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Lovesick Sinners #1
I'll Be There for You
I didn’t want to be his friend.
I wanted to stay alive.
Now he’s stalking every aspect of my life.
And the scariest part is… he’s not even trying to hide it.
Dahlia
Walking into that alley was a mistake.
Trying to save a stranger was even worse.
But once he pulled the trigger and I saw what he was capable of, I knew there was no going back.
I tried to run, but he was faster.
So out of desperation, I offered him the only thing I could think of.
Friendship.
Now as long as he keeps calling, I’ll keep answering.
Because Echo Sannikov might just be the most dangerous man I’ve ever met.
And after everything I’ve been through, that should terrify me… even if it doesn’t
Echo
I should have killed her that night.
That’s the rule I’ve always lived by.
Witnesses don’t survive. Monsters don’t hesitate.
But she stepped in to save me.
And that’s what made her different.
The exception to every rule I’ve ever followed and an obsession I can’t ignore.
Now I know where she sleeps.
Where she eats.
And all the places she goes when she thinks no one’s watching.
Dahlia Delacruz thinks we’re just friends.
But she has no idea how much I’m paying attention.
Or how hard it’s becoming for me to stop.
I’ll Be There For You is Book 1 in a Dark Stalker Romance Duet set in The Lovesick Villains World and contains a Morally Gray Stalker MMC who falls first and protects his FMC by any means necessary. This book ends on a cliffhanger.
The Lovesick Villains World is a trauma heavy, devotion-driven dark romance universe where messy FMCs find their happily ever afters with morally gray MMCs who are dangerous to everyone but her.
I wanted to stay alive.
Now he’s stalking every aspect of my life.
And the scariest part is… he’s not even trying to hide it.
Dahlia
Walking into that alley was a mistake.
Trying to save a stranger was even worse.
But once he pulled the trigger and I saw what he was capable of, I knew there was no going back.
I tried to run, but he was faster.
So out of desperation, I offered him the only thing I could think of.
Friendship.
Now as long as he keeps calling, I’ll keep answering.
Because Echo Sannikov might just be the most dangerous man I’ve ever met.
And after everything I’ve been through, that should terrify me… even if it doesn’t
Echo
I should have killed her that night.
That’s the rule I’ve always lived by.
Witnesses don’t survive. Monsters don’t hesitate.
But she stepped in to save me.
And that’s what made her different.
The exception to every rule I’ve ever followed and an obsession I can’t ignore.
Now I know where she sleeps.
Where she eats.
And all the places she goes when she thinks no one’s watching.
Dahlia Delacruz thinks we’re just friends.
But she has no idea how much I’m paying attention.
Or how hard it’s becoming for me to stop.
I’ll Be There For You is Book 1 in a Dark Stalker Romance Duet set in The Lovesick Villains World and contains a Morally Gray Stalker MMC who falls first and protects his FMC by any means necessary. This book ends on a cliffhanger.
The Lovesick Villains World is a trauma heavy, devotion-driven dark romance universe where messy FMCs find their happily ever afters with morally gray MMCs who are dangerous to everyone but her.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Jessa Halliwell
9 books291 followersJessa Halliwell is a Dark Romance author who writes about angsty, torturous love, that's a little fucked up and utterly consuming. Her characters are raw and flawed but they always find salvation in each other.
She loves writing romance only slightly more than she loves reading it. She’s been known to binge read novels then spend the rest of the day sulking over the massive book hangover.
Jessa resides in Northern California with her boyfriend and her feisty Chihuahua. When she isn’t pouring her heart out in her writing, you can find her obsessing over her skincare routine, drinking an unhealthy amount of boba tea and probably crying over a really good romance book
She loves writing romance only slightly more than she loves reading it. She’s been known to binge read novels then spend the rest of the day sulking over the massive book hangover.
Jessa resides in Northern California with her boyfriend and her feisty Chihuahua. When she isn’t pouring her heart out in her writing, you can find her obsessing over her skincare routine, drinking an unhealthy amount of boba tea and probably crying over a really good romance book
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
May 4, 2026
5🌟, 3🌶️
I flew through this book way too fast and now I’m stuck thinking about Echo Sannikov like that was a good idea.
This is dark romance in the most intense way, the kind that feels a little dangerous but impossible to put down. It had me fully locked in, equal parts entertained and slightly concerned for myself.
Echo is completely unhinged in that obsessive, watch-your-every-move way, yet somehow still magnetic. I shouldn’t have liked him as much as I did, but here we are. Dahlia balances him out so well because she feels real and a bit messy, just trying to survive something way bigger than her. The fact that she leans into this strange “friendship” with him made their dynamic even more addictive, and the banter kept things surprisingly fun.
The tension and chemistry carry the story. It’s intense, a little toxic, but with softer moments that catch you off guard. A few beats felt slightly rushed and that cliffhanger hurt, but overall it’s a strong, gripping start that has me curious for more.
Definitely worth the read if you like your romance on the darker side.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Jessa Halliwell & The Smuthood for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I flew through this book way too fast and now I’m stuck thinking about Echo Sannikov like that was a good idea.
This is dark romance in the most intense way, the kind that feels a little dangerous but impossible to put down. It had me fully locked in, equal parts entertained and slightly concerned for myself.
Echo is completely unhinged in that obsessive, watch-your-every-move way, yet somehow still magnetic. I shouldn’t have liked him as much as I did, but here we are. Dahlia balances him out so well because she feels real and a bit messy, just trying to survive something way bigger than her. The fact that she leans into this strange “friendship” with him made their dynamic even more addictive, and the banter kept things surprisingly fun.
The tension and chemistry carry the story. It’s intense, a little toxic, but with softer moments that catch you off guard. A few beats felt slightly rushed and that cliffhanger hurt, but overall it’s a strong, gripping start that has me curious for more.
Definitely worth the read if you like your romance on the darker side.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Jessa Halliwell & The Smuthood for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
May 2, 2026
Thank you to Jessa Halliwell and The Smuthhod for the opportunity to read this ARC. I've said it at least once, but I'm saying it again LOVE ME SOME STALKER romance!! Dahlia witnesses something she shouldn't have and finds herself involved with Echo, dangerous yet exciting. Echo now is obsessed with Dahlia and begins stalking her. This book ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared. Looking forward to seeing how their story ends :)
April 21, 2026
ARC reader review ✨✨✨
Ahhhhhh THIS WAS SOOOO GOOD!!!!
I loved the banter between Echo and Dahlia, their dynamic is so funny but also so PERFECT!!
When I was about 40% of the way through I knew I needed more and this was going to end with a cliffhanger and now I need the second book!!!
Echo is not your typical stalker, like yes he is, but the way he is and the things he does is just so nonchalant it made me laugh at times.
Ahhhhhh THIS WAS SOOOO GOOD!!!!
I loved the banter between Echo and Dahlia, their dynamic is so funny but also so PERFECT!!
When I was about 40% of the way through I knew I needed more and this was going to end with a cliffhanger and now I need the second book!!!
Echo is not your typical stalker, like yes he is, but the way he is and the things he does is just so nonchalant it made me laugh at times.
May 10, 2026
I'll be there by Jessica Halliwell was honestly such a quick binge read for me. I’d give it around a 3.8–4⭐ overall. The plot was actually really interesting, and the whole setting felt fresh compared to a lot of dark romances lately. It’s one of those books you can finish in like 4–5 hours because it’s pretty short, but it still keeps you hooked the entire time. I also loved the nicknames so much — they added a lot to the chemistry and vibe of the story. The spice for me was probably around a 2.75⭐, but the plot and atmosphere definitely carried the book.
