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Sunshine and the Sociopath
He wasn't supposed to see her. Now he can't stop watching.
I'm not quite right in the head. Luckily, my flavor of wrong means I don’t care. If I bothered to go to a therapist, they’d tell me I’m a sociopath, right before they tried to “fix” my more destructive urges.
I have my own way of dealing, thanks. My favorite is breaking into people’s homes when they’re off doing whatever it is boring people do. Not to steal from them—jail sounds so annoying. No, I just like the thrill.
But one day, I get my timing wrong and end up hiding under my latest victim’s bed while she bumbles around her kitchen. She’s so weird, rambling out loud to her empty apartment about her day, and I can’t wait to escape…except I kind of like listening to her.
When I catch a glimpse of her face, I really like how she looks.
And now I can’t stay away.
If you love sweet-but-psycho, this book is for you. Inside, you’ll find an obsessed stalker who can’t understand why this girl makes his chest feel weird, and a bubbly woman to match him. HEA guaranteed.
I'm not quite right in the head. Luckily, my flavor of wrong means I don’t care. If I bothered to go to a therapist, they’d tell me I’m a sociopath, right before they tried to “fix” my more destructive urges.
I have my own way of dealing, thanks. My favorite is breaking into people’s homes when they’re off doing whatever it is boring people do. Not to steal from them—jail sounds so annoying. No, I just like the thrill.
But one day, I get my timing wrong and end up hiding under my latest victim’s bed while she bumbles around her kitchen. She’s so weird, rambling out loud to her empty apartment about her day, and I can’t wait to escape…except I kind of like listening to her.
When I catch a glimpse of her face, I really like how she looks.
And now I can’t stay away.
If you love sweet-but-psycho, this book is for you. Inside, you’ll find an obsessed stalker who can’t understand why this girl makes his chest feel weird, and a bubbly woman to match him. HEA guaranteed.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2026
About the author
Kylie Bell
8 books5 followersKylie Bell has loved romance novels since she was thirteen, and tried writing her first when she was fifteen. She hasn't stopped writing since.
She also writes fantasy and monster romance as Kari Byrd.
She also writes fantasy and monster romance as Kari Byrd.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 13, 2026
Jet is a bit of a risk taker. As in, he gets his thrills from breaking into houses (or apartments) just because he can. The thrill comes from getting in and out without being detected (because he doesn't want to go to prison) and he's pretty darn good at what he does. This is all fine and good, but one day he's checking out Lenora's apartment (from the inside) when she comes home early.
And our guy is SMITTEN. Lenora is messy and joyful and something about her gives Jet the same thrill as breaking into people's homes. So he comes back. And he comes back again. He listens to her tell the apartment "ghost" about her day and smells her cooking and he learns everything he can about her. Then he orchestrates his own meet-cute.
The timing is pretty fortuitous because it turns out Lenora needs a guy who isn't unduly burdened by morals on her side when her boss accuses her of embezzlement. Now Jet is getting to know his lady, plotting her boss's downfall, and has to figure out how to tell Lenora he's been breaking in for weeks and knew a whole lot about her before they ever actually met.
Yeah, that last part is the tough part. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
And our guy is SMITTEN. Lenora is messy and joyful and something about her gives Jet the same thrill as breaking into people's homes. So he comes back. And he comes back again. He listens to her tell the apartment "ghost" about her day and smells her cooking and he learns everything he can about her. Then he orchestrates his own meet-cute.
The timing is pretty fortuitous because it turns out Lenora needs a guy who isn't unduly burdened by morals on her side when her boss accuses her of embezzlement. Now Jet is getting to know his lady, plotting her boss's downfall, and has to figure out how to tell Lenora he's been breaking in for weeks and knew a whole lot about her before they ever actually met.
Yeah, that last part is the tough part. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 4, 2026
I was given the arc for this ebook in exchange for my opinion.
For a short story of 68 pages its a really quick read and a good lunch break escape.
Now for my thoughts...
The female main character is lonely.
She talks to an imaginary ghost and shares what she cooks herself with her neighbour.
So its not surprising when a man starts to pay her attention she's eager to see more of him.
For a short story of 68 pages its a really quick read and a good lunch break escape.
Now for my thoughts...
The female main character is lonely.
She talks to an imaginary ghost and shares what she cooks herself with her neighbour.
So its not surprising when a man starts to pay her attention she's eager to see more of him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2026
Loved Jet. A bit of an oddball but love him
July 28, 2026
Jet has always had "destructive urges" but the thought of jail is unappealing. His job as a cybersecurity consultant helps, but in his spare time he likes to break into people's houses and look around. Until one day he's almost caught by Lenora when she returns home. There's just something about her quirky personality and sunshine smiles that make Jet want to keep her.
He may be crazy and stalkerish, but to have someone so dedicated to your happiness? It's no wonder she forgave Jet so fast!. Short, sweet, funny, and a bit twisted, this little novella was great.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
He may be crazy and stalkerish, but to have someone so dedicated to your happiness? It's no wonder she forgave Jet so fast!. Short, sweet, funny, and a bit twisted, this little novella was great.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
August 19, 2026
This was such a fun short read. I loved Jet and Lenora as our MCs.
