What do you think?
Rate this book
No, You Hang Up
It was just a joke.
Just A prank call.
After surviving a miserable week with my family, I needed something to lift my spirits. My two best friends thought a late-night movie binge—one of those stupid, loud ones we used to have as teenagers—was the answer. Reluctantly, they talk me into revisiting our old prank call habit. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
It’s all fun… until it isn’t.
It’s all harmless… until it isn’t.
The moment he picks up, I know something’s off. He doesn’t just play along—he seems to know exactly what we’re doing. Before he hangs up, he promises me he’ll give me what I’m looking for. He says I want attention, and he knows just what kind.
When my friends leave, I should be alone.
But I’m not.
And now, I prank calls have consequences.
No, You Hang Up is a standalone, MF dark romance. It is extremely dark, with many themes and ‘games’ many readers may not enjoy. It does contain a Happily Ever After and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Just A prank call.
After surviving a miserable week with my family, I needed something to lift my spirits. My two best friends thought a late-night movie binge—one of those stupid, loud ones we used to have as teenagers—was the answer. Reluctantly, they talk me into revisiting our old prank call habit. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
It’s all fun… until it isn’t.
It’s all harmless… until it isn’t.
The moment he picks up, I know something’s off. He doesn’t just play along—he seems to know exactly what we’re doing. Before he hangs up, he promises me he’ll give me what I’m looking for. He says I want attention, and he knows just what kind.
When my friends leave, I should be alone.
But I’m not.
And now, I prank calls have consequences.
No, You Hang Up is a standalone, MF dark romance. It is extremely dark, with many themes and ‘games’ many readers may not enjoy. It does contain a Happily Ever After and does not end on a cliffhanger.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2025
1554 people are currently reading
3662 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Merlin
43 books2,023 followersAJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews
November 11, 2025
A girl accidentally prank calls a serial killer.
It’s like Scream, but instead of Ghostface calling a girl, she calls him.
I don't know what's gotten into me this season. I wish I could say that someone hacked my account and is reviewing these strange books, but the truth is, it's actually me.
Ever heard the famous saying, 'men will do anything but go to therapy?' The same goes for some women. Spooky season is over, but I feel compelled to keep reading these books for scientific reasons.
(Playlist: Lana Del Rey - Serial Killer, Ava Max - Sweet but Psycho, Melanie Martinez - Mad Hatter)
MINOR SPOILERS
Kai is driving home from Florida back to Kentucky, feeling physically and emotionally exhausted after dealing with her estranged family. She has experienced a traumatic event in her childhood that everyone in her family dismissed as something she made up, and she still hasn't properly processed it. The next day, her two best friends show up with comedy movies, food, and Dr. Pepper (I would have chosen Pepsi, but whatever). One of her friends mentions she has a new app that allows people to make prank calls while hiding their numbers. Although Kai is hesitant and doesn't want to participate, her friend convinces everyone that it's a good idea. A man answers, and immediately they realize they made a mistake.
"There was someone else talking first, right? Someone a lot less irritating than you? Where'd you go, other friend?"
Kai is scared and doesn't know what to do. Her friend gets angry, tells him off, and hangs up. Whew, that was a close call (pun intended). It's a good thing they used a prank call app. Wrong. A few minutes later, the man calls back. Kai's idiot friend forgot to use the app and called from Kai's real number. After a brief and tense exchange, Kai hangs up again. Whew, another close call. Wrong again. Later that night, the man shows up at her house. He's wearing black jeans, a black sweatshirt, a black hood pulled over his head, and a face obscured by a shiny black mask lit by a garish grin of glowing red lines.
It's both scary and funny because Kai starts throwing plates at his head, and I couldn't help but laugh—that's so Scary Movie coded. I thought she was smart, but then she decided to hide in the closet. Seriously, hiding in the closet? Ok, Jamie Lee Curtis.
Will Kai survive the game? Does she have what it takes to be the Final Girl?
"Let's play the game you were too afraid to continue on the phone. Only, I think I'd like to make a few modifications for my benefit. I'm just"—he tilts his head, and I think the move would be endearing on someone other than a masked murderer—"selfish that way."
I couldn't stand Kai's annoying friends or her terrible elderly neighbor, who seemed to live to make her life miserable. I hoped that either Kai or the killer would 'take care' of the neighbor. Look at me, wishing violence upon the elderly—how I have changed.
Kai survives the first night, and the two form a twisted bond. Make no mistake, the killer does some very disturbing things, and their 'relationship' is extremely toxic. Yet, it's also oddly adorable because their banter kept me grinning. I love sharp, sarcastic dialogue, and this story delivered just that.
