Scaredy Cat

by A.J. Merlin

There’s nothing to be scared of.
That’s the brand I used to build my following.

As a horror blogger and content creator, I made a name for myself by diving headfirst into haunted houses, cursed films, and urban legends—all without flinching. Fear? I don’t even believe in it.

But that was before his comment.

A single message on my latest "I can scare you. And when I do, you’re mine."

Now the haunted attractions feel a little too real. Shadows move where they shouldn’t. And I can’t shake the feeling that someone’s watching me—even in the dark safety of my own room.

My mysterious new follower doesn’t play by the rules. He doesn’t just want to scare me.
He wants me .

The worst part? My fans love him. They egg him on, not realizing this isn’t some online stunt. This is real. This is terrifying…and tempting.

When the game ends, the only thing left to find out is whether “Scaredy Cat” is just my online handle…

Or my final truth.

SCAREDY CAT is a Halloween MF romance. It is a dark romance, but ends with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It’s part horror-part romance, with topics that some readers may not enjoy. For a full list of triggers, please check the inside of the book.

Genres: Dark Romance, Halloween, Dark, Romance, Horror, Contemporary, Erotica

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2025

About the author

AJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).

Reviews

[Kate V · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Persy is a haunted house blogger and has amassed a nice following. She enjoys her job and not a lot scares her. She can see through almost anything. Except her new stalker that takes more than her fear.

Shiloh wants Persy and he will do just about anything to get exactly what he wants.

“I can give you everything you need,” he promises. “You just have to be willing to let me, and do what I say. I can make fear feel so good. I can give you what you’re missing.”

I won’t lie…it took about 52% before I started getting into this story. There was just so much “stuff.” But once we really got past that mark, everything went faster and the spice got spicier. Overall, an enjoyable read but I would have preferred the MMCs POV too.

[Tiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has read and adored almost everything that A.J. Merlin has written, I already knew that I was going to love this one, and what better time to read a spooky Halloween book than October!
If you’ve read anything by this author then you already know that it’s going to be a very dramatic, very spicy and very entertaining read. There were no slow or boring moments, all of the characters were so much fun (other than the best friends, but that’s because they had their heads screwed on properly) and the romance was very problematic but also very off the charts. This is a dark romance through and through, with the MMC literally stalking and toying with the FMC throughout, until they get their happy ending 🖤

This book definitely had everything that I was looking for when I picked this up, but I will say that it was incredibly predictable, especially if you’ve read the authors other books, BUT, this wasn’t a bad thing at all ok?! I love it when dark romances like this are easier to follow, and they are more predictable because I feel like I get to just enjoy the story and what is happening between the characters more, if that makes sense?
So just bare that in mind, that you’re probably not going to be shocked by any of the reveals or plot twists, but it is still a pretty spooky and tense read.

[Kricketland · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ MF
✔️ Horror Romance
✔️ Dark Romance
✔️ Halloween Theme
✔️ Masked Men
✔️ Stalker

⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers

Persy is a horror-themed blogger and content creator who is a true horror fan. She is not scared by haunted houses, horror films, or urban legends. Still, she pushes herself to attend Halloween haunt events that she reviews on her social media platforms, and hopes to finally find something for her “Scaredy Cat” persona to be scared of. Shiloh has been watching Persy from the shadows, following her on her socials, where her fans have been egging him on to trigger her fears.

I found Persy and Shiloh’s characters interesting and relatable, with Shiloh’s character being morally grey but not over the top. Scaredy Cat is a perfect read for Halloween. I am giving a rating of 4.5 / 5 stars

[Kendra Renae · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️2.75


Sorry not sorry I just can’t deal with the slow pacing of this book. I don’t doubt that once it picks up it’s all worth it, but I fear I can’t stop putting it down because of the repetitiveness of the fmc. Nothing wrong with it; just not for me.

[ThatNerdViolet · Rating 3 out of 5]

AJ Merlin is my absolute GOAT for dark romances, but this one missed the mark a bit for me. I loved the characters, setting, and plot, but some dialogue/chapters felt like filler vs. progressing the story. I was also surprised at some characterization choices at the end. Still absolutely worth picking up for a fun read, but not as comparable to her other fabulous books and/or series.

