Erica Pike

Hot Hands is a short story about college student Casper who happens to have a stalker, that Casper has named ‘Hot Hands’, who gropes him. This is told in first person through Casper’s eyes.



I’m going to say right off the bat that I have a very different opinion about this story than most of the other reviewers. I’ve read other books by this author and I’ve liked them, but this was a no. A very definite no.

Many reviewers said this book was hot and interesting, I found it creepy. If show more there was someone groping me, I’d find a way to report it. Casper on the other hand, was excited by his stalker and made it his mission to try and figure out who it was. At one point he’s cornered by the stalker, who blindfolds and ties him up, then gets Casper off. Still Casper doesn’t know who it is. Eventually he arranges to meet the stalker at his room for sex. Casper is a virgin and hopes to pop his cherry and that seems to overrule a lot of his caution. He’s thinking with his other head. Casper must not have a survivalist bone in his body because he again lets this guy tie him up and blindfold him. Some unknown guy he doesn’t know might be taping him to show on YouTube or pass on photos or some sicko who might do other harmful things.

The following is a spoiler so I’m hiding it. Casper finds out right in the middle of sex that the guy he’s having sex with is one of two guys that bullied and tormented him in school. The guy keeps saying he’s sorry while they have sex. Casper is in tears; he’s very upset and loses his erection. We find out that Casper even tried to commit suicide because of the bullying. That to me says that the bullying he underwent was horrific. No way, no how, can I suspend belief that Casper would have sex with his stalker after he finds out who he is. Totally unbelievable and creepy. If Casper is so desperate for sex, he should’ve picked up some random guy at a club. I can’t believe when he found out who it was he didn't rip off the blindfold, beat the guy up, then toss him out. Casper must believe somehow he deserves to be treated like crap to let the guy continue to have sex with him after what happened in the past. This plot creeped me out. The only reason I finished it was because it was short and so unbelievable I had to see how the story could make sense. But, it didn’t. The ending felt chopped off too, there was no indication how Casper and his stalker worked out their past which I think was essential since there was so much trauma revealed to the readers during the sex scene.

The plot was a fail for me, but the writing was good and it was a very fast read. I found nothing sexy about the story or believable with Casper’s change of heart towards his stalker. This book is creepy. I couldn’t even suspend belief like I can in other books with farfetched plots. YMMV. I can only give Hot Hands, 2 Stars

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3.5 stars

I had a few niggles, but I became invested in how the characters would work stuff out. It's a fairly melo-dramatic book, but not off-putting (if that makes any sense). I'm definitely reading more of Ms. Pike's work.

TBH, I'm startled that a story essentially about stalking and sexual assault has been described so often as cute and sweet in the reviews. Dangerous and hella creepy is my take. *shudders*

TBH, I'm startled that a story essentially about stalking and sexual assault has been described so often as cute and sweet in the reviews. Dangerous and hella creepy is my take. *shudders*