It’s no secret that AI is taking up every corner of the internet — including that steamy nook designated for romance lovers and their deep desires. Laura Bishop’s debut, Love Me Stalk Me, brings us a dark, spicy romcom that starts on an AI dating app. This irresistible romance explores the lengths one would go to for an all-consuming connection. Love, lust, and lies simmer throughout this novel, bubbling up as tensions rise. Here is everything you need to know before the book releases on December 2!
Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of stalking and body image. Additionally, Love Me Stalk Me contains descriptions of body-shaming, sexual assault, emotional abuse, manipulation, alcohol, and violence, as well as sexually explicit content. Please exercise personal care while reading.
Synopsis
Izzy Russo’s love life is not going well and hasn’t been for some years now. Her emotionally abusive trust fund boyfriend, whom she once dreamed of having, constantly neglects her and makes degrading comments about her and her body. So when her best friend coaxes her into downloading an AI dating app, curiosity and longing get the best of her. Soon enough, she’s sharing her deepest fantasies with Caleb, her AI boyfriend, who she subconsciously designed to look and act like Callahan Knight, the head of security at the store she manages. Little does she know Caleb and Callahan are much more similar than she thought.
The moment Callahan saw Izzy, he knew he had to have her. His obsession spirals to the point where he hacks her phone and pretends to be her AI boyfriend. Izzy needs a man who’ll worship her instead of putting her down, and if he has to text her as an AI chatbot to do so, he gladly will. But when trouble stirs up at the store and Izzy gets closer to ending her relationship with her manipulative boyfriend, Cal and Izzy uncover a web of lies and violence, as well as a deep, burning romance between them.
A Gripping, Spicy Dark Romance
“I know I’m getting myself into full stalker territory. But I can’t help myself.”
— Laura Bishop, Love Me Stalk Me
At the heart of Love Me Stalk Me is a sultry romance that is as morally questionable as it is hot. After years of being mistreated by her boyfriend, Izzy has accepted that manipulation and gaslighting are the best she’s going to get in the relationship department. That is, until she meets Caleb/Callahan. Cal is determined to prove to her that she is perfect just the way she is, even if it means manipulating, stalking, and lying to her. While his actions are objectively very dark, he does it with her best interest in mind (if you ignore the lustful thoughts), and his possessive, protective nature is immensely swoon-worthy.
The romance between Cal and Izzy is quite insta-lovey, but when obsession, passion, and stalking are thrown into the mix, we wouldn’t expect anything less. One of the most satisfying things about their dynamic is Cal’s immediate willingness to drop everything for Izzy and Izzy’s slow realization that she deserves this type of treatment. I just can’t help but love it when the man falls first and harder. Despite the hefty amount of stalking, manipulation, and flustering smut, this book is on the more wholesome side of dark romance, making it an ideal read for those looking for an introduction into the genre or for those craving a side of darkness with their romcoms.
An Exploration of How Our Connections Shape Our Self-Image
“She’s got a body built to be touched. Held. And yet she moves like she’s constantly trying to shrink herself down. Like she doesn’t want to take up too much space. Like she’s apologizing for her very existence.”
— Laura Bishop, Love Me Stalk Me
After gaining some weight and being constantly body-shamed by her boyfriend, Izzy is very self-conscious about her body. She makes negative comments about her weight and tries to make herself seem smaller without even thinking about it, while her boyfriend fuels these insecurities. Cal, being extremely observational and head-over-heels for her, notices this from the first moment he lays eyes on her and knows he has to reignite her confidence. He calls out her negative comments, offers reassurance, and emphasizes that she deserves to be worshipped. What follows is a lovely dynamic in which he reminds her of how beautiful she is, and she believes him a little bit more each time.
A Look at Family and Friendship Support
“Maybe a day with my family is exactly what I need. The chaos of my Italian household, the familiar arguments, the comfort of traditions we’ve maintained for generations — it’s grounding in a way nothing else is.”
— Laura Bishop, Love Me Stalk Me
With a stressful job, personal insecurities, and a bad boyfriend, Izzy needs some positivity and support in her life. Before Cal swoops in and becomes her confidence coach, she has her large, boisterous Italian family and best friend to rely on. Izzy loves her family and counts on them to bring some joy back into her life, even if they are quite overbearing about her love life. Meanwhile, her badass best friend, Amanda, is always ready to defend and protect her or offer her a glass of wine and some fierce advice. Even when Cal comes along, Izzy still relies on her family and bestie for extra support!
Final Thoughts
Love Me Stalk Me is a steamy, dark romcom that is loaded with sensual moments, fun banter, and intriguing characters. It will have you giggling at its charm and on the edge of your seat simultaneously. The contemporary premise of falling for your AI boyfriend and stalker makes for an entertaining plot that might make you reconsider using AI sites. I recommend you read Love Me Stalk Me if you fantasize about possessive, morally grey characters who’ll go to extreme lengths for you.
You’ll love Love Me Stalk Me if you enjoyed these books:
- Lights Out by Navessa Allen
- Once You’re Mine by Morgan Bridges
- Twisted Lies by Ana Huang
- Bully by Penelope Douglas
- Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Bookstr’s Love Me Stalk Me Dream Cast:
Barbie Ferreira as Izzy Russo
Barbie Ferreira has the emotional range to pull off Izzy’s character. Plus, we know she’d have great chemistry with her love interest!
Robert Pattinson as Callahan Knight
Robert Pattinson has the handsome, rugged look that is essential for Cal’s character. His brooding performance in The Batman tells us he’d make a great dark, obsessive boyfriend in an adaptation!
Final Score: 3/5
Spice Level: 4.5/5
If you’re interested in Love Me Stalk Me, you can preorder it on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Amazon! Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Craving spicy books like this one? Check out our Morally Gray: Thrilling Dark Romance Books We Love collection on Bookshop.
