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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
115 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
Jessa Halliwell
9 books281 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 155 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.
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 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!
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.
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 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!
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 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.
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 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
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. 😭
Review of advance copy
🌶️ Spice
I received an ARC of this book from the Smuthood. The story follows our FMC Dahlia. Dahlia lives a quiet life in California after moving from her home town in Georgia where she needed to escape her past of her childhood boyfriend who murdered her parents so they wouldn’t stand in the way of them being together…. He goes to jail and she moves on with her life but never allows herself to develop emotional attachments, bc in her mind, love poisons people and turns them into psychotic murderers.
While leaving a pathetically sad date she comes across 4 guys beating on an unconscious man on the ground and she steps in to save him. They turn their attention to her, but she’s overpowered. When things look like there is no way to escape her our demise, the guy she saves blows them away….literally.
Echo isn’t used to leaving things unfinished and this girl is a loose end. Instead of ending her as he should, she bargains with him to become his friend as a way to keep tabs on her.
Friendship on his end isn’t normal so of course he obsessively stalks her, but….politely???
Things progress and they both are hiding things they aren’t ready or willing to share. She keeps him at a distance except for when she doesn’t?!? And we don’t see much spice of that.
Situations on both sides come to a head and force them together for various reasons…the book ends on a cliffhanger of this realization…
It’s a good book, I definitely want to continue to the story to find out what happens, I feel like it was less slow burn and more like closed door spice? I wish more details of their interactions were on page. I love Echo, he’s a great book boyfriend. Recommend, but be prepared for frustrating “will they or won’t they”
I received an ARC of this book from the Smuthood. The story follows our FMC Dahlia. Dahlia lives a quiet life in California after moving from her home town in Georgia where she needed to escape her past of her childhood boyfriend who murdered her parents so they wouldn’t stand in the way of them being together…. He goes to jail and she moves on with her life but never allows herself to develop emotional attachments, bc in her mind, love poisons people and turns them into psychotic murderers.
While leaving a pathetically sad date she comes across 4 guys beating on an unconscious man on the ground and she steps in to save him. They turn their attention to her, but she’s overpowered. When things look like there is no way to escape her our demise, the guy she saves blows them away….literally.
Echo isn’t used to leaving things unfinished and this girl is a loose end. Instead of ending her as he should, she bargains with him to become his friend as a way to keep tabs on her.
Friendship on his end isn’t normal so of course he obsessively stalks her, but….politely???
Things progress and they both are hiding things they aren’t ready or willing to share. She keeps him at a distance except for when she doesn’t?!? And we don’t see much spice of that.
Situations on both sides come to a head and force them together for various reasons…the book ends on a cliffhanger of this realization…
It’s a good book, I definitely want to continue to the story to find out what happens, I feel like it was less slow burn and more like closed door spice? I wish more details of their interactions were on page. I love Echo, he’s a great book boyfriend. Recommend, but be prepared for frustrating “will they or won’t they”
April 28, 2026
This is a new author to me and what a first impression!
Dahlia has had a tough time with love. Her childhood boyfriend was so in love with her that he decided to move the biggest obstacles to their happily ever after when he proposed to her aged 16. Her Parents! Sentenced to jail, he told her he would always love her, but she could never love him back after what he did.
Years later with a new identity, Dahlia finds herself unable to become involved with men; instead making the most of her book shop and enjoying the solitude. A man she had gone on a couple of dates with told her he loved her and she needed to step away, unfortunately she walked into 4 men attacking a man and so became involved as a way of protecting him.
Echo had been unconscious after being attacked by the 4 men, when he came too, he could see a woman being attacked by them so he shot each and every one of them and then seemed perplexed by her demeanour. She wasn't scared of him, and typically people were, after all he was raised to be a killer. Instead Dahlia checked he was alright, before he told her to run away on her wobbly legs and called her Bambi.
Echo couldn't keep his mind off her and not so subtly started stalking her, trying to learn what made her tick. The more he stalked the more he lost his focus at work, had trouble sleeping and became completely fixated on Bambi.
Dahlia then took a phone call with the worst news. Her ex boyfriend had escaped prison. Concerns were that he was coming to find her and she didn't know what to do....