May 5, 2026
“This is the part where you run.”
For me, something was missing. I don't know what it was.
However, I will be reading the sequel. It was left in a cliffhanger, and I need to know what happens!
For me, something was missing. I don't know what it was.
However, I will be reading the sequel. It was left in a cliffhanger, and I need to know what happens!
May 3, 2026
I’m so mad the sequel isn’t out yet. I don’t normally read multiple books in a series. I love standalones. This book was so good I was like “alright fine I’ll read the next one” only to find out I have to wait. I’m so mad, it was so good. If you read this book before November be ready to be mad. I can’t wait till November I’m going to devour that book as soon as it’s released.
April 27, 2026
I read this in less than 24 hours. That's really all you need to know.
If you're into:
- mafia romance
- dark stalker romance
- dual POV
- down bad MMC who falls first, and hard
- self aware and strong willed FMC
- flirty banter
- would k!ll for her
- spicy slow burn
Dahlia is attempting to leave a date gone wrong when she sees 4 men attacking one man; she tries to get their attention to stop them, but they start attacking her. Then BAM, x 4. The man who was being attacked executes all 4 men without batting an eye. Dahlia pleads with her life, stating she will do anything to stay alive, but the mystery man, Echo, just wants to be her friend in exchange. Little does Dahlia know, there's a lot more than just being his "friend." They exchange numbers and we get to watch their relationship unfold, and baby it is delicioussss!! Oh, and he fails to mention the fact that he has ties into the mafia, but that's just a small detail left out, right? There's also more to Dahlia than Echo is aware of, but we get the trauma first chapter in.
*Beware, this book does end on a cliffhanger!*
I need more of Dahlia and Echo NOW. I am so ready for book 2. Jessa's writing has this way of drawing you in and keeps you captivated with everything that's going on. I loved Dahlia's character and Echo's as well; he honestly is going to be moving up to the top of my book boyfriend's list. Sure, he's a stalker but he's so funny. The way he cares for Dahlia is unmatched. I'll be thinking about this book for a hot minute!
Thank you to the author and Smuthood PR for the opportunity to read this book before release day!
If you're into:
- mafia romance
- dark stalker romance
- dual POV
- down bad MMC who falls first, and hard
- self aware and strong willed FMC
- flirty banter
- would k!ll for her
- spicy slow burn
Dahlia is attempting to leave a date gone wrong when she sees 4 men attacking one man; she tries to get their attention to stop them, but they start attacking her. Then BAM, x 4. The man who was being attacked executes all 4 men without batting an eye. Dahlia pleads with her life, stating she will do anything to stay alive, but the mystery man, Echo, just wants to be her friend in exchange. Little does Dahlia know, there's a lot more than just being his "friend." They exchange numbers and we get to watch their relationship unfold, and baby it is delicioussss!! Oh, and he fails to mention the fact that he has ties into the mafia, but that's just a small detail left out, right? There's also more to Dahlia than Echo is aware of, but we get the trauma first chapter in.
*Beware, this book does end on a cliffhanger!*
I need more of Dahlia and Echo NOW. I am so ready for book 2. Jessa's writing has this way of drawing you in and keeps you captivated with everything that's going on. I loved Dahlia's character and Echo's as well; he honestly is going to be moving up to the top of my book boyfriend's list. Sure, he's a stalker but he's so funny. The way he cares for Dahlia is unmatched. I'll be thinking about this book for a hot minute!
Thank you to the author and Smuthood PR for the opportunity to read this book before release day!
May 19, 2026
His name is Echo, and as a result, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Wonderland System.
This is not a great book, but I knew that going into it. You can just tell if you get me. But I went into this knowing that, and more importantly, wanting exactly that. Sometimes you just need a stalker romance where he becomes obsessed for no reason, there’s absolutely no chemistry, insta love, hollow characters, a plot that relies entirely on a “trust me, bro” mentality from the author, and a random traumatic backstory that falls apart if you think about it for more than five seconds to get you through a reading slump. At least, that’s what works for me. And this had it all.
The writing is bad too. Please free authors from the constant use of the rule of three that terrorises us readers. A couple times is fine, but I think the repetitive nature of it in this book causes each list to lose its impact as the story goes on. Like why is it in every other paragraph. What the author is trying to convey becomes less dramatic and more tedious and sloggy. Also, what does it mean for something (a cycling class) to smell like rubber and “serious regret”? 🤨 I have my suspicions, but I’m not about to say why I think that sentence made it into the book.
Also got the ick from him getting a pedicure with her and choosing BUTTERCREAM YELLOW nail varnish for his toes. Brother, swear down you’ve potentially got a war with another mafia family because you killed four of their men despite agreeing to a ceasefire. Worry about that instead.
I will not be reading the next one despite the cliff hanger.
Plot summary for my own memory: Her high school boyfriend kills her parents, but she was too blinded by love to stop it. As a result, she swears off love because it causes everyone she cares about to get hurt. One night she leaves the bar and saves this allegedly dangerous man (I say allegedly because he spends most of the book acting like a wet lettuce), and then he basically stalks her into loving him. Then her ex escapes during prison transport. His rivals find footage of her killing their me. Her her apartment catches fire. (I lowkey think Echo set the fire himself.) So naturally, she has to move in with his family.
This is not a great book, but I knew that going into it. You can just tell if you get me. But I went into this knowing that, and more importantly, wanting exactly that. Sometimes you just need a stalker romance where he becomes obsessed for no reason, there’s absolutely no chemistry, insta love, hollow characters, a plot that relies entirely on a “trust me, bro” mentality from the author, and a random traumatic backstory that falls apart if you think about it for more than five seconds to get you through a reading slump. At least, that’s what works for me. And this had it all.
The writing is bad too. Please free authors from the constant use of the rule of three that terrorises us readers. A couple times is fine, but I think the repetitive nature of it in this book causes each list to lose its impact as the story goes on. Like why is it in every other paragraph. What the author is trying to convey becomes less dramatic and more tedious and sloggy. Also, what does it mean for something (a cycling class) to smell like rubber and “serious regret”? 🤨 I have my suspicions, but I’m not about to say why I think that sentence made it into the book.
Also got the ick from him getting a pedicure with her and choosing BUTTERCREAM YELLOW nail varnish for his toes. Brother, swear down you’ve potentially got a war with another mafia family because you killed four of their men despite agreeing to a ceasefire. Worry about that instead.
I will not be reading the next one despite the cliff hanger.
Plot summary for my own memory: Her high school boyfriend kills her parents, but she was too blinded by love to stop it. As a result, she swears off love because it causes everyone she cares about to get hurt. One night she leaves the bar and saves this allegedly dangerous man (I say allegedly because he spends most of the book acting like a wet lettuce), and then he basically stalks her into loving him. Then her ex escapes during prison transport. His rivals find footage of her killing their me. Her her apartment catches fire. (I lowkey think Echo set the fire himself.) So naturally, she has to move in with his family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2026
3.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was good but that cliffhanger got me pissy like wth? Is Christian back or not ????🤨🤨🤨
This was good but that cliffhanger got me pissy like wth? Is Christian back or not ????🤨🤨🤨
May 3, 2026
This book had me hooked from the prologue! I loved this book so much! The cliffhanger however... I need the next book like yesterday! I can't believe the way Jessa left me hanging from that cliff!
Dahlia is convinced that her love turns people into monsters and refuses to allow herself to ever love anyone again after her first love costs her family. Fast forward a few years and she meets Echo when she intervenes to save his life. Echo is a professed monster. A trained hitman for his family. He knows not to leave loose ends but when he decides to keep Dahlia around and accepts her offer for friendship he becomes obsessed.
