Murder Your Darlings

by Jenna Blum

“Authors and book tours, stalkers and deadlines, horrid men and ice cold revenge . . . Murder Your Darlings will have you cracking up while you’re checking under your bed.”—Karin Slaughter, New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author

For every woman who’s ever fallen for a bad man comes a hilarious and eviscerating tale of love, loss, and deadlines from New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum.

Known for such brilliant historical novels as Those Who Save Us and The Lost Family, A Mighty Blaze co-founder and New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum now offers a contemporary, suspenseful novel about love, loss, and revenge in the world of books.

Simone “Sam” Vetiver is a mid-career novelist finishing a lukewarm publicity tour while facing a deadline for a new book on which she’s totally blocked. Recently divorced, Sam is worrying where her life is going when she receives glowing fan mail from stratospherically successful author William Corwyn, renowned for his female-centric novels. When William and Sam meet and his literary sympathy is as intense as their chemistry, both writers think they’ve found The One.

But as in their own novels, things between Sam and William are not what they seem. William has multiple stalkers, including a scarily persistent one named The Rabbit. He lives on a remote Maine island, where his writer life resembles The Shining. And when writers turn up dead, including from The Darlings support group William runs, Sam has to Is it The Rabbit—William’s #1 Stalker? Another woman scorned? Can William be everything he seems?

Narrated by Sam, William, and The Rabbit, Murder Your Darlings is a wickedly witty look at today’s literary landscape and down-the-rabbit-hole tale of how far people will go for love.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Audiobook

367 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2026

About the author

JENNA BLUM is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of novels THOSE WHO SAVE US (Harcourt, 2004), THE STORMCHASERS (Dutton, 2010), and THE LOST FAMILY (Harper Collins, 2018); the novella "The Lucky One" in GRAND CENTRAL (Berkeley/Penguin, July 2014); the audio course “The Author At Work: The Art of Writing Fiction” (Recorded Books, 2015); memoir WOODROW ON THE BENCH, about her last seven months with her beloved 15-year-old black Lab and what they taught her (Harper Collins, 2021); and WWII audiodrama THE KEY OF LOVE (Emerald Audio Network, 2023), available on any major podcast streaming platform.

Jenna's latest novel and first psychological thriller, MURDER YOUR DARLINGS, will be published by Harper Collins 01/13/26.

Jenna is the CoFounder/ CEO of online author platform A Mighty Blaze, and she's one of Oprah's Top 30 Women Writers. Jenna’s first novel, Those Who Save Us, was awarded the Ribalow Prize by Hadassah Magazine, adjudged by Elie Wiesel; it was a Borders pick and the #1 bestselling book in Holland. The Stormchasers, Jenna’s bestselling second novel, was a Target Emerging Authors pick, a Borders pick, and featured in French Elle. Her third bestseller, The Lost Family, was an Indiebound pick and garnered starred reviews from all four trades: Publishers’ Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, LIbrary Journal. The bestselling memoir Woodrow on the Bench was a Midwestern Booksellers’ pick and is now available in paperback.

Jenna is based in Boston, where she taught at Boston University and at Grub Street Writers for over 20 years. Jenna currently teaches fiction, novel, and social media marketing for writers via Blaze Writers Project, based in Boston and online. She speaks nationally, internationally, and online about her work and writing life. Please visit Jenna on her website, www.jennablum.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Substack, BookBub, and TikTok.

Reviews

[Edwin Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenna Blum took a huge swing with this meta delight about a well-known historical novelist who finds love and decides to switch genres, all while being stalked by a jealous bookseller. I dare not say much more for fear of spoilers, but fans of Jean Hanff Korelitz’s THE PLOT will not be disappointed!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rated up.

[Karen Casale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a clever novel. I love an unreliable narrator and this multi-POV novel had a few. I'm also into books that peek inside the mind of authors and those who work in publishing and this did just that.
I thought the main character William was a conceited ass and I'm not sure if there are men out there like him, but I sure hope not. An entertaining read with a surprise ending that was satisfying. This murder-mystery focuses on obsession and sex in a creepy way, meaning there is a huge creep who uses sex with vulnerable to women to get what he wants: their undying love and loyalty. His fortune and fame help to reel in his innocent victims. He's a PIG! I felt sorry for the women who fell for his trickery.
Thank you Edelweiss for the review copy.

[Mary Nolan-Fesmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love a book where women look out for each other. I figured the plot out about 1/2 through, but enjoyed how it unfolded and how the women supported each other in the end. The MC-woman author was a bit ditzy, but that added to the story line.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satire of the publishing industry and MFA programs, masquerading as a thriller. Sam Vetiver is a novelist struggling with her next book when best-selling legend William Corwyn reaches out with a fan email. As Sam and William become involved in a relationship, Sam is threatened by his stalker, known as The Rabbit. As their relationship progresses and the tension heightens, it becomes clear that William is not what he seems. Fun, funny, and a page-turner.

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this! I thought it’s just another novel about an author suffering from writer’s block..Yada yada. It was actually a clever reveal. This is my first read by the author and won’t be the last. Following this author now.

William Corwyn reminds me of Joe from the series You by Caroline Kepnes.

[readwithmichele · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK: Murder Your Darlings
AUTHOR: Jenna Blum
PUB DATE: January 13. 2026, by @harpercollins
PAGES: 368 pages
RATING: 4.25 ⭐️
GENRE: Psychological Thriller/Suspense

THANK YOU to @harperbooks & NetGalley for gifting me an advanced copy of this! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK SYNOPSIS: Simone “Sam” Vetiver is a mid-career novelist struggling with writer’s block & the pressures of her latest book deadline. After a lackluster book tour & a recent divorce leave her questioning her future, Sam receives an unexpectedly flattering fan letter from bestselling author William Corwyn, a celebrated writer known for his deep insights into female characters. When Sam & William meet, their intellectual & romantic chemistry feels like a fresh beginning. But William’s life is far from simple. He has several obsessive admirers, including a particularly unsettling stalker nicknamed The Rabbit, and lives in isolation on a remote Maine island where creative life & psychological suspense blur. As Sam becomes entangled in William’s world and as unexplained deaths begin to surface among members of a writers’ support group William runs, she’s forced to question whether danger lurks in William’s past or in the very people drawn to him. Told through the shifting perspectives of Sam, William, & The Rabbit, the novel blends literary satire, psychological intrigue, & a darkly witty exploration of love, ambition, and the hidden dangers of the writing life.

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: This was my first experience reading Jenna Blum, and it absolutely won me over. I was immediately drawn in by the dual POVs. The alternating perspectives allowed the psychological suspense to build steadily while keeping me constantly questioning motivations & truth. I loved the darker psychological elements. It felt fresh, clever, & unsettling in the best way! What really made this book work for me was the atmosphere. There’s a slow-burn unease woven throughout that kept me engaged without relying on shock value. The characters are complex & flawed. This isn’t just a standard thriller, in my opinion. As a first read by this author, it left a strong impression & made me genuinely excited to explore more of her work. If you’re looking for a smart, moody psychological thriller, this one comes out January 13th!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the MOST fun twisty mystery set among the world of books and writing. If you liked The Plot, you’ll probably like this as well.

[Randi Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Your Darlings was such a fun and addicting read! Sam, an author best known for her historical fiction, finds herself completely entranced by William, an effortlessly talented, dreamy writer who hops between genres and nails a female POV a little too well. As their relationship heats up, Sam starts receiving unsettling messages from a stalker determined to drive a wedge between them… but the real question is: why?

When Sam excitedly shares her plan to write a thriller, William’s reaction is explosive, he’s furious, then disappears. His character is very clearly crafted to be a narcissistic a$$hole, and honestly, it made the story even more entertaining. Sam misses every red flag waving in her face, but that only deepens the tension and keeps you glued to the pages.

One of my favorite parts was the “book within a book” structure and the intimate peek inside a writer’s creative process. From inspiration to deadlines to publishing pressures, this novel offers a surprisingly immersive look at the behind-the-scenes world of authorship.

Smart, meta, twisty, and totally absorbing, this was a fantastic read from start to finish.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum. Thanks to @harperbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sam Vetiver is working on her next novel and has writer’s block. Renowned author William Corwyn offers to mentor her and they have instant chemistry. On top of her writer’s block though, she’s now dealing with a stalker of his called The Rabbit and a few writers that have turned up dead.

Two big twists at the end; one that was led up to and one that was a total surprise. It was all set up so cleverly. One of those twists that makes you want to reread the whole story because it’ll have a new perspective. I really loved this one. Anyone who enjoys books about writing, and the perils of literary obsessive ambition will love this as well.

“There are so many lonely women, so many ways in which they’ve been hurt. It could break your heart.”

Read this if you like:
-Books about books or writing
