No Need to Run: A Stalker Rom-Com

by Jennifer Rose

I saw him first.
Before the bar.
Before the introductions.
Before he even realized I existed.

Drew thinks this is new.
This connection.
This pull between us.
This feeling like I’m exactly what he needs.

But I’ve been paying attention longer than he knows.
Learning him.
Understanding him.
Waiting.

Now I’m here.
With a kitten he didn’t plan for.
A house he doesn’t know how to fix.
And answers to problems he doesn’t even realize he has yet.

He thinks I’m helping.
And I am.

Because Drew doesn’t have to do everything alone anymore.
He has me.
And I’m not going anywhere.

A dark rom-com featuring a morally gray woman who’s been watching him longer than he realizes, a man who thinks he’s in control (he’s not), he’s in denial while she’s already obsessed, open-door spice, accidental kitten parents, and a suspiciously prepared heroine who always shows up with exactly what he needs before he knows he needs it.

Genres: Contemporary, Stalker, Dark

478 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 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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Reviews

[alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ No Need to Run☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

💜₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊💜

The way he always shows up ten minutes early but still keeps his watch three minutes fast.

The way he orders the same coffee every morning but stares at the menu like he might actually try something different one day.

Drew likes consistency. Predictability. Things he can trust.

Drew is so adorable, and I love him 🙂‍↕️. I do love an introverted, shy MMC, and Violet just understood him, clearly due to years of obsession, but that’s a moot point. It was actually hilarious that he fell for Violet, considering he was anti-stalker ever since Ivy barged into their lives with Sebastian, and he was the concerned brother the entire time, only to get his own version. The way he felt guilty for breaking into her house to find evidence, even though she was stalking him first. I love that she was unapologetic about it and did not lie to his face. She straight up admitted that she had been keeping tabs on him for years. However, I do wish that he had remembered her more, but he had never even thought about her afterward because he was married. So, in that sense, it was true stalker form that she had been insignificant to him, but she ultimately grasped onto a small interaction and made it a bigger deal than it was.

Not because of Ivy. I like her. I just wish I knew what it felt like to make Drew Locke laugh like that.

Ivy and Violet being automatically close and bonding over having similar obsessive personalities. They were too iconic. Ivy recognized the crazy in Violet, meanwhile Sebastian was just waiting for his brother to realize that there was something off about her. Drew was in denial about there being something off about her, even though he would sense that someone was watching him. He was ultimately too down bad to care, and he loved feeling chosen and loved. She cared very deeply for him and understood his introverted ways.

“Oh, great. Here we go with the sappy Hallmark lovey-dovey shit,” Callie grumbles.

“Don’t hate on love just because you date losers,” I retort.

Callie is hilarious, and I love how she messes with Drew, just like Ivy. This book was definitely fun. I loved Ivy even more, and I loved seeing the IvySebastian crumbs and how they were even more obsessed with each other and making it everyone’s business. I missed them already. They are all a little family now, and I was sad that Drew had moved out because I loved him being around, but now that IvySebastian have their own space, they are going to wild out. So I am all in.

💜₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊💜

I would definitely recommend reading the first book first, even if this one is a standalone. I fell for Drew in the first book, and he was even more adorable in this one. He is truly me in boy version! The romance could have been developed more by delving into the past, specifically what she was like in college, and more about his divorce. It was very one-dimensional, but fun.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

July 2026
Kindle edition

Probably the book I was most looking forward to this month. Did not disappoint. Ivy was mellow. Violet was calm and calculated. Callie looks to be a riot. I'm surprised Violet got away with so much. Drew needs to get his hearing checked. Julia rocking up wasn't a surprise. I liked that it was focused on healing emotional damage rather than a bad guy thrown in. Sebastian was having a great time. Looking forward to the next one.

[Nia · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun time

I love this series lol could it be shorter? Sure. Could there be a bit more angst on the separation? Sure. But this is so good. I love female stalker and they do such a fun job. I loved Violet and i loved Drew and i do wish we spent more time in their relationship and Drew getting to know Violet but I really enjoy these books. I cant wait for Callie’s book.

[Victoria Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:
MR PICKLES IN THE HOUSE 🐈‍⬛
Anywho-this story lets Drew have the spotlight on him quite literally since our lovely fmc Violet has just about built a shrine about him. Poor guy just needed a boost of confidence. Violet knows what she wants and ain’t nothin stopping that girl. But hey girl get your bag get your man! Love seeing the tables turned where it’s the fmc doing the stalking part. I will say their storyline is a lil softer than Ivy and Sebastian but I’m still here for it. These girls know what they want in a man and nothing or anyone will get in their way.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I really need to Google stalker genes. If it’s genetic, I’m in trouble." – Drew

If your idea of a stalker is someone whose love language is meticulous surveillance, impeccable timing, and making your life infinitely better whether you asked for it or not... then sure, this is a dark romance. Me? I was cackling my way through what felt like a gloriously twisted rom-com.
Just like the first book, the stalker is the heroine, and honestly, that delicious role reversal is half the fun. Violet isn't lurking in the shadows with sinister intent; she's lurking with color-coded devotion. And her chosen victim? Drew, who couldn't be further from the brooding alpha male if he tried. He's sweet, anxious, and prone to shrieking whenever the universe throws him a curveball (or, on occasion, an actual object). I lost count of how many times his panicked reactions had me laughing out loud. The comedy works because Drew is either spectacularly oblivious or stubbornly in denial about the fact that Violet has been quietly orbiting his life, though she only stepped out of the shadows recently, but even then, he refuses to connect the dots. After all, his brother Sebastian already married his stalker. Surely lightning can't strike the same family twice... right? Poor Drew genuinely can't believe someone like Violet could want someone like him. That's thanks to an ex-wife who did a thorough job of dismantling his self-worth. So, every time Violet openly shows her affection, he's adorably flustered. In his eyes she's beautiful, wealthy, successful, and completely out of his league, while he's "just" an accountant. What he can't see, but Violet has known all along, is that he's exactly the man she's always wanted. And Violet? She's impossible not to adore. Underneath all the morally questionable stalking lies unwavering devotion. Little by little, she rebuilds the confidence Drew's ex-wife shattered, quietly removing obstacles from his life before he even realizes they're there. She simply... appears. Usually at exactly the right moment. Creepy? Maybe. Weirdly heart-melting? Absolutely. I also loved watching her friendship with Sebastian’s wife, Ivy, blossom. They could have set up a Sebastian-and-Drew Support Group (otherwise known as "Women Who Stalk Responsibly") and their scenes together were a delight. As Drew and Violet grow closer, he gradually stops worrying about why she knows everything about him and starts appreciating that someone sees him so completely. Their romance walks a wonderfully precarious tightrope between obsession and absolute devotion, and somehow never loses its heart. Both leads completely won me over. Drew is all awkward charm, quiet kindness, and endearing vulnerability, while Violet's fierce determination makes her impossible to resist. Her internal monologues are especially entertaining, giving us a front-row seat to the wonderfully warped logic behind her every move. The only character who occasionally grated on me was Sebastian. His relentless teasing at Drew's expense wore a little thin, but siblings do have a unique talent for knowing exactly which buttons to press. For all its stalking, questionable boundaries, and gleefully chaotic premise, this is ultimately less about obsession than it is about being truly seen and fiercely chosen. It's sweet, funny, slightly unhinged, and somehow manages to make "I'll always be watching you" sound strangely romantic.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was never ordinary. She was never just watching.

Drew thinks Violet comes into his life by chance, one strange run-in after another, but Violet has been waiting far longer than he knows. She knows his routines, his coffee order, his quiet fears, and every soft place he tries to hide.

Violet is controlled, careful, and dangerously prepared, but beneath all that precision is a woman who learned early that love was never freely given. Drew is anxious, loyal, and bruised by a past that makes him doubt his own worth, which turns the way she sees him into something unsettling and impossible to resist.

What begins as suspicion becomes harder to deny when Violet keeps showing up with exactly what Drew needs. As their connection deepens, the line between obsession and devotion blurs, forcing both of them to confront what they're willing to accept, forgive, and fight for.

Violet gradually lowers the emotional armor she built through years of loneliness and control, allowing herself to trust that she can be loved for who she is rather than for what she can provide. Drew moves from self-doubt and cautious distance to emotional certainty, learning to embrace the care, devotion, and affection being offered to him. Their relationship grows from fascination and unease into a fiercely devoted partnership built on acceptance, emotional safety, mutual need, and the choice to stay.

An ultra-steamy, stalker romance featuring a morally gray heroine, a cinnamon roll hero, accidental kitten parents, small town charm, possessive devotion, and unconventional love. It explores obsession, vulnerability, trust, emotional neglect, healing, identity, acceptance, and the need to be truly seen. It’s about a woman searching for a place to belong, a man learning that love doesn't always arrive in expected ways, and two people choosing each other exactly as they are.

The Elevator Pitch: A careful man rebuilding his life finds himself drawn to a woman who seems to appear exactly when he needs her, only to discover she has been watching from the shadows far longer than he ever imagined. As suspicion collides with desire, the line between obsession and devotion begins to blur in ways neither of them can easily escape. What starts as a mystery becomes a love story about being truly seen, fully chosen, and accepting a connection that refuses to fit inside anyone else's rules.

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

[Mafia Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one flips the script with a slightly unhinged FMC stalking the MMC. She has been in love with him for years, but never let him know, never even talked to him until now. She has watched him from a distance always knowing he was exactly what she wanted. Now that he is available she decides it is time to make her move and show up in person. When he meets her he thinks she is out of his league and not going to be interested in someone boring like him. But she seems to be exactly into him, and that makes his head rush. It doesn't matter that she seems to hit it off right away with his sister in law, the one who stalked his brother. He also doesn't pay too much attention when his brother, the one who married his stalker, says there is something off about her. This one feels definitely more Rom-Com than dark and even the stalking is fun if slightly unhinged. This is a fun and entertaining read, that still delivers the spice and the steam, but also makes you wonder what is going to happen next.

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

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of No Need Series. Can be read as a standalone.

'A stalker rom-com featuring a morally gray heroine who’s been watching him longer than he realizes, a man who thinks he’s in control (he’s not), a heroine who’s already obsessed while he’s still in denial, open-door spice, accidental kitten parents, and a suspiciously prepared woman who always shows up with exactly what he needs before he knows he needs it.'

The characters were very complex and compelling and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely 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.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is absolutely hilarious.
A twist/reversal in this dark rom-com series where the FMCs do the stalking. I was giggling and kicking my feet throughout the story. Violet is absolutely diabolical, and I love her unhinged stalker axx. Drew is just a lovable big gooey cinnamon roll who needed a boost in self-confidence.
Do you need to read book 1? Not necessarily, BUT I definitely recommend as the characters are interconnected. I loved seeing Sebastian and Ivy after their HEA in book 1 and, of course, the ever malevolent Mr. Pickles.
This was such a fun, easy, entertaining read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.


Tropes:
Female Stalker
Cinnamon roll MMC
Touch him and ☠️
Found family
Morally grey FMC
Girl obsessed
Dual POV

Check TW

[JP18267 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited that we finally get Drew's story! Omg, when Drew and Violet first met it was freaking hilarious! She is either that good or just that invisible that people don't notice her. On top of everything, Ivy and Violet hitting it off right away should have been a clue. Violet's internal monologue was a riot—she's definitely crazy, and poor Drew didn't stand a chance. Watching him try to rationalize everything that was happening was brilliant. I absolutely loved everything about this story, and it completely surpassed my expectations after reading the first!

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

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This longer story is dual POV, well written and edited, and a darker, opposites attract, contemporary romantic comedy between Drew, the male accountant lead, and Violet, the female marketing lead who has been stalking him for years. I enjoyed Drew’s wilful obliviousness, and his enjoyment of Violet’s company. I enjoyed Violet’s patient initiative and her encouragement of Drew’s self esteem. I enjoyed the building relationship, even with its dubious consent background. I enjoyed the supportive family secondary characters. I enjoyed the contentment of both characters at the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise Talavera · Rating 5 out of 5]

When she said "It's time for Drew Locke to meet his future wife." I laughed. I knew I'd love Violet from the start. That first chapter sold me lol. Poor baby was already jumpy and such a clutz before he even got close to her. Drew is definitely hilarious and super lovable and his brother Sebastian and ivy were both hilarious as well. Drew and violet both needed the love they deserved and when he finally just let it roll and calmed down they both were very happy.

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

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

I swear, the tension was so thick I could feel it, and I was right there with Drew, stuck between total paranoia and pure attraction. It completely blurs the line between a creepy stalker obsession and actual devotion, enveloping Drew and Violet in an intense, inescapable bond. Honestly, amid all the witty banter and laugh-out-loud clumsiness, it turns into a weirdly beautiful love story about what it really means to be seen and chosen by someone—totally throwing out all the normal rules.

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

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think of the usual story where the morally grey stalker male falls for their female prey, is a little unhinged and quite obsessed, then, flip it so the female is the stalker and the male they prey. This is the case with Drew and Violet, where she is the woman obsessed. A darker read with some heavy topics, a crazy cat and emotionally damaged MCs, woven with Jennifer's unique banter and style. She might be a firecracker in high heels, but she's his!.

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

[Mary S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew and Violet story was so much fun to read! Drew sure was like a damsel in distress lol! Love that Violet was so sure of herself she didn’t hesitate and went for what she wanted! Their story was so beautiful sweet and funny too! Love every moment of it and I can’t wait to see if there will be more to come!

[Michelle Shamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

lol I loved Violet so much. She was so sure of herself. Poor Drew never saw it coming. I laughed and totally enjoyed these two. And kitty parents too! So much fun. I loved how clutzy Drew was. It was so him and fit good character perfectly. And his brother and ice were great. I hope to read about them soon. Overall this was a fun and somewhat spicy read.

[JM G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really had a great time reading No Need to Run. Such an entertaining read. Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down. Captured my interest from the start and held it through to the end. Well worth the time spent reading.

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

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet and Drew were a good time but I enjoyed Sebastian and Ivy more. There was very little spice and I just wasn't a fan of Drew. But all in all the story itself was great.

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

[Jenn Godbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing this book was. Once I was started, I kept reading until I finished. I had some good laughs throughout the book and the characters were great. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The roles are reversed. She’s the one making her way into his life and carrying for him even if he doesn’t realize it yet.

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

[Chelsie Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. Look. It’s just that is boring. And long. So long for nothing happening. Why would you do 500 pages for no reason. None.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

love love love

I really loved the first one and this was great also I never make reviews but this series is awesome I can’t wait for Callie’s book it’s gonna be wild.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? It is utterly perfect!

[Vivien R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated by this storyline. I love st@lker romance! This one was so great. The characters are well written. Loved it.

[Katie Newton · Rating 2 out of 5]

instructions unclear… I got arrested?