[Snow · Rating 2 out of 5]

i love this author, but this one simply wasn't for me.

what really ruined it for me was when the heroine got tortured (not by the H). it was way too violent for me, so don't read it if you aren't prepared for that.

oh, and then when the hero rescued the heroine, he didn't even kill the people who tortured her???
the hero was a literal serial killer, and yet he just cut off the /pinky finger/ of the woman who ordered the torture be done - nothing else.
he let them all go with zero other consequences, other than an order to never talk about or contact the heroine again.
are you serious?? i needed those people to die, OR i needed them to get arrested and for everyone to discover what monsters they are. it was honestly so disturbing, the way they all just got off that easy.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't 100% sure I was going to like this after the first couple chapters. But, DANGIT, Shiloh won me over with his charm. Sure, some of the things he did (and does for a living) might be a little questionable, but you have to say he's 100% committed to a plan once it's in motion.

But first! Persy is a woman barely holding things together. She's good with the haunts and things that scare other people thrill her more than scare her, but she's kind of a mess outside of that. Her family isn't exactly supportive and she has a raging case of imposter syndrome. She's kind of walking a line between holding it together and about to completely fall apart at any given moment.

Then she starts getting comments on her blog that she can't stop thinking about. Not the usual negative ones that eat at her self-confidence, but ones that are almost flirty and offer to give her a real scare. Her first encounter with her stalker sort of thrills her in a way she wasn't expecting. Well, once she realized what he was doing wasn't part of the haunt. Things sort of escalated from there. Her stalker knew how to give her exactly what she was craving and push her in all the ways she wanted to be pushed.

Honestly, I didn't expect to like Shiloh NEARLY as much as I did. But his amusement/indignation over the nickname Persy gave his cat and the way he was just so blasé about what he did for a living were the tipping point. The guy was charming. He won Persy over and slid into her life with enviable ease. It was fantastic.

You know what they say, sometimes a lady just needs a guy who knows just how to apply pressure to the people trying to knock her down. And if that pressure comes at the point of a knife? SO BE IT!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Emily (emilysdarkcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scaredy Cat by AJ Merlin

Another book by AJ that I love. I have read many of her books and I loved this one so much! I loved all of the horror movie talk and how she was a spooky loving girly.


Before reading please make sure you check your trigger warnings and content warnings

Persy is a Halloween and all things spooky loving girly and she also runs a blog called Scaredy Cat. She loves going to all the Halloween Haunts and reviewing them so other people can share her love for Halloween.

What happens when she finds herself seeing the same person in a wolf skull mask?

I don't want to say too much about said person but I freaking loved him so much! I mean should following someone be a RED FLAG YESSS! But... I mean he also loved making sure that she was okay.

I loved the spicy scenes because they were definitely spicing. The scene in the Mill house in the barn on the table 🔥 like yesss please 🥺 Persy can I take your spot just that one time 🫣😏 I freaking DEVOURED this book. I couldn't put it down.

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK!

I feel like I say this every time AJ releases a new book, but I always fall in love with the MMC instantly every single time!

This is a perfect read for Halloween. Because who doesn’t love a spooky season read, with a daring FMC, and a stalkerish dangerous MMC. Persy is bold and brave and I was absolutely here for her as a character, almost nothing can scare her. And Shiloh? Well, at this point I’m just collecting AJ boyfriends, because every single one is my favourite, but Shiloh might just be in the lead.

As ever, never a boring, dull, or uneventful moment. Spice packed, plot packed, and has you hooked from page 1.

The GO TO book for this Halloween. Don’t miss out.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If AJ Merlin writes it, I'm going to read it. Especially if it's a spooky season release. It wouldn't feel like Halloween to me without reading a book by AJ Merlin. I have fallen in love with every MMC she has written. Scaredy Cat is about a blogger Persy, who reviews haunts, horror movies, livestreams, etc. She wants to be truly scared, but the attractions don't do it for her. Until the day, she has a very enthusiastic fan ready to show her what she needs.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

AJ Merlin never misses

Oh Shiloh, what can I say? Another red flag that is honestly so perfect and soon worthy. So much so you can overlook all the bad stuff. I want more of this couple,only because I always want more from the couples of this author. She is one of my few if they write it I immediately read it type of authors. I enjoy all her stories thoroughly. Read this and fall in love with Shiloh and Persephone.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ❤️

Another great read for spooky season 👻 really loved the two main characters and Arugula has my heart

Definitely would've been 5 stars if it was longer! I'm craving another AJ Merlin book that's the length of Dead of Summer

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! This author is pretty much an automatic read for me and this was one of her best in my opinion. And I loved Arugula 🥹

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Started slow but was still a fun read.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

November 2025
Kindle edition

I couldn't get along with the FMC. The guy sort of had boundaries and logically challenged her. I did like the whole haunted places thing, and how supportive the fans were. The ending annoyed me with the way she knew it was wrong and still went anyway. The best bit was the cat.