Jet is dry and funny and Lenora is sunny and cute and they complement each other perfectly.
When his stalking was discovered, I was scared of a big fight but I'm glad they got over it relatively quickly because they just belong together guyssss.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jet is dry and funny and Lenora is sunny and cute and they complement each other perfectly.
When his stalking was discovered, I was scared of a big fight but I'm glad they got over it relatively quickly because they just belong together guyssss.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 11, 2026
This was a quick novella. I enjoyed it but the ending felt rushed…. Which is pretty typical for novellas so I wasn’t surprised.
I did like both Lenora and Jet, I felt we got to know Lenora a bit more based on her nightly ramblings. This was an adorable read. Jet just wanted to bottle up Lenora’s sunny disposition and keep it all to himself. I see nothing wrong with a little stalking to speed up that process.
I did like both Lenora and Jet, I felt we got to know Lenora a bit more based on her nightly ramblings. This was an adorable read. Jet just wanted to bottle up Lenora’s sunny disposition and keep it all to himself. I see nothing wrong with a little stalking to speed up that process.
September 29, 2026
3.5⭐️
what a little stalker romance ☺️
what a little stalker romance ☺️
August 3, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 (for exactly what it set out to be)
i read this in one sitting, and then i got up and checked the little track on my sliding glass door. iykyk. and if you don't yk yet — you will. that's the review. okay fine, there's more:
First of all: i went in expecting a gimmick and got a genuinely clever, laugh-out-loud, deeply unhinged rom-com wearing a dark romance trench coat. the premise is simple and insane — our hero is a sociopath whose brain refuses to hand out dopamine like the rest of ours do, so he breaks into apartments for the hit. one day he breaks into the wrong one: a messy ray of sunshine who talks to her apartment like it's haunted, feeds her entire building when she's stressed, and once found a "lucky" replacement charger that she definitely didn't buy for herself 👀. this man takes one look at her and every broken part of him goes click. online.
Every love language in this book is a felony and i mean that as the highest compliment. he doesn't hurt anyone — he's very proud of that, actually — he just, calmly, digitally, ruins the entire life of whoever dares upset his girl. "poof. life ruined." he'll clock the EXACT minute someone made you sad (there is a timestamp, and it broke me) and then contact a federal agency about it before lunch. he even has a sociopath lawyer best friend who bills him for phone calls, and i would read 400 pages of just those two on the line. i was braced for menace; i got menace AND belly laughs, which is so, SO much harder to pull off than either alone.
Lenora deserves her own paragraph, because she is not a doormat, not stupid, not waiting to be saved. she watches too much true crime, she notices when things don't quite add up, and she is nobody's fool — an active, sharp heroine who drives her own story instead of just letting it happen to her. she made me want to stand up and applaud in my empty room more than once. also she copes with stress by cooking increasingly elaborate recipes and i have never felt more seen; girl dinner truly is a spectrum.
Okay the spice — [fans self with the book] — it's a short read but it does NOT skimp. it's possessive, it's praise-kink-forward (there's a certain two-word phrase, that's all i'll say, i'm normal about it), and "i'm not thinking about grandmas right now" is a sentence that now lives in my head rent-free and unemployed. but the gut-punch snuck in sideways: there's a single quiet line in here that made a grown sociopath sound like the most touch-starved person alive, and i had to set the book down and stare at my wall like a widow in an oil painting.
Now, craft corner, because i'm a writer and i take actual notes: the dual POV is doing so much heavy lifting. we're in HIS head, so we know exactly how dangerous he is — which means kylie never has to manufacture a mystery, the tension is just us watching a bomb we can see. and the whole "ghost" device? genuinely elegant. it's the comedy, it's the wound (she's so lonely she invented a roommate — she even had logic for the name, and the year she picked it will end you), AND it's the central metaphor, all in one object. she front-loads the heroine's backstory so early that every "creepy" beat after it gets quietly re-coded as "someone is finally paying attention to her." that's not an accident. that's a writer manipulating the reader on PURPOSE, keeping the darkness digital instead of violent so the tone stays fun, and not wasting a single word. at novella length, that precision is the whole ballgame.
Yes, the villain is a little cartoonishly evil — but when the payoff is a man getting "poof, life ruined" in HD, i truly could not care less. this is the lighter, funnier, gateway cousin of the stalker-romance subgenre: the perfect palate cleanser, the perfect "i have one afternoon and i want to feel deranged about a fictional man" read. it made me laugh, kick my feet, and reconsider my home security, sometimes in the same paragraph.
kylie bell — you write morally gray like it's a comedy AND a love story at once, and that balance is so much harder than it looks. thank you for a book that made a man who feels nothing feel like everything. this was only my SECOND arc ever and getting trusted with someone's book still feels like a real honor, so i read it slow and treated it like it mattered — because it did. i'll be reading whatever you write next (yes, that includes the Kari Byrd shelf 👀 i see you, i see both of you).
read it. check the track on your sliding glass door. thank me later. 🖤
content warnings: stalking, breaking & entering, sociopathy/lack of empathy, wrongful arrest / being framed for a crime, dubious-consent premise (surveillance before they meet), childhood neglect & foster care (referenced), explicit sexual content.