I absolutely loved every minute of reading this book and can't wait for book two! I know it's going to be just as amazing!
Dahlia is convinced that her love turns people into monsters and refuses to allow herself to ever love anyone again after her first love costs her family. Fast forward a few years and she meets Echo when she intervenes to save his life. Echo is a professed monster. A trained hitman for his family. He knows not to leave loose ends but when he decides to keep Dahlia around and accepts her offer for friendship he becomes obsessed.
I absolutely loved every minute of reading this book and can't wait for book two! I know it's going to be just as amazing!
April 28, 2026
Honest review of ARC
I’ll Be There for You (Lovesick Sinners #1) by Jessa Halliwell is a dark, addictive stalker romance that really pulls you in with its intensity and edge.
The story follows Dahlia, who makes the mistake of saving the wrong man — Echo, a dangerous, morally gray antihero who becomes completely obsessed with her after that moment. What starts as a desperate “friendship” quickly turns into something much darker, with Echo watching her, protecting her, and slowly blurring every boundary.
The dynamic is intense and definitely not for everyone, but if you enjoy obsessive, “touch her and die” heroes, this delivers. The tension and suspense keep things gripping, and Echo’s devotion (even when it’s unhinged) makes it hard to look away.
It loses half a star for the cliffhanger ending and a few rushed relationship beats, but overall it’s a strong, gripping start to a dark romance duet.
I’ll Be There for You (Lovesick Sinners #1) by Jessa Halliwell is a dark, addictive stalker romance that really pulls you in with its intensity and edge.
The story follows Dahlia, who makes the mistake of saving the wrong man — Echo, a dangerous, morally gray antihero who becomes completely obsessed with her after that moment. What starts as a desperate “friendship” quickly turns into something much darker, with Echo watching her, protecting her, and slowly blurring every boundary.
The dynamic is intense and definitely not for everyone, but if you enjoy obsessive, “touch her and die” heroes, this delivers. The tension and suspense keep things gripping, and Echo’s devotion (even when it’s unhinged) makes it hard to look away.
It loses half a star for the cliffhanger ending and a few rushed relationship beats, but overall it’s a strong, gripping start to a dark romance duet.
April 28, 2026
THIS IS NOT A STANDALONE??
THE SECOND BOOK IS NOT OUT YET?
WHY IS THIS ALWAYS HAPPENING TO ME???
I NEED THE SECOND BOOK LIKE NOW!!
THE SECOND BOOK IS NOT OUT YET?
WHY IS THIS ALWAYS HAPPENING TO ME???
I NEED THE SECOND BOOK LIKE NOW!!
May 3, 2026
*ARC Review*
5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
Ummmmmmm I did not expect to be so drawn to this story. Did not expect to keep turning the pages and thinking “this should really have a higher page count.” Did not see that cliffhanger coming!!! How come this wasn’t communicated at the beginning??? Aghhh
Echo is all dark edges but such a softie, attentive, protective, and sweet!! Loved how in-tune he was with Dahlia and how he anticipated her needs while never being too much even when he stalked her.
❤️🔥“In every room that’s ever mattered to me, I’ve had a role. A function. Something I was designed for that made my presence make sense. In my world, I’m the weapon. But out there, in the real world with Bambi, I don’t know what the fuck I am anymore. She made it clear she doesn’t want my help, but I don’t know what to be if I can’t be of service. Protecting others is the only thing I’ve ever been good at.”
❤️🔥“I hate how well he works around me. How he adjusts. He has this innate ability to anticipate my needs before I can even recognize them, let alone verbalize them.”
5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
Ummmmmmm I did not expect to be so drawn to this story. Did not expect to keep turning the pages and thinking “this should really have a higher page count.” Did not see that cliffhanger coming!!! How come this wasn’t communicated at the beginning??? Aghhh
Echo is all dark edges but such a softie, attentive, protective, and sweet!! Loved how in-tune he was with Dahlia and how he anticipated her needs while never being too much even when he stalked her.
❤️🔥“In every room that’s ever mattered to me, I’ve had a role. A function. Something I was designed for that made my presence make sense. In my world, I’m the weapon. But out there, in the real world with Bambi, I don’t know what the fuck I am anymore. She made it clear she doesn’t want my help, but I don’t know what to be if I can’t be of service. Protecting others is the only thing I’ve ever been good at.”
❤️🔥“I hate how well he works around me. How he adjusts. He has this innate ability to anticipate my needs before I can even recognize them, let alone verbalize them.”
May 4, 2026
[3.75 ⭐️] ARC Review: I love me a good stalker romance & will always jump at the chance to read one. I enjoyed the banter between the MC’s and the mix of both green & red flags in the MMC 😄
This book is on the shorter side which makes it a good, quick read although I would’ve liked to have seen a little bit more a slower burn romance between the MC’s.
This is definitely on the lighter side of dark romance (at least for me) so if you’re just dipping your toes into the genre I think this is a really good place to start.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing how Dahlia & Echo’s story progresses & ends!
Thank you to the author & the smuthood for the ARC read!
This book is on the shorter side which makes it a good, quick read although I would’ve liked to have seen a little bit more a slower burn romance between the MC’s.
This is definitely on the lighter side of dark romance (at least for me) so if you’re just dipping your toes into the genre I think this is a really good place to start.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing how Dahlia & Echo’s story progresses & ends!
Thank you to the author & the smuthood for the ARC read!
April 23, 2026
[4.5 ⭐️] ARC Review ✨ You know it’s going to be a good read when the Prologue has you hooked! This book had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. The yearning, the banter, the detail…chefs kiss! 🤌🏼 Echo, the man that you are 😩 Never would I have thought that stalking can be sexy but somehow he makes it work. We love a “touch her and die” protective MMC who also allows the FMC to make her own decisions. Also, the theories I have after finishing this book, paired with that freaking CLIFFHANGER…I need the next book in my hands immediately cause I need to know what happens next!!
May 11, 2026
This’ll Echo and Dahlia hooked me from the beginning.
THIS. BOOK. WAS. SO. GOOG!!!
Tropes:
Dark Stalker Romance
Unhinged/Obsessed MMC
Touch Her and Die
Forced Friendship (Proximity)
Traumatized FMC
It started with Dahlia encountering what she thought was the attack of a man in the alley. What she doesn’t know is ECHO is a very dangerous man and when she witnesses him killing somebody she realizes that she’s in trouble. Echo can’t believe that Dahlia would risk her life to help one man when he was being attacked by three? What was she thinking?
I loved how Echo “stalked” Dahlia and how she kept pushing back against him regardless of how dangerous he was.
Can’t wait to see what happens in book 2, because I will definitely be reading it.
ARC provided by author and The Smuthood for an honest review.
THIS. BOOK. WAS. SO. GOOG!!!
Tropes:
Dark Stalker Romance
Unhinged/Obsessed MMC
Touch Her and Die
Forced Friendship (Proximity)
Traumatized FMC
It started with Dahlia encountering what she thought was the attack of a man in the alley. What she doesn’t know is ECHO is a very dangerous man and when she witnesses him killing somebody she realizes that she’s in trouble. Echo can’t believe that Dahlia would risk her life to help one man when he was being attacked by three? What was she thinking?
I loved how Echo “stalked” Dahlia and how she kept pushing back against him regardless of how dangerous he was.
Can’t wait to see what happens in book 2, because I will definitely be reading it.
ARC provided by author and The Smuthood for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026this was interesting but unfortunately the grammatical errors kept me from being fully invested
Read
June 21, 2026I DIDNT KNOW THIS WAS A SERIES WTF IS THIS?????? GIVE ME THE NEXT ONE IMMEDIATELY YOU CANNOT LEAVE ME LIKE THAT?????????