[Nikki Landis · Rating 5 out of 5]

the perfect scare….

I loved this as I do with every book Merlin writes. It’s the perfect Halloween read and I know it’s going to be one I reread often. No one pulls me in and slowly builds tension and the spice like she does. My fav book this year.

[ek · Rating 4 out of 5]

some light torture to end the year

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

first book of the year, and this was just really stinking cute.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now if you don't know AJ or are not in her Facebook group, you might not know she loves horror movies, after reading this book, or her other ones, I think it becomes very apparent. This to me was a love letter to scary things/spooky season from AJ to us. I don't love horror movies or scary things but this definitely made me think about going into a haunted house *I watched them on tiktok instead cause I will hurt someone* and it was the perfect way to start my spooky week. The mystery around who the mmc is and finding out who he is was so fun, and scary cause actually sir... who are you? But it also was giving, "Well I mean if a masked man tried that to me I too would be into it" and then promptly asking if perhaps a therapist needs to be called (they do) Persy is everything I am not and I loved living life though her, I would have cried, pissed myself, and probably accidentally punched a scare actor and she's just hanging out. Truly she reminded me of my mom (not in a weird way) my mom loved horror and the haunted hay rides and scary things and I would come too, and hide under a table 🙂 fun for everyone! I was told the "friends" we see in the book down have ties back to the Pleasure and Prey series and thats why this review took so long unfortunately because I had to do a reread

[Roksy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst I don’t necessarily celebrate Halloween as an Australian who is in the midst of a windy Tasmanian spring, I am so on board with the spooky fall vibes in AJ Merlin’s latest offering, Scaredy Cat. Whilst the narrative is undoubtedly character-driven, the underlying plot that sees friction build between Persy and two rival teams of content creators in parallel fields to hers—paranormal investigators and the organisers of an extreme Haunt—added an extra sense of mystery and tension to the story that I really enjoyed, making this novel the perfect blend of dark romance and horror/thriller to get me in the mood for the spooky season.

Told exclusively from Persy’s point of view, I felt a strong connection to her as an individual; the insight into her motivations and anxieties as a content creator hit so close to home—perhaps a little too close to home—but on the flip side of that, I loved seeing the support and love her two best friends show her even in the hardest moments. The cat and mouse dynamics between Persy (AKA Scaredy Cat) and her mysterious masked man were everything I hoped for, from the flirty comments they exchange on Persy’s streams and socials to his obsessive desire to give Persy the scare she’s been craving via the haunted attractions she visits for her horror blog. The chemistry that rapidly sparks between Persy and her admirer long before she learns his name was utterly delicious, and it only got hotter with every page.

~

Ratings:
5⭐ ~ 4.5🌶️ ~ 3💔

Tropes:
🖤 Black cat FMC
🧡 Stalker/serial killer MMC
🖤 Masked man
🧡 Obsession
🖤 Primal 🫠

What I loved:
🖤 Cat and mouse dynamic
🧡 Halloween setting and spooky vibes
🖤 Strong friendships
🧡 Anxiety rep
🖤 Bi+ rep (MMC)

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: Romance
Format: E book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Mmc: Shiloh
Fmc: Persephone

Tropes: Streamer / blogger , hidden identity, scare actor , Halloween , cat lovers , stalker, cat and mouse

Nickname: Scaredy cat (online name) , babe / pretty girl

Summary: Persephone is an absolute horror fanatic. But the only issue is that no haunted house has been able to scare her. So she documents each one on her blog with the name, “scaredy cat,” to give reviews and find the scariest place to visit for Halloween. But one night an actor gets too comfortable and up close and he begins to appear at each event she goes too. And slowly he becomes more intense and personal with his visits.

What I liked:
-The intensity of the mmc.

-The whole vibe of Halloween and poorly made spooky places and houses.

-How the mmc showed up in mysterious ways to help her out and got her two adorable cats.

What I didn’t:
-Very very predictable unfortunately.

-This book is labelled as a horror romance and (ironically like the fmc) I was not scared or disgusted even once.

-There was no pov for the mmc which was annoying because the fmc to me had no backbone and was a bit ditzy.

-A lot of things were repeated in the book.

