I should not be attracted to my client, but there's something about Nate Holloway that I can't get out of my head. And it's not just because he’s insanely hot.
He's also obsessed with and stalking another woman. So tell me why the only thing I can think about when he's around is how to make him forget about her and think of me instead.
But no one can find out, or it won't just be my career at risk.
Limerence is a spicy dark romance novella featuring a romance between a therapist and her stalker client for readers 18 and over.
If you love a cinnamon roll MMC—this book is absolutely for you.
Nate is such a lovable character. He’s gentle, attentive, and has that sweet, quiet charm that just wraps around your heart like a warm blanket. He’s the type of man who listens when you speak, looks at you like you hung the stars, and knows when to step up without stealing your spotlight—and we love that here.
And Olivia? She’s just as sweet, with a touch of curiosity that makes their dynamic so fun to read (wink wink). She’s soft, smart, and perfectly matched to Nate in all the best ways. You’ll root for her from the first page.
This book is a fast read, but don’t let that fool you—it packs so much story, tension, and depth into every chapter without feeling rushed. It’s a perfect binge read, but it sticks with you. You’ll finish it with a full heart and a soft smile.
And can we talk about the therapist/patient dynamic? Because yes please. Give me all the taboo tension, the emotional unraveling, the secrets whispered in safe spaces that slowly turn into something more. This trope? Done so well here. It’s intimate, intense, and completely addictive.
The chemistry? Immaculate. The softness? Soul-soothing. The spice? Just the right touch to leave you smiling and maybe fanning yourself a little.
I loved this book for so many reasons—the warmth, the chemistry, the emotional intimacy—and I’ll definitely be thinking about Nate and Olivia for a while.
If you're craving a romance that's soft, steamy, a little bit forbidden, and full of heart—this one’s a must-read. Go ahead. Fall in love with a cinnamon roll. You deserve it. 🍰💗
"One mention of the word pineapple and everything stops."
This. Book. Is. Perfect. I truly loved every single moment of it - there almost aren't enough words - I wish I could read this book over again for the first time.
Nate is the embodiment of Gold Retriever Book Boyfriend. He is super sweet and caring and is absolutely smitten with our main girl, Olivia.
"It’s not stalking—it’s protecting."
Olivia, our FMC, is strong willed and knows what she wants. She isn't afraid to say what she thinks and go after what is going to make her happy.
The chemistry in this book is great - the story and character development is quick but well rounded. The pacing is fantastic - constantly holding your breath and waiting for the next BIG moment.
"Hell’s not a bad place to be in as long as you’re in it with me."
✨ARC Review ✨ Limerence Book by Bec Eden @bookishspiceandeverythingnice 18/07/2025 136-pgs 🌟🌟 🌟🌟 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
❤️Fave Quote-❤️"I swear to god, Nate. If you don't let me come in the next thirty seconds, I won't let you see my tits for a week."
Huge thank you to Bec Eden for letting me be an ARC reader I had the best time with this wild, spicy little ride.
Nate is obsessive. Olivia is off limits. & yet this man walked into therapy like: “You’re mine now.” AND SHE JUST WENT WITH IT?? 🫠
From the very first page, this novella had me by the throat. Olivia’s a therapist. Nate is her client. Ethics? Gone. Boundaries? Shattered. & somehow… it completely worked. The tension? Illegal. The chemistry? Off the damn charts. I needed a fan & maybe a priest. 🥵 Also can we talk about their safe word being pineapple?! & Olivia hates pineapple on pizza?! ICONIC. (Justice for pineapple on pizza, though. 🍍🤣) My only complaint? I do wish it was a little longer tho I feel it felt a bit flat there was little to no plot outside of the main characters getting together, I was hoping for a deeper more layered dive into his obsession & more of an in depth insight with his mum's ex. But saying that I still devoured it & I just wanted needed more. If you're craving a quick, spicy read with an unhinged, possessive MMC, delicious chaos, & no time wasted getting to the good stuff?
8/10. I would absolutely recommend it.