This has been marketed as horror and dark romance, but I found it both disturbing and hilarious. Dilarious? The killer is insane, but also probably the funniest and snarkiest male character I've ever encountered in a book.
You called me, remember? Please don't tell me you have amnesia like that girl in 50 First Dates because I am not mentally equipped to handle that kind of shit.
It’s like Scream, but instead of Ghostface calling a girl, she calls him.
I don't know what's gotten into me this season. I wish I could say that someone hacked my account and is reviewing these strange books, but the truth is, it's actually me.
Ever heard the famous saying, 'men will do anything but go to therapy?' The same goes for some women. Spooky season is over, but I feel compelled to keep reading these books for scientific reasons.
(Playlist: Lana Del Rey - Serial Killer, Ava Max - Sweet but Psycho, Melanie Martinez - Mad Hatter)
MINOR SPOILERS
Kai is driving home from Florida back to Kentucky, feeling physically and emotionally exhausted after dealing with her estranged family. She has experienced a traumatic event in her childhood that everyone in her family dismissed as something she made up, and she still hasn't properly processed it. The next day, her two best friends show up with comedy movies, food, and Dr. Pepper (I would have chosen Pepsi, but whatever). One of her friends mentions she has a new app that allows people to make prank calls while hiding their numbers. Although Kai is hesitant and doesn't want to participate, her friend convinces everyone that it's a good idea. A man answers, and immediately they realize they made a mistake.
"There was someone else talking first, right? Someone a lot less irritating than you? Where'd you go, other friend?"
Kai is scared and doesn't know what to do. Her friend gets angry, tells him off, and hangs up. Whew, that was a close call (pun intended). It's a good thing they used a prank call app. Wrong. A few minutes later, the man calls back. Kai's idiot friend forgot to use the app and called from Kai's real number. After a brief and tense exchange, Kai hangs up again. Whew, another close call. Wrong again. Later that night, the man shows up at her house. He's wearing black jeans, a black sweatshirt, a black hood pulled over his head, and a face obscured by a shiny black mask lit by a garish grin of glowing red lines.
It's both scary and funny because Kai starts throwing plates at his head, and I couldn't help but laugh—that's so Scary Movie coded. I thought she was smart, but then she decided to hide in the closet. Seriously, hiding in the closet? Ok, Jamie Lee Curtis.
Will Kai survive the game? Does she have what it takes to be the Final Girl?
"Let's play the game you were too afraid to continue on the phone. Only, I think I'd like to make a few modifications for my benefit. I'm just"—he tilts his head, and I think the move would be endearing on someone other than a masked murderer—"selfish that way."
I couldn't stand Kai's annoying friends or her terrible elderly neighbor, who seemed to live to make her life miserable. I hoped that either Kai or the killer would 'take care' of the neighbor. Look at me, wishing violence upon the elderly—how I have changed.
Kai survives the first night, and the two form a twisted bond. Make no mistake, the killer does some very disturbing things, and their 'relationship' is extremely toxic. Yet, it's also oddly adorable because their banter kept me grinning. I love sharp, sarcastic dialogue, and this story delivered just that.
This has been marketed as horror and dark romance, but I found it both disturbing and hilarious. Dilarious? The killer is insane, but also probably the funniest and snarkiest male character I've ever encountered in a book.
You called me, remember? Please don't tell me you have amnesia like that girl in 50 First Dates because I am not mentally equipped to handle that kind of shit.
Read
November 13, 2025╰┈➤. pre read
⤿ Don’t mind me, just intrigued by a book where she accidentally prank calls a serial killer 🫱🏻🫲🏼
⤿ Don’t mind me, just intrigued by a book where she accidentally prank calls a serial killer 🫱🏻🫲🏼
June 29, 2025
I know not everyone will, but I liked how f*cked up this relationship was. Times are tough, and if you find yourself faced with a hot serial killer… maybe that’s just the wave you’ve got to ride out 🏄♀️
It was the perfect amount of dark for me, with just the right level of twisted. It took such a childish prank and let it spiral out of control, but I was here for the drama of it all. The premise felt unique. Essentially, it’s if Ghostface called, and instead of being terrified, you were… a little excited.
A round of applause for the unhinged nature of the MMC. He joked at the most inappropriate times and had absolutely no filter when it came to Kai. With the flip of a switch, he could slip into a charming persona for everyone else, but never for her. He let his full darkness show. I was expecting more anonymity, but he didn’t care if he was caught; who would believe her?