Pacing: I’d say slow pacing in the first half but it does speed up later on.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

Series info: Standalone but the author does have some amazing books so check them out!

Re read: I would not re read this one

Overall: If you need a easy to read Halloween book with an almost Sam and Colby vibe to it with investigations and horror houses then you would like this book.

[bookaddict2021 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scaredy Cat follows our horror-loving gamer nerd FMC Persephone Gallows (Persy) as she goes around reviewing and creating scary content for her blog. Unlike Persephone I am not a horror movie enthusiast, in fact I do my best to stay away from the horror and scary movies, like Brynn and Madison her best friends. And yet there is just something in the way this author creates such a good story despite it usually involving a serial killer with an obsession with the quirky, nerdy girls that I just love horror themed books.

It was slightly predictable, after a certain point the reader could guess where it was going and yet how it then turned out was surprising to me. There also wasn't enough of Sihloh and Persephone as couple, I loved the story line and I was glad that it took a slightly slower route and I just wanted to get to the good spicy, smutty bits.

I loved the Halloween theme to the scary, horror parts especially this time of year. I don't actively go looking for a Halloween themed romance but it seems to have become a thing for this author to bring one out and I am more than ready for it. If you like dark romances about a content creator visiting various spooky haunts for fun and becoming the fixation of a serial killer who not only hates everyone but wants to kill them except the object of his fascination then this is the story for you.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve quickly binged almost everything AJ’s written and pretty much enjoyed it all. I can typically count on them for steamy steam and spooky goodness so suffice it to say I was super excited for this release. Unfortunately I didn’t quite click with this one. For one thing, I would consider this a sloooooow burn at least compared to their other work. There were also a lot of chapters that felt long and unnecessary to the storyline which I’ve never noticed in their other books. But my biggest beef with Scaredy Cat is that it didn’t feel scary to me but maybe that was intentional. AJ always delivers on the spooky/horror aspect for me and this one didn’t quite get there in my opinion. For example, her stalker gifted her a cat named Arugula (definitely not knocking the epic name) with a note about not being able to give it the attention it needs because he’s been busy helping his dad with work and that she basically looks like she could use cat cuddles… like what??? I don’t know, maybe my expectations were too high but in my defense AJ sets a high bar. I will absolutely continue to read anything they release though and if you didn’t vibe with this one either, don’t hesitate to check out their other work!

[Brooke Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down once the story got going. The stalking element immediately pulled me in, especially how it begins online and slowly crosses into real life in ways that feel unsettling and tense.

The haunted attraction scenes were especially effective at building atmosphere, and I liked how the story gradually revealed what was actually happening rather than laying everything out at once. The pacing kept me engaged, and the suspense continued to build as Persy started to realize that things were not adding up.

I appreciated how the story wrapped up. By the end, you learn how the stalker actually met her, which helped bring everything full circle. This is a true standalone with no cliffhanger, and the conclusion felt complete and satisfying.

The romance and spice were well done. There are a few spicy moments, but nothing overwhelming or extreme compared to other dark romance books. It balanced the tension and story nicely.

I also recommend checking the trigger warnings included in the book. The darker themes are an important part of the story, and the warnings are there for a reason.

Overall, this was an engaging, suspenseful read with a solid ending, and I am glad I picked it up.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎃🐺🐈‍⬛👻 || S C A R E D Y C A T

“I’ll show you who follows you in the dark, no matter how far into it you might go. I’ll make it so you know. you can never, ever be free of me.” 

After finally finishing this book I can definitely say it is my favorite dark romance book. The plot had me hooked and The MMC is so lovable, I love how we didn’t find out his name for forever, it added a hint of mystery.

I’m going to try to write this review without spoiling ANYTHING but let me tell you this book was amazing.

The book is about this girl who does live streams of popular spooky attractions and goes by the name ‘Scaredy Cat’ and we find out one of her followers was more of a follower than expected, if you catch my drift.

I wanted to write a better review for this book because its literally THAT good but I was only halfway through the book and didn’t wanna rate it too early even though I knew I’d love it. But oh my goodness this is the best dark romance book i’ve read so far.

I love Aj Merlin’s books, they’re not *too* dark for me and they’re spooky.
the chase scenes are always my favorite. 👻

Definitely give it a read, Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (5/5)

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good Stalker just in time for Halloween

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

🎃 Halloween Romance
🎃 Blood Play
🎃 Stalker

My thoughts:
I do love a good dark romance, and AJ Merlin never disappoints. I do love a good stalker, and one who can save the day is even better. Why love a hero when the villain will take on the world for you?

