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Love in the Time of Serial Killers
Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn't exactly conducive to modern dating - and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she's used to suspecting the worst.
PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She's even analysing the genre in her dissertation - if she can manage to finish writing it. It's hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn't had a relationship with for years.
It doesn't help that she's low-key convinced that her new neighbour, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he's clearly up to something). But it's not long before Phoebe realises that Sam might be something much scarier - a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armour to reach her vulnerable heart.
PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She's even analysing the genre in her dissertation - if she can manage to finish writing it. It's hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn't had a relationship with for years.
It doesn't help that she's low-key convinced that her new neighbour, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he's clearly up to something). But it's not long before Phoebe realises that Sam might be something much scarier - a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armour to reach her vulnerable heart.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2022
2495 people are currently reading
97999 people want to read
About the author
Alicia Thompson
10 books1,448 followersAlicia Thompson is a writer, reader, and Paramore superfan. As a teen, she appeared in an episode of 48 Hours in the audience of a local murder trial, where she broke the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.
Annotations:
Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps
Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.
Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/
Annotations:
Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps
Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.
Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,963 reviews
September 12, 2022
The cover was the only good thing about this book
January 5, 2022
THIS BOOK MADE ME LAUGH ALL THE LAUGHTER! Alicia Thompson read my mind and gifted me with the true-crime loving, grad-student protagonist of my heart! LITTOSK is unique, sexy, hilarious, charming- to die for (pun #1): the perfect beach read for anyone who loves witty banter, intelligent plotting, and compelling characters. Let Phoebe and Sam’s hilarious interactions and blazing chemistry suck you in. The true crime is NOT reading this novel (pun #2). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher. Alicia Thompson and I are both publisher by Berkley.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher. Alicia Thompson and I are both publisher by Berkley.
July 28, 2022
A girl can’t be too careful, nowadays!
Many women ignore their gut feelings, worried about how they will be perceived by others -but not our protagonist, Phoebe Walsh!! She would rather be seen as a little bit rude, than risk being abducted and taken to an unknown location!
Of course, she is a PhD candidate analyzing the “true crime” genre for her dissertation. She is fascinated by an author’s relationship to the subject and our fascination with serial killers as a Culture.
Naturally, she initially thinks the worst of the barefoot guy who appears out of nowhere late one night-offering to help her carry her desk into her deceased father’s home as she is arriving to move in temporarily-tasked with clearing it out to get it ready to sell.
And, that is despite the fact that she KNOWS that there haven’t been any unsolved murders around there which appear to be connected….She has done her research!
When I initially spotted this ADORABLE book cover and INTRIGUING title, I just knew I had to read it!!
As a woman who reads MOSTLY psychological thrillers and mystery/suspense with an occasional ROM COM thrown in, I thought it would be the perfect combination for me.
Though the story is “CUTE” I was expecting something “CAMPY” with LOTS of suspicious activity happening next door to make Sam seem “dangerous” before Phoebe realizes just how wrong she was. (Think “The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires”)
But, that’s not how this is written.
In addition-I wasn’t the right demographic for this story!
MANY years ago, I dated a man whose five year old was OBSESSED with the CRASH BANDICOOT video game and I guess these characters are those kids, now grown and in their twenties-still playing that game in this story!
Literally.
So, needless to say, this read very young for me. (Or made me feel very old!)
Initially, I really disliked Phoebe and her occasional needless mention of certain political views, (not a good sign for a ROM COM, where you must like both leads and root for them to get together) but as the book goes on, you realize that a lot of what she says and does is because she has a protective wall up around her.
She isn’t your typical leading lady, as she has what she views as body flaws and some insecurities.
Not as awful as she first appeared-I tried looking at her through Sam’s eyes-to TRY to see what HE saw in her.
After all, isn’t that what love is all about?
It was nice to see her personal growth as the story progresses, and to witness how a homeless cat exposes her softer side.
Also REFRESHING was that both Sam, and her “hopeless romantic video gaming brother” Connor -were both genuinely “good guys”!
If you are in your twenties, I BET you will relate to this story more than I did-especially if you enjoy steamy “open door” bedroom scenes in your ROMANCE novels (another NO for me!) It could be a perfect book for you.
But, Sam- If Phoebe lets you down…..my friend has a daughter that I would like you to meet! 😂
Expected publication: August 16, 2022
Thank You to Berkley books for the gifted ARC. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Many women ignore their gut feelings, worried about how they will be perceived by others -but not our protagonist, Phoebe Walsh!! She would rather be seen as a little bit rude, than risk being abducted and taken to an unknown location!
Of course, she is a PhD candidate analyzing the “true crime” genre for her dissertation. She is fascinated by an author’s relationship to the subject and our fascination with serial killers as a Culture.
Naturally, she initially thinks the worst of the barefoot guy who appears out of nowhere late one night-offering to help her carry her desk into her deceased father’s home as she is arriving to move in temporarily-tasked with clearing it out to get it ready to sell.
And, that is despite the fact that she KNOWS that there haven’t been any unsolved murders around there which appear to be connected….She has done her research!
When I initially spotted this ADORABLE book cover and INTRIGUING title, I just knew I had to read it!!
As a woman who reads MOSTLY psychological thrillers and mystery/suspense with an occasional ROM COM thrown in, I thought it would be the perfect combination for me.
Though the story is “CUTE” I was expecting something “CAMPY” with LOTS of suspicious activity happening next door to make Sam seem “dangerous” before Phoebe realizes just how wrong she was. (Think “The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires”)
But, that’s not how this is written.
In addition-I wasn’t the right demographic for this story!
MANY years ago, I dated a man whose five year old was OBSESSED with the CRASH BANDICOOT video game and I guess these characters are those kids, now grown and in their twenties-still playing that game in this story!
Literally.
So, needless to say, this read very young for me. (Or made me feel very old!)
Initially, I really disliked Phoebe and her occasional needless mention of certain political views, (not a good sign for a ROM COM, where you must like both leads and root for them to get together) but as the book goes on, you realize that a lot of what she says and does is because she has a protective wall up around her.
She isn’t your typical leading lady, as she has what she views as body flaws and some insecurities.
Not as awful as she first appeared-I tried looking at her through Sam’s eyes-to TRY to see what HE saw in her.
After all, isn’t that what love is all about?
It was nice to see her personal growth as the story progresses, and to witness how a homeless cat exposes her softer side.
Also REFRESHING was that both Sam, and her “hopeless romantic video gaming brother” Connor -were both genuinely “good guys”!
If you are in your twenties, I BET you will relate to this story more than I did-especially if you enjoy steamy “open door” bedroom scenes in your ROMANCE novels (another NO for me!) It could be a perfect book for you.
But, Sam- If Phoebe lets you down…..my friend has a daughter that I would like you to meet! 😂
Expected publication: August 16, 2022
Thank You to Berkley books for the gifted ARC. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
August 18, 2022
1.5⭐️ This would have been more interesting had he actually turned out to be a serial killer in the end ha.
No but this was massively underwhelming- literally nothing happens in it but a mundane conversation between the mc and her brother or the mc and the love interest or the mc and her dissertation supervisor, that’s pretty much it
No but this was massively underwhelming- literally nothing happens in it but a mundane conversation between the mc and her brother or the mc and the love interest or the mc and her dissertation supervisor, that’s pretty much it
December 19, 2022
this book started off really fun and interesting but then i got kinda bored because there wasn’t really a plot. i liked phoebe and sam together they were so funny and the book was funny i just couldn’t find myself staying interested.
September 17, 2022
OMG! Phoebe and Sam might be one of the most adorable quirkiest, unconventional and extremely lovable couple!
Phoebe; skeptical, true crime addict, still carrying emotional and invisible scars that her dysfunctional family has created, straightforward, sarcastic, peculiar, coming back to her childhood house after her father’s sudden passing away to clean the place, putting on sale.
This means she has to reconnect with her brother Connor, dorky, sweet, easy going, romantic, optimist, seven years younger than her. When their parents divorced they were too young ( Phoebe was 12 as Connor was 5) they picked up sides: Phoebe left with her mother as Connor stayed with their dad. So the siblings were raised by different parents and emotional baggages.
When Phoebe finally arrives to her childhood home she encounters with shaggy haired, barefoot, weird man who insists to help her to carry the desk she brings in her car. Her active imagination about serial killers that is fueled with lots of podcasts and true crime documents make her suspect that mysterious man is dangerous!
But a few encounters later she realizes he is her dad’s neighbor Sam who is music teacher and he keeps acting so nice around her even though she makes so many straightforward, harsh comments about him, spying on him, finding his actions suspicious!
But then she realizes he’s more dangerous than a serial killer. This man could be the one who can steal her heart, making her confront with feelings she’s never felt before!
But she still tries to finish her dissertation about true crimes, finishing her PHD to start a new job and she still deals with her grief, spending more time with her brother. She’s emotionally mess! Can she still have a chance of true HEA by dealing her emotional issues?
I love nerds a lot! I adored both Sam and Phoebe! Extremely recommended to the fans of quirky love stories!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Phoebe; skeptical, true crime addict, still carrying emotional and invisible scars that her dysfunctional family has created, straightforward, sarcastic, peculiar, coming back to her childhood house after her father’s sudden passing away to clean the place, putting on sale.
This means she has to reconnect with her brother Connor, dorky, sweet, easy going, romantic, optimist, seven years younger than her. When their parents divorced they were too young ( Phoebe was 12 as Connor was 5) they picked up sides: Phoebe left with her mother as Connor stayed with their dad. So the siblings were raised by different parents and emotional baggages.
When Phoebe finally arrives to her childhood home she encounters with shaggy haired, barefoot, weird man who insists to help her to carry the desk she brings in her car. Her active imagination about serial killers that is fueled with lots of podcasts and true crime documents make her suspect that mysterious man is dangerous!
But a few encounters later she realizes he is her dad’s neighbor Sam who is music teacher and he keeps acting so nice around her even though she makes so many straightforward, harsh comments about him, spying on him, finding his actions suspicious!
But then she realizes he’s more dangerous than a serial killer. This man could be the one who can steal her heart, making her confront with feelings she’s never felt before!
But she still tries to finish her dissertation about true crimes, finishing her PHD to start a new job and she still deals with her grief, spending more time with her brother. She’s emotionally mess! Can she still have a chance of true HEA by dealing her emotional issues?
I love nerds a lot! I adored both Sam and Phoebe! Extremely recommended to the fans of quirky love stories!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
July 29, 2022
Phoebe Walsh knows a lot about serial killers. If only she knew as much about love!
After her dad's unexpected death, she's come home to Florida to help her little brother Conner get their dad's house ready to sell and to use the time to wrap up her PhD dissertation on true crime and serial killers.
After a difficult childhood that saw her dysfunctional parents divorcing and she and Conner living with the opposite parent, she’s grown up largely alone and emotionally guarded. She’s also developed an almost obsessive interest in true crime, which makes her more than a little paranoid about how some men look and behave at times.
Take, for example, Sam, the young, attractive barefooted guy who appeared the night she first arrived and offered to help her unload the heavy desk strapped to the roof of her car. In a reverse scenario, serial killer Ted Bundy asked a woman for help with something in his car and look what happened there. Is this guy another Ted Bundy? Good looks CAN be deceiving.
That's the hook. It's up to the reader to find out if this guy is friend or foe, but it's a romance soooo ... duh. C’mon.
I'm going to start with the positives:
It was well-written with good diversity and representation among the characters. It touches on deeper themes of childhood trauma, family dysfunction, grief, body positivity and overcoming emotional obstacles to intimacy, and does so with the humor and balance you'd expect from the genre.
The plot follows a pretty standard rom-com arc with the comfort of typical tropes and predictability, so I could just sit back and relax without worrying about an unexpected ending.
It has a cat. Enough said. 😺
Here’s where I struggled:
That cover oozed "Pick me!" vibes and perhaps had me expecting a more fun read than what I experienced.
I didn’t like Phoebe. At all. She was prickly, rude, sarcastic, crass and emotionally distant for a good chunk of the story. Despite her emotional transformation arc, even her nicest manner kept me at a distance I could never overcome. I should’ve been rooting for her to “get the guy”, but instead I was rooting for him to come to his senses and run!
The bedroom stuff was WAY too anatomically descriptive for my preference. Eww. One more reference to “aching nipples” and I was going to lose my lunch, and that’s a tame example.
All that said, my biggest complaint was the sheer number of slang and pop culture references. It would’ve been fine if I’d known ALL of the movies, shows, literary references, true crimes, acronyms, etc. that the author used, but since she didn’t explain most of them, it felt like she kept winking and nudging me with her elbow to laugh at her jokes, which I then had to Google for understanding. It pulled me out of the story too often.
It’s a good book, but maybe just not the right one for me!
★★ ½ (rounded to 3)
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, Netgalley, and author Alicia Thompson for the digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published August 16th, 2022.
After her dad's unexpected death, she's come home to Florida to help her little brother Conner get their dad's house ready to sell and to use the time to wrap up her PhD dissertation on true crime and serial killers.
After a difficult childhood that saw her dysfunctional parents divorcing and she and Conner living with the opposite parent, she’s grown up largely alone and emotionally guarded. She’s also developed an almost obsessive interest in true crime, which makes her more than a little paranoid about how some men look and behave at times.
Take, for example, Sam, the young, attractive barefooted guy who appeared the night she first arrived and offered to help her unload the heavy desk strapped to the roof of her car. In a reverse scenario, serial killer Ted Bundy asked a woman for help with something in his car and look what happened there. Is this guy another Ted Bundy? Good looks CAN be deceiving.
That's the hook. It's up to the reader to find out if this guy is friend or foe, but it's a romance soooo ... duh. C’mon.
I'm going to start with the positives:
It was well-written with good diversity and representation among the characters. It touches on deeper themes of childhood trauma, family dysfunction, grief, body positivity and overcoming emotional obstacles to intimacy, and does so with the humor and balance you'd expect from the genre.
The plot follows a pretty standard rom-com arc with the comfort of typical tropes and predictability, so I could just sit back and relax without worrying about an unexpected ending.
It has a cat. Enough said. 😺
Here’s where I struggled:
That cover oozed "Pick me!" vibes and perhaps had me expecting a more fun read than what I experienced.
I didn’t like Phoebe. At all. She was prickly, rude, sarcastic, crass and emotionally distant for a good chunk of the story. Despite her emotional transformation arc, even her nicest manner kept me at a distance I could never overcome. I should’ve been rooting for her to “get the guy”, but instead I was rooting for him to come to his senses and run!
The bedroom stuff was WAY too anatomically descriptive for my preference. Eww. One more reference to “aching nipples” and I was going to lose my lunch, and that’s a tame example.
All that said, my biggest complaint was the sheer number of slang and pop culture references. It would’ve been fine if I’d known ALL of the movies, shows, literary references, true crimes, acronyms, etc. that the author used, but since she didn’t explain most of them, it felt like she kept winking and nudging me with her elbow to laugh at her jokes, which I then had to Google for understanding. It pulled me out of the story too often.
It’s a good book, but maybe just not the right one for me!
★★ ½ (rounded to 3)
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, Netgalley, and author Alicia Thompson for the digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published August 16th, 2022.
January 11, 2023
2.5* This could have been such a fun romance if the main character hadn't been sooo insufferable and downright mean at times. I was genuinely so confused about why the author wrote her this way and then expected us to root for her?? The love interest was also boring, I already forgot everything about him. The best part of this book was the side characters and I probably should have DNF'd it honestly.
July 9, 2023
Go girl, give us nothing!
August 16, 2022
DNF at 10%
I have no interest in being stuck in the head of a character who is so outrageously neurotic that she sees serial killer behaviour everywhere she looks. As her brother says to her, "Chill out."
I'm sure many will find this charming and funny, but for me, Love in the Time of Serial Killers was nothing but an eye roll.
I have no interest in being stuck in the head of a character who is so outrageously neurotic that she sees serial killer behaviour everywhere she looks. As her brother says to her, "Chill out."
I'm sure many will find this charming and funny, but for me, Love in the Time of Serial Killers was nothing but an eye roll.
July 5, 2022
A contemporary romance with some spunky, sweet characters!
A different spin on meeting the neighbor!
I'm not a big romance reader, but I wanted to meet the true-crime obsessed character of PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh.
Phoebe is mourning her father, they had a disconnected relationship. She is moving into her childhood home for the summer, getting it ready to sell. All the while side eyeing all the neighbors. She is so often reading about grisly murders and crime that she can't help feeling a bit paranoid about strangers! Any one of them could be a potential serial killer!
Recommend if you enjoy eccentric love stories, true crime obsession and loveable characters!
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for my arc! OUT August 16, 2022
A different spin on meeting the neighbor!
I'm not a big romance reader, but I wanted to meet the true-crime obsessed character of PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh.
Phoebe is mourning her father, they had a disconnected relationship. She is moving into her childhood home for the summer, getting it ready to sell. All the while side eyeing all the neighbors. She is so often reading about grisly murders and crime that she can't help feeling a bit paranoid about strangers! Any one of them could be a potential serial killer!
Recommend if you enjoy eccentric love stories, true crime obsession and loveable characters!
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for my arc! OUT August 16, 2022
September 20, 2022
1 star
Oh my god what a snoozefest! This book was so boring: no actual plot, no interesting characters, no fucking chemistry!!! The plot summary sounds so fun and quirky, I expected a lighthearted, sexy romance and I got nothing.
First of all: Phoebe's obsession with serial killers is not as funny as the author thinks it is. It's not quirky, it's not nerdy, it's just obsessive. And a bit concerning.
Second of all: Sam is so. fucking. boring. That guy does not have a personality at all. I read this book not long ago but all I can remember about him is that he's a music teacher. Without a spine who let's people (Phoebe) walk over him all the time. What is he like as a person you ask? I couldn't tell you.
And: These two have NO chemistry. At all. I read in another review how sexy the pining and longing is but honestly? They don't even really interact a lot until like 100 pages in? And when they do, it's just polite small talk?
But even if they had chemistry, they still don't fit together, they are too different. And not in an opposites attract kinda way but in a We have different goals and ambitions and values in life kinda way. She doesn't like relationships and wants no strings attached, he immediately wants to marry her from the get-go. So she actually tells him and they take things slow and after like two weeks he brings up marriage??? If a guy I was casually seeing would bring up that he actually thinks we could get married one day I would run. They were not on the same page about that relationship and he was just blatantly ignoring her wishes and feelings, that's not taking things slow at all.
Other than that, Phoebe was just an unpleasant person. She's rude, entitled and so fucking whiny. She's a great example of an I'm not like other girls, I dress black and hate pink, pick me girl. So many descriptions of her reminded me of bad fanfiction I read fifteen years ago - "Oh, I just got up and I threw on a black band shirt and I'm only doing some light shopping so I think I'll go with some black eyeliner (like my soul ;) ) and some red lipstick because I'm edgy af! <3". All of Phoebe's text interactions about cats with Allison were so cringey, we get it you're uwu cat girls, so fucking special. These people behaved like they were fifteen not thirty.
The only people I liked were Connor and his girlfriend (who's name I forgot) because they were normal, happy people who didn't judge everyone everywhere they went. (Phoebe obviously judged them and felt superior the whole time.)
Anyway, I did not enjoy this. It felt like reading a Wattpad self-insert fanfiction and I'm way too old for that.
Oh my god what a snoozefest! This book was so boring: no actual plot, no interesting characters, no fucking chemistry!!! The plot summary sounds so fun and quirky, I expected a lighthearted, sexy romance and I got nothing.
First of all: Phoebe's obsession with serial killers is not as funny as the author thinks it is. It's not quirky, it's not nerdy, it's just obsessive. And a bit concerning.
Second of all: Sam is so. fucking. boring. That guy does not have a personality at all. I read this book not long ago but all I can remember about him is that he's a music teacher. Without a spine who let's people (Phoebe) walk over him all the time. What is he like as a person you ask? I couldn't tell you.
And: These two have NO chemistry. At all. I read in another review how sexy the pining and longing is but honestly? They don't even really interact a lot until like 100 pages in? And when they do, it's just polite small talk?
But even if they had chemistry, they still don't fit together, they are too different. And not in an opposites attract kinda way but in a We have different goals and ambitions and values in life kinda way. She doesn't like relationships and wants no strings attached, he immediately wants to marry her from the get-go. So she actually tells him and they take things slow and after like two weeks he brings up marriage??? If a guy I was casually seeing would bring up that he actually thinks we could get married one day I would run. They were not on the same page about that relationship and he was just blatantly ignoring her wishes and feelings, that's not taking things slow at all.
Other than that, Phoebe was just an unpleasant person. She's rude, entitled and so fucking whiny. She's a great example of an I'm not like other girls, I dress black and hate pink, pick me girl. So many descriptions of her reminded me of bad fanfiction I read fifteen years ago - "Oh, I just got up and I threw on a black band shirt and I'm only doing some light shopping so I think I'll go with some black eyeliner (like my soul ;) ) and some red lipstick because I'm edgy af! <3". All of Phoebe's text interactions about cats with Allison were so cringey, we get it you're uwu cat girls, so fucking special. These people behaved like they were fifteen not thirty.
The only people I liked were Connor and his girlfriend (who's name I forgot) because they were normal, happy people who didn't judge everyone everywhere they went. (Phoebe obviously judged them and felt superior the whole time.)
Anyway, I did not enjoy this. It felt like reading a Wattpad self-insert fanfiction and I'm way too old for that.
May 19, 2025
Ph.D. candidate, Phoebe Walsh, has always been obsessed with True Crime. It's a great way to focus her attention and avoid thinking about her own life for too long.
Phoebe and her younger brother, Connor's, parents divorced when the two were kids. After that, Phoebe went to live with Mom and Connor stayed with Dad in their childhood home in Florida. Needless to say, it is a complicated family history.
After their father passes away, Phoebe agrees to live in his home and help prepare it for sale. It will be nice for her to have some privacy to continue working towards her degree; she has a lot of writing to do. She's also looking forward to reconnecting with her brother.
They don't know each other as well as you would assume siblings do, just due to the circumstances of their upbringing. Additionally, it can definitely be hard for Phoebe to let down her defenses to connect with people. At this point, she is willing to give it her best shot.
Truth be told, most people make her a little uncomfortable.
She arrives at her Dad's late at night and is just deciding how much she wants to unpack in the dark, when a strange man pops up out of nowhere and offers his assistance.
A serial killer. That's where Phoebe's mind goes first.
This story begins there and then follows Phoebe as she grapples with her feelings involving her family, being reunited with an old friend and her quest to discover the truth about the mysterious neighbor, Sam.
There's a lot of exploration of Phoebe as a character and why she views the world the way she does. I actually really enjoyed Phoebe. I liked her dry sense of humor and sort of cynical way of viewing life and love.
I also enjoyed Sam as a character. He would be the perfect golden boy of any romance. I mean, if he wasn't a serial killer that is.
Even though I liked the characters individually, I wasn't super sold on the two of them together. My interest waxed and waned over the course of the story and I wound up just being underwhelmed.
I liked it. It's a good story. I did like Phoebe's general sensibilities, but for me it just lacked like...I don't know, heart, maybe?
It's like when someone sings something technically very well, but there is zero emotion in it. That's how I felt about this book.
It even took me two tries to get all the way through. The first time I stopped around 30%, deciding I just wasn't in the mood and I would wait for an audiobook copy to come through from my library.
When the audiobook hold came through, Spooky Season was officially over, so I figured I would give it another shot. I'm glad I finished it, but it definitely wasn't a memorable experience for me.
With this being said, just because this story didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. If the premise sounds intriguing, you should definitely give it a go. You could end up absolutely loving it. I know many Readers did.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it!
Phoebe and her younger brother, Connor's, parents divorced when the two were kids. After that, Phoebe went to live with Mom and Connor stayed with Dad in their childhood home in Florida. Needless to say, it is a complicated family history.
After their father passes away, Phoebe agrees to live in his home and help prepare it for sale. It will be nice for her to have some privacy to continue working towards her degree; she has a lot of writing to do. She's also looking forward to reconnecting with her brother.
They don't know each other as well as you would assume siblings do, just due to the circumstances of their upbringing. Additionally, it can definitely be hard for Phoebe to let down her defenses to connect with people. At this point, she is willing to give it her best shot.
Truth be told, most people make her a little uncomfortable.
She arrives at her Dad's late at night and is just deciding how much she wants to unpack in the dark, when a strange man pops up out of nowhere and offers his assistance.
A serial killer. That's where Phoebe's mind goes first.
This story begins there and then follows Phoebe as she grapples with her feelings involving her family, being reunited with an old friend and her quest to discover the truth about the mysterious neighbor, Sam.
There's a lot of exploration of Phoebe as a character and why she views the world the way she does. I actually really enjoyed Phoebe. I liked her dry sense of humor and sort of cynical way of viewing life and love.
I also enjoyed Sam as a character. He would be the perfect golden boy of any romance. I mean, if he wasn't a serial killer that is.
Even though I liked the characters individually, I wasn't super sold on the two of them together. My interest waxed and waned over the course of the story and I wound up just being underwhelmed.
I liked it. It's a good story. I did like Phoebe's general sensibilities, but for me it just lacked like...I don't know, heart, maybe?
It's like when someone sings something technically very well, but there is zero emotion in it. That's how I felt about this book.
It even took me two tries to get all the way through. The first time I stopped around 30%, deciding I just wasn't in the mood and I would wait for an audiobook copy to come through from my library.
When the audiobook hold came through, Spooky Season was officially over, so I figured I would give it another shot. I'm glad I finished it, but it definitely wasn't a memorable experience for me.
With this being said, just because this story didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. If the premise sounds intriguing, you should definitely give it a go. You could end up absolutely loving it. I know many Readers did.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it!
July 4, 2022
I found this book to be strangely addicting.
Phoebe is obsessed with serial killers...has been her whole life. So deeply in fact, she’s even working on a thesis that revolves around serial killers.
But presently a distraction is forcing her to take her studies on the road and travel back to Florida to her childhood home. Phoebe is there to help her younger brother sort out their father’s home after he passed.
As she pulls up to the house in the middle of the night a strange man in bare feet emerges from the dark. He’s offering to assist her!😱 Phoebe’ serial-killer radar lights up…convinced he must be a murderer! Sure, he’s simply a school teacher that lives next door. But who knows what he does in his off time? Right!?
I grew fond of Phoebe and her quirks. Her brother was so sweet and of course, the neighbor Sam was totally swoon worthy. I was cheering for all of them to have their HEA.
My singular negative would be the author tossed in a couple off-the-cuff political views I felt had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the characters or the storyline. No idea why the author felt she needed to add them.
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.
Phoebe is obsessed with serial killers...has been her whole life. So deeply in fact, she’s even working on a thesis that revolves around serial killers.
But presently a distraction is forcing her to take her studies on the road and travel back to Florida to her childhood home. Phoebe is there to help her younger brother sort out their father’s home after he passed.
As she pulls up to the house in the middle of the night a strange man in bare feet emerges from the dark. He’s offering to assist her!😱 Phoebe’ serial-killer radar lights up…convinced he must be a murderer! Sure, he’s simply a school teacher that lives next door. But who knows what he does in his off time? Right!?
I grew fond of Phoebe and her quirks. Her brother was so sweet and of course, the neighbor Sam was totally swoon worthy. I was cheering for all of them to have their HEA.
My singular negative would be the author tossed in a couple off-the-cuff political views I felt had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the characters or the storyline. No idea why the author felt she needed to add them.
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.
September 25, 2022
3.5
This is one of those times when a cover made me want to read the book. It also had a clickbait title for someone who likes to read thrillers and romance too.
Phoebe Walsh is doing her Ph.D. dissertation on true crime. She travels to Florida to have her dad’s house fixed before selling it. Her dad who was in his 50s passed away suddenly from a heart attack at the grocery store.
When she was a teenager Phoebe’s parents divorced. She left with her mother, and her brother Connor stayed with her father. This scarred her for life. She is closed off to love. She doesn’t trust easily and prefers to be a loner in the company of her serial killer books.
However, seeing her once best friend Allyson around is making her discover that she misses having a girlfriend she can count on. In addition, meeting her young neighbor Sam who is nice to look at, and spending time with her brother and his girlfriend are all causing her heart to thaw. Especially, when a feral cat enters her life too.
I liked the story but didn't love it. I did love Sam. He was sweet and supportive. I understood why Phoebe was so scared of opening her heart coming from a broken home but I thought she was really rude to Sam most of the time. I understand protecting yourself but I have no clue why Sam would let her treat him that way.
I will say that this novel has plenty of political comments so if you're like me who prefers romance without any of them in it, this might not be for you.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
"I don’t regret giving you my heart, Phoebe. I just wish you’d taken more care with it.”
This is one of those times when a cover made me want to read the book. It also had a clickbait title for someone who likes to read thrillers and romance too.
Phoebe Walsh is doing her Ph.D. dissertation on true crime. She travels to Florida to have her dad’s house fixed before selling it. Her dad who was in his 50s passed away suddenly from a heart attack at the grocery store.
When she was a teenager Phoebe’s parents divorced. She left with her mother, and her brother Connor stayed with her father. This scarred her for life. She is closed off to love. She doesn’t trust easily and prefers to be a loner in the company of her serial killer books.
However, seeing her once best friend Allyson around is making her discover that she misses having a girlfriend she can count on. In addition, meeting her young neighbor Sam who is nice to look at, and spending time with her brother and his girlfriend are all causing her heart to thaw. Especially, when a feral cat enters her life too.
I liked the story but didn't love it. I did love Sam. He was sweet and supportive. I understood why Phoebe was so scared of opening her heart coming from a broken home but I thought she was really rude to Sam most of the time. I understand protecting yourself but I have no clue why Sam would let her treat him that way.
I will say that this novel has plenty of political comments so if you're like me who prefers romance without any of them in it, this might not be for you.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
August 26, 2022
4.5 Stars
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 25, 2022
Buddy read with my friends Gaby, Ani and Amanda.
This is offically the worst book we read in our book club, ever! Way to start after a little break we took!
Let's hope the next one will be better and also, I plan to "write" my review tomorrow at work.
This is offically the worst book we read in our book club, ever! Way to start after a little break we took!
Let's hope the next one will be better and also, I plan to "write" my review tomorrow at work.
October 26, 2022
The main character was insufferable to me. All the characters lacked character growth. If I never have to read the word “dude” again, I’ll be happy. Overall, this felt very cheesy and unrealistic.
October 13, 2022
3 stars
PhD candidate Phoebe returns to her childhood home to clean it up a bit while working on her thesis. Phoebe is obsessed with true crime and is analyzing it for her dissertation. There’s just one problem, she is convinced her next door neighbor Sam is a serial killer. As time goes by Phoebe gets to know Sam more and finds out he’s much worse, a genuinely nice guy who is interested in her.
Maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s the release of Dahmer on Netflix, but the whole obsession with the true crime genre thing is not the cute and quirky personality trait that people think it is. If you have a genuine interest that’s great. But I am a bit over it at this point. Once I got through the beginning of this book, it got much better in terms of the story. I much more enjoyed it when Phoebe was getting to know Sam, when she was reconnecting with old friends and her brother, etc, than when she thought Sam was a serial killer.
Second half of the book was way better than the first and I liked this book but I think ultimately this book isn’t memorable and was just okay for me.
PhD candidate Phoebe returns to her childhood home to clean it up a bit while working on her thesis. Phoebe is obsessed with true crime and is analyzing it for her dissertation. There’s just one problem, she is convinced her next door neighbor Sam is a serial killer. As time goes by Phoebe gets to know Sam more and finds out he’s much worse, a genuinely nice guy who is interested in her.
Maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s the release of Dahmer on Netflix, but the whole obsession with the true crime genre thing is not the cute and quirky personality trait that people think it is. If you have a genuine interest that’s great. But I am a bit over it at this point. Once I got through the beginning of this book, it got much better in terms of the story. I much more enjoyed it when Phoebe was getting to know Sam, when she was reconnecting with old friends and her brother, etc, than when she thought Sam was a serial killer.
Second half of the book was way better than the first and I liked this book but I think ultimately this book isn’t memorable and was just okay for me.
June 24, 2023
Talk about paranoid.
Phoebe Walsh is obsessed with all things true crime. It’s even the subject of her dissertation. The problem is, because of her obsession she suspects everyone she meets of being a serial killer. Which, of course, doesn’t bode well for romantic relationships.
So when her new neighbor, Sam, offers to help move a desk into her family home late one night, in his bare feet, Phoebe knows he’s up to no good and is probably out to kill her. And it doesn’t matter that he’s handsome, kind, or that her heart speeds up at the mere sight of him. In her mind, he’s a murderer – and no way will she cave into the attraction and be involved with the next Jack the Ripper.
Sure. Whatever you say, Phoebe.
Being a romance novel, there’s not a whole lot of surprises in the pages of Alicia Thompson’s Love in the Time of Serial Killers. We know how the story will go. But the fact that I loved it as much as I did caught me unawares, along with the amount of depth there is to Phoebe’s character.
Phoebe is complicated. She’s sensitive and insecure but also an abrasive asshole, all because she has impenetrable walls around her heart and doesn’t know how to be vulnerable. And poor Sam, she makes things so hard for him. She pulls him towards her and then pushes him away, time and again. But it’s all part of their connection and the chemistry between them.
Speaking of chemistry, the love scenes are very, VERY open-door and graphic. I wouldn’t say the book is pornmance, but it comes close. Just a heads up.
Thompson’s next novel, With Love, from Cold World, is set to publish in August 2023. Lucky for me, I already have a DRC, and you can bet I’ll be reading it. Thanks, Berkley!
My sincerest appreciation to Alicia Thompson, Berkley, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
Phoebe Walsh is obsessed with all things true crime. It’s even the subject of her dissertation. The problem is, because of her obsession she suspects everyone she meets of being a serial killer. Which, of course, doesn’t bode well for romantic relationships.
So when her new neighbor, Sam, offers to help move a desk into her family home late one night, in his bare feet, Phoebe knows he’s up to no good and is probably out to kill her. And it doesn’t matter that he’s handsome, kind, or that her heart speeds up at the mere sight of him. In her mind, he’s a murderer – and no way will she cave into the attraction and be involved with the next Jack the Ripper.
Sure. Whatever you say, Phoebe.
Being a romance novel, there’s not a whole lot of surprises in the pages of Alicia Thompson’s Love in the Time of Serial Killers. We know how the story will go. But the fact that I loved it as much as I did caught me unawares, along with the amount of depth there is to Phoebe’s character.
Phoebe is complicated. She’s sensitive and insecure but also an abrasive asshole, all because she has impenetrable walls around her heart and doesn’t know how to be vulnerable. And poor Sam, she makes things so hard for him. She pulls him towards her and then pushes him away, time and again. But it’s all part of their connection and the chemistry between them.
Speaking of chemistry, the love scenes are very, VERY open-door and graphic. I wouldn’t say the book is pornmance, but it comes close. Just a heads up.
Thompson’s next novel, With Love, from Cold World, is set to publish in August 2023. Lucky for me, I already have a DRC, and you can bet I’ll be reading it. Thanks, Berkley!
My sincerest appreciation to Alicia Thompson, Berkley, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
did-not-finish
August 17, 2022DNF @43% I considered pushing myself to finish this because I had a review copy, but I'm more than far enough through now to know that this just isn't a book for me. Something about the main character just rubs me wrong and I can only really see her getting more on my nerves the deeper through I get. If you enjoy true-crime and pop culture references, this may still work for you!! But it was not for me and that is okay lol
CW: death of a loved one, grief, suicidal ideation
CW: death of a loved one, grief, suicidal ideation
May 5, 2024
✨Get you a woman who can do both: think you’re a romance novel hero and a serial killer 🥰✨
This book sounds cool as shit right? And because books that seem like hot girl summers can quickly become mediocre white boy summers, I want to give you an honest look at what you’ll get! I constructed this review into a few sections to hopefully address your expectations of what to find in it! I talk about the story as a whole, the main characters, the main source of tension, the steam level, a genre discussion, writing style, and just my overall feelings towards it! Hopefully this helps you decide if ya want to give it a read!
The whole serial killer thing is definitely contained to her writing about them in her dissertation and making references to them. It’s not a mystery or a thriller. It’s funny without being a comedy and a bit morbid without being morose. It has first person narration and only one POV from Phoebe. There’s an HEA and I can see arguments for this being either contemporary fiction or contemporary romance. It is definitely character driven and focused on Phoebe reconciling her past with the future that she ultimately wants (which she surprisingly hasn’t figured out at the start of the book).
✨
It’s a yes from me! And to be quite honest, thank fuuuuck I liked it. True crime and that cover? Having to hate it would be the real crime. I was definitely apprehensive at the beginning because I just didn’t know where this book was gonna go. After reading, it’s a lot like Beach Read. It toes the line between contemporary fiction and a romance novel, but it’s ultimately just a really good book no matter how you categorize it.
Like Beach Read, Phoebe moved into her father’s house after he died and battles those demons and what it means to have a father who just wasn’t a great man. She’s also writing her dissertation on the true crime genre and it was super interesting to read some of the connections she was drawing. The writing style was compelling and clever, and was definitely a nice charcuterie board of sarcasm, wit, and emotion.
The “is he a serial killer” bit didn’t stay a mystery for long but was fun while it lasted and does make for a good hook. I greatly enjoyed watching Phoebe grow as a character and to stop self-sabotaging (even subliminally). By the end, her personal relationships were very wholesome and cute; her and her brother especially!
✨
Phoebe is a very fresh main character whom I couldn’t help but love and root for. She’s plus sized and I definitely liked the straight forward representation. There’s a scene where she assessed herself and it felt like a very sincere portrayal and I loved to see it. I really related to a lot of Phoebe’s character, especially this one moment where she flashbacks to her as a kid thinking about all the things she’d have as an adult. Obviously in her child brain, being an adult would be gorgeous gorgeous and very easy. Obviously as an adult, that’s not the case.
She was definitely questionable at times but I was never truly annoyed because it all fit within her character and you could see her motivations, reasons, and the history of her that made her react in self-detrimental ways. So while she does start off as a bit of a dick, she’s a self aware one (top five kind of dick in my opinion). Also her come to Jesus at the end nearly made me cry and reminded me of Natalie Portman’s character in No Stings Attached.
Sam was a potential serial killer cinnamon roll who probably couldn’t harm a box of Frosted Flakes if he tried. He has a pool and I recommend all heroes have a pool from now on because pools are hot. He’s an elementary school music teacher which is ADORABLE and we get to see him interact a bit with the kids. He’s definitely swoony and I loved the beginning when they first meant and all of his little clues of affection. **Tbh his character kinda reminded me of Rick Moranis but that’s only because he hosts a party and it was total Ghostbusters vibes (without the giant gargoyle). He was just so wholesome.**
✨
The last half of the book definitely felt more like a romance to me and it is ultimately why I gave the book the extra half star. Her groveling was heartfelt and earned and the relationship was super cute. I loved how Sam didn’t place Phoebe on a towering pedestal where she could do no wrong. He had some lines in there—reading her to filth—that made me clutch my pearls and reach for a fan. That’s hot. I don’t mind the third act breakup when it’s needed to help a character shape up or grow and it definitely worked here. Phoebe just wasn’t able to understand that she could love Sam until she figured some shit out on her own. Sam wouldn’t accept less than he deserved. That’s hot.
The only thing that would make me not call this a romance is that Sam (our hero) is simply not flawed. He doesn’t really have an arc besides fixing up a guitar. He doesn’t have family issues or personal woes and barely even has a bad romantic past. He’s a straight up good guy. Having a romance hero (and main character) be pretty one-dimensional makes the book feel more like a personal arc and self-growth contemporary fiction than a true romance.
✨
Overall, Phoebe didn’t fundamentally change who she was when she finally got her HEA (as she shouldn’t) but she did accept that she could love and be loved, which was the backbone of the novel and the driving force. The love, of course, coming from not just Sam but her family and friends as well. I think the true crime element added a very fun and unique twist on a more or less basic plot set-up. The romance was cute and hot and pretty low angst. I’ll for sure read more from this author and I can’t wait for the audiobook to come out. And of course, this book will leave you researching a bunch of different serial killers and listening to the dulcet tones of Keith Morrison after you’re done.
That’s all for now. I’m Lester Holt. Thanks for joining us. *Cue ethereal humming and smooth guitar outro music.*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 🌶🌶.25*/5
* The steam was so surprising! I was so delighted to get the second scene and it definitely gave the relationship more of an edge. The scenes weren’t super long esp after *penetration* but you had a clear visual of who was doing what and how it was being done and what it was being done with. A little dirty and hot and definitely more than I expected. There were a few other closed door moments. I’d say a little more explicit than the Hating Game and hotter than Beach Read?
Thanks to the author and publisher for giving me a free advanced digital arc in exchange for a review! Words are honest and mine as always.
✨
Extra: I think there are ways to argue that it both is and isn’t a romance novel. Either way, I still really enjoyed it but I do think this is about more than just romantic love (in the time of serial killers). Relationships between Phoebe and her family, childhood friend, and *the past* are also a very prominent part of the story. Love of all kinds (in the time of serial killers). She must reconcile her past in order to have the future she started to think she’d never get… while also writing a dissertation that is kinda stressful because anything related to school is stressful.
Extra: I think the editor could’ve pushed for more an arc for Sam, since this was ultimately sold to readers as a romance. It didn’t really impact my enjoyment because I liked the story and I liked the growth of Phoebe and I loved the HEA. Sam did have his moments—hello bossy Sam taking care of Phoebe kink—but it could be a way to increase the romantic tension and add depth to the relationship as a whole.
Extra: The book definitely relies on pop culture (and true crime) references so if that’s not your thing, maybe rethink this one. It worked for me because my brain works like that too—the amount of times I say “I just want to dance” from Music and Lyrics is alarming since I never want to dance and 9 times out of 10 I’m met with the reception of a dot dot dot. In one breath the book is talking about Dateline and with the next it’s drawing parallels to America’s Next Too Model. Some of my other favorites were American Girl, Lisa Frank, and cinnamon brown sugar Pop-tarts. The references are also an armor that Phoebe wears as a defense mechanism whenever she feels uncomfortable (hence the amount of them).
Extra: Idk if you’re in school where you have to write a major thesis or dissertation this may stress you out because I already have my masters but I was getting war flashbacks. Maybe use it as a treat when you’re finished with a big school project (if that’s relevant to you) because it would feel a lot better reading this book AFTER you’ve dangled over flames of academic hell. If I read this while still in school I’d have been too stressed.
Extra/Spoiler(idk): I’m not saying I wanted the dude to be an actual serial killer, but that whole “assumption” could’ve lasted a bit longer because that was also a huge selling factor. Or there could’ve been a legit mystery woven in besides the reason he dresses like a nondescript background video game character. I think this would’ve added an extra layer to the plot/Sam’s character as well. Or there could’ve actually been an active serial killer case that she maybe thinks she could solve but she has no hand in it whatsoever when the killer is caught at the end. A little humor and a little mystery and a little more tension. (If this would’ve ended up like The Burbs I think that could’ve been SO fun as well, but definitely a different overall tone: more comedy less personal growth.)
This book sounds cool as shit right? And because books that seem like hot girl summers can quickly become mediocre white boy summers, I want to give you an honest look at what you’ll get! I constructed this review into a few sections to hopefully address your expectations of what to find in it! I talk about the story as a whole, the main characters, the main source of tension, the steam level, a genre discussion, writing style, and just my overall feelings towards it! Hopefully this helps you decide if ya want to give it a read!
The whole serial killer thing is definitely contained to her writing about them in her dissertation and making references to them. It’s not a mystery or a thriller. It’s funny without being a comedy and a bit morbid without being morose. It has first person narration and only one POV from Phoebe. There’s an HEA and I can see arguments for this being either contemporary fiction or contemporary romance. It is definitely character driven and focused on Phoebe reconciling her past with the future that she ultimately wants (which she surprisingly hasn’t figured out at the start of the book).
✨
It’s a yes from me! And to be quite honest, thank fuuuuck I liked it. True crime and that cover? Having to hate it would be the real crime. I was definitely apprehensive at the beginning because I just didn’t know where this book was gonna go. After reading, it’s a lot like Beach Read. It toes the line between contemporary fiction and a romance novel, but it’s ultimately just a really good book no matter how you categorize it.
Like Beach Read, Phoebe moved into her father’s house after he died and battles those demons and what it means to have a father who just wasn’t a great man. She’s also writing her dissertation on the true crime genre and it was super interesting to read some of the connections she was drawing. The writing style was compelling and clever, and was definitely a nice charcuterie board of sarcasm, wit, and emotion.
The “is he a serial killer” bit didn’t stay a mystery for long but was fun while it lasted and does make for a good hook. I greatly enjoyed watching Phoebe grow as a character and to stop self-sabotaging (even subliminally). By the end, her personal relationships were very wholesome and cute; her and her brother especially!
✨
Phoebe is a very fresh main character whom I couldn’t help but love and root for. She’s plus sized and I definitely liked the straight forward representation. There’s a scene where she assessed herself and it felt like a very sincere portrayal and I loved to see it. I really related to a lot of Phoebe’s character, especially this one moment where she flashbacks to her as a kid thinking about all the things she’d have as an adult. Obviously in her child brain, being an adult would be gorgeous gorgeous and very easy. Obviously as an adult, that’s not the case.
She was definitely questionable at times but I was never truly annoyed because it all fit within her character and you could see her motivations, reasons, and the history of her that made her react in self-detrimental ways. So while she does start off as a bit of a dick, she’s a self aware one (top five kind of dick in my opinion). Also her come to Jesus at the end nearly made me cry and reminded me of Natalie Portman’s character in No Stings Attached.
Sam was a potential serial killer cinnamon roll who probably couldn’t harm a box of Frosted Flakes if he tried. He has a pool and I recommend all heroes have a pool from now on because pools are hot. He’s an elementary school music teacher which is ADORABLE and we get to see him interact a bit with the kids. He’s definitely swoony and I loved the beginning when they first meant and all of his little clues of affection. **Tbh his character kinda reminded me of Rick Moranis but that’s only because he hosts a party and it was total Ghostbusters vibes (without the giant gargoyle). He was just so wholesome.**
✨
The last half of the book definitely felt more like a romance to me and it is ultimately why I gave the book the extra half star. Her groveling was heartfelt and earned and the relationship was super cute. I loved how Sam didn’t place Phoebe on a towering pedestal where she could do no wrong. He had some lines in there—reading her to filth—that made me clutch my pearls and reach for a fan. That’s hot. I don’t mind the third act breakup when it’s needed to help a character shape up or grow and it definitely worked here. Phoebe just wasn’t able to understand that she could love Sam until she figured some shit out on her own. Sam wouldn’t accept less than he deserved. That’s hot.
The only thing that would make me not call this a romance is that Sam (our hero) is simply not flawed. He doesn’t really have an arc besides fixing up a guitar. He doesn’t have family issues or personal woes and barely even has a bad romantic past. He’s a straight up good guy. Having a romance hero (and main character) be pretty one-dimensional makes the book feel more like a personal arc and self-growth contemporary fiction than a true romance.
✨
Overall, Phoebe didn’t fundamentally change who she was when she finally got her HEA (as she shouldn’t) but she did accept that she could love and be loved, which was the backbone of the novel and the driving force. The love, of course, coming from not just Sam but her family and friends as well. I think the true crime element added a very fun and unique twist on a more or less basic plot set-up. The romance was cute and hot and pretty low angst. I’ll for sure read more from this author and I can’t wait for the audiobook to come out. And of course, this book will leave you researching a bunch of different serial killers and listening to the dulcet tones of Keith Morrison after you’re done.
That’s all for now. I’m Lester Holt. Thanks for joining us. *Cue ethereal humming and smooth guitar outro music.*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 🌶🌶.25*/5
* The steam was so surprising! I was so delighted to get the second scene and it definitely gave the relationship more of an edge. The scenes weren’t super long esp after *penetration* but you had a clear visual of who was doing what and how it was being done and what it was being done with. A little dirty and hot and definitely more than I expected. There were a few other closed door moments. I’d say a little more explicit than the Hating Game and hotter than Beach Read?
Thanks to the author and publisher for giving me a free advanced digital arc in exchange for a review! Words are honest and mine as always.
✨
Extra: I think there are ways to argue that it both is and isn’t a romance novel. Either way, I still really enjoyed it but I do think this is about more than just romantic love (in the time of serial killers). Relationships between Phoebe and her family, childhood friend, and *the past* are also a very prominent part of the story. Love of all kinds (in the time of serial killers). She must reconcile her past in order to have the future she started to think she’d never get… while also writing a dissertation that is kinda stressful because anything related to school is stressful.
Extra: I think the editor could’ve pushed for more an arc for Sam, since this was ultimately sold to readers as a romance. It didn’t really impact my enjoyment because I liked the story and I liked the growth of Phoebe and I loved the HEA. Sam did have his moments—hello bossy Sam taking care of Phoebe kink—but it could be a way to increase the romantic tension and add depth to the relationship as a whole.
Extra: The book definitely relies on pop culture (and true crime) references so if that’s not your thing, maybe rethink this one. It worked for me because my brain works like that too—the amount of times I say “I just want to dance” from Music and Lyrics is alarming since I never want to dance and 9 times out of 10 I’m met with the reception of a dot dot dot. In one breath the book is talking about Dateline and with the next it’s drawing parallels to America’s Next Too Model. Some of my other favorites were American Girl, Lisa Frank, and cinnamon brown sugar Pop-tarts. The references are also an armor that Phoebe wears as a defense mechanism whenever she feels uncomfortable (hence the amount of them).
Extra: Idk if you’re in school where you have to write a major thesis or dissertation this may stress you out because I already have my masters but I was getting war flashbacks. Maybe use it as a treat when you’re finished with a big school project (if that’s relevant to you) because it would feel a lot better reading this book AFTER you’ve dangled over flames of academic hell. If I read this while still in school I’d have been too stressed.
Extra/Spoiler(idk): I’m not saying I wanted the dude to be an actual serial killer, but that whole “assumption” could’ve lasted a bit longer because that was also a huge selling factor. Or there could’ve been a legit mystery woven in besides the reason he dresses like a nondescript background video game character. I think this would’ve added an extra layer to the plot/Sam’s character as well. Or there could’ve actually been an active serial killer case that she maybe thinks she could solve but she has no hand in it whatsoever when the killer is caught at the end. A little humor and a little mystery and a little more tension. (If this would’ve ended up like The Burbs I think that could’ve been SO fun as well, but definitely a different overall tone: more comedy less personal growth.)
January 28, 2022
This book was an absolute delight! Phoebe and Sam gave me all the next-door neighbors (hellooooo forced proximity!!), adorkable, sweet and spicy romance that I needed. Smart, clever, and slow-burn steamy, LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS is a fresh, lovable rom-com that tackles facing our fear of not only the worst life can bring but the very best and being brave enough to take a chance on love.
Thank you to Berkley and the author for an early copy; while Alicia and I share a publisher, this in no way influenced me; all opinions are my own.
Thank you to Berkley and the author for an early copy; while Alicia and I share a publisher, this in no way influenced me; all opinions are my own.
August 5, 2023
I was not a fan of this one- there is a lot to unpack here so, but I’m ready to throw the whole suitcase away.
I think the biggest disappointment for me is the lack of plot. It’s a slow burn romance. Yet there was no twist and turn at then. I was waiting for the climax that never came. It was just too mundane for me.
I get that it’s supposed be more about Phoebe’s personal growth and working through trauma. But all of that is tied to a rushed romance that just didn’t land for me.
A part of me wishes that her neighbor, Sam, was actually a serial killer and she would go all Nancy Drew on his ass and have this “enemies to lovers rom com” I felt like that would be a more interesting read, but no.
Another problem is the characterization- I don’t think I really liked any of the characters.
Phoebe was just pretty much insufferable. She is paranoid, awkward, obsessive, and honestly a little rude. She rambles a lot, kinda overshares and almost every page had some true crime or pop culture reference- a lot the references didn’t land for me, as a lot of them I had no idea what she was referring to.
Sam just fell flat. He is that overly nice and supportive guy and that for some reason made Phoebe think he was a serial killer (which obviously from early on- he wasn’t) but he and Phoebe were together for maybe a few weeks? And he brings up marriage. Maybe, let’s slow down there.
Conner just felt a little bit like man child too me. He just felt a little immature.
Oh and the dialogue- was a little cringey and sometimes not very believable. Example- “𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯’,”
Or when Phoebe did that Kesha- Tik Tok parody. I had to look away from the book right there. The amount of times “dude” was said was exhausting.
Phoebe and Sam’s relationship lacked chemistry to me. They lack that spark and really that connection. It just wasn’t memorable. I think Sam was willing to do so much for Phoebe and she wasn’t ready for a relationship. But not even that, their conversation and their scenes together was mostly mundane. They had some soft moments at the end. But it was just a big eh for me.
For a book that focuses a lot on trauma- (but got overcasted by labeling it as a rom com) Phoebe needs therapy. I still don’t think she is ready for to be in a relationship quite yet and quite frankly, the confession out of end seemed a little rush.
The writing was fine. The style was casual, such as there was some abrupt sentences and some slang acronym, that I wasn’t a fan of.
This book wasn’t for me, I wouldn’t recommend it. I wasn’t in love with romance, the comedy didn’t work for me. I will say, on a positive note, the best part about this book is the cover.
I think the biggest disappointment for me is the lack of plot. It’s a slow burn romance. Yet there was no twist and turn at then. I was waiting for the climax that never came. It was just too mundane for me.
I get that it’s supposed be more about Phoebe’s personal growth and working through trauma. But all of that is tied to a rushed romance that just didn’t land for me.
A part of me wishes that her neighbor, Sam, was actually a serial killer and she would go all Nancy Drew on his ass and have this “enemies to lovers rom com” I felt like that would be a more interesting read, but no.
Another problem is the characterization- I don’t think I really liked any of the characters.
Phoebe was just pretty much insufferable. She is paranoid, awkward, obsessive, and honestly a little rude. She rambles a lot, kinda overshares and almost every page had some true crime or pop culture reference- a lot the references didn’t land for me, as a lot of them I had no idea what she was referring to.
Sam just fell flat. He is that overly nice and supportive guy and that for some reason made Phoebe think he was a serial killer (which obviously from early on- he wasn’t) but he and Phoebe were together for maybe a few weeks? And he brings up marriage. Maybe, let’s slow down there.
Conner just felt a little bit like man child too me. He just felt a little immature.
Oh and the dialogue- was a little cringey and sometimes not very believable. Example- “𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯’,”
Or when Phoebe did that Kesha- Tik Tok parody. I had to look away from the book right there. The amount of times “dude” was said was exhausting.
Phoebe and Sam’s relationship lacked chemistry to me. They lack that spark and really that connection. It just wasn’t memorable. I think Sam was willing to do so much for Phoebe and she wasn’t ready for a relationship. But not even that, their conversation and their scenes together was mostly mundane. They had some soft moments at the end. But it was just a big eh for me.
For a book that focuses a lot on trauma- (but got overcasted by labeling it as a rom com) Phoebe needs therapy. I still don’t think she is ready for to be in a relationship quite yet and quite frankly, the confession out of end seemed a little rush.
The writing was fine. The style was casual, such as there was some abrupt sentences and some slang acronym, that I wasn’t a fan of.
This book wasn’t for me, I wouldn’t recommend it. I wasn’t in love with romance, the comedy didn’t work for me. I will say, on a positive note, the best part about this book is the cover.
June 11, 2022
3.5 stars
This was super sweet.
The title leads you to believe Love in the Time of Serial Killers would have some kind of gruesome mystery subplot, but it really doesn't. Phoebe is a true crime enthusiast and is also in the final stages of her PhD dissertation (which is true-crime themed), so she thinks and talks about murder a lot. She temporarily moves to Florida to pack up her recently deceased estranged father's house and finish her dissertation. There she meets a neighbor who she thinks, just for a moment, is a criminal. But alas, and luckily, this is a romance.
I would go as far as to call this book a cozy romance. There is no high drama here. Phoebe falls in love, reconnects with her brother and an old friend, also gets a cat. The only conflict is that Phoebe is a bit of a cynic and is not entirely ready to open up to other people. Her voice, dry and funny, is what drives the story, and I enjoyed it (and her) quite a bit. I also love a kind, emotionally secure love interest. There is one here.
P.S. Phoebe describes herself as "fat" (but not in a negative way) a few times in the book. It's not a plot point or a source of unhappiness or conflict.
This was super sweet.
The title leads you to believe Love in the Time of Serial Killers would have some kind of gruesome mystery subplot, but it really doesn't. Phoebe is a true crime enthusiast and is also in the final stages of her PhD dissertation (which is true-crime themed), so she thinks and talks about murder a lot. She temporarily moves to Florida to pack up her recently deceased estranged father's house and finish her dissertation. There she meets a neighbor who she thinks, just for a moment, is a criminal. But alas, and luckily, this is a romance.
I would go as far as to call this book a cozy romance. There is no high drama here. Phoebe falls in love, reconnects with her brother and an old friend, also gets a cat. The only conflict is that Phoebe is a bit of a cynic and is not entirely ready to open up to other people. Her voice, dry and funny, is what drives the story, and I enjoyed it (and her) quite a bit. I also love a kind, emotionally secure love interest. There is one here.
P.S. Phoebe describes herself as "fat" (but not in a negative way) a few times in the book. It's not a plot point or a source of unhappiness or conflict.
October 11, 2022
Meh. Main chick was annoying as fuck and idk the chemistry wasn’t there. Glad I didn’t buy this physically.
March 5, 2023
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Meh. This one is tough for me to rate. It’s not that it was necessarily a bad book—I think it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel anything for the main characters (Phoebe and Sam) AT ALL. If anything, I more so fell in love with the book’s side characters (Conner and Shani), which I feel like shouldn’t be the point of a book?
Early on, it’s clear to the reader that Phoebe self-sabotages all of her relationships. But instead of making me feel bad for Phoebe, the author just made me hate her. Like seriously, Phoebe SUCKED. I just couldn’t wait to be done, honestly. 😂 A two star read, bumped up to three because Conner and Shani’s story kept me from clawing my eyeballs out in boredom.
Meh. This one is tough for me to rate. It’s not that it was necessarily a bad book—I think it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel anything for the main characters (Phoebe and Sam) AT ALL. If anything, I more so fell in love with the book’s side characters (Conner and Shani), which I feel like shouldn’t be the point of a book?
Early on, it’s clear to the reader that Phoebe self-sabotages all of her relationships. But instead of making me feel bad for Phoebe, the author just made me hate her. Like seriously, Phoebe SUCKED. I just couldn’t wait to be done, honestly. 😂 A two star read, bumped up to three because Conner and Shani’s story kept me from clawing my eyeballs out in boredom.
September 5, 2022
you can’t convince me that this was a romance novel
September 19, 2022
I didn't get the chemistry between the couple. Yes, they had some romantic scenes but I don't see them in a long-term relationship. The female lead was a little too much.
August 23, 2022
Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a slow-paced romance with a unique premise. Phoebe temporarily moves back home into her father’s house to clear it out and put it up for sale after his death.
She’s a thirty-year-old PhD student who is doing her dissertation on true crime. To say that she’s obsessed with true crime and lets it bleed into her day-to-day life would be an understatement. The instant she moves back, she becomes convinced that her handsome neighbour, Sam, is hiding something nefarious. The truth is that he’s just a shy, elementary school music teacher who made the mistake of moving into the house next to her father’s.
Phoebe’s extensive knowledge of true crime is hilarious in how she always seems to bring up serial killers at the most inappropriate times. In the beginning, however, I found her to be quite unlikable. Her obsession with true crime borders on the psychotic, and she uses it as an excuse to be incredibly rude to Sam when she first meets him. Honestly, the first 20% of the book reminded me of an AITA thread on reddit, where I kept saying “yes, definitely yes, you are the a$$hole.” In the beginning, her rudeness was harsher, and not particularly funny.
That said, as the book progressed, it became funnier. Sure, Phoebe is definitely NOT fun at parties, but her paranoia and extensive knowledge of serial killers made her into an interesting protagonist. As the book progressed, it became clearer that she uses her obsession with true crime as a defense mechanism–guarding herself from being hurt–emotionally. The handsome man next door can’t break her heart if she protects herself from his inevitable serial killer tendencies.
As the book progresses, the witty banter between Phoebe and Sam verges on mean on Phoebe’s side, but it becomes more humorous and less cringey. The sweet and shy Sam perfectly softens Phoebe’s sharp edges. Both Phoebe and Sam are very different types of antisocial, and I loved the juxtaposition of their personalities and how they handle their social awkwardness very differently.
This is ultimately an entertaining book for those who enjoy romances with an academic bent and a side of true crime.
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
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My 2022 Reading Challenge
She’s a thirty-year-old PhD student who is doing her dissertation on true crime. To say that she’s obsessed with true crime and lets it bleed into her day-to-day life would be an understatement. The instant she moves back, she becomes convinced that her handsome neighbour, Sam, is hiding something nefarious. The truth is that he’s just a shy, elementary school music teacher who made the mistake of moving into the house next to her father’s.
Phoebe’s extensive knowledge of true crime is hilarious in how she always seems to bring up serial killers at the most inappropriate times. In the beginning, however, I found her to be quite unlikable. Her obsession with true crime borders on the psychotic, and she uses it as an excuse to be incredibly rude to Sam when she first meets him. Honestly, the first 20% of the book reminded me of an AITA thread on reddit, where I kept saying “yes, definitely yes, you are the a$$hole.” In the beginning, her rudeness was harsher, and not particularly funny.
That said, as the book progressed, it became funnier. Sure, Phoebe is definitely NOT fun at parties, but her paranoia and extensive knowledge of serial killers made her into an interesting protagonist. As the book progressed, it became clearer that she uses her obsession with true crime as a defense mechanism–guarding herself from being hurt–emotionally. The handsome man next door can’t break her heart if she protects herself from his inevitable serial killer tendencies.
As the book progresses, the witty banter between Phoebe and Sam verges on mean on Phoebe’s side, but it becomes more humorous and less cringey. The sweet and shy Sam perfectly softens Phoebe’s sharp edges. Both Phoebe and Sam are very different types of antisocial, and I loved the juxtaposition of their personalities and how they handle their social awkwardness very differently.
This is ultimately an entertaining book for those who enjoy romances with an academic bent and a side of true crime.
*Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
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My 2022 Reading Challenge
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