Reviews for the book are polarized, often depending on a reader's comfort with the "dark romance" genre:
: Sebastian Lockwood, the ringleader of the Elites, becomes instantly obsessed with Starling during her sophomore year. He views her as his property, using his immense power and wealth to manipulate her life.
As a dark romance, the book contains several mature themes and potential triggers. Readers on The StoryGraph and the Trigger Warning Database highlight the following content: Obsession by Gemma Weir
: The book features several "dubcon" (dubious consent) scenarios and is rated highly for its explicit steam and spice levels. Reader Reception
: Sebastian is described as extremely possessive, manipulative, and emotionally abusive. Reviews for the book are polarized, often depending
: Fans of the book, such as reviewers on Goodreads and TikTok , enjoy the over-the-top (OTT) possessiveness, the "bingeable" nature of the drama, and the protective dynamic Sebastian's friends eventually show toward Starling.
: Sebastian’s controlling behavior eventually drives Starling to run away. However, Sebastian continues to stalk her and pull strings from the shadows for two years. Readers on The StoryGraph and the Trigger Warning
: Some readers on Reddit criticize the writing style as "juvenile" or "Wattpad-like," noting a lack of character depth and unrealistic portrayals of wealth and power for college-aged characters. Obsession (Alphaholes, #1) by Gemma Weir - Goodreads