Summary:
Persephone runs the Scaredy Cat blog. She goes to haunted houses to give her thoughts and perspective on them. But after being let down so many times, it is hard to get her scared or to fully believe in haunted houses anymore. But after the place she went to, someone left a comment she cannot get out of her head, "I bet I could scare you, but there should be a prize involved." And the comments from him keep coming, and her followers are eating it up.

She then goes to a normal haunt for her and see's a guy in a wolf-skull mask and thinks he is part of the attraction. Then he is at the next one she is at and still leaving comments her followrs are LOVING. Then weird things start happening around her she cannot explain. He keeps showing up, trying to scare her and then defending her online. Who is this mysterious stalker??

[Samawia · Rating 5 out of 5]

AJ Merlin has done it again!!

Scary Cat is PERFECT for October bc duh all things spooky and haunted. I loved this book so much. As always, we have our psycho love interest and our FMC, who I thought was the perfect mix of confident but also vulnerable in her own way.

The haunted vibes were definitely there throughout and I loved how we got to know so much about Persy and I thought her job was so cool! I loved reading about her content creation and her blog. I thought the plot and dark romance worked together so well, and the tension was great throughout. I also loved the air of mystery around our MMC until later in the book.

I loved reading about the two of them, and I absolutely love how AJ Merlin writes her MMCs because it is the main reason all of her dark romance books end up being 4 or 5 stars for me. Crazy? Yes. A killer? Most likely. Will also do anything to keep her safe and treat her like the queen she is? ALWAYS. And THAT is what I want in a dark romance.

As always, PICK THIS UP NOW!!!

[Alexandria (Ink Stained Sorceress) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, let's talk about AJ Merlin. She is one of my favorite dark romance authors. When she drops a book, I instantly add it to my TBR, and Scaredy Cat reminded me exactly why. 🔪

I absolutely loved the premise here: content creator vibes that give you this cool, behind-the-scenes look at what it would be like to visit spooky haunts for a living. It was super engaging and set the perfect mood!

But honestly, you know what made this book? Persy's "stalker." No spoilers, but her MMCs are consistently amazing, and this one was no different! I only gave this 4 out of 5 stars for one single reason: the pacing near the end. There were definite points where I felt like we were missing steps in their relationship development. I think if the book had been just a tad bit longer, if we had gotten a little more time and content between the two of them, it would have been an easy, full 5-star read.

Even with that little wish for more spice/development at the end, I devoured this. It's dark, unique, and I highly recommend!

[Veronica LVE · Rating 2 out of 5]

* Halloween Vibes
* Masked, Stalker MMC
* Haunted houses
* She is a streamer
* Slow read
* Cats
* Dark at the peak of the book (similar to Hunting Adeline)
* Scream vibes
*Cat and mouse games
* He cuts her with his knife on her leg and licks it.

I never let a book go unread after Halloween? Yes I unfortunately barely read last month but hear me out okay this rating is my opinion but the pace was slow I mean slower then a turtle, I ended up falling asleep most chapters because it’s repetitive like oh she goes to haunts different chapters but his and that then meets her stalker again and again like it did build up faster at the end then it was at the beginning. Although the name of the MMC is shit like it actually sounds like shit the word but also why the weird name he could have been named totally different. I do liked the MMC being for real like a realistic bf… it’s like he isn’t sugarcoating her but challenging her. I don’t like the whole story because it’s not spicy enough or the plot cause it was so bad like the end was just terrible. But they have a HEA.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

MF
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Dark

Persy streams, vlogs and blogs about all things spooky. She watches scary movies, plays horror themed games, visits haunts and gives her reviews on them. She is trying to find something to scare her but nothing has yet. She comes across a comment from anonymous stating if he scared her, what would be his prize. She doesn’t really engage but her followers are intrigued.

Every haunt she goes to, she is encountered by a man in a wolf skull mask. And she soon realizes, he is her anonymous commenter. And he doesn’t only stalk her at the haunts but he has been in her house. He plugs in her electronics so they are fully charged when she needs them. He leaves her his cat because he knows she is lonely.

She wakes up when he is in her house one night. He is covered in blood. And he finally tells her about his job working for the mafia? It doesn’t really gone into great detail. But yeah.

This had the perfect amount of scary, sexy, stalkery Halloween vibes.