I was never supposed to take Cameron’s place at the church. But now I’m wearing the prophet’s crown, lying through my teeth to protect the people I love, and praying Dale never notices the truth. Mason’s health is spiraling. Lucian’s hiding something dangerous. Even Sophia is acting weird. And every day I keep this secret, the cult sinks its claws deeper into our lives. Then Mattie Smith, Mason’s new "girlfriend", starts poking her nose where it doesn’t belong, asking questions we can’t afford to answer. All I want is to keep my family safe and my relationship together. But in Hartwood, even the people you love can become your undoing. Please Open Me is book three in a series; it’s first-person multi-pov.
Please Open Me is a polyamorous why choose between three men and two women, all centering around Sebastian Castillo. This includes MM, FM, and group scenes, some of which feature FF content. Reader decision is advised as there are strong themes of religious trauma, graphic violence, substance abuse, strong language, manipulation, and adult content. A full content warning can be found within the first few pages of the book.
The first two books, Please Hate Me and Please Save Me, are required to understand the events in Please Open Me.
Teacher by day, degenerate by night. Erin Mersey loves to write kinky, bisexual, polyamorous (why choose, reverse harem… etc.) romance novels with darker themes, diverse characters, and heart-wrenching plot twists.
When she is not writing, Erin spends her time playing video games, reading books, and hanging out with her family.
I’m in love with this series. A dark poly/why choose romance.
This story doesn’t have a single quiet moment, even when things seem to be slowing down. There’s always something happening — twist after twist after twist.
The book is multi-POV, and just when we finish reading something about one of the MCs, the next chapter has another MC doing or saying something that makes me scream: “Wait! WTF?”, “But that way…?” or “No!”
They genuinely want to be good to each other, but with the overwhelming number of secrets and lack of honesty, they end up sabotaging their own efforts. And yet, you can clearly see how much they care about one another.
And their safe word is “Trust.” Seriously, guys? Seriously?
OMG! I love these guys. They’re a beautiful mess, but they really make me want to pull my hair out sometimes. Don’t they see the holes they’re digging themselves into? And it seems like they just can’t stop. Meanwhile, here I am constantly telling them, “No!”, “Don’t do that!”, and “No, don’t say that!”
Like I said: there isn’t a single peaceful moment.
It’s also deliciously steamy.
Since the first book, I’ve been completely hooked on the story of these MCs, who are as different as they are complex — and honestly adorable in their own unique ways. Even when their choices make you feel like everything is about to go terribly wrong, or leave you frustrated with their actions, you still can’t stop rooting for them.
And then there’s the cliffhanger that makes you want to bite your nails while immediately reaching for the next book.
I went into this book with high expectations because the first two were so good, and I was not disappointed. It was even better than I thought it would be. I received an ARC of this yesterday morning, and it was a struggle to put it down. I have been waiting for this book for almost a year and it was worth every second I had to wait.
I will try to stay vague because I don’t want to spoil anything, especially since this is the third in the series. But when I say that my opinions of some of the main characters changed so vastly in this book, it’s an understatement. Ones that I didn’t really like at all I ended up loving, and ones that I loved I realized they kind of suck.
There were a whirlwind of emotions, ups and downs, drama, lies, deceit, love and heartbreak. I can’t even count how many times this had me gasping out of pure shock as to what had just happened. I was completely captivated by their story and where it’s going.
I loved that we got more of Sebastian’s POV in this book, I didn’t understand the draw to him in the first two as much. But the shift in perspective and really getting in his head was enlightening to the flow of their story.
I’m honestly still in shock from that ending, my entire body had goosebumps from it. I cannot wait to get to continue on with their story whenever the next book comes out, I need to be back in their chaos. I devoured this book just as I did the first two, and they just keep getting better, I’m so excited to see what insanity comes next in this series.
Review from an ARC Reader!! ❤️ *Please Open Me* absolutely wrecked me in the best way possible. This series just keeps getting darker, messier, and more addictive, and book three raises the stakes in every single way. Sebastian carrying the weight of Cameron’s role while desperately trying to protect everyone around him had me stressed from page one. The tension never lets up, and every secret feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
The character dynamics are what truly make this story unforgettable. Every relationship feels intense, complicated, and emotionally raw. The polyamorous romance is handled with so much depth and chemistry, and the multiple POVs make you feel completely immersed in everyone’s fears, desires, and hidden motives. Mason broke my heart, Lucian had me constantly suspicious, and the growing unease around Sophia and Mattie made the entire book feel deliciously unsettling.