I was gutted this story ended when it did and cannot wait for book 2. The emotions were there, the hook was there, the characters and back story was there. Overall a very enjoyable read.
Dahlia has had a tough time with love. Her childhood boyfriend was so in love with her that he decided to move the biggest obstacles to their happily ever after when he proposed to her aged 16. Her Parents! Sentenced to jail, he told her he would always love her, but she could never love him back after what he did.
Years later with a new identity, Dahlia finds herself unable to become involved with men; instead making the most of her book shop and enjoying the solitude. A man she had gone on a couple of dates with told her he loved her and she needed to step away, unfortunately she walked into 4 men attacking a man and so became involved as a way of protecting him.
Echo had been unconscious after being attacked by the 4 men, when he came too, he could see a woman being attacked by them so he shot each and every one of them and then seemed perplexed by her demeanour. She wasn't scared of him, and typically people were, after all he was raised to be a killer. Instead Dahlia checked he was alright, before he told her to run away on her wobbly legs and called her Bambi.
Echo couldn't keep his mind off her and not so subtly started stalking her, trying to learn what made her tick. The more he stalked the more he lost his focus at work, had trouble sleeping and became completely fixated on Bambi.
Dahlia then took a phone call with the worst news. Her ex boyfriend had escaped prison. Concerns were that he was coming to find her and she didn't know what to do....
I was gutted this story ended when it did and cannot wait for book 2. The emotions were there, the hook was there, the characters and back story was there. Overall a very enjoyable read.
April 28, 2026
4 stars.... This was my first, and won't be my last book from this author .... I loved this!
This book starts off with a shocking event for our fmc Dahlia which sets us up for who she is 11 years later; keeps to herself, distant and doesn't trust easily and absolutely has no interest being loved by anyone.
One night, Dahlia stumbles across our mmc Echo being beaten and attempts to help which actually ends up putting her in his crosshairs, as he is a killer for his Mafia family. They strike a bargain so he won't kill her, but this instead makes him interested in her and he full out becomes obsessed.
I love me a good stalker and obsessed man and Echo fills those shoes nicely. He truly becomes obsessed with who Dahlia is and trying to get to know her better and has no remorse in his methods and doesn't even try to hide his stalking from her.
Dahlia is in parts scared of him, but also intrigued by him and tries to push him away while also keeping him close. She is very confused about how to feel and what she wants; she likes him, but is really scared to be in love with anyone due to her past. They have good push and pull and their attraction is hot. There is some heat, but all in all, low on the spice scale.
Just as we really start to get ramped up with Dahlia trusting Echo a little more and maybe even forming a tenuous relationship , trouble from her past shows up and trouble from the night she saved Echo intrude and throw their world into chaos and we end on a cliffhanger.
This was really well written, and I stayed intrigued to the end with both characters and their family and friends and can't wait for book 2 to come out.
This book starts off with a shocking event for our fmc Dahlia which sets us up for who she is 11 years later; keeps to herself, distant and doesn't trust easily and absolutely has no interest being loved by anyone.
One night, Dahlia stumbles across our mmc Echo being beaten and attempts to help which actually ends up putting her in his crosshairs, as he is a killer for his Mafia family. They strike a bargain so he won't kill her, but this instead makes him interested in her and he full out becomes obsessed.
I love me a good stalker and obsessed man and Echo fills those shoes nicely. He truly becomes obsessed with who Dahlia is and trying to get to know her better and has no remorse in his methods and doesn't even try to hide his stalking from her.
Dahlia is in parts scared of him, but also intrigued by him and tries to push him away while also keeping him close. She is very confused about how to feel and what she wants; she likes him, but is really scared to be in love with anyone due to her past. They have good push and pull and their attraction is hot. There is some heat, but all in all, low on the spice scale.
Just as we really start to get ramped up with Dahlia trusting Echo a little more and maybe even forming a tenuous relationship , trouble from her past shows up and trouble from the night she saved Echo intrude and throw their world into chaos and we end on a cliffhanger.
This was really well written, and I stayed intrigued to the end with both characters and their family and friends and can't wait for book 2 to come out.
