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If You're Reading This
Love is a death sentence…
In a cold hotel room, Rachel sits on the bathroom floor, contemplating the razor and the bath she's prepared for her final moments. After months of being stalked, isolated, and psychologically tormented, death seems like her only escape.
The nightmare began after her husband's death, when Rachel joined a social app and met charming estate agent Mark at a New Year's Eve party. What started as a promising connection quickly soured, with Mark's presence haunting every aspect of her existence.
As Rachel found new love with museum curator Ollie, Mark's obsession intensified. With police unable to help without concrete evidence and nowhere left to turn, Rachel must find the strength for one last confrontation with a predator who anticipates her every move—or risk losing everything, including her will to live.
A gripping psychological thriller about obsession, isolation, and what happens when the one person who believes you is the one trying to destroy you.
—————
In a cold hotel room, Rachel sits on the bathroom floor, contemplating the razor and the bath she's prepared for her final moments. After months of being stalked, isolated, and psychologically tormented, death seems like her only escape.
The nightmare began after her husband's death, when Rachel joined a social app and met charming estate agent Mark at a New Year's Eve party. What started as a promising connection quickly soured, with Mark's presence haunting every aspect of her existence.
As Rachel found new love with museum curator Ollie, Mark's obsession intensified. With police unable to help without concrete evidence and nowhere left to turn, Rachel must find the strength for one last confrontation with a predator who anticipates her every move—or risk losing everything, including her will to live.
A gripping psychological thriller about obsession, isolation, and what happens when the one person who believes you is the one trying to destroy you.
—————
424 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2025
920 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Carter
30 books203 followersAJ Carter is a psychological thriller author from Bristol, England. His first book, The Family Secret, is praised by critics around the world, and he continues to regularly deliver suspenseful novels you can’t put down.
Sign up to his mailing list today and be the first to hear about upcoming releases and hot new deals for existing books. You’ll also receive a FREE digital copy of The Couple Downstairs – an unputdownable domestic thriller you won’t find anywhere else in the world: https://BookHip.com/WAXFLLP
Sign up to his mailing list today and be the first to hear about upcoming releases and hot new deals for existing books. You’ll also receive a FREE digital copy of The Couple Downstairs – an unputdownable domestic thriller you won’t find anywhere else in the world: https://BookHip.com/WAXFLLP
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 15, 2025
Meah
Not really a fan. The book did lend just enough suspense to finish it, but, I found that the constant descriptions, of the exact same things, throughout the book somewhat annoying (like the typos)...like the writer was trying to get the "word count" in for the book. In addition, the plot is completely off...1 date and a ghost? Leading to that? Naw... not happening.
This is the first and last book by this author.
Not really a fan. The book did lend just enough suspense to finish it, but, I found that the constant descriptions, of the exact same things, throughout the book somewhat annoying (like the typos)...like the writer was trying to get the "word count" in for the book. In addition, the plot is completely off...1 date and a ghost? Leading to that? Naw... not happening.
This is the first and last book by this author.
September 9, 2025
This book takes psychopath to a whole new level. Holy cow! And the EPILOGUE !!! Left me speechless!
September 5, 2025
If You're Reading This
I enjoyed this book. It was different from other books. It had a twist toward the end that I didn't expect. I definitely recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was different from other books. It had a twist toward the end that I didn't expect. I definitely recommend this book.
November 5, 2025
Wow! how can there not be a sequel?
August 13, 2025
I was part way through another book and picked this up to read a few pages and here I am with it finished
What a read
Firstly a warning,suicide is covered in the book, well the potential of it and the main character deciding if she will go through with it
This is a dark, dark tale of stalking, Rachel ( author ) joins ‘Mingle’ after the death of her partner and meets Mark ( Hamspon ) and after a night of sex he gaslights her…..except he doesn’t and he turns her life into a horrifying stalker victim existence where his persistent cruelty and determination to wreck and manipulate her life are shocking, even to a ‘read it all’ like me
The descriptive writing of emotion and feeling are spot on, the author manages to make a carpet sound interesting and the many nods to Bristol where it’s set is grand, I felt Ihad a good idea of what Bristol is like and how it functions, very precise and clever writing that created an understanding of the atmosphere of the place
This is a unsettling book, Mark is toxicity x1000 and will get under your skin, the author then has done his job and done it very well
Interestingly a warning before the epilogue as the author is unsure wether to have included it or not and tells us to decide on reading it, I say yes!