May 3, 2026
* ARC reader Review* I actually liked this book, but it ended on such a ill-timed cliffhanger that I could not in good conscious give it the 4 starts I probably would have. ( I'm not against cliffhangers, this one was just too quick.)
This was an easy and quick read that covered all the little things I like:
-Dual POV
-Slow burn
-He falls first
-Little stalker-y
But I needed just a little more to tide me over before I run over to the next one.
This was an easy and quick read that covered all the little things I like:
-Dual POV
-Slow burn
-He falls first
-Little stalker-y
But I needed just a little more to tide me over before I run over to the next one.
May 30, 2026
Literally, the book ends exactly how it began, with nothing.
From the very first page, you realize that this isn't a book to be taken seriously, mainly because everything happens just because. Echo shifts from wanting to kill her to being obsessed with her from one chapter to the next. There is no reason behind it, no development, it just happens. We are simply expected to accept that the guy fell in love in a week, right after threatening her and texting her with no response.
Dahlia, meanwhile, is just a walking collection of trauma. Apparently, having her boyfriend murder her parents only left her with a don't fall in love with boys complex and a few anxiety attacks.
That is the entire book. There is no romantic development and not a shred of actual plot. The fact that her ex escaped from prison is mentioned once per chapter just to explain why she shouldn't fall for Echo, and that’s it. It adds absolutely nothing to the story.
The book ends on a cliffhanger because it’s part of a duet, but I can already predict exactly what will happen: the murderous ex will show up, Echo will kill him, and they will end up together in a happily ever after.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Echo is in the mafia and is their lead hitman. Of course he is. Because apparently, falling in love with one murderer wasn't enough for the protagonist, but that's a whole other issue.
From the very first page, you realize that this isn't a book to be taken seriously, mainly because everything happens just because. Echo shifts from wanting to kill her to being obsessed with her from one chapter to the next. There is no reason behind it, no development, it just happens. We are simply expected to accept that the guy fell in love in a week, right after threatening her and texting her with no response.
Dahlia, meanwhile, is just a walking collection of trauma. Apparently, having her boyfriend murder her parents only left her with a don't fall in love with boys complex and a few anxiety attacks.
That is the entire book. There is no romantic development and not a shred of actual plot. The fact that her ex escaped from prison is mentioned once per chapter just to explain why she shouldn't fall for Echo, and that’s it. It adds absolutely nothing to the story.
The book ends on a cliffhanger because it’s part of a duet, but I can already predict exactly what will happen: the murderous ex will show up, Echo will kill him, and they will end up together in a happily ever after.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Echo is in the mafia and is their lead hitman. Of course he is. Because apparently, falling in love with one murderer wasn't enough for the protagonist, but that's a whole other issue.
May 1, 2026
This was my first book by Jessa Halliwell, and listen … I really wish I had realized going in that it’s a cliffhanger 😅 Not that it would’ve stopped me from reading, but now I’m just sitting here impatiently waiting for the next book.
This story follows Dahlia and Echo - and it starts off heavy.
Dahlia is our FMC, and she’s been through it. She’s closed off, just going through the motions of life, not really living. She doesn’t think she deserves more than survival. The book opens with a prologue of her as a teenager in a courtroom, watching her ex-boyfriend get sentenced for her parents’ deaths. You don’t get a ton of detail yet, but it sets the tone for everything she’s carrying.
Fast forward to present day, and she’s still just … existing. One night, she ducks out of a guilt-driven date through the back exit and ends up stumbling into an alley where four men are beating someone. And Dahlia being Dahlia - she can’t just walk away. She jumps in to help and immediately puts herself in danger.
Enter Echo.
He comes to just in time and absolutely handles the situation. Echo is our MMC - a mafia enforcer, second only to the don (who also happens to be his brother). He’s cold, detached, basically gives “void of humanity”… or at least that’s what he wants everyone to believe.
But Dahlia? She gets under his skin instantly.
She literally bargains for her life by saying she won’t talk and offers… friendship, and somehow that flips a switch in Echo. What starts as intrigue turns into full-blown obsession. He’s watching her, learning everything about her, completely locked in on her safety - like, unhinged stalker level behavior.
And the wild part? Dahlia feels it. She’s drawn to him, even though she knows better. She tries to keep her distance, tries to stay logical, but there’s this constant push and pull between them.
As the story goes on, you really see how much Dahlia starts to affect Echo - his moods, his decisions, everything. Meanwhile, he’s just patiently (and not-so-patiently) waiting for her to give in and let him in.
Then things start to spiral.
Dahlia’s ex - the one responsible for her parents’ deaths is released. She changed her name, moved across country, but can he find her? That alone is enough to shake everything, and she turns to Echo in her spiral, slowly letting him into her life. But then she overhears a conversation between Echo and his brother and realizes just how much she’s impacting him - and not in a good way, in her mind.
So what does Dahlia do? She pulls away. Because she’s convinced she’s dangerous, that she ruins people, and she refuses to do that to him too.
Except … the danger is already there.
A rival mob family starts looking for Dahlia after footage surfaces from that night in the alley. Echo decides he needs to bring her in to protect her - but before that can even happen, her apartment is set on fire. She and her roommate barely make it out alive, and it’s only because Echo and his brother show up in time.
And then … the ending.
We get Dahlia finally starting to accept her feelings for Echo, finally opening up to the idea of him - and he completely flips. Suddenly he’s cold, distant, pulling away. Total 180 from the obsessive, all-in energy we’ve seen the entire book.
And it just … ends there.
Like I said, I really wish I knew it was a cliffhanger because now I need the next book immediately. Echo is absolutely unhinged in the best/worst way - his obsession is intense, borderline terrifying - but at the same time, his feelings for Dahlia feel so real. Like she’s the one thing he’s allowed himself to care about, and you can’t help but root for him because of that. He’s unhinged in the best ways possible.
This story follows Dahlia and Echo - and it starts off heavy.
Dahlia is our FMC, and she’s been through it. She’s closed off, just going through the motions of life, not really living. She doesn’t think she deserves more than survival. The book opens with a prologue of her as a teenager in a courtroom, watching her ex-boyfriend get sentenced for her parents’ deaths. You don’t get a ton of detail yet, but it sets the tone for everything she’s carrying.
Fast forward to present day, and she’s still just … existing. One night, she ducks out of a guilt-driven date through the back exit and ends up stumbling into an alley where four men are beating someone. And Dahlia being Dahlia - she can’t just walk away. She jumps in to help and immediately puts herself in danger.
Enter Echo.
He comes to just in time and absolutely handles the situation. Echo is our MMC - a mafia enforcer, second only to the don (who also happens to be his brother). He’s cold, detached, basically gives “void of humanity”… or at least that’s what he wants everyone to believe.
But Dahlia? She gets under his skin instantly.
She literally bargains for her life by saying she won’t talk and offers… friendship, and somehow that flips a switch in Echo. What starts as intrigue turns into full-blown obsession. He’s watching her, learning everything about her, completely locked in on her safety - like, unhinged stalker level behavior.
And the wild part? Dahlia feels it. She’s drawn to him, even though she knows better. She tries to keep her distance, tries to stay logical, but there’s this constant push and pull between them.
As the story goes on, you really see how much Dahlia starts to affect Echo - his moods, his decisions, everything. Meanwhile, he’s just patiently (and not-so-patiently) waiting for her to give in and let him in.
Then things start to spiral.
Dahlia’s ex - the one responsible for her parents’ deaths is released. She changed her name, moved across country, but can he find her? That alone is enough to shake everything, and she turns to Echo in her spiral, slowly letting him into her life. But then she overhears a conversation between Echo and his brother and realizes just how much she’s impacting him - and not in a good way, in her mind.
So what does Dahlia do? She pulls away. Because she’s convinced she’s dangerous, that she ruins people, and she refuses to do that to him too.
Except … the danger is already there.
A rival mob family starts looking for Dahlia after footage surfaces from that night in the alley. Echo decides he needs to bring her in to protect her - but before that can even happen, her apartment is set on fire. She and her roommate barely make it out alive, and it’s only because Echo and his brother show up in time.
And then … the ending.
We get Dahlia finally starting to accept her feelings for Echo, finally opening up to the idea of him - and he completely flips. Suddenly he’s cold, distant, pulling away. Total 180 from the obsessive, all-in energy we’ve seen the entire book.
And it just … ends there.
Like I said, I really wish I knew it was a cliffhanger because now I need the next book immediately. Echo is absolutely unhinged in the best/worst way - his obsession is intense, borderline terrifying - but at the same time, his feelings for Dahlia feel so real. Like she’s the one thing he’s allowed himself to care about, and you can’t help but root for him because of that. He’s unhinged in the best ways possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Tropes:
Dark Stalker Romance
Obsessed Unhinged MMC
Forced Friendship (Proximity)
He Falls Hard First
Traumatized FMC
He Calls her Bambi
Spicy Slow Burn
Sleep Play
Dahlia Delacruz: "AKA Bambi"
Bookstore Owner, Trauma Survivor, Jaded by Love, Might have a Danger Kink
Echo Sannikov: " AKA Her Stalker"
Bratva Prince, Raised as a Weapon, Unhinged/ Obsessed, Would Kill for her, literally, Too Pretty for jail
I'll Be There for You is Book 1 in the Lovesick Sinners Duet. This is Dahlia and Echo's Story.
I loved everything about this book! I was hooked from the very first chapter!
This book starts with a murder trial when she is 17 years old. Her ex boyfriend is on trial for killing her parents which everyone thinks she put him up to. No one trust her or believes anything she has to say. Everyone see her as a bad seed or a black sheep. They all believe that she somehow coerced her ex boyfriend to kill her parents and that he is a saint. The things about her ex is he was never a saint he was good at hiding who he really was. He made pretty promises, and she ignored every warning sign till it was to late.
Then Fast forward to 10 years later, Dahlia is now 27 years old, on a date with her now boyfriend and his friends when she steps outside and witnesses a crime. The man she saves Echo, is a Bratva prince but she doesn't know that. She just thinks she's helping someone who was in a bad situation. The thing is that by helping Echo she puts herself in danger and Echo ends up saving her instead. But by saving her now she has seen to much. Echo's first instinct is to kill her but she comes up with a better solution, the solution being them becoming friends that way she won't tell his secret and he won't go to jail.
He agrees to the friendship because honestly he likes watching her. When she starts ignoring him after agreeing to this friendship he starts stalking her, watching her everywhere she goes. His obsession with her is full blown and he doesn't even hide it.
Some people might think Echo is a bit of a red flag because he tracks her every movement, and i mean every move he has a tracker on her phone, he hacks into her phone and read her messages, he watches her through her camera lens on her computer and he even has a tracker on her car. But his obsession and need to protect her is next level! He is absolutely unhinged in the best way possible.
There is so much yearning between them and they both keep each other at arms length because they both have secrets that they haven't told one another and when the past comes back will it be to late? Well you will just have to read it to find out. This book does end on a cliffhanger.
If you love a obsessed, unhinged mmc who will do anything for the girl then this is the book for you!! I can't wait for book 2 to come out.
Thank you Jessa Halliwell and The Smuthood for this Arc! It was an amazing read and I can't wait for the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
4 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ I’ll Be There For You☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 “You can just talk, and I'll stare at your mouth. It could be bad, but I wanna find out” 🎶
After a chance encounter in an alley where Dahlia (h) witnesses something she was never meant to see, she bargains for her life by offering friendship to the man she helped save. Echo Sannikov (H), a man who lives by lethal rules and leaves no witnesses, breaks every one of them for her. What begins as a fragile agreement quickly turns into something far more unsettling as Echo begins watching her life.
🌷₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊🌷
Echo🥹🩷💖 the most protective MMC ever, in his own way. She gave him friendship and he took those duties seriously. Yes, he watches her 24/7, but she feels safe around him, and she’s only pushing him away because she is afraid that Christian could come back into her life and hurt the people she cares about, and that now includes ECHO!!!! He’s truly such a sweetheart and deserves to be loved. I just hope it wasn’t him who started the fire for the sake of getting her to stay with him because that would traumatize her further, and she would probably ghost him for a longer period.
I lowkey need more background with her relationship with Christian. What are the odds that she always gets deranged men to fall for her 😭 Echo is the good kind though and would never hurt her. He actually cares about what she likes and takes note of her preferences. He’s so attentive 🤭🥹 I love him.
1. Told the waitress Dahlia wanted pancakes with no syrup
2. Got her flowers in her favorite colors
3. Read a book she recommended because he wanted to know why she liked it
4. Always checks up on her and makes sure she eats
Keep in mind Echo is involved in criminal activity, but he has been slacking because he is more preoccupied with keeping her safe, so he is losing sleep over it. He watches over her constantly, and his main concern is that no one comes after her. The pacing was perfect, I was entertained the entire time, and Echo was lovable and I love his humor and his way of friendship 😗!!! OK king, you really are the best friend she has.
🌷₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊🌷
Yes, there is so much that they need to talk about and grow through because she is hiding so much and she needs to get to know his family and what he really does, but I love where this is going. I need the next book now!!!
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ I’ll Be There For You☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 “You can just talk, and I'll stare at your mouth. It could be bad, but I wanna find out” 🎶
After a chance encounter in an alley where Dahlia (h) witnesses something she was never meant to see, she bargains for her life by offering friendship to the man she helped save. Echo Sannikov (H), a man who lives by lethal rules and leaves no witnesses, breaks every one of them for her. What begins as a fragile agreement quickly turns into something far more unsettling as Echo begins watching her life.
🌷₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊🌷
“What if you check up on me?” She offers. “You know, make sure I stay quiet. We could… keep in touch. Like friends.”
She says it like it’s harmless. Like she isn’t offering me a way into every unguarded part of her life.
Echo🥹🩷💖 the most protective MMC ever, in his own way. She gave him friendship and he took those duties seriously. Yes, he watches her 24/7, but she feels safe around him, and she’s only pushing him away because she is afraid that Christian could come back into her life and hurt the people she cares about, and that now includes ECHO!!!! He’s truly such a sweetheart and deserves to be loved. I just hope it wasn’t him who started the fire for the sake of getting her to stay with him because that would traumatize her further, and she would probably ghost him for a longer period.
I lowkey need more background with her relationship with Christian. What are the odds that she always gets deranged men to fall for her 😭 Echo is the good kind though and would never hurt her. He actually cares about what she likes and takes note of her preferences. He’s so attentive 🤭🥹 I love him.
1. Told the waitress Dahlia wanted pancakes with no syrup
2. Got her flowers in her favorite colors
3. Read a book she recommended because he wanted to know why she liked it
4. Always checks up on her and makes sure she eats
Keep in mind Echo is involved in criminal activity, but he has been slacking because he is more preoccupied with keeping her safe, so he is losing sleep over it. He watches over her constantly, and his main concern is that no one comes after her. The pacing was perfect, I was entertained the entire time, and Echo was lovable and I love his humor and his way of friendship 😗!!! OK king, you really are the best friend she has.
🌷₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💖ෆ˚₊🌷
Yes, there is so much that they need to talk about and grow through because she is hiding so much and she needs to get to know his family and what he really does, but I love where this is going. I need the next book now!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2026
“This woman could take everything she wanted from me, and I’d probably thank her for the privilege. I’m that f*cking gone for her.”
Okay, this book already had me at the dedication because why had I literally JUST been thinking that Joe from “You” would be low-key amazing if he didn’t like…kill her friends and also her lol.
“Echo has no problem dropping truth bombs around me, which would be kind of admirable if it weren’t for the fact that his truth is absolutely psychotic.”
I was so enthralled and entertained the entire time I was reading this. There were so many moments that I loved in this book. Like when she checked to make sure she didn’t look ugly when she laughed?? 😭🤣 I actually laughed out loud.
Dahlia and Echo have a less than ideal meet -cute. She steps in to save him from getting jumped by a bunch of dudes, he removes the aforementioned dudes from the scenario (and the earth), and then threatens to do the same to her—which is kind of not very nice. So I guess we can call this event their “murder-cute”?
With that being said, this man went from about to kill her to “did you get home okay?” in the span of like an hour, so he made his way right into my good graces after his little lapse (though I guess he would consider the whole not killing her and becoming immediately attached the “lapse” in this scenario)?
“I know you. Not the version you perform for everyone else. The real one. The one you think no one else can see. I see you, Bambi. I always do.”
Dahlia and Echo were amazing. He makes stalker-ing seem so sweet. What do you mean he gets a pedicure with her and gets her favorite color as the polish? So adorable. And he watches her to make sure nothing bad happens to her? I love Echo! He is totally unapologetic in his actions, but if ever Dahlia truly is unhappy, he does whatever he can to make it better.
And then we have Dahlia who has a dark past and is terrified of loving someone for fear of history repeating itself. Thankfully Echo is a very patient stalker…
ARCs are a blessing and a curse because I’m so grateful to have been given a copy but now I have to wait even LONGER than I normally would for the next installment lol—a true conundrum.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but I just realized I have another series of hers on my TBR. It’s going right to the top of the list after reading this one!
“We’re friends now. And I intend to be there for her. Whether she likes it or not.”
Thank you so much to The Smuthood and Jessa Halliwell for providing an ARC for me!
Tropes/Content:
* Dark Stalker Romance
* Unhinged/Obsessed MMC
* Touch Her and Die
* Forced Friendship (Proximity)
* Traumatized FMC
Okay, this book already had me at the dedication because why had I literally JUST been thinking that Joe from “You” would be low-key amazing if he didn’t like…kill her friends and also her lol.
“Echo has no problem dropping truth bombs around me, which would be kind of admirable if it weren’t for the fact that his truth is absolutely psychotic.”
I was so enthralled and entertained the entire time I was reading this. There were so many moments that I loved in this book. Like when she checked to make sure she didn’t look ugly when she laughed?? 😭🤣 I actually laughed out loud.
Dahlia and Echo have a less than ideal meet -cute. She steps in to save him from getting jumped by a bunch of dudes, he removes the aforementioned dudes from the scenario (and the earth), and then threatens to do the same to her—which is kind of not very nice. So I guess we can call this event their “murder-cute”?
With that being said, this man went from about to kill her to “did you get home okay?” in the span of like an hour, so he made his way right into my good graces after his little lapse (though I guess he would consider the whole not killing her and becoming immediately attached the “lapse” in this scenario)?
“I know you. Not the version you perform for everyone else. The real one. The one you think no one else can see. I see you, Bambi. I always do.”
Dahlia and Echo were amazing. He makes stalker-ing seem so sweet. What do you mean he gets a pedicure with her and gets her favorite color as the polish? So adorable. And he watches her to make sure nothing bad happens to her? I love Echo! He is totally unapologetic in his actions, but if ever Dahlia truly is unhappy, he does whatever he can to make it better.
And then we have Dahlia who has a dark past and is terrified of loving someone for fear of history repeating itself. Thankfully Echo is a very patient stalker…
ARCs are a blessing and a curse because I’m so grateful to have been given a copy but now I have to wait even LONGER than I normally would for the next installment lol—a true conundrum.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but I just realized I have another series of hers on my TBR. It’s going right to the top of the list after reading this one!
“We’re friends now. And I intend to be there for her. Whether she likes it or not.”
Thank you so much to The Smuthood and Jessa Halliwell for providing an ARC for me!
Tropes/Content:
* Dark Stalker Romance
* Unhinged/Obsessed MMC
* Touch Her and Die
* Forced Friendship (Proximity)
* Traumatized FMC
May 17, 2026
This one definitely leaned more into the plot, tension, and character dynamics than nonstop spice, and that worked for me. The writing kept me completely invested from the first chapter, and the pacing made it ridiculously easy to fly through in one sitting. Between the dark humor, the obsession, the banter, and the constant tension simmering under every interaction, I was locked in the entire time.
Dahlia and Echo were such an addictive mess together. Their first meeting is absolute chaos in the best way possible, and somehow it only gets more unhinged from there. Echo is the kind of morally gray MMC that should absolutely send up red flags, yet somehow ends up weirdly charming anyway. His obsession with Dahlia is intense, invasive, protective, and completely unapologetic. The man is out here stalking her, reading her texts, watching over her constantly, and still somehow comes across as devoted instead of just terrifying. It really is the definition of “greenest red flag.”
What made their dynamic work so well for me was the constant push and pull between them. Dahlia clearly wants him while fighting herself every step of the way because of everything she’s survived. Her fear of history repeating itself adds a lot of emotional weight to the story, even during the more chaotic or funny moments. At times her resistance did feel a little repetitive, but considering her past, it also made sense why she struggled so hard to let anyone in.
The chemistry between them was fantastic. The slow burn, the tension, the banter, the possessiveness, the “touch her and die” energy — all of it worked. Echo falls hard almost immediately, and watching him go from wanting to eliminate the witness to basically deciding Dahlia is his future wife was wildly entertaining. Their interactions balanced dark intensity with humor really well, and there were multiple moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud.
I also liked that the story didn’t rely only on the romance to keep things moving. The mafia elements, Dahlia’s past, the threats closing in around them, and the third act escalation all kept the plot feeling active and suspenseful. By the time everything started unraveling, I was fully invested in both the romance and the danger surrounding them.
That ending though? Absolutely rude. Just when it feels like things are finally shifting between them, the cliffhanger hits and leaves so many questions unanswered. I’m already impatient for the next book because there is no way to walk away from that ending without immediately needing answers.
If you like obsessive morally gray MMCs, stalker romance, dark humor, emotional tension, “he falls first and harder,” forced proximity vibes, and messy addictive chemistry, this one is worth picking up.
Dahlia and Echo were such an addictive mess together. Their first meeting is absolute chaos in the best way possible, and somehow it only gets more unhinged from there. Echo is the kind of morally gray MMC that should absolutely send up red flags, yet somehow ends up weirdly charming anyway. His obsession with Dahlia is intense, invasive, protective, and completely unapologetic. The man is out here stalking her, reading her texts, watching over her constantly, and still somehow comes across as devoted instead of just terrifying. It really is the definition of “greenest red flag.”
What made their dynamic work so well for me was the constant push and pull between them. Dahlia clearly wants him while fighting herself every step of the way because of everything she’s survived. Her fear of history repeating itself adds a lot of emotional weight to the story, even during the more chaotic or funny moments. At times her resistance did feel a little repetitive, but considering her past, it also made sense why she struggled so hard to let anyone in.
The chemistry between them was fantastic. The slow burn, the tension, the banter, the possessiveness, the “touch her and die” energy — all of it worked. Echo falls hard almost immediately, and watching him go from wanting to eliminate the witness to basically deciding Dahlia is his future wife was wildly entertaining. Their interactions balanced dark intensity with humor really well, and there were multiple moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud.
I also liked that the story didn’t rely only on the romance to keep things moving. The mafia elements, Dahlia’s past, the threats closing in around them, and the third act escalation all kept the plot feeling active and suspenseful. By the time everything started unraveling, I was fully invested in both the romance and the danger surrounding them.
That ending though? Absolutely rude. Just when it feels like things are finally shifting between them, the cliffhanger hits and leaves so many questions unanswered. I’m already impatient for the next book because there is no way to walk away from that ending without immediately needing answers.
If you like obsessive morally gray MMCs, stalker romance, dark humor, emotional tension, “he falls first and harder,” forced proximity vibes, and messy addictive chemistry, this one is worth picking up.
April 30, 2026
I absolutely inhaled this book like a woman possessed and now I’m just sitting here staring at the wall thinking about Echo freaking Sannikov 😩🔪
This was DARK dark. The kind of romance that feels like standing too close to a live wire while someone whispers “trust me” in your ear. And somehow I loved every unhinged second of it.
Echo is the definition of “red flag but make it irresistible.” This man is obsessive, terrifying, protective, emotionally stunted, completely feral for Dahlia, and I ate it UP. The stalking? Insane. The devotion? Even crazier. Every time he showed up exactly where Dahlia was my brain was screaming GIRL RUN while the rest of me was kicking my feet like an idiot. Jessa Halliwell really said “what if your shadow was violently in love with you?” and honestly… chef’s kiss.
And Dahlia!!! I loved that she wasn’t some perfect fearless FMC. She felt messy and real and traumatized and human. Her trying to survive this absolutely lethal man by offering him FRIENDSHIP??? That is so wildly unhinged and somehow it worked perfectly. Their dynamic was addictive from page one. Every phone call, every interaction, every tiny crack in Echo’s control had me glued to the pages at 2am looking like a sleep deprived raccoon clutching my kindle for emotional support.
The tension in this book was unreal. Not just the romance either, the constant feeling that something could snap at any second. It felt dangerous the entire time. Echo falls first in the most obsessive catastrophic way possible and the man never stood a chance. Watching him try to justify his fixation while spiraling deeper into it was DELICIOUS.
Also can we talk about the chemistry because WOW. Toxic. Intense. Weirdly tender in places that caught me completely off guard. These two are chaos stitched together with obsession and trauma and I could not look away.
And THAT ENDING??? Jessa Halliwell really climbed into my house, stole my sanity, and left me hanging off a cliff foaming at the mouth for book two 😭
If you love morally gray stalker MMCs, touch her and die energy, terrifying devotion, and romances that make you question your own mental wellbeing in the best way possible, read this immediately.
★★★★★
This was DARK dark. The kind of romance that feels like standing too close to a live wire while someone whispers “trust me” in your ear. And somehow I loved every unhinged second of it.
Echo is the definition of “red flag but make it irresistible.” This man is obsessive, terrifying, protective, emotionally stunted, completely feral for Dahlia, and I ate it UP. The stalking? Insane. The devotion? Even crazier. Every time he showed up exactly where Dahlia was my brain was screaming GIRL RUN while the rest of me was kicking my feet like an idiot. Jessa Halliwell really said “what if your shadow was violently in love with you?” and honestly… chef’s kiss.
And Dahlia!!! I loved that she wasn’t some perfect fearless FMC. She felt messy and real and traumatized and human. Her trying to survive this absolutely lethal man by offering him FRIENDSHIP??? That is so wildly unhinged and somehow it worked perfectly. Their dynamic was addictive from page one. Every phone call, every interaction, every tiny crack in Echo’s control had me glued to the pages at 2am looking like a sleep deprived raccoon clutching my kindle for emotional support.
The tension in this book was unreal. Not just the romance either, the constant feeling that something could snap at any second. It felt dangerous the entire time. Echo falls first in the most obsessive catastrophic way possible and the man never stood a chance. Watching him try to justify his fixation while spiraling deeper into it was DELICIOUS.
Also can we talk about the chemistry because WOW. Toxic. Intense. Weirdly tender in places that caught me completely off guard. These two are chaos stitched together with obsession and trauma and I could not look away.
And THAT ENDING??? Jessa Halliwell really climbed into my house, stole my sanity, and left me hanging off a cliff foaming at the mouth for book two 😭
If you love morally gray stalker MMCs, touch her and die energy, terrifying devotion, and romances that make you question your own mental wellbeing in the best way possible, read this immediately.
★★★★★
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'll Be There for You by Jessa Halliwell is a dark and addictive read that leans fully into tension, danger, and emotional push and pull. From the opening scene, the story grabs your attention and keeps a steady grip with its mix of suspense and intense character dynamics.
Dahlia is a layered main character whose past clearly shapes every decision she makes. Her fear, guarded nature, and need for control feel grounded in what she has been through, even when her reactions become frustrating. That internal conflict adds depth, showing a woman who wants connection but is constantly battling herself to avoid it.
Echo is the kind of character who dominates every scene he is in. He is direct, unapologetic, and completely aware of who he is, which creates an interesting contrast with Dahlia. His presence brings a constant sense of tension, and his focus on her makes their dynamic feel consuming and unpredictable.
he relationship between them is built on intensity and contradiction, with moments that highlight both vulnerability and control. The story does not shy away from darker themes, and that edge is what keeps the pacing engaging and the stakes high.
This lands at a 4 star rating because Dahlia’s repeated resistance and attitude toward Echo can feel frustrating at times, especially when he is consistently honest about his nature. While her hesitation makes sense, it can slow the emotional progression and create moments that feel a bit repetitive.
The cliffhanger ending adds another layer of anticipation, leaving plenty of questions and tension heading into the next installment, You Were There For Me.
Overall, this is a gripping and suspenseful read that delivers strong character tension, dark romance elements, and a storyline that keeps you hooked while setting up what is sure to be an intense continuation.
Rating: 4 stars
Dahlia is a layered main character whose past clearly shapes every decision she makes. Her fear, guarded nature, and need for control feel grounded in what she has been through, even when her reactions become frustrating. That internal conflict adds depth, showing a woman who wants connection but is constantly battling herself to avoid it.
Echo is the kind of character who dominates every scene he is in. He is direct, unapologetic, and completely aware of who he is, which creates an interesting contrast with Dahlia. His presence brings a constant sense of tension, and his focus on her makes their dynamic feel consuming and unpredictable.
he relationship between them is built on intensity and contradiction, with moments that highlight both vulnerability and control. The story does not shy away from darker themes, and that edge is what keeps the pacing engaging and the stakes high.
This lands at a 4 star rating because Dahlia’s repeated resistance and attitude toward Echo can feel frustrating at times, especially when he is consistently honest about his nature. While her hesitation makes sense, it can slow the emotional progression and create moments that feel a bit repetitive.
The cliffhanger ending adds another layer of anticipation, leaving plenty of questions and tension heading into the next installment, You Were There For Me.
Overall, this is a gripping and suspenseful read that delivers strong character tension, dark romance elements, and a storyline that keeps you hooked while setting up what is sure to be an intense continuation.