The cult atmosphere is incredibly well done — claustrophobic, manipulative, and genuinely disturbing. The themes of religious trauma and control are explored in such a gripping way that I couldn’t stop thinking about the story even after I finished. And the emotional whiplash? Brutal. One minute I was swooning, the next I was terrified.
If you love dark romance with morally gray characters, tangled relationships, cult horror vibes, and nonstop emotional tension, this book delivers all of it. Definitely not a light read, but it’s an unforgettable one.
" But I was sick of just surviving, I wanted to live."
For those of you searching for books that make it impossible to put them down, Please Open Me by Erin Mersey has got to be a solid 10/10. From start to finish, it kept me going—just one more chapter turned into “okay, maybe five more.” The pacing was addictive, and the emotional pull? Very real.
There's something really surprising about this series for me, and that's the way in which the development of all of the characters took place. While I was definitely caught off guard by where things went, it worked out really well, and I must say that I've never seen anything quite like it. Not only did it involve adding an entirely new character into their family circle, but it also resulted in Lucian going down the rank list.
While I love this series, I won’t lie—I’m absolutely heartbroken about that cliffhanger like really heartbroken. It’s the kind heartbreak that leaves you staring at the last page like, “Excuse me, why'd you do that, Erin?? That’s it??” But, on the bright side, it just means I get to look forward to when Erin Mersey releases the next installment. And yes, I’ll absolutely be first in line to read it. And yes, I did message Erin about that ending, haha! Girl two words, Lucian and Cults ugh .
This book is a reverse harem MMMFF romance and in my opinion cannot be read as a standalone as it picks up after the cliffhanger that was book 2. There’s still the tension between Sebastian and Sophia, to say I am so ready for those two to fall in love is an understatement. This book also dives into Lucian’s drug use and a cold turkey withdrawal from his opioid addiction. PLEASE READ YOUR TRIGGERS!!! The cult has Sebastian locked into their webs and I actually started to love “Sebby” in this book where he was frustrating in the last 2 books. My heart broke with truths started to come out and I feel so bad for Mason (pop star fmc) because everything she thought was a beautiful life in her polycule home literally goes up in flames. She runs and is gone for 2 weeks doing the pop star shows and media interviews. She has another gf outside of the polycule that is a part of the cult. The twist and turns in this series will have you wanting to go out and touch some grass and drink your water. Also, consider this a warning IT ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER! Erin Mersey keeps the Cliffhanger Crown. She will keep you coming back for more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
📖 I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the author 📖
Our disaster polycule is back! And boy are they *messy* this time around. 😅 More relationship/drama/trauma messy than messy sex this time.
This book focuses on Sebastian, though it is still a multiple POV (which amps up the drama for sure!). Sebastian is still hiding the fact that he's taken over as the prophet/leader of the local cult, from everyone including Cameron who escaped the cult only months earlier.
But Seb isn't the only one keeping secrets, or waving red flags all over the place. (Like I said, they're messy!) Basically, they're all keeping secrets, and when those secrets start to come out, things basically go to Hell without the handbasket.
I definitely have some strong feelings about some of the relationships between the characters right now, even more so than after the first two books, because this one really focused on those dynamics.
There are some recycled plot elements from the first two books, which while I understand why they happened, I wasn't as excited/surprised/moved by them because we'd been there before.
I was sent an ARC of Please Open Me by Erin Mersey in exchange for an honest review! 📚✨️
No Spoilers. Just my thoughts.
I absolutely devoured this book. All of Erin Mersey's books always seem to end with a cliffhanger, so I've been dying to know what happens next! The Unholy series follows a MMMFF relationship household; all the characters have their own baggage, and strong themes are explored throughout the books. I WOULD 100% RECOMMEND READING THESE BOOKS IN ORDER AND NOT AS A STANDALONE. Please Open Me is the third book in the Unholy Series by Erin Mersey And oh boy was it a good one. Following on from the events of Please Save Me, it was nice to see how the characters were dealing with everything that they had been through so far. Especially Sebastian. I loved that this book was centred more around him and I had no qualms about that whatsoever. Sebastian is definitely one of my favourite characters as I find him interesting, somewhat mysterious maybe. But kind of like a nut I really want to crack open to see what's inside. After messaging Erin Mersey to tell her how much I loved this book and Sebastian's scenes. She informed me that people didn't really like Sebastian! I can't quite phathom why, I do not condone a lot of Sebastian's behaviours but I feel for him and I think his trauma explains a lot of his behaviours. We definitely saw a softer side of him in this novel, how much he does actually love his family and wants to protect them at all costs...
You could have cut the tension with a knife in some of the scenes in this book and my jaw was definitely slack many times. Secrets are revealed which lead Mason to run away from her found family and I honestly do not blame her. I can't wait for the next book and I hope we get more Lucien in the next book because I'm just dying to know what's going on inside his head at this point.