AJ Carter gets better and better, do not miss this scarily realistic story, but be warned, its a 1 sitting/lying read that will stay with you
What a read
Firstly a warning,suicide is covered in the book, well the potential of it and the main character deciding if she will go through with it
This is a dark, dark tale of stalking, Rachel ( author ) joins ‘Mingle’ after the death of her partner and meets Mark ( Hamspon ) and after a night of sex he gaslights her…..except he doesn’t and he turns her life into a horrifying stalker victim existence where his persistent cruelty and determination to wreck and manipulate her life are shocking, even to a ‘read it all’ like me
The descriptive writing of emotion and feeling are spot on, the author manages to make a carpet sound interesting and the many nods to Bristol where it’s set is grand, I felt Ihad a good idea of what Bristol is like and how it functions, very precise and clever writing that created an understanding of the atmosphere of the place
This is a unsettling book, Mark is toxicity x1000 and will get under your skin, the author then has done his job and done it very well
Interestingly a warning before the epilogue as the author is unsure wether to have included it or not and tells us to decide on reading it, I say yes!
AJ Carter gets better and better, do not miss this scarily realistic story, but be warned, its a 1 sitting/lying read that will stay with you
September 16, 2025
If You're Reading This (Standalone Pyschlogical Thriller) by AJ Carter.
I thought the concept was very good but the delivery was quite poor as the author reiterates the same things throughout.
The story starts with a bath filled with water and a razor blade and suicide note with the words 'If you're reading this.' which was written by Rachel a widow of twelve months. The story starts from the present and back to the beginning.
Her therapist advises her to get out more in order to not be engulfed with grief for her dead husband. So she signs up to a social app called Mingle. Unbeknown to her there is a handsome predator of sad and lonely widows also on the same app called Mark an estate agent.
Unfortunately Rachel's life is going to be turned upside down as Mark befriends her and starts stalking her even when she has ended their relationship.
I did love how AJ Carter pens in his hometown Bristol plus his hobby of Lego as he described on page 116 this is a brief summary from this page. This particular Thursday, Bristol had decided to impersonate summer. Tourists photographing colourful houses stacked like lego along the hillside.
I thought the concept was very good but the delivery was quite poor as the author reiterates the same things throughout.
The story starts with a bath filled with water and a razor blade and suicide note with the words 'If you're reading this.' which was written by Rachel a widow of twelve months. The story starts from the present and back to the beginning.
Her therapist advises her to get out more in order to not be engulfed with grief for her dead husband. So she signs up to a social app called Mingle. Unbeknown to her there is a handsome predator of sad and lonely widows also on the same app called Mark an estate agent.
Unfortunately Rachel's life is going to be turned upside down as Mark befriends her and starts stalking her even when she has ended their relationship.
I did love how AJ Carter pens in his hometown Bristol plus his hobby of Lego as he described on page 116 this is a brief summary from this page. This particular Thursday, Bristol had decided to impersonate summer. Tourists photographing colourful houses stacked like lego along the hillside.
November 24, 2025
I'm not actually sure why I WAS reading this - probably a recommendation on GR.
Well, you've got to admire Adam Carter for writing so many good books (one a month??) so quickly and his prose is nevertheless wonderful. As is the subject matter of a psychopathic murderous stalker posing as a charming real estate agent. Which, I gather - incredible as it sounds - is actually feasible.
I've given it three stars as I didn't feel he really got into the head of a woman who is being stalked although as a man he did a damn good job of trying and I'm sure he did his research. But the stalker sleeps with her once, then ghosts her, THEN obsesses about her? Nah. Stalkers love bomb big time, then ghost. I should know. Also there are just sooooo many repetitions of phrases that it simply stopped the flow of reading when I kept tripping annoyingly over them. How many times did he write that Mark's smile never reached his eyes? I totally lost count.
I skimmed through a lot of the descriptions to get to what HAPPENS as the 'suspense' was too spun out for my taste. I did skim through to the end though, which is something.
Well, you've got to admire Adam Carter for writing so many good books (one a month??) so quickly and his prose is nevertheless wonderful. As is the subject matter of a psychopathic murderous stalker posing as a charming real estate agent. Which, I gather - incredible as it sounds - is actually feasible.
I've given it three stars as I didn't feel he really got into the head of a woman who is being stalked although as a man he did a damn good job of trying and I'm sure he did his research. But the stalker sleeps with her once, then ghosts her, THEN obsesses about her? Nah. Stalkers love bomb big time, then ghost. I should know. Also there are just sooooo many repetitions of phrases that it simply stopped the flow of reading when I kept tripping annoyingly over them. How many times did he write that Mark's smile never reached his eyes? I totally lost count.
