware that Chris is lurking in the background, convinced he’s being a total gentleman by 'waiting to ask her out' while he’s basically stalking her. It’s creepy in the best way.
Chris acts like he’s the star of a Hallmark movie. He bumps into Serena at the grocery store, grabs her name off a receipt, does some light internet creeping, pops up at her job, and then buys a house for their imaginary future together—before they’ve even had coffee. You know, just the usual romantic stuff. 🤯
Part of the fun (and terror) is getting a front-row seat to Chris’s mind, which is basically a haunted house of dark delusions. He’s already decided that Serena is his soulmate. She doesn’t even know he exists or that his idea of courtship involves surveillance.
“All Because of You” is officially on my list of favorite debuts this year. I can’t wait to see what Lissa Lovik dreams up next.
Thank you to the author and Brilliance Publishing/Thomas & Mercer for providing the #giftedbook via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
All Because of You by Lissa Lovik
This debut thriller just hit the shelves, and I recommend it to anyone who loves delusional villains who think they’re the hero! Or if you need a reminder of how horribly wrong a “meet-cute” can go. And don’t listen to anyone who tells you a grocery store is a good place to meet a date. It’s not.
Meet Serena, a hardworking single mom and Realtor, who is completely unaware that Chris is lurking in the background, convinced he’s being a total gentleman by 'waiting to ask her out' while he’s basically stalking her. It’s creepy in the best way.
Chris acts like he’s the star of a Hallmark movie. He bumps into Serena at the grocery store, grabs her name off a receipt, does some light internet creeping, pops up at her job, and then buys a house for their imaginary future together—before they’ve even had coffee. You know, just the usual romantic stuff. 🤯
Part of the fun (and terror) is getting a front-row seat to Chris’s mind, which is basically a haunted house of dark delusions. He’s already decided that Serena is his soulmate. She doesn’t even know he exists or that his idea of courtship involves surveillance.
“All Because of You” is officially on my list of favorite debuts this year. I can’t wait to see what Lissa Lovik dreams up next.
Thank you to the author and Brilliance Publishing/Thomas & Mercer for providing the #giftedbook via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 24, 2025
This book was one WILD and UNHINGED ride! I think going into this one not knowing much is for the best. Each twist left me surprised and shocked. I even gasped at just how insane the main character was. I finished this one in just a few days because I just had to know what was coming! I would happily read another book from this author hands down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 6, 2025
All Because of You is an impressive and chilling debut that delivers major You by Caroline Kepnes vibes in all the best (and worst) ways. From the very first chapter, I was sucked into the obsessive, twisted mind of Chris, whose fixation on Serena grows more intense and unsettling with every page. Told from his perspective, the story feels claustrophobic and disorienting in the most deliberate way, giving readers a deeply uncomfortable front row seat to his spiraling thoughts and manipulative behavior. It’s character driven and psychological, with the kind of slow burn suspense that creeps up on you until you’re completely immersed.
Chris is one of those deeply disturbing narrators who believes every decision he makes is completely justified. That’s what makes this story so fascinating and unnerving, his delusions are fully rationalized in his own mind, which adds a layer of tension that never lets up. Serena, the object of his obsession, is somewhat enigmatic on the page, which only reinforces how warped and one sided Chris’s perspective truly is. The toxicity is the point, and Lovick doesn’t shy away from making readers sit with that discomfort.
The pacing is steady throughout, not a breakneck thriller, but a methodically crafted descent into obsession. I truly wasn’t sure how things would end, which kept me turning pages late into the night. If you’re into dark psychological suspense, flawed characters, and stories that get under your skin, All Because of You is one to check out. I can’t wait to see what Lissa Lovick writes next.
March 19, 2025
How can this be a debut? This is the best stalker thriller I've ever read.
Chris meets Serena in a grocery store. We know where this is going, right? He starts watching her.
Serena is a realtor, and Chris happens to schedule a showing with her. Oh - what a coincidence! I was chomping at the bit for more. Chris is next-level obsessed with her. They wind up in a relationship and he has completely infiltrated himself into her life. Of course Serena doesn't know what he's up to.
The character development was perfect. I especially enjoyed hearing what Sasha, Derek, and Cole had to say throughout the book. Their red flags were popping up way before Serena's.