Tropes- 🍍Spicy Novella 😈Obsessive MMC 🍍Therapist+ Client Forbidden Romance 😈Stalker Romance 🍍He Falls First 😈Insta- Love 🍍Morally Gray Characters 😈Touch her & Die 🍍Duel Pov 😈“You're Mine” Energy 🍍 Fast Paced
"My obsession. My secret. The reason my blood has been boiling for weeks, my hands aching to claim, my mind consumed with nothing but her."
First, I want to start off by thanking Bec Eden and The Authors Archive for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC! 🌻
📣 Calling all Dark Romance girlies! Need a short and sweet taboo dark romance that you can devour in one sitting? This novella is for you. It's a perfect read if you're in a bit of a slump or need that palate cleanser between books.
Nate - The cinnamon roll stalker who has been in love with her from the moment he laid eyes on her.
Olivia - The pug obsessed therapist with a little devil on her shoulder who is seeking a change from the mundane.
The chemistry these 2 had was instant. The little twist was giving me serious thriller vibes, and the ending was the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. I was swooning, and my heart was pumping from start to finish. ❤️🔥
⚠️ Please remember to read Trigger Warnings before reading this. It is intended for a mature audience... You might just need to scream PINEAPPLE, iykyk.🍍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Limerence captured my attention from the start. I love a good stalker romance and this fits the bill. We get a cinnamon roll MMC and a strong-willed FMC? Sign me up! Nate is a tad obsessive. 😉The object of his obsession? Oliva, a local therapist, who is off limits. What’s the best way to get closer to your obsession, the only obvious answer is to become a client of hers. Afterall, who needs ethics and boundaries when you have an unhinged and possessive MMC? 🤷🏻♀️ I loved the tension between Nate and Olivia, loved how they used pineapple as their safe word, and loved how he protects her. I have to disagree with Olivia’s dislike of pineapple on her pizza, but I digress. This may be a novella, but it’s 100% worth the read! It’s available on KU, I promise you won’t regret it.
Thank you Bec Eden for providing this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Limerence is a short dark stalker romance novella that was fast paced and easy to follow. I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters, Nate and Olivia.
The only downside was that I wish there was more background into the characters and story. Since it’s a novella, it didn’t get into the nitty gritty, but I would love to see an expanded story. There were also some minor details I thought were a foreshadowing, but ended up being inconsequential.
If you’re looking for a short story with a stalker MMC who is head over heels for the FMC, Limerence is your pick!
Limerence by Bec Eden Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please read trigger warnings before reading. Who doesn’t love a MMC who is absolutely obsessed & stalks the FMC? I fell in love with the MMC Nate, he is a total golden retriever but will also 💀 anyone who threatens Olivia. Olivia the FMC is strong willed, she isn’t afraid to take risks to get what she wants. This is a short and sweet read that has the right amount of plot to spice ratio, It was a very enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see what Bec does next.
Where do I even start? The tension was delicious, the chemistry between Olivia and Nate was absolutely electric from the jump and the love they found for one another was so heart warming. The kind that mends a broken, traumatised heart (even if he did start as her stalker 👀) Despite Limerence being a novella I felt the story was incredibly well rounded, the character building was fantastic and the story didn’t feel rushed like other novellas I have read. I’ll be thinking about this book for a VERY long time.
I absolutely loved this novella. It was short and spicy and a super quick read. I love a possessive MMC, who stalks her (lovingly), who is a golden retriever but will also 💀 you if you even think about hurting her and then there is our FMC who is the object of his affection and completely ignores all his red flags because this book isn’t real so that’s completely fine😂 if you want a quick and spicy novella from an amazing up and coming author then I highly recommend giving this book a read
Whew. I wasn’t ready. I went into this book a curious little reader and came out with a brand new kink and a desperate need to reevaluate my life choices… like why I ever put this book down to be a responsible adult.
I devoured this book faster than my last guilty pleasure snack—and with far more moaning involved. The only reason I paused reading was because apparently driving while feral for fictional characters is frowned upon. And don’t get me started on the judgmental stares when I was reading during school pickup.
