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Lovesick
Mark Murray loves his girlfriend, Rebecca Lucio, but she doesn’t love him. She believes their love has withered away and she has already fallen for another man, but she struggles to formally end her relationship with Mark. But Mark knows everything already—the lies, the deceit, the cheating. He has a plan to punish Rebecca in the most violent, disgusting way possible. He is going to make her sick... unbelievably sick. Jon Athan, the author of Dr. Sadist and Scattershot, reinvents the definition of ‘lovesick’ in this disgusting, gag-inducing, and extremely violent horror novel. This novel contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 709 reviews
December 5, 2021
Three words: Disgusting. Twisted. Vile.
This is not for everyone. You will never be able to unsee or unread the atrocities depicted in this book so I advise you to tread carefully.
Rebecca is not in love with Mark anymore. And although she is unhappy, she can’t seem to break up with him. But unbeknownst to her, Mark already knows about the cheating. And he is planning to punish her. In the dirtiest, sickest way possible.
In truth, I despise cheaters, I think that they’re horrible human beings and they deserve a special kind of retribution for their offence but— I don’t think I could ever physically torture or purposely infect them with the worst case of pestilence or malady. I mean, OK, you’re hurt, accept it, go through it, walk away and then move on. You don’t have to be a terrible person or worse, a murderer to make a point.
Overall, this is a great book. I enjoyed it more than I have to, weirdly enough. Jon Athan can be nasty, but like, a very good kind of nasty if that makes sense.
Think twice before reading this. How I managed not to throw up while reading this is beyond me. If you’re brave enough, enjoy the pus and guts.
This is not for everyone. You will never be able to unsee or unread the atrocities depicted in this book so I advise you to tread carefully.
Rebecca is not in love with Mark anymore. And although she is unhappy, she can’t seem to break up with him. But unbeknownst to her, Mark already knows about the cheating. And he is planning to punish her. In the dirtiest, sickest way possible.
In truth, I despise cheaters, I think that they’re horrible human beings and they deserve a special kind of retribution for their offence but— I don’t think I could ever physically torture or purposely infect them with the worst case of pestilence or malady. I mean, OK, you’re hurt, accept it, go through it, walk away and then move on. You don’t have to be a terrible person or worse, a murderer to make a point.
Overall, this is a great book. I enjoyed it more than I have to, weirdly enough. Jon Athan can be nasty, but like, a very good kind of nasty if that makes sense.
Think twice before reading this. How I managed not to throw up while reading this is beyond me. If you’re brave enough, enjoy the pus and guts.
Read
August 8, 2023Going back to my romantasy books because wtf was this…
January 14, 2023
✦ didn't love it, didn't hate it. it was definitely very sick and disgusting, but that's basically the only impressions this left on me. i was left craving something a little more at the end.
May 2, 2021
This is a story about love gone very wrong. After being cheated on by his girlfriend, meek Mark develops a cold and increasingly vicious personality. He plans out his revenge carefully, to the fullest extent of cruelty. His plans are repulsive, chilling and extreme, to the point where I almost had to look away from the pages. Eventually Mark's plans morph into an even wider playing zone. There are some dangerous people out there - let's hope we never come into any kind of contact with them. This was a disturbing and heart-rending book.
July 31, 2022
I will never eat fast food again.
December 30, 2020
This book sure is twisted. A dude finds out his girlfriend is cheating on him, so he makes her pay. The book begins and dude is trying to buy blood from an HIV patient..and that's the calm part of the revenge.
The female I'm this book suffered in ways that I found quite incredible.
This isn't my fave Jon Athan book, but I still really enjoyed it
The female I'm this book suffered in ways that I found quite incredible.
This isn't my fave Jon Athan book, but I still really enjoyed it
October 9, 2022
Lovesick is the story of a man named Mark. He finds out his gf Rebecca is cheating with his friend Nick. Mark not only is motivated by getting revenge on Rebecca but to keep love out from the world itself. This was a great book overall but the end felt very drawn out and far fetched. Still 4⭐️ because the idea itself was scary and well portrayed until the last 2/3 chapters.
