No Need to Knock: A Stalker Rom-Com

by Jennifer Rose

Ivy Hart has always wanted things most people don’t.

Quiet men. Dark thoughts. The kind of devotion that borders on clinically concerning.

So when the mysterious new guy in Hollow Creek shuts down a creep at a bar, Ivy does what any rational woman would do.

She stalks him.

Sebastian Locke moved to Vermont to disappear.

Instead, he gains a shadow.

He knows Ivy is following him. She doesn’t even pretend she’s not.

He should be alarmed.

Instead… he’s intrigued.

So when Ivy flips the script, Sebastian escalates and starts watching her.

What begins as curiosity turns into a mutual hobby.

But when someone threatens the woman he’s falling for, the game turns dangerous.

And now they’re about to learn what happens when the quiet guy finally chooses violence.

A dark rom-com romance featuring a female stalker, a morally gray man who stalks her back, mutual obsession, open-door spice, and a mischievous cat who refuses to stay out of trouble.

Tropes
Dark Rom-Com
Golden Retriever FMC Stalker x Black Cat MMC
She Stalks Him. He Stalks Her Back
Masked Stalker
He Falls Harder (But Pretends He Doesn’t)
Mutual Obsession & Possessive Energy
Touch Her and Be Unalived
Morally Questionable Behavior
Found Family
Open door spice
Afraid-to-Commit, Control-Freak Hero
A Stray Feline-Turned-House Cat Named Mr. Pickles
An Unwilling Brother Trapped in an Escalating Feud With the Cat

📖 Length: 87,871 words
🔥 Full-length standalone dark romantic comedy

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark

466 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Jennifer Rose lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her best friend and husband, two dachshunds, and a rabbit. She loves frozen mocha coffees, fall/Halloween, and long walks in nature.

She loves hearing from readers!

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jenni...

Reviews

[Chelsie Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

So. Nothing happens. It’s very borning and the double stalker thing was kinda weird.
I dont know. I didn’t like this.

[Blue · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars 2026
⬇️⭐️⭐️
The premise and the beginning was so good but fell more and more flat as the story goes on. The biggest decline was when the H was acting J/P and the h reacted in a way that I don’t understand. She claimed the H didn’t ask if she wants help and just went all protective but she literally pushed herself in his life without asking.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He thought love would ruin him until she remade his whole life.

Sebastian comes to Hollow Creek to disappear into routine, distance, and control, but Ivy notices him the second he steps between her and a man who won’t take no for an answer. What starts as fascination turns into intrusion fast, and the more she pushes into his space with coffee, attention, and late-night closeness, the more obvious it becomes that part of him wants her there.

As their fixation turns mutual, the tension gets sharper, stranger, and harder to resist. Ivy is chaotic, clingy, and shamelessly intimate. Sebastian is possessive, tightly controlled, and one bad moment away from snapping. What grows between them is invasive, obsessive, sexually charged, and impossible to dismiss, especially once every boundary between comfort, desire, and emotional need starts to blur.

When danger closes in, their private game turns into something darker. Ivy has to trust that being wanted this completely won’t consume her, and Sebastian has to face what love demands from a man built on control. The closer they get to losing each other, the more their obsession hardens into devotion, protection, and something neither of them can walk away from.

Ivy grows from invasive pursuit into someone more secure in being openly loved and chosen. Sebastian shifts from rigid isolation into vulnerability, need, and emotional honesty. Together, they build a bond rooted in sexual intensity, emotional dependence, and hard-won trust.

Ultra-steamy, dark, and psychologically charged,i t's about mutual obsession, possessive love, and two damaged people learning that love can force open every defense and still rebuild a life from the inside out.

The Elevator Pitch: A quiet man comes to town hoping to disappear, only to find himself claimed by a woman who sees straight through every lock he’s built around himself. What begins as unsettling fascination turns into a dangerous, obsessive intimacy where pursuit feels like devotion and surrender starts to look a lot like trust. As the world outside them grows more threatening, they’re forced to confront whether love is the thing that ruins them or the thing that finally makes them whole.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is simply a woman who broke into my house, cooked dinner, reorganized my kitchen, and looked extremely pleased with herself while doing it.
Perfectly normal behavior.
Not a problem.

mutual stalking say no more.

this was suprisingly very entertaining, both of them were very funny😂

The irony that I’m stalking my stalker isn’t lost on me.
But as they say, it is what it is.

