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Served Him Right
Win a free print copy of this book!
28 days and 21:05:38
5 copies available
U.S. only
A woman’s brunch with friends quickly turns dark in this wickedly clever and deliciously twisty tale of revenge from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.
Ana Blacksmith has gathered her closest friends and sister Vera together for a girls’ brunch to celebrate her recent breakup from her boyfriend Paul. But when shocking news about Paul and his new girlfriend arrives, all eyes are on Ana, the angry ex with a bad reputation. Suspicions only intensify when Ana’s best friend falls deathly ill after the brunch.
But Ana is not the only one who had a score to settle with Paul, a business mogul with a whispered history. And the list of people who will not shed a tear over his fate is long. As the investigation unfolds, rumours of a secret network that uses ancient methods to obtain justice begin to emerge. Vengeance is sweet, but it can also be deadly.
Ana and Vera are determined to find the truth before Ana takes the fall and their own long-buried history comes to light. Served Him Right is a riveting thriller that shows you can never underestimate the power of a woman looking for justice.
Ana Blacksmith has gathered her closest friends and sister Vera together for a girls’ brunch to celebrate her recent breakup from her boyfriend Paul. But when shocking news about Paul and his new girlfriend arrives, all eyes are on Ana, the angry ex with a bad reputation. Suspicions only intensify when Ana’s best friend falls deathly ill after the brunch.
But Ana is not the only one who had a score to settle with Paul, a business mogul with a whispered history. And the list of people who will not shed a tear over his fate is long. As the investigation unfolds, rumours of a secret network that uses ancient methods to obtain justice begin to emerge. Vengeance is sweet, but it can also be deadly.
Ana and Vera are determined to find the truth before Ana takes the fall and their own long-buried history comes to light. Served Him Right is a riveting thriller that shows you can never underestimate the power of a woman looking for justice.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
About the author
Lisa Unger
52 books11.2k followersLisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including her latest release SERVED HIM RIGHT. With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,111 reviews
April 11, 2026
Unpopular opinion time: I adore this auto-approved author, but this one wasn’t my favorite. For me, it’s the least likable of her books, mainly because the cast is packed with difficult characters I struggled to root for. The story gives us many POVs, yet it orbits mostly around sisters Ana and Vera, whose prickly personalities never quite invited me in. Add to that some choppy pacing between past and present, and several wordy, momentum-light chapters, and I found it hard to stay fully hooked.
That said, the supernatural/coven/poisonous herbs thread is intriguing in concept. I loved the atmosphere of old-world remedies and whispered rituals; I just wished the execution were tighter and more central. The opening—anchored to an office harassment/#MeToo-adjacent incident—felt sharp and promising. But once we settle into the dynamic with wild, self-sabotaging Ana, coolly controlling Vera, and their “ex-orcism” brunch crew, my excitement dimmed. Iggy had sparks of potential, but she’s sidelined more than I’d hoped. The good news: the last quarter finally kicks into gear. The mystery resolves cleanly, and while a few twists are telegraphed, they’re still satisfying enough to bump my rating from 2.5 to 3 solid stars.
Quick recap (spoiler-light):
Ana Blacksmith hosts an “ex-orcism” brunch at Vera’s house to celebrate her breakup with Paul Hayes. Guests include college friend Iggy (now a new mom married to Ana’s ex), their mutual friend Esme, and workaholic lawyer Payton. Mid-toast, police knock: Paul is dead, and his sister names Ana a person of interest, citing Ana’s temper. Awkwardly, the lead detective, Timothy Bandeau, is one of Ana’s recent one-night stands. By day’s end, one brunch guest collapses—poisoned—after eating food Ana prepared. With Ana and Vera’s herbal know-how (learned from their guardian Aunt Agnes) and a murky family past, suspicion tightens. Did Ana act in a jealous rage…or is someone more dangerous stalking the sisters from the shadows?
Bottom line: I’m landing at 3 stars—credit to the eerie ambiance, the finale’s snap, and a few deft reveals. My expectations were higher (this author usually nails pace + character), but I’m still rooting hard for the next book to be a knockout.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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That said, the supernatural/coven/poisonous herbs thread is intriguing in concept. I loved the atmosphere of old-world remedies and whispered rituals; I just wished the execution were tighter and more central. The opening—anchored to an office harassment/#MeToo-adjacent incident—felt sharp and promising. But once we settle into the dynamic with wild, self-sabotaging Ana, coolly controlling Vera, and their “ex-orcism” brunch crew, my excitement dimmed. Iggy had sparks of potential, but she’s sidelined more than I’d hoped. The good news: the last quarter finally kicks into gear. The mystery resolves cleanly, and while a few twists are telegraphed, they’re still satisfying enough to bump my rating from 2.5 to 3 solid stars.
Quick recap (spoiler-light):
Ana Blacksmith hosts an “ex-orcism” brunch at Vera’s house to celebrate her breakup with Paul Hayes. Guests include college friend Iggy (now a new mom married to Ana’s ex), their mutual friend Esme, and workaholic lawyer Payton. Mid-toast, police knock: Paul is dead, and his sister names Ana a person of interest, citing Ana’s temper. Awkwardly, the lead detective, Timothy Bandeau, is one of Ana’s recent one-night stands. By day’s end, one brunch guest collapses—poisoned—after eating food Ana prepared. With Ana and Vera’s herbal know-how (learned from their guardian Aunt Agnes) and a murky family past, suspicion tightens. Did Ana act in a jealous rage…or is someone more dangerous stalking the sisters from the shadows?
Bottom line: I’m landing at 3 stars—credit to the eerie ambiance, the finale’s snap, and a few deft reveals. My expectations were higher (this author usually nails pace + character), but I’m still rooting hard for the next book to be a knockout.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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March 13, 2026
It’s almost a given that when you pick up a book by Lisa Unger, it’s going to be a good thriller. She’s definitely high on the list in this genre. That said, this might be one that just didn’t fully work for me.
When I read, one thing I really look for is that feeling of being so pulled in that I can’t put the book down. I did want to finish this one, but it sometimes felt like a bit of an effort to stay engaged.
The story starts when Paul dies, and Ana and her sister Vera get the news while hosting a “hate on Paul ex-orcism” lunch with their neighborhood friends. Paul is Ana’s ex, so it definitely sets up a pretty intense and interesting start.
There are quite a few characters in the story, which felt a little overwhelming at times. The women are also practicing a kind of witchy ritual work, mostly using herbs to, in a way, deal with people who have wronged or annoyed them. It’s an interesting idea and the story has some nice twists.
In the end, it was still a decent read, but it didn’t hit me as strongly as I expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
When I read, one thing I really look for is that feeling of being so pulled in that I can’t put the book down. I did want to finish this one, but it sometimes felt like a bit of an effort to stay engaged.
The story starts when Paul dies, and Ana and her sister Vera get the news while hosting a “hate on Paul ex-orcism” lunch with their neighborhood friends. Paul is Ana’s ex, so it definitely sets up a pretty intense and interesting start.
There are quite a few characters in the story, which felt a little overwhelming at times. The women are also practicing a kind of witchy ritual work, mostly using herbs to, in a way, deal with people who have wronged or annoyed them. It’s an interesting idea and the story has some nice twists.
In the end, it was still a decent read, but it didn’t hit me as strongly as I expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
March 19, 2026
Ooooh, that was fun! High-five, Lisa Unger.
Served Him Right is a a twisting tale of vengeance, sisterhood, and the dangerous power of knowing exactly which plants can heal...and which can kill.
Sisters Vera and Ana Blacksmith are descendants of a lineage of women skilled in the Knowledge — herbal remedies passed down through generations that can cure or poison, depending on the dose.
~ Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold ~
When their girls' brunch is interrupted by police with news that Ana's ex has been discovered in a shallow grave at the park and foul play is suspected, Ana becomes the convenient scapegoat.
Add to that, within hours of said brunch, Ana’s best friend Iggy collapses and falls into a coma.
Yeesh, what exactly was served at brunch?
Through shifting perspectives, twists and misdirections, and carefully revealed secrets, Unger crafts a thrilling whodunnit.
Served Him Right leads us on an exciting hunt that explores what happens when the systems designed to protect women fail them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 2.75 ⭐️ Sometimes justice is a dish best served cold. Unfortunately that dish wasn’t cold enough for my taste to leave a burn cold enough to remember it.
In Served Him Right, a celebratory brunch spirals into murder, poisoning, unraveling of secrets and lies, mixed in with themes of revenge, female rage and witchy folklore deeply rooted in herbology and botony. Two sisters, one dead man, a poisoned friend, an undercover coven/secret society and a detective who is sexually preoccupied with one of the murder suspects…this book had a lot of great ingredients but failed to serve a delicious meal.
I will start with the positives: the complexity and layering of characters was really well done. While some POV felt dragged, I appreciated the background stories of each character, especially Agnes’s chapters. Her chapters take us back in time to when the sisters were small and slowly take us through their upbringing, helping the reader understand their morally gray past and present. What I didn’t enjoy was the incorporation of witchy folklore and herbology. It didn’t serve any purpose and read more like general fiction. Its lengthy passages and references to different types of poisons, plants and healing medicines felt disjointed and took me out of the story more times than I’ve liked. I understand that the concept of poison was central to the main story, but with time they started to feel out of place in a suspense/mystery novel.
We have very unlikable characters from the very start of the book, but nothing as off putting as a detective who is sexually preoccupied with the main suspect. What was that, romance? Suspenseful intrigue? Installation of doubt clouded by desire? Ana and Timothy have history, they met at a bar prior to everything going down, they had a one night fling and never spoke again until the brunch. Timothy broken so many procedural protocols by trying to get into touch with Ana, it honestly became laughable and reduced the suspense. Their little insta-lust was unnecessary and didn’t add any value to the murder mystery in question.
With “Served Him Right”, I wanted justice and revelations that felt twisty in their own right. The book tries to circle around the idea of female rage and empowerment, to be able to take back what’s rightfully ours and to serve justice when a wrong has been committed towards any woman, but no justice has been served in this book. The guy ended up dead and didn’t learn his lesson. I felt like this was a total flop in execution.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author, Lisa Unger for sending me this eARC
Publication date: March 10, 2026
In Served Him Right, a celebratory brunch spirals into murder, poisoning, unraveling of secrets and lies, mixed in with themes of revenge, female rage and witchy folklore deeply rooted in herbology and botony. Two sisters, one dead man, a poisoned friend, an undercover coven/secret society and a detective who is sexually preoccupied with one of the murder suspects…this book had a lot of great ingredients but failed to serve a delicious meal.
I will start with the positives: the complexity and layering of characters was really well done. While some POV felt dragged, I appreciated the background stories of each character, especially Agnes’s chapters. Her chapters take us back in time to when the sisters were small and slowly take us through their upbringing, helping the reader understand their morally gray past and present. What I didn’t enjoy was the incorporation of witchy folklore and herbology. It didn’t serve any purpose and read more like general fiction. Its lengthy passages and references to different types of poisons, plants and healing medicines felt disjointed and took me out of the story more times than I’ve liked. I understand that the concept of poison was central to the main story, but with time they started to feel out of place in a suspense/mystery novel.
We have very unlikable characters from the very start of the book, but nothing as off putting as a detective who is sexually preoccupied with the main suspect. What was that, romance? Suspenseful intrigue? Installation of doubt clouded by desire? Ana and Timothy have history, they met at a bar prior to everything going down, they had a one night fling and never spoke again until the brunch. Timothy broken so many procedural protocols by trying to get into touch with Ana, it honestly became laughable and reduced the suspense. Their little insta-lust was unnecessary and didn’t add any value to the murder mystery in question.
With “Served Him Right”, I wanted justice and revelations that felt twisty in their own right. The book tries to circle around the idea of female rage and empowerment, to be able to take back what’s rightfully ours and to serve justice when a wrong has been committed towards any woman, but no justice has been served in this book. The guy ended up dead and didn’t learn his lesson. I felt like this was a total flop in execution.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author, Lisa Unger for sending me this eARC
Publication date: March 10, 2026
September 19, 2025
I'm so excited to share SERVED HIM RIGHT with you on March 10th, 2026!
When Ana Blacksmith gathers her friends for a Sunday brunch to EX-orcise her cheating former lover from all their social media feeds, things start to go wrong fast. 🥀 The police are at the door. Someone at the brunch becomes deathly ill. And Ana’s former lover? Well … you’ll just have to read to find out.
When Ana Blacksmith gathers her friends for a Sunday brunch to EX-orcise her cheating former lover from all their social media feeds, things start to go wrong fast. 🥀 The police are at the door. Someone at the brunch becomes deathly ill. And Ana’s former lover? Well … you’ll just have to read to find out.
October 15, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Park Row for an ARC of this book!
As I've previously mentioned, while I do have a nice respectable order I read my Netgalley books in according to due date. I do have the habit of bumping books to the front of the line if it's an author I love. As in this case
Listen, I've known since 2019, after reading Confessions on the 7:45 that Lisa Unger was a genius. So obviously when I saw on Netgalley she had a new book coming out, I nearly sprained my thumb hitting the "request" button. I was NOT disappointed Unger is a true queen of psychological thrill.
The way this woman can weave a story together is absolutely incredible. This is another one of those authors who will have you wondering what is going on and then when it all comes together it's a jaw dropping, completely earth shattering experience. I mean, like, my jaw actually dropped several times while reading this 🤌🏻
Another aspect that adds a little something extra special to her books, is the drama! I absolutely eat it up in every book of hers I've read thus far. And again, this one was no exception! A gaggle of 30-somethings, gathering together for a brunch?? Odds are you're going to want to throat punch at least one person. But that's what makes her books so addictive! The real/ raw feelings you feel towards her characters.
This is an obvious must read for anyone who loves a good suspenseful thriller with a backbone!!
As I've previously mentioned, while I do have a nice respectable order I read my Netgalley books in according to due date. I do have the habit of bumping books to the front of the line if it's an author I love. As in this case
Listen, I've known since 2019, after reading Confessions on the 7:45 that Lisa Unger was a genius. So obviously when I saw on Netgalley she had a new book coming out, I nearly sprained my thumb hitting the "request" button. I was NOT disappointed Unger is a true queen of psychological thrill.
The way this woman can weave a story together is absolutely incredible. This is another one of those authors who will have you wondering what is going on and then when it all comes together it's a jaw dropping, completely earth shattering experience. I mean, like, my jaw actually dropped several times while reading this 🤌🏻
Another aspect that adds a little something extra special to her books, is the drama! I absolutely eat it up in every book of hers I've read thus far. And again, this one was no exception! A gaggle of 30-somethings, gathering together for a brunch?? Odds are you're going to want to throat punch at least one person. But that's what makes her books so addictive! The real/ raw feelings you feel towards her characters.
This is an obvious must read for anyone who loves a good suspenseful thriller with a backbone!!
February 23, 2026
This is a twisty thriller where a brunch turns deadly! It is a dark mystery that is full of tension, that caught my attention in the beginning of the book! It comes with a diverse cast of characters and multiple points of views. It is character driven, filled with female rage. To me, this novel is more of a slow burn thriller than a fast paced one. It does come with flashbacks, which I did appreciate about the book. It gave me more insight to the characters.
I will say that I did not know who did it and was surprised that it came with witchy vibes to it. I do wish that the characters were more strongly developed. Even though I did get to know them better, as it when into the past and multiple points of views, I just felt that I did not get to know them on a deeper level. Some of the characters were likable, whereas some were not likable at all. I do feel that there were a lot of subplots going on, which distracted me from the entire plot of the story. This gave me “Big Little Lies” novel vibes! Overall, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lisa Unger and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on March 10, 2026!
I will say that I did not know who did it and was surprised that it came with witchy vibes to it. I do wish that the characters were more strongly developed. Even though I did get to know them better, as it when into the past and multiple points of views, I just felt that I did not get to know them on a deeper level. Some of the characters were likable, whereas some were not likable at all. I do feel that there were a lot of subplots going on, which distracted me from the entire plot of the story. This gave me “Big Little Lies” novel vibes! Overall, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lisa Unger and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on March 10, 2026!
March 29, 2026
The beginning of the book was intriguing. There are a lot of characters in the story and it is told from multiple POVs. Even though most of them are quite unlikable and morally grey, I found them interesting to read about. Every single one of them seemed important for the storyline, so trying to find connections was fun.
I did suspect three things, and also one thing unrelated to the mystery part, so there were no big surprises or twists for me here. I feel it was easy to figure out what was happening. What I didn't expect was that the story revolves strongly around
I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the multicast narration.
I did suspect three things, and also one thing unrelated to the mystery part, so there were no big surprises or twists for me here. I feel it was easy to figure out what was happening. What I didn't expect was that the story revolves strongly around
I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the multicast narration.
February 9, 2026
Sisters can be deadly, and this is a case of how many women had a grudge against an evil man... meaning who was helping which sister behind the other's back! Lots of angles. Kept my interest. Felt satisfied by the ending, but also had a good touch of things left unsettled in a way that actually felt appropriate.
March 30, 2026
What started off so well and intriguing slowly went downhill and plateaued at mediocrity.
Ana and her boyfriend Paul have just recently broken up, and she gets her group of friends together to hold an ex-orcism. This basically consists of the women gathering for brunch and purging their socials of anything related to Paul. Afterwards, Ana is informed that Paul has been murdered, and she is suspect number one.
If the novel had stuck strictly to this mystery, I might have enjoyed it more, but unfortunately, it went in a completely different direction and had many different subplots. The story is told through multiple points of view: Ana, her sister Vera, her friend Iggy, Vera’s daughter, the police detective, and Ana’s aunt. It got to be a bit much. There were also several other side characters that I felt were just included to tick some boxes. Finally, the herbalism aspect went way too far that it became unrealistic, as did Ana’s relationship with the investigator. I found neither of the two believable. It just felt, to me, that there were two conflicting vibes within the novel. One being a realistic murder mystery, and the other involving witchy stuff. Neither blended well together in my opinion.
The first third of the novel was four stars, the second third was three stars, and the final act was two. Being that I’m quite awful at math, I’m settling on three stars. It was just an OK read.
I have found lately that I’ve enjoyed this author’s older novels, including The Hollows series, but anything newer, I found I’m not necessarily a good fit. Hopefully, the next novel will work better for me. As always, other reviewers have enjoyed this one, so please check out their reviews as well.
Ana and her boyfriend Paul have just recently broken up, and she gets her group of friends together to hold an ex-orcism. This basically consists of the women gathering for brunch and purging their socials of anything related to Paul. Afterwards, Ana is informed that Paul has been murdered, and she is suspect number one.
If the novel had stuck strictly to this mystery, I might have enjoyed it more, but unfortunately, it went in a completely different direction and had many different subplots. The story is told through multiple points of view: Ana, her sister Vera, her friend Iggy, Vera’s daughter, the police detective, and Ana’s aunt. It got to be a bit much. There were also several other side characters that I felt were just included to tick some boxes. Finally, the herbalism aspect went way too far that it became unrealistic, as did Ana’s relationship with the investigator. I found neither of the two believable. It just felt, to me, that there were two conflicting vibes within the novel. One being a realistic murder mystery, and the other involving witchy stuff. Neither blended well together in my opinion.
The first third of the novel was four stars, the second third was three stars, and the final act was two. Being that I’m quite awful at math, I’m settling on three stars. It was just an OK read.
I have found lately that I’ve enjoyed this author’s older novels, including The Hollows series, but anything newer, I found I’m not necessarily a good fit. Hopefully, the next novel will work better for me. As always, other reviewers have enjoyed this one, so please check out their reviews as well.
March 11, 2026
Welp! I really wanted to love this one. I enjoy Lisa Unger's books. I had high hopes going into this book. I loved the idea of female rage/revenge. Plus, the thought of a woman seeking justice. The beginning of the book grabbed my attention right away, but then it took a turn and I was left thinking, "what just happened?"
I liked the take on a woman wronged and this book mainly focuses on sister's Ana and Vera. The sisters couldn't be more opposite. The book veers off into some witchcraft, and potions. The book gives readers multiple POV's but never quite won the reader over. There were too many characters, and I couldn't get past the part that a police officer would be allowed to investigate someone he had a one-night stand with. That just seemed wrong.
Many are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their books as well. I typically love all things witchy but this one just never cast its spell on me.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
I liked the take on a woman wronged and this book mainly focuses on sister's Ana and Vera. The sisters couldn't be more opposite. The book veers off into some witchcraft, and potions. The book gives readers multiple POV's but never quite won the reader over. There were too many characters, and I couldn't get past the part that a police officer would be allowed to investigate someone he had a one-night stand with. That just seemed wrong.
Many are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their books as well. I typically love all things witchy but this one just never cast its spell on me.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
April 4, 2026
Vengeance is indeed Sweet, and I have always had a weakness for a female revenge story.
What Lit My Mood
I am also a sucker for sisterly bonds, and this one gave me Practical Magic vibes with it's unexpected, soulful spiritual depth. Ana and her sister are hosting an “ex-orcism” for Ana’s ex, Paul. I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive at first; it didn’t feel like the Lisa Unger writing I am used to. I wasn’t sure if she could truly pull off the magic needed, but within just a few chapters, I was completely under her spell.
Lisa Unger weaved in a female revenge story with themes of women’s empowerment and justice, and I ate it all up.
“Witch is just another word for a powerful, fearsome woman in control of herself and connected to the earth.”
Where My Mood Flickered
I won’t say the story was suspenseful or intense; the feminist themes overshadow that.
Final Verdict
If you love stories about fierce women finding their power and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, this belongs on your altar.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
What Lit My Mood
I am also a sucker for sisterly bonds, and this one gave me Practical Magic vibes with it's unexpected, soulful spiritual depth. Ana and her sister are hosting an “ex-orcism” for Ana’s ex, Paul. I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive at first; it didn’t feel like the Lisa Unger writing I am used to. I wasn’t sure if she could truly pull off the magic needed, but within just a few chapters, I was completely under her spell.
Lisa Unger weaved in a female revenge story with themes of women’s empowerment and justice, and I ate it all up.
“Witch is just another word for a powerful, fearsome woman in control of herself and connected to the earth.”
Where My Mood Flickered
I won’t say the story was suspenseful or intense; the feminist themes overshadow that.
Final Verdict
If you love stories about fierce women finding their power and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, this belongs on your altar.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I do love a Lisa Unger dark and twisty thriller. Served Him Right was a slower pace than her usual books but it worked for this one. It is a murder mystery with a difference, a story of strong and unforgiving women who are fed up. I loved the witchy vibes, that was so fun!
A brunch with friends meant to be an ex-ocism for Ana who has broken up with her boyfriend Paul. He is a man known to all the women and they have all had bad experiences with him, as well as half the town by the sounds of it. Their fun is interrupted by the arrival of a police detective looking in the murder of that very ex boyfriend.suddenly Ana and the other women are all suspects and that is where the fun began.
I had no idea how this was going to end up. It could have been so many people as Paul was just the most awful human. Very enjoyable to read.
Thanks so much to Harlequin Trade Publication, Park Row for the early copy of this book to read. Published on March 10th
A brunch with friends meant to be an ex-ocism for Ana who has broken up with her boyfriend Paul. He is a man known to all the women and they have all had bad experiences with him, as well as half the town by the sounds of it. Their fun is interrupted by the arrival of a police detective looking in the murder of that very ex boyfriend.suddenly Ana and the other women are all suspects and that is where the fun began.
I had no idea how this was going to end up. It could have been so many people as Paul was just the most awful human. Very enjoyable to read.
Thanks so much to Harlequin Trade Publication, Park Row for the early copy of this book to read. Published on March 10th
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a great thriller!! It's told fr many points of view, and the characters are well developed and very interesting. I loved the little hints of paranormal weaved throughout the story, and there's a awese twist at the end. I recommend!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 12, 2026
This is my third book by Ms. Unger, after the novel “Close Your Eyes and Count to 10” and the novella, “The Doll’s House”. I essentially gave both of those 3.5 stars, and I typically only re-read books rated 4 stars or above, for reference. That said, I liked “Served Him Right” the best out of the three works, and I gave it a 3.75, rounded up.
Fair warning, though—there are some crazy characters who do insane things, to the point where, as secrets are revealed, you will probably think to yourself, “Who DOES that???!!” There is also a relationship between two characters that is highly, highly implausible, and I definitely had issues with the way the story ended. Those things make this novel a one and done for me.
Still, I learned a lot about a certain subset of knowledge, and the story also made me think about what some women will do to those who get in their way. I can’t say much more without spoiling a major plot point, and I do suggest you go in relatively blind. I’ll just say that if you don’t care to read about the occult, I’d steer clear.
Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: There are some consensual sex scenes in here. They’re not explicit, per se, but they definitely aren’t tame, either. Also, sexual assault is discussed throughout, and one scene in particular will be extremely triggering for anyone who has gone through something similar. Please tread carefully if you’re a survivor.
Fair warning, though—there are some crazy characters who do insane things, to the point where, as secrets are revealed, you will probably think to yourself, “Who DOES that???!!” There is also a relationship between two characters that is highly, highly implausible, and I definitely had issues with the way the story ended. Those things make this novel a one and done for me.
Still, I learned a lot about a certain subset of knowledge, and the story also made me think about what some women will do to those who get in their way. I can’t say much more without spoiling a major plot point, and I do suggest you go in relatively blind. I’ll just say that if you don’t care to read about the occult, I’d steer clear.
Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: There are some consensual sex scenes in here. They’re not explicit, per se, but they definitely aren’t tame, either. Also, sexual assault is discussed throughout, and one scene in particular will be extremely triggering for anyone who has gone through something similar. Please tread carefully if you’re a survivor.
August 22, 2025
Lisa Unger books always serve and “Serves him right” definitely is serving!!
The plot follows Ana who meets up with her friends for a post break up brunch so she can vent about her recent ex Paul. When the news arrived that Paul is unalived and Ana is the main suspect, things go from pretty bad to way worse when one of Anas close friendly becomes deathly sick following their brunch together.
I loved the tension and chaos as the events unfolded and the themes of sisterly bonds and doing anything you can to protect those you love.
There is lots of drama, plot twists and surprises. The fast pacing will keep you turning pages and I couldn’t wait to see how it all came to a conclusion in the finale.
I always love Lisa’s books and this one was no exception, definitely a fun read so save for when you have time to sit and devour its contents.
Thank you to HTP Books for the netgalley gifted copy!
The plot follows Ana who meets up with her friends for a post break up brunch so she can vent about her recent ex Paul. When the news arrived that Paul is unalived and Ana is the main suspect, things go from pretty bad to way worse when one of Anas close friendly becomes deathly sick following their brunch together.
I loved the tension and chaos as the events unfolded and the themes of sisterly bonds and doing anything you can to protect those you love.
There is lots of drama, plot twists and surprises. The fast pacing will keep you turning pages and I couldn’t wait to see how it all came to a conclusion in the finale.
I always love Lisa’s books and this one was no exception, definitely a fun read so save for when you have time to sit and devour its contents.
Thank you to HTP Books for the netgalley gifted copy!
March 29, 2026
I LOVE @launger books so I was excited to get her latest!! Thank you so much @mbc_books @htpbooks @parkrowbooks for the gorgeous gifted copy!!😍🥰 Once again @launger served it up right!! 😍 I went in blind and I am glad I did… Listen to this..
Paul is a piece of work. That is not exactly what I would say in real life but you get what I am saying. 😉 SO when Ana announces they split up… well her friends want to celebrate with a brunch… 🥂🥂 Aww nice right?! Hold on… Not everyone came for the mimosas… It wouldn’t be a @launger book without a little… MURDER. 😳.. Just saying…
Okay this went sideways fast. When the police 👮 show up… it just got even more twisted. 😧Talk about a brunch you won’t forget. 🤷♀️
I love a good revenge book… and WELL… it did serve him right! 😂🫣 This took a direction that I didn’t see coming but I enjoyed! I will leave this right here as not to be a babbling spoiler.😂🤐
Is this on your TBR?
Paul is a piece of work. That is not exactly what I would say in real life but you get what I am saying. 😉 SO when Ana announces they split up… well her friends want to celebrate with a brunch… 🥂🥂 Aww nice right?! Hold on… Not everyone came for the mimosas… It wouldn’t be a @launger book without a little… MURDER. 😳.. Just saying…
Okay this went sideways fast. When the police 👮 show up… it just got even more twisted. 😧Talk about a brunch you won’t forget. 🤷♀️
I love a good revenge book… and WELL… it did serve him right! 😂🫣 This took a direction that I didn’t see coming but I enjoyed! I will leave this right here as not to be a babbling spoiler.😂🤐
Is this on your TBR?
January 24, 2026
I’m going to be so honest here… when I requested this book I thought it was a new Lisa Jewell who is always a fun thriller experience for me. When I received my acceptance, I realized I skimmed the name and was a bit disappointed and worried that I requested from an authour I wasn’t interested in and wouldn’t like this. So I went into this completely blind and a bit skeptical and can say I have been reformed!!
This was like reading Lisa Jewell mixed with Kirsten Miller and it was so much fun! The writing was so much better that I had anticipated and the plot had a lot more depth than I typically expect from a thriller.
This is a story about women, the generational cycles, the histories passed down, and the power of female friendship. There were so many aspects of this book that surprised me and kept me glued to this book. I’ve never read Unger before but I’m so excited to delve into her books now.
This was like reading Lisa Jewell mixed with Kirsten Miller and it was so much fun! The writing was so much better that I had anticipated and the plot had a lot more depth than I typically expect from a thriller.
This is a story about women, the generational cycles, the histories passed down, and the power of female friendship. There were so many aspects of this book that surprised me and kept me glued to this book. I’ve never read Unger before but I’m so excited to delve into her books now.
March 12, 2026
Ugh. What a disappointment. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I love Lisa Unger’s books. It wasn’t terrible, I think I just have high expectations of her. For me, this one falls into the category of “I liked it but didn’t love it.”
Anna and Vera are sisters, their mother went to prison and they went to live in an old house with their aunt Agnes. She had a lot of herbs and magical spices in her garden.
The story picks up when Anna’s ex boyfriend Paul is found murdered. She had a tinder fling with the lead detective. Paul also really sucks (hence the title) and we are kinda glad he’s dead.
The pacing, the witchy storyline, just too many characters and it enough time to develop any of them. Despite the plot problems, it’s still a fun revenge story that I think many will like.
Anna and Vera are sisters, their mother went to prison and they went to live in an old house with their aunt Agnes. She had a lot of herbs and magical spices in her garden.
The story picks up when Anna’s ex boyfriend Paul is found murdered. She had a tinder fling with the lead detective. Paul also really sucks (hence the title) and we are kinda glad he’s dead.
The pacing, the witchy storyline, just too many characters and it enough time to develop any of them. Despite the plot problems, it’s still a fun revenge story that I think many will like.
March 20, 2026
3.5⭐️- If you’re a small town, witchy, murder mystery kind of person, then this book is for you. It’s not my particular vibe but it wasn’t bad. I did like the ending and the coming together of everything. It was pretty basic for the whole first 60% and it had many predictable elements but overall it was a good time.
March 23, 2026
Please leave politics out of your books. I would have enjoyed the story but it seemed like Unger could not get through a chapter without a rant on Womens empowerment, transsexualism,abortion rights, etc. I love to read, love a great story, but if I wanted this I would read the news.
October 4, 2025
In the spirit of giving honest reviews, I have to be honest about this book. I did NOT like it! I understand that the mystery/thriller genre is extremely popular these days. However, publishers are taking it too far classifying some books as such! This book is neither mystery nor thriller. It is better categorized and supernatural fiction. Had it been properly categorized, I would likely have passed on it and spared the author the poor review.
But ... I did manage to get through this one. The plot was messy and the entire book was a jumble of characters all the way through, at different points in time. The beginning opened with a an interesting situation with a woman being drugged and assaulted by her boss, which seemed like an interesting start to a revenge story. But, it veered off course from there to Wicca and herbs and weird family and friendship dynamics. Each and every character was absolutely unlikeable and there was nothing redeeming about the story except that it *finally* ended.
I have enjoyed Lisa Unger's books in the past, but this one was a fail.
As an aside for the publisher: when providing ARCs, please remember that formatting and making a book physically easier to read for the readers (as in: spacing and visual accessibility) can make or break a reading experience. I found this book to be physically difficult to read because of the formatting and the manner in which everything was jumbled together. Page footers floated in the middle of the pages, making it more confusing than it already was to keep the characters straight. Honestly, half the time, I didn't even know whose point of view I was reading - it was that messy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, and Lisa Unger for an advanced copy of this book. It releases in March 2026 and I recommend that you only read it if you appreciate the supernatural and witchcraft, not if you're looking for a traditional mystery/thriller.
But ... I did manage to get through this one. The plot was messy and the entire book was a jumble of characters all the way through, at different points in time. The beginning opened with a an interesting situation with a woman being drugged and assaulted by her boss, which seemed like an interesting start to a revenge story. But, it veered off course from there to Wicca and herbs and weird family and friendship dynamics. Each and every character was absolutely unlikeable and there was nothing redeeming about the story except that it *finally* ended.
I have enjoyed Lisa Unger's books in the past, but this one was a fail.
As an aside for the publisher: when providing ARCs, please remember that formatting and making a book physically easier to read for the readers (as in: spacing and visual accessibility) can make or break a reading experience. I found this book to be physically difficult to read because of the formatting and the manner in which everything was jumbled together. Page footers floated in the middle of the pages, making it more confusing than it already was to keep the characters straight. Honestly, half the time, I didn't even know whose point of view I was reading - it was that messy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, and Lisa Unger for an advanced copy of this book. It releases in March 2026 and I recommend that you only read it if you appreciate the supernatural and witchcraft, not if you're looking for a traditional mystery/thriller.
November 19, 2025
I've enjoyed the author's popcorn reads in the past, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one.
There are only about 5 million POV characters - most of them are kind of awful.
There are interminable flashbacks. I mean they drag! Eventually, I just started skimming them because I didn't care.
I didn't really care who killed our jerk. He deserved it.
The book also takes a turn into sort of witchy folk thriller which was unexpected and a bit clunky (and I love folk horror/thrillers, but not this).
All in all, this was a miss for me.
* ARC via Publisher
There are only about 5 million POV characters - most of them are kind of awful.
There are interminable flashbacks. I mean they drag! Eventually, I just started skimming them because I didn't care.
I didn't really care who killed our jerk. He deserved it.
The book also takes a turn into sort of witchy folk thriller which was unexpected and a bit clunky (and I love folk horror/thrillers, but not this).
All in all, this was a miss for me.
* ARC via Publisher
April 2, 2026
I just finished Served Him Right and I’m a little torn on how to rate it—ultimately landing somewhere around a solid 3.5 stars.
The story follows a group of women bound together by secrets, trauma, and a shared sense of justice that begins to blur the line between right and wrong. As the narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, we’re pulled into a dark, layered mystery involving abuse, revenge, and the complicated dynamics of loyalty within a tight-knit circle. At its core, it explores how far people are willing to go when the system fails them—and what the cost of that justice might be.
This one started off really strong for me. The premise is compelling, and I was immediately intrigued. However, the number of POVs made it take a while to fully settle in and get a solid grasp on all the characters. Because of that, the pacing dipped a bit after the beginning and didn’t really pick back up until about the three-quarter mark—once it did, though, I was hooked and flew through the rest.
One of the standout elements for me was the coven aspect of the story. I found that thread more interesting than the central murder plot itself, and I almost wish it had been explored even more deeply.
Overall, while it didn’t quite live up to the bar set by some of Unger’s previous novels, it’s still a worthwhile read. I’d recommend it—with a little caution if you’re expecting a tightly paced thriller from start to finish—but there’s definitely enough here to keep you engaged, especially if you enjoy character-driven suspense with a darker edge!
The story follows a group of women bound together by secrets, trauma, and a shared sense of justice that begins to blur the line between right and wrong. As the narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, we’re pulled into a dark, layered mystery involving abuse, revenge, and the complicated dynamics of loyalty within a tight-knit circle. At its core, it explores how far people are willing to go when the system fails them—and what the cost of that justice might be.
This one started off really strong for me. The premise is compelling, and I was immediately intrigued. However, the number of POVs made it take a while to fully settle in and get a solid grasp on all the characters. Because of that, the pacing dipped a bit after the beginning and didn’t really pick back up until about the three-quarter mark—once it did, though, I was hooked and flew through the rest.
One of the standout elements for me was the coven aspect of the story. I found that thread more interesting than the central murder plot itself, and I almost wish it had been explored even more deeply.
Overall, while it didn’t quite live up to the bar set by some of Unger’s previous novels, it’s still a worthwhile read. I’d recommend it—with a little caution if you’re expecting a tightly paced thriller from start to finish—but there’s definitely enough here to keep you engaged, especially if you enjoy character-driven suspense with a darker edge!
March 25, 2026
This is a review of the ebook and audiobook.
The audiobook performers are Kristen Sieh, Vivienne Leheny, Brittany Pressley, Soneela Nankani, Tim Paige, and Petrea Burchard.
This is a thriller. It’s divided into 3 parts and has multiple narrators: Ana, Vera, Iggy, Agnes, Timothy and Coraline.
There are a lot of POVs. Every character in the audiobook has its own performer, which is cool.
However it is a lot of important characters and narrators to absorb. Also I wish that audiobooks with multiple narrators would list who plays which part. This stresses me out and forces me to listen to samples of each narrator in other audiobooks.
The main characters in this book are sisters Ana and Vera.
I believe that: Ana is Kristen Sieh, Vera is Vivienne Leheny, Iggy is Brittany Pressley and Timothy is Tim Paige. The other two performers are Petrea Burchard and Soneela Nankani.
I was definitely fascinated by the sisters. The main part of the story has to do with something that happens to Paul (Ana’s ex) as well as two women. The book also focuses on some interesting topics like revenge and herbalists.
All of the audiobook performances were good. And I did enjoy listening to this book. However I did follow along with the ebook at the beginning to be able to better follow which POVs I was reading.
This is not a book with lots of big reveals. But it was an enjoyable read.
The audiobook performers are Kristen Sieh, Vivienne Leheny, Brittany Pressley, Soneela Nankani, Tim Paige, and Petrea Burchard.
This is a thriller. It’s divided into 3 parts and has multiple narrators: Ana, Vera, Iggy, Agnes, Timothy and Coraline.
There are a lot of POVs. Every character in the audiobook has its own performer, which is cool.
However it is a lot of important characters and narrators to absorb. Also I wish that audiobooks with multiple narrators would list who plays which part. This stresses me out and forces me to listen to samples of each narrator in other audiobooks.
The main characters in this book are sisters Ana and Vera.
I believe that: Ana is Kristen Sieh, Vera is Vivienne Leheny, Iggy is Brittany Pressley and Timothy is Tim Paige. The other two performers are Petrea Burchard and Soneela Nankani.
I was definitely fascinated by the sisters. The main part of the story has to do with something that happens to Paul (Ana’s ex) as well as two women. The book also focuses on some interesting topics like revenge and herbalists.
All of the audiobook performances were good. And I did enjoy listening to this book. However I did follow along with the ebook at the beginning to be able to better follow which POVs I was reading.
This is not a book with lots of big reveals. But it was an enjoyable read.
March 16, 2026
“The difference between poison and medicine is the dosage.” — I liked how well-researched the toxic plants and herbal plants were. It makes me want to dive into herbalism.
This was an easy read for me. Although, I’m not condoning the moral aspect of the story.
This was an easy read for me. Although, I’m not condoning the moral aspect of the story.
September 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for an ARC of Served Him Right.
This story started out strong for me and then promptly took nose dive off a cliff. I'm just going to go ahead and make a list of the things I didn't like about the book because there is a lot.
- I did not enjoy the supernatural/witches/wiccan plot. I wish this would have been made clearer in the description so I could have passed from the beginning.
- There are ENTIRELY too many characters...I should have kept track but I'd guess something like 30 "main" characters we are supposed to remember by first name only. The number of characters made the plot so convoluted and tedious that I didn't end up caring who the murderer was.
- I was put-off by the preachy political messages inserted into the story. While I am one thousand percent of the same political view point as the author, I read to forget how fucked up the world is, not to be reminded of it.
- If I had to read another instance of one of the characters using the word "Gawd" I was going to throw my kindle across the room. Seriously, who talks like that?!
Definitely putting this on the "recommend to skip" list.
2 stars
This story started out strong for me and then promptly took nose dive off a cliff. I'm just going to go ahead and make a list of the things I didn't like about the book because there is a lot.
- I did not enjoy the supernatural/witches/wiccan plot. I wish this would have been made clearer in the description so I could have passed from the beginning.
- There are ENTIRELY too many characters...I should have kept track but I'd guess something like 30 "main" characters we are supposed to remember by first name only. The number of characters made the plot so convoluted and tedious that I didn't end up caring who the murderer was.
- I was put-off by the preachy political messages inserted into the story. While I am one thousand percent of the same political view point as the author, I read to forget how fucked up the world is, not to be reminded of it.
- If I had to read another instance of one of the characters using the word "Gawd" I was going to throw my kindle across the room. Seriously, who talks like that?!
Definitely putting this on the "recommend to skip" list.
2 stars
March 22, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ | I love when a story gives me a mouth dropping moment early in! At 2% in, I was very curious how this story would play out! The dual points of view was very interesting as we weave through the web of sisters Vera & Ana.
Ana is being accused of m u r d e r i n g her ex boyfriend and Vera, although quite sure her sister didn’t do it, still has her own doubts. I feel, though the story, took a completely different turn than I was expecting based on how it began with the workplace harassment undertone. The multi narration cast in the audiobook, definitely added value to the story. Overall, a decent read that fans of this author may enjoy. Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced reader copy.
Ana is being accused of m u r d e r i n g her ex boyfriend and Vera, although quite sure her sister didn’t do it, still has her own doubts. I feel, though the story, took a completely different turn than I was expecting based on how it began with the workplace harassment undertone. The multi narration cast in the audiobook, definitely added value to the story. Overall, a decent read that fans of this author may enjoy. Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced reader copy.
March 24, 2026
Lisa Unger is a "Must Read" author for me.
In Served Him Right she gives us a twisting tale of vengeance, bond of sisterhood, and the dangerous knowledge of poisonous plants.
The story started out strong and I love anything witchy/wiccan/supernatural but I found as the many characters were added it became overwhelming and confusing at times.
I look forward to her next novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
In Served Him Right she gives us a twisting tale of vengeance, bond of sisterhood, and the dangerous knowledge of poisonous plants.
The story started out strong and I love anything witchy/wiccan/supernatural but I found as the many characters were added it became overwhelming and confusing at times.
I look forward to her next novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
April 16, 2026
This lands someone where between 3.5 and 4. I enjoyed the story, especially the deep characters. I imagine this won't be everyone's cup of tea.
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