I did have a couple of questions that felt unanswered, mostly because the book just ended on a random scene. Like who did he kill? Why did he kill? I don’t think he had a justified reason, but maybe he did. Everything pointed to him needing to kill to satisfy something inside himself. I would have liked a more airtight resolution
I also didn’t understand the randomness of them having his number. I thought there could have been more of a mystery surrounding it that involved her friend Mads, but it just felt like a coincidence. If anyone knows the answers, I may have missed, please let me know 🙏
Overall, it was a great, quick read with just the right amount of darkness I was looking for. Not pitch black, but a medium grey. Make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand, though.
Triggers : dubcon, (past) child abuse, violence, stalking and murder
It was the perfect amount of dark for me, with just the right level of twisted. It took such a childish prank and let it spiral out of control, but I was here for the drama of it all. The premise felt unique. Essentially, it’s if Ghostface called, and instead of being terrified, you were… a little excited.
A round of applause for the unhinged nature of the MMC. He joked at the most inappropriate times and had absolutely no filter when it came to Kai. With the flip of a switch, he could slip into a charming persona for everyone else, but never for her. He let his full darkness show. I was expecting more anonymity, but he didn’t care if he was caught; who would believe her?
I did have a couple of questions that felt unanswered, mostly because the book just ended on a random scene. Like who did he kill? Why did he kill? I don’t think he had a justified reason, but maybe he did. Everything pointed to him needing to kill to satisfy something inside himself. I would have liked a more airtight resolution
I also didn’t understand the randomness of them having his number. I thought there could have been more of a mystery surrounding it that involved her friend Mads, but it just felt like a coincidence. If anyone knows the answers, I may have missed, please let me know 🙏
Overall, it was a great, quick read with just the right amount of darkness I was looking for. Not pitch black, but a medium grey. Make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand, though.
Triggers : dubcon, (past) child abuse, violence, stalking and murder
June 24, 2025
3.5 RATING
I have a confession to make…I’m like a magpie that likes shiny things, but for me, I seem to have a thing with covers, most of the time I barely read the blurbs, just jump in a pray that it pays off..
One prank phone call was all it took for a masked man to come for her, in her house, in plain sight with a knife, he calls her his little rabbit as she tries unsuccessfully to hide from him within her two bedroom home, doors locked by yours truly..
Of course he was going to find you..
One prick of a needle and as she goes in and out of consciousness he’s going in and out of her..
She wakes up the next day with a sticky note stuck to her forehead..
That was round one..
Round two, he’s obsessed with her..
Maybe he won’t feel the need to inject her this time..maybe she’ll beg for it…
I have a confession to make…I’m like a magpie that likes shiny things, but for me, I seem to have a thing with covers, most of the time I barely read the blurbs, just jump in a pray that it pays off..
One prank phone call was all it took for a masked man to come for her, in her house, in plain sight with a knife, he calls her his little rabbit as she tries unsuccessfully to hide from him within her two bedroom home, doors locked by yours truly..
Of course he was going to find you..
One prick of a needle and as she goes in and out of consciousness he’s going in and out of her..
She wakes up the next day with a sticky note stuck to her forehead..
That was round one..
Round two, he’s obsessed with her..
Maybe he won’t feel the need to inject her this time..maybe she’ll beg for it…
May 10, 2025
Wtf the book just ends :-(
First let's address the ending, they said no cliffhanger ends with an HEA. No the book just ends BAM! There is no HEA, there are no answers.
I like twisted dark romances but this was f-ed up. He rapes her, sorry there's no way to make it "ok" and yeah he's hot so what.
I thought her childhood trauma would explain her twisted desires in regards to being controlled but NO it didn't,not even close.
We NEVER meets Huxley's friend he spoke to on the phone. There is no move in so is he keeping his apartment?
I'm cool with the serial killers who have trauma and are killing bad guys like child molesters but there is no explanation why he does it so he's just a true twisted monster because he doesn't seem to choose bad people.
He wanted to kill the waitress at the bar because she was annoying, the sad sweet Eric who thought he had a shot with Kai.
He asks if she wants to know and she says no, he makes tacos then she mentions a surprise and the book Ends.
Holy mother of...I'm so irritated.
Are we just writing sick twisted stuff with no substance?
Other than good sex there is nothing redeemable about Huxley, we know nothing about him, his personal life, his killing hobby, friends or family there is no reason for her to stay.
How can the author say it ends on an HEA, why not put some effort in and actually finish writing the book.
Don't bother unless you want to be stupified and frustrated.
Whyyyyyyy
First let's address the ending, they said no cliffhanger ends with an HEA. No the book just ends BAM! There is no HEA, there are no answers.
I like twisted dark romances but this was f-ed up. He rapes her, sorry there's no way to make it "ok" and yeah he's hot so what.
I thought her childhood trauma would explain her twisted desires in regards to being controlled but NO it didn't,not even close.