Chris meets Serena in a grocery store. We know where this is going, right? He starts watching her.
Serena is a realtor, and Chris happens to schedule a showing with her. Oh - what a coincidence! I was chomping at the bit for more. Chris is next-level obsessed with her. They wind up in a relationship and he has completely infiltrated himself into her life. Of course Serena doesn't know what he's up to.
The character development was perfect. I especially enjoyed hearing what Sasha, Derek, and Cole had to say throughout the book. Their red flags were popping up way before Serena's.
July 21, 2025
This book had me grossed out in all the best ways. I picked it up for the Joe Goldberg vibes, and the author definitely pulled through. You’re completely lodged inside Chris’s mind (uncomfortably so, in the best way), and I loved how the author found such creative ways to keep us in there and we could feel how claustrophobic his mind is and spiralling right beside him.
I stayed up late two nights in a row because I could not stop thinking about it. Even when I wasn’t reading, the book was crawling around in the back of my brain.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author Lisa Lovik for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I stayed up late two nights in a row because I could not stop thinking about it. Even when I wasn’t reading, the book was crawling around in the back of my brain.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author Lisa Lovik for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2025
Highly recommended...
.....some great writing here and a fairly new take on a out of control obsession with a seriously deranged psychopath...
loved it.
.....some great writing here and a fairly new take on a out of control obsession with a seriously deranged psychopath...
loved it.
July 22, 2025
This book was a rollercoaster! I loved every minute of it. I didn’t really want it to end. This book is fantastic. Read the author note too! So important!
I received this book via the publisher. All opinions are my own. This book will release July 2025!
I received this book via the publisher. All opinions are my own. This book will release July 2025!
September 26, 2025
ALL BECAUSE OF YOU is a gripping story filled with nonstop suspense. Chris is a person you would never want to meet. Serena was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Without giving anything away, I can say that I couldn't put this down. It's an outstanding debut I won't soon forget!
January 10, 2026
This book was a little slow at the beginning and I almost didn't continue reading it but I'm glad I did! The dude was crazy and gave off vibes similar to Joe Goldberg lol
August 9, 2025
4.25 ☆s: Chris is essentially another Joe Goldberg
March 16, 2025
𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆.
I started this one on a whim Thursday morning before work and immediately started a buddy read and bullied some friends into reading it. This one is dark, absolutely consuming, and places the reader directly into the obsessive mind of a stalker.
Chris first sees her at the grocery store, and he's enamored. I was immediately uncomfortable with how quickly he studied, evaluated, and planned to devour his prey. Fate hands him a gift when her grocery store list flutters to the floor unnoticed. It's written on a receipt bearing her name--Serena. A cursory online search reveals everything he needs to coordinate an 'accidental' meeting, and before too long, the two are a couple. But Chris keeps running into roadblocks--Serena's friends, her teenage son, even her dog--and those things have to be dealt with, because nothing is keeping him from his destiny.
I think every woman who reads this will be completely and utterly fascinated, repulsed, and terrified. I was worried that I would feel empathy for Chris and find myself in the dilemma of feeling sorry for him, but I'm glad to say he lacks the charisma and vulnerability of the fictional character Joe Goldberg, so don't even try to compare the two. I was also worried about how the author would portray Serena's character, but all my fears were laid to rest. There are no stereotypes here, and for that, this book is far superior to most books with this trope.
Raw, visceral, and an absolute gut punch that took my breath away many times, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU is slated to be a sizzling summer bestseller. Thank you to Thomas and Mercer for the early copy. This book will publish July 29, 2025.
I started this one on a whim Thursday morning before work and immediately started a buddy read and bullied some friends into reading it. This one is dark, absolutely consuming, and places the reader directly into the obsessive mind of a stalker.
Chris first sees her at the grocery store, and he's enamored. I was immediately uncomfortable with how quickly he studied, evaluated, and planned to devour his prey. Fate hands him a gift when her grocery store list flutters to the floor unnoticed. It's written on a receipt bearing her name--Serena. A cursory online search reveals everything he needs to coordinate an 'accidental' meeting, and before too long, the two are a couple. But Chris keeps running into roadblocks--Serena's friends, her teenage son, even her dog--and those things have to be dealt with, because nothing is keeping him from his destiny.