Olivia and Nate? Yeah, they did not come to play. The chemistry? Explosive. The sex? Wasn’t just sexing—it was spirit-leaving-my-body levels of hot. I needed a cold drink, a fan, and maybe a rosary.
The plot did its job—it existed, gave me context, and then politely stepped aside so the smut could shine. It wrapped up a little too quick for my taste, but honestly, I wasn’t here for deep character growth. I was here for thighs, tension, and toe-curling scenes—and it delivered.
10/10 recommend if you want to lose sleep, forget your name, and question whether your standards are now too high for real people.
Limerence is a quick, stalker romance that I loved getting into! Our MMC is a cinnamon roll, obsessed stalker that I can't help but swoon over. Our FMC is a therapist who happens to be the object of the MMCs affection and you can imagine how much talking goes on in those sessions. We've got spice, action, and an HEA.
I'm a big fan of the dark romance genre, and the plot of this book sounded interesting. I got excited when I got a hold of this book.
I enjoyed the story. If it sounds like something up your alley, definitely give it a try. It's a fun read that is not too long (but longer than this review, I promise), making it perfect for people who enjoy a bit of darkness in their romance.
Disclaimer: I got this book as an ARC (thank you to the author!), and I'm leaving this review 100% voluntarily.
If you'd like to read about more books I liked, check out my Goodreads profile. I also sometimes post reviews on Instagram and talk about bookish stuff on Threads.
Okay so listen—when I applied for this ARC I saw dark romance and a cover with a woman painted up like a sexy death goddess (skull makeup vibes) and was like sign me the hell up.
Plot twist? That skull-paint cover doesn’t actually matter until like 80% in. I was big-confused, honestly. I sat there like a clown, waiting for skeleton-queen action while the book said patience, darling, and didn’t hand me the Halloween moment until the final act. BUT—when it landed? chef’s kiss lightbulb ON. 💡🔪
We have Olivia and Nate. ✨ Olivia = therapist who’s somehow shockingly unaware she’s being stalked (lol girl check your bushes next time). ✨ Nate = straight-up, unapologetic, 100% certified creepy stalker with the vibes of a hot psycho.
Nate’s like “I have a folder with her entire life in it, better go introduce myself officially now” and suddenly they’re having therapy sessions that involve literally no therapy and all the sexual tension.
This is the most deliciously taboo, question-your-ethics kind of read.
The writing? Smooth as hell. The detail work? Elite. The flowers with no notes? The courier vs post moment? That’s the kind of subtle psycho I love. Nate’s characterisation? He’s a doorframe-leaning smirker who protects and creeps in equal measure. Honestly didn’t get a full visual of him because the physical description was light—but that’s fine, I made him hot in my head. Olivia? Loved her dual-mode life. Professional queen, feral Halloween party animal.
BUT—and here’s the thing—I liked the story, I really did… but I still felt like something was missing. I don’t know if it was a deeper connection, more build-up, or just a little more chaos to match Nate’s energy… but I wanted a bit more bite with the obsession. (I’m a menace, I know.)
Still, it’s a short, fast, ethically questionable ride I’d hand to my fellow dark romance gremlins with zero shame.
Thank you, Bec Eden, for letting me creep through this ARC—I had a delightfully twisted time.
I was lucky to be an ARC reader for this book. Bec Eden has another book called ‘A Song of Death and Desire’ and I loved that book so I had high expectations for this one and Bec didn’t let me down.
📓This book grabbed me straight from the start. 📓As it is a novella it jumps straight in the spicy stuffs and the spice was soooo good. 📓He is obsessed with her and has been stalking her, she is a therapist and he decides to meet with her as a client. 📓The office scenes are hot 📓Bec brings all the elements of his obsession for her, her wondering why she is missing something in her world, plus a bad guy. 📓It only looses half a star for me as I would have loved it to be longer so I could have been able to know the characters more, but that is also the downfall of novellas.