March 24, 2024
I'm still waiting to read another Jon Athan book that matches the awesomeness of The Groomer, as this unfortunately didn't do the trick. You have to suspend your disbelief when enjoying any form of entertainment, but this takes the cake in terms of outrageous character progression. Main character Mark is in love with his girlfriend Rebecca, but she's in love with someone else. So he decides to become a violent torture-obsessed fiend who wants to turn his girlfriend into a walking STD. This wasn't terrible by any means, but I wouldn't recommend it to most. If you're dying to read an extreme horror book or if you're in the mood for something by this author, this isn't the worst option, but there are better ways to spend your time. I give this a 3/5.
March 18, 2021
I would give it zero stars if it would let me.
October 28, 2023
Absolutely disgusting...But I loved it 😷😷 I will never eat, from a fast food restaurant.Jon Athan is seriously dark author.
November 4, 2024
this is just disgusting LMAO
June 5, 2022
Lovesick fell a bit short for me. The characters didn't make a whole lot of sense and the timeline seemed really odd throughout the book.
It seemed odd to me that a man with no violent tendencies, weak for all intents and purposes, would flip a switch and suddenly become an absolute psychopath just from finding out his girlfriend was cheating on him. The lengths that he went to punish Rebecca just seemed oddly extreme for the "crime" and it just didn't make sense to me. His "If I can't have love then no one can" attitude seemed misplaced and a haphazard way to end Mark's story.
Despite everything that happened to Rebecca, I only felt a distant sense of pity for her. Her character was flat and I didn't really get a good sense of who she was other than that she couldn't bear to break up with her boyfriend even though she didn't love him anymore and was cheating. I would have liked for her character to have more depth so that her apology in the end had more impact. Mark had irrational character growth....he went from practically one extreme to another with no explanation of how he got there.
It also seemed weird to me that it took the police 2 weeks after Rebecca was reported missing to talk to her boyfriend. I'm assuming they'd have talked to her employer and coworkers at the start of the investigation and found out that she was with her boyfriend last so why did it take so long to talk to him?
I expected this book to be twisted; I expected it to be foul; I expected it to be absolutely disgusting. It checked all those boxes and then some, but it just didn't make sense in the end.
It seemed odd to me that a man with no violent tendencies, weak for all intents and purposes, would flip a switch and suddenly become an absolute psychopath just from finding out his girlfriend was cheating on him. The lengths that he went to punish Rebecca just seemed oddly extreme for the "crime" and it just didn't make sense to me. His "If I can't have love then no one can" attitude seemed misplaced and a haphazard way to end Mark's story.
Despite everything that happened to Rebecca, I only felt a distant sense of pity for her. Her character was flat and I didn't really get a good sense of who she was other than that she couldn't bear to break up with her boyfriend even though she didn't love him anymore and was cheating. I would have liked for her character to have more depth so that her apology in the end had more impact. Mark had irrational character growth....he went from practically one extreme to another with no explanation of how he got there.
It also seemed weird to me that it took the police 2 weeks after Rebecca was reported missing to talk to her boyfriend. I'm assuming they'd have talked to her employer and coworkers at the start of the investigation and found out that she was with her boyfriend last so why did it take so long to talk to him?
I expected this book to be twisted; I expected it to be foul; I expected it to be absolutely disgusting. It checked all those boxes and then some, but it just didn't make sense in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2023
As a former sexual health educator who read this book, I’d like to leave you with some facts instead of a review:
- The likelihood of spreading Gonorrhea or Chlamydia via separate uses of a sex toy are highly unlikely.
- HIV can produce flu-like symptoms approximately a month after infection. Oftentimes there are no obvious signs or symptoms. However, if you do contract HIV, you WILL NOT become deathly ill immediately. This takes years, decades to progress into AIDS.
- The HIV virus dies when it comes into contact with oxygen/‘hits the air’. You CANNOT contract HIV from blood that has exited the bloodstream unless it is inside a mucous membrane.