We NEVER meets Huxley's friend he spoke to on the phone. There is no move in so is he keeping his apartment?
I'm cool with the serial killers who have trauma and are killing bad guys like child molesters but there is no explanation why he does it so he's just a true twisted monster because he doesn't seem to choose bad people.
He wanted to kill the waitress at the bar because she was annoying, the sad sweet Eric who thought he had a shot with Kai.
He asks if she wants to know and she says no, he makes tacos then she mentions a surprise and the book Ends.
Holy mother of...I'm so irritated.
Are we just writing sick twisted stuff with no substance?
Other than good sex there is nothing redeemable about Huxley, we know nothing about him, his personal life, his killing hobby, friends or family there is no reason for her to stay.
How can the author say it ends on an HEA, why not put some effort in and actually finish writing the book.
Don't bother unless you want to be stupified and frustrated.
Whyyyyyyy
April 28, 2025
“You little fucked up thing. Drugged out of your mind and you still want this. You want me to be your predator. To ruin you, to tear out your throat with my teeth.”
If AJ knows how to do anything, it’s to write a really good serial unaliver erotic romance with the most unhinged and feral godlike men that you just can’t get enough of. My dark romance queen, if you will. And just like every other book they’ve ever written, No, You Hang Up one was SO GOOD and hit all the right places to scratch that dark romance itch for me when i’m in need.
Overall Rating: 4.75/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 3.5/5 🌶️
As someone who did prank calls as a kid, this both excited and scared me knowing that a dark prank calls based romance was coming, . I was a little hesitant that I wouldn’t be as interested in the premise of a prank call dark romance — i’m just already iffy on the topic of pranks calls at my age now and the idea of it makes me uncomfortable — but I actually ended up loved this idea the more I read through the book! A nice, enticing and captivating premise, some spice of all spice, and a quick and easy read to get you hooked on AJ’s writing. Also not to mention the banter between our fmc Kai and Huxley had me laughing out loud at certain points. Loved this book in its entirety.
“But I can promise you, darling girl, that you’re nobody’s final girl. There’s no cheering for you. And I won’t be the one lying on the floor with a knife in my chest when morning comes.”
What to expect in No, You Hang Up:
🕯️ masked serial killer
🕯️ prank call gone wrong
🕯️ kidnapping
🕯️ touch her and die
🕯️ stalking
🕯️ equally morally gray characters
🕯️ dubious consent
🕯️ he calls her “little rabbit”
🕯️ forced proximity
🕯️ HEA
Thank you to A.J. Merlin and her team for allowing me to be an arc reader for this new release & providing me with an advanced reader copy of No, You Hang Up in exchange for an honest review! 🤍 I received an ARC copy of No, You Hang Up and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
No, You Hang Up releases April 30th, 2025!
May 13, 2025
3.9 stars.
Ok. I really enjoyed this one.
It was super hot and smutty.
And the scary guy was actually pretty scary.
Probably helped along by the fact that we don’t get his POV, but I think it would’ve helped with the incomplete feel this book has for me if we had gotten it.
That’s really my only gripe here.
The book felt incomplete. Probably caused by a mix between no epilogue, and only getting Kai’s POV.
And because of the timeline of where we left off it also feels like we were cut off after the end of the beginning. If that makes sense.
I don’t know.🤷🏻♀️
I liked it.
It was kind of scary, a lot hot, and fun.
I just wouldn’t be surprised if she writes something else about these two later on.
Ok. I really enjoyed this one.
It was super hot and smutty.
And the scary guy was actually pretty scary.
Probably helped along by the fact that we don’t get his POV, but I think it would’ve helped with the incomplete feel this book has for me if we had gotten it.
That’s really my only gripe here.
The book felt incomplete. Probably caused by a mix between no epilogue, and only getting Kai’s POV.
And because of the timeline of where we left off it also feels like we were cut off after the end of the beginning. If that makes sense.
I don’t know.🤷🏻♀️
I liked it.
It was kind of scary, a lot hot, and fun.
I just wouldn’t be surprised if she writes something else about these two later on.
October 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶.5
🔥🔥🔥.5
Kai is coming back from seeing her family, which is always kind of a trigger for her. To cheer her up, her friends prank call random numbers from her phone. What starts as a harmless late-night prank call quickly spirals into something much darker. The man on the other end isn’t just playing along, he knows exactly what they’re doing, and he promises to give the Kai the kind of attention she didn’t realize she was inviting. When her friends leave and she’s alone, the line between a joke and a nightmare disappears, and the consequences become terrifyingly real.
I loved how this setup allowed the story to explore her thoughts in such a raw and playful way.