Rating: 4 stars
April 22, 2026
Jessa Halliwell you EVIL EVIL WOMAN! That cliffhanger was absolutely insane and left me staring at my kindle, jaw slack on the floor, in complete and utter shock. Like how fast Echo fell for Dahlia, I feel quickly in love with this book from the first page. And I finished it all in one sitting because I kept reading and wanting more! The ending totally caught me off guard too because to this moment, I’m still desperately craving more of this book. This plot was amazing, one of the funniest stalker romances I’ve ever read (very high up there with Lights Out by Navessa Allen), and the chemistry between Dahlia and Echo was so intense but so fun. I did find it funny however, where she was in a life and death situation with a certified unaliver and decided to offer him friendship? She’s adorably naive despite having seen so many of the horrors that exist in the world. Anyways I loved her so much, she’s been through a lot yet she came out a strong independent woman who runs her own badass romance bookshop. Now you cannot tell me that Echos love language is not quality time because he spends every free moment stalking her, to the point where he’s not sleeping because he needs to watch her sleep. Like he’s so adorably obsessed with her, always trying to impress her (and yes his methods are a little unconventional) but he’s putting in every piece of his heart and soul into pursuing her. This was the craziest friends to lovers book I’ve ever read and I’m so down for it, because they are totally giving “I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with” (Aaron Warner from Shatter Me). This book was fast paced, addictive and the plot was thick is hell, you will not want to put it down at all. So many plot twists that I was getting whiplash. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.. PLS COME FASTER!! One of my best reads this month and I give it a 5/5
Review of advance copy
O M G! This book is so good! I never thought I’d be into stalker smut, but alas, here I am giving this book 5 stars!
TROPES:
Dark Stalker MR Romance
He Falls First (HARD)
Forced Friendship (Proximity and Protection)
MMC is Obsessed and UNHINGED
Traumatized FMC
Spicy Slow Burn but then Spice is 5 Stars!
Dahlia thinks that she turns people bad. Her high school boyfriend, Christian, killed her parents just to be with her. Since then, she has kept everyone at arms length. If she never loves anyone or gets too close, they won’t ever get hurt because of her. One night she’s on a date with one of these people who gets too close and decides she needs a breather. That breather will change her life forever. She witnesses a crime, and meets Echo. The man who she tried to save and ended up saving her. But Echo is dangerous… and Dahlia likes it.
Echo was created to be an enforcer in his family’s business. But when he saves Dahlia he can’t bring himself to silence her. Instead he starts to watch her, everywhere. His infatuation with her isn’t behind closed doors though, Dahlia knows what’s happening and despite pretending, she doesn’t really seem to mind.
When Dahlia’s ex ends up breaking out of prison, Echo’s enemies find video of her running from the scene of the first night’s carnage, and a “random” fire breaks out in her and her roommate Fallon’s apartment, Dahlia comes back to Echo’s home… AND WE ARE LEFT ON A CLIFFHANGER!!!
The next book doesn’t come out until November, so I if I make it until then (because I will be holding my breath this whole time) and will be reading that book in one reading!
This was the first Jessa Halliwell book that I’ve read but in the 20 minutes since I finished, I have downloaded all of her books to my kindle!
TROPES:
Dark Stalker MR Romance
He Falls First (HARD)
Forced Friendship (Proximity and Protection)
MMC is Obsessed and UNHINGED
Traumatized FMC
Spicy Slow Burn but then Spice is 5 Stars!
Dahlia thinks that she turns people bad. Her high school boyfriend, Christian, killed her parents just to be with her. Since then, she has kept everyone at arms length. If she never loves anyone or gets too close, they won’t ever get hurt because of her. One night she’s on a date with one of these people who gets too close and decides she needs a breather. That breather will change her life forever. She witnesses a crime, and meets Echo. The man who she tried to save and ended up saving her. But Echo is dangerous… and Dahlia likes it.
Echo was created to be an enforcer in his family’s business. But when he saves Dahlia he can’t bring himself to silence her. Instead he starts to watch her, everywhere. His infatuation with her isn’t behind closed doors though, Dahlia knows what’s happening and despite pretending, she doesn’t really seem to mind.
When Dahlia’s ex ends up breaking out of prison, Echo’s enemies find video of her running from the scene of the first night’s carnage, and a “random” fire breaks out in her and her roommate Fallon’s apartment, Dahlia comes back to Echo’s home… AND WE ARE LEFT ON A CLIFFHANGER!!!
The next book doesn’t come out until November, so I if I make it until then (because I will be holding my breath this whole time) and will be reading that book in one reading!
This was the first Jessa Halliwell book that I’ve read but in the 20 minutes since I finished, I have downloaded all of her books to my kindle!
April 29, 2026
ARC Read
This book is chaos in the best, most addictive way. It’s dark, obsessive, and absolutely soaked in that “this is not normal but I can’t stop reading” energy.
Dahlia is a heroine who survives first and asks questions later. She makes one choice that changes everything — she saves the wrong man. And that decision binds her to Echo Sannikov, a man who exists somewhere between protector and predator.
Echo is not subtle. Not even slightly. He watches, tracks, and inserts himself into every corner of her life like it’s the most natural thing in the world. What makes him even more unsettling is that he doesn’t try to hide it — he simply is there. Always.
Their dynamic is built on fear, dependency, and something dangerously close to trust. Dahlia thinks she’s chosen friendship as a way to survive him… but Echo has already rewritten every rule. To him, she isn’t a friend. She’s the exception. The obsession. The one thing he refuses to lose control over.
🖤 Tropes you’ll love: — Morally grey stalker MMC — Obsessive “he falls first and HARD” — Forced proximity through survival — Protector vs predator energy — Trauma-driven dark romance — “You’re mine to watch over” intensity — Antihero devotion
⭐️ Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice level: 3.5/5 The tension is constant, and the intimacy builds from obsession rather than softness — expect charged, intense moments that feel just as psychological as they are physical.
⚠️ Heavy themes including trauma, obsession, stalking, and morally grey relationships. This is very much a dark romance with unhinged devotion at its core.
⭐️ Final thoughts: If you like your romance messy, dangerous, and completely consumed by obsession, this one delivers.
It’s addictive in a way that makes you question every boundary — especially the ones Echo refuses to respect.
And that ending? Yeah… you’re not escaping without the next book. 😭
This book is chaos in the best, most addictive way. It’s dark, obsessive, and absolutely soaked in that “this is not normal but I can’t stop reading” energy.
Dahlia is a heroine who survives first and asks questions later. She makes one choice that changes everything — she saves the wrong man. And that decision binds her to Echo Sannikov, a man who exists somewhere between protector and predator.
Echo is not subtle. Not even slightly. He watches, tracks, and inserts himself into every corner of her life like it’s the most natural thing in the world. What makes him even more unsettling is that he doesn’t try to hide it — he simply is there. Always.
Their dynamic is built on fear, dependency, and something dangerously close to trust. Dahlia thinks she’s chosen friendship as a way to survive him… but Echo has already rewritten every rule. To him, she isn’t a friend. She’s the exception. The obsession. The one thing he refuses to lose control over.
🖤 Tropes you’ll love: — Morally grey stalker MMC — Obsessive “he falls first and HARD” — Forced proximity through survival — Protector vs predator energy — Trauma-driven dark romance — “You’re mine to watch over” intensity — Antihero devotion
⭐️ Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice level: 3.5/5 The tension is constant, and the intimacy builds from obsession rather than softness — expect charged, intense moments that feel just as psychological as they are physical.
⚠️ Heavy themes including trauma, obsession, stalking, and morally grey relationships. This is very much a dark romance with unhinged devotion at its core.
⭐️ Final thoughts: If you like your romance messy, dangerous, and completely consumed by obsession, this one delivers.
It’s addictive in a way that makes you question every boundary — especially the ones Echo refuses to respect.
And that ending? Yeah… you’re not escaping without the next book. 😭
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