You’ll have to suspend some disbelief for this one. (Like how lucky this guy is just injecting people w/ syringes and he perfectly hits a vein - even tricky ones - every time!? Bffr.)
- The likelihood of spreading Gonorrhea or Chlamydia via separate uses of a sex toy are highly unlikely.
- HIV can produce flu-like symptoms approximately a month after infection. Oftentimes there are no obvious signs or symptoms. However, if you do contract HIV, you WILL NOT become deathly ill immediately. This takes years, decades to progress into AIDS.
- The HIV virus dies when it comes into contact with oxygen/‘hits the air’. You CANNOT contract HIV from blood that has exited the bloodstream unless it is inside a mucous membrane.
You’ll have to suspend some disbelief for this one. (Like how lucky this guy is just injecting people w/ syringes and he perfectly hits a vein - even tricky ones - every time!? Bffr.)
Read
August 24, 2025I don’t want to rate this book. I did finish it and I wouldn’t recommend it
September 29, 2025
This was okay, didn't suck me in but didn't bore me either. Such a grim form of revenge 🤢 some parts felt a bit too unrealistic.
April 29, 2019
Not my cup of tea
I waited several weeks before deciding to write a review. I know that there is quite a bit of work involved in writing a novel and I respect that. But I found this book to be awful.
I am an avid reader of horror, so it takes work to scare or shock me. This book did manage to shock me simply because the violence was so extreme. The scenes are well described but I felt the author was trying to think of ways to shock the reader and it made me feel cheated. This book has no redeeming value. There is no hero, no good guys to save the day. Just a sick individual who has lost his mind.
If you love torture described in detail, then you may enjoy this book. I, unfortunately, hated it.
I waited several weeks before deciding to write a review. I know that there is quite a bit of work involved in writing a novel and I respect that. But I found this book to be awful.
I am an avid reader of horror, so it takes work to scare or shock me. This book did manage to shock me simply because the violence was so extreme. The scenes are well described but I felt the author was trying to think of ways to shock the reader and it made me feel cheated. This book has no redeeming value. There is no hero, no good guys to save the day. Just a sick individual who has lost his mind.
If you love torture described in detail, then you may enjoy this book. I, unfortunately, hated it.
March 24, 2019
Love SICK!!!
He ask...Was it too extreme? Was it gross? Did you research Bartholin’s cysts after reading it?
Omg , Mark turned into such a disgusting weirdo!! Killing people is one thing but he gets slimy gross!! And yes, I couldn’t help myself on that Bartholin Cyst. Couldn’t even finish the paragraph before that had to be checked out.
So no sequel for this one? That’s a shame, I’d like to know what became of old Mark and if he was successful in his goal.
Thanks for another awesome read :)
He ask...Was it too extreme? Was it gross? Did you research Bartholin’s cysts after reading it?
Omg , Mark turned into such a disgusting weirdo!! Killing people is one thing but he gets slimy gross!! And yes, I couldn’t help myself on that Bartholin Cyst. Couldn’t even finish the paragraph before that had to be checked out.
So no sequel for this one? That’s a shame, I’d like to know what became of old Mark and if he was successful in his goal.
Thanks for another awesome read :)
April 20, 2022
Lovesick. Sounds like something that would be the title of a straight-to-DVD teenybopper flick from the early 2000s doesn’t it? Yeah, that’s so not what this is (though perhaps for those with sensitive stomachs—and even those who have already dipped their toes into the extreme horror genre—you’ll likely be wishing it was)
I’ve been told, ad nauseam, to check out Jon Athan’s work–and I finally did. HOOO BOY do I now want to take stretch classes and kick myself in the face for not getting to his stuff sooner. While most extreme horror books are content with throwing entrails and meaty human remains at your face, Athan is more concerned with actually scaring you (fret not, this book does get pretty gnarly).
This isn’t comical splatterpunk--this is pitch-black, harrowing stuff. Stuff that will make you question your morals for seeking it out in the first place. I’ll have you know that I devoured in a matter of hours.
This story is about Mark, a man seeking vengeance against his cheating bitch girlfriend and the dipshit she’s fucking on the side. The book opens up with him collecting what he needs to enact this revenge–believe me, you’ll gasp early on (and often). This is a story about revenge on the kind of person you’d definitely want to see vengeance being enacted upon. However, Mark’s brand of retribution is so cruel that you may find yourself second-guessing the catharsis you hope to feel.
What makes this book so dark and chilling is that we’re with Mark every step of the way. We stand next to him as he rationalizes his every move, plans it out, and executes it (don’t expect fades to black–we’re there for the whole thing). I actually found the planning to be more disturbing than the actual torture.
Blood and guts is one thing, but the brand of torture here is a long-lasting exercise in psychological damage and Cronenbergian body horror with repugnant sexual craving weaved in. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
P.S. My days of eating in fast food restaurants are over. Thanks for pushing me to the clean eating lifestyle, Jon.
I’ve been told, ad nauseam, to check out Jon Athan’s work–and I finally did. HOOO BOY do I now want to take stretch classes and kick myself in the face for not getting to his stuff sooner. While most extreme horror books are content with throwing entrails and meaty human remains at your face, Athan is more concerned with actually scaring you (fret not, this book does get pretty gnarly).
This isn’t comical splatterpunk--this is pitch-black, harrowing stuff. Stuff that will make you question your morals for seeking it out in the first place. I’ll have you know that I devoured in a matter of hours.
This story is about Mark, a man seeking vengeance against his cheating bitch girlfriend and the dipshit she’s fucking on the side. The book opens up with him collecting what he needs to enact this revenge–believe me, you’ll gasp early on (and often). This is a story about revenge on the kind of person you’d definitely want to see vengeance being enacted upon. However, Mark’s brand of retribution is so cruel that you may find yourself second-guessing the catharsis you hope to feel.
What makes this book so dark and chilling is that we’re with Mark every step of the way. We stand next to him as he rationalizes his every move, plans it out, and executes it (don’t expect fades to black–we’re there for the whole thing). I actually found the planning to be more disturbing than the actual torture.
Blood and guts is one thing, but the brand of torture here is a long-lasting exercise in psychological damage and Cronenbergian body horror with repugnant sexual craving weaved in. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
P.S. My days of eating in fast food restaurants are over. Thanks for pushing me to the clean eating lifestyle, Jon.
April 22, 2020
(from original missing Amazon review)
Jon Athan "reinvents the definition of ‘lovesick’"!
And he does it soo violently that it turned my stomach a few times! 👍 Good Job! Haha!
I highly recommend this to everyone, but an extra special recommendation to anyone going through a nasty break-up 💔 You'll feel much better!
I'd be a little worried about the author (from this story) if I didn't read his letters to his readers in every book. Since we know he's head over heels in love with his fiance, and getting married soon, it just proves once again what an amazing and versatile writer he truly is.
But - I wonder if she's read this one...🤔
Just teasing, Jon! Congratulations, again!
I'm impatiently waiting the wrap-up in Lovelorn, (and, of course, Do Not Disturb, just cuz it's going to be great!).
Jon Athan "reinvents the definition of ‘lovesick’"!
And he does it soo violently that it turned my stomach a few times! 👍 Good Job! Haha!
I highly recommend this to everyone, but an extra special recommendation to anyone going through a nasty break-up 💔 You'll feel much better!
I'd be a little worried about the author (from this story) if I didn't read his letters to his readers in every book. Since we know he's head over heels in love with his fiance, and getting married soon, it just proves once again what an amazing and versatile writer he truly is.
But - I wonder if she's read this one...🤔
Just teasing, Jon! Congratulations, again!
I'm impatiently waiting the wrap-up in Lovelorn, (and, of course, Do Not Disturb, just cuz it's going to be great!).
March 21, 2019
This is one of the most putrid, vile, sick, disgusting, nauseating and disturbingly-realistic books I have read in quite some time. And, I mean that in a completely complimentary way! If you don't have a strong stomach, keep your chuck bucket close!
The places that Athan’s literary mind goes to scares the crap out of me... And, I loved every single minute of every single page!!! So, I don't know whose head is more messed up... Mine? Or His?
The places that Athan’s literary mind goes to scares the crap out of me... And, I loved every single minute of every single page!!! So, I don't know whose head is more messed up... Mine? Or His?
March 29, 2020
I should give this book 0 stars. Its likely the worst book I've ever read. The writing is shockingly horrible. The story is SO-SO but goes off the rails at the end.
Whatever, I'm giving 4 stars because who cares what I think? Lol The author puts out a lot of books, has a fan base and is enthusiastic about his work. That deserves praise 👏
Whatever, I'm giving 4 stars because who cares what I think? Lol The author puts out a lot of books, has a fan base and is enthusiastic about his work. That deserves praise 👏
June 19, 2022
3.5 I’m traumatized and never eating again now thanks
February 12, 2023
Another master peace, a truly disturbing read. I just got into extreme horror books this year & Jon Athan was my first author & I’m hooked. He’s way of writing his books it’s truly captivating.
March 15, 2024
Well, I’m going to go and read the Bible now.
September 4, 2024
A disturbing yet incredibly fascinating read for those who enjoy splatterpunk. The MMC seeks over-the-top revenge after being cheated on, and his “revenge” is truly horrific.
January 8, 2025
3 words: disgusting, unhinged, vile
August 20, 2025
Disturbing but made me think… do not read this if you’re faint of the heart… plenty of triggers but damn.. I couldn’t put the book down. I never want to be lovesick. 💔
December 31, 2020
Finally, a book that came through with my request for recommendations.
This one right here, is special folks. But brilliant at the same time.
Mark Murray. Poor guy. He just wanted some love ... from his girlfriend, for crying out loud. Is that too much to ask? He's a pretty calm guy, despite it all. Goes on with his day with a smile. Still treats his woman like the love of his life. True devotion.
In fact... he's so sick in love with her.. it only made sense to try and make her sick in love with him too. Got to give it your best chance, right?
Does it end with a HEA?
....I mean, he was pretty happy with all his decision.
*4 stars. I rank this book dark grey... but disturbingly good*
This one right here, is special folks. But brilliant at the same time.
Mark Murray. Poor guy. He just wanted some love ... from his girlfriend, for crying out loud. Is that too much to ask? He's a pretty calm guy, despite it all. Goes on with his day with a smile. Still treats his woman like the love of his life. True devotion.
In fact... he's so sick in love with her.. it only made sense to try and make her sick in love with him too. Got to give it your best chance, right?
Does it end with a HEA?
....I mean, he was pretty happy with all his decision.
*4 stars. I rank this book dark grey... but disturbingly good*
August 26, 2024
Why did I wait so long to read this author? This is a new favourite for me!
This was the perfect balance of psychological horror and 'eww' horror for my taste. I thought that the story idea was quite original, putting a not-so-common twist on an unfortunately common base. I also really liked Athan's unusually clinical writing style. I don't know if this is always how he writes, but I found it particularly fitting for the protagonist's personality.
This was the perfect balance of psychological horror and 'eww' horror for my taste. I thought that the story idea was quite original, putting a not-so-common twist on an unfortunately common base. I also really liked Athan's unusually clinical writing style. I don't know if this is always how he writes, but I found it particularly fitting for the protagonist's personality.
March 28, 2019
Sickening
Wow i was sickened but couldn't stop reading. I loved how grotesque it made me feel my stomach was churning my legs gripped toes curled at some of the passages but a brilliant read especially if you are into the full gore and extreme reads. Most definitely recommend to fellow extreme readers.
Wow i was sickened but couldn't stop reading. I loved how grotesque it made me feel my stomach was churning my legs gripped toes curled at some of the passages but a brilliant read especially if you are into the full gore and extreme reads. Most definitely recommend to fellow extreme readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 709 reviews