Hux is your classic dark MMC (well for more füçked up dark romances), and seeing him through the lens of a prank call was honestly so refreshing. All. About. It. The story starts in such a unique way compared to the typical romance tropes, and it just pulls you in. It’s a fast-paced read, full of spice, with a plot that actually works, making it the perfect short book to dive into between longer reads.
The story wraps up neatly, with no epilogue. I’m fine with it, but I could see some readers wishing for a bit more closure. That said, there’s no cliffhanger, and nothing essential is left unresolved, so it still feels satisfying.
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🖤 Morally Dark Grey MMC 🖤
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Dirty Talk
✅ Single POV (first person)
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ FMC not Virgin
✅ He falls first
✅ 🔥 Fast Burn 🔥
✅ Stalker
✅ Masked MMC
✅ Chase/Primal
✅ Serial Unaliver
✅ MINE
✅ HEA/HFN
‼️‼️‼️Trigger Warning‼️‼️‼️
I don’t have any specific triggers and was okay reading it without any warnings, but always take care of your mental health before diving in, since this book definitely has triggers.
🌶🌶🌶.5
🔥🔥🔥.5
Kai is coming back from seeing her family, which is always kind of a trigger for her. To cheer her up, her friends prank call random numbers from her phone. What starts as a harmless late-night prank call quickly spirals into something much darker. The man on the other end isn’t just playing along, he knows exactly what they’re doing, and he promises to give the Kai the kind of attention she didn’t realize she was inviting. When her friends leave and she’s alone, the line between a joke and a nightmare disappears, and the consequences become terrifyingly real.
I loved how this setup allowed the story to explore her thoughts in such a raw and playful way.
Hux is your classic dark MMC (well for more füçked up dark romances), and seeing him through the lens of a prank call was honestly so refreshing. All. About. It. The story starts in such a unique way compared to the typical romance tropes, and it just pulls you in. It’s a fast-paced read, full of spice, with a plot that actually works, making it the perfect short book to dive into between longer reads.
The story wraps up neatly, with no epilogue. I’m fine with it, but I could see some readers wishing for a bit more closure. That said, there’s no cliffhanger, and nothing essential is left unresolved, so it still feels satisfying.
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🖤 Morally Dark Grey MMC 🖤
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Dirty Talk
✅ Single POV (first person)
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ FMC not Virgin
✅ He falls first
✅ 🔥 Fast Burn 🔥
✅ Stalker
✅ Masked MMC
✅ Chase/Primal
✅ Serial Unaliver
✅ MINE
✅ HEA/HFN
‼️‼️‼️Trigger Warning‼️‼️‼️
I don’t have any specific triggers and was okay reading it without any warnings, but always take care of your mental health before diving in, since this book definitely has triggers.
October 19, 2025
this was my first buddy read, and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't life changing either. I think it could've been soooo much better had we been able to know what Huxley was thinking. I liked that Kai was kind of self-depricating and didn't take everything seriously, and I really liked her sarcasm. not awful, not great. 3.5 stars. also - the book kind of just like... ended? like there was no warning or HEA or anything. they were just having a conversation, and then the book ended sooooo
thank you, Maeve, for doing my very first buddy read with me!! 🫶🫶
thank you, Maeve, for doing my very first buddy read with me!! 🫶🫶
May 13, 2025
A short, low angst murdery dark romance that just did it for me🤷🏻♀️.
I kind of wish this had been longer just because I enjoyed the characters and their developing relationship. It was hot and a little f*cked up and actually really funny with minimal plot but I liked it!
“Want me to be your wolf, little bunny? I’ll gladly close my jaws around this pretty throat and remind you that you’re prey. Oh, fuck—” He thrusts hard into me again. “We’re into some dark shit, aren’t we, Kai?”
I kind of wish this had been longer just because I enjoyed the characters and their developing relationship. It was hot and a little f*cked up and actually really funny with minimal plot but I liked it!
May 30, 2025
No, You Hang Up by AJ Merlin
Please check your trigger warnings and content warnings before reading
Kai is coming back home after her Uncle's funeral and she is just ready to get home. She doesn't want to be driving anymore she's ready to be in bed. After a few days Kai and her two friends decide to have a movie night. What starts as a prank call ends up being something she wasn't ready for.
This book is fast paced and takes you on a ride. What starts as a prank call has Kai wishing she would have just hung up the phone and not even said anything. Huxley is looking for his little bunny. He was ready to end her right then and there. What he doesn't expect is to like the chase with her and like how she fights back.
The spice was spicy and I was eating it up! 🔥 I couldn't put this book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. One last thing I NEED MORE OF THEM!
Please check your trigger warnings and content warnings before reading
Kai is coming back home after her Uncle's funeral and she is just ready to get home. She doesn't want to be driving anymore she's ready to be in bed. After a few days Kai and her two friends decide to have a movie night. What starts as a prank call ends up being something she wasn't ready for.
This book is fast paced and takes you on a ride. What starts as a prank call has Kai wishing she would have just hung up the phone and not even said anything. Huxley is looking for his little bunny. He was ready to end her right then and there. What he doesn't expect is to like the chase with her and like how she fights back.
The spice was spicy and I was eating it up! 🔥 I couldn't put this book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. One last thing I NEED MORE OF THEM!
April 27, 2025
I loved every part of this book, especially the banter and the games.
Neither of the main characters are entirely sane, obviously, but it wouldn’t be much fun if they were.
Hux is definitely in the running for my favorite book boyfriend. I questioned the level of possessiveness at one point but almost immediately took it back.
I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
Neither of the main characters are entirely sane, obviously, but it wouldn’t be much fun if they were.
Hux is definitely in the running for my favorite book boyfriend. I questioned the level of possessiveness at one point but almost immediately took it back.
I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
April 27, 2025
The dark romance GOAT has done it again. Another incredible story full of twists, turns, and tantalizing banter.
Thank you to Merlin for the ARC!
Thank you to Merlin for the ARC!
October 2, 2025
⭐️3/5 it’s giving scream vibes (ghostface) with the calling and stalking…..but make it spicy! this is a well-written short dark romance that i enjoyed, but i did feel lacked some important developmental components. -needed a bit more context and depth-
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
🌶️5/5 this is an extremely kinky read- please review the trigger warnings!!!! seriously.
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
dark romance x thriller aspects
primal play
age gap
cnc
morally gray mmc (serial killer)
stalking
somnophilia/dr*gging
possessive mmc
bdsm
praise
childhood abuse/trauma
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
i’m sorry but what was that ending…..i feel like it just ended in the middle of a page hello
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
props to this being my first ever buddy read!!!! thank you cortlan for experiencing this with me:))💗
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
i recommend if you need a smutty, intense, quick dark romance!!!
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
🌶️5/5 this is an extremely kinky read- please review the trigger warnings!!!! seriously.
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
dark romance x thriller aspects
primal play
age gap
cnc
morally gray mmc (serial killer)
stalking
somnophilia/dr*gging
possessive mmc
bdsm
praise
childhood abuse/trauma
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
i’m sorry but what was that ending…..i feel like it just ended in the middle of a page hello
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
props to this being my first ever buddy read!!!! thank you cortlan for experiencing this with me:))💗
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅
i recommend if you need a smutty, intense, quick dark romance!!!
May 22, 2025
I’m taking a lap. Maybe 5 laps.
I don’t feel like a real person. I did, however, have a fun time. I couldn’t put this book down. But I’m going to go touch so much grass.
In conclusion: I love AJ Merlin books. You can never take them away from me.
I don’t feel like a real person. I did, however, have a fun time. I couldn’t put this book down. But I’m going to go touch so much grass.
In conclusion: I love AJ Merlin books. You can never take them away from me.
October 12, 2025
Quick read. So wrong and taboo but sure was smexy. AJ Merlin does her usual thing of writing a complete psycho male love interest who is seductive and everything a woman needs but just happens to also be addicted to murder and a serial killer.
It’s the whole “He could murder the entire planet and I would still love him because he treats me so well” myth that women who are aroused by serial killers tell themselves. It is a fun ride but requires some temporary setting aside of your morals so you pay for enjoying it by having to be ok with fictional characters senselessly being murdered.
AJ excels at writing intriguing dialogue in every book of hers I’ve read. I think that goes a long way in making her characters likeable. I will always look forward to indulging in more of this author’s stories, though I always space them out a bit.
It’s the whole “He could murder the entire planet and I would still love him because he treats me so well” myth that women who are aroused by serial killers tell themselves. It is a fun ride but requires some temporary setting aside of your morals so you pay for enjoying it by having to be ok with fictional characters senselessly being murdered.
AJ excels at writing intriguing dialogue in every book of hers I’ve read. I think that goes a long way in making her characters likeable. I will always look forward to indulging in more of this author’s stories, though I always space them out a bit.
May 1, 2025
That was fun. I did find him to be a little overly mean at times and her friends low key sucked. But I really enjoyed it.
May 3, 2025
Hux can hit it for free, and throw it in reverse to hit it again 🥵🥵
May 8, 2025
Dark and delicious 🔥🔥
October 31, 2025
If like me, you would be down to fuck a serial killer who treats you like prey, read this. Read this right now.