[MsRHReviewer]

If you've ever watched "Two and a Half Men" with Charlie Sheen and his female stalker, Rose, you've essentially watched what's in this book. After the MC, Sebastian, stops a guy from dragging the FMC, Ivy, out of a bar and to his car, she becomes smitten with him. Her first thoughts seem rational enough for a woman with a crush. Walk by his house a few times, see if he's home to offer his sweater back that he gave you to wear the night you met. We've all done that before (maybe as teenagers instead of adults, but whatever). Suddenly, she's entering his house without his permission or knowledge, making him coffee, cooking him dinner, and doing his laundry and cleaning the house. He knows he should put a stop to it, but he comes to find that he rather likes her company there. Not that he'd admit it.

Here's why I DNF. It's about 454 pages long. By about page... 60? It was getting boring. Nothing was happening, besides her entering his house and doing things. Finally we get to something new when Sebastian's brother shows up to live with him for a bit... the odd new thing comes up (we meet her dad, Sebastian has a nightmare giving us a glimpse into his past, etc), but it's slow going. This book, so far, could have been shortened into a novella, with how much is going on.

I really wanted to read this and like it due to going to a convention where this author is going to be. I read it in hopes that I'd like it so I could buy it and have her autograph it. Unfortunately, I just can't go any further. I quickly read ahead to see a few things happen, but I can't force myself to go through another 250-300 pages to get to that part of the plot. It's just too much.

Regretfully, it's a DNF for me.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark rom-com was such a fun read. I absolutely love the reversal of "usual" roles and dynamics between the FMC and MMC. Jennifer Rose created not only a hilarious plot but also ridiculously fun characters that were easy to love. Ivy and Sebastian's inner monologues had me cackling.
She's a big ball of crazy sunshine, and he's such a grumpy loner. Somehow, they are a match made in stalker heaven. Their unhinged behavior and connection were perfection. Sebastian had me melting into a puddle of goo. It's always the quiet ones...

"At least my stalker cooks my favorite foods. And cleans the kitchen."

"Nothing better than dual stalking."

I'm not generally a cat person, but Mr. Pickles antics absolutely stole my heart. And the neighborhood chat was hilarious.

Overall, i highly recommend this hilariously fun dark rom-com. It easily pulled me in, kept me entertained, and devoured the pages.

Tropes:
Stalker FMC/MMC
Golden retriever FMC
Black Cat MMC
Both morally-grey
Masked
He falls harder
Touch her and ☠️
Found Family
Spicy
Both Obsessed/Possesive
Dual POV

Check TW

[Laney Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilarious and so good!

I loved this book so much that I ordered a physical copy by chapter three! Ivy had me laughing out loud with her antics, and Sebastian was the perfect match for her! I really enjoyed watching him let his walls down. And I can’t forget Mr. Pickles and Drew, I’m such a sucker for great side characters, and these two were no exception. Overall, it was such a fun, feel good read, and I highly recommend it!

[Mary S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sebastian and Ivy story was awesome to read. Love the way Ivy didn’t give up in winning the love of Sebastian and when Sebastian knew that he was losing her he did so many funny things to win back his love. I really love this story and I’m hoping we even get Sebastian brother and Ivy father story too.

[Stacy Whittington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome!!

I loved the whole premise of this book and how Ivy understood what Sébastien needed. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to read more from this author!!

[buveurdencre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed this one so, so much. I need more female stalker books now.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

April 2026
Kindle edition

I did enjoy this one at the beginning. Didn't like the whole start a triangle thing. Drew was funny. I see he's getting stalked next. Liked Seb's attempt, that was funny. Started getting bored with Ivy when she started ignoring danger and her reaction to Sebastian being protective. Wasn't surprised what happened. Almost a 2 star.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

This was my first time reading this author and let me just say the first part of this book had me cracking up dying with laughter it was so freaking funny!!! Loved this book and will check out more from her maybe she will write one about Ivy’s dad or Bash’s Brother Drew

[Victoria Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just start off with Mr.Pickles steals the summary okay?! I don’t think I’ve cackled as much as I did reading this story. Ivy is a hoot and an independent lady after my own heart. You won’t be disappointed with this dark romcom.

[Rah]

DNF 28% One of my favorite genres, but I just can’t get into this.

[Teressa Oliverio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was mutual stalking turned romance and I loved every second of it. Ivy doesn’t run from red flags — she collects them — and Sebastian being intrigued instead of alarmed? Immediate obsession.

The tension is dark, playful, and just unhinged enough to work. And when the quiet guy finally chooses violence to protect her? Game over. Devotion with teeth. Absolutely feral for this one.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Michelle Frater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark stalker rom-com sounds like a genre identity crisis waiting to happen. And yet… it works. Disturbingly well. I haven’t laughed this much at something that should probably have me checking my locks at night in ages. A large portion of the credit goes to the true mastermind of chaos: Mr. Pickles. Not a man, not a villain—just a cat with the kind of presence that suggests he’s already three steps ahead of everyone and possibly orchestrating the plot. But back to the stalking situation. There isn’t just one—oh no, that would be far too reasonable. There are three. But the real standout is the one who doesn’t even pretend to hide it: Ivy Hart. At first glance, she’s perfectly normal. The kind of normal that lulls you into a false sense of security right before she quietly installs herself into your life like she’s always belonged there. Sebastian, poor unsuspecting Sebastian, has absolutely no idea what hit him. Then again, we do have to ask: is a man who allows someone to seamlessly annex his entire existence really operating on a standard definition of “normal”? Ivy is either a slightly unhinged romantic or a patient spider weaving a very soft, very inescapable web—and honestly, she might be both. What makes Ivy so fascinating is how utterly natural she makes her invasion feel. She doesn’t sneak. She doesn’t scheme. She simply… arrives. Confident, comfortable, and gloriously unrepentant—traits usually handed to male characters who brood in corners and call it charisma. Sebastian, meanwhile, is left blinking in confusion, unsure whether he’s intrigued, terrified, or both (spoiler: it’s both). The thing is, Ivy isn’t traditionally scary. She’s persistent. Relentlessly, almost impressively so. And somehow, the more she shows up uninvited, the more noticeable her absence becomes when she’s gone. It’s less “home invasion” and more “emotional squatting.” And Ivy? She knows exactly what she’s doing. She understands Sebastian’s rules, then proceeds to gently, methodically dismantle them. The truly alarming part is that she’s actually good for him. Sure, her methods would raise several legal eyebrows, but she drags him out of his shell all the same. Then comes the moment of delicious irony: Ivy gives him space… and Sebastian promptly loses his mind. Suddenly, he’s the one lurking. The one watching. The one very badly attempting to stalk her back. (Emphasis on badly.) There’s something deeply entertaining about a grown man fumbling through amateur stalking, especially when it involves chasing someone through his own house in a mask like he’s auditioning for a very confused horror movie. Of course, the story does dip its toes into genuinely dark territory, mainly through Ivy’s other stalker, who is far less charming and far more what you’d expect from the word. That shift hits harder precisely because the rest of the story has you laughing and lowering your guard. When Sebastian races to find Ivy, the stakes suddenly feel very real. Then we have the supporting cast, who absolutely refuse to be overshadowed. Drew, Sebastian’s brother, moves in mid-divorce and does his best to act as the voice of reason—which is a losing battle when your sibling is actively falling for their stalker. And, of course, Mr. Pickles, who steals every scene with the quiet authority of someone who knows he’s the most important character in the room. Honestly, if all cats were like him, humanity wouldn’t stand a chance. Yes, there are triggers, so proceed with caution. But if you can handle a story that gleefully dances between unsettling and hilarious, this one is a twisted little gem. It’s weird, it’s dark, it’s absurdly funny and somehow, it all comes together in a way that feels dangerously convincing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A. Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rom com, stalker, dark romance novel. Ivy Hart begins to stalk Sebastian Locke, the newcomer in Hollow Creek, VT. Sebastian came to this small town to disappear and not be found. Sebastian is more of an introvert. Does a stalker knock on the door?

Ivy and Sebastian are giving so many red flags! In the beginning, Ivy might as well be painted red from head to toe. Ivy doesn't recognize the word no. Ivy's definitely unhinged but in a sweet way.
It takes a lot of nerve to walk in someone else's house and take over, well, everything. Where can I sign up for the male version of Ivy? Ivy is like a fairy god mother with sex appeal. I have to wonder why is Ivy so over the top?

Sebastian soon learns that he doesn't like it when Ivy gives him what he asked for. Sebastian learns how to stalk back. Ivy taught Sebastian how to throw all of his self imposed rules out the window. I liked the beginning and the end but there was a small lull in the middle. Sebastian's brother and the cat were hilarious!

MEMORABLE QUOTES:

"My audible book did not prepare me for extracting myself from a gorgeous stalker."

"Ivy looks especially unhinged tonight."

"The beautiful ones are always crazy. I call this acceptably crazy. She’s harmless—mostly."

"Death seems like the only possible escape right now."

"I realize then that this wasn’t her testing my boundaries. It was her showing me where they are.".

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah… I have officially entered my dark rom-com era and I’m not coming back. No regrets. Not a single one. I am obsessed.

This book is unhinged in the best way.

Ivy Hart? Immediate favorite.
Because tell me why this woman sees a mysterious man shut down a creep and goes, “yeah… I’m gonna follow him home” 💀
Unapologetic. Slightly feral. Golden retriever energy with the darkest little thoughts and I LOVED her for it.

And Sebastian??
Sir.
THE quiet, broody, “leave me alone” man who absolutely should be concerned… but instead decides to stalk her back??

The dynamic here is EVERYTHING.

This isn’t your typical cat-and-mouse.
This is cat-and-cat.
Unhinged meets unhinged and suddenly it’s flirting.

The tension is so fun because it’s not built on fear—it’s curiosity, intrigue, and that slow realization of oh… you’re just as messed up as me. And instead of running? They lean IN.

And when he falls??
Oh he falls HARD… he just pretends he doesn’t while actively being the most “touch her and you’re done” man alive.

Also can we talk about the humor?? Because I was not expecting to laugh as much as I did. The tone balances that dark, obsessive energy with actual rom-com moments so well.

And Mr. Pickles??
That cat deserves his own spinoff. Absolute menace. No notes.

What I really loved though is how this book fully commits to the bit. It doesn’t try to “fix” them or water it down. Their obsession is the romance. Their chaos is the connection. And somehow it still feels… weirdly wholesome??

Dark. Funny. A little unhinged. A lot addictive.

[JL Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Sebastian Locke saves Ivy Hart from a jerk at the bar she starts stalking him. It's not subtle at all. Popping out of bushes, walking into his house without invitation, cooking him breakfast, making his coffee just how he likes. He knows she's watching; he knows she's listening to everything, she knows everything about him in no time, she's smart and observant, cute and beyond invasive, and every time he thinks about setting boundaries and locking his doors, he decides to wait a little longer because she's growing on him. He finds himself expecting her, waiting for her. When his brother moves in and questions the craziness of the situation, questions everything Ivy does, he finds himself defending her. And when he finds himself falling for his stalker he tries to distance himself, but Ivy knows this and she knows exactly how to keep him. She herself starts distancing herself, she flirts with someone else, and before long Sebastian finds the tables turned and he starts stalking Ivy. When he finds out that there is someone after Ivy, he moves her and her stray cat into his home because he realizes that she has wormed her way into not only his life but his heart.
This was a hilarious Stalker romance. Ivy's not so subtle barge into Sebastian's life is so fun. the way he thinks about setting boundaries but always changes his mind as soon as he thinks it. His brothers battle against Mr. Pickles. All of it just blended so well and made for a fun sexy read.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book by author Jennifer Rose—I. Am. Loving. Her. Style!

When your stalker learned from the best, stalks you out in the open—and you’re okay with it, then stops ‘til you miss her enough to stalk her back … THAT’s the beginning of a very, very interesting relationship.

Their banter and inner dialogue is precious:
Until I make you mad. Then what will you do? Glue my ball to my leg?

“That’s great.” My smile is fake. Sweat runs between my shoulder blades, and it has nothing to do with running. Or my job.

She stops, brows raising as she studies me. “Why are you looking at me like I’m about to glue your ball to your leg?”

No Need To Knock is wildly entertaining, full of honest stalkery goodness, bad guys that deserve bad things, good guys that deserve better things, a cat that will definitely judge you, and the strength to trust in love. *** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Sebastian
FMC:
✨Ivy
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Tropes:
👉dark stalker romance
👉dark rom-com
👉black cat mmc
👉golden retriever fmc
👉found family
👉touch her and ☠️
👉mutually obsessed
👉mutually possessive
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
💥violence, abuse
💥death - in past
💥kidnapping, captivity
💥stalking
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catherine Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Need to Knock is a bold and surprisingly clever blend of dark romance and sharp humor. Jennifer Rose takes a risky premise and delivers a story that balances tension, satire, and unexpected emotional depth.

The “dark stalker rom-com” tone is what makes this book stand out. It leans into its edginess while maintaining a self-aware wit that keeps the story engaging rather than heavy. The dynamic between the leads is charged with tension, layered with psychological intrigue and banter that keeps the pacing lively.

The hero walks the line between unsettling and charismatic, while the heroine brings personality and unpredictability that elevate the story beyond trope alone. The result is a romance that feels dramatic yet strangely playful.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy dark romantic comedies, morally gray characters, unconventional dynamics, and stories that aren’t afraid to push boundaries while keeping a sense of humor.

A daring and entertaining read that’s equal parts twisted and fun.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Pickles - LOL I laughed so much reading this. I didn't think a dark stalker book would be so funny.

I also loved the twist of the FMC being the stalker.

Do yourself a favour and give this a read.

Tropes
Dark Rom-Com
Golden Retriever FMC Stalker x Black Cat MMC
She Stalks Him. He Stalks Her Back
Masked Stalker
He Falls Harder (But Pretends He Doesn’t)
Mutual Obsession & Possessive Energy
Touch Her and Be Unalived
Morally Questionable Behavior
Found Family
Open door spice
Afraid-to-Commit, Control-Freak Hero
A Stray Feline-Turned-House Cat Named Mr. Pickles
An Unwilling Brother Trapped in an Escalating Feud With the Cat.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mrs Reads Between The Lines · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wildly entertaining dark rom-com where cutting humor meets a surprisingly big heart. Jennifer Rose takes an open stalker premise and keeps it fast-paced and fun, using sharp wit to keep things light without losing its edge.

The tension is dark, playful, and just unhinged enough to work. Their relationship is full of mind games and clever banter. A charming hero and a heroine who keeps him on his toes. It’s a story of fierce, protective love and a judgmental cat who oversees the chaos.

*Please read content and trigger warnings.*

I received an advanced copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

'A dark rom-com romance featuring a female stalker, a morally gray man who stalks her back, mutual obsession, open-door spice, and a mischievous cat who refuses to stay out of trouble.'

The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and likeable and complicated and obsessive and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JP18267 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I just read?! Oh my gosh, Ivy was cracking me up with her obsession and "accidental" run-ins with Sebastian. Her reasoning is solidly sound ... I mean, what stalker knocks? Just when I think her habits couldn't get any worse, she finds new ways to shock me. This book is cringe-worthy, hilariously outrageous, suspenseful, and incredibly steamy yet addictive. I had a hard time putting it down!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stalker starts stalking the stalker… absolutely! This book was so good! I honestly could have read it in one sitting but I wanted to savor it. The characters have such growth and change. It’s was beautiful. But I tell you there was such a great mix of comedy mixed in too. I found myself laughing out loud more than once. Without spoiling anything I will say the twist in the end was so well thought out and written. I wish I could read it again for the first time. 10/10

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are introduced to Sebastian protecting Ivy in a bar from a creep. Sebastian then drops Ivy off at home which begins her obsession with him. He realizes she is stalking him and flips the script and stalks her back. The stalking becomes their spicy romance language.

When the creep she was protected from seeks her out for his revenge. Sebastian is now forced to face his own truths.

This story is filled with tension, humor, and spice that pulls you in making it a page turner.

[Jenn Godbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading from this author and it was a fun read. Sebastian and Ivy's story was awesome, and I got some good laughs throughout the book. Love the way Ivy didn’t give up in winning the love of Sebastian and when Sebastian knew that he was losing her he did so many funny things to win back his love. I hope we get other books where these two characters come back in them. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent! I laughed so much. I got teary eyed at a couple places too. It was just so good. Sebastian and Ivy are both a little unhinged. Lol. I loved that he was so closed off in the beginning but Ivy was his weak spot. Their attraction and chemistry was perfect. I loved everything about it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.