🍷“From now on, all of this is mine. Do you hear me? You’re mine. No one else gets to touch you again.” The possessiveness is just another red flag to add to his flagpole but once again, what should make me want to run, has the complete opposite effect on my horny bitch of a brain. 🍷“Time to come for me, little devil,” 🍷“Don’t worry, Livi. I’ll be taking you again very soon, but right now, I just want to rest here with you.” 🍷I shouldn’t be feeling like this about someone I just met, but when I gaze into his adoring eyes, I fear that I’m jumping off a cliff and free-falling into the unknown. 🍷“Shh, little devil, you don’t want anyone to hear. Mmm, you’re so warm and wet for me.” 🍷I feel like I’ve lost a giant part of my soul, and I’ve only known him for a few weeks. How is that even possible—to love someone so much, so quickly? 🍷Hell’s not a bad place to be in as long as you’re in it with me.
*Arc review* I really enjoyed Limerence — it’s a quick, intense read that pulled me in right away. The writing is sharp, and the story does a great job of balancing psychological tension with emotional depth.
The character that stood out most to me was Nate Holloway. He’s dark, complicated, and incredibly compelling. Even though some of his behavior is deeply unsettling, there’s something about him that makes you want to understand him more. Bec Eden did a great job creating a character who feels dangerous but also surprisingly vulnerable, and I found myself drawn to him in a way I didn’t expect.
The dynamic between Olivia and Nate is definitely a morally grey one. Their connection is intense, and it builds quickly — maybe a little too quickly at times. The only part that didn’t fully click for me was how fast Olivia seemed to let go of her ethical boundaries. Given her profession, I would’ve liked to see a bit more internal struggle or hesitation before things progressed. That said, the tension between them still felt believable, and it’s clear that their connection was never meant to be simple or easy.
Overall, Limerence is a strong novella that explores obsession, boundaries, and emotional complexity. It’s a thought-provoking read with a main character (Nate) who will definitely stick with me. If you like darker romance with a psychological edge, this is one to check out.
The good. The writing was easy to read and I finished the whole thing in one sitting. easily. I liked Nate's character. Being promoted as a dark romance the tropes were pretty much as expected but I also love the duality of dark romances that show things like aftercare and explicit consent and general worship. the magnetism of them to each other.
The bad. Pacing. It started really strong and then once Nate and Olivia met it lost that punch. Their dark romance really was a very healthy relationship in many ways once they got over the unorthodox obsession that started it. story structure and pacing - after the crisis climax the falling action and resolution was super disappointing and abrupt. I know it's a novella so I know that's going to be short but in 6 pages we went from murder to happily ever after. Olivia - she was way unprofessional and glossed over the stalking. also the fact after the (attempted or actual?) SA she had a two week break and came back to try some primal play as a make up. And it wasn't in an empowering way it was an out of character/logic choice. Details - we rushed over some things that felt like they needed more attention (Nate's mum, Darren's stalking, the make up) and gave alot of page space up to insignificant things like *pugs* The cover art - not bad cover art but it's just a costume mentioned for 2 lines for a party so it's not really a great example or representation of THIS book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow, just wow, Limerence has definitely left me with a lot to unpack. If you're looking for something that's going to hit you emotionally and challenge your ideas about love and obsession, this might be it.
From my perspective, this book delves deep into the psychological state of limerence, which is that intense, involuntary infatuation with another person, often accompanied by obsessive thoughts and a strong desire for reciprocation.
The story primarily follows Nate as they navigate an increasingly intense infatuation with Olivia. What starts as a seemingly innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more consuming and all-encompassing.
The narrative vividly portrays Nate's internal world – their every thought, fantasy, and desperate hope revolving around the object of their limerence. We see them trying to decipher every look, every word, every gesture, often projecting their own desires onto ambiguous interactions.
Overall, "Limerence" isn't a light read, but it's incredibly thought-provoking, spicy and fast paced read. It made me reflect on the nature of attraction, obsession, and the fine line between intense emotion and unhealthy fixation. If you're ready for a deep dive into the human psyche and don't mind challenging themes, I'd say give it a read, but definitely go in with those trigger warnings in mind.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this arc. Limerence is a novella that had me hooked from page one.