I skimmed through a lot of the descriptions to get to what HAPPENS as the 'suspense' was too spun out for my taste. I did skim through to the end though, which is something.
October 3, 2025
Solid three stars.
Took me three or four attempts to get through the first few chapters ~ starting in the bathroom with a woman I knew nothing about and who *to me* was so wishy-washy that I couldn’t bring myself to care if she followed through or not. The last third of the book the story moved along *finally*, with the introduction of the MFC’s sister *the ONE character in the book I actually enjoyed! After the end of the book, the author had inserted an alternate ending for the reader to accept or deny. I actually loved that version better than the one the author chose to close the story. Again, the end better than the beginning. Stick with it and let me know what you think!
Took me three or four attempts to get through the first few chapters ~ starting in the bathroom with a woman I knew nothing about and who *to me* was so wishy-washy that I couldn’t bring myself to care if she followed through or not. The last third of the book the story moved along *finally*, with the introduction of the MFC’s sister *the ONE character in the book I actually enjoyed! After the end of the book, the author had inserted an alternate ending for the reader to accept or deny. I actually loved that version better than the one the author chose to close the story. Again, the end better than the beginning. Stick with it and let me know what you think!
September 19, 2025
Enjoyable Read That Held My Attention
I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning and consumed it.
My only criticism is that there were some descriptive prose phrases and sentences that were used too often - often enough that I was aware of them and started noting them. They were good, but over used and each instance was so similar that for a split second I felt like I was rereading a previously read excerpt...to the point that it became a distraction.
However, I enjoyed the story and will search out and read this author again.
I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning and consumed it.
My only criticism is that there were some descriptive prose phrases and sentences that were used too often - often enough that I was aware of them and started noting them. They were good, but over used and each instance was so similar that for a split second I felt like I was rereading a previously read excerpt...to the point that it became a distraction.
However, I enjoyed the story and will search out and read this author again.
December 21, 2025
Difficult to pinpoint
The first reason I could not give it five stars is I really dislike books that go back and forth, this one particularly annoying. The characters were great. The information on all of them was very good. As an American, I am appalled by the fact that a man who stalked kidnapped attempted to murder a man and did murder a woman. And was only given eight years, possibly 12, yikes! If I were her, I would’ve moved to America immediately. And reading your last chapter that would’ve been her best line of defense.
The first reason I could not give it five stars is I really dislike books that go back and forth, this one particularly annoying. The characters were great. The information on all of them was very good. As an American, I am appalled by the fact that a man who stalked kidnapped attempted to murder a man and did murder a woman. And was only given eight years, possibly 12, yikes! If I were her, I would’ve moved to America immediately. And reading your last chapter that would’ve been her best line of defense.
August 23, 2025
A dark and disturbing read by AJ Carter where we follow Rachel who, after losing her husband Daniel, joins a social app and meets up with the charming estate agent, Mark. After gaslighting her, she finds friendship with corduroy and cardigan museum curator, Ollie but the charming estate agent is always lurking in the background. A tense storyline throughout and an excellent read. Thank you to AJ Carter for the ARC of If You're Reading This
October 9, 2025
ok read
I found this book to be a bit drawn out and dragging in the story line. Personally, a bit unbelievable as the main character wrote a book on gaslighting and stalking and yet after enough research to write a book, fell so blindingly for it herself.
Also, the author used the same style of imagery phrases over and over again (part of the dragging).
I have read others from this author and really liked them but this one was not as good.
I found this book to be a bit drawn out and dragging in the story line. Personally, a bit unbelievable as the main character wrote a book on gaslighting and stalking and yet after enough research to write a book, fell so blindingly for it herself.
Also, the author used the same style of imagery phrases over and over again (part of the dragging).
I have read others from this author and really liked them but this one was not as good.
September 12, 2025
Provocative!
What I liked was the excellent prose, compelling story.
Disturbing content, because we all know these guys exist, and cause irreparable harm.
What was painful was Louise's death!
Also the eight year sentence for murder, stalking, and physical abuse over years? Really!
Great entertainment!
What I liked was the excellent prose, compelling story.
Disturbing content, because we all know these guys exist, and cause irreparable harm.
What was painful was Louise's death!
Also the eight year sentence for murder, stalking, and physical abuse over years? Really!
Great entertainment!
November 20, 2025
Just Wow!!!
I almost have no words!! I am completely stunned and in utter awe of this story...the best, the most gripping and nerve wracking book that I've had the pleasure to read in a long time!! The main character's words are so descriptive and it had my heart racing like hers.....
Thank you AJ Carter!!
I would wholly recommend this book!
You won't be disappointed!
I almost have no words!! I am completely stunned and in utter awe of this story...the best, the most gripping and nerve wracking book that I've had the pleasure to read in a long time!! The main character's words are so descriptive and it had my heart racing like hers.....
Thank you AJ Carter!!
I would wholly recommend this book!
You won't be disappointed!
November 30, 2025
This book had me interested right from the beginning. I’m not sure I’ve ever imagined the terror of having a stalker who you couldn’t get away from, even if you tried. But even though he seemed perfect when they met, Mark takes everything from Rachel. He really wants her to feel like she has no one or nothing without him. And he almost succeeds.
August 30, 2025
Read Me
Another psychological thriller, that is fast paced and barely gives you breathing room so prepare yourself to not do anything with your life as you continue to read till the last page.
Another psychological thriller, that is fast paced and barely gives you breathing room so prepare yourself to not do anything with your life as you continue to read till the last page.
September 5, 2025
Not one of the best but it was okay. Definitely confusing with a lot of parts. Big words I never heard. Even though it’s a books it’s definitely happening in real life and it’s ashamed that cops or detectives don’t believe the woman right away until they are near death or are already dead.
September 8, 2025
Compelling
A really good twisted read some really tense moments,fantastic plot believable keeping you guessing and turning the pages marvellous characters really enjoyed reading this book
A really good twisted read some really tense moments,fantastic plot believable keeping you guessing and turning the pages marvellous characters really enjoyed reading this book
September 11, 2025
Unputdownable!
I read the whole book one less than one day. Heart pounding, breath held, smiling, sighing and living every minute. A truelly brilliant read! Oh and just so you know, I've never reviewed a book before.
I read the whole book one less than one day. Heart pounding, breath held, smiling, sighing and living every minute. A truelly brilliant read! Oh and just so you know, I've never reviewed a book before.
September 16, 2025
4.5****
This was a book that made my pulse race at every twist. Should have warning label about heart palpitations. Scores a 5 on that. Just do yourself a small favor and follow the author's advice when the ending is presented. No spoiler
This was a book that made my pulse race at every twist. Should have warning label about heart palpitations. Scores a 5 on that. Just do yourself a small favor and follow the author's advice when the ending is presented. No spoiler
October 3, 2025
This was the most REPETITIVE AND BORING AND SLOW AND DREADFUL BOOK booooooooooooooo 👎 what plot twist were yall talking about because we surely read different books or sum 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲genuinely so confused this was so so awful to get through
October 24, 2025
Love, love, love AJ Carter's books
I've never read a bad one by this author. There was one I started to read & immediately knew I couldn't do it; The Sister-In-Law. Regardless, anything by AJ is not to be missed.
I've never read a bad one by this author. There was one I started to read & immediately knew I couldn't do it; The Sister-In-Law. Regardless, anything by AJ is not to be missed.
November 30, 2025
Way too long
Could have been so much better. Good premise, but too much repetitive introspection. The “then” parts were decent, but the “now” parts extremely tedious. I ended up skim reading most of it.
Could have been so much better. Good premise, but too much repetitive introspection. The “then” parts were decent, but the “now” parts extremely tedious. I ended up skim reading most of it.
August 27, 2025
Good reading
This book really gripped me, I got slightly confused between then and now. One of AJ Carter s best books and I've read almost all of them.
This book really gripped me, I got slightly confused between then and now. One of AJ Carter s best books and I've read almost all of them.
September 1, 2025
A great thriller but a little confusing at times. Is now, now or is then yesterday or couple hours ago? Was not happy with ending either.
September 2, 2025
Sequel!!!!!
I went back and forth about reading the second ending. I'm glad I did...come on AJ you can't just leave us hangin'!
I went back and forth about reading the second ending. I'm glad I did...come on AJ you can't just leave us hangin'!
September 5, 2025
I love AJ Carters book but this storyline was predictable.
That epilogue though...superb!!
That epilogue though...superb!!
September 9, 2025
Absolutely excellent
Read
September 17, 2025A hot dog is for sure a sandwich
September 22, 2025
Very gripping book. I like when a book flicks from past and present
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews