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Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies
Hobnobbing with Seattle's elite on a super-yacht, Juliette Winters is about to land the deal of the century—if she doesn't get arrested first. She Doesn't Have A Clue author Jenny Elder Moke returns with another riotous mystery rom-com that delights in rich people behaving badly.
Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She's too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.
Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.
Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can't afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn't uncover Warren's killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it.
Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She's too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.
Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.
Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can't afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn't uncover Warren's killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2026
56 people are currently reading
18002 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Elder Moke
8 books557 followersJenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children's and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way. CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE HE DIES, a mystery rom-com mash-up, available January 20, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
November 25, 2025
I can honestly say this cozy mystery series just keeps getting better with every book—and I loved this installment even more than She Doesn’t Have a Clue. Juliette Winters is still an intimidating fireball of a heroine: prickly, impulsive, hyper-focused, gloriously messy, and emotionally repressed thanks to her psychologist parents, who somehow managed to analyze everyone except their own daughter. They practically sabotaged her entire childhood and teenagerhood, and the residual chaos shows in every hilarious, chaotic decision she makes.
This book is ridiculously entertaining. The jokes are sharp, the cultural references land perfectly, and the snarky humor had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt. While there is a romantic thread featuring Dr. Dud—the sweetest Australian man alive, also known as Charlie Hawkins—the romance definitely takes a backseat this time. Instead, girl-power teamwork, dysfunctional family drama, and, most importantly, the cleverly woven mystery take center stage.
Charlie and his ex-girlfriend storyline are more of a soft subplot, because the spotlight belongs to Kate, Veeta, and (sometimes) Kennedy, who jump in as Juliette’s unofficial partners-in-crime-solving. Their chaotic energy practically steals the show as they scramble to uncover what really happened to Warren Ellingham—a powerful business mogul who drops dead of an apparent heart attack during a major announcement.
But nothing is as simple as it seems.
Where did the manuscript go—the one that could rescue Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and elevate Juliette to marketing-director stardom?
And who had the strongest motive to silence Warren?
• June Piedmont, desperate to get her hands on the manuscript—did its contents hold something explosive enough to destroy her reputation?
• Brad Ellingham, Warren’s alcoholic son, incapable of running a lemonade stand, let alone a publishing company—did he decide to clear the path to power?
• Chipper Lloyd, who had a violent argument with Warren moments before he collapsed—was it rage or revenge?
• Or is there someone else lurking in the shadows, the true puppet master pulling all the strings?
The mystery is wonderfully executed—fast-paced, witty, and full of addictive armchair-detective sequences that made me fly through the pages. And while Juliette can be a hard nut to like at first, by the end I found myself fully invested in her chaos, her growth, and her sharp, messy brilliance.
This was a delightfully quick, engaging cozy mystery that I devoured in a single sitting, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this highly entertaining cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This book is ridiculously entertaining. The jokes are sharp, the cultural references land perfectly, and the snarky humor had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt. While there is a romantic thread featuring Dr. Dud—the sweetest Australian man alive, also known as Charlie Hawkins—the romance definitely takes a backseat this time. Instead, girl-power teamwork, dysfunctional family drama, and, most importantly, the cleverly woven mystery take center stage.
Charlie and his ex-girlfriend storyline are more of a soft subplot, because the spotlight belongs to Kate, Veeta, and (sometimes) Kennedy, who jump in as Juliette’s unofficial partners-in-crime-solving. Their chaotic energy practically steals the show as they scramble to uncover what really happened to Warren Ellingham—a powerful business mogul who drops dead of an apparent heart attack during a major announcement.
But nothing is as simple as it seems.
Where did the manuscript go—the one that could rescue Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and elevate Juliette to marketing-director stardom?
And who had the strongest motive to silence Warren?
• June Piedmont, desperate to get her hands on the manuscript—did its contents hold something explosive enough to destroy her reputation?
• Brad Ellingham, Warren’s alcoholic son, incapable of running a lemonade stand, let alone a publishing company—did he decide to clear the path to power?
• Chipper Lloyd, who had a violent argument with Warren moments before he collapsed—was it rage or revenge?
• Or is there someone else lurking in the shadows, the true puppet master pulling all the strings?
The mystery is wonderfully executed—fast-paced, witty, and full of addictive armchair-detective sequences that made me fly through the pages. And while Juliette can be a hard nut to like at first, by the end I found myself fully invested in her chaos, her growth, and her sharp, messy brilliance.
This was a delightfully quick, engaging cozy mystery that I devoured in a single sitting, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this highly entertaining cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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did-not-finish
January 26, 2026DNF @ 25% 😭💔
I tried to persevere. I really did, but I just did not care about the characters or the story enough to continue it.
It’s said that it can be read as a standalone since there’s another rom-com mystery book with characters that make an appearance in this one, but that made it feel like this was a sequel to a series and not just its own book. If I had known that, I wouldn’t have requested the book, but oh well. 🤷♀😅
The MC, Juliette, was rude and, honestly, annoying. I mean, she explains why she is the way she is, and I totally get it, but it’s no excuse to be mean. But I skipped ahead to the end to see if I was right in my suspicions as to who killed Warren, and it seems Juliette became self-aware of her behavior and was trying to change, so that’s great to hear! 😁 I was also right in whodunnit, so that was nice and a little disappointing because I called it at the 10% mark. 😭 Also, the humor fell flat for me. It’s just not my cup of tea, and I was cringing instead of laughing at the jokes made.
Anyway, it didn’t feel worth it to me to read the entire book if I didn’t like/care about the characters and already solved the mystery. It was a goal of mine this year to try to finish books instead of DNF’ing them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to read this book in its entirety. I didn’t hate this book, though, and I know there are a lot of readers who enjoyed it, so I’d read their reviews to see if this book is a match for you! Because this certainly wasn’t for me.
Thank you to St.Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book publishes 01/20/2026 and is out now!
I tried to persevere. I really did, but I just did not care about the characters or the story enough to continue it.
It’s said that it can be read as a standalone since there’s another rom-com mystery book with characters that make an appearance in this one, but that made it feel like this was a sequel to a series and not just its own book. If I had known that, I wouldn’t have requested the book, but oh well. 🤷♀😅
The MC, Juliette, was rude and, honestly, annoying. I mean, she explains why she is the way she is, and I totally get it, but it’s no excuse to be mean. But I skipped ahead to the end to see if I was right in my suspicions as to who killed Warren, and it seems Juliette became self-aware of her behavior and was trying to change, so that’s great to hear! 😁 I was also right in whodunnit, so that was nice and a little disappointing because I called it at the 10% mark. 😭 Also, the humor fell flat for me. It’s just not my cup of tea, and I was cringing instead of laughing at the jokes made.
Anyway, it didn’t feel worth it to me to read the entire book if I didn’t like/care about the characters and already solved the mystery. It was a goal of mine this year to try to finish books instead of DNF’ing them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to read this book in its entirety. I didn’t hate this book, though, and I know there are a lot of readers who enjoyed it, so I’d read their reviews to see if this book is a match for you! Because this certainly wasn’t for me.
Thank you to St.Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book publishes 01/20/2026 and is out now!
January 23, 2026
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Mokes
Romantic comedy, mystery.
Juliette Winters is chasing the book deal of the century. But before she can get her hands on the manuscript, business magnate Warren Ellingham is dead and the pages nowhere to be found. Juliette isn’t willing to give up. With the reluctant help of Dr Charlie Hawkins, she investigates the death at Pacific Pines Country Club relentlessly, even to the point of hiding in the smelly old steam room. She needs that tell-all or it may be the end of her career.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is performed by Sarah Mollo-Christensen who does a wonderful presentation of the story and characters. In particular Juliette as the main protagonist comes across as strong, opinionated, and willing to do what’s needed, and Charlie with a sexy Australian accent. The way the narrator simulated a duet conversation, I was amazed that it was a single narrator. Sarcasm, determination, flirting, and disregard came through clearly plus dozens of other emotions an actor can portray. Thoroughly enjoyed the wake-up engagement.
I really liked the characters, their interactions and the laugh out loud antics of Juliette and her coworkers.
Both formats are enjoyable. The audio wins for me because of the Australian accent.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio.
Romantic comedy, mystery.
Juliette Winters is chasing the book deal of the century. But before she can get her hands on the manuscript, business magnate Warren Ellingham is dead and the pages nowhere to be found. Juliette isn’t willing to give up. With the reluctant help of Dr Charlie Hawkins, she investigates the death at Pacific Pines Country Club relentlessly, even to the point of hiding in the smelly old steam room. She needs that tell-all or it may be the end of her career.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is performed by Sarah Mollo-Christensen who does a wonderful presentation of the story and characters. In particular Juliette as the main protagonist comes across as strong, opinionated, and willing to do what’s needed, and Charlie with a sexy Australian accent. The way the narrator simulated a duet conversation, I was amazed that it was a single narrator. Sarcasm, determination, flirting, and disregard came through clearly plus dozens of other emotions an actor can portray. Thoroughly enjoyed the wake-up engagement.
I really liked the characters, their interactions and the laugh out loud antics of Juliette and her coworkers.
Both formats are enjoyable. The audio wins for me because of the Australian accent.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio.
December 15, 2025
Witty and a bit wild with some high strung characters and a fun love story.
~~~~~~~
If you enjoy a fun murder-mystery with a splash of romance, this book is for you.
I love a great rom-com type of murder mystery, and this one fits the bill. The author manages to develop characters who are interesting and a bit unlikable at the same time. It took me a bit to warm up to our Female lead. She is headstrong and a tad annoying, but she was tenacious and has a tender heart in there, especially when it comes to Charlie.
The cast works well together, with banter that is entertaining throughout, even if some of the characters were not fully fleshed out. The author published “She Doesn’t Have a Clue,” which could help with getting to know some of the other characters, but it did not hinder my understanding of this storyline, and it is certainly not required to read first.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is punchy, witty, and a bit wild with some high-strung characters. Plus, it is a fun love story to boot. I enjoyed this one and had a chuckle over the title, too. Hardcore…
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/cross-your-h...
~~~~~~~
If you enjoy a fun murder-mystery with a splash of romance, this book is for you.
I love a great rom-com type of murder mystery, and this one fits the bill. The author manages to develop characters who are interesting and a bit unlikable at the same time. It took me a bit to warm up to our Female lead. She is headstrong and a tad annoying, but she was tenacious and has a tender heart in there, especially when it comes to Charlie.
The cast works well together, with banter that is entertaining throughout, even if some of the characters were not fully fleshed out. The author published “She Doesn’t Have a Clue,” which could help with getting to know some of the other characters, but it did not hinder my understanding of this storyline, and it is certainly not required to read first.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is punchy, witty, and a bit wild with some high-strung characters. Plus, it is a fun love story to boot. I enjoyed this one and had a chuckle over the title, too. Hardcore…
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/cross-your-h...
January 21, 2026
Release Day!!!
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is the witty, comical, cozy mystery, standalone follow-up to She Doesn't Have A Clue. Set in the same world and with characters from the same publishing house, Juliette Winters is trying to save the failing publishing house from going under and she will with the new book she has purchased, a tell all with some salacious stories of some of the high rollers in society. There are just a few problems. The man writing it just died under some unusual circumstances and the manuscript, Juliette hasn't read yet, has vanished.
Juliette Winters is the star of this book and she was so much fun for me to read. She isn't the nice girl, she doesn't say pretty things (normally) and she can do it ALL on her own. When Warren Ellingham drops dead right in the middle of the announcement Juliette has cultivated for months, the one that will save Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and get her the promotion she wants, Juliette is going to do everything to prove it was murder and find the missing Manuscript. She is a force of nature and will find a way to get it done.
Juliette is a hot mess is so many ways and has some pretty significant, well earned, trust issues from her parents. But the girl squad from Simon Says are not ones to let her protection persona deter them. They are going to help her solve the murder and get the man (Kate picked out for her) whether she wants it to or not. I loved Kate, Veeta and Kennedy's aggressive friendship tactics when it comes to Juliette. She needed a crew of girls willing to stand up to her, for her and help in some of me funniest ways ever.
There is also a fun side romance happening as Charlie (Jake's hot doctor brother) recently out of a bad relationship is enlisted to assist in assessing the cause of death in Juliette's investigation. They have chemistry, they have a crime to investigate and Charlie keeps being the perfect cover for Juliette. He is also so...nice. Charlie is a great compliment to Juliette's demeaner and I loved how he sometimes brought out the softer side of her and she stood up for him in ways he never thought to stand up for himself.
There are plenty of suspects who might want Warren dead. He seemed to have made a lot of enemies in his life from his business partners, family and few employees at the country club he owned. Juliette has her work cut out for her if she is not only going to find out who killed Warren, but also what they did with his Tell-All book.
This was such a fun cozy mystery. I loved the girl squad that was always in the middle of some crazy shenanigans the always added to the comic relief of the story. Juliette was just broken enough that while sometimes the reader is frustrated by her need to do it all alone, the reader is also so happy when her plans are thwarted and either Charlie or the girl squad jump in to help. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed the who dun it part even if I was pretty sure I knew the who earlier on the why was a surprise to me.
Overall another really fun entertaining read read from Jenny Elder Moke that I couldn't put down once I started.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is the witty, comical, cozy mystery, standalone follow-up to She Doesn't Have A Clue. Set in the same world and with characters from the same publishing house, Juliette Winters is trying to save the failing publishing house from going under and she will with the new book she has purchased, a tell all with some salacious stories of some of the high rollers in society. There are just a few problems. The man writing it just died under some unusual circumstances and the manuscript, Juliette hasn't read yet, has vanished.
Juliette Winters is the star of this book and she was so much fun for me to read. She isn't the nice girl, she doesn't say pretty things (normally) and she can do it ALL on her own. When Warren Ellingham drops dead right in the middle of the announcement Juliette has cultivated for months, the one that will save Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and get her the promotion she wants, Juliette is going to do everything to prove it was murder and find the missing Manuscript. She is a force of nature and will find a way to get it done.
“So you are going to try and stop me? Because I should warn you, I’m pretty unstoppable. I was voted ‘Most Likely to Orchestrate a Dictatorial Takeover of a Small European Nation’ by my high school model United Nations.”
Juliette is a hot mess is so many ways and has some pretty significant, well earned, trust issues from her parents. But the girl squad from Simon Says are not ones to let her protection persona deter them. They are going to help her solve the murder and get the man (Kate picked out for her) whether she wants it to or not. I loved Kate, Veeta and Kennedy's aggressive friendship tactics when it comes to Juliette. She needed a crew of girls willing to stand up to her, for her and help in some of me funniest ways ever.
There is also a fun side romance happening as Charlie (Jake's hot doctor brother) recently out of a bad relationship is enlisted to assist in assessing the cause of death in Juliette's investigation. They have chemistry, they have a crime to investigate and Charlie keeps being the perfect cover for Juliette. He is also so...nice. Charlie is a great compliment to Juliette's demeaner and I loved how he sometimes brought out the softer side of her and she stood up for him in ways he never thought to stand up for himself.
“My relationship with Katarina was complicated.”
“You mean because she triggered your people-pleasing tendencies created by an overly demanding father who constantly projected his own insecurities onto you?”
Charlie blinked. “I more meant that it was difficult to divide our things after we broke up, but I suppose you might have a point. A very specific, sharp-edged point.”
There are plenty of suspects who might want Warren dead. He seemed to have made a lot of enemies in his life from his business partners, family and few employees at the country club he owned. Juliette has her work cut out for her if she is not only going to find out who killed Warren, but also what they did with his Tell-All book.
This was such a fun cozy mystery. I loved the girl squad that was always in the middle of some crazy shenanigans the always added to the comic relief of the story. Juliette was just broken enough that while sometimes the reader is frustrated by her need to do it all alone, the reader is also so happy when her plans are thwarted and either Charlie or the girl squad jump in to help. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed the who dun it part even if I was pretty sure I knew the who earlier on the why was a surprise to me.
Overall another really fun entertaining read read from Jenny Elder Moke that I couldn't put down once I started.
January 29, 2026
One: I am grateful to the publisher for the advanced copy-I love trying new to me series and authors! And I did love the narrator for this.
Two: I could not finish it, unfortunately. I do think there are a lot of people who will love this book, but for me, even though I got to over 50%, I could not make myself like the protagonist or most of the side characters. The only two I did like were Charlie and the FMC’s friend/author. I did find Juliette’s pursuit of Charlie degrading, personally, and her aggressive attempted seduction of him felt not consensual. I was very interested in the central mystery, but could not get over how uncomfortable the romance was. It may get better, but when I realized this wasn’t the book for me I needed to move on.
Two: I could not finish it, unfortunately. I do think there are a lot of people who will love this book, but for me, even though I got to over 50%, I could not make myself like the protagonist or most of the side characters. The only two I did like were Charlie and the FMC’s friend/author. I did find Juliette’s pursuit of Charlie degrading, personally, and her aggressive attempted seduction of him felt not consensual. I was very interested in the central mystery, but could not get over how uncomfortable the romance was. It may get better, but when I realized this wasn’t the book for me I needed to move on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
A fun cozy mystery for 2026- Juliette is a heroine for the modern woman, she is confident and capable. She is missing that insecurity that so many of our FMCs share. Later in the book we learn her origin story, which explained a lot for me about her character. She works in publishing and is lucky to have landed the memoir rights to magnate Warren Ellingham. At a party he drops dead of an apparent heart attack although his doctor praised his heart healthiness just a day earlier. The memoir is stolen and Juliet finds herself a suspect, although her gaze turns towards Warren's son who is heir to his fortune and has a bit of a gambling habit. Now Juliet must solve the mystery herself while trying to find out what happened to the memoir, which is key to her career trajectory.
This is the kind of story that is made for audio- it was an excellent performance by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, who used voices for the characters and had a melodious voice for inner dialogue that captured Juliette's character perfectly. A true cozy mystery, there is a bit of spice and some twists. I found it to be a really fun, campy story- with mustache twirling villains and characters that, while one-dimensional, were vibrant enough to tell apart and to follow on audio. This doesn't take a ton of brain cells to follow and although I might forget the storyline soon, I definitely was in the mood for something light and fun, this definitely fit the bill.
3.5/5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published January 20, 2026.
This is the kind of story that is made for audio- it was an excellent performance by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, who used voices for the characters and had a melodious voice for inner dialogue that captured Juliette's character perfectly. A true cozy mystery, there is a bit of spice and some twists. I found it to be a really fun, campy story- with mustache twirling villains and characters that, while one-dimensional, were vibrant enough to tell apart and to follow on audio. This doesn't take a ton of brain cells to follow and although I might forget the storyline soon, I definitely was in the mood for something light and fun, this definitely fit the bill.
3.5/5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published January 20, 2026.
January 19, 2026
A mystery romcom with rich people behaving badly - yes please!
Juliette has landed the exclusive rights to business magnate, Warren Ellingham’s memoir. But then Warren drops d3ad of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen!
As Juliette rubs elbows at the Pacific Pines Country Club she realizes that someone was willing to resort to murd3r to stop their secrets from being exposed in the upcoming memoir.
This cozy mystery has drama, snark and a bit of romance to round out the edges. The book follows She Doesn’t Have Clue but can be read standalone.
I absolutely loved this line:
“Her insides were a confusing mix of fear, sexual desire, and pad thai.” 🤣 This just made me laugh because it felt so relatable!
Thank you to the author, Jenny Elder Moke, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Juliette has landed the exclusive rights to business magnate, Warren Ellingham’s memoir. But then Warren drops d3ad of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen!
As Juliette rubs elbows at the Pacific Pines Country Club she realizes that someone was willing to resort to murd3r to stop their secrets from being exposed in the upcoming memoir.
This cozy mystery has drama, snark and a bit of romance to round out the edges. The book follows She Doesn’t Have Clue but can be read standalone.
I absolutely loved this line:
“Her insides were a confusing mix of fear, sexual desire, and pad thai.” 🤣 This just made me laugh because it felt so relatable!
Thank you to the author, Jenny Elder Moke, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
January 20, 2026
Juliette + Charlie
We remember them both from the previous book. SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE!
Charlie is Jake's brother and Juliette works at the dying Simon Says publishing house. And she needs this manuscript to save the company! But unfortunately the billionaire memoir writer just kinda died in front of her at his birthday party on a yacht. Plus the book has been stolen and no one will tell her anything about anything. So obviously she now needs to solve a murder and find a manuscript by her lonesome. Because that's how she does things. She doesn't have time for friends and relationships. Unfortunately her co-workers want to be her friends and they want to help playing detectives and they also want to set her up with Kate's brother-in-law. LOL.
Enter Charlie. Heart surgeon. Australian. He could help her with the 'case' - if he just weren't so boring - and so super hot and nice! Ugh!
Let the fun times begin...
════════════════
Adorable!
The first few pages I thought - hm.. I don't think I like Juliette. But she grows on you. She's amazing. She's her own person. She knows what she wants and she gets it.
It's how she survived growing up with her psychologist parents.
Which is also the reason she's lonely a lot. Only she never really thought about it like that. But now that she has her girl detective crew - against her will - she's slowly opening up a bit. Especially to Charlie. Who isn't as boring as she thought he was.
And he's pretty helpful too in this murder case thingy.
I really enjoyed reading this - it was so adorable and funny and mysterious and even a bit heartbreaking - I so need to see this as a movie or TV show one day!
CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE HE DIES was a super funny and adorable Seattle Country Club Murder Mystery Rom Com Love Story and
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
January 11, 2026
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was such an entertaining, cute, and cozy mystery. This felt very much like a “curl up and just enjoy the ride” kind of read campy, fast-paced, and full of messy rich people, secrets, and twisty little reveals.
I really enjoyed following Juliette as a heroine. She’s confident, driven, and a little prickly, which made her fun to read, and I liked slowly learning more about what shaped her. The mystery itself kept things moving with plenty of suspects, drama, and over the top moments, while still staying light and approachable. The romance is there, but it doesn’t overpower the story it adds charm and balance without taking over the mystery.
Overall, this was a fun, cozy mystery with humor, banter, and just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. If you’re in the mood for something light, entertaining, and perfect for when you don’t want anything too heavy, this one definitely fits the bill.
I really enjoyed following Juliette as a heroine. She’s confident, driven, and a little prickly, which made her fun to read, and I liked slowly learning more about what shaped her. The mystery itself kept things moving with plenty of suspects, drama, and over the top moments, while still staying light and approachable. The romance is there, but it doesn’t overpower the story it adds charm and balance without taking over the mystery.
Overall, this was a fun, cozy mystery with humor, banter, and just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. If you’re in the mood for something light, entertaining, and perfect for when you don’t want anything too heavy, this one definitely fits the bill.
January 15, 2026
Thank you MacMillan Audio for letting me listen to this book in exchange for my honest review!
⭐️ 2.5/5. Unfortunately, this book was not for me for a few reasons. First, this technically isn’t part of a series, but it read like it should be the sequel to She Doesn’t Have a Clue, so I felt like I was having to play catch up—especially with the characters.
Second, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The FMC was described as a boss b1tch, but honestly like 85% of what she said just was mean. And we do learn about her childhood trauma, but in my eyes that doesn’t get her an excuse to be mean to people. Also, MCC was always criticized for being “too nice”, but he wasn’t just being nice (nice is good). It seemed like his “overly nice” persona was used as a smokescreen for him just act weak and that ended up hurting people.
Third, the whole mystery of the missing manuscript plot could have just been solved by going for the writer’s computer.
That being said, I think this author writes well. The flow of the story, development of the characters, and the plot were well done and creative. There were just some major things that I got hung up on as a listener. But not every book is for everyone and that’s ok!
January 22, 2026
After reading and enjoying She Hasn’t Got a Clue, the first book in the series, last year, I was excited to get a copy of Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies. It’s such a fun addition, with great characters, a murder mystery, and a wonderful love story.
Layered and interesting, Juliette has an ice queen persona, and many are intimidated by her. She’s great! Bold and ambitious, she’s determined to save the publishing company she works for. She’s an intelligent and confident woman who loves fiercely, and she’s so funny. Some of her quips had me laughing out loud, especially when she bantered with Charlie.
And Charlie is wonderful! Intelligent, responsible, and initially reserved in front of Juliette, he’s much more than the bore Juliette initially labels him as. He’s a perfect complement to Juliette, and their chemistry is fantastic, as are his declarations.
Juliette also has an amazing group of coworkers and friends who have strong found family vibes. I adore this group. They accept Juliette for who she is, and they are so supportive of each other. They also won’t let Juliette push them away, as she often tries to do. They keep it real and call her out on her BS, while still being loyal and protective. As a group, they’re also really comical, and the conversations they have were the perfect blend of seriousness, humor, and heart.
I thought this was a fun read and a great addition to the series. I can’t wait to see who will be the focus of the next book!
Layered and interesting, Juliette has an ice queen persona, and many are intimidated by her. She’s great! Bold and ambitious, she’s determined to save the publishing company she works for. She’s an intelligent and confident woman who loves fiercely, and she’s so funny. Some of her quips had me laughing out loud, especially when she bantered with Charlie.
And Charlie is wonderful! Intelligent, responsible, and initially reserved in front of Juliette, he’s much more than the bore Juliette initially labels him as. He’s a perfect complement to Juliette, and their chemistry is fantastic, as are his declarations.
Juliette also has an amazing group of coworkers and friends who have strong found family vibes. I adore this group. They accept Juliette for who she is, and they are so supportive of each other. They also won’t let Juliette push them away, as she often tries to do. They keep it real and call her out on her BS, while still being loyal and protective. As a group, they’re also really comical, and the conversations they have were the perfect blend of seriousness, humor, and heart.
I thought this was a fun read and a great addition to the series. I can’t wait to see who will be the focus of the next book!
September 24, 2025
Thank you to Minotar books for the advance copy
Really fun murder mystery with a ton of fun zingers and banter. I had a ton of fun reading this one. The pacing seemed slightly off and I wish I knew there was a previous book that introduced the side characters. Although it didn’t fully take away from the story.
Really fun murder mystery with a ton of fun zingers and banter. I had a ton of fun reading this one. The pacing seemed slightly off and I wish I knew there was a previous book that introduced the side characters. Although it didn’t fully take away from the story.
January 20, 2026
Happy publication day! This is the second book in this romcom cozy mystery series, and I liked it even better than the first book. Juliet, the main character in this installment is a wild one, and I liked her a lot! While trying to save her publishing company where she works from ruin, she gets herself tangled up in a murder of a man who has written an expose on the publishing industry that will certainly cause massive waves, and Juliet is trying to get her hands on it. when the man dies, she finds herself smack in the middle of it all, but with the help of a sexy Australian doctor, she is hoping to crack the case and be able to publish the manuscript and save her company at the same time proving to her colleagues, she has what it takes to survive in this cutthroat industry.
As I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed this one and I liked getting to know characters that were not prevalent in the first book. I will say there is more cursing in this book than any other cozy mystery I’ve ever read and for some that may be distasteful. For me, though, I wasn’t bothered all that much and could see the humor in it. I flew through this one and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Many thanks to #Minotaurbooks and £NetGalley for my advance copy for review.
As I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed this one and I liked getting to know characters that were not prevalent in the first book. I will say there is more cursing in this book than any other cozy mystery I’ve ever read and for some that may be distasteful. For me, though, I wasn’t bothered all that much and could see the humor in it. I flew through this one and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Many thanks to #Minotaurbooks and £NetGalley for my advance copy for review.
January 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🎧Song Pairing: Him & I - Halsey (I had to just for the intro, it kept playing in my mind)
💭What I thought would happen:
Raise your hand if you’re surprised I read this one…😂 I’m guessing whoever died probably deserved it (ook he actually didn’t, at least not the first death…)
📖What actually happens:
⚰️Murder mystery
📖Missing manuscript
🔥Hot doctor
🩷Fiery fmc
🚢One too many boat rides
😈Rich people being dinks
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
My favourite line? “You will not fuck this up for me! I refuse to be defeated by a vicious toilet!” She has motion sickness on a boat scolding the ocean. I peed a little 🤣🤣🤣
I did not expect to a) like this as much as I did b) laugh out loud from page 1 onward. So I think I’d recommend 😂
This book is a standalone but it refers back to She Doesn’t Have a Clue several times (not necessary but if you wanted more murder mystery)
This is probably the best book energy I can think of to start 2026 with. No regrets with this baddie being my first 🤪 I have decided it’s my villain era, who’s with me?!
🎧Song Pairing: Him & I - Halsey (I had to just for the intro, it kept playing in my mind)
💭What I thought would happen:
Raise your hand if you’re surprised I read this one…😂 I’m guessing whoever died probably deserved it (ook he actually didn’t, at least not the first death…)
📖What actually happens:
⚰️Murder mystery
📖Missing manuscript
🔥Hot doctor
🩷Fiery fmc
🚢One too many boat rides
😈Rich people being dinks
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
My favourite line? “You will not fuck this up for me! I refuse to be defeated by a vicious toilet!” She has motion sickness on a boat scolding the ocean. I peed a little 🤣🤣🤣
I did not expect to a) like this as much as I did b) laugh out loud from page 1 onward. So I think I’d recommend 😂
This book is a standalone but it refers back to She Doesn’t Have a Clue several times (not necessary but if you wanted more murder mystery)
This is probably the best book energy I can think of to start 2026 with. No regrets with this baddie being my first 🤪 I have decided it’s my villain era, who’s with me?!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
very fun whoddunnit with a serious romance subplot!
thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC + St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC/finished copy! these are my honest thoughts.
I had SUCH a fun time listening to this book! Juliette Winters is trying to single handedly save her publishing house, and her big ticket author just keeled over at his own birthday party. She suspects foul play, despite the police ruling that he died of natural causes. When Juliette's colleagues turned forced friends show up on her doorstep WITH red string and a whiteboard, these ladies aim to get to the bottom of it, with help from Dr. Charlie Hawkins, who turns out to be not as much of a dud as she originally thought.
This book had me smiling. There were shenanigans, silly rich people things, clues to uncover, and a plot that kept me interested until the very last reveal. This felt like a classic whodunnit, and it was so fun to be along for the adventure.
Read if you love:
- Whodunnit
- Laugh out loud moments
- Rich people behaving badly
- Twists
- Quippy banter
- Confident FMC
- Australian MMC (who's a cute, tragically adorable doctor, too!)
- Teamwork
- Seattle, WA scenery
- Boats
The audiobook moved so fast! It was such a quick pace murder mystery, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen brought Juliette's spunky personality to life and did an amazing Australian accent for Dr. Charlie Hawkins. In fact, I loved her voices for all the major players in this one. I'm going to go back and read the first installment in this universe, She Doesn't Have a Clue.
thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC + St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC/finished copy! these are my honest thoughts.
I had SUCH a fun time listening to this book! Juliette Winters is trying to single handedly save her publishing house, and her big ticket author just keeled over at his own birthday party. She suspects foul play, despite the police ruling that he died of natural causes. When Juliette's colleagues turned forced friends show up on her doorstep WITH red string and a whiteboard, these ladies aim to get to the bottom of it, with help from Dr. Charlie Hawkins, who turns out to be not as much of a dud as she originally thought.
This book had me smiling. There were shenanigans, silly rich people things, clues to uncover, and a plot that kept me interested until the very last reveal. This felt like a classic whodunnit, and it was so fun to be along for the adventure.
Read if you love:
- Whodunnit
- Laugh out loud moments
- Rich people behaving badly
- Twists
- Quippy banter
- Confident FMC
- Australian MMC (who's a cute, tragically adorable doctor, too!)
- Teamwork
- Seattle, WA scenery
- Boats
The audiobook moved so fast! It was such a quick pace murder mystery, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen brought Juliette's spunky personality to life and did an amazing Australian accent for Dr. Charlie Hawkins. In fact, I loved her voices for all the major players in this one. I'm going to go back and read the first installment in this universe, She Doesn't Have a Clue.
January 17, 2026
Had so much fun with all of the twists and turns of this rom com mystery! Juliette is such a badass and loved seeing such a strong and independent character find love and friendships (all while solving a murder of course)
August 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in return for an honest review.
I liked the dynamic of the more assertive female lead and the more reserved/nerdy male lead, though I thought her confidence tilted all the way into arrogance somewhat frequently. At one point she says she can run a mile in under 4 minutes, which if true, she would be the world record holder. Believable if she were an Olympian, but not so much for a head of marketing.
As far as the romance, the transition from her thinking he's boring and uptight to being attracted to him felt natural and not forced. They had some good banter especially when it came to her standing up for him against people that were pushing him around.
The mystery aspect of it did keep you turning the pages, though it felt like a lot of the clues she was getting by doing something brashly illegal instead of being clever, and a lot of the suspects gave up big confessions to her just because she's 'intimidating.' I wish the suspects had a little more depth to them, they all were kind of cartoonishly bad people.
This isn't indicated as part of a series, but it does tie into the previous book (She Doesn't Have a Clue). It can certainly be read as a standalone but there are references and characters that will have more context if you've read the previous book (I hadn't and had to go look up if there was a previous book because it seemed like I was supposed to already know who some people were). Overall this book would be a good fit for someone looking for a lighthearted mystery with an ambitious, ball busting sort of female lead.
I liked the dynamic of the more assertive female lead and the more reserved/nerdy male lead, though I thought her confidence tilted all the way into arrogance somewhat frequently. At one point she says she can run a mile in under 4 minutes, which if true, she would be the world record holder. Believable if she were an Olympian, but not so much for a head of marketing.
As far as the romance, the transition from her thinking he's boring and uptight to being attracted to him felt natural and not forced. They had some good banter especially when it came to her standing up for him against people that were pushing him around.
The mystery aspect of it did keep you turning the pages, though it felt like a lot of the clues she was getting by doing something brashly illegal instead of being clever, and a lot of the suspects gave up big confessions to her just because she's 'intimidating.' I wish the suspects had a little more depth to them, they all were kind of cartoonishly bad people.
This isn't indicated as part of a series, but it does tie into the previous book (She Doesn't Have a Clue). It can certainly be read as a standalone but there are references and characters that will have more context if you've read the previous book (I hadn't and had to go look up if there was a previous book because it seemed like I was supposed to already know who some people were). Overall this book would be a good fit for someone looking for a lighthearted mystery with an ambitious, ball busting sort of female lead.
January 25, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ I prefer this one to the first!
Juliette Winters is a publishing exec. who has been so busy working to secure the sure-to-be-bestselling tell-all memoir of the wealthy businessman Warren Ellingham that will keep her small Seattle-based publishing company afloat. But then Warren suddenly drops dead on his super yacht during his birthday party and his memoir is stolen from the safe. Juliette, suspecting foul play, conducts her own investigation with the begrudging help of Dr. Charlie Hawkins (and murder-mystery writer Kate Valentine from book 1). Together they will dive into the underbelly of Pacific Pines Country Club, where everyone has a motive and another dead body paints Juliette as the prime prospect.
Spoilery thoughts…
I definitely enjoyed this one more than the first. I found this breadcrumb trail more interesting to follow, especially with there being TWO murders.
Juliette is unapologetically an Ice Queen, but definitely had the traumatizing childhood to back it up. At times I found her a little too ball-busting and brash, but her confidence and cool-head in a crisis was commendable. “Dr. Dud,” on the other hand, was far too unaware of his own attractiveness to be believable! I did laugh aloud at her calling Australians the “most fuckable men on the planet - that’s science.” 🇦🇺 They definitely fit the opposites attract trope to a T.
Most importantly, I found that unlike the first book, these characters behaved in ways that usually made sense. Having more variety in the setting also made it feel more realistic than a staged closed-door murder. Did some parts still get an eye roll? Sure. Like the way Duffel Bag didn’t seem to know there was a murder on the yacht he was working on. He stole $50,000 from the safe and then never realized a mega rich guy died and he might be implicated in the murder because of the theft? 🤨
There was some spice, a few solid twists, and characters that were vibrant enough to tell apart and follow on audio. The female friend group was a highlight and a nice carry-over from the first book!
Favorite quote:
“If you truly like yourself - truly do- then you accept the people who don’t. Not because they’re right, but because they’re not right for you. If champagne tried to taste good to everyone, it would be juice. And if it decided not to give a fuck at all, it would be vinegar. There is a delicate balance to being champagne. BE an acquired taste.” 🥂
Juliette Winters is a publishing exec. who has been so busy working to secure the sure-to-be-bestselling tell-all memoir of the wealthy businessman Warren Ellingham that will keep her small Seattle-based publishing company afloat. But then Warren suddenly drops dead on his super yacht during his birthday party and his memoir is stolen from the safe. Juliette, suspecting foul play, conducts her own investigation with the begrudging help of Dr. Charlie Hawkins (and murder-mystery writer Kate Valentine from book 1). Together they will dive into the underbelly of Pacific Pines Country Club, where everyone has a motive and another dead body paints Juliette as the prime prospect.
Spoilery thoughts…
I definitely enjoyed this one more than the first. I found this breadcrumb trail more interesting to follow, especially with there being TWO murders.
Juliette is unapologetically an Ice Queen, but definitely had the traumatizing childhood to back it up. At times I found her a little too ball-busting and brash, but her confidence and cool-head in a crisis was commendable. “Dr. Dud,” on the other hand, was far too unaware of his own attractiveness to be believable! I did laugh aloud at her calling Australians the “most fuckable men on the planet - that’s science.” 🇦🇺 They definitely fit the opposites attract trope to a T.
Most importantly, I found that unlike the first book, these characters behaved in ways that usually made sense. Having more variety in the setting also made it feel more realistic than a staged closed-door murder. Did some parts still get an eye roll? Sure. Like the way Duffel Bag didn’t seem to know there was a murder on the yacht he was working on. He stole $50,000 from the safe and then never realized a mega rich guy died and he might be implicated in the murder because of the theft? 🤨
There was some spice, a few solid twists, and characters that were vibrant enough to tell apart and follow on audio. The female friend group was a highlight and a nice carry-over from the first book!
Favorite quote:
“If you truly like yourself - truly do- then you accept the people who don’t. Not because they’re right, but because they’re not right for you. If champagne tried to taste good to everyone, it would be juice. And if it decided not to give a fuck at all, it would be vinegar. There is a delicate balance to being champagne. BE an acquired taste.” 🥂
January 20, 2026
One of my most anticipated releases in January, and it was 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 I wanted!
Juliette’s simply wants to save a struggling publishing company. However the one lifeline, a memoir by a successful businessman, fails when he’s murdered on his fancy yacht during a party. The manuscript’s missing and suspects are everywhere. Desperate to salvage things, Juliette conducts her own investigation by bending the rules, and roping in Charlie (aka Dr. Dud) to help her.
Omg, Juliette is unhinged, and in the best possible way! She’s feisty, stubborn, resourceful, and so freaking confident in her ability and her sexuality. I 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 her! Say no to her and she’ll prove you wrong. She and the play-by-the-rules Charlie are both hilarious, and they have great chemistry together. The banter, oh the banter!
I think Moke brilliant! It’s tricky to write funny dialog and to feel the comedic timing as you’re reading. She makes it work. The narrator is also fantastic! She exuded Juliette’s personality capturing everything from sarcasm and dry humor to genuine affection. She had my attention from the get-go.
𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗛𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘀 is the follow up to 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗲. They’re standalones though I think I benefitted from familiarity with the characters in the first book. (Charlie’s brother, and one of Juliette’s besties are the couple in the first.)
I can’t recommend this enough! It’s a great mystery romcom with funny dialog and shenanigans. Pick this up!
Thank you to @minotaur_books & @macmillan.audio for my ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Link to review in instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTsgti1EW...
Juliette’s simply wants to save a struggling publishing company. However the one lifeline, a memoir by a successful businessman, fails when he’s murdered on his fancy yacht during a party. The manuscript’s missing and suspects are everywhere. Desperate to salvage things, Juliette conducts her own investigation by bending the rules, and roping in Charlie (aka Dr. Dud) to help her.
Omg, Juliette is unhinged, and in the best possible way! She’s feisty, stubborn, resourceful, and so freaking confident in her ability and her sexuality. I 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 her! Say no to her and she’ll prove you wrong. She and the play-by-the-rules Charlie are both hilarious, and they have great chemistry together. The banter, oh the banter!
I think Moke brilliant! It’s tricky to write funny dialog and to feel the comedic timing as you’re reading. She makes it work. The narrator is also fantastic! She exuded Juliette’s personality capturing everything from sarcasm and dry humor to genuine affection. She had my attention from the get-go.
𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗛𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘀 is the follow up to 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗲. They’re standalones though I think I benefitted from familiarity with the characters in the first book. (Charlie’s brother, and one of Juliette’s besties are the couple in the first.)
I can’t recommend this enough! It’s a great mystery romcom with funny dialog and shenanigans. Pick this up!
Thank you to @minotaur_books & @macmillan.audio for my ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Link to review in instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTsgti1EW...
December 4, 2025
[3.75⭐️] This murder mystery romcom is a first for me, but hopefully not my last.
I was excited to start this book and work my way through it throughout the week, and the next thing I knew I was up late two nights in a row to devour this book!
While I haven’t read Elder Moke’s previous book, She Doesn’t Have a Clue , I instantly felt like I knew these characters. From the cute and charming Dr. Charlie to the exhaustingly entertaining (if not somewhat relatable) Juliette, I lapped up every ounce of chemistry and each conversation.
The whodunnit of it all was also a fun addition to a romcom (or the romcom was a fun addition to the whodunnit?) as it kept things moving and exciting, and added to the overall buildup of the book. Also, we love a man who will interfere with police business for his lady!
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was the fun, charming, entertaining read I was hoping for and I really hope that Veeta gets their time in the spotlight in any possible future books 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for trusting me with an ARC of this exciting read!
I was excited to start this book and work my way through it throughout the week, and the next thing I knew I was up late two nights in a row to devour this book!
While I haven’t read Elder Moke’s previous book, She Doesn’t Have a Clue , I instantly felt like I knew these characters. From the cute and charming Dr. Charlie to the exhaustingly entertaining (if not somewhat relatable) Juliette, I lapped up every ounce of chemistry and each conversation.
The whodunnit of it all was also a fun addition to a romcom (or the romcom was a fun addition to the whodunnit?) as it kept things moving and exciting, and added to the overall buildup of the book. Also, we love a man who will interfere with police business for his lady!
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was the fun, charming, entertaining read I was hoping for and I really hope that Veeta gets their time in the spotlight in any possible future books 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for trusting me with an ARC of this exciting read!
January 17, 2026
I found that my feelings were all over the place while reading this book. It failed to draw me in for a bit, then it really sucked me in, then I got bored again, and on and on it went.
I sometimes struggle with mysteries because I find it’s easier for them to lack in the entertainment department if not written well. But I will say that this was made a lot more fun by the amount of clever humour incorporated throughout the book.
I also enjoyed the romance piece between Juliette and Charlie. It fit in nicely, which isn’t always easy to do with this type of genre, and I was pretty invested in their relationship.
But overall, while I could see this being a winner for a lot of people, I felt that it dragged too much for my liking.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!
I sometimes struggle with mysteries because I find it’s easier for them to lack in the entertainment department if not written well. But I will say that this was made a lot more fun by the amount of clever humour incorporated throughout the book.
I also enjoyed the romance piece between Juliette and Charlie. It fit in nicely, which isn’t always easy to do with this type of genre, and I was pretty invested in their relationship.
But overall, while I could see this being a winner for a lot of people, I felt that it dragged too much for my liking.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!
February 4, 2026
I had so much fun with this book! I was totally gripped by the story; it took so many unexpected twists and turns. It wasn't one of those whodunnits where the killer is obvious; I changed my mind countless times. The romance was also very cute, I'd highly recommend it!
November 30, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own!
Cross Your Heart And Hope He Dies is a fun and quirky murder-mystery rom-com. This was a really quick and easy read that I finished in one sitting. I felt the murder-mystery plot line in this story was much more engaging than the romance, which felt a bit rushed and ingenuine to me. That being said, it was still a fun read that I would recommend to others.
Cross Your Heart And Hope He Dies is a fun and quirky murder-mystery rom-com. This was a really quick and easy read that I finished in one sitting. I felt the murder-mystery plot line in this story was much more engaging than the romance, which felt a bit rushed and ingenuine to me. That being said, it was still a fun read that I would recommend to others.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Funny, Fast, Fatal
I really enjoyed reading this whodunit. Great mix of rom com and murder mystery. Twisty and laugh out loud, what else could you want. I found myself wondering who I could trust.
Revenge is a dish best served Successful!!
I really enjoyed reading this whodunit. Great mix of rom com and murder mystery. Twisty and laugh out loud, what else could you want. I found myself wondering who I could trust.
Revenge is a dish best served Successful!!
December 1, 2025
I went into this one not realizing it was connected to an earlier book—and while it’s technically not a series, the previous couple plays a major role here. That said… Juliette just didn’t work for me as an FMC. I never connected with her, and her choices were a bit much at times.
Charlie, though? A nerdy, big-hearted surgeon with the softest golden-retriever energy? He’s absolutely the reason I kept turning pages.
The murder-mystery subplot gave me total Finlay Donovan vibes, just without the chaotic magic that Finlay and Vero bring to the table. The romance was fine, but I never really felt the spark between Juliette and Charlie. Her friend group, however, absolutely stole the show—fun, supportive, and full of personality.
Charlie, though? A nerdy, big-hearted surgeon with the softest golden-retriever energy? He’s absolutely the reason I kept turning pages.
The murder-mystery subplot gave me total Finlay Donovan vibes, just without the chaotic magic that Finlay and Vero bring to the table. The romance was fine, but I never really felt the spark between Juliette and Charlie. Her friend group, however, absolutely stole the show—fun, supportive, and full of personality.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke (2026)
Unnamed Series #2 [or]
follow-up to She Doesn't Have a Clue
9h 41m narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Romance
Rating as a movie: R for adult language and content
Featuring: Seattle, Washington; Yacht, Book Publishing House, Elliott Bay, Washington; Assistant Marketer, Book Deal, Murder Investigation, Country Club, Social Media, Personal Assistant, Doctor Physician - Cardiologist; References to - Characters from - and Spoilers for She Doesn't Have a Clue; Sexual Innuendos, British Guy, Australian Guys, Sex - On Camera, Mystery Author, Detective, Affluent People, Money Troubles, Self-Actualization
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Frank Sinatra, "Father Of Mine" by Everclear, "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees, "Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams, "Wannabe" by Spice Girls, "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" by Taylor Swift
Books and Authors mentioned: She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Big by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, Kissinger: A Biography by Walter Isaacson, Roman Holiday by Dalton Trumbo
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🛥⛳️🎾👟
My thoughts: 📱31% 6h 38m left Chapter 16 - This story is pretty good so far. I like that there are 2 mysteries to solve. I've lost track of the love interests.
📱59% 3h 57m left Chapter 29 - I'm a little upset to learn that this book is a follow-up to another book and they totally gave me spoilers. Even so, I'm going to have to read that book as well, hopefully soon.
Throughout this story, they kept referencing what happened before at a wedding an author (later co-star) attended. At first, I thought maybe it was just a related book but as the story went on this felt more like a series than a follow-up. A little more than halfway through the story I got third-book vibes, so we'll see. I now need to read the first book [She Doesn't Have a Clue] although this book gave me plenty of spoilers about the main events and even how it ends, but it sounds like a better version of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, so I'm very curious. Anyway, I really enjoyed Cross Your Heart... This is my first experience with this author, she is witty and fun, the story had good pacing, and it was almost a 5-star read for me, it still is technically, but it was missing that little bit that takes it over the top. I feel like maybe if I had read the first book and been more connected with the side characters, I would have had a better experience. If I had known this was part of a series or a follow-up, I would have read the first book before starting this one, thus enhancing my adventure. This story checks all of the boxes of a classic cozy mystery but it does have the adult content that the more contemporary variety are starting to feature so this may not be one for grandma, unless she's sassy. Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Recommend to others: Absolutely and I strongly recommend you read She Doesn't Have a Clue before Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies.
Unnamed Series
1. She Doesn't Have a Clue (2025)
2. Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies (2026)
Unnamed Series #2 [or]
follow-up to She Doesn't Have a Clue
9h 41m narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Romance
Rating as a movie: R for adult language and content
Featuring: Seattle, Washington; Yacht, Book Publishing House, Elliott Bay, Washington; Assistant Marketer, Book Deal, Murder Investigation, Country Club, Social Media, Personal Assistant, Doctor Physician - Cardiologist; References to - Characters from - and Spoilers for She Doesn't Have a Clue; Sexual Innuendos, British Guy, Australian Guys, Sex - On Camera, Mystery Author, Detective, Affluent People, Money Troubles, Self-Actualization
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Frank Sinatra, "Father Of Mine" by Everclear, "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees, "Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams, "Wannabe" by Spice Girls, "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" by Taylor Swift
Books and Authors mentioned: She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Big by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, Kissinger: A Biography by Walter Isaacson, Roman Holiday by Dalton Trumbo
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🛥⛳️🎾👟
My thoughts: 📱31% 6h 38m left Chapter 16 - This story is pretty good so far. I like that there are 2 mysteries to solve. I've lost track of the love interests.
📱59% 3h 57m left Chapter 29 - I'm a little upset to learn that this book is a follow-up to another book and they totally gave me spoilers. Even so, I'm going to have to read that book as well, hopefully soon.
Throughout this story, they kept referencing what happened before at a wedding an author (later co-star) attended. At first, I thought maybe it was just a related book but as the story went on this felt more like a series than a follow-up. A little more than halfway through the story I got third-book vibes, so we'll see. I now need to read the first book [She Doesn't Have a Clue] although this book gave me plenty of spoilers about the main events and even how it ends, but it sounds like a better version of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, so I'm very curious. Anyway, I really enjoyed Cross Your Heart... This is my first experience with this author, she is witty and fun, the story had good pacing, and it was almost a 5-star read for me, it still is technically, but it was missing that little bit that takes it over the top. I feel like maybe if I had read the first book and been more connected with the side characters, I would have had a better experience. If I had known this was part of a series or a follow-up, I would have read the first book before starting this one, thus enhancing my adventure. This story checks all of the boxes of a classic cozy mystery but it does have the adult content that the more contemporary variety are starting to feature so this may not be one for grandma, unless she's sassy. Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Recommend to others: Absolutely and I strongly recommend you read She Doesn't Have a Clue before Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies.
Unnamed Series
1. She Doesn't Have a Clue (2025)
2. Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies (2026)
February 2, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. It features many of the same characters from She Doesn’t Have a Clue, the first book from Moke that I read (and thoroughly enjoyed). In this book, a cozy mystery with a dark sense of humor, Moke focuses on Juliette, head of media at Simon Says Publishing. Juliette wasn’t very nice to Kate, MC of the previous book, but in this one, they’re practically friends. Now we discover that it’s actually Juliette who has the problematic personality. But at least, she realizes it.
Juliette is planning to single-handedly save Simon Says from bankruptcy by securing the autobiography of a very wealthy and respected businessman, Warren. But before she can obtain the document, he is killed, and the manuscript disappears. Because she was counting on that book saving the company, she decides she will find it, and if that means finding a murderer, so be it. Meanwhile, Kate is trying to set Juliette up with Jake’s (Kate’s partner) brother Charlie, a heart surgeon. It becomes clear that although Juliette is strongly attracted to Charlie, she is equally terrified of relationships. This is also evidenced by the fact that Kate and a few office friends continually show up to help Juliette, and she insists she doesn’t need help. She does.
There were some very telling and funny statements about Juliette. At one point, she informs Charlie, “I was voted ‘Most Likely to Orchestrate a Dictatorial Takeover of a Small European Nation’ by my high school model United Nations.”
When Juliette compliments Charlie, he says, “You’re only saying that to be nice.” Her response is wonderful. “Juliette pressed a hand to her chest in genuine affront. ‘I never say anything to be nice, how dare you.’”
Juliette admits that she likes to sign off all of her emails with, “your prompt reply is expected.” Because she wants to intimidate people.
A personal favorite quote of mine happened when Juliette was knocked out by a stray punch intended for someone else. As she regains consciousness, Charlie is carrying her. She quips, “Are you An Officer and a Gentleman-ing me?” As one of my favorite romantic movies, it’s always fun when someone makes reference to it. She then asks, “Tell me the truth. Did he break my nose? Will I need reconstructive surgery? It’s my third best feature, after my legs and my butt. Fourth best if you count my sparkling personality.”
There’s another very funny scene where Juliette talks to Brigitte to find out what her background is. Brigitte admits that Brad helped create a backstory to explain who she is, but it’s not true. In fact, he met her in Atlantic City. Juliette says, “Okay, so what? You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, that much is true?” Brigitte laughs and replies, “I was a showgirl in a low-rent production in Atlantic City.” This feels like a joke not everyone will get. For me, that makes it even funnier.
Juliette is like a dog with a bone, and when the police initially rule Warren’s death as an accident, she insists there’s more to it. She keeps hounding the lead detective. Near the end, someone from Simon Says wants to interview him, and he answers that he’ll do the interview...with anyone except Juliette. “Apparently, the sound of your voice ‘triggers his sciatica,’” a co-worker explains.
This book is wildly entertaining and just so funny. I loved it, and I recommend it.
Juliette is planning to single-handedly save Simon Says from bankruptcy by securing the autobiography of a very wealthy and respected businessman, Warren. But before she can obtain the document, he is killed, and the manuscript disappears. Because she was counting on that book saving the company, she decides she will find it, and if that means finding a murderer, so be it. Meanwhile, Kate is trying to set Juliette up with Jake’s (Kate’s partner) brother Charlie, a heart surgeon. It becomes clear that although Juliette is strongly attracted to Charlie, she is equally terrified of relationships. This is also evidenced by the fact that Kate and a few office friends continually show up to help Juliette, and she insists she doesn’t need help. She does.
There were some very telling and funny statements about Juliette. At one point, she informs Charlie, “I was voted ‘Most Likely to Orchestrate a Dictatorial Takeover of a Small European Nation’ by my high school model United Nations.”
When Juliette compliments Charlie, he says, “You’re only saying that to be nice.” Her response is wonderful. “Juliette pressed a hand to her chest in genuine affront. ‘I never say anything to be nice, how dare you.’”
Juliette admits that she likes to sign off all of her emails with, “your prompt reply is expected.” Because she wants to intimidate people.
A personal favorite quote of mine happened when Juliette was knocked out by a stray punch intended for someone else. As she regains consciousness, Charlie is carrying her. She quips, “Are you An Officer and a Gentleman-ing me?” As one of my favorite romantic movies, it’s always fun when someone makes reference to it. She then asks, “Tell me the truth. Did he break my nose? Will I need reconstructive surgery? It’s my third best feature, after my legs and my butt. Fourth best if you count my sparkling personality.”
There’s another very funny scene where Juliette talks to Brigitte to find out what her background is. Brigitte admits that Brad helped create a backstory to explain who she is, but it’s not true. In fact, he met her in Atlantic City. Juliette says, “Okay, so what? You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, that much is true?” Brigitte laughs and replies, “I was a showgirl in a low-rent production in Atlantic City.” This feels like a joke not everyone will get. For me, that makes it even funnier.
Juliette is like a dog with a bone, and when the police initially rule Warren’s death as an accident, she insists there’s more to it. She keeps hounding the lead detective. Near the end, someone from Simon Says wants to interview him, and he answers that he’ll do the interview...with anyone except Juliette. “Apparently, the sound of your voice ‘triggers his sciatica,’” a co-worker explains.
This book is wildly entertaining and just so funny. I loved it, and I recommend it.
January 9, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC & Audio for my honest opinion.
In this story, we meet Juliette Winters, who is fighting to save her publishing company and is determined to do whatever it takes to keep it afloat. Her potential saving grace is a highly anticipated memoir by Warren Ellingham, one that promises to expose the secrets of the rich and famous. But before the finished manuscript can be delivered, Warren dies under suspicious circumstances, and the memoir vanishes. With both her career and the truth on the line, Juliette knows she must uncover what really happened and recover the missing manuscript.
I absolutely loved She Doesn’t Have a Clue, and this book did not disappoint. Jenny Elder Moke once again delivers a perfect blend of rom-com charm and murder mystery intrigue. The plot is well developed, and the writing style makes the story easy and engaging to follow. I especially appreciated the attention to detail when it came to the mystery piecing together clues alongside Juliette was genuinely fun. The pacing is steady throughout; while there are quieter moments, they serve an important purpose by allowing readers to connect more deeply with the characters.
Juliette is a fantastic main character, tough, intelligent, and witty, yet deeply human. Her insecurities, especially those tied to her parents and expectations placed on her, make her relatable and layered. She’s convinced she isn’t cut out for a serious relationship… until Charlie enters the picture. As she starts to let her guard down around him, that vulnerability both excites and terrifies her. Watching her navigate those feelings added emotional depth to the story. Charlie is her perfect counterpart; thoughtful, patient, and cautious in contrast to Juliette’s impulsive nature. He brings a sense of calm and care that helps Juliette open up and realize that it’s okay to lean on someone.
The side characters were another highlight for me. I loved seeing familiar faces from Moke’s previous book and especially enjoyed the “all-girls detective crew” vibe. Their bond, support, and unwavering loyalty added warmth and heart to the story, reinforcing the idea that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away as long as you’re not facing things alone.
I also listened to the audiobook and thought Sarah Mollo-Christensen did an excellent job bringing the story to life. Her narration made the scenes incredibly vivid, especially the tense moments like the boat scene with all the girls, where I could truly feel their fear and urgency.
I want to thank NetGalley, SMP and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an eARC & Audio for my honest opinion.
In this story, we meet Juliette Winters, who is fighting to save her publishing company and is determined to do whatever it takes to keep it afloat. Her potential saving grace is a highly anticipated memoir by Warren Ellingham, one that promises to expose the secrets of the rich and famous. But before the finished manuscript can be delivered, Warren dies under suspicious circumstances, and the memoir vanishes. With both her career and the truth on the line, Juliette knows she must uncover what really happened and recover the missing manuscript.
I absolutely loved She Doesn’t Have a Clue, and this book did not disappoint. Jenny Elder Moke once again delivers a perfect blend of rom-com charm and murder mystery intrigue. The plot is well developed, and the writing style makes the story easy and engaging to follow. I especially appreciated the attention to detail when it came to the mystery piecing together clues alongside Juliette was genuinely fun. The pacing is steady throughout; while there are quieter moments, they serve an important purpose by allowing readers to connect more deeply with the characters.
Juliette is a fantastic main character, tough, intelligent, and witty, yet deeply human. Her insecurities, especially those tied to her parents and expectations placed on her, make her relatable and layered. She’s convinced she isn’t cut out for a serious relationship… until Charlie enters the picture. As she starts to let her guard down around him, that vulnerability both excites and terrifies her. Watching her navigate those feelings added emotional depth to the story. Charlie is her perfect counterpart; thoughtful, patient, and cautious in contrast to Juliette’s impulsive nature. He brings a sense of calm and care that helps Juliette open up and realize that it’s okay to lean on someone.
The side characters were another highlight for me. I loved seeing familiar faces from Moke’s previous book and especially enjoyed the “all-girls detective crew” vibe. Their bond, support, and unwavering loyalty added warmth and heart to the story, reinforcing the idea that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away as long as you’re not facing things alone.
I also listened to the audiobook and thought Sarah Mollo-Christensen did an excellent job bringing the story to life. Her narration made the scenes incredibly vivid, especially the tense moments like the boat scene with all the girls, where I could truly feel their fear and urgency.
I want to thank NetGalley, SMP and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.
January 26, 2026
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This book sounded so fun - a mix of mystery, amateur sleuthing, and romance - and it was. I flew through the audiobook because I wanted to know who was behind everything, but I also wanted to know what happened between Juliette and Charlie.
First, we'll start with Charlie. That man is the epitome of a cinnamon roll MMC. He is a sweetheart, and I love that she pushed Charlie out of his comfort zone, but that he also only stepped out of that comfort zone when he really wanted to. Him having an Australian accent didn't hurt either.
Now, on to Juliette. Her character walks the fine line of being confident and being overly confident. I loved that she walked that line, especially once we learned her backstory. She knows what she is good at, but that little bit of herself that sometimes pushed her to being 'too much' was completely understandable. But her friends didn't let her get away with it, and that made me so happy because they loved her enough to tell her when she was wrong and how her behavior was hurting herself.
As for the mystery aspect of this book, it was really fun. I don't think this is technically a sequel to She Doesn't Have a Clue, but it is interconnected. Although you don't have to read SDAC to understand what's happening in Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies, because I haven't read it and I still really enjoyed this book. I did guess who the final culprit was, but I did not guess his motivation. So that was fun!
I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed Sarah Mollo-Christensen's interpretation of Juliette. She was the perfect mix of haughty and vulnerable. Her Australian accent was good too, which if you've ever listened to a book with accents, a badly done accent can break a book. Overall I enjoyed listening to this one. I kept it going even when I was just playing games on my phone because I was so into it.
This book sounded so fun - a mix of mystery, amateur sleuthing, and romance - and it was. I flew through the audiobook because I wanted to know who was behind everything, but I also wanted to know what happened between Juliette and Charlie.
First, we'll start with Charlie. That man is the epitome of a cinnamon roll MMC. He is a sweetheart, and I love that she pushed Charlie out of his comfort zone, but that he also only stepped out of that comfort zone when he really wanted to. Him having an Australian accent didn't hurt either.
Now, on to Juliette. Her character walks the fine line of being confident and being overly confident. I loved that she walked that line, especially once we learned her backstory. She knows what she is good at, but that little bit of herself that sometimes pushed her to being 'too much' was completely understandable. But her friends didn't let her get away with it, and that made me so happy because they loved her enough to tell her when she was wrong and how her behavior was hurting herself.
As for the mystery aspect of this book, it was really fun. I don't think this is technically a sequel to She Doesn't Have a Clue, but it is interconnected. Although you don't have to read SDAC to understand what's happening in Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies, because I haven't read it and I still really enjoyed this book. I did guess who the final culprit was, but I did not guess his motivation. So that was fun!
I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed Sarah Mollo-Christensen's interpretation of Juliette. She was the perfect mix of haughty and vulnerable. Her Australian accent was good too, which if you've ever listened to a book with accents, a badly done accent can break a book. Overall I enjoyed listening to this one. I kept it going even when I was just playing games on my phone because I was so into it.
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