Since it's a shorter story, there’s no time for fluff, and honestly, it doesn’t need it. This is a dark, taboo romance that dives headfirst into obsession, control, and twisted desire. We’ve got a therapist (Olivia) and her patient (Nate), who just so happens to be obsessed with her… and has been stalking her for a while. Sounds like a red flag buffet? Yep. Was I still 100% in? Absolutely.
Despite Nate’s… let’s call them “behavioral quirks,” he’s surprisingly lovable. He’s intense, possessive, and completely unhinged in that dark romance way that somehow still makes you root for him. Olivia, for her part, is smart and self-aware but also undeniably drawn to Nate, no matter how much her professional instincts scream bad idea. The chemistry between them? Off the charts. It’s messy, it’s wrong, it’s magnetic.
The spice level? HOT! There aren’t tons of scenes, but the ones we get are seriously steamy.
Limerence is fast-paced, twisted, and unapologetically dark. If you’re into morally gray characters, forbidden dynamics, and obsessive love that blurs every line, this one’s for you. It’s a quick read that leaves an impact, and maybe a little need for a cold shower.
Limerence by Bec Eden ARC Review Release Date: 18th July 2025
"Hell is not a bad place to be in, as long as you're in it with me"
This was a quick and fun novella. Had me hooked from the beginning.
"Its not stalking, its protecting"
Our MMC, Nate, is over protective and a golden retriever! Despite being her staker he still has a sweet and caring side but is utterly obsessed with Olivia!
Olivia knows what she wants and she wants him! She falls hard and fast!
Their chemistry is instant.
✨️ Blurb ✨️
Nate
Olivia Kane.
She's beautiful.
She's perfect.
She's mine.
She just doesn't know it yet.
Olivia
I should not be attracted to my client, but there's something about Nate Holloway that I can't get out of my head. And it's not just because he’s insanely hot.
He's also obsessed with and stalking another woman. So tell me why the only thing I can think about when he's around is how to make him forget about her and think of me instead.
But no one can find out, or it won't just be my career at risk.
Limerence is a spicy dark romance novella featuring a romance between a therapist and her stalker client for readers 18 and over.
Tropes - Stalker Romance - Therapist/Client - He falls first - Possessive MMC - Touch her and 💀
Limerence by Bec Eden was a page turning short story which engaged me from the get go! The author portrays the meaning of the word Limerence to the reader at the beginning and the book portrays the obsessive meaning throughout the story. It made me question what I would do if someone was stalking me? What if it was Nate Holloway stalking me? A very attractive man, who has quite the sexual desire. Without spilling many spoilers the story portrayed a young man who ever since setting eyes on the beautiful Olivia Kane, he just knew she was the one for him. She is a practicing psychologist which was the perfect way for Nate to meet her. Once they meet, the feelings grow stronger. The story written in the perspective of both characters, takes us on a path of desire, obsessive stalking, orgasms, a twist in events that causes an imminent threat relating to Nate’s past, resulting in an awful rape situation and the question of will Nate and Olivia see each other again? It was a great page turning read and with some added constructive criticism I believe Bec Eden could further delve into the story adding more in depth detail and a little more kink 😉 I definitely recommend if you have some spare time on your hands! It only took me a day to read! 🙂
Limerence may be short, but it packs one hell of a punch. Bec Eden delivers a dark, addictive, and unapologetically filthy novella that somehow manages to be both emotionally intense and scorchingly hot at the same time.
The story throws you straight into a whirlwind of obsession, desire, and blurred boundaries. For most of the book, it’s pure dark, primal smut, raw, explicit, and executed with the kind of confidence that makes you forget to breathe. Yet, despite the heat, it’s never empty; every scene serves a purpose, revealing layers beneath the chaos.
And then, toward the end, the emotional side hits. That’s where the trauma, healing, and quiet strength sneak in, turning what started as pure darkness into something unexpectedly human. One line that absolutely stuck with me was:
“I know that there might be some level of anxiety that stays with me… but I will work through it. I’m not alone.”
That moment hit hard. It reminded me why I love dark romances, because even through the filth, the pain, and the taboo, there’s always a thread of survival and hope.
Limerence is short but deeply affecting, the perfect mix of spice, shadow, and soul. Just make sure you read the content warnings first… and maybe keep a glass of water handy, for multiple reasons.
0 character development, 0 character personality, 0 plot outside the two MC's playing tonsil hockey. This reads like you're on Wattpad for the first time and accidentally jump into chapter 20 and start there. There's no storyline progression.
The only positive note I have is that early chapters had a good exploration of our MMCs stalker mindset. Author captured deranged obsession really well but it didn't last as long as it should have. I would've appreciated a more realistic take on the therapist x client relationship rather than an instant acceptance from our FMC. No professional, or person is instantly okay with crossing boundaries and stalking... I wanted more of this moral debate for our FMC, a slower burn.
Other elements of the plot such as MMCs mother/abusive ex step-father tangent was unnecessary and came out of nowhere.
Also plot holes galore... like what do you mean his mother's ex had cameras put in FMCs office?? Made zero sense.
If you're interested in smut and that's about it, this book is for you. If you want a quick read and don't care about literally anything else, this book is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thanks a lot to the author Bec Eden as well as The Authors Archive for this wonderful ARC opportunity.
I love dark romances and this was a great novella. I love the plot twist of the book. Did not see this coming. At all. It took me by complete surprise and I loved what dynamic it gave to the story.
My only comment is, that the story is a tad fast paced for my liking. Everything seems to fall into place for both characters really quickly and a bit too easy, therefore at times I would have wished for a bit more meat on the bone.
That said I love the spice! It felt just like the right amount, where it leaves you gasping, but it never made me as uncomfortable that I felt like I need to put the book down for a bit.
The MMC being a stalker should freak the reader out, but at the same time he is such a lovable character, you can’t but hope he gets all he wishes for start. It’s a fine line between scary and cute stalker and Bec danced on that line just perfectly. Olivia being the strong independent woman, who can finally let go and while well and truly knowing she should be concerned but still goes with it, was a fun adventure to go on.
ARC Review: This ARC was received in return for an honest review. Disclaimer: this review contains spoilers 5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️
A taboo stalker romance with a cinnamon roll MMC and a FMC obsessed with blue flowers and pugs.
This fast paced novella starts off chapter one with a steamy masturbation scene with our MMC Nate after he details his obsessive love to Olivia our FMC without having met her.
We follow their insta love connection when he becomes a client with her as his therapist. She falls hard and fast and feels hot and wet as he describes his obsession and stalking nature of a mysterious girl.
The primal play dynamic of hunter and hunter is mouth drooling. Its definitely increased my love of seeing kink representation in books.
This book an amazing refresher that you can enjoy in between a heavy fantasy series or following a contemporary sports romance.
Mood readers, this is a perfect addition to your collection.
Limerence is available for preorders of paperback and book boxes at becedenauthor.com, ebook will be available on amazon for kindle unlimited.dt Please read the trigger warnings before reading the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
ARC Review Limerence Book by Bec Eden 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Bec Eden for giving me the privilege to be an ARC reader. This book was so amazing! I read it in 7hrs!
From the very first paragraph I was hooked. Olivia’s a therapist. Nate is her client. They do not care! The chemistry is Off the damn charts. Safe word being pineapple because she hates it on pizza?! 🤣 🍍 The office scenes are just off the spice chart! They run into trouble, but he’ll never let anyone harm her. I won’t give anything else away. You’ll have to read it 🥵
I wish it was a bigger book tho because I loved them together. This is the perfect dark romance. If you're craving a small but, spicy read with an unhinged, possessive MMC, delicious chaos all thrown at you at once, then this is the book for you.
10/10.
Tropes-
Spicy Obsessive MMC Therapist/Client Romance Stalker He Falls First Instant Love connection Morally Gray Characters Touch her & Die Duel POVs “You're Mine” Cinnamon roll stalker