May 10, 2025
“You have the personality of a rattlesnake,” is my quick, quipped reply. In response, he makes a hissing noise close to my ear and licks at my jaw with a snicker. “Be glad I’m not venomous then,” he snickers. “Otherwise you’d be dead by now.”
I feel like I shouldn't have enjoyed this book as much as I did but here we are. I'm a sucker for a good dark romance and this one is definitely up there for the dark part. Kai is with her friends when they prank call people. One person they prank call is Huxley aka a famous serial killer.
This book reminds me of Scream but with sex and a happy ever after. I honestly loved this book so much and was rooting for them as a couple the whole. Yes I have issues but damn I loved this book.
I feel like I shouldn't have enjoyed this book as much as I did but here we are. I'm a sucker for a good dark romance and this one is definitely up there for the dark part. Kai is with her friends when they prank call people. One person they prank call is Huxley aka a famous serial killer.
This book reminds me of Scream but with sex and a happy ever after. I honestly loved this book so much and was rooting for them as a couple the whole. Yes I have issues but damn I loved this book.
May 3, 2025
Once again, I find myself loving things in this book that I probably shouldn't. Huxley is not a morally grey character he is morally black, and I fell for him anyway. AJ Merlin writes the best MMCs, and I live them all.
Kai is not morally black, but she is also a little crazy considering she enjoys everything that happens. I love the banter between her and Hux and her and her best friends. I only wish their story was longer. I'd love some more backstory for Huxley and to see him interact with Kai's friends.
Kai is not morally black, but she is also a little crazy considering she enjoys everything that happens. I love the banter between her and Hux and her and her best friends. I only wish their story was longer. I'd love some more backstory for Huxley and to see him interact with Kai's friends.
May 12, 2025
"That should bother me. God, I should be so grossed out and bothered. But I wonder instead if I’ve ever been more in love in my life."
This was hot n naughty..just not for me.
I was thinking this would have had more cat/mouse games...creepy phone calls…stalking. maybe even some primal play.. but it was pretty mild and boring.
Lil honey caves pretty fast (I get it)
it was hard for me to like Hux...we didnt get his POV or know anything about him...other than being an EMT... killing innocent people and raping a girl that prank calls him.
Does he do that often?
Idk..
Neither does Kai...
Happy for her, tho, I guess.
This was hot n naughty..just not for me.
I was thinking this would have had more cat/mouse games...creepy phone calls…stalking. maybe even some primal play.. but it was pretty mild and boring.
Lil honey caves pretty fast (I get it)
it was hard for me to like Hux...we didnt get his POV or know anything about him...other than being an EMT... killing innocent people and raping a girl that prank calls him.
Does he do that often?
Idk..
Neither does Kai...
Happy for her, tho, I guess.
November 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
What the hell it just…. Ends
Like no talk of the future it anything it just ends
Like the last we heard if her friends was that they were at the club
And then its over????
I actually liked this book and the characters
So i wouldve read the whole book if it was longer
BUT NO IT AHD TO END
ugshgdhssghs
Also i really wish huxley had a pov in this
Ugh why did it have to end
Im gonna read an actual book now
What the hell it just…. Ends
Like no talk of the future it anything it just ends
Like the last we heard if her friends was that they were at the club
And then its over????
I actually liked this book and the characters
So i wouldve read the whole book if it was longer
BUT NO IT AHD TO END
ugshgdhssghs
Also i really wish huxley had a pov in this
Ugh why did it have to end
Im gonna read an actual book now
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2025
I love A.J Merlins writing and usually rate their books high. It had elements I love from the author and I very much enjoyed the beginning but I was missing some kind or romantic connection. Was very much lusty and obsessive wich I like but needed more actual personal connection.
May 29, 2025
"Run away, little bunny."
This was a fun, hot, steamy read.
This was a fun, hot, steamy read.
May 2, 2025
UNINSPIRED DRIVEL.
The ML drugs and RAPES the FL while she fades in and out of consciousness the first time they meet.
Cute.🤪This book is slow, boring, and has extremely boring sex scenes. It lost its excitement very quickly.
Also, “little mouse,” “little rabbit,” “little bunny,” etc., is getting old. He calls her pet names over and over and over again.😵💫No one talks like that. I don’t get why the “hero’s” have to talk in the same cheesy ass way in every dark romance. The characters ARE NOT the slightest bit original.
Also, also, it’s never revealed why he kills, who he targets, whether he rapes other people before he kills them even though they’re a couple or whatever. Nothing. No backstory. Nothing about his family or life. The heroine has no questions for the serial killer she’s dating??
Dumb broad✨🤧
Hopefully when she no longer does it for him, he kills her dumbass too.
The ML drugs and RAPES the FL while she fades in and out of consciousness the first time they meet.
Cute.🤪This book is slow, boring, and has extremely boring sex scenes. It lost its excitement very quickly.
Also, “little mouse,” “little rabbit,” “little bunny,” etc., is getting old. He calls her pet names over and over and over again.😵💫No one talks like that. I don’t get why the “hero’s” have to talk in the same cheesy ass way in every dark romance. The characters ARE NOT the slightest bit original.
Also, also, it’s never revealed why he kills, who he targets, whether he rapes other people before he kills them even though they’re a couple or whatever. Nothing. No backstory. Nothing about his family or life. The heroine has no questions for the serial killer she’s dating??
Dumb broad✨🤧
Hopefully when she no longer does it for him, he kills her dumbass too.
July 6, 2025
First & Last
2.5 Stars
Started out a bit slow but okay.
By the time I was halfway I thought it might turn out decent.
Not great but decent.
By the time I hit the 75% mark all I could think was 'I've come to far to dnf'
The sex scenes were decent and really that's all this book is other than boring friends and repetitive phrases.
She's just as boring as her friends.
I got completely over the repetitive phrases.
We never find out WHY Huxley is a serial killer.
There is NO build up for their connection. No reason for it.
Other than she is often referred to not being normal.
Quite frankly, other than her sexual preferences she was more vanilla than vanilla wafers.
2.5 Stars
Started out a bit slow but okay.
By the time I was halfway I thought it might turn out decent.
Not great but decent.
By the time I hit the 75% mark all I could think was 'I've come to far to dnf'
The sex scenes were decent and really that's all this book is other than boring friends and repetitive phrases.
She's just as boring as her friends.
I got completely over the repetitive phrases.
We never find out WHY Huxley is a serial killer.
There is NO build up for their connection. No reason for it.
Other than she is often referred to not being normal.
Quite frankly, other than her sexual preferences she was more vanilla than vanilla wafers.
June 7, 2025
This had so much potential, I feel so disappointed!
It appears that I'm in the minority, but this just didn't hit for me the way I wanted it to.
Issue 1: There wasn't enough character building, especially where Huxley was concerned. The one-way POV, which only gave Kai's side of things, made me feel like I barely knew anything about Huxley. And what made this even more glaring was when they had a conversation where This left me quite flabbergasted - because a bitch said what?!? Kai knew nothing about him except for his serial killer tendencies and his penchant for dirty talk. She had never met a friend, been to his apartment, nor had they ever had a conversation about - dun dun dun - WHY HE WAS A SERIAL KILLER.
Issue 2: That terrible ending. It literally felt like the author realised she was past her word limit for an English essay and had no choice but to wrap things up abruptly. I was so unsatisfied with that conclusion!
While this wasn't the worst dark romance I've read, it also definitely wasn't the best.
It appears that I'm in the minority, but this just didn't hit for me the way I wanted it to.
Issue 1: There wasn't enough character building, especially where Huxley was concerned. The one-way POV, which only gave Kai's side of things, made me feel like I barely knew anything about Huxley. And what made this even more glaring was when they had a conversation where This left me quite flabbergasted - because a bitch said what?!? Kai knew nothing about him except for his serial killer tendencies and his penchant for dirty talk. She had never met a friend, been to his apartment, nor had they ever had a conversation about - dun dun dun - WHY HE WAS A SERIAL KILLER.
Issue 2: That terrible ending. It literally felt like the author realised she was past her word limit for an English essay and had no choice but to wrap things up abruptly. I was so unsatisfied with that conclusion!
While this wasn't the worst dark romance I've read, it also definitely wasn't the best.
July 19, 2025
Where do I start? How about when the FMC is drugged and raped repeatedly, then wakes up covered in the MMC's semen, her first thought isn't, "I should call the police." Nope, the dumbass takes a shower and washes off every trace of evidence. Then, when they get their HEA, she's just okay with him continuing to be a serial killer??? I was really holding out hope that he'd give it up for her.
This book has literally no redeeming qualities and a boatload of grammatical errors and nonsensical sentence structure to the point where I had to go back and read some things two or three times to understand it. Just a poor excuse to write rape scenes over and over again. Was it written by AI? Quite possibly. Did it make me feel incredibly gross? 100000% YES.
This book has literally no redeeming qualities and a boatload of grammatical errors and nonsensical sentence structure to the point where I had to go back and read some things two or three times to understand it. Just a poor excuse to write rape scenes over and over again. Was it written by AI? Quite possibly. Did it make me feel incredibly gross? 100000% YES.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews