What do you think?
Rate this book
Love You To Pieces
They saved my life the same way a butcher saves meat—by deciding it’s theirs.
It was just supposed to be a road trip with new friends, heading to Dallas to see a concert for a band I barely listen to. But one night on a rural road somewhere in rural Texas, my reality crashes down and becomes about one thing only.
Survival.
Waking up on a meat hook with my friends screaming as they’re cut to pieces nearly breaks me, but when I find a weapon of my own, all I can think of is that I only have one choice.
Fight back.
But even when I’ve escaped the monsters who sought to sell parts of me to the highest bidder, I’m not free. With a chainsaw in my hands and blood staining my skin, the two men who find me aren’t afraid of me.
I thought I escaped the monsters.
I was wrong.
I’ve just traded one kind for another.
And if I’m not careful, I won’t just die in this place—
I’ll become part of it.
Love You To Pieces is a dark, MMF romance standalone. It is extremely dark, with horror elements such as gore, cannibalism, graphic, detailed violence, and no cliff hanger. For a full list of triggers, please look inside the book
It was just supposed to be a road trip with new friends, heading to Dallas to see a concert for a band I barely listen to. But one night on a rural road somewhere in rural Texas, my reality crashes down and becomes about one thing only.
Survival.
Waking up on a meat hook with my friends screaming as they’re cut to pieces nearly breaks me, but when I find a weapon of my own, all I can think of is that I only have one choice.
Fight back.
But even when I’ve escaped the monsters who sought to sell parts of me to the highest bidder, I’m not free. With a chainsaw in my hands and blood staining my skin, the two men who find me aren’t afraid of me.
I thought I escaped the monsters.
I was wrong.
I’ve just traded one kind for another.
And if I’m not careful, I won’t just die in this place—
I’ll become part of it.
Love You To Pieces is a dark, MMF romance standalone. It is extremely dark, with horror elements such as gore, cannibalism, graphic, detailed violence, and no cliff hanger. For a full list of triggers, please look inside the book
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2026
About the author
A.J. Merlin
39 books2,256 followersAJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 15, 2026
Be prepared for a horror/slasher, polyamory, cannibalistic love story. And that's just the beginning, so if this is your thing then you'll likely enjoy this read. Now cannibalism isn't for everyone, and even for me it's a tiny hard to get through but at the same time amazes me and makes me want to get all up in their brain.... anyways back to the book, the chemistry between all three characters was intense, chaotic, and dark. This one definitely won't be for everyone, so please check TWs! For those of us who have very limited TWs...enjoy!
June 11, 2026
4.5 stars
Love You To Pieces is a little bit dark romance and a little bit slasher/horror. I love AJ Merlin's writing, but I'm not much of a horror fan, so this book had me squirming uncomfortably several times. Especially at the beginning. The characters had me attached to this book no matter how uncomfortable the gore made me.
Sadie-Rae is sarcastic and funny. Even in dangerous and terrifying situations, she relies on dark humor. She has abandonment issues and talks to herself during escape attempts. Sadie even becomes attached to the chainsaw that saved her from the same fate as her friends, calling it her "emotional support chainsaw" named Sally.
The MMCs Fox and Deacon are the best parts of this book. The way they talk to Sadie and care for her, the nicknames, made me melt. Even though I do not agree with their lifestyle. I always say AJ Merlin's writing can make me fall in love with any man no matter how morally grey they are, and she has done it again with these two. I also loved learning that they are related to Jed from the Pleasure and Prey series.
Love You To Pieces is a little bit dark romance and a little bit slasher/horror. I love AJ Merlin's writing, but I'm not much of a horror fan, so this book had me squirming uncomfortably several times. Especially at the beginning. The characters had me attached to this book no matter how uncomfortable the gore made me.
Sadie-Rae is sarcastic and funny. Even in dangerous and terrifying situations, she relies on dark humor. She has abandonment issues and talks to herself during escape attempts. Sadie even becomes attached to the chainsaw that saved her from the same fate as her friends, calling it her "emotional support chainsaw" named Sally.
The MMCs Fox and Deacon are the best parts of this book. The way they talk to Sadie and care for her, the nicknames, made me melt. Even though I do not agree with their lifestyle. I always say AJ Merlin's writing can make me fall in love with any man no matter how morally grey they are, and she has done it again with these two. I also loved learning that they are related to Jed from the Pleasure and Prey series.
June 21, 2026
ngl this was pretty fucked also the main character was soooo hypocritical at least she acknowledged it though.
June 16, 2026
Ok, wow, what a Wiiiiild ride for me! Starve was the first book of AJ Merlin that I read, and I looooved it. I saw afterwards that she mentioned it wasn't as *dark* as some of her other books. After having read LYTP, I can agree lol. While they both include dark topics, LYTP Dove straight over that line for me, but I'm OK with that.
Ok, so first of all, the vibes were a total homage to the movies like The Hills Have Eyes, Wolf Creek, Martyrs, and The Chainsaw Massacre. Sadie-Rae gets caught up in an ill-fated road trip with douchebags Tyler and Scotty, along with her new friend Ariana. The mood is immediately oppressive, almost like you can feel that dry heat and dust from old Texas back roads wafting off the pages. Then of course their vehicle breaks down in the middle of the night on one of those dark, dusty, creepy roads in the middle of nowhere, and OF COURSE you get the creepy men in an old truck who stop to 'help' them on the side of the road.
Yeah... you saw this movie, too? It never ends well. But at least in Love You To Pieces the good doggie lives. AJ infuses the heroine with gritty, (at times, fatalistic) humor that serves her well and keeps the story from feeling overly claustrophobic due to the heavy topics involved. The internal one-liners reminded me of Ash in the Evil Dead series, even. Fox and Deacon had that insta-lust with Sadie, and sometimes you just accept it and don't push the realistic aspect because you just need to vibe with it.
Please, please, if you're like me and haven't read other AJ Merlin books, read the TW first. I'll list them down below in case you just want to go in blind. This is the end of the spoiler-free part of my review, so only proceed if you read or don't care.
I am so grateful to AJ Merlin and her team for the eARC opportunity, and these are 100% my own opinions.
"I thought I escaped the monsters.
I was wrong.
I’ve just traded one kind for another.
And if I’m not careful, I won’t just die in this place—
I’ll become part of it."
🖤🖤⛓️🖤🖤🩸🩸🖤🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🖤🩸🩸🖤🖤
⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸
🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤
After seeing Sadie fight her way out tooth and nail, the only survivor of the four unfortunate souls, I just knew she would do anything to survive, even if she didn't truly understand that yet. And no, Ariana was already dead in that closet, we knew she wouldn't survive and I'm glad Deacon put her out of her misery. Green flag.
This was the first dark romance/erotic horror book I've read, so the cannibalistic subject was unique *for me* If this genre is an old show for you, then you'll be right at home. I thought the way AJ differentiated the 'good' vs 'bad' guys was done well. Because let's be honest, Fox and Deacon are still bad guys. They kill. They eat who they kill. They have zero remorse. But they also call out the bullshit double standard of why certain meat/prey is ok, while humanity decides their version isn't. Waste not, want not. People will do what they need to in order to survive. And unlike the Hills, they don't go out and kidnap innocent people to torture and video for profit. Unless you piss them off and touch what's theirs. Then be prepared to get tortured. But really, that's all our red-flag MC's.
I also love that the opposing family name was Hills, bc it again reminds me of The Hills Have Eyes, as they were the Hills Family. Sheriff Fox Shaw also reminded me of the unassuming male hero in a horror movie, but this time he is the one the bad guys should be afraid of. And Deacon is like a psychotic black cat- I can't explain it further. It just is in my brain. The fact that he's a Paramedic for his public persona? Chef's kiss.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book by AJ. It had the perfect combination of an eerie, claustrophobic, and hopeless situation coupled with dry humor, tongue-in-cheek commentary, and kinky, erotic sexual encounters. Oh, and also...DVP...
4 🌟
4 🌶
"Love You To Pieces is a dark, MMF romance standalone. It is extremely dark, with horror elements such as gore, cannibalism, graphic, detailed violence, and no cliff hanger."
TW:
Adopted brothers in a relationship
Gore
Murder
Torture
Dubious consent
On page cannibalism
Amputation
Graphic, on page death
Animal violence (she doesn’t die!)
Ok, so first of all, the vibes were a total homage to the movies like The Hills Have Eyes, Wolf Creek, Martyrs, and The Chainsaw Massacre. Sadie-Rae gets caught up in an ill-fated road trip with douchebags Tyler and Scotty, along with her new friend Ariana. The mood is immediately oppressive, almost like you can feel that dry heat and dust from old Texas back roads wafting off the pages. Then of course their vehicle breaks down in the middle of the night on one of those dark, dusty, creepy roads in the middle of nowhere, and OF COURSE you get the creepy men in an old truck who stop to 'help' them on the side of the road.
Yeah... you saw this movie, too? It never ends well. But at least in Love You To Pieces the good doggie lives. AJ infuses the heroine with gritty, (at times, fatalistic) humor that serves her well and keeps the story from feeling overly claustrophobic due to the heavy topics involved. The internal one-liners reminded me of Ash in the Evil Dead series, even. Fox and Deacon had that insta-lust with Sadie, and sometimes you just accept it and don't push the realistic aspect because you just need to vibe with it.
Please, please, if you're like me and haven't read other AJ Merlin books, read the TW first. I'll list them down below in case you just want to go in blind. This is the end of the spoiler-free part of my review, so only proceed if you read or don't care.
I am so grateful to AJ Merlin and her team for the eARC opportunity, and these are 100% my own opinions.
"I thought I escaped the monsters.
I was wrong.
I’ve just traded one kind for another.
And if I’m not careful, I won’t just die in this place—
I’ll become part of it."
🖤🖤⛓️🖤🖤🩸🩸🖤🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🖤🩸🩸🖤🖤
⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸
🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🩸🩸🖤⛓️⛓️🖤
After seeing Sadie fight her way out tooth and nail, the only survivor of the four unfortunate souls, I just knew she would do anything to survive, even if she didn't truly understand that yet. And no, Ariana was already dead in that closet, we knew she wouldn't survive and I'm glad Deacon put her out of her misery. Green flag.
This was the first dark romance/erotic horror book I've read, so the cannibalistic subject was unique *for me* If this genre is an old show for you, then you'll be right at home. I thought the way AJ differentiated the 'good' vs 'bad' guys was done well. Because let's be honest, Fox and Deacon are still bad guys. They kill. They eat who they kill. They have zero remorse. But they also call out the bullshit double standard of why certain meat/prey is ok, while humanity decides their version isn't. Waste not, want not. People will do what they need to in order to survive. And unlike the Hills, they don't go out and kidnap innocent people to torture and video for profit. Unless you piss them off and touch what's theirs. Then be prepared to get tortured. But really, that's all our red-flag MC's.
I also love that the opposing family name was Hills, bc it again reminds me of The Hills Have Eyes, as they were the Hills Family. Sheriff Fox Shaw also reminded me of the unassuming male hero in a horror movie, but this time he is the one the bad guys should be afraid of. And Deacon is like a psychotic black cat- I can't explain it further. It just is in my brain. The fact that he's a Paramedic for his public persona? Chef's kiss.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book by AJ. It had the perfect combination of an eerie, claustrophobic, and hopeless situation coupled with dry humor, tongue-in-cheek commentary, and kinky, erotic sexual encounters. Oh, and also...DVP...
4 🌟
4 🌶
"Love You To Pieces is a dark, MMF romance standalone. It is extremely dark, with horror elements such as gore, cannibalism, graphic, detailed violence, and no cliff hanger."
TW:
Adopted brothers in a relationship
Gore
Murder
Torture
Dubious consent
On page cannibalism
Amputation
Graphic, on page death
Animal violence (she doesn’t die!)
June 22, 2026
Wanted to love this, I’ve been a big fan of AJ’s for a long time. But this one just felt incomplete. Possibly she was so focused on the brutal ‘slasher movie’ elements (and that *was* done pretty darn good) that the romance element got left by the wayside. There’s suspension of disbelief and then there’s this book.
Here there be spoilers:
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
First of all, there’s honestly no good reason for Sadie-Rae to like or trust Fox and Deacon aside from the fact that they don’t straight up murder her. Her attraction to them doesn’t build in any believable way. She notices that they’re hot. They’re mean and manipulative AF, constantly withholding information and going so far as to lock her in a dog kennel, in the dark, overnight.
These guys are supposed to be Jed’s brothers? He’d round up the gang and beat their asses for how they treat Sadie.
Then all of sudden:
“I need you to decide right now what you want,” he continues finally, with a steely sort of flatness in his voice. “You want to be here with us, or you don’t.”
Like she was being unreasonable by constantly trying to escape her cannibalistic kidnappers (she wasn’t), like they’d bared their hearts and souls to her (they didn’t)
The justification for the cannibalism is contradictory at best. On the one hand: waste not, want not—implications that they took to eating people out of extreme hunger/necessity—they kill quickly, never torturing their prey. On the other hand: the brothers have a nice place, are both gainfully employed and apparently have enough money to place cameras all over their property—they trick Sadie into eating vegetables cooked in human fat—and violence gives them raging boners.
From then on they suddenly cared at least a little about whether she was traumatized beyond repair by everything that had went down. Stuff happens and logic is never really considered.
Really disappointed. I hope this is not indicative of where AJ Merlin’s writing is headed.
Here there be spoilers:
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
First of all, there’s honestly no good reason for Sadie-Rae to like or trust Fox and Deacon aside from the fact that they don’t straight up murder her. Her attraction to them doesn’t build in any believable way. She notices that they’re hot. They’re mean and manipulative AF, constantly withholding information and going so far as to lock her in a dog kennel, in the dark, overnight.
These guys are supposed to be Jed’s brothers? He’d round up the gang and beat their asses for how they treat Sadie.
Then all of sudden:
“I need you to decide right now what you want,” he continues finally, with a steely sort of flatness in his voice. “You want to be here with us, or you don’t.”
Like she was being unreasonable by constantly trying to escape her cannibalistic kidnappers (she wasn’t), like they’d bared their hearts and souls to her (they didn’t)
The justification for the cannibalism is contradictory at best. On the one hand: waste not, want not—implications that they took to eating people out of extreme hunger/necessity—they kill quickly, never torturing their prey. On the other hand: the brothers have a nice place, are both gainfully employed and apparently have enough money to place cameras all over their property—they trick Sadie into eating vegetables cooked in human fat—and violence gives them raging boners.
From then on they suddenly cared at least a little about whether she was traumatized beyond repair by everything that had went down. Stuff happens and logic is never really considered.
Really disappointed. I hope this is not indicative of where AJ Merlin’s writing is headed.
June 14, 2026
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
One of the reasons I love AJ Merlin’s romance novels so much is that she doesn’t shy away from the dark stuff. In this very particular case, I would say that the book was too gory for my personal tastes. For that reason, I’m rating at 4.5 (rounded up to 5 because that's what I think is fair). 9/10 would read again while probably skipping some scenes.
I was also super excited to get another MMF novel from Merlin. I love throuple romances, especially with two men who are just as in love with each other as they are with the FMC. Fox and Deacon have a few scenes that REALLY got me kicking my feet in excitement, and the way they are with Sadie-Rae was just icing on the cake. Fox and Deacon didn’t quite steal the show, but they were super strong contenders.
Sadie-Rae is a brilliant FMC. We start the book strong with some of her past leaking in, and then watch her be an absolute badass fighting for her life. SPOILER: Sadie-Rae has an amazing sense of humor, a complete lack of common sense at times, and really pulled through in the moments you want her too.
There’s an aspect of small town-ness to this one that I also really enjoyed, AND a cameo to one of my all time favorite Merlin characters. I’m sure it won’t take you long to figure out who! I will say a favorite aspect to this is a certain level of jealousy that very obviously exists in the narrative, just don’t tell the MCs I noticed… After reading Love You to Pieces, I want to binge read the Merlin catalogue again, so I’d definitely say this is worth picking up – just make sure you head those trigger warnings!
One of the reasons I love AJ Merlin’s romance novels so much is that she doesn’t shy away from the dark stuff. In this very particular case, I would say that the book was too gory for my personal tastes. For that reason, I’m rating at 4.5 (rounded up to 5 because that's what I think is fair). 9/10 would read again while probably skipping some scenes.
I was also super excited to get another MMF novel from Merlin. I love throuple romances, especially with two men who are just as in love with each other as they are with the FMC. Fox and Deacon have a few scenes that REALLY got me kicking my feet in excitement, and the way they are with Sadie-Rae was just icing on the cake. Fox and Deacon didn’t quite steal the show, but they were super strong contenders.
Sadie-Rae is a brilliant FMC. We start the book strong with some of her past leaking in, and then watch her be an absolute badass fighting for her life. SPOILER: Sadie-Rae has an amazing sense of humor, a complete lack of common sense at times, and really pulled through in the moments you want her too.
There’s an aspect of small town-ness to this one that I also really enjoyed, AND a cameo to one of my all time favorite Merlin characters. I’m sure it won’t take you long to figure out who! I will say a favorite aspect to this is a certain level of jealousy that very obviously exists in the narrative, just don’t tell the MCs I noticed… After reading Love You to Pieces, I want to binge read the Merlin catalogue again, so I’d definitely say this is worth picking up – just make sure you head those trigger warnings!
June 11, 2026
i feel the same way that i usually do when i read something by aj merlin. the vibes? incredible, delightful, immaculate? the fmc's character construction? frustrating.
sadie-rae is generally a fun character, except for the parts where she's dumb as a box of rocks and also incredibly selfish. she does that thing that a lot of aj merlin's fmcs do, which is decide that they "want to help" in a situation that they're not ready for and end up being a hindrance rather than a help. it also infuriates me that she does it more than once. she goes with them the first time and nearly passes out and has to be carried out. then less than 24 hours later, she's like "yeah, actually you should use me as bait, i want to help, wah wah wah" and sure, this time she does actually succeed in killing one of the guys that they're after, but not before getting her dog kicked and injured AGAIN. like...you couldn't wait until she healed from the last time you did something stupid? you had to do something else stupid right now? "proving yourself" as a killer is not as important as keeping your dog safe, and if you weren't so selfishly concerned about it, it would be better for everyone.
and it's not even that i don't want her to be a killer with them. i do! i just think that doing so without any time to process and learn and start to get over the trauma, there's no guarantee that she won't have the same reaction she did before. and it would be infinitely more dangerous and more of a liability if she has a shock-induced panic attack and gets deacon and fox killed because she demanded to come along and do something she's not ready for.
sadie-rae is generally a fun character, except for the parts where she's dumb as a box of rocks and also incredibly selfish. she does that thing that a lot of aj merlin's fmcs do, which is decide that they "want to help" in a situation that they're not ready for and end up being a hindrance rather than a help. it also infuriates me that she does it more than once. she goes with them the first time and nearly passes out and has to be carried out. then less than 24 hours later, she's like "yeah, actually you should use me as bait, i want to help, wah wah wah" and sure, this time she does actually succeed in killing one of the guys that they're after, but not before getting her dog kicked and injured AGAIN. like...you couldn't wait until she healed from the last time you did something stupid? you had to do something else stupid right now? "proving yourself" as a killer is not as important as keeping your dog safe, and if you weren't so selfishly concerned about it, it would be better for everyone.
and it's not even that i don't want her to be a killer with them. i do! i just think that doing so without any time to process and learn and start to get over the trauma, there's no guarantee that she won't have the same reaction she did before. and it would be infinitely more dangerous and more of a liability if she has a shock-induced panic attack and gets deacon and fox killed because she demanded to come along and do something she's not ready for.
June 16, 2026
ARC REVIEW
I enjoyed many aspects of this book, specifically the scene building and tension points within the horror elements. For a dark romance those aspects stood out to me and had me thoroughly on the edge of my seat!
I love the fact that Sadie is a bad ass and tries to take charge of her situation despite all the horror she has faced.
After finishing the book I’m just left with quite a few unresolved questions.
1) how did Ariana and Sadie meet, and how close are they? In the beginning of the novel Sadie’s relationship with her three travel companions is confusing. She seems to be accompanying them against her will at best. Her connection to the group is later revealed to be through Ariana; however, the depth and backstory of their relationship is never clarified.
2) What EXACTLY happened with Sadie’s former friend group, as well as her parents. Throughout the novel Sadie hints at flashbacks or that her finer friends aren’t a part of her life, but we never get the full story there and it left me hanging. The same can be said about her estranged relationship with her parents.
3) What is the backstory on the Shaw family? They seemed to have fallen from their cannibalistic graces, but we don’t get insight into how, who, or why their family started eating people, how that’s tied to the Hills, and what really made them any different or less monstrous, something Sadie hammers on but doesn’t get explained.
All in all it was a pleasurable read but I wish I had some answers or additional explanation.
I enjoyed many aspects of this book, specifically the scene building and tension points within the horror elements. For a dark romance those aspects stood out to me and had me thoroughly on the edge of my seat!
I love the fact that Sadie is a bad ass and tries to take charge of her situation despite all the horror she has faced.
After finishing the book I’m just left with quite a few unresolved questions.
1) how did Ariana and Sadie meet, and how close are they? In the beginning of the novel Sadie’s relationship with her three travel companions is confusing. She seems to be accompanying them against her will at best. Her connection to the group is later revealed to be through Ariana; however, the depth and backstory of their relationship is never clarified.
2) What EXACTLY happened with Sadie’s former friend group, as well as her parents. Throughout the novel Sadie hints at flashbacks or that her finer friends aren’t a part of her life, but we never get the full story there and it left me hanging. The same can be said about her estranged relationship with her parents.
3) What is the backstory on the Shaw family? They seemed to have fallen from their cannibalistic graces, but we don’t get insight into how, who, or why their family started eating people, how that’s tied to the Hills, and what really made them any different or less monstrous, something Sadie hammers on but doesn’t get explained.
All in all it was a pleasurable read but I wish I had some answers or additional explanation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2026
Okay, I have mixed opinions on this book.
5⭐️ for the horror element, it actually gave me anxiety it that start of her getting caught. It was very well written. The plot twists I did not see coming. Sadie’s escapes and attempted escapes were hilarious at times. The fact that Deacon watched her most of the time and let her struggle was pretty funny too. I miss Sally RIP 🪦
Don’t get me started on Pearl, she is a real one. I adore her so much, and she deserves the world!!!
(If you’ve come here to see if she dies…she doesn’t because it was stressing me the hell out)
As for what gave me mixed opinions…the relationship. For most of the book, I wasn’t sure if Deacon actually wanted her in their threesome. It was obvious Fox did. I feel like that’s the only reason Deacon let her stay because of fox, I think he liked her but not enough to be apart of what they had. Until the end scene in the truck bed, but even at the end, she woke up in her own bed. So I’m like maybe? I don’t know, I just didn’t buy it for most of the book, and I was hesitant to continue because of this. It just felt like Deacon kept getting jealous as well, and I'm not a fan of jealousy in Why Choose books.
I also want to know what happened with her old friends and how she became friends with her new ones. Also why don’t her parents give a shit about her, like not even one call? No wonder the poor girl didn’t want to be alone 😭
Aside from that it was a really good book especially the horror element.
I would also like an emotional support chainsaw please 😂
5⭐️ for the horror element, it actually gave me anxiety it that start of her getting caught. It was very well written. The plot twists I did not see coming. Sadie’s escapes and attempted escapes were hilarious at times. The fact that Deacon watched her most of the time and let her struggle was pretty funny too. I miss Sally RIP 🪦
Don’t get me started on Pearl, she is a real one. I adore her so much, and she deserves the world!!!
(If you’ve come here to see if she dies…she doesn’t because it was stressing me the hell out)
As for what gave me mixed opinions…the relationship. For most of the book, I wasn’t sure if Deacon actually wanted her in their threesome. It was obvious Fox did. I feel like that’s the only reason Deacon let her stay because of fox, I think he liked her but not enough to be apart of what they had. Until the end scene in the truck bed, but even at the end, she woke up in her own bed. So I’m like maybe? I don’t know, I just didn’t buy it for most of the book, and I was hesitant to continue because of this. It just felt like Deacon kept getting jealous as well, and I'm not a fan of jealousy in Why Choose books.
I also want to know what happened with her old friends and how she became friends with her new ones. Also why don’t her parents give a shit about her, like not even one call? No wonder the poor girl didn’t want to be alone 😭
Aside from that it was a really good book especially the horror element.
I would also like an emotional support chainsaw please 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for letting me be apart of the ARC team, and gifting me a copy so I could read this book sooner.
TL;DR: 5 stars, 3.5 peppers. I enjoyed this read, but PLEASE check trigger warnings.
If you like your romance to be mixed with the horror/slasher genre, AJ Merlin is one of the best about it. A lot of the tension is driven by these horror aspects, and then by Sadie-Rae's struggle to determine her feelings for Fox and Deacon. I also just really like when a book points out the difference between being a monster and being monstrous.
This book was very difficult for me to put down, and I finished it in under 24 hours. I wanted to know what was going to happen on Sadie's next escape attempt or . Also, the spicy scenes in this book are very sexy, and feel appropriate for moment.
A couple of trigger warnings I want to emphasize for this book:
- torture and amputation ()
- cannibalism ()
- animal harm ()
TL;DR: 5 stars, 3.5 peppers. I enjoyed this read, but PLEASE check trigger warnings.
If you like your romance to be mixed with the horror/slasher genre, AJ Merlin is one of the best about it. A lot of the tension is driven by these horror aspects, and then by Sadie-Rae's struggle to determine her feelings for Fox and Deacon. I also just really like when a book points out the difference between being a monster and being monstrous.
This book was very difficult for me to put down, and I finished it in under 24 hours. I wanted to know what was going to happen on Sadie's next escape attempt or . Also, the spicy scenes in this book are very sexy, and feel appropriate for moment.
A couple of trigger warnings I want to emphasize for this book:
- torture and amputation ()
- cannibalism ()
- animal harm ()
June 10, 2026
What In The Dark Texas Nightmare?! 😳
If you're thinking about picking up "Love You To Pieces", do yourself a favor and read those TWs first because this book is DARK, Besties. And when I say dark, I mean:
"holding-my-breath-and-questioning-all-my-life-choices" dark. 😬
What starts as a simple road trip quickly spirals into an absolute nightmare, and from that moment on, I could not look away. The suspense had me on edge the entire time. Every chapter felt like a battle for survival, and I genuinely had no idea what was coming next.
Sadie-Rae is the definition of a final girl. Her determination, resilience, and refusal to give up made her impossible not to root for. She earned the nickname "Chainsaw Girl" in my head and never let it go. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate Pearl? She's the real MVP!🏆 And yes, R.I.P. Sally. 🥺 #IYKYK
Fox was sweet and protective, while Deacon started out as a complete jerk before winning me over with his sarcastic banter and filthy mouth. The chemistry between all three characters was intense, and the MMF romance added plenty of heat to an already wild-a§§ story. 🥵
Dark, brutal, suspenseful, and completely unforgettable, this was one twisted ride that had me glued to the pages from beginning to end! A TBR Must-Have! 👍🏼
My Ratings: ⭐ 4.5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 4/5
🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
If you're thinking about picking up "Love You To Pieces", do yourself a favor and read those TWs first because this book is DARK, Besties. And when I say dark, I mean:
"holding-my-breath-and-questioning-all-my-life-choices" dark. 😬
What starts as a simple road trip quickly spirals into an absolute nightmare, and from that moment on, I could not look away. The suspense had me on edge the entire time. Every chapter felt like a battle for survival, and I genuinely had no idea what was coming next.
Sadie-Rae is the definition of a final girl. Her determination, resilience, and refusal to give up made her impossible not to root for. She earned the nickname "Chainsaw Girl" in my head and never let it go. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate Pearl? She's the real MVP!🏆 And yes, R.I.P. Sally. 🥺 #IYKYK
Fox was sweet and protective, while Deacon started out as a complete jerk before winning me over with his sarcastic banter and filthy mouth. The chemistry between all three characters was intense, and the MMF romance added plenty of heat to an already wild-a§§ story. 🥵
Dark, brutal, suspenseful, and completely unforgettable, this was one twisted ride that had me glued to the pages from beginning to end! A TBR Must-Have! 👍🏼
My Ratings: ⭐ 4.5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 4/5
🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
June 20, 2026
I have such mixed feelings about this book!! It feels wrong to say I loved it… I absolutely didn’t hate it… but there isn’t really a right way to describe it 😂 it’s definitely one of a kind that’s for sure.. and the ending I was like.. erm.. I guess it’s their own fucked up happily ever after?! 🤢😂
Let me start by saying, this book will live rent free in your head for the foreseeable future - I’m not sure if in a good way😝 😂 I had to wait a good few days before attempting to find words to review…. It’s ALOT!! 🥴🤣 if you aren’t into horror, GORE or having your stomach feel like it’s going to turn inside out then it’s not for you… oh, I highly recommend not eating whilst reading this entire book. Especially meat. or salads in oil 🤢🤣 IYKYK.