May 3, 2026
ARC Review – I’ll Be There for You by Jessa Halliwell
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5)
🌶️
First off, thank you to Jessa Halliwell and Smuthood for this ARC—because wow, what an introduction. This was my first book by this author, and I can already tell it won’t be my last.
This story follows Dahlia, and from the beginning… it hits. She goes through something deeply traumatic, and watching her grow through it felt real and grounded. Then life throws another curveball—she escapes a terrible date, witnesses a crime, and that’s where she meets Echo.
Echo… yeah. Dangerous, intense, and a little unhinged in that “I should be concerned but I’m lowkey swooning” way. 😅 This man falls first and falls hard—and his obsession with Dahlia? Loud. Clear. Unapologetic. The way he shows up for her, protects her, and centers his whole world around her… I ate it up. 🤩
The chemistry between Dahlia and Echo builds so well. There’s tension, banter, and that slow burn that keeps you locked in. It’s one of those books where you keep saying “just one more chapter” and suddenly you’re way too deep to stop.
Spice? 🌶️— definitely there, definitely hits, but still lets the story shine.
Tropes:
• Mafia romance
• Dual POV
• MMC falls first (and hard)
• Banter
• Slow burn
And let’s talk about that ending… this book finishes on a cliffhanger, and I’m not okay. Book two is needed ASAP—like immediately, urgently, no delays… asking for a friend. 😅
Overall, this was emotional, gripping, and a little chaotic in the best way. If you like obsessive MMCs, strong FMCs, and stories that pull you in and don’t let go—this one’s for you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5)
🌶️
First off, thank you to Jessa Halliwell and Smuthood for this ARC—because wow, what an introduction. This was my first book by this author, and I can already tell it won’t be my last.
This story follows Dahlia, and from the beginning… it hits. She goes through something deeply traumatic, and watching her grow through it felt real and grounded. Then life throws another curveball—she escapes a terrible date, witnesses a crime, and that’s where she meets Echo.
Echo… yeah. Dangerous, intense, and a little unhinged in that “I should be concerned but I’m lowkey swooning” way. 😅 This man falls first and falls hard—and his obsession with Dahlia? Loud. Clear. Unapologetic. The way he shows up for her, protects her, and centers his whole world around her… I ate it up. 🤩
The chemistry between Dahlia and Echo builds so well. There’s tension, banter, and that slow burn that keeps you locked in. It’s one of those books where you keep saying “just one more chapter” and suddenly you’re way too deep to stop.
Spice? 🌶️— definitely there, definitely hits, but still lets the story shine.
Tropes:
• Mafia romance
• Dual POV
• MMC falls first (and hard)
• Banter
• Slow burn
And let’s talk about that ending… this book finishes on a cliffhanger, and I’m not okay. Book two is needed ASAP—like immediately, urgently, no delays… asking for a friend. 😅
Overall, this was emotional, gripping, and a little chaotic in the best way. If you like obsessive MMCs, strong FMCs, and stories that pull you in and don’t let go—this one’s for you.
May 4, 2026
Maybe I wouldn’t mind being stalked if Echo was the stalker.
Dahlia has one hell of a traumatic past and a whole history she’s running from. She has one main rule for her love life, keep it casual and no falling in love. Until she attempts to save Echo’s life and is left with very complicated friendship (or situationship depending on the day).
Dahlia is emotionally unavailable against her better judgement. Every time I thought we were getting somewhere with Echo, he’d do something sweet or caring and it would send us right back to pretending we didn’t like him for our own good. Echo is learning that he has more emotions than he thought he was capable of. He would burn the world down for Dahlia. Sure there’s some stalking and major privacy violations, but it’s only because he has to make sure she is safe at all times. Besides, she gets her favorite coffee without asking out of this. Win win.
There were many times where I was shouting “if we would just communicate!!!” at my phone throughout this story. They could have been happy and in love if we could just let each other know how we feel. Bright side? It makes for great banter and phenomenal chemistry between the two. I mean once things start getting steamy they get so good. Echo knows what he’s doing.
The third act plot switch was done really well. I was so focused on Echo and Dahlia falling in love that I completely forgot we had outside forces ready to tear the whole thing down. When I got to that last page I was ready to see another chapter and not the epilogue. That’s the ending?? I know we said this is a duet, but that was rude.
Dahlia has one hell of a traumatic past and a whole history she’s running from. She has one main rule for her love life, keep it casual and no falling in love. Until she attempts to save Echo’s life and is left with very complicated friendship (or situationship depending on the day).
Dahlia is emotionally unavailable against her better judgement. Every time I thought we were getting somewhere with Echo, he’d do something sweet or caring and it would send us right back to pretending we didn’t like him for our own good. Echo is learning that he has more emotions than he thought he was capable of. He would burn the world down for Dahlia. Sure there’s some stalking and major privacy violations, but it’s only because he has to make sure she is safe at all times. Besides, she gets her favorite coffee without asking out of this. Win win.
There were many times where I was shouting “if we would just communicate!!!” at my phone throughout this story. They could have been happy and in love if we could just let each other know how we feel. Bright side? It makes for great banter and phenomenal chemistry between the two. I mean once things start getting steamy they get so good. Echo knows what he’s doing.
The third act plot switch was done really well. I was so focused on Echo and Dahlia falling in love that I completely forgot we had outside forces ready to tear the whole thing down. When I got to that last page I was ready to see another chapter and not the epilogue. That’s the ending?? I know we said this is a duet, but that was rude.
May 6, 2026
Stalking is okay if he's gorgeous
Dahlia & Enzo
First read by author Jessa Halliwell. Read I'll Be There For You in one sitting. Good plot, tension and plot starts right from the get go. Not a huge fan of cliffhangers as I am not patient when it comes to waiting for an ending, but this was worth the read and yes I am anxiously waiting for the next book, You Where There For Me, to be released in November 2026.
Enzo is the epitome of a gorgeous, protective, brooding, dark, no moral compass, burn down the world for those he cares about, stalking is normal MMC. I have absolutely no idea how Dahlia is able to keeping from jumping in bed with him everytime she sees him. Dahlia frustrated me as an FMC. Sometimes I wanted to smack some sense into her and other times I wanted to hug her hurt away. She gets herself into a pickle by helping Enzo and ends up getting more than what she bargained for when he falls hard for her. Unfortunately he doesn't know about her past, and she isn't talking. I firmly believe this will come to be a problem for them in the next book.
I'll Be There For You by Jessa Halliwell is a good quick read at only 264 pages. I will definitely read it again come November when the next book is out.
This book has:
Mysterious, brooding, fiercly protective, burn the world down for those he cares about, gorgeous MMC
Independent, closed off, emotional for a reason, kind FMC
Dark romance
He falls first and harder
Stalking
Slow burn
Mild spice
Mafia trope
Crazy ex boyfriend
Loss of parents in a tragic way
Supportive funny kind best friend
Shocking plot twist
Cliffhanger ending
Friend zone
She saves him
He saves her several times
Dahlia & Enzo
First read by author Jessa Halliwell. Read I'll Be There For You in one sitting. Good plot, tension and plot starts right from the get go. Not a huge fan of cliffhangers as I am not patient when it comes to waiting for an ending, but this was worth the read and yes I am anxiously waiting for the next book, You Where There For Me, to be released in November 2026.
Enzo is the epitome of a gorgeous, protective, brooding, dark, no moral compass, burn down the world for those he cares about, stalking is normal MMC. I have absolutely no idea how Dahlia is able to keeping from jumping in bed with him everytime she sees him. Dahlia frustrated me as an FMC. Sometimes I wanted to smack some sense into her and other times I wanted to hug her hurt away. She gets herself into a pickle by helping Enzo and ends up getting more than what she bargained for when he falls hard for her. Unfortunately he doesn't know about her past, and she isn't talking. I firmly believe this will come to be a problem for them in the next book.
I'll Be There For You by Jessa Halliwell is a good quick read at only 264 pages. I will definitely read it again come November when the next book is out.
This book has:
Mysterious, brooding, fiercly protective, burn the world down for those he cares about, gorgeous MMC
Independent, closed off, emotional for a reason, kind FMC
Dark romance
He falls first and harder
Stalking
Slow burn
Mild spice
Mafia trope
Crazy ex boyfriend
Loss of parents in a tragic way
Supportive funny kind best friend
Shocking plot twist
Cliffhanger ending
Friend zone
She saves him
He saves her several times
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨Advanced Reader Copy Review✨
4.5⭐️
Extremely grateful to have been selected to receive an ARC of this book! Jessa Halliwell was a new author for me and I just have to say…THANK GOODNESS I FOUND YOU, JESSA!
I’ll Be There For You is a funny, suspenseful, and perfectly questioning your sanity, dark stalker romance. The FMC, Dahlia, is constantly asking “why am I okay with this?!” And you know what girlie pop, SAME…yet here I am eating up every page like it’s my last meal.
Dahlia with a secret and traumatizing past stumbles across Enzo in an unexpected way. Broody, possessive, and dark and twisty in the best ways possible….their chemistry is 🔥🔥. The banter is bantering, the yearning is yearning, and the tension between these two keeps you glued to the book and wanting to see what happens next.
This book does end on a cliffhanger….which like yes I knew this going in and told myself I’d be fine but COME ON HOW COULD DO THIS TO ME, JESSA 😭😭😭😭 It’s fiiiiiine, I’m just lowkey already counting down the days to Book 2.
4.5⭐️ because everything about their relationship was spot on, the stalker romance was perfectly questionable yet had me giggling, and I was on the edge of my seat and holding my breath during the last 30% of the book. Only reason this is not a full 5 is because I just wanted more in Book 1….just a little more sharing and vulnerability between Dahlia and Enzo to help set the story and establish where we are a little more solidly before everything is (probably) going to turn into absolute mayhem in Book 2.
4.5⭐️
Extremely grateful to have been selected to receive an ARC of this book! Jessa Halliwell was a new author for me and I just have to say…THANK GOODNESS I FOUND YOU, JESSA!
I’ll Be There For You is a funny, suspenseful, and perfectly questioning your sanity, dark stalker romance. The FMC, Dahlia, is constantly asking “why am I okay with this?!” And you know what girlie pop, SAME…yet here I am eating up every page like it’s my last meal.
Dahlia with a secret and traumatizing past stumbles across Enzo in an unexpected way. Broody, possessive, and dark and twisty in the best ways possible….their chemistry is 🔥🔥. The banter is bantering, the yearning is yearning, and the tension between these two keeps you glued to the book and wanting to see what happens next.
This book does end on a cliffhanger….which like yes I knew this going in and told myself I’d be fine but COME ON HOW COULD DO THIS TO ME, JESSA 😭😭😭😭 It’s fiiiiiine, I’m just lowkey already counting down the days to Book 2.
4.5⭐️ because everything about their relationship was spot on, the stalker romance was perfectly questionable yet had me giggling, and I was on the edge of my seat and holding my breath during the last 30% of the book. Only reason this is not a full 5 is because I just wanted more in Book 1….just a little more sharing and vulnerability between Dahlia and Enzo to help set the story and establish where we are a little more solidly before everything is (probably) going to turn into absolute mayhem in Book 2.
May 1, 2026
I am unwell. Respectfully.
This book??? I didn’t read it, I spiraled through it. I blinked, and suddenly I was emotionally attached, stressed, giggling, and questioning my life choices because WHY is this man like this 😭 I legit finished it in 3 hours!
Echo is actually insane… like fully unhinged, obsessive, “I know where you are at all times” energy... and I ate. it. up. The way he falls first and just commits to the obsession?? Yeah, no, I’m gone. Something is def wrong with me because he was the most greenest red flag ever LOL
And Dahlia?? My girl has been THROUGH IT. She’s guarded, traumatized, trying to keep control, and he just bulldozes straight through every wall she has. The tension between them is so messy, so wrong, and somehow still addicting???
The push and pull??
The banter??
The “this is a bad idea, but I’m doing it anyway” energy???
I was LOCKED IN.
& when I tell you the banter had me cracking up, I mean it! My partner was so confused as to why I was cackling out of nowhere, and it was because I was reading this book.
Also, can we talk about how I literally could not stop turning pages?? Every time I thought I’d take a break, something else happened, and I was like oh… so I live here now.
And that ENDING???
JAIL. Immediately. Because what do you mean I have to wait for book two???
If you like:
– obsessed/unhinged MMC
– “touch her and blehh” but make it terrifying
– forced proximity/forced connection
– spicy slow burn that HURTS
– morally grey everything
…just read it. Trust me.
I need book two like it’s oxygen.
This book??? I didn’t read it, I spiraled through it. I blinked, and suddenly I was emotionally attached, stressed, giggling, and questioning my life choices because WHY is this man like this 😭 I legit finished it in 3 hours!
Echo is actually insane… like fully unhinged, obsessive, “I know where you are at all times” energy... and I ate. it. up. The way he falls first and just commits to the obsession?? Yeah, no, I’m gone. Something is def wrong with me because he was the most greenest red flag ever LOL
And Dahlia?? My girl has been THROUGH IT. She’s guarded, traumatized, trying to keep control, and he just bulldozes straight through every wall she has. The tension between them is so messy, so wrong, and somehow still addicting???
The push and pull??
The banter??
The “this is a bad idea, but I’m doing it anyway” energy???
I was LOCKED IN.
& when I tell you the banter had me cracking up, I mean it! My partner was so confused as to why I was cackling out of nowhere, and it was because I was reading this book.
Also, can we talk about how I literally could not stop turning pages?? Every time I thought I’d take a break, something else happened, and I was like oh… so I live here now.
And that ENDING???
JAIL. Immediately. Because what do you mean I have to wait for book two???
If you like:
– obsessed/unhinged MMC
– “touch her and blehh” but make it terrifying
– forced proximity/forced connection
– spicy slow burn that HURTS
– morally grey everything
…just read it. Trust me.
I need book two like it’s oxygen.
May 4, 2026
Echo Sannikov is not your average book boyfriend… he’s the kind you should run from, but absolutely won’t. 🖤
Echo takes “I’m watching you” to a whole new, completely unhinged level, and somehow makes it feel addictive. What starts as him trying to get rid of Dahlia quickly spirals into something darker, deeper, and way more obsessive. This man didn’t just fall… he consumed. From wanting her gone, to wanting her, to doing whatever it takes to protect her. His descent into obsession was EVERYTHING.
And the chemistry? Unreal. The banter between Echo and Dahlia had me hooked from the start. There’s this constant tension between fear and fascination that makes every interaction feel electric. Dahlia is strong in her own way, guarded, determined not to fall again, but Echo? Yeah… he had other plans.
Let’s be honest, he’s psychotic. No question. But the way he shows his obsession? Weirdly soft. Weirdly romantic. (Him painting his toes her favorite color so he can “have her on him at all times”? I’m unwell.)
This book delivers exactly what dark romance readers crave:
✨ Unhinged, obsessed MMC
✨ Touch her and die energy
✨ Forced proximity/friendship
✨ A traumatized FMC you can’t help but root for
If you love your men morally gray (okay… pitch black) and completely consumed by the FMC, Echo Sannikov is about to ruin you in the best way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#darkromance #bookstagram #obsessedmmc #stalkerromance #morallygrey #bookreview #romancereads #spicybooks #readerlife #tbr
Echo takes “I’m watching you” to a whole new, completely unhinged level, and somehow makes it feel addictive. What starts as him trying to get rid of Dahlia quickly spirals into something darker, deeper, and way more obsessive. This man didn’t just fall… he consumed. From wanting her gone, to wanting her, to doing whatever it takes to protect her. His descent into obsession was EVERYTHING.
And the chemistry? Unreal. The banter between Echo and Dahlia had me hooked from the start. There’s this constant tension between fear and fascination that makes every interaction feel electric. Dahlia is strong in her own way, guarded, determined not to fall again, but Echo? Yeah… he had other plans.
Let’s be honest, he’s psychotic. No question. But the way he shows his obsession? Weirdly soft. Weirdly romantic. (Him painting his toes her favorite color so he can “have her on him at all times”? I’m unwell.)