This book had all the emotion and rage and love and spice it needed.
I am now YEARNING for the next book because that was one heck of a cliffhanger 😩.
Idk how to put my review into words. This book was just everything it needed to be and it was everything this series needed to be able to continue the main plot. It was just 5 star perfection.
**The new member of the harem….Idk how to feel about them. They’re good and not good. **Lucian….I kinda hate rn **Sophia… I really just don’t know anymore **Seb…I don’t think I’d ever say this but even though he did bad, he meant good and I like him more than Lucian now. **Cameron….oh my sweet baby Cam. Just existing and being Cam and making me fall more in love with his character.
All I can say is just read the book! READ. IT. I could not put this down! It’s worth every bit of wrecked emotions it will cause you. 🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’ve been waiting for Sebastian’s book for ages, & so pleased it’s finally arrived!
This book felt a little darker than the previous two, with Sebastian’s role in the cult that Cameron escaped from & his previous abusive relationship. His need to feel loved & wanted stems from that relationship, & at times he doesn’t know where or how to draw the line - but he doesn’t do anything with any ill intent. He spent years feeling worthless & we really get to see his struggles & how he attempts to over come them.
There are so many threads that tie together in this book, with Mason’s new girlfriend, Sophia’s job & Sebastian’s cult that give you little lightbulb moments every time something connects.
I can't lie; this made me HATE some of the characters. One is the definition of a psychopath, one is sneaky AF, and a third needs so much therapy it caused half the issues in the book.
Poor Mason has already had to deal with soooo much BS drama and surprise surprise, it's not over yet. I don't think there isn't a single person who hasn't hurt her in some fashion (except Leona), whether they meant to or not. Poor girl can't catch a break. That being said, I still LOVE having more of this story and learning more about the people in it.
If you thought this was a trilogy, you were wrong. We are left on a cliffhanger and I can't wait for the next installment.
This is the third story in this series in which you need to read the previous books to help you understand where the characters have been and where they are now. This is a series that I have enjoyed from the beginning and one that keeps getting better and better. I enjoy this author's creative characters and details that make the story come to life. This is a story about keeping your family safe and your relationship. I enjoyed the characters and the heat they add to the story. They are well developed and connectable. I enjoyed watching their growth from the beginning and throughout. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story that is engaging and one you don't want to miss. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. I highly recommend this story.
Man it seems like we waited forever for this one. And man was it worth the wait!!!! I mean wow there weee so many things happening and i couldn’t be bothered to stop reading I had to find out this or that (no spoilers here) I will say Seb grew on me in this one and at few points Mason was on my last nerve. Then Erin goes and does us dirty and leaves us hanging with that cliffy…… guess I’ll be back! But can you hurry.Pretty please? Thanks
I absolutely LOVE this series and this one just made me adore Sebastian more! I already had a soft spot for him, but this book just showed why you have to love him. There was a lot more relationship drama and secrets than the previous books, which made it way more exciting. Mason was making me a little pissed off at some points, I just wanted to shake her. And Sebastian being the new leader of the cult Cameron escaped from?! OMG!! That ending had me like WAIT WHAT?! I need the next one NOW!
A beautiful ending yet most heartbreaking and heart wrenching cliffhanger this was amazing I throughly enjoyed this book the best plot twists and ate this book up with each time I picked it up to read. On a serious note I cannot wait to see what book 4 will hold for us and I would say this book is so far my favorite within this series and I will be counting down till the next book announcement.
I loved the first two books in this series and this book definitely lives up to the expectations set.
We get to know Sebby better in this book and I can finally understand the pull that I was struggling to see in the first two. Some characters I started to question in the last book and have more questions now than I did.
I'm now stuck impatiently waiting for the next book to release.
I was immediately hooked just as I was with the first two. There were so many emotions that were running through me when I was reading this. There are secrets, cliffhangers, and character development. Sebastian has now taken over the cult that Cameron has escaped from and the tension is so thick.
Great third book in the unholy series! It felt so easy to fall back into their world. Some great spice, lots of inter character development, and LOTS of drama. The ending brought gasps and tears to my eyes, making me ever so anxious for the next book to play out. Bravo on a great continuation
Seb's book does not disappoint! A lot happens in this book and I was hooked throughout. I'm already dying for the next book. If you like the first two books in this series, you will love getting to read more from Sebastian's view in this one!
Oh my world, this is twistedly - twisted & oh so good, be prepared for the inevitable roller coaster of emotions! I totally can’t wait for the next book to be released because the cliffhanger on this will have you jumping out of your seat, throwing your hands and book/kindle.