The one liners in this book are so funny. Sadie-rae is sarcastic and hilarious. She did annoy the hell out of me at times I was like WHYY 🤦🏻♀️😂
I love sally!! I’m not sure if I can class ‘her’ as a side character? But I am 😂 I want one!!
Pearl 🥰 the most badass sidekick. If I ever find myself kidnapped by hill men I’d absolutely want pearl by my side ❤️ I love how the guys dote on her and nurse her back to health.
I’m so lost for words 🤣 I do love how it’s like Texas chainsaw massacre, those vibes 👌🏽 very refreshing and it did have me gripped!
This book won’t be for everyone. 1000% check trigger warnings!!!!!
AJ what have you done to me 🤣😂
Let me start by saying, this book will live rent free in your head for the foreseeable future - I’m not sure if in a good way😝 😂 I had to wait a good few days before attempting to find words to review…. It’s ALOT!! 🥴🤣 if you aren’t into horror, GORE or having your stomach feel like it’s going to turn inside out then it’s not for you… oh, I highly recommend not eating whilst reading this entire book. Especially meat. or salads in oil 🤢🤣 IYKYK.
The one liners in this book are so funny. Sadie-rae is sarcastic and hilarious. She did annoy the hell out of me at times I was like WHYY 🤦🏻♀️😂
I love sally!! I’m not sure if I can class ‘her’ as a side character? But I am 😂 I want one!!
Pearl 🥰 the most badass sidekick. If I ever find myself kidnapped by hill men I’d absolutely want pearl by my side ❤️ I love how the guys dote on her and nurse her back to health.
I’m so lost for words 🤣 I do love how it’s like Texas chainsaw massacre, those vibes 👌🏽 very refreshing and it did have me gripped!
This book won’t be for everyone. 1000% check trigger warnings!!!!!
AJ what have you done to me 🤣😂
June 10, 2026
Love You to Pieces by Aj Merlin is chaotic, dark, unhinged, and somehow ridiculously fun at the same time.
Sadie-Rae survives a nightmare and ends up in a small Texas town with two men who are probably just as dangerous as the monsters she escaped from. Fox and Deacon are completely obsessed with her from the start, and honestly? I was obsessed with all three of them.
Sadie was easily my favorite part of this book. She’s sarcastic, stubborn, and absolutely hilarious. The moment she started carrying around her emotional support chainsaw, Sally, I knew she was going to be iconic. Add in the fact that she adopts a dog named Pearl, and I was completely sold.
Fox and Deacon are the definition of morally grey. One is a sheriff, one is a paramedic, and together they create some of the most chaotic energy I’ve ever read. The way they call her “little rabbit” and “darling” had me kicking my feet while simultaneously questioning my life choices.
What I loved most was how protective they are of Sadie. She carries a lot of hurt from her past, especially when it comes to abandonment.
This book is definitely not for everyone. It’s dark, bloody, twisted, and packed with content warnings. But if you love obsessive characters, small-town horror vibes, dark humor, and an absolutely feral MMF dynamic, this was impossible to put down.
Sadie-Rae survives a nightmare and ends up in a small Texas town with two men who are probably just as dangerous as the monsters she escaped from. Fox and Deacon are completely obsessed with her from the start, and honestly? I was obsessed with all three of them.
Sadie was easily my favorite part of this book. She’s sarcastic, stubborn, and absolutely hilarious. The moment she started carrying around her emotional support chainsaw, Sally, I knew she was going to be iconic. Add in the fact that she adopts a dog named Pearl, and I was completely sold.
Fox and Deacon are the definition of morally grey. One is a sheriff, one is a paramedic, and together they create some of the most chaotic energy I’ve ever read. The way they call her “little rabbit” and “darling” had me kicking my feet while simultaneously questioning my life choices.
What I loved most was how protective they are of Sadie. She carries a lot of hurt from her past, especially when it comes to abandonment.
This book is definitely not for everyone. It’s dark, bloody, twisted, and packed with content warnings. But if you love obsessive characters, small-town horror vibes, dark humor, and an absolutely feral MMF dynamic, this was impossible to put down.
June 13, 2026
Well this was fucked up even by my standards, but at the same time I still enjoyed it... so yeah judge me as you please LMAO. So Sadie and her kinda friends are on a roadtrip through rural Texas to go to a concert when they stop for weed and end up breaking down. As this is happening some randomlocals stop to "help them" the girls aware of stranger danger cause "duh" and refuse the help and Sadie runs towards the town they left hours ago but never makes it because the friendly neighborhood cannibals kidnap all of them and take them to their murder barn. Sadie in all her final girl glory befriends the local dog and gets out only to be kidnapped by her own set of sexy as fuck cannibals who are humane in killing their "meat in friendly ways". So yeah, she gets beautiful revenge for her one truly decent friend while casually engaging in cannibalism (that she's only unaware of for a good portion of the book) but you know "waste not, want not". So yeah kinda conflicted on the review, I enjoy the pet bonding and the trauma bonding with her chainsaw Sally, but still a little hung up on the fact that they're just so poor they have to eat the locals. Probably fucked up that I still thought it was hot as fuck LMAO.
June 9, 2026
Love You To Pieces by AJ Merlin
I have been dying for this since the moment I heard about it!
The premise alone had me is just perfect. A road trip to a concert gone horrifically wrong! When the group makes a detour for weed in rural Texas things do not go smoothly. That is the kind of unhinged energy I live for. But what actually got me was the after. Because there was a trade of one set of monsters for another, and then trying to figure out who the real monsters are in a creepy town.
The MMF dynamic here is chef's kiss levels of twisted. Oh and for my taboo lover's they are stepbrothers!These men are possessive and dangerous and absolutely unhinged about our girl, and she is standing there covered in gore holding her emotional support chainsaw like a feral queen! The chemistry is chaotic and dark and completely earned.
I SCREAMED. When I put together the family connection!! Iykyk. As an avid AJ Merlin fan this made me beyond excited.
This is not a book for the faint of heart there is gore, the violence is detailed, and the cannibalism is present...check your triggers but I live for them!
I have been dying for this since the moment I heard about it!
The premise alone had me is just perfect. A road trip to a concert gone horrifically wrong! When the group makes a detour for weed in rural Texas things do not go smoothly. That is the kind of unhinged energy I live for. But what actually got me was the after. Because there was a trade of one set of monsters for another, and then trying to figure out who the real monsters are in a creepy town.
The MMF dynamic here is chef's kiss levels of twisted. Oh and for my taboo lover's they are stepbrothers!These men are possessive and dangerous and absolutely unhinged about our girl, and she is standing there covered in gore holding her emotional support chainsaw like a feral queen! The chemistry is chaotic and dark and completely earned.
I SCREAMED. When I put together the family connection!! Iykyk. As an avid AJ Merlin fan this made me beyond excited.
This is not a book for the faint of heart there is gore, the violence is detailed, and the cannibalism is present...check your triggers but I live for them!