This book delivers exactly what dark romance readers crave:
✨ Unhinged, obsessed MMC
✨ Touch her and die energy
✨ Forced proximity/friendship
✨ A traumatized FMC you can’t help but root for
If you love your men morally gray (okay… pitch black) and completely consumed by the FMC, Echo Sannikov is about to ruin you in the best way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#darkromance #bookstagram #obsessedmmc #stalkerromance #morallygrey #bookreview #romancereads #spicybooks #readerlife #tbr
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love love love a fictional man who is so obsessed with the woman he wants that he does EVERYTHING a real life man should never do: put a tracker on her phone and her car, hack into the camera on her laptop, read her text messages, etc. When it comes to fictional men, I see no red flags. 🤭 Dahlia has faced one of the worst traumas and has had to start over. She has built a new life for herself vowing to never allow herself to love anyone in order to stay safe. She encounters Echo in an alley being beaten by four men. She has no idea that he is a mafia enforcer and she has just witnessed mafia business gone wrong. As she saves Echo (or rather he saves her) Echo knows he must eliminate this witness. Instead he becomes obsessed and becomes a perfect stalker. Soon he infiltrates her entire life. Get her favorite coffee? Check. Keep her safe at all times? Check. Rent the apartment next to hers and visit her at night while she sleeps? YES! Like I said I love an obsessed man and Echo does not disappoint. Dahlia realizes she is falling for Echo and tries to push him away but then Dahlia’s past comes back with a vengeance and the alley encounter is discovered by the wrong people. This book is part of a duet and I cannot express enough how much I anticipate the release of the next book. If you are looking for an obsessed MMC that doesn’t let little things like morals and rules keep him away from his woman, this book is for you!
Review of advance copy
✨✨ARC READ GIFTED BY THE SMUTHOOD INC✨✨
Jessa Halliwell really understood the assignment with this one. I’ll Be There for You is dark, obsessive, and packed with morally gray chaos - and I ate it up.
This story follows a stalker MMC and a FMC who unknowingly saved his life, and from that moment on… he’s everywhere. Watching. Waiting. Inserting himself into her world whether she wants him there or not. And she definitely doesn’t - at least not at first. But when her own dark past resurfaces, she ends up being forced straight into his orbit… and his home.
Echo is the kind of character you know you shouldn’t love - but you do anyway. He makes all the wrong choices in all the right ways. The ultimate “touch her and die” energy mixed with “if he wanted to, he would.” Unhinged, protective, obsessive… and somehow still irresistible.
The tension? Top tier. The push and pull between them had me hooked, and that slow, reluctant unraveling of their dynamic kept me turning pages. There’s this constant underlying ache and yearning that just builds and builds in the best way.
And listen - I’m already mad about it not being out yet. Because now I’m stuck waiting. Not just for release, but for what comes next. That setup?? We are absolutely heading into forced proximity/roommates-to-lovers territory in book two, and I am READY.
If you love dark romance with morally gray characters, obsession, and tension that keeps you on edge… this one needs to be on your radar.
Jessa Halliwell really understood the assignment with this one. I’ll Be There for You is dark, obsessive, and packed with morally gray chaos - and I ate it up.
This story follows a stalker MMC and a FMC who unknowingly saved his life, and from that moment on… he’s everywhere. Watching. Waiting. Inserting himself into her world whether she wants him there or not. And she definitely doesn’t - at least not at first. But when her own dark past resurfaces, she ends up being forced straight into his orbit… and his home.
Echo is the kind of character you know you shouldn’t love - but you do anyway. He makes all the wrong choices in all the right ways. The ultimate “touch her and die” energy mixed with “if he wanted to, he would.” Unhinged, protective, obsessive… and somehow still irresistible.
The tension? Top tier. The push and pull between them had me hooked, and that slow, reluctant unraveling of their dynamic kept me turning pages. There’s this constant underlying ache and yearning that just builds and builds in the best way.
And listen - I’m already mad about it not being out yet. Because now I’m stuck waiting. Not just for release, but for what comes next. That setup?? We are absolutely heading into forced proximity/roommates-to-lovers territory in book two, and I am READY.
If you love dark romance with morally gray characters, obsession, and tension that keeps you on edge… this one needs to be on your radar.
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