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Love You to Death
When two best friends' hobby of crashing weddings takes a deadly turn, they’re forced to embark on a road trip of survival in this addictive thriller.
How well do we really know our friends?
As the only Black women at an antebellum-themed wedding, Kayla and Zorie should’ve known this heist was doomed from the start. They should never have come, but when their financial situation became dire, they agreed to hit one last wedding.
Jaded and cynical Kayla has spent the last decade trying to fix her life since an angsty teen prank led to her arrest. Now, with her housekeeping job at a subpar hotel and her disappointing, Cinderella-esque relationship with her dad and obnoxious stepsister, she hates the life she’s built. Her only bright spots are her best friend, Zorie, and their favorite weekend pastime of crashing weddings to steal the money and pawn the gifts. But what started as a lark has evolved into a greedy obsession, making each wedding haul riskier than the last.
While trying to avoid the angry bride and groom, Kayla and Zorie's getaway takes a gruesome turn and suddenly the “Wedding Crash Killers” are national news. The best friends are forced to hit the road to dodge the authorities, but their escape plan leaves behind a bloody trail of destruction from Georgia all the way to the bayou. As past grudges resurface, Kayla realizes that the best friend she thought she knew is more dangerous than she could ever have realized.
Sharp, unpredictable, and madcap from start to finish, Love You to Death is the most fun—and deadly—road trip you’ll ever take.
How well do we really know our friends?
As the only Black women at an antebellum-themed wedding, Kayla and Zorie should’ve known this heist was doomed from the start. They should never have come, but when their financial situation became dire, they agreed to hit one last wedding.
Jaded and cynical Kayla has spent the last decade trying to fix her life since an angsty teen prank led to her arrest. Now, with her housekeeping job at a subpar hotel and her disappointing, Cinderella-esque relationship with her dad and obnoxious stepsister, she hates the life she’s built. Her only bright spots are her best friend, Zorie, and their favorite weekend pastime of crashing weddings to steal the money and pawn the gifts. But what started as a lark has evolved into a greedy obsession, making each wedding haul riskier than the last.
While trying to avoid the angry bride and groom, Kayla and Zorie's getaway takes a gruesome turn and suddenly the “Wedding Crash Killers” are national news. The best friends are forced to hit the road to dodge the authorities, but their escape plan leaves behind a bloody trail of destruction from Georgia all the way to the bayou. As past grudges resurface, Kayla realizes that the best friend she thought she knew is more dangerous than she could ever have realized.
Sharp, unpredictable, and madcap from start to finish, Love You to Death is the most fun—and deadly—road trip you’ll ever take.
Unknown Binding
First published July 22, 2025
58 people are currently reading
13301 people want to read
About the author
Christina Dotson
2 books93 followersChristina Dotson lives in Kentucky and holds an MSW from Western Kentucky University and an MS from Murray State University. She is a member of Crime Writers of Color and was a runner-up for the Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. When she isn't writing, Christina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and can be found not exercising and watching a ridiculous amount of reality TV. You can learn more by following @christinadotsonwrites on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
September 27, 2025
4/5
- Had SO much fun with this book! Was it unhinged and at times completely unrealistic? Absolutely! Was it exactly what I needed? 100%!!
- This book was so unhinged and if you like a story where absolutely everything goes wrong, this is a good one to read! It also touches on social issues, racism, and the fear of being black in a world that wasn’t made for us in a way that fit the story so well.
- Finished this book so fast because I really wanted to see how it would it. The ending wasn’t what I expected, but still enjoyed the book so much!
- Had SO much fun with this book! Was it unhinged and at times completely unrealistic? Absolutely! Was it exactly what I needed? 100%!!
- This book was so unhinged and if you like a story where absolutely everything goes wrong, this is a good one to read! It also touches on social issues, racism, and the fear of being black in a world that wasn’t made for us in a way that fit the story so well.
- Finished this book so fast because I really wanted to see how it would it. The ending wasn’t what I expected, but still enjoyed the book so much!
July 5, 2025
There was just….nothing redeemable about this book. I also wouldn’t call it a thriller, because where was the mystery? What was I trying to figure out, which one of the two main characters I disliked more?
The answer there is, I dislike them both equally. There was absolutely nothing to root for, except hoping they both were held accountable for their horrendous actions. I’m really not sure why I read the whole thing, I suppose I was waiting for an ending that would’ve made the journey worth it. But there wasn’t one.
If you want to read a story about characters with no redeeming qualities, who repeatedly make bad decisions, and offer no intrigue whatsoever. This is the book for you.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
The answer there is, I dislike them both equally. There was absolutely nothing to root for, except hoping they both were held accountable for their horrendous actions. I’m really not sure why I read the whole thing, I suppose I was waiting for an ending that would’ve made the journey worth it. But there wasn’t one.
If you want to read a story about characters with no redeeming qualities, who repeatedly make bad decisions, and offer no intrigue whatsoever. This is the book for you.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
September 24, 2025
Aye yooooo what did I just read!? 😅 literally bad girls gone WORSE!
This book was a wild ride ngl. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before 🫠 The 2 main characters, Kayla and Zorie, were great examples of co-dependency and enabling in friendships. Bc them 2 girls was a mess 😅😅😅😅😅 They had me stressed the whole time. Throughout the whole book I honestly thought they were the same person like in Fight Club 🙃 But no, Kayla and Zorie were just mentally ill and enabling each other to do their worst at each turn.
All in all, I enjoyed the twists and turns but got kinda annoyed with Kayla’s choices. Other than that, this is def entertaining to say the least lol. I think this would also make a great A24 movie. It gave me very much Zola vibes
This book was a wild ride ngl. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before 🫠 The 2 main characters, Kayla and Zorie, were great examples of co-dependency and enabling in friendships. Bc them 2 girls was a mess 😅😅😅😅😅 They had me stressed the whole time. Throughout the whole book I honestly thought they were the same person like in Fight Club 🙃 But no, Kayla and Zorie were just mentally ill and enabling each other to do their worst at each turn.
All in all, I enjoyed the twists and turns but got kinda annoyed with Kayla’s choices. Other than that, this is def entertaining to say the least lol. I think this would also make a great A24 movie. It gave me very much Zola vibes
July 9, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 22, 2025
“Love You to Death” by Christina Dotson is a Thelma and Louise-like cross-country adventure, except one character is a sociopath, one is co-dependent and a notoriously bad decision maker, and murder seems to follow them wherever they go.
Kayla and Zorie have been “ride or die” best friends since childhood. Now, as adults, they are both working as housekeepers in a local hotel and Kayla is considering a future in hotel management. To make extra money, the women crash weddings, and steal wedding gifts, although Kayla continues to tell herself that the next time will be the last time. But their last wedding goes terribly wrong when a bridesmaid ends up dead and now, both Kayla and Zorie are on the run. With no one else to turn to, the friends only have each other but Kayla starts to see Zorie in a new light and she wonders if she actually knew Zorie at all.
“Death” is fast-paced and action-packed, with a smooth-flowing plot and well-developed characters. Zorie is completely unlikable (purposely) and although I wanted to root for Kayla, as seemingly the more human of the two, she continued to make ludicrous decisions that had me screaming at the pages. Kayla and Zorie’s relationship went far beyond codependency and into something far more sinister. As an adult, I was confused as to Kayla’s decision-making process, since her recklessness seemed somewhere in the angsty teenager category, but I definitely was invested enough in the adventure to see how it turned out.
Zorie’s pathology was something that intrigued me, from a psychological standpoint, but I was sad to see Kayla dragged along for the ride. The ending played out exactly as it needed to, providing both women with tragic, but realistic, consequences. Even though the women made ludicrous and juvenile decisions throughout, Dotson provided believable reasons behind their choices as the novel played out, which ensures readers will be satisfied with the outcome.
“Death” is definitely an entertaining and compulsive page-turning read, and I loved watching Kayla and Zorie’s adventures (from a distance, thank goodness). Dotson is a creative and passionate writer, and I hope she creates more high-octane adventure stories like this one.
Expected publication date: July 22, 2025
“Love You to Death” by Christina Dotson is a Thelma and Louise-like cross-country adventure, except one character is a sociopath, one is co-dependent and a notoriously bad decision maker, and murder seems to follow them wherever they go.
Kayla and Zorie have been “ride or die” best friends since childhood. Now, as adults, they are both working as housekeepers in a local hotel and Kayla is considering a future in hotel management. To make extra money, the women crash weddings, and steal wedding gifts, although Kayla continues to tell herself that the next time will be the last time. But their last wedding goes terribly wrong when a bridesmaid ends up dead and now, both Kayla and Zorie are on the run. With no one else to turn to, the friends only have each other but Kayla starts to see Zorie in a new light and she wonders if she actually knew Zorie at all.
“Death” is fast-paced and action-packed, with a smooth-flowing plot and well-developed characters. Zorie is completely unlikable (purposely) and although I wanted to root for Kayla, as seemingly the more human of the two, she continued to make ludicrous decisions that had me screaming at the pages. Kayla and Zorie’s relationship went far beyond codependency and into something far more sinister. As an adult, I was confused as to Kayla’s decision-making process, since her recklessness seemed somewhere in the angsty teenager category, but I definitely was invested enough in the adventure to see how it turned out.
Zorie’s pathology was something that intrigued me, from a psychological standpoint, but I was sad to see Kayla dragged along for the ride. The ending played out exactly as it needed to, providing both women with tragic, but realistic, consequences. Even though the women made ludicrous and juvenile decisions throughout, Dotson provided believable reasons behind their choices as the novel played out, which ensures readers will be satisfied with the outcome.
“Death” is definitely an entertaining and compulsive page-turning read, and I loved watching Kayla and Zorie’s adventures (from a distance, thank goodness). Dotson is a creative and passionate writer, and I hope she creates more high-octane adventure stories like this one.
May 3, 2025
Love You To Death by Christina Dotson is an interesting story. It began with a fast pace, but around 30% the pacing seemed to become slower. There were times where Kayla would detour from what was happening in the moment to explain about a past experience between herself and Kayla. While it provided additional information about their backgrounds, this kept happening so much that it began to feel disruptive more than helpful to moving the story forward.
Initially, I felt bad for Kyala and Zorie because of their separate childhood issues with their birth parents--Kayla's deceased mother and father who has moved on with his new wife and child as well as Zorie's mother who abandoned her different ways and physically absent father. However, this changed as I read the story. They both continuously made terrible and selfish choices, and they both "lacked ambition" but identified themselves as blameless victims for every situation that they put themselves in. They were both bad influences on each other. Both of them were impulsive and reactive. Also, they were very dumb criminals and it was a surprise that they hadn't been caught sooner because of the continuously dumb choices that they kept making. Granted, Zorie was worse than Kayla at times. Greed and selfishness were big themes throughout this book with numerous characters. So many characters were either being selfish and greedy in general or at the expense of others through an abuse of power and control. The exception to this seemed to be Dez--poor Dez.
While the story wasn't terrible, so much of it is just Kayla and Zorie committing more and more dumb crimes. At some point it became hard to continue reading because of how silly the crime spree was. It was almost like a knock off version of the Thelma and Louise movie, except in the movie someone was killed in an effort to stop a sexual assault. My point is that the story became redundant and boring for a large chunk of the story while I was waiting for them to get caught or experience some retribution from this Confederate family whose wedding they crashed who desired vengeance. For this to be a shorter story, the crime spree seemed to last for a long time. The ending was also predictable. Overall, it was a decent story but not a story that I would read more than once.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
Initially, I felt bad for Kyala and Zorie because of their separate childhood issues with their birth parents--Kayla's deceased mother and father who has moved on with his new wife and child as well as Zorie's mother who abandoned her different ways and physically absent father. However, this changed as I read the story. They both continuously made terrible and selfish choices, and they both "lacked ambition" but identified themselves as blameless victims for every situation that they put themselves in. They were both bad influences on each other. Both of them were impulsive and reactive. Also, they were very dumb criminals and it was a surprise that they hadn't been caught sooner because of the continuously dumb choices that they kept making. Granted, Zorie was worse than Kayla at times. Greed and selfishness were big themes throughout this book with numerous characters. So many characters were either being selfish and greedy in general or at the expense of others through an abuse of power and control. The exception to this seemed to be Dez--poor Dez.
While the story wasn't terrible, so much of it is just Kayla and Zorie committing more and more dumb crimes. At some point it became hard to continue reading because of how silly the crime spree was. It was almost like a knock off version of the Thelma and Louise movie, except in the movie someone was killed in an effort to stop a sexual assault. My point is that the story became redundant and boring for a large chunk of the story while I was waiting for them to get caught or experience some retribution from this Confederate family whose wedding they crashed who desired vengeance. For this to be a shorter story, the crime spree seemed to last for a long time. The ending was also predictable. Overall, it was a decent story but not a story that I would read more than once.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2025
**Debut Thriller** Published July 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ /5
Thanks to #RandomHousePublishing, #Ballantine, and the author for the #GiftedCopy of this ARC provided via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
When I picked up Love You To Death, I wasn’t totally sure it would hold my attention. But a few pages in, it took off like the General Lee flying through Georgia (younger readers, you might need to Google that one 😂). Christina Dotson’s debut is a dark, twisted, and emotional ride that mixes the chaos of "Natural Born Killers" with the sisterhood vibes of "Thelma and Louise." Some readers have mixed feelings about it, but I was all in. This book is one wild, bloody ride.
Kayla and Zorie are childhood besties bonded by trauma, secrets, and way too many bad decisions. They crash weddings and steal gifts to survive. (High risk, low reward—definitely not for the faint of heart.) But everything unravels after one heist goes sideways, a bridesmaid ends up dead, and the two find themselves on the run across the South. Their “ride or die” pact turns into something much darker.
Kayla is the quiet one, the emotional center of the story. She’s flawed, no doubt, but there’s something raw and real about her. I couldn’t help but root for her, even as things spiraled. Her life feels like it was always one wrong turn away from disaster. And Zorie is the disaster. She’s electric, wild, dangerous, and the definition of a beautiful mess. She's a human grenade with a dazzling smile. Their friendship is tangled and totally toxic, but it’s also heartbreakingly loyal.
Dotson does a great job showing how trauma blurs the line between love and survival. Watching them spiral is hard, but I couldn't look away.
The plot is full of sharp turns and “what the hell just happened” moments. The dialogue rings true, the tension never lets up, and the stakes get higher with every chapter. This debut is fierce, fast, and brilliantly unforgettable. I'm sold on this author!
Read it if you love:
Morally messy female friendships
Stories about unhinged women making terrible choices
Crime thrillers that feel like they could go viral
Books that make you feel a little guilty for rooting for the bad guys
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ /5
Thanks to #RandomHousePublishing, #Ballantine, and the author for the #GiftedCopy of this ARC provided via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
When I picked up Love You To Death, I wasn’t totally sure it would hold my attention. But a few pages in, it took off like the General Lee flying through Georgia (younger readers, you might need to Google that one 😂). Christina Dotson’s debut is a dark, twisted, and emotional ride that mixes the chaos of "Natural Born Killers" with the sisterhood vibes of "Thelma and Louise." Some readers have mixed feelings about it, but I was all in. This book is one wild, bloody ride.
Kayla and Zorie are childhood besties bonded by trauma, secrets, and way too many bad decisions. They crash weddings and steal gifts to survive. (High risk, low reward—definitely not for the faint of heart.) But everything unravels after one heist goes sideways, a bridesmaid ends up dead, and the two find themselves on the run across the South. Their “ride or die” pact turns into something much darker.
Kayla is the quiet one, the emotional center of the story. She’s flawed, no doubt, but there’s something raw and real about her. I couldn’t help but root for her, even as things spiraled. Her life feels like it was always one wrong turn away from disaster. And Zorie is the disaster. She’s electric, wild, dangerous, and the definition of a beautiful mess. She's a human grenade with a dazzling smile. Their friendship is tangled and totally toxic, but it’s also heartbreakingly loyal.
Dotson does a great job showing how trauma blurs the line between love and survival. Watching them spiral is hard, but I couldn't look away.
The plot is full of sharp turns and “what the hell just happened” moments. The dialogue rings true, the tension never lets up, and the stakes get higher with every chapter. This debut is fierce, fast, and brilliantly unforgettable. I'm sold on this author!
Read it if you love:
Morally messy female friendships
Stories about unhinged women making terrible choices
Crime thrillers that feel like they could go viral
Books that make you feel a little guilty for rooting for the bad guys
June 14, 2025
The old saying is: choose your friends wisely.
However, Kayla missed it by a long shot. At a young age in Georgia, she became best buddies with Zorie. She was glued to someone who was reckless and always seemed to make bad decisions.
With a spirited dialogue, the first part had my attention. Kayla and Zorie found jobs as housekeepers for a reputable hotel where everything seemed fine. Yet, Zorie was highly unstable making quick decisions leading to criminal acts.
Then Kayla got bad news. She lost her job which was the sole source of her income. It’s always about money. Zorie tried to convince Kayla that none of these things would be her fault: burglary, hit-and-run and all sorts of other unlawful acts to come. It was a prime example of a toxic friendship.
About half way, the story slowed down. It was too predictable knowing it wasn’t going to end well especially for two Black women on the run in the south. Sadly, it could be viewed as stereotypical to some readers.
My thanks Bantam and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 22, 2025.
However, Kayla missed it by a long shot. At a young age in Georgia, she became best buddies with Zorie. She was glued to someone who was reckless and always seemed to make bad decisions.
With a spirited dialogue, the first part had my attention. Kayla and Zorie found jobs as housekeepers for a reputable hotel where everything seemed fine. Yet, Zorie was highly unstable making quick decisions leading to criminal acts.
Then Kayla got bad news. She lost her job which was the sole source of her income. It’s always about money. Zorie tried to convince Kayla that none of these things would be her fault: burglary, hit-and-run and all sorts of other unlawful acts to come. It was a prime example of a toxic friendship.
About half way, the story slowed down. It was too predictable knowing it wasn’t going to end well especially for two Black women on the run in the south. Sadly, it could be viewed as stereotypical to some readers.
My thanks Bantam and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 22, 2025.
July 22, 2025
4.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ .75 stars!! Thank you to Christina Dotson for the arc!
Omg! What a wild ride! Kayla and Zorie have been best friends for years and have always been there for each other.
They live together and both work as housekeepers at a hotel, but they are barely making ends meet. In order to supplement their income, they crash weddings and steal the bride and groom’s gifts.
Kayla decides that she doesn’t want to do this anymore but she gets herself into some financial trouble. Zorie suggests that they crash one last wedding and Kayla agrees, and this is where all their troubles begin.
Their story got so messy and there were so many twists and turns and I enjoyed every bit of it! I If you like unhinged characters, that are funny at times and ride or die friends, you will certainly enjoy this! This is fast-paced and was a quick read. Highly recommend!!
Omg! What a wild ride! Kayla and Zorie have been best friends for years and have always been there for each other.
They live together and both work as housekeepers at a hotel, but they are barely making ends meet. In order to supplement their income, they crash weddings and steal the bride and groom’s gifts.
Kayla decides that she doesn’t want to do this anymore but she gets herself into some financial trouble. Zorie suggests that they crash one last wedding and Kayla agrees, and this is where all their troubles begin.
Their story got so messy and there were so many twists and turns and I enjoyed every bit of it! I If you like unhinged characters, that are funny at times and ride or die friends, you will certainly enjoy this! This is fast-paced and was a quick read. Highly recommend!!
May 19, 2025
This book was frustrating because I wanted to root for Kayla but she just kept making dumb decisions. It almost would’ve helped to have some flashbacks or some justification as to why she loved Zorie because from the beginning she’s not very nice and only continues to act impulsively. Without a care for their friendship, the actions just didn’t feel justified throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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July 19, 2025Unfortunately, I had to DNF this a little past the halfway mark and, I will not be giving this a star rating. Normally, when I decide not to finish a book, I’ll skim the final chapters just to see if I missed anything major, but in this case, I didn’t see anything that made me want to go back and finish it.
The story has high stakes and a fast-paced plot, and Zorie is undeniably unhinged, which could have made for a thrilling ride. But even with all the chaos, the book never truly kept me guessing. I found myself anticipating that Zorie would continue to spiral and make things worse, and that predictability took the tension out of the story.
By the midpoint, the narrative began to feel messy like things were happening just for the sake of drama rather than with any real purpose. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and yet, I still didn’t feel invested. I wasn’t rooting for the characters, and I didn’t have a clear sense of what I was supposed to hope for. Was there a lesson? A payoff? I’m not sure. The initial pacing hooked me, but the middle lost steam quickly.
That said, I do think Christina Dotson has potential as a writer, and ya’ll know I have and and will forever be rooting for everybody Black.
This is her debut, and it shows she’s capable of crafting high-stakes plots and intense characters. This particular story just wasn’t for me but I’d still keep an eye out for what she writes next.
The story has high stakes and a fast-paced plot, and Zorie is undeniably unhinged, which could have made for a thrilling ride. But even with all the chaos, the book never truly kept me guessing. I found myself anticipating that Zorie would continue to spiral and make things worse, and that predictability took the tension out of the story.
By the midpoint, the narrative began to feel messy like things were happening just for the sake of drama rather than with any real purpose. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and yet, I still didn’t feel invested. I wasn’t rooting for the characters, and I didn’t have a clear sense of what I was supposed to hope for. Was there a lesson? A payoff? I’m not sure. The initial pacing hooked me, but the middle lost steam quickly.
That said, I do think Christina Dotson has potential as a writer, and ya’ll know I have and and will forever be rooting for everybody Black.
This is her debut, and it shows she’s capable of crafting high-stakes plots and intense characters. This particular story just wasn’t for me but I’d still keep an eye out for what she writes next.
January 24, 2025
Dotson delivers a high octane, whip-fast adventure that beautifully explores the nuances of how abuse and poverty in the US perpetuate in the choices we make throughout our lives. Trust between friends and who we decide is our family is also a current. I devoured this book; I only stopped reading for sleep. An absolute dynamite read.
July 23, 2025
3.5 rounded down out of 5.
This is the perfect recipe for a fast paced/action packed thriller. The characters, however, did not always strike the landing, in my opinion. Some of the choices they made were a little frustrating and hard to believe.
I will say that for this being the author’s debut, this was great! The plot was interesting and had some nail biting moments. The way the author builds suspense and continuously kept upping the stakes, was wild! Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does and will. I wasn’t expecting the story to go that off the rails, but wow was I invested in the ride!
My one issue was with the characters. I found it hard to understand what Kayla’s real goal was here. She kept wanting to change her path but never made moves to do so. She also kept making sooo many bad choices! I could not understand why she did it! Zorie was such a wild card, but an interesting character to this story. I almost would have liked a dual POV for this, I think it would have added an extra layer to the story and maybe a better understanding of both Kayla and Zorie.
Overall, I would recommend this book. The plot is so action packed from the beginning and does not let go until the very end! It was so interesting, but I’m left with a few questions that I still want answers to! I just wish we got a little more from the main characters, beyond the just terrible decision making. But, I will say I’m very excited to pick up more from this author in the future! I think they’re going to write some great action packed stories!
And as a side note. I am still thinking about that ending! Still wild!
***Thank you so much to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is the perfect recipe for a fast paced/action packed thriller. The characters, however, did not always strike the landing, in my opinion. Some of the choices they made were a little frustrating and hard to believe.
I will say that for this being the author’s debut, this was great! The plot was interesting and had some nail biting moments. The way the author builds suspense and continuously kept upping the stakes, was wild! Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does and will. I wasn’t expecting the story to go that off the rails, but wow was I invested in the ride!
My one issue was with the characters. I found it hard to understand what Kayla’s real goal was here. She kept wanting to change her path but never made moves to do so. She also kept making sooo many bad choices! I could not understand why she did it! Zorie was such a wild card, but an interesting character to this story. I almost would have liked a dual POV for this, I think it would have added an extra layer to the story and maybe a better understanding of both Kayla and Zorie.
Overall, I would recommend this book. The plot is so action packed from the beginning and does not let go until the very end! It was so interesting, but I’m left with a few questions that I still want answers to! I just wish we got a little more from the main characters, beyond the just terrible decision making. But, I will say I’m very excited to pick up more from this author in the future! I think they’re going to write some great action packed stories!
And as a side note. I am still thinking about that ending! Still wild!
***Thank you so much to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 29, 2025
Wow! This book had me biting my nails the entire time. Suspenseful, action packed, fast-paced, full of twists and turns, and crazy high stakes! If you look up toxic friendships in the dictionary, there might be a picture of Kayla and Zorie from Love You to Death! Christina Dotson is an author to watch and I'll be watching.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Love You to Death.
I was excited my request was approved because the premise gave me serious Thelma and Louise vibes and I love that movie.
** Minor no Thelma and Louise vibes/spoilers ahead **
Kayla and Zorie have been BFFs since they were kids; they're each other's ride and die.
When their hobby of crashing weddings to rob them of gifts goes horribly awry, the two BFFs find themselves on the lam from cops, former colleagues, and themselves.
There are many stereotypes to shake a stick at in the premise; Kayla and Zorie have no friends but each other; no ambition, and sabotage each other so they remain on equal footing.
Zorie is, not surprisingly, the more dominant of the duo with a strong personality, not unlike criminal duos in which the stronger personality is the ringleader.
Kayla has a cliche childhood; her parents were the loves of each other's life until her mom died of cancer and her doormat dad eventually married an evil stepmother with a more successful daughter than Kayla.
And she's dating Kayla's ex. What are the odds?
The beginning drew me in, setting the scene and the womens' present circumstances, but it quickly off the rails.
A story about a toxic friendship you can't let go of quickly became psychopathic.
I do understand the psychological need to stay with a friend or a partner who is dangerous.
You become accustomed to their behavior and personality and don't know how you'll survive without them.
In a way, you need each other because you feed off each other's negativity and dark side.
There's a lot of blood and mayhem, violence and finger pointing; as Kayla and Zorie make one bad decision after another and events continue to spiral, it becomes harder to suspend disbelief.
Also, there are quite a number of scenes and interactions where a guy or sleazebag hits on Kayla only to be rebuffed; oftentime, the guy has to comment on how beautiful she is.
Like the author needs to remind the readers that even though Kayla is just along for the ride and makes dumbass decisions, it's okay because she's hot?
Readers already know the narrative won't end well and I couldn't help but wonder what's the point of the story.
That toxic relationships are hard to get out of, that things can quickly spiral out of control, that sometimes we love the bad people in our lives because we're all a little bad?
I wished I liked Kayla but she was too immature and a brat to realize she needed to get away from Zorie because she had no one else.
And sometimes that's why we find ourselves in bad relationships and in a hole we can't get out of.
The motto of the story is...I'm not sure.
Is there supposed to be one? Maybe not.
I was excited my request was approved because the premise gave me serious Thelma and Louise vibes and I love that movie.
** Minor no Thelma and Louise vibes/spoilers ahead **
Kayla and Zorie have been BFFs since they were kids; they're each other's ride and die.
When their hobby of crashing weddings to rob them of gifts goes horribly awry, the two BFFs find themselves on the lam from cops, former colleagues, and themselves.
There are many stereotypes to shake a stick at in the premise; Kayla and Zorie have no friends but each other; no ambition, and sabotage each other so they remain on equal footing.
Zorie is, not surprisingly, the more dominant of the duo with a strong personality, not unlike criminal duos in which the stronger personality is the ringleader.
Kayla has a cliche childhood; her parents were the loves of each other's life until her mom died of cancer and her doormat dad eventually married an evil stepmother with a more successful daughter than Kayla.
And she's dating Kayla's ex. What are the odds?
The beginning drew me in, setting the scene and the womens' present circumstances, but it quickly off the rails.
A story about a toxic friendship you can't let go of quickly became psychopathic.
I do understand the psychological need to stay with a friend or a partner who is dangerous.
You become accustomed to their behavior and personality and don't know how you'll survive without them.
In a way, you need each other because you feed off each other's negativity and dark side.
There's a lot of blood and mayhem, violence and finger pointing; as Kayla and Zorie make one bad decision after another and events continue to spiral, it becomes harder to suspend disbelief.
Also, there are quite a number of scenes and interactions where a guy or sleazebag hits on Kayla only to be rebuffed; oftentime, the guy has to comment on how beautiful she is.
Like the author needs to remind the readers that even though Kayla is just along for the ride and makes dumbass decisions, it's okay because she's hot?
Readers already know the narrative won't end well and I couldn't help but wonder what's the point of the story.
That toxic relationships are hard to get out of, that things can quickly spiral out of control, that sometimes we love the bad people in our lives because we're all a little bad?
I wished I liked Kayla but she was too immature and a brat to realize she needed to get away from Zorie because she had no one else.
And sometimes that's why we find ourselves in bad relationships and in a hole we can't get out of.
The motto of the story is...I'm not sure.
Is there supposed to be one? Maybe not.
August 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐. This book really breaks down "ride or die" in more than one way! 😅
I'm not gonna lie, the tone of this one was all over the place. At times it felt comedic...then it became serious...then adventurous...then gory/horrific and even suspenseful. IDK. It was wild. I haven't read anything like it.
Overall I was curious as to why Kayla & Zora were SO close, that Kayla never went her own separate way. It kept my interest, even though I felt the ending was kind of abrupt.
I'm not gonna lie, the tone of this one was all over the place. At times it felt comedic...then it became serious...then adventurous...then gory/horrific and even suspenseful. IDK. It was wild. I haven't read anything like it.
Overall I was curious as to why Kayla & Zora were SO close, that Kayla never went her own separate way. It kept my interest, even though I felt the ending was kind of abrupt.
June 26, 2025
This book starts off strong. The vibe? Total Thelma & Louise energy—two best friends, a little chaos, and a whole lot of bad decisions. The wedding crashing angle was super fun at first, and the pace had me flying through the beginning.
One thing I really loved: Christina Dotson is a clinical social worker, and you can feel that background in the way she writes relationships. The emotional messiness between Kayla and Zorie felt real—codependency, trauma, loyalty pushed way past the limit. It added some real depth to the wild ride.
But somewhere in the middle, it started to lose momentum. The plot got a bit repetitive, and I wasn’t as hooked by the end. I wanted at least one of the characters to grow or change in a bigger way, and that didn’t totally land for me.
Still, it’s a bold, unique debut with a ton of voice. I’m definitely curious to see what Dotson writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
#LoveYouToDeath #ChristinaDotson #ARCReview #NetGalleyReads #ThrillerReads #DebutAuthor #ThelmaAndLouiseVibes #BookReview #MessyFriendships #BlackGirlsOnTheRun #Bookstagram #GoodreadsReviewer #ReadWithMe
One thing I really loved: Christina Dotson is a clinical social worker, and you can feel that background in the way she writes relationships. The emotional messiness between Kayla and Zorie felt real—codependency, trauma, loyalty pushed way past the limit. It added some real depth to the wild ride.
But somewhere in the middle, it started to lose momentum. The plot got a bit repetitive, and I wasn’t as hooked by the end. I wanted at least one of the characters to grow or change in a bigger way, and that didn’t totally land for me.
Still, it’s a bold, unique debut with a ton of voice. I’m definitely curious to see what Dotson writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
#LoveYouToDeath #ChristinaDotson #ARCReview #NetGalleyReads #ThrillerReads #DebutAuthor #ThelmaAndLouiseVibes #BookReview #MessyFriendships #BlackGirlsOnTheRun #Bookstagram #GoodreadsReviewer #ReadWithMe
October 29, 2025
3 1/2 ⭐️
This book was a wild edge of your seat ride! I loved Kayla and Zorie and couldn't wait to read what was coming next with each page. Yes, many things were "far fetched," but this is fiction. I never complain when a fiction book has unrealistic scenarios. Those scenarios are part of why I love fiction so much. It's outlandish and hard to believe. That makes it exciting. I knew every chapter was going to bring chaos, and Christina Dotson did not disappoint.
This book was a wild edge of your seat ride! I loved Kayla and Zorie and couldn't wait to read what was coming next with each page. Yes, many things were "far fetched," but this is fiction. I never complain when a fiction book has unrealistic scenarios. Those scenarios are part of why I love fiction so much. It's outlandish and hard to believe. That makes it exciting. I knew every chapter was going to bring chaos, and Christina Dotson did not disappoint.
July 27, 2025
Bonded by trauma and numerous bad decisions Kayla and Zorie are childhood best friends. Kayla has been trying to right her wrongs from a teenage prank a decade ago that led to her arrest. Making a living as a housekeeper just isn't cutting it and she is in desperate need of something else. Her past time of wedding crashing and stealing the cash and gifts with Zorie add a much-needed adrenaline rush, not to mention spare cash. But their one last heist goes spectacularly FUBAR when someone ends up dead. Now Kayla and Zorie find themselves with no choice but to flee. From Georgia to the bayou, past issues start to rear their ugly heads, and Kayla has to come to terms with the knowledge that she might not know her best friend as well as she thought.
While Love You To Death starts with a strong premise, I had a couple of issues. The first part starts off steady but then I feel like it slows way down and gets a bit repetitive. The last part picks back up but the ending, while a bold choice, just didn't land for me. I do love the fresh take on the thriller that Dotson was trying for and the dialogue is authentic. Overall, being a debut, I think this one had its fair share of standout moments, it just wasn't quite the KO it could have been.
Thank you to NetGalley, Christina Dotson, and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine for this ARC! Publication date was July 22nd, 2025.
While Love You To Death starts with a strong premise, I had a couple of issues. The first part starts off steady but then I feel like it slows way down and gets a bit repetitive. The last part picks back up but the ending, while a bold choice, just didn't land for me. I do love the fresh take on the thriller that Dotson was trying for and the dialogue is authentic. Overall, being a debut, I think this one had its fair share of standout moments, it just wasn't quite the KO it could have been.
Thank you to NetGalley, Christina Dotson, and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine for this ARC! Publication date was July 22nd, 2025.
September 2, 2025
I didn’t know much about this book going in and it was a pleasant surprise. This is an action thriller with friendship at the core. Although I spent a lot of time frustrated with Kayla and thinking ‘You have to get away from Zorie!’, I completely understand why she felt that she couldn’t. The author set up the basis of their friendship so well at the beginning of the book and then kept adding layers throughout the story, making the reader feel completely wrapped up in their private world. The dialogue between the two main characters was also fantastic.
If you’re looking for Thelma and Louise vibes and a cracking pace, this might be the story for you.
If you’re looking for Thelma and Louise vibes and a cracking pace, this might be the story for you.
September 26, 2025
Zorie and Kayla are the definition of real ride or die friends!!!
These two best friends are struggling from low finances and decide to hit one last wedding to steal money and gifts to pawn. After things quickly go awry, Zorie and Kayla have no choice but to go on the run in a road trip from hell to get away.
"A single choice can determine your entire life."
Zorie had me stressed with her wild, absolutely reckless antics the entire time. Shoot her and Kayla were both pretty unhinged but this crazy, extremely messy getaway journey was thrilling and highly entertaining.
4.5 stars
These two best friends are struggling from low finances and decide to hit one last wedding to steal money and gifts to pawn. After things quickly go awry, Zorie and Kayla have no choice but to go on the run in a road trip from hell to get away.
"A single choice can determine your entire life."
Zorie had me stressed with her wild, absolutely reckless antics the entire time. Shoot her and Kayla were both pretty unhinged but this crazy, extremely messy getaway journey was thrilling and highly entertaining.
4.5 stars
July 30, 2025
Codependency turned toxic, as it does. Crashing a wedding does sound fun for these two, until it’s not and they go on the run while committing even more crimes.
September 16, 2025
i really enjoyed how different this plot is compared to most thrillers that i’ve read! very “one of them days” meets “set it off + queen & slim” movies coded!
July 5, 2025
This book started mildly, went faster, and the took off. Holy cow! The twists and turns were things I couldn’t have guessed and kept me reading the whole way through! Despite the immaturity of the characters, I was invested in the story.
July 27, 2025
I hated this... the writing wasn't terrible, but the characters. I understand loyalty to a lifelong friend, but WHY were they friends?! Zorie didn't exhibit a single trait that made it believable Kayla would spend her entire life dragging her around. A thief, a liar, a manipulative grifter, only coming to Kayla when she needs rescuing or some kind of escape. The book is supposed to be about Kayla discovering the darker side to her friend. How did she ever NOT see it? They weren't friends, there was a sociopath (which the book even diagnoses her as!) and an enable. There wasn't a single scene that explained or justified Kayla's loyalty to this leech. And even if they did have moments of normal bestie behavior, I lost all respect for Kayla for not dropping this piece of shit from the first steps of their journey. I would have cut ties with her right then and there, let alone after a body dropped.
Read if you don't mind eavesdropping on a toxic relationship for an entire book, I guess. Zorie's a fucking monster, and Kayla isn't worth rooting for after skipping countless opportunities to escape from her clutches. It's like watching someone stick with their kidnapper because he was kind of nice when they were kids.
Read if you don't mind eavesdropping on a toxic relationship for an entire book, I guess. Zorie's a fucking monster, and Kayla isn't worth rooting for after skipping countless opportunities to escape from her clutches. It's like watching someone stick with their kidnapper because he was kind of nice when they were kids.
June 24, 2025
*3.5 rounded up*
This was a chaotic tale of two best friends on the run after their scammery leads to an accidental murder. As they embark on the run, they encounter and cause more murder & mayhem until one of them decides they've had enough and needs to make a clean break. This book was so good, yet so frustrating to read as you root for the main character Kayla to change the course of her path as the other main character Zorie pulls all the strings and resorts to so many impulsive decisions. Throughout their journey of being on the run, I liked that more of Zorie's personality started to seep out. You have to suspend your disbelief that a normal person would just get off this ride and do the right thing, but the conflict is what keeps you drawn in. I needed a more satisfying ending but it doesn't take away from the journey this story takes you on.
This was a chaotic tale of two best friends on the run after their scammery leads to an accidental murder. As they embark on the run, they encounter and cause more murder & mayhem until one of them decides they've had enough and needs to make a clean break. This book was so good, yet so frustrating to read as you root for the main character Kayla to change the course of her path as the other main character Zorie pulls all the strings and resorts to so many impulsive decisions. Throughout their journey of being on the run, I liked that more of Zorie's personality started to seep out. You have to suspend your disbelief that a normal person would just get off this ride and do the right thing, but the conflict is what keeps you drawn in. I needed a more satisfying ending but it doesn't take away from the journey this story takes you on.
Read
July 24, 2025Really enjoyed this wild ride of a ride-or-die friendship story.
Love You to Death is a fast-paced and suspenseful story about Kayla and Zorie, two best friends whose cash-grabbing wedding crashing habit (they crash weddings, hit the wedding money box, and dip) accidentally turns deadly. They face a choice: own up to what they did, or flee.
They choose option B and take off on a dangerous, gripping, blood-soaked thrill ride from Georgia to Mexico, all the while watching news reports about themselves.
If you read Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch, it has a similar feel. The story has twists and turns and looks at Kayla's ever changing perceptions of Zorie and their relationship. It's book that really keeps you guessing about where the story is headed, and there's a surprising reveal at the end.
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Love You to Death is a fast-paced and suspenseful story about Kayla and Zorie, two best friends whose cash-grabbing wedding crashing habit (they crash weddings, hit the wedding money box, and dip) accidentally turns deadly. They face a choice: own up to what they did, or flee.
They choose option B and take off on a dangerous, gripping, blood-soaked thrill ride from Georgia to Mexico, all the while watching news reports about themselves.
If you read Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch, it has a similar feel. The story has twists and turns and looks at Kayla's ever changing perceptions of Zorie and their relationship. It's book that really keeps you guessing about where the story is headed, and there's a surprising reveal at the end.
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
June 2, 2025
3.75 stars
In the tradition of _Thelma and Louise_, _Queen and Slim_, and all of the other duos audiences can see speeding toward disaster ever faster as they try to save themselves from it, Kayla and Zorie are on their own lifelong crash course. What transpires in the context of this novel is truly wild and cements their place in the titular 'love you to death' motif.
Kayla and Zorie have been best friends for most of their lives, and some of this is facilitated by their unfortunate family circumstances. Since readers get to know Kayla a bit better at the start of the novel, her situation is more pronounced. After her mother dies, her father copes with a few women, but one constant returns and really brings wicked stepmother vibes to the party. This is exacerbated by the wicked stepsister Kayla gets in the deal, too. Related events unfold, and a situation changes the course of Kayla's and Zorie's outcomes and lives. Though it seems like they are finally moving in a better direction, this falls apart in a new way years later when an accident becomes the impetus for an absolutely bonkers series of events. Wilder than the events themselves are the choices these women make along the way.
The events and decisions are so over the top that readers really need to be in the mindset to suspend disbelief to some degree. If they can, they'll be in for a real treat when it comes to the way the relationship between these two women unfurls. Can they trust each other? Themselves? WHAT will they do next, and how will this all end?
This is my first experience with Dotson's work, and while I wanted to talk some sense into these characters BADLY throughout this entire read, I still enjoyed the journey (and realize that my frustration with them is also a mark of compelling characterization). This was quite a ride, pun intended, and I'll be back for more from Dotson.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Jordan Hill Forney at Random House, Dial Press & BBD for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
In the tradition of _Thelma and Louise_, _Queen and Slim_, and all of the other duos audiences can see speeding toward disaster ever faster as they try to save themselves from it, Kayla and Zorie are on their own lifelong crash course. What transpires in the context of this novel is truly wild and cements their place in the titular 'love you to death' motif.
Kayla and Zorie have been best friends for most of their lives, and some of this is facilitated by their unfortunate family circumstances. Since readers get to know Kayla a bit better at the start of the novel, her situation is more pronounced. After her mother dies, her father copes with a few women, but one constant returns and really brings wicked stepmother vibes to the party. This is exacerbated by the wicked stepsister Kayla gets in the deal, too. Related events unfold, and a situation changes the course of Kayla's and Zorie's outcomes and lives. Though it seems like they are finally moving in a better direction, this falls apart in a new way years later when an accident becomes the impetus for an absolutely bonkers series of events. Wilder than the events themselves are the choices these women make along the way.
The events and decisions are so over the top that readers really need to be in the mindset to suspend disbelief to some degree. If they can, they'll be in for a real treat when it comes to the way the relationship between these two women unfurls. Can they trust each other? Themselves? WHAT will they do next, and how will this all end?
This is my first experience with Dotson's work, and while I wanted to talk some sense into these characters BADLY throughout this entire read, I still enjoyed the journey (and realize that my frustration with them is also a mark of compelling characterization). This was quite a ride, pun intended, and I'll be back for more from Dotson.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Jordan Hill Forney at Random House, Dial Press & BBD for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
July 24, 2025
Christina Dotson's debut thriller Love You to Death serves up a twisted cocktail of friendship, desperation, and escalating violence that will leave readers questioning the true cost of loyalty. This dark road trip novel transforms the seemingly innocent pastime of wedding crashing into a deadly game where the stakes are life, death, and the bonds that supposedly bind best friends together.
The Premise: From Petty Theft to National Manhunt
The story follows Kayla Davenport and Zorie Andrews, two Black women whose financial desperation leads them to crash weddings for quick cash and valuable gifts. What begins as a weekend hobby targeting strangers' celebrations quickly spirals into a nightmare when their "one last job" at an antebellum-themed wedding goes catastrophically wrong. A hit-and-run incident transforms the duo from small-time thieves into the "Wedding Crasher Killers," launching them on a blood-soaked journey from Georgia to the Louisiana bayou.
Dotson wastes no time establishing the precarious foundation of her protagonists' lives. Kayla, still haunted by a teenage prank that landed her in prison, works a dead-end hotel housekeeping job while navigating the complex dynamics of her father's remarriage. Her only bright spot is Zorie, whose magnetic personality and devil-may-care attitude provides both comfort and dangerous influence. Their wedding crashing scheme represents more than just easy money—it's their rebellion against a world that seems determined to keep them down.
Character Development: The Complexity of Toxic Friendship
Where Love You to Death truly excels is in its unflinching examination of a friendship that teeters between devotion and destruction. Kayla emerges as the more cautious, morally conflicted character, constantly torn between her loyalty to Zorie and her growing recognition of her friend's dangerous unpredictability. Dotson skillfully reveals how Kayla's people-pleasing nature and desperate need for acceptance have made her complicit in increasingly reckless behavior.
Zorie, meanwhile, is a masterclass in charismatic manipulation. Dotson presents her not as a cartoon villain but as someone whose charm and fierce loyalty mask a deep-seated instability. As the body count rises, readers witness Zorie's gradual transformation from mischievous accomplice to something far more sinister. The author's background as a licensed clinical social worker adds authentic psychological depth to this portrayal of a friendship corrupted by trauma, dependency, and enabling.
The Slow Burn Revelation
The genius of Dotson's character work lies in how she gradually peels back the layers of Kayla and Zorie's relationship. Through flashbacks to their shared criminal past and present-day tensions, we see how their dynamic has always been imbalanced. Kayla's realization that she has been living in Zorie's shadow—and potentially enabling her worst impulses—provides the emotional backbone of the narrative.
Writing Style: Authentic Voice with Visceral Impact
Dotson writes with a authenticity that brings both characters and settings to vivid life. Her dialogue crackles with genuine emotion, capturing the rhythms of friendship strained to its breaking point. The author doesn't shy away from the messy realities of her characters' lives, from Kayla's complicated family dynamics to the seedy hotel rooms and gas stations that become their temporary refuges.
The pacing accelerates masterfully as the stakes rise. Early chapters focus on character development and the gradual build-up of tension, while later sections barrel forward with heart-pounding intensity. Dotson's background in social work informs her nuanced understanding of trauma, addiction, and the cycles of poverty that trap her characters—elements that elevate this beyond simple crime fiction.
Strengths That Elevate the Genre
Authentic Representation
As one of the few thrillers featuring Black women as central characters in this type of crime narrative, Love You to Death provides representation that feels genuine rather than performative. Dotson addresses issues of race and class without making them the sole focus, allowing her characters to exist as fully realized individuals rather than symbols.
Psychological Depth
The psychological complexity of Kayla and Zorie's relationship drives the narrative more effectively than traditional thriller elements. Their co-dependency, shared trauma, and gradual recognition of each other's true nature creates genuine suspense that goes beyond simple violence.
Setting as Character
From the antebellum wedding venue to seedy roadside motels, Dotson uses location to reinforce themes of class disparity and social exclusion. The American South becomes a character in its own right, reflecting both the beauty and ugliness of a society that marginalizes women like Kayla and Zorie.
Areas Where the Novel Stumbles
Pacing Inconsistencies
While the overall momentum builds effectively, certain middle sections drag as Dotson perhaps tries to pack too much psychological development into extended dialogue sequences. Some readers may find themselves wishing for tighter editing in these character-heavy moments.
Believability Concerns
Several plot developments strain credibility, particularly regarding how long the protagonists manage to evade capture despite leaving substantial evidence trails. The Mexico escape plan, while emotionally resonant, feels somewhat underdeveloped in terms of practical logistics.
Violence vs. Character Development
In some instances, the graphic violence threatens to overshadow the more nuanced character work. While the escalating brutality serves the story's themes, occasional moments feel gratuitous rather than necessary for plot advancement.
Themes: The Price of Loyalty and the Poison of Enabling
Love You to Death functions as a dark meditation on the difference between love and enabling. Kayla's unwavering loyalty to Zorie, rooted in childhood trauma and codependency, ultimately becomes destructive for both women. Dotson explores how genuine affection can curdle into something toxic when boundaries disappear and accountability becomes impossible.
The novel also examines class consciousness and economic desperation as driving forces behind criminal behavior. The wedding crashing scheme represents more than theft—it's a way for marginalized women to briefly taste the luxury and security denied to them by birth and circumstance.
Final Verdict: A Promising Debut with Room to Grow
Love You to Death announces Christina Dotson as a thriller writer to watch. While not without flaws, the novel succeeds in its ambitious attempt to blend psychological complexity with genre thrills. Dotson's authentic voice, combined with her professional insight into human psychology, creates characters that linger in the mind long after the final page.
The book works best when focusing on the intricate dynamics between Kayla and Zorie, exploring how love can become twisted into something unrecognizable. While some plot elements strain believability and pacing occasionally falters, the emotional core remains strong throughout.
For readers seeking crime fiction that prioritizes character development over pure plot mechanics, Love You to Death delivers a disturbing yet compelling examination of friendship's dark side. Dotson has crafted a debut that announces her as a fresh voice in the thriller genre, one capable of bringing both psychological depth and authentic representation to familiar crime narratives.
This is ultimately a story about the price of blind loyalty and the courage required to break free from toxic relationships—themes that resonate far beyond the crime fiction genre. While it may not revolutionize thriller writing, Love You to Death offers enough psychological complexity and emotional authenticity to satisfy readers looking for character-driven suspense with genuine stakes.
The Premise: From Petty Theft to National Manhunt
The story follows Kayla Davenport and Zorie Andrews, two Black women whose financial desperation leads them to crash weddings for quick cash and valuable gifts. What begins as a weekend hobby targeting strangers' celebrations quickly spirals into a nightmare when their "one last job" at an antebellum-themed wedding goes catastrophically wrong. A hit-and-run incident transforms the duo from small-time thieves into the "Wedding Crasher Killers," launching them on a blood-soaked journey from Georgia to the Louisiana bayou.
Dotson wastes no time establishing the precarious foundation of her protagonists' lives. Kayla, still haunted by a teenage prank that landed her in prison, works a dead-end hotel housekeeping job while navigating the complex dynamics of her father's remarriage. Her only bright spot is Zorie, whose magnetic personality and devil-may-care attitude provides both comfort and dangerous influence. Their wedding crashing scheme represents more than just easy money—it's their rebellion against a world that seems determined to keep them down.
Character Development: The Complexity of Toxic Friendship
Where Love You to Death truly excels is in its unflinching examination of a friendship that teeters between devotion and destruction. Kayla emerges as the more cautious, morally conflicted character, constantly torn between her loyalty to Zorie and her growing recognition of her friend's dangerous unpredictability. Dotson skillfully reveals how Kayla's people-pleasing nature and desperate need for acceptance have made her complicit in increasingly reckless behavior.
Zorie, meanwhile, is a masterclass in charismatic manipulation. Dotson presents her not as a cartoon villain but as someone whose charm and fierce loyalty mask a deep-seated instability. As the body count rises, readers witness Zorie's gradual transformation from mischievous accomplice to something far more sinister. The author's background as a licensed clinical social worker adds authentic psychological depth to this portrayal of a friendship corrupted by trauma, dependency, and enabling.
The Slow Burn Revelation
The genius of Dotson's character work lies in how she gradually peels back the layers of Kayla and Zorie's relationship. Through flashbacks to their shared criminal past and present-day tensions, we see how their dynamic has always been imbalanced. Kayla's realization that she has been living in Zorie's shadow—and potentially enabling her worst impulses—provides the emotional backbone of the narrative.
Writing Style: Authentic Voice with Visceral Impact
Dotson writes with a authenticity that brings both characters and settings to vivid life. Her dialogue crackles with genuine emotion, capturing the rhythms of friendship strained to its breaking point. The author doesn't shy away from the messy realities of her characters' lives, from Kayla's complicated family dynamics to the seedy hotel rooms and gas stations that become their temporary refuges.
The pacing accelerates masterfully as the stakes rise. Early chapters focus on character development and the gradual build-up of tension, while later sections barrel forward with heart-pounding intensity. Dotson's background in social work informs her nuanced understanding of trauma, addiction, and the cycles of poverty that trap her characters—elements that elevate this beyond simple crime fiction.
Strengths That Elevate the Genre
Authentic Representation
As one of the few thrillers featuring Black women as central characters in this type of crime narrative, Love You to Death provides representation that feels genuine rather than performative. Dotson addresses issues of race and class without making them the sole focus, allowing her characters to exist as fully realized individuals rather than symbols.
Psychological Depth
The psychological complexity of Kayla and Zorie's relationship drives the narrative more effectively than traditional thriller elements. Their co-dependency, shared trauma, and gradual recognition of each other's true nature creates genuine suspense that goes beyond simple violence.
Setting as Character
From the antebellum wedding venue to seedy roadside motels, Dotson uses location to reinforce themes of class disparity and social exclusion. The American South becomes a character in its own right, reflecting both the beauty and ugliness of a society that marginalizes women like Kayla and Zorie.
Areas Where the Novel Stumbles
Pacing Inconsistencies
While the overall momentum builds effectively, certain middle sections drag as Dotson perhaps tries to pack too much psychological development into extended dialogue sequences. Some readers may find themselves wishing for tighter editing in these character-heavy moments.
Believability Concerns
Several plot developments strain credibility, particularly regarding how long the protagonists manage to evade capture despite leaving substantial evidence trails. The Mexico escape plan, while emotionally resonant, feels somewhat underdeveloped in terms of practical logistics.
Violence vs. Character Development
In some instances, the graphic violence threatens to overshadow the more nuanced character work. While the escalating brutality serves the story's themes, occasional moments feel gratuitous rather than necessary for plot advancement.
Themes: The Price of Loyalty and the Poison of Enabling
Love You to Death functions as a dark meditation on the difference between love and enabling. Kayla's unwavering loyalty to Zorie, rooted in childhood trauma and codependency, ultimately becomes destructive for both women. Dotson explores how genuine affection can curdle into something toxic when boundaries disappear and accountability becomes impossible.
The novel also examines class consciousness and economic desperation as driving forces behind criminal behavior. The wedding crashing scheme represents more than theft—it's a way for marginalized women to briefly taste the luxury and security denied to them by birth and circumstance.
Final Verdict: A Promising Debut with Room to Grow
Love You to Death announces Christina Dotson as a thriller writer to watch. While not without flaws, the novel succeeds in its ambitious attempt to blend psychological complexity with genre thrills. Dotson's authentic voice, combined with her professional insight into human psychology, creates characters that linger in the mind long after the final page.
The book works best when focusing on the intricate dynamics between Kayla and Zorie, exploring how love can become twisted into something unrecognizable. While some plot elements strain believability and pacing occasionally falters, the emotional core remains strong throughout.
For readers seeking crime fiction that prioritizes character development over pure plot mechanics, Love You to Death delivers a disturbing yet compelling examination of friendship's dark side. Dotson has crafted a debut that announces her as a fresh voice in the thriller genre, one capable of bringing both psychological depth and authentic representation to familiar crime narratives.
This is ultimately a story about the price of blind loyalty and the courage required to break free from toxic relationships—themes that resonate far beyond the crime fiction genre. While it may not revolutionize thriller writing, Love You to Death offers enough psychological complexity and emotional authenticity to satisfy readers looking for character-driven suspense with genuine stakes.
August 6, 2025
ZORIE!! Come here, I just want to talk for a second 😖
Whew Chile- this was truly an experience! What a freaking ride! I don’t even know how to begin to explain the chaos that ensues, but it’s one you just need to buckle up and enjoy 😩 If you’re able to, I highly suggest listening to the audiobook because the narrator did a fantastic job. What a fantastic debut- I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time!
Whew Chile- this was truly an experience! What a freaking ride! I don’t even know how to begin to explain the chaos that ensues, but it’s one you just need to buckle up and enjoy 😩 If you’re able to, I highly suggest listening to the audiobook because the narrator did a fantastic job. What a fantastic debut- I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time!
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May 7, 2025DNF. I read about 50% of this book and was tired of the antics from Kayla and Zorie. I like a suspenseful book but love to see things turn around, but these main characters just kept making stupid decisions and it frustrated me. While this book wasn’t for me I think it would be great for someone that likes suspense the entire book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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