June 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
First off, so so excited to read another MMF from A.J. Merlin, although I equally enjoy her MF romances, as a why choose girlie it always feels extra special!!
I am a massive fan of A.J Merlin's entire back catalogue, so I knew this release would not disappoint!! Although I am primarily a dark romance reader and don't particularly enjoy horror, I have learned to trust in the vision. This one definitely erred on the side of ahhh idkkk for me, hence the 4 stars, but I still really enjoyed the characters and book!! Definitely check the trigger warnings before proceeding!!
I am such a sucker for character-based story lines, and her characters do always always draw me, and I find they somewhat parallel the dark and gory sides of the story. They make me laugh, swoon, and sometimes scream, but in the end it's always such a fun, thrilling time.
Cannot thank the team enough for granting me an arc of this release!! cannot wait to read more of A.J.'s stories soon!!
First off, so so excited to read another MMF from A.J. Merlin, although I equally enjoy her MF romances, as a why choose girlie it always feels extra special!!
I am a massive fan of A.J Merlin's entire back catalogue, so I knew this release would not disappoint!! Although I am primarily a dark romance reader and don't particularly enjoy horror, I have learned to trust in the vision. This one definitely erred on the side of ahhh idkkk for me, hence the 4 stars, but I still really enjoyed the characters and book!! Definitely check the trigger warnings before proceeding!!
I am such a sucker for character-based story lines, and her characters do always always draw me, and I find they somewhat parallel the dark and gory sides of the story. They make me laugh, swoon, and sometimes scream, but in the end it's always such a fun, thrilling time.
Cannot thank the team enough for granting me an arc of this release!! cannot wait to read more of A.J.'s stories soon!!
June 9, 2026
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ MMF Romance
✔️ Extremely Dark
✔️ Gore
✔️ Cannibalism
✔️ T0rture
✔️ Graphic, Detailed Vio!ence
✔️ Animal vi0lence (she doesn’t💀)
✔️ Dubious Consent
✔️ No Cliffhanger
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers
Love You To Pieces is a dark, twisted, suspense-filled ride, reminding me of a horror movie with a spicy MMF dynamic. The story is told from Sadie-Rae’s point of view, focusing on the angst-filled situations she finds herself in. Fox and Deacon are adopted brothers who grew up in Wolf Lake. Sadie-Rae and her friends are on a road trip, passing through town on their way to a concert. I was pulled into the story right from the start, only putting the book down when I could no longer keep my eyes open, forcing myself to give in and get some sleep. I do realize this level of dark romance is not everyone’s cup of tea. Still, as a mood reader without any triggers, I enjoyed the refreshing horror-romance storyline and the dynamic between Sadie-Rae, Deacon and Fox. I am giving Love You To Pieces a rating of 5/5 stars.
✔️ MMF Romance
✔️ Extremely Dark
✔️ Gore
✔️ Cannibalism
✔️ T0rture
✔️ Graphic, Detailed Vio!ence
✔️ Animal vi0lence (she doesn’t💀)
✔️ Dubious Consent
✔️ No Cliffhanger
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers
Love You To Pieces is a dark, twisted, suspense-filled ride, reminding me of a horror movie with a spicy MMF dynamic. The story is told from Sadie-Rae’s point of view, focusing on the angst-filled situations she finds herself in. Fox and Deacon are adopted brothers who grew up in Wolf Lake. Sadie-Rae and her friends are on a road trip, passing through town on their way to a concert. I was pulled into the story right from the start, only putting the book down when I could no longer keep my eyes open, forcing myself to give in and get some sleep. I do realize this level of dark romance is not everyone’s cup of tea. Still, as a mood reader without any triggers, I enjoyed the refreshing horror-romance storyline and the dynamic between Sadie-Rae, Deacon and Fox. I am giving Love You To Pieces a rating of 5/5 stars.
June 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
First, thank you to AJ Merlin for the ARC copy and the opportunity to read this book early!
Love You To Pieces was everything I hoped it would be: dark, chaotic, gruesome, and impossible to put down. From the moment Sadie-Rae’s road trip takes a horrifying turn, I was completely hooked. What starts as a detour quickly spirals into a nightmare, and I found myself racing through the pages to see what would happen next.
Fox and Deacon were exactly the kind of morally gray, possessive, unhinged mmcs I expect from an AJ Merlin book and Sadie-Rae was such a badass fmc with her emotional support chainsaw 😏
⚠️ PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS before diving in. This book contains:
🔪 graphic violence
🔪 MMF dynamic
🔪 torture
🔪 cannibalism
🔪 dubious consent
🔪 animal harm (she doesn’t 💀!)
Overall, this book is a wild, gore-filled horror romance with plenty of suspense, spice, and chaos. If you’re a fan of slasher vibes, morally questionable love interests, and dark romance that fully commits to the horror, you’ll want to pick this one!! 🔪 🩸 😈
First, thank you to AJ Merlin for the ARC copy and the opportunity to read this book early!
Love You To Pieces was everything I hoped it would be: dark, chaotic, gruesome, and impossible to put down. From the moment Sadie-Rae’s road trip takes a horrifying turn, I was completely hooked. What starts as a detour quickly spirals into a nightmare, and I found myself racing through the pages to see what would happen next.
Fox and Deacon were exactly the kind of morally gray, possessive, unhinged mmcs I expect from an AJ Merlin book and Sadie-Rae was such a badass fmc with her emotional support chainsaw 😏
⚠️ PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS before diving in. This book contains:
🔪 graphic violence
🔪 MMF dynamic
🔪 torture
🔪 cannibalism
🔪 dubious consent
🔪 animal harm (she doesn’t 💀!)
Overall, this book is a wild, gore-filled horror romance with plenty of suspense, spice, and chaos. If you’re a fan of slasher vibes, morally questionable love interests, and dark romance that fully commits to the horror, you’ll want to pick this one!! 🔪 🩸 😈
June 10, 2026
If you’ve ever watched a horror movie and thought, "I kind of want the killer to choose me," then drop everything because this book is calling your name.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
The Vibe:
🔪 Horror Romance
🔪 MMF
🔪 Blood Play
My Thoughts
You know those movies where taking a "harmless" random detour turns into a total nightmare? That is exactly where this story begins, and I was hooked from the first page.
It starts with major Texas Chainsaw Massacre energy—a broken-down car, the middle of nowhere, and a girl waking up on a meat hook. But just when you think you know where the story is going, it flips the script.
Sadie finds herself in a game of cat-and-mouse with two men who are definitely not what they seem. She tries to escape—again and again—until she... doesn't. Sometimes, the monsters you're running from aren't the ones you should actually fear.
This is dark, gritty, and perfect for anyone who loves their romance with a side of sharp edges and absolute chaos.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
The Vibe:
🔪 Horror Romance
🔪 MMF
🔪 Blood Play
My Thoughts
You know those movies where taking a "harmless" random detour turns into a total nightmare? That is exactly where this story begins, and I was hooked from the first page.
It starts with major Texas Chainsaw Massacre energy—a broken-down car, the middle of nowhere, and a girl waking up on a meat hook. But just when you think you know where the story is going, it flips the script.
Sadie finds herself in a game of cat-and-mouse with two men who are definitely not what they seem. She tries to escape—again and again—until she... doesn't. Sometimes, the monsters you're running from aren't the ones you should actually fear.
This is dark, gritty, and perfect for anyone who loves their romance with a side of sharp edges and absolute chaos.
June 17, 2026
Man, oh man AJ Merlin does it again! This is a darker read compared to her other stories, so I highly recommend you read the trigger warnings before you dive in. If you do choose to read this awesome book you are in for a wild ride.
I loved our FMC in this book. She is the true definition of a final girl. She never gave up, never stopped fighting and I was rooting for her the whole time. I also enjoyed our MMC’s Fox and Deacon. They are opposites in personality which gives a great balance to the duo. Fox is sweeter and caring, while Deacon is full of sarcasm and blunt truths.
The plot is fast paced and fun and keeps you wanting to turn the page until the end. Without spoiling it, there were some parts of the story that were a little hard to…..swallow, for lack of a better word, but that is what trigger warnings are for and the main survival part of the story really overtakes that specific aspect of the story for me anyway so it wasn’t too big of deal. IYKYK. Overall, this was a great ride for me, and I enjoyed the heck out of this book!
I loved our FMC in this book. She is the true definition of a final girl. She never gave up, never stopped fighting and I was rooting for her the whole time. I also enjoyed our MMC’s Fox and Deacon. They are opposites in personality which gives a great balance to the duo. Fox is sweeter and caring, while Deacon is full of sarcasm and blunt truths.
The plot is fast paced and fun and keeps you wanting to turn the page until the end. Without spoiling it, there were some parts of the story that were a little hard to…..swallow, for lack of a better word, but that is what trigger warnings are for and the main survival part of the story really overtakes that specific aspect of the story for me anyway so it wasn’t too big of deal. IYKYK. Overall, this was a great ride for me, and I enjoyed the heck out of this book!
June 11, 2026
Did I know I needed an MMF romance that's an homage to Texas Chainsaw Massacre? No, I did not. But, A.J. knew and absolutely delivered! Read the entire book in one day.
A.J. has a way of making MMF feel believable and drama-free so the reader can just enjoy the ride ... in more ways than one. 😉
The suspense in this was great and I really felt the horror of the events some of the characters went through.
The ending might throw some people off, and it did take me a little bit of time to come to terms with it when it became obvious we were heading that direction, but I ultimately still enjoyed where we ended up.
I could have used more information on the guys and would love to see another book with these characters to dive deeper into their backstories, their process for how they go about things, and their relationships with each other.
Another great one from A.J. that I can absolutely see myself reading again one day.
A.J. has a way of making MMF feel believable and drama-free so the reader can just enjoy the ride ... in more ways than one. 😉
The suspense in this was great and I really felt the horror of the events some of the characters went through.
The ending might throw some people off, and it did take me a little bit of time to come to terms with it when it became obvious we were heading that direction, but I ultimately still enjoyed where we ended up.
I could have used more information on the guys and would love to see another book with these characters to dive deeper into their backstories, their process for how they go about things, and their relationships with each other.
Another great one from A.J. that I can absolutely see myself reading again one day.
June 15, 2026
love you to pieces was a blood soaked horror love fest that simultaneously made me gag and cringe (because holy gore) while also making me grin and kick my feet like a school girl.
Jed is my favorite cannibal baby from the Pleasure and Prey series so I am so happy to meet his brothers Fox and Deacon in this! Sadie-Rae had no idea what was coming to her when she hit the road with her friends…
As AJ always does best, this book was filled with sarcastic wit, humor, psycho possessive men, a “final girl” amongst a world of bloodthirsty murderers, a bad ass animal companion (MVP award goes to Pearl 🐶), and a whole lotta horror. Sadie-Rae is a helluva lot stronger than me because I would have puked the second I found myself hanging from a meat hook 😂
The only critique I have is that I felt the romance factor wasn’t quiteeeee there. Sadie gets kissed pretty early on in the book and it feels a bit random and disconnected. It didn’t feel like there was a solid build up leading to the romance aspect of it. I felt it much more towards the end of the story when things are heating up, but the initial build up seemed like it lacked just a smidge.
Overall another successful horror romance from AJ that will be living in my head. RIP Sally the emotional support chainsaw 😩
Jed is my favorite cannibal baby from the Pleasure and Prey series so I am so happy to meet his brothers Fox and Deacon in this! Sadie-Rae had no idea what was coming to her when she hit the road with her friends…
As AJ always does best, this book was filled with sarcastic wit, humor, psycho possessive men, a “final girl” amongst a world of bloodthirsty murderers, a bad ass animal companion (MVP award goes to Pearl 🐶), and a whole lotta horror. Sadie-Rae is a helluva lot stronger than me because I would have puked the second I found myself hanging from a meat hook 😂
The only critique I have is that I felt the romance factor wasn’t quiteeeee there. Sadie gets kissed pretty early on in the book and it feels a bit random and disconnected. It didn’t feel like there was a solid build up leading to the romance aspect of it. I felt it much more towards the end of the story when things are heating up, but the initial build up seemed like it lacked just a smidge.
Overall another successful horror romance from AJ that will be living in my head. RIP Sally the emotional support chainsaw 😩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well, as expected, this book was a wild and crazy ride! Unhinged for sure!! Please, for the love of God, check the trigger warnings before reading this one! Like, I warned you!
I love AJ Merlin, she is one of all time favorite authors, but even for me, this was just bananas. I still loved it, don't get me wrong, but BANANAS! If you have read any of her Pleasure/Prey books, you may remember Jed from one of the books in that series. Honestly, one of my favs. Well, this is about his brothers. And we all know where Jed comes from, what his family does, and how it effected him. Yeah, they have not changed. They still....do that. It's a horrible story, really one that nobody should have to go through, but weaved through it is a love story. Weird right? But it totally works. Our FMC is traumatized, but finds solace and a home with these two brothers. She decides that their lifestyle is worth it for the love and comfort that she finds with them. It was really very sweet. Again, read your TW!!!! But I still enjoyed the heck out of this one! 4.25 stars from me!
I love AJ Merlin, she is one of all time favorite authors, but even for me, this was just bananas. I still loved it, don't get me wrong, but BANANAS! If you have read any of her Pleasure/Prey books, you may remember Jed from one of the books in that series. Honestly, one of my favs. Well, this is about his brothers. And we all know where Jed comes from, what his family does, and how it effected him. Yeah, they have not changed. They still....do that. It's a horrible story, really one that nobody should have to go through, but weaved through it is a love story. Weird right? But it totally works. Our FMC is traumatized, but finds solace and a home with these two brothers. She decides that their lifestyle is worth it for the love and comfort that she finds with them. It was really very sweet. Again, read your TW!!!! But I still enjoyed the heck out of this one! 4.25 stars from me!
June 15, 2026
In short, I absolutely loved this story. This author is one of my favorites, and she simply never disappoints.
Sadie was a unique character to me; her dark sense of humor in the face of problems made me laugh, and her peculiar affection for the chainsaw was fascinating. Despite her issues with trust and abandonment, I really liked how she faced every challenge.
And as for Fox and Deacon… God, I want a pair of brothers like that for myself. Although, ultimately, I don’t share their culinary tastes—let’s just say I prefer to avoid certain dishes—I’m willing to take Sadie’s place in every other way.
If you’re looking for a story with dark humor, morally ambiguous characters, and an intensity that keeps you glued to the book, this one’s for you.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Sadie was a unique character to me; her dark sense of humor in the face of problems made me laugh, and her peculiar affection for the chainsaw was fascinating. Despite her issues with trust and abandonment, I really liked how she faced every challenge.
And as for Fox and Deacon… God, I want a pair of brothers like that for myself. Although, ultimately, I don’t share their culinary tastes—let’s just say I prefer to avoid certain dishes—I’m willing to take Sadie’s place in every other way.
If you’re looking for a story with dark humor, morally ambiguous characters, and an intensity that keeps you glued to the book, this one’s for you.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
June 16, 2026
Miss Merlin if you told me two weeks ago that I would be absolutely yearning over two brutal cannibal serial killers in a small town in Texas I would not believe you. But since whenever a book of yourself comes out it’s an insta buy I didn’t have much choice but to love it(even when it wasn’t hard to love it).
Readers if you want a book that will make you tremble in fear for the first hundred pages, connect with a very reasonable and rational fmc, and fawn over the sweetest murder dog, READ THIS BOOK.
My only complaint(spoilers btw):
Is that I wish she told the men about the friends that traumatized her as that was a major part of her character and I felt like could’ve made a good scene.
That’s more of a personal opinion that people can ignore though.
Anyway, if you have time, definitely read this book.
Readers if you want a book that will make you tremble in fear for the first hundred pages, connect with a very reasonable and rational fmc, and fawn over the sweetest murder dog, READ THIS BOOK.
My only complaint(spoilers btw):
Is that I wish she told the men about the friends that traumatized her as that was a major part of her character and I felt like could’ve made a good scene.
That’s more of a personal opinion that people can ignore though.
Anyway, if you have time, definitely read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
LOVE YOU TO PIECES is a love story.
A cannibalistic love story.
An unapologetically brutal Gore-Fest of a cannibalistic love story.
And I am here for every dark, depraved, slasher, meathook, fricasseed, super spicy, unexpectedly tender, socially unacceptable moment.
I loved every. single. minute.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Fox
✨Deacon
FMC:
✨Sadie-Rae
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Tropes:
👉slasher/horror romance
👉small town gore fest
👉pitch black MMCs
👉polyamory
👉enemies to lovers
👉he falls first
👉touch her and ☠️
👉touch him and ☠️
👉forced proximity
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mmf, mm, my, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, extreme, blood, gore, cannibalism
💥death, murder
💥captivity
A cannibalistic love story.
An unapologetically brutal Gore-Fest of a cannibalistic love story.
And I am here for every dark, depraved, slasher, meathook, fricasseed, super spicy, unexpectedly tender, socially unacceptable moment.
I loved every. single. minute.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Fox
✨Deacon
FMC:
✨Sadie-Rae
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Tropes:
👉slasher/horror romance
👉small town gore fest
👉pitch black MMCs
👉polyamory
👉enemies to lovers
👉he falls first
👉touch her and ☠️
👉touch him and ☠️
👉forced proximity
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mmf, mm, my, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, extreme, blood, gore, cannibalism
💥death, murder
💥captivity
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy unhinged plot twist!
It’s the ultimate psychological whiplash—completely flipping the script on traditional horror. After surviving a literal human chopping block, Sadie runs straight into a new threat. Unbeknownst to her, Fox and Deacon are yet another pair of dangerous predators. Only these men want to eat her up in the most delicious, sinful ways. Watching them find a bizarrely tender happily-ever-after is absolute madness. It sounds impossible, but honestly? It completely works.
* Please, for the love of God, check the trigger warnings—unless you're actively looking for a side of psychological damage.*
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advanced copy.
It’s the ultimate psychological whiplash—completely flipping the script on traditional horror. After surviving a literal human chopping block, Sadie runs straight into a new threat. Unbeknownst to her, Fox and Deacon are yet another pair of dangerous predators. Only these men want to eat her up in the most delicious, sinful ways. Watching them find a bizarrely tender happily-ever-after is absolute madness. It sounds impossible, but honestly? It completely works.
* Please, for the love of God, check the trigger warnings—unless you're actively looking for a side of psychological damage.*
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advanced copy.
June 13, 2026
It’s easy for me to get completely absorbed in a horror story. I was hesitant because of the trigger “animal violence”, but “she doesn’t die!” next to the trigger, was important for me.
First of all, I love emotional support Pearl and Sally!
Add two hot, dangerous MMC’s to that mix and you get a chaotic, dark story full of chemistry.
Sadie-Rae is a feisty female, very stubborn and selfish, but you have to love her sarcasm.
Throughout the story, you are not sure if she really doesn't know or just doesn't want to know. Her confusion and inner struggle over what she wants are intertwined with disappointments from her past. Sometimes you long for something so much that you don't see what is happening.
First of all, I love emotional support Pearl and Sally!
Add two hot, dangerous MMC’s to that mix and you get a chaotic, dark story full of chemistry.
Sadie-Rae is a feisty female, very stubborn and selfish, but you have to love her sarcasm.
Throughout the story, you are not sure if she really doesn't know or just doesn't want to know. Her confusion and inner struggle over what she wants are intertwined with disappointments from her past. Sometimes you long for something so much that you don't see what is happening.
June 14, 2026
I was so sad when the Pleasure and Prey series came to an end. This book more than lifted my spirits. A.J., I was not ready. This book is amazing! I was hooked and all in. Once, I started reading, I was addicted. I could not stop reading until the end.
Can we talk about Fox and Deacon. Fox is more of the levelheaded one. Deacon is the reason that women choose the bear and not the man. He is so unhinged, but he has this cocky side to him that you don't want to fall for him, but I am a sucker for a cocky guy.
Sadie-Rae is definitely the "final girl" in the horror movies. She is spunky and never gives up. I laughed out loud when she said she was "trauma-bonded" to the chainsaw, she had used.
This book is top notch reading! A.J. at her finest. A "killer" must read!
Can we talk about Fox and Deacon. Fox is more of the levelheaded one. Deacon is the reason that women choose the bear and not the man. He is so unhinged, but he has this cocky side to him that you don't want to fall for him, but I am a sucker for a cocky guy.
Sadie-Rae is definitely the "final girl" in the horror movies. She is spunky and never gives up. I laughed out loud when she said she was "trauma-bonded" to the chainsaw, she had used.
This book is top notch reading! A.J. at her finest. A "killer" must read!
June 15, 2026
I devoured this in one sitting! Literally could not stop turning the page to see what happens next. I absolutely loved this book! I will say to definitely check your trigger warnings prior to reading this as it discusses sensitive topics and goes into detail regarding certain situations (IYKYK).
Loved the dynamics between the characters.... even laughed out loud a couple of times. I also loved that this book was in the same universe as the Pleasure and Prey novels (my favorite series by A.J.). The spice was spicy!!! Wonderfully done! I will say that I felt that the female characters acceptance of certain situations seemed a bit rushed in the end after her trying to escape soooo many times but overall great read.
Loved the dynamics between the characters.... even laughed out loud a couple of times. I also loved that this book was in the same universe as the Pleasure and Prey novels (my favorite series by A.J.). The spice was spicy!!! Wonderfully done! I will say that I felt that the female characters acceptance of certain situations seemed a bit rushed in the end after her trying to escape soooo many times but overall great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews