He Who Haunts Me

by Kenna Bellrae

“You don’t realize this,” his voice was softer. “But you’re looking at me in fear."
"Do I scare you, Bexley Laughtery?”
I shook my head.
“I don’t believe you.”

Bexley Laughtery lives a very unassuming life in Old Oaks, where secrets fast become dangerous. Unease grows as women are found murdered. Trails run cold for Detective Bishop as he is cuffed with bureaucracy trying to piece the city back together. While some believe they know the party responsible, every new answer leads to further questions. Bexley and other students keep a watchful eye as they participate in fraternity games and social politics.
When she finds herself in the camera’s flash, Bexley soon discovers everything comes at a price when the monster they're looking for lurks closer than she could ever imagine.

The game is survival. Things get complicated when romance, friendship, and loyalty get involved – and they aren’t playing fair.

He Who Haunts Me is intended for audiences 18 years or older as a New Adult romantic thriller novel. While not a dark romance between our leading characters, this novel does contain dark themes and triggering content for some. This novel has explicit scenes unsuited for minors, and parents/guardians should take caution before purchasing. A full list for content and trigger warnings is available.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Thriller, Contemporary, Smut, Romantic Suspense

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Emma McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just wanted to start off by thanking KB for allowing me the privilege to read this book as an ARC!!

I really wanted to love this. I really did. And I tried so hard. I just feel like there were some things I couldn't get past.
1. The romance between Jai and Bex felt extremely rushed and forced to me. They had no chemistry in the beginning and barely spoke to each other, and then it feels like very quickly they suddenly were super into each other and were obsessed with each other. There wasn't any build up. It kind of just felt like they were thrown together for the sake of plot.
2. All of the characters also felt very flat to me. There wasn't much character development or background information that would allow me to connect with the characters. I feel like sometimes something about their past would be revealed randomly and then it would never come into play again. Jai's criminal record was mentioned what seemed like a lot, and beyond that making him a suspect in the very beginning (which was pretty quickly ruled out) it had no relevance to me.
3. The smut. Some of it was okay. I think I mostly struggled with it because of the fact that J & B didn't have any chemistry, especially in the beginning. It felt forced. The ghost face thing was ??? It only came up a few times in the beginning mostly, and it felt like it was just a plot device to continue making Jai a potential suspect in the murders.
4. The murder mystery. I could see it coming from a mile away. The build up was there, so at least the reveal wasn't completely out of nowhere. But I predicted it very easily.
5. Jai getting shot. I can understand the need for it, so I support the fact that it's in there. From a medical perspective though, the idea that he could be shot in the chest, undergo emergency surgery, and be extubated shortly after is just...not correct. The recovery was rushed to the point that it didn't make sense to me. It was really frustrating.

I think this book had the potential to be really good, but I just couldn't get past some of this stuff.

EDIT: I think it's important to note that shortly after posting this review I was kicked out and banned from the authors Facebook ARC reader group. As an ARC reader it was important to me to give my honest feedback, and my intention was never to offend but honest feedback is important and was asked for. The author herself has given other books 1-2 star reviews to other authors, so I know she understands that.

[Huda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
1.5/5 🔥
Ohhh-kay this was good😏

Even in a disheveled state, she was the brightest part of life.
The sun was no competition.
The moon was jealous.
The stars were too late.

First of all this book was enjoyable. This rating is based off my enjoyment. It kept me on the edge of my seat, made my heart rush more than few times and made me feel for the main characters.

Bexley is an awkward quiet girl at school. We get few hints that she had a traumatic past including her relationship with her ex.
Jai is mysterious hot looking bad boy. He got piercing and tattoos on his body his height is mentioned too long to be true so it kinda cringed me ngl.

Now both of them are just high-schoolers but both have a secret crush on eachother for a ... long time. And whenever they are close there is tension and oh so much tension. There relationship was just so well done. It sort of felt rushed but I liked it.

KSJKSJDKS THE GHOST FACE MASK SCENE!!!!! OMG I NEED A GHOST FACE MASK GUY.😭 Yes I have a kink for it but in this book oohOoo it was 🤌🤌

But the problem is that there is a serial killer who is murdering girls and boys around the town and on every scene he/she is leaving few picture of Bexley. We know he/she is doing those kills in the name of Bexley but why and who is he/she?

This book made me guess that so many people were the serial killer and I was oh so wrong about each one of them😭. But the ending was a bit disappointing.

This was a very quick read we don't get too much depth in side characters or the main characters just few hints about their past and all which was fine to me.

I wanted more from Jai and Bexley's relationship. That epilogue was cherry on top.

If you want to read something light with some mystery and darkness it's a perfect read for you💕

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to beta read for this novel, and watching its progression has been an absolute pleasure. This is a review of the ARC edition. Note that He Who Haunts Me is a romantic thriller; however there is no moral ambiguity with regard to the protagonists and no darkness within the love story itself. The conflict is external to the main characters.

I may be biased (I am), but Kenna's writing is incredible, especially her first time out the gate. I know that she has lived and breathed these characters for over a year, and the care she has for Bexley and Jaiden is palpable. The core characters have a history which is conveyed effectively without taking the reader through too many flashbacks (there are a handful of time hops sprinkled throughout, but nothing too jarring), and Bexley's own distractions are enough that it does become believable that she would fail to recognize her masked suitor and classmate as the same person, despite his 6'6" height.

Reading Jaiden and having watched the writing process, I can understand what makes some authors fall for their own creations. Jai is in many ways your classic, broody, tall-dark-and-handsome with a hint of bad boy history, but he's also intelligent and focused, and when it comes to Bexley, he is nothing but loving and protective. There's no relationship angst here; no Darcy/Elizabeth spatting or Jane/Rochester secrets to dig up. The point of contention throughout this story truly is the murder mystery and Bex's safety. Not to say that the relationship is secondary, because it isn't; however rather than being a source of conflict for our protagonists, it's the thread that binds everything together.

In addition to alternating Bex's and Jai's points of view, there are also sections from the perspectives of Detective Noah Bishop, who works the case of the murders as they unfold, and the killer. These are weaved just as effectively throughout the story as Bex's and Jai's chapters, and the mix of POV does an effective job of reminding the reader that even though something horrible is happening, these characters are still young and still have to get through day-to-day life while chaos is happening around them. The world doesn't stop turning just because it becomes inconvenient.

[Special note regarding Chapter 3: a content warning will appear prior to this section--this chapter depicts graphic violence, and it is not necessary to understanding the characters or the rest of the story. Events in this chapter are handled elsewhere in less detail; this chapter does serve as a look inside the mind of the killer. It can be skipped without affecting understanding of the story.]

The love Kenna Bellrae has for this story and these characters is evident, and *that* makes for a fantastic reading experience. So, while I may have a bias with regard to the author, I did truly enjoy this book. It's always a bit nerve wracking to engage with the creative endeavors of someone you care about, but that was not a problem here. I loved this story, I love Jai and Bex and Mari (Bex's best friend), and I cannot wait to see where Kenna goes from here. Phenomenal debut.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️/3🌶

thank you KB and team for graciously sending me this ARC. these are my honest thoughts and opinions on He Who Haunts Me:

YALL WHAT A TRIP THIS BOOK WAS HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT.

i was very intrigued from the beginning. the way it opens has you questioning so many things and piecing together certain factoids to figure out what’s going on…and YALL I REALLY TRIED PLAYING LITTLE MISS DETECTIVE AND I REALLY THOUGHT I HAD IT FIGURED OUT LMFAOOO. idk what i was thinking 😂

Bexley is our FMC and at the beginning of the story is a junior at Monarch Ridge University. she’s an intriguing character in the way we don’t know much about her in the beginning. but there are signs alluding to a traumatic past. she is the daughter of the Attorney General but it feels like she wants to go against what that means for her in terms of how she’s meant to act ya know? she’s a student studying criminal psychology, which i thought was fitting for the trajectory of the story.

Jai is our MMC who is this mysterious guy who has been dubbed a social pariah because he doesn’t really stand with the crowds and has a troubled past. oh and did i mention this man is tatted and pierced to the gods? 😈 i love when characters are written so well i wish they were real and i knew them IRL. i loved his backstory so much it made me melt 😭. gosh i just wanna give him a hug.

most of the story takes place around Halloween so there are lots of Halloween parties and a whole lot of Ghostface 😈👀. i loved loved loved it. Jai? CHEFS KISS PEOPLE. CHEFS KISS. god it was hot…SO hot…im freaking out writing this 😂. i want a Mr. Ghostface 😂. anyway…💀

god i loved Bex and Jai’s relationship. everything moved really fast but i have a feeling there’s a reason and i won’t share cos that would be giving away all the fun. however, it all worked out here. Jai is an absolute S.I.M.P. which makes me love him even more. i think there are so many scenes that will make y’all love these two but my favorite has to be the scene with the rings and that’s all i will say. honestly this whole thing had me screaming bcos of how cute and hot it all was 😂.

when i tell you this story moved fast, we moved fast and i loved it. bcos there really didn’t feel like there was a dull moment. when i tell you i read Chapter 3 (i think it was) MY JAW MET THE FLOOR. bcos i swear to christ i really thought…i can’t give anything away but girl…miss KB threw me for a LOOP. i really thought…wheeeewww my goodness…anyway….

i loved Mari who is Bex’s best friend. she was great and like a true friend i think we all wished we had or are grateful we have someone like her. like she is a top tier best friend.

i liked how we got the different POVs from characters besides Bex and Jai…my favorite besides theirs was for sure the antagonist bcos lord have mercy he is FUXKED UP. PSYCHOTIC bcos he’s literally a serial unaliver but the thing is…we don’t know who it is of course until the end. his first POV chapter i think is so perfectly placed bcos i really thought i knew who it was but then of course as the story progressed, my theories went out the window.

the ending will forever have my heart 💜

i could really continue but i think y’all get the idea that i really enjoyed this book.

CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS PEOPLE. WE HAVE A GRUESOME UNALIVING W SA/RAPE EARLY ON(ON PAGE). AND VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to thank Kenna and her team immensely for allowing me to be a part of the journey and being able to read an ARC of this book! The facebook group is amazing, you respond quickly and everyone is so fun and nice. It was also a pleasure to see your updates, especially with Jai's character, gosh he's cute asf. So happy that your book is being published!!!!!



But anyways.. unto the review....

"Even in a disheveled state, she was the brightest part of my life. The sun was no competition. The moon was jealous. The stars were too late"

This book started off with a teaser, having the gears of your mind already wondering what is happening? Who are they speaking about?

At first, I thought, a certain thing and suspected a certain person, but as the book progressed, I kept going back and forth. Like, I had an inkling as to the antagonist but then the book made me doubt myself so much I swear!

Now, let me just talk about Jai for a moment. Like, can I get him IRL please? He is THE CUTEST GUY EVER. And this guy is not afraid to show his emotions. He had me just SCREAMING with his adorablenessssss!! Is that even a word? Who cares! and the way he is just obsessed with her. Did I mention he's freaking ADORABLE and hot as hell!

"I wasn't above begging her to touch me again"

"I'll never be on my knees for anyone other than you"

He's so cute I can't -



Guys, if you know how many piercings and where he got A LOT of piercing to.... my ...oh..my... I can only imagine... what a dream.

If you couldn't tell already, my favorite parts of the book were in his pov. Simply, immaculate.

As for Bexley, I loved how she was not any weak FMC, kinda very oblivious to knowing when people like her (reminded me of myself ngl) and she's just, perfect for Jai. And what she did, at the end? Okay, sis! No hesitation I loved it!

I love how both characters were written and, - quick mention and respect to the old man that helped Jai in his darkest times. the backgrounds were solid, the characters developed, a decent amount of spice. The chemistry between Jai and Bex was really good and I actually felt the comfort that they were to each other.

Bex's best friend Mari is one of my favorite characters. She was so supportive and always looked out for Bex, coming in at just the right times as well.

Loved how it had multiple POVs, especially the killer, where we got a little insight as to what they were thinking. Would have liked to get more of their pov ngl but then that may have spoiled the mystery. Absolutely loved the little mystery as I did an air fist bump when I realized I WAS RIGHT as to who it was!

All in all, this quick read was amazing, and a breath of fresh air from what I mostly read. Had a cuteness overload and I definitely want a Jai in my life.

Before I close I must say, I think I have developed a mask kink. Always loved masks, but reading this book, definitely stirred something within me.

Now for the closing~
"I would've gone out and bought every star, every planet, every universe I could find for you that day. The day you fell into my life was the day every dark and miserable part felt worth the pain."

[Melanie Horner · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.🫑

Okay…where I do start?

This book had me at masked men and hooked me with murder.
Yes, I know. HoW CoUlD yOU rEaD sOmEtHiNg LiKe tHaT?!

Hush. If you’re an avid dark romance reader then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

We begin with a study group of college students that have history since high school. Not all of the history is positive and some of them have only briefly crossed paths prior. But college is a big place and sometimes you gravitate towards familiar faces.

When we start with Jai and Bex in the library with all the TENSION. Please! Those two were killing me, we all love a good pining moment. Give me two quiet types that are secretly crushing over each other any day!
They’ve known each other since high school but haven’t interacted much, they were in different social circles and Jai had a rough upbringing marking him as a bit of a delinquent.

Bexley was so relatable. The awkward, quiet girl who is too nice for her own good. She would rather hide then make awkward conversation with the guy who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.

“It was the lowest moment of my college career because instead of waving back, I hit the floor. I hid behind random shelves and crawled along the wall. As I crept, I leaned up to check each door for an unlocked handle.”

I mean let’s be honest, who hasn’t wanted to hide instead of talking to creeps, making forced piloted conversation?!

And then add Ghostface to the mix and I was deceased. Like D E A D. He was a guy who knew what he wanted and was damn HOT while he did it 🥵

“So, are we going to make this a tradition?” His voice cut through the music, and I faced him. “What?” I didn’t have time to fully process his question before he captured me and threw me across his shoulder with my ass high in the air. “Ghost! What are you doing?!” He swatted my ass in response and picked up his pace toward the staircase.”

Then while all of this is happening there’s a masked serial killer on campus. And we get POVs of the Killer as we go along, trying to figure out who it was was driving me crazy.

I’ll be honest though, Chapter 3 had me going What. The. F**k.
I’ve read a lot of messed up shit, but that was dark and disturbed, it really gave you the mindset of the killer

This was one of the best reads I’ve had this month. I loved the characters, the inner monologues had me laughing and rolling my eyes with them. All their sarcastic remarks and possessiveness.
I want to read this again for the first time. I love Bex and Jai, Jai is a big old simp for Bex and I am here for it. He had me melting into a puddle every time his inner monologue came on the page thinking of her.

10/10 I recommend you guys read this.


Check TWs/CWs for this guys. This does have mentions of DV, SA, murder, violence very early on.

✨received as an arc and am willingly giving my review✨

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an Advanced Review Copy I received to give an honest review
"Safe word is sequel."

I wanted to love this book a lot more than I did, but my dislike also could have stemmed from brain fog from my last book.

The Characters
Bex: I felt like I didn't know a whole lot about Bex as a character, like her interests or hobbies. I just kind of knew the very basics of her as a person, more of an outline of her than anything. It was as though the outer edges were in focus, but the rest of her as a character was very 2 dimensional.

Jai: I feel very similarly to Jai as I did with Bex. I felt like I knew a few generalized things about him but nothing in depth.

Storyline
Honestly, I was a little lost for a while as to what was going on between Jai and Bex because I wasn't sure when they began liking each other. There was no build up to them being confused, there was no history between them to make me understand what was going on. I enjoyed the plotline of the killer and who it was but between being confused as to what was happening with Jai and Bex and also all the extra character names that were thrown at me, I was very confused most of the time.

Things I Loved
I really enjoyed the spice scenes. They were well written and fun for me.

Things I Didn't Love
I didn't love how there was little context to Bex and Jai's history for it to make a whole lot of sense. I also didn't love how there were so many side characters and names. I got confused a bit.

The Final Verdict
I enjoyed this book honestly, I just think it is my brain not properly functioning after the last book. I will probably come back and reread this one to get a better feel.

[Alise Everton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to take a moment and offer my appreciation to KB and her team! I received the ARC for He Who Haunts Me and I absolutely ate it up. Before we get started keep in mind this book contains sensitive topics, so before reading please check the trigger warnings.

Jumping straight into this piece, I can confidently say it’s a fun read especially for spooky season. I was consumed from the very beginning and felt the characters were relatable. I grew attached to the characters very easily and ended up falling completely in love with them.

This story follows a few different perspectives as well as a mystery on the serial killer that is stalking one of the main characters. The mystery behind who the serial killer is was hidden in plain sight and it went right over my head! I had so much fun following along and trying to figure it out. It lead me to people I considered and then it ended up being someone completely different. There were chills, steamy moments, and mystery. It was truly a fun read! Overall I would give this book 5 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mimiorphee]

DNF @33%
Another book that doesn't work for me. I can't connect with the characters, nor can I feel any chemistry between them.
The storytelling doesn't work for me. I am not interested in reading mundane conversations between young people at the college library.
I can't get into the story, which disappoints me because I had expectations about this series.

[alexa ༉‧₊˚✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR AND A HALF STARS

“The day you fell into my life was the day every dark and miserable part felt worth the pain.”

This book had me screaming and crying I loved it so much. Jaiden Wells is the love of my life and there is no replacing him. I had been wanting to read this book since its release, but I finally got my hands on it, and I kid you not I read it in literally a day. It was so addicting I couldn’t put my kindle down; I absolutely fell in love with Jai and Bex.

Jaiden Wells is everything I love in a book boyfriend, he was obsessed, tall, mysterious, and just so perfect. My favorite thing about Jai was the fact that he showed emotion, I know that’s a low bar, but it was so special to me. He was so open about his emotions and when he started crying it shattered my entire heart. His mannerisms and just all the ways he showed affection had me scream crying I need him right now. And don’t even get me started on the Ghostface mask… I LIVE FOR THE GHOSTFACE MASK!!

Bexley Laughtery is such a softie she deserves the biggest hug. She was so strong the whole book, I was like a proud mother. She could’ve broken so many times, but she never did, and I admired her for it so much. She was so tough and really only let herself feel when around Jai. Bex was so real for having a thing for the Ghostface mask I understand her completely. Bexley was so me coded because I am also a people pleaser and absolutely clueless all the time but it’s okay because I loved her.

I’m not usually an insta-love person but Bex and Jai are a different story. I loved the pace their relationship went because Jai has been infatuated with Bex for a lot longer than she’s known. They were honestly the cutest couple I’ve read about in a while, they had some of the cutest dialogue and their domestic opens have my whole heart.

The whole book you could feel how much Jai loved Bex while she was just so clueless that Jai and Ghostface were the same person. Once she found out though I was so happy that she wasn’t upset over it and accepted Jai and their relationship. Jai cooks for Bex and that is always a winner for me when an author incorporates that small detail.

I completely understand Bex when she asked for Jai to wear the mask. Speaking of, the library scene might’ve just rewired my whole brain, I definitely won’t forget it. Honestly, I probably won’t forget anything about these two, everything about them was exactly what I love.

The murder mystery/stalker plot was also done really well throughout the book which I appreciated because it added a fun edge to the cute romance. Personally, I did figure out who it was pretty quickly, but it didn’t ruin my reading experience at all!

The epilogue made me so happy I love my babies so much. They might just be one of my favorite couples of the year. The epilogue also introduced a love interest for Mari, and I hope she gets a happily ever after. I really loved Mari and her friendship with Jai because she was so supported of him pursuing Bex.

For me, I think the only reason this book wasn’t five stars was because of the fact it was a very quick insta-love that didn’t start with a lot of communication. As well as the ending felt a little rushed, but it wasn’t something that drew me away. I still loved this book a lot and easily looked over it.

Overall, He Who Haunts Me was an amazing debut novel and it would be perfect for a spooky season read. The author, Kenna Bellrae recently announced a sequel, and I am beyond excited to read it, I feel like I’ll be waiting forever.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG 😱
I could not put this book down. I love every bit of it.
This will be a book I read again and again.
I NEED MORE BEX AND JAI.
This is the first ARC I have ever received and the first Book Review I have ever done. But OMG I LOVE THIS! I can not wait to read more from Kenna!
I don't really know what to say about this book without spoilers.
I will never look at a Ghostface mask the same again... In a good way 😈😈😈
Thank you, KB for choosing me to be an ARC Reader I can not wait to see what comes next. 💜

[anneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUTOMATICALLY BECAME MY FAVOURITE BOOK EVER. JAI WELLS IS BOOK BOYFRIEND NUMBER ONE. IM AMAZED BY THE UTTER GENIUS OF THIS STORY. LITERALLYYYYYY OBSESSED.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/24/2023)! 🎁

[Sarah Katzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Who Haunts Me
Kenna Bellrae
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

I just wanted to start off by saying THANK YOU Kenna for allowing me to be an ARC reader. Ever since I saw your TikTok looking for ARC readers I just KNEW I had to read this one, girl you had me hooked before I even had it in my hands. You were so communicative on our Facebook group and I love being part of that community. I was rooting for you everyday and was so excited to see your updates. I cannot WAIT to buy your physical copy, tab out ALL my fave spots and put it on my shelf.

This is a perfect October read. 🎃👻 A Halloween who dunnit it with smut sprinkled in. College kids trying to make it though the day even though chaos is unfolding at every turn, Halloween parties to numb the gruesome reality they are living in, a murder spree that has everyone’s heads turning, Killer Confessions making you scream WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS???? and a determined detective trying to piece it all together to save them all.

Fellow book readers, this story is a roller coaster. I smiled, blushed, mouth gaped, laughed, worried, and wondered while reading this one. Below is your trigger/content warnings. Chapter 3 is 100% optional to skip. But there are some themes/actions through the book that some may feel uncomfortable with. The author does have a CW page that explains things and how they relate to the book specifically calling out CH 3 as not necessary if you are made uncomfortable by certain triggers, thank you Kenna for always putting your readers first.

⚠️ Romantic thriller, un-aliving that is gruesome, serial killer, voyeurismish vibes, possession, SA, violence, and victim recounts that may make some readers uncomfortable.


I loved our FMC Bex, our MMC Jai, and Bex’s BFF Mari. I really enjoyed seeing how each of the characters developed along with their relationships with each other and how their backstories aligned with their character progression. They feel like such REAL people, like I could be friends with them in real life. My favorite part was the multiple POV’s, especially the Killer Confessions. I’m not going to lie I wish there was MORE of the Killer Confession POV but it’s possible that it could’ve gave away too much and would spoil the book. I also am digging the whole alternate Ghost Face piece of the story it really adds to the whodunnit and who are you, like that shit was HOT 🥵 There were parts of this book when I was trying to piece together the clues and then would be straight up distracted at how much of a SIMP Jai is for Bex. This boy made my heart melt. Mari is also the BEST kind of friend I would hope for. She’s so supportive and really cares for Bex. They are definitely a sister from another mister vibe.

The smut in this book really builds as the characters and the plot progresses. There are parts that made me blush and be like DAMN do me like that any day of the week. 😏 But it’s also REALLY comforting that the scenes that do take place between certain characters are built on a foundation of trust/understanding which is very vital to them. I won’t spill who it is but when you read it you will know what I mean.

This is a face paced story but the POV’s are placed perfectly within the timeline of events. I like how the detectives POV adds certain hints to help you figure out who the antagonist is without giving it all away. I would definitely say I thought I knew who the killer was up until 70ish% of the book then it allllll started to fall into place and I had that “Ah ha” moment. I will say with it being fast paced some plot points flew, I felt like I blinked and the scene was over. I had to go back and re-read to make sure I didn’t skip a page. But hey it was an ARC when I read it there’s always room for more development.

Overall I LOVED this book and can’t wait for others to read it. Definitely one of my new faves for sure. Before this read I didn’t really dig the whole “Ghostface” type of story line but DAMN Kenna you added all the details to suck me in and want to love it even more. THANK YOU!

[Amber Velez · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️

review contains no spoilers.
Unbiased review

No, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel! 😈

Let me just start by saying I have never been more excited to review a book. I base reviews on how a book made me feel and don’t let other reviews influence me or sway me one way on my decision. With that being said let’s dive in.

I started and finished He Who Haunts Me in one day. This book played on every SINGLE one of my emotions. I could not put it down. I needed to know what happened next after every single chapter.

The start is based around the FMC Bexley. We are following her during college at Monarch Ridge University. The story is set during Halloween, with a budding serial killer on the rise.

Our MMC is Jai. Let me just say everyone needs a 6’6 edgy man to be our saving grace from men who give us the creeps!!

The story starts off fast and for good reason. This story holds you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Right when they get invited to the hottest party of the year. With a special appearance from none other than Ghost face 🤪.

With the multiple POVS you get a look inside the heads of characters and their internal monologues. I genuinely enjoy a dual or multiple POV book. I love to be inside the characters head.

As you learn about the characters and who they spend their time with, you really start to connect with each one. You can feel how they feel about certain supporting characters.

The relationships; you can REALLY FEEL the emotion.

Some personal takeaways:

The Spotify playlist with notable songs by date and character. I absolutely LOVED THIS!!! As opposed to tossing in a playlist just to fit the vibe. I felt each song related perfectly. It really makes the reader use all of their senses to indulge in this book.

The prologue gave me goosebumps from head to toe. It really grabbed my attention and held it there. It made me want to continue on and find out what was happening!!

Overall; This was so well written I could not get over it. I felt every emotion, every laugh, cry, pain. It took me on every turn and kept me guessing. I genuinely enjoyed it. I will recommend it to EVERYONE who loves a good dark romance.

[Delta DeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, after just finishing this little beaut, I can honestly say that was not what I expected. In the best way. I'll preface my review by stating I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. So here it is.

It's rare that I read a book and feel like I don't know what's going to happen. It's always conflict, resolution, and then happily ever after. In that order. With little filler in between. You always know what's going to happen but this one had me questioning everything from the beginning to the end. And I LOVE that.

For a debut novel this is saying one thing: watch the hell out for this one. After this juicy little morsel I can't see what else Kenna cooks up and serves because I will leave no crumbs.

I will say that I think the first person pov takes away from the strength of the novel. Kenna is such a descriptive, lush writer and her style simply lends better to the third person pov, in my own very humble opinion with limited experience.

It's her ability to write so descriptively, however, that fully draws you into the romance between our main characters. Jai Wells had me by the actual throat from the supply closet on. Call me trash because I will absolutely take myself out for this man. Such a big, beautiful man simping so hard? The noises he makes? The piercings? The intimate moments between him and Bex? Slay me because I'm feral.

And can I just say I'm so excited for a dark romance where the darkness doesn't come directly from the main characters? A thriller where I truly felt thrilled? A mystery that actually evoked mystery? It checks all the boxes. A couple of times.

[Courtney Lavallee · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!!

This book was amazing and deserving of all the stars!

I tripped across Kennas tiktok awhile ago and have been following her content for quite some time, so when she announced she needed ARC readers I knew I had to try. HOLY HELL KENNA YOU DID THAT!!!!! Be sure to check CW/TW before diving into this book when it becomes available. This book is available for preorder already and release date is currently set for November 2022. I will be posting the TW/CW as well as synopsis on my Instagram.

WOW! Where to begin.... Jai is a God, he is what men should thrive to be. While sure there were some things you could perceive as creepy, but it wasn't intended to be that way. We also love a King whose first concern is Consent!! This man could have my whole heart and soul, he treats Bex like a Queen. He isn't afraid to show emotion around her, and slowly lets his vulnerabilities show.

Bex is a badass who has had her fair share of trauma, the moment we met Jai I knew I was going to love their relationship. They are perfect for each other in every way. The way they communicate, the way they look at each other, the trust they put into each other. All these things are beautifully portrayed in this novel and then some. This is a fast burn, we don't have time for slow in here. I loved every second of it and definitely will be rereading this book....over and over and over.

[Kaylin Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, KENNA DID THE DAMN THING. If I could I would give this book a million stars I would have. This is what a debut novel should be!

Kenna, you’re phenomenal and thank you so much for presenting me with the opportunity to receive an Arc copy! 🖤

I was immersed in the book from the very beginning. The beginning sets you up to play detective, and let me tell you, you won’t guess it! I thought I had it down to a T and boy was I WRONG.

There’s a budding serial killer, and while trying to figure out who it is, you get to go on a journey with Jai and Bex. It takes place around Halloween so there’s lots of Halloween parties and a Hot Ghost Face. Who doesn’t love a hot Ghost Face? 😍

Did I mention there’s SPICE? 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶/5. The spice is 🥵🥵🥵.

Jai and Bex are *CHEFS KISS*. GOALS. I rooted for them from the beginning. The relationship development was so well written. The spark between them is AMAZING. I was left wanting more. And if my friends aren’t like Mari, I DONT WANT THEM 🤣. I loved her.

I was left smiling and laughing and blushing 😳 in certain parts. I could not stop reading. I took my kindle with me everywhere and read every chance I got. The ending is EVERYTHING I wanted and more! 🖤

Make sure to check trigger warnings!!

READ THIS BOOK. You won’t be disappointed!

Great great job Kenna! So so proud of you ❤️❤️

[Val_Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

Tropes, Keywords, & Dynamics
Serial killer, College romance

Review
This book was a difficult one for me to finish. It is very hard to write a novella where you're invested in the characters and a worthy story is written in such a short amount of pages. I have read many novellas that do it well, Unfortunately, this book did not.

A lot of the plot seemed incredibly rushed and I was not invested in the characters as much as I wanted to be. I feel it was a lack of character building In the writing. The smut was OK. Nothing too memorable that stood out, I would have loved more tension.

Lastly, it was very hard for me to get past the plot of this book, which seemed to be copied from the dare and the movie scream put together. It didn't seem that original to me and I found myself getting bored towards the end. I also guessed the killer at 40%. I gave this author a shot, but will definitely not be reading any more of their work in the future.

[Autumn Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Shit 😅😍

I had the absolute pleasure of being an ARC reader but honestly I don’t think I’ve had a 5 Star read as SOLID as this one! I read it in one night because I literally couldn’t put it down. Characters? BEAUTIFUL. Storyline? AMAZING. Side Plot? THERE AND WILD.

He Who Haunts Me is the PERFECT thriller romance and you cannot change my mind. The entire book I was on the edge of my seat waiting for not only the two main characters to finally get together but also, I was SO into the side plot of a serial killer on the loose which really gave this book depth. The writing is so smooth and everything flows so naturally, the relationship that forms isn’t rushed at all, and the characters themselves were just so easy to love. Jai, Bex, Mari, and Bishop are now some of my favorite book characters and Jai has officially made his way to being my number one “book boyfriend”. We love when the man falls first and isn’t afraid to cry, but also knows what he wants and is not afraid to take control. God those spicy scenes were 10/10 for me.

All in all? A MUST read. An immediate 5/5⭐️ rating. It was so good, that even though I have the Ebook, I am buying the paperback the second its released. I already have read it a second time and I’ve only had it for 4 days. Seriously y’all will not regret it.

[Tmarie.0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to score an arc of this book.




That being said, this story rocked my socks.



Go ahead and read one handed. (Your welcome)



Plan to fall in love with Jai. (We can share)



If you love some praise in your books, this is for you.


If you enjoy some mystery and murder, this is for you.


If you love bada$$, over the top alpha males, this is for you


If you enjoy reading about extra piercings (you know what I mean) this is for you. (7. He has 7) your welcome.


Just read the damn thing lol


But here’s my final thoughts.



Jai is a literal GOD. No one can tell me otherwise. He was beyond perfect. He loved her for so long. So long. He is such a sweet cinnamon roll for Bex. Men should aspire to be like him in ALL ways. This man had the perfect dirty mouth. Focused on consent. During everything. Gave his all for Bex. Treated her like his queen. Ugh gimme right now!!!!! I need one asap. Bex? What a bada$$. She gave as good as she got. This had the perfect amount of spicy scenes and a extremely great plot. I figured out who it was pretty early on honestly but that didn’t take anything away from this book.

[momaddictedtobooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly came across Kenna’s TikTok one day. She had a video saying she wrote a book that had ghost face in it and it’ll make you cry. I was like, count me in! Say no more! I’m so glad I got an ARC copy.

Wow! This book was really good! It’s a thriller, mystery, romance, and has lots of spice! If you like the movie Scream, this has those vibes and I absolutely loved it! I couldn’t put this book down. It had me hooked from the beginning.

I devoured this book! I loved the characters and the storyline! Jai 🥵 whew he is something! He’s got tattoos and piercings, if you know what I mean 😉

Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading. But if you’re okay with it and don’t have any triggers, you should read this book. You’ll be doing yourself a favor!

Release Date: November 2022

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

- oooooooh this is a debut novel. Well alright then
- I’m intrigued
- a few too many sentences are italicizes but ok
- does Mari know ghostface is Jai?
- ummmmm that was a big quick…
- omg. That is not the way to tell a parent their child was murdered. I’ve read and den enough cop shows to know that. It could have been written better
- I don’t like hidden identities and the pseudo love triangle that it creates. She immediately no hesitation slept with ghost face after like 10 min of meeting him. And then crushing on Jai and feeling guilty. I’m 99% sure ghost face is Jai. But it’s not confirmed so I don’t like that trope
- girl… for all you know, ghost face is a murderer….
- ok confirmed. Ghost gave us Jai BUT SHE DOESN’T KNOW THAT
- I’m not understanding why he has to wear a mask in front of her
- I’m kinda skimming at this point
- girl…. You were just scared if the killer… why you having sex. WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL THE POLICE FIRST
- I just wanna know who the killer is. I think it’s Brent
- I knew it
- Mari is a real one
- it had potential.ok for a debut

[bippityboppitybookss “Cassey” · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Bex and Jai are couple goals. I loved Jai! It had a great story line and loved the Halloween vibes. I thought having the multiple pov was great especially some of the side characters. I was really impressed with the story structure and writing. I was blown away that this was a debut author. Definitely now one of my auto buy authors!

[Naj_ana_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! Where do I start. I was lucky to get my first ARC read and I couldn't be happier that it was Kennas book. The story was awesome. Plot of the story kept me hooked from the start. Totally fell in love with Jai and Bex! Love the work you did and you can totally tell you put your everything into the story. Congratulations on your publishing and can't wait to get my hands on a paper copy. Definitely recommend this book!

[Erika Guyda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jai…holy crap is this book amazing. Jai and Bex together is fire. I love Jai. Their chemistry together was so good.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book. I’ve read it twice already. Jai holds a special place in my heart. Top 5 fav of the year

[Savanna Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is for the girlies that have a fantasy about doing things with ghost face 🤪
Oh & not to mention a serial killer is after her too 🤌🏻

[Taz Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish the book
The last 40% did hook me a little but the book just felt a little rushed
I wanted more of the broody guy/sunshine and I wanted more from the ending
Over all a pretty decent book but I just wanted more

[Emily Veil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the spice and the overall story, but I felt like I saw the twist coming too easily. But the whole mask thing made up for it 😉