(i received an arc in exchange for an honest review 🖤)
☀️🔪 he fell first. he fell hardest. he committed several felonies about it. 🖤
i read this in one sitting, and then i got up and checked the little track on my sliding glass door. iykyk. and if you don't yk yet — you will. that's the review. okay fine, there's more:
First of all: i went in expecting a gimmick and got a genuinely clever, laugh-out-loud, deeply unhinged rom-com wearing a dark romance trench coat. the premise is simple and insane — our hero is a sociopath whose brain refuses to hand out dopamine like the rest of ours do, so he breaks into apartments for the hit. one day he breaks into the wrong one: a messy ray of sunshine who talks to her apartment like it's haunted, feeds her entire building when she's stressed, and once found a "lucky" replacement charger that she definitely didn't buy for herself 👀. this man takes one look at her and every broken part of him goes click. online.
Every love language in this book is a felony and i mean that as the highest compliment. he doesn't hurt anyone — he's very proud of that, actually — he just, calmly, digitally, ruins the entire life of whoever dares upset his girl. "poof. life ruined." he'll clock the EXACT minute someone made you sad (there is a timestamp, and it broke me) and then contact a federal agency about it before lunch. he even has a sociopath lawyer best friend who bills him for phone calls, and i would read 400 pages of just those two on the line. i was braced for menace; i got menace AND belly laughs, which is so, SO much harder to pull off than either alone.
Lenora deserves her own paragraph, because she is not a doormat, not stupid, not waiting to be saved. she watches too much true crime, she notices when things don't quite add up, and she is nobody's fool — an active, sharp heroine who drives her own story instead of just letting it happen to her. she made me want to stand up and applaud in my empty room more than once. also she copes with stress by cooking increasingly elaborate recipes and i have never felt more seen; girl dinner truly is a spectrum.
Okay the spice — [fans self with the book] — it's a short read but it does NOT skimp. it's possessive, it's praise-kink-forward (there's a certain two-word phrase, that's all i'll say, i'm normal about it), and "i'm not thinking about grandmas right now" is a sentence that now lives in my head rent-free and unemployed. but the gut-punch snuck in sideways: there's a single quiet line in here that made a grown sociopath sound like the most touch-starved person alive, and i had to set the book down and stare at my wall like a widow in an oil painting.
Now, craft corner, because i'm a writer and i take actual notes: the dual POV is doing so much heavy lifting. we're in HIS head, so we know exactly how dangerous he is — which means kylie never has to manufacture a mystery, the tension is just us watching a bomb we can see. and the whole "ghost" device? genuinely elegant. it's the comedy, it's the wound (she's so lonely she invented a roommate — she even had logic for the name, and the year she picked it will end you), AND it's the central metaphor, all in one object. she front-loads the heroine's backstory so early that every "creepy" beat after it gets quietly re-coded as "someone is finally paying attention to her." that's not an accident. that's a writer manipulating the reader on PURPOSE, keeping the darkness digital instead of violent so the tone stays fun, and not wasting a single word. at novella length, that precision is the whole ballgame.
Yes, the villain is a little cartoonishly evil — but when the payoff is a man getting "poof, life ruined" in HD, i truly could not care less. this is the lighter, funnier, gateway cousin of the stalker-romance subgenre: the perfect palate cleanser, the perfect "i have one afternoon and i want to feel deranged about a fictional man" read. it made me laugh, kick my feet, and reconsider my home security, sometimes in the same paragraph.
kylie bell — you write morally gray like it's a comedy AND a love story at once, and that balance is so much harder than it looks. thank you for a book that made a man who feels nothing feel like everything. this was only my SECOND arc ever and getting trusted with someone's book still feels like a real honor, so i read it slow and treated it like it mattered — because it did. i'll be reading whatever you write next (yes, that includes the Kari Byrd shelf 👀 i see you, i see both of you).
read it. check the track on your sliding glass door. thank me later. 🖤
content warnings: stalking, breaking & entering, sociopathy/lack of empathy, wrongful arrest / being framed for a crime, dubious-consent premise (surveillance before they meet), childhood neglect & foster care (referenced), explicit sexual content.
(i received an arc in exchange for an honest review 🖤)
☀️🔪 he fell first. he fell hardest. he committed several felonies about it. 🖤
July 5, 2026
What a steamy and dark Novella!
I had no expectations when going into “Sunshine and The Sociopath” by Kylie Bell. I typically stay away from Novellas because I’m always wanting more afterwards, this was no different - Kylie Bell has such an incredible ability to draw you in with so few pages. I would love to see this story expanded into a full novel or series!