I think every woman who reads this will be completely and utterly fascinated, repulsed, and terrified. I was worried that I would feel empathy for Chris and find myself in the dilemma of feeling sorry for him, but I'm glad to say he lacks the charisma and vulnerability of the fictional character Joe Goldberg, so don't even try to compare the two. I was also worried about how the author would portray Serena's character, but all my fears were laid to rest. There are no stereotypes here, and for that, this book is far superior to most books with this trope.
Raw, visceral, and an absolute gut punch that took my breath away many times, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU is slated to be a sizzling summer bestseller. Thank you to Thomas and Mercer for the early copy. This book will publish July 29, 2025.
March 17, 2025
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 7/29
•
Oh, hello Joe 2.0, I am intrigued….
•
If that doesn’t give you a hint as to what this story is about, then you need to do more reading. I started this one one right after @carrie was raving about it, and she had every reason too.
•
The easiest way to describe my feelings towards this book was addiction, shock and horror and rage. The manipulation and gaslighting was wild. When I thought it couldn’t get any worse Chris would (very rudely) be like “hold my beer”. The audacity and the sad reality that this is some people’s real life is eye opening. I can promise you that not once during this book did I ever root or Chris, I found him to be dispicable.
•
The pacing was superb, I was addicted to the story and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I finished it in a matter of 24 hours! The suspense and intensity just emanated off the pages of this one. An absolutely phenomenal debut. What an absolutely stellar debut. A must read for sure.
•
Overall, this is one you will not want to miss this summer. Thriller fans are going to eat this up. Be sure to check out trigger warnings. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Lissa Lovik and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: 7/29
•
Oh, hello Joe 2.0, I am intrigued….
•
If that doesn’t give you a hint as to what this story is about, then you need to do more reading. I started this one one right after @carrie was raving about it, and she had every reason too.
•
The easiest way to describe my feelings towards this book was addiction, shock and horror and rage. The manipulation and gaslighting was wild. When I thought it couldn’t get any worse Chris would (very rudely) be like “hold my beer”. The audacity and the sad reality that this is some people’s real life is eye opening. I can promise you that not once during this book did I ever root or Chris, I found him to be dispicable.
•
The pacing was superb, I was addicted to the story and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I finished it in a matter of 24 hours! The suspense and intensity just emanated off the pages of this one. An absolutely phenomenal debut. What an absolutely stellar debut. A must read for sure.
•
Overall, this is one you will not want to miss this summer. Thriller fans are going to eat this up. Be sure to check out trigger warnings. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Lissa Lovik and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 29, 2025
What an addictive debut! Lissa Lovik's novel, told from the perspective of our stalker Chris, explores the dark psyche of obsession and manipulation. The story follows Serena, who becomes the target of Chris's obsessive affection. As he weaves a web of psychological control, Lovik examines the fine line between devotion and danger, highlighting how emotional and psychological abuse can be just as harmful as physical violence.
I really love Serena; she’s not your typical victim. She’s strong, perceptive, and refuses to excuse Chris's increasingly toxic behavior. This makes the story even more disturbing!! Witnessing the lengths Chris is willing to go to, not through force but through a constant, subtle barrage of manipulation, is downright creepy!! Lovik does a brilliant job of portraying this psychological manipulation without making it feel overdone.
If you love stalker storylines filled with obsession and control, this creepy, unsettling debut is a must-read! I have no doubt this book will be a huge hit this summer!
Other highlights: Side Characters, Serena’s dog Sirius, Chris’s backstory/Grandfather, subtle humor 4.5⭐️
I really love Serena; she’s not your typical victim. She’s strong, perceptive, and refuses to excuse Chris's increasingly toxic behavior. This makes the story even more disturbing!! Witnessing the lengths Chris is willing to go to, not through force but through a constant, subtle barrage of manipulation, is downright creepy!! Lovik does a brilliant job of portraying this psychological manipulation without making it feel overdone.
If you love stalker storylines filled with obsession and control, this creepy, unsettling debut is a must-read! I have no doubt this book will be a huge hit this summer!
Other highlights: Side Characters, Serena’s dog Sirius, Chris’s backstory/Grandfather, subtle humor 4.5⭐️
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