STORY BREAKDOWN:
Jet has an urge that needs to be scratched or else. While indulging in his favourite urge scratch, some light B&E and snooping he is caught off guard when the apartments resident, Lenora Tucker returns earlier than he expected (but lets be real, he didn’t know who she was or what her work schedule hours were). Quickly hiding under the bed, Jet then proceeds to listen and watch as what will become his new obsession and scratch needing to be itched (stalking Lenora Tucker) develops and blossoms into his sociopathic heart.
Lenora Tucker lives a pretty mundane life - work as an accountant, cooking for herself and her neighbours, oh… speaking with her apartment ghost, Anthony. Lenora has no idea there is a mysterious stranger in her apartment, under her bed. The same mysterious stranger she starts seeing at the start of her mornings in the coffee shop line.
Can Jet play it cool and naturally act like he doesn’t already know everything about Lenora? Maybe….
FULL REVIEW:
Lenora is the type of FMC that you can easily related to. An average girl, living an average life, in a thankless job. She gives all of herself to everyone else because she is a people pleaser. Having a controlled chaos like our MMC Jet enter your life is the perfect “chalk and cheese” match up.
I have no notes on this story. It was well structured and executed in all the best ways! I do wish there was more to their story as I feel we are only just getting started in the “Sunshine and The Sociopath” universe. There is so much potential to take this story further and build out.
TROPES:
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine pairing
☀️ Obsessive stalker
☀️ He falls first
☀️ Touch her and die
☀️ Happily ever after
(I have received an advance review copy from Book Sirens. I have left this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own)
I had no expectations when going into “Sunshine and The Sociopath” by Kylie Bell. I typically stay away from Novellas because I’m always wanting more afterwards, this was no different - Kylie Bell has such an incredible ability to draw you in with so few pages. I would love to see this story expanded into a full novel or series!
STORY BREAKDOWN:
Jet has an urge that needs to be scratched or else. While indulging in his favourite urge scratch, some light B&E and snooping he is caught off guard when the apartments resident, Lenora Tucker returns earlier than he expected (but lets be real, he didn’t know who she was or what her work schedule hours were). Quickly hiding under the bed, Jet then proceeds to listen and watch as what will become his new obsession and scratch needing to be itched (stalking Lenora Tucker) develops and blossoms into his sociopathic heart.
Lenora Tucker lives a pretty mundane life - work as an accountant, cooking for herself and her neighbours, oh… speaking with her apartment ghost, Anthony. Lenora has no idea there is a mysterious stranger in her apartment, under her bed. The same mysterious stranger she starts seeing at the start of her mornings in the coffee shop line.
Can Jet play it cool and naturally act like he doesn’t already know everything about Lenora? Maybe….
FULL REVIEW:
Lenora is the type of FMC that you can easily related to. An average girl, living an average life, in a thankless job. She gives all of herself to everyone else because she is a people pleaser. Having a controlled chaos like our MMC Jet enter your life is the perfect “chalk and cheese” match up.
I have no notes on this story. It was well structured and executed in all the best ways! I do wish there was more to their story as I feel we are only just getting started in the “Sunshine and The Sociopath” universe. There is so much potential to take this story further and build out.
TROPES:
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine pairing
☀️ Obsessive stalker
☀️ He falls first
☀️ Touch her and die
☀️ Happily ever after
(I have received an advance review copy from Book Sirens. I have left this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own)
July 15, 2026
I absolutely loved this book!
This read was so fun, I was laughing, and I had a great time with Jet and Lenora and watching their unique love story unfold.
From the moment Jet sees Lenora, he is instantly obsessed with making her his woman by any means necessary, even though he's keeping secrets from her and keeps making little slip-ups. It's a matter of time before Lenora learns the truth about her newfound friend turn more.
I really loved these characters, I loved Lenora's personality a lot, she's so sweet to everyone and even when her boss treats her bad she doesn't want to get revenger but little does she know that what she has Jet for now… I liked Jet's character alot too, he may be a sociopath but he feels a connection, an obsession, a feeling he's never felt when he first see Lenora and he just knows he has to keep her in his life… and preferably in his house… and bed… and let's not forget Jet's friend Drake… from the little he was in this book I found him very intruiging and I'd love to see his story get told someday.
With how much I loved this book I will definaitly be coming back for Drake's book if he gets one and I'm for sure going to be checking out more books from this author, this book was a first fro her's I've read and she's a new favorite of mine for sure.
There were moments that were funny and cute, and then there were moments that really turned from sweet to spicy to quick, and it was a great ride to be on while reading this book. I really liked how it was all blended together.
Highly recommend this book to your TBR, It was a great read that isn't really long and would be a perfect beach read or a read you could get through on a lunch break but it still has all the elements of romance, humor, and professional following that popular books like Lights Out, Butcher and Blackbird, and Sweet Obsession have just in a shorter length.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This read was so fun, I was laughing, and I had a great time with Jet and Lenora and watching their unique love story unfold.
From the moment Jet sees Lenora, he is instantly obsessed with making her his woman by any means necessary, even though he's keeping secrets from her and keeps making little slip-ups. It's a matter of time before Lenora learns the truth about her newfound friend turn more.
I really loved these characters, I loved Lenora's personality a lot, she's so sweet to everyone and even when her boss treats her bad she doesn't want to get revenger but little does she know that what she has Jet for now… I liked Jet's character alot too, he may be a sociopath but he feels a connection, an obsession, a feeling he's never felt when he first see Lenora and he just knows he has to keep her in his life… and preferably in his house… and bed… and let's not forget Jet's friend Drake… from the little he was in this book I found him very intruiging and I'd love to see his story get told someday.
With how much I loved this book I will definaitly be coming back for Drake's book if he gets one and I'm for sure going to be checking out more books from this author, this book was a first fro her's I've read and she's a new favorite of mine for sure.
There were moments that were funny and cute, and then there were moments that really turned from sweet to spicy to quick, and it was a great ride to be on while reading this book. I really liked how it was all blended together.
Highly recommend this book to your TBR, It was a great read that isn't really long and would be a perfect beach read or a read you could get through on a lunch break but it still has all the elements of romance, humor, and professional following that popular books like Lights Out, Butcher and Blackbird, and Sweet Obsession have just in a shorter length.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 16, 2026
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Sunshine and the Sociopath by Kylie Bell
Published: July 1, 2026
Thank you to Kylie Bell and BookSprout for allowing me to read this and completely indulge myself in this short, creepy little story that somehow made me forget how morals are supposed to work.
This is a quick psychological thriller that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go until you’ve turned the last page. It’s one of those books that’s actually pretty disturbing when you stop and think about what’s happening. Creepy. Wrong. Unsettling. So many red flags they could start their own parade.
And yet… the way Kylie Bell wrote it completely messed with my brain.
Somewhere along the way, everything that should have had me screaming, “Absolutely not!” suddenly became understandable. Even acceptable. Maybe even… romantic? I don’t know who gave this book permission to rewire my brain like that, but it did.
I’m not here to spoil anything because this is one of those stories that’s best experienced blind. Just know it’s a fast, entertaining read that quietly plays games with your mind until you realize you’ve been cheering for things you would never normally defend.
That, to me, deserves serious credit. Making something that’s supposed to feel dark, creepy and unsettling somehow become fun to read—almost like you’re watching the world’s most dysfunctional sitcom—isn’t easy. And when you finish the book wondering if the sociopath might actually be the nicest person in the room… well, that’s impressive.
So wear something comfy, pour yourself a glass of whatever gets you through morally questionable decisions, settle in, and enjoy this short little mind game.
4.5 stars. My conscience is filing a formal complaint, but it was worth it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Sunshine and the Sociopath by Kylie Bell
Published: July 1, 2026
Thank you to Kylie Bell and BookSprout for allowing me to read this and completely indulge myself in this short, creepy little story that somehow made me forget how morals are supposed to work.
This is a quick psychological thriller that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go until you’ve turned the last page. It’s one of those books that’s actually pretty disturbing when you stop and think about what’s happening. Creepy. Wrong. Unsettling. So many red flags they could start their own parade.
And yet… the way Kylie Bell wrote it completely messed with my brain.
Somewhere along the way, everything that should have had me screaming, “Absolutely not!” suddenly became understandable. Even acceptable. Maybe even… romantic? I don’t know who gave this book permission to rewire my brain like that, but it did.
I’m not here to spoil anything because this is one of those stories that’s best experienced blind. Just know it’s a fast, entertaining read that quietly plays games with your mind until you realize you’ve been cheering for things you would never normally defend.
That, to me, deserves serious credit. Making something that’s supposed to feel dark, creepy and unsettling somehow become fun to read—almost like you’re watching the world’s most dysfunctional sitcom—isn’t easy. And when you finish the book wondering if the sociopath might actually be the nicest person in the room… well, that’s impressive.
So wear something comfy, pour yourself a glass of whatever gets you through morally questionable decisions, settle in, and enjoy this short little mind game.
4.5 stars. My conscience is filing a formal complaint, but it was worth it.
July 22, 2026
A lot of cute and fun is packed into these pages. Both main characters are great, and they complement each other so well. Lenora enjoys changing outfits multiple times, cooking for others, and is a relentless people-pleaser despite knowingly being taken advantage of because of it. Little does she know that not everything that makes sounds in her apartment is her pipes, though. Jet is a sociopath who finds himself wanting to charm and impress Lenora, but goes about it in unconventional and humorous ways. I loved how he was jealous of an imaginary ghost! Miss Lenora would be living her worst life if it were not for Jet injecting himself into her life and living on the grey moral ground. They are each entertaining on their own, but when together, it is even better. Neither of them changed who they were from start to finish. There was no need to ask if you truly love that person, which is really refreshing. It is great having an epilogue featuring years later, too.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 5, 2026
Sunshine and the Sociopath is a spicy, fun novella that I easily finished in one sitting. It’s the perfect length for a lunch-break escape or an evening when you want something dark and entertaining without committing to a full-length novel.
The story is fast-paced, easy to read, and delivers exactly the kind of morally questionable romance the title promises, but with an HEA. If you enjoy dark romance, stalkers, sociopaths, and men whose red flags are part of the appeal, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Ok, so not dark-dark, more cozy dark? I would shelve it dark though. Twas cute and a great evening escape for me. A solid four-stars on this one!
I received an advance review copy through BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving this honest review! Thanks Kylie and Book Sirens!! (This is becoming an embarrassing habit. I apparently once again borrowed this from KU even though I had the copy from BookSirens in my library already. 🤦🏻♀️🫠 At least I'm staying on brand??)
The story is fast-paced, easy to read, and delivers exactly the kind of morally questionable romance the title promises, but with an HEA. If you enjoy dark romance, stalkers, sociopaths, and men whose red flags are part of the appeal, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Ok, so not dark-dark, more cozy dark? I would shelve it dark though. Twas cute and a great evening escape for me. A solid four-stars on this one!
I received an advance review copy through BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving this honest review! Thanks Kylie and Book Sirens!! (This is becoming an embarrassing habit. I apparently once again borrowed this from KU even though I had the copy from BookSirens in my library already. 🤦🏻♀️🫠 At least I'm staying on brand??)
August 5, 2026
a fun little summer read that I liked more than I probably should have.
Kylie Bell delivers exactly what the title promises: a short, silly, don't-think-about-it-too-hard stalker romance. I read it in one sittiing and had a good time.
The setup is genuinely charming. Our girl is pure sunshine, she's kind to everyone, sweetly oblivious, the type who never once notices that the guy across the street has memorized her coffee order and quietly rearranged his life around her walking route. He's a menace to the rest of the world and a golden retriever exclusively for her. When it works, it works, and the "terrifying to everyone but soft for you" thing scratches the itch. But her obliviousness occasionally tips from endearing into "come on, really?" .
Still, it's cute, it's fast, and it knows what it is. A solid one-and-done beach read.
Kylie Bell delivers exactly what the title promises: a short, silly, don't-think-about-it-too-hard stalker romance. I read it in one sittiing and had a good time.
The setup is genuinely charming. Our girl is pure sunshine, she's kind to everyone, sweetly oblivious, the type who never once notices that the guy across the street has memorized her coffee order and quietly rearranged his life around her walking route. He's a menace to the rest of the world and a golden retriever exclusively for her. When it works, it works, and the "terrifying to everyone but soft for you" thing scratches the itch. But her obliviousness occasionally tips from endearing into "come on, really?" .
Still, it's cute, it's fast, and it knows what it is. A solid one-and-done beach read.
September 22, 2026
A very short read.
Lenora is an accountant who doesn’t have many friends. She was bounced around foster care and has no family. She lives in an apartment that has noisy pipes so she creates a friendly ghost out of the noises so she’s not as scared. She loves also loves to cook.
Jet is a private cybersecurity expert. He works from home but does little ‘side quests’ when he’s feeling devious. Some of these side quests involve breaking and entering. His best friend is Drake, they met at camp for troubled kids. Drake is a lawyer and has helped Jet out a few times with the work he does.
Lenora thinks she’s met Jet by chance, wait til she realises he has orchestrated it all. The story is well written. Lots of humour and protectiveness.
I received this book as an ARC and am leaving an honest review.
Lenora is an accountant who doesn’t have many friends. She was bounced around foster care and has no family. She lives in an apartment that has noisy pipes so she creates a friendly ghost out of the noises so she’s not as scared. She loves also loves to cook.
Jet is a private cybersecurity expert. He works from home but does little ‘side quests’ when he’s feeling devious. Some of these side quests involve breaking and entering. His best friend is Drake, they met at camp for troubled kids. Drake is a lawyer and has helped Jet out a few times with the work he does.
Lenora thinks she’s met Jet by chance, wait til she realises he has orchestrated it all. The story is well written. Lots of humour and protectiveness.
I received this book as an ARC and am leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Let me just start here by saying, Jet is my kind of sociopath. He can hide under my bed any time. Lenora is such a sweetie pie. That she was so lonely and alone, was heartbreaking. It was no wonder Jet was drawn to giving, optimistic Lenora. Then they actually meet in the coffee shop . . . Gahhh! Such a sweet story 🖤 and their sexy-sexy times? 🫦 yeah 🫦
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Jet
FMC:
✨Lenora
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Tropes:
👉dark stalker romance
👉romantic comedy
👉morally gray mmc
👉obsessive mmc
👉possessive mmc
👉grumpy/sunshine
👉insta-love
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Jet
FMC:
✨Lenora
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Tropes:
👉dark stalker romance
👉romantic comedy
👉morally gray mmc
👉obsessive mmc
👉possessive mmc
👉grumpy/sunshine
👉insta-love
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2026
If you need a quick hit of a stalker romance, this is what you need!
Accountant Lenora is a ray of sunshine and sociopath Jet wants the dopamine hits she extrudes. So he plans to stalk her until there is no way she can refuse him.
What particularly stood out to me was the biggest external conflict was Lenora's boss and him being an asshole to her. But Jet isn't the type of sociopath to cause physical harm or death, so he just ruins his life in other ways. Which we never really see the full extent of but we get the gist.
But, I really liked these characters and was getting so invested in them. I wish it were longer or... a sequel that continues from the epilogue!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Accountant Lenora is a ray of sunshine and sociopath Jet wants the dopamine hits she extrudes. So he plans to stalk her until there is no way she can refuse him.
What particularly stood out to me was the biggest external conflict was Lenora's boss and him being an asshole to her. But Jet isn't the type of sociopath to cause physical harm or death, so he just ruins his life in other ways. Which we never really see the full extent of but we get the gist.
But, I really liked these characters and was getting so invested in them. I wish it were longer or... a sequel that continues from the epilogue!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 25, 2026
Omg I absolutely love these 2. An accidental obsession/stalking by a sociopath who was just doing a little b&e to get rid of some frustration, but what he finds instead is a light so bright its like the sun and he can't let her go now. He wants that sunshine bubbly attitude around him forever. And all she has ever done is give give give and never expects anything in return, so when she meets the hot guy at the coffee shop who is nice and there for her even in her time of need, she falls. But everything looks good on the surface until that one day at the police station... Lenore talks to an imaginary ghost everyday in her apt and Jet can't stand that its another man's name she calls out for when she comes home. They are perfect. As they say Opposites really do Attract!!
July 1, 2026
'If you love sweet-but-psycho, this book is for you. Inside, you’ll find an obsessed stalker who can’t understand why this girl makes his chest feel weird, and a bubbly, strong woman to match him. HEA guaranteed.'
The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and compelling and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and compelling and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2026
ARC Review—From BookSirens
Star Rating: 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Pub Date: July 1, 2026
Genre: Dark Rom-Com
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was a very quick and fun novella. A dark romantic comedy for sure. No series vibes in it at all and there is a little bit of spice not a lot. I am giving such an average rating because it was so short. If this was a full length novel I would have loved it more, just no time to invest into the relationship and it was so insta lust which I’m very meh about. I just felt like this one could have been better and the epilogue was so out of nowhere.. the relationship wasn’t even established really… very meh.
Star Rating: 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Pub Date: July 1, 2026
Genre: Dark Rom-Com
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was a very quick and fun novella. A dark romantic comedy for sure. No series vibes in it at all and there is a little bit of spice not a lot. I am giving such an average rating because it was so short. If this was a full length novel I would have loved it more, just no time to invest into the relationship and it was so insta lust which I’m very meh about. I just felt like this one could have been better and the epilogue was so out of nowhere.. the relationship wasn’t even established really… very meh.
August 1, 2026
Sunshine and the Sociopath by Kylie Bell is a wildly fun, quirky, and addictive romance that perfectly blends humor, spice, obsession, and a touch of chaos. Lenora’s sweet sunshine personality and Jet’s unconventional, possessive devotion make for a surprisingly perfect match.
I loved the hilarious dynamic between them, especially watching a self-proclaimed sociopath discover feelings he never expected while Lenora remains her kind, lovable self. Their chemistry, banter, and unique connection made this a fast, entertaining read that kept me smiling. A fun little gem for fans of obsessed heroes and darkly playful romance!
I loved the hilarious dynamic between them, especially watching a self-proclaimed sociopath discover feelings he never expected while Lenora remains her kind, lovable self. Their chemistry, banter, and unique connection made this a fast, entertaining read that kept me smiling. A fun little gem for fans of obsessed heroes and darkly playful romance!
August 7, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
**Sunshine and the Sociopath** is a short, fast-paced story with a seriously unusual romance! What starts as a very strange situation turns into an unexpected love story.
I loved the small twists and the chemistry between Jet and Lenora. It was a fun and entertaining read with just enough suspense and an unconventional romance.
I chuckled a few times and even said "Awww" and what the heck a couple of times. There is a bit if humor, a few strange things happening and some love all mixed in together!
Great quick and fun read!
**Sunshine and the Sociopath** is a short, fast-paced story with a seriously unusual romance! What starts as a very strange situation turns into an unexpected love story.
I loved the small twists and the chemistry between Jet and Lenora. It was a fun and entertaining read with just enough suspense and an unconventional romance.
I chuckled a few times and even said "Awww" and what the heck a couple of times. There is a bit if humor, a few strange things happening and some love all mixed in together!
Great quick and fun read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2026
This book was such a fun and entertaining read. I went through it so quickly. But I could have easily read 4 times as many pages about these two. Lenora and Jet had me hooked from the very beginning. I was laughing. I was melting. And I was obsessed. The connection and chemistry these two share was intense, insane, and heated to boiling. Everything about these two draws you in and keeps you invested in their story. Sociopath or not I love Jet. He’s obsessive and devoted and oh so driven. This book gave us sweet and funny as well as spicy and heated in a perfect balance. And that ending was *chef’s kiss*
Review of advance copy
🙋🏻♀️ ARC Reader
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ (2/5)
OH. MY. GOD. 😭🖤
I devoured this novella in one sitting and had the biggest smile on my face the entire time. The chemistry was chemistry-ing, and I was giggling and kicking my feet from beginning to end. 🤭✨
The spice was the PERFECT amount. The romance was sweet, and every page had me saying, “Just one more chapter”… until I realized I’d finished the whole book. 🫠
If you love morally gray MMCs, obsessive love, stalking, and just the right amount of spice, add this to your TBR IMMEDIATELY. 🖤📖✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ (2/5)
OH. MY. GOD. 😭🖤
I devoured this novella in one sitting and had the biggest smile on my face the entire time. The chemistry was chemistry-ing, and I was giggling and kicking my feet from beginning to end. 🤭✨
The spice was the PERFECT amount. The romance was sweet, and every page had me saying, “Just one more chapter”… until I realized I’d finished the whole book. 🫠
If you love morally gray MMCs, obsessive love, stalking, and just the right amount of spice, add this to your TBR IMMEDIATELY. 🖤📖✨
July 4, 2026
Would I have liked this to be longer? Yes, absolutely! But this is one of the few quick and easy reads I’ve come across that felt complete, not like half the plot was missing or the character development was missing. I enjoyed the writing style, I had many a giggle, and I had ZERO complaints about that one hot scene!! Lenora and Jet were gorgeous together and I loved the whole “emotionless sociopath is drawn to sunshine girl for the dopamine hit” angle.
A little bit different (definitely less gory) than my other dark stalker romcoms but this was super cute and I happily read it in one go!
A little bit different (definitely less gory) than my other dark stalker romcoms but this was super cute and I happily read it in one go!
July 6, 2026
I was looking for a quick book to read in the middle of a long series and this was just what I needed! Kylie Bell did an amazing job with this book. Lenora is smart, quirky and happy. Jet is more of a dark, brooding type of guy, who also happens to be a sociopath. This isn't your typical meet cute; its much stranger than that. But once Jet sees Lenora he can't help but be intrigued by her and how wildly different she is than him.
My only complaint, even though I was looking for a short book, was that this wasn't longer. I was so drawn into their story and would have loved more of them!
My only complaint, even though I was looking for a short book, was that this wasn't longer. I was so drawn into their story and would have loved more of them!
July 6, 2026
This was such a fun, quick read!
Lenora is such a ray of sunshine and so caring and even though the book is short, this point is made clear many times. I loved her fiesty and caring personality (I still think I would have enjoyed reading about her telling Jim off 😅). Jet is just there for the thrills, that is until he catches funny feelings.
I would have enjoyed a bit more of relationship building before they went from stranger/stalker to lovers.
I enjoyed that it had some darker topics (stalking) but was still a light, fun read.
Lenora is such a ray of sunshine and so caring and even though the book is short, this point is made clear many times. I loved her fiesty and caring personality (I still think I would have enjoyed reading about her telling Jim off 😅). Jet is just there for the thrills, that is until he catches funny feelings.
I would have enjoyed a bit more of relationship building before they went from stranger/stalker to lovers.
I enjoyed that it had some darker topics (stalking) but was still a light, fun read.
July 17, 2026
I wasn’t sure how to feel about this at first, because I have never read a romance book that included stalking. But as a psychology nerd, I enjoyed reading from the perspective of the male character who identifies as a sociopath. And, ultimately, if the female character appreciates who he is and he treats her well, then so be it. This was well-written and kept my attention since it was a much different storyline that I am used to. I think you need to suspend reality a bit, though, for this story to work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 25, 2026
Jet and Lenora are crazy adorable together! Sunshine and the Sociopath is a light-hearted and farcical story (with some legally questionable mischief). This is one of those stories that are charming even when it would be absurd (creepy and not romantic) in real life. But that is the fun of it, right? It is, in fact, not real so you can enjoy Sunshine for what it is; a story. I have heard worse meet-cutes so who am I judge? Since it is a short read, take a chance and try this one out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2026
Normally I can't rate with 5 stars books this short because I need more but this book was just great.
It's a little dark because Jet is a little grey but It's also funny how he becomes obsessed with Lenora and how he gets to woo her.
I'm not a fan of the insta love trope but here it's more of an obsession for him so I just loved it.
This is the first book of this author I've read and it won't be the last.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's a little dark because Jet is a little grey but It's also funny how he becomes obsessed with Lenora and how he gets to woo her.
I'm not a fan of the insta love trope but here it's more of an obsession for him so I just loved it.
This is the first book of this author I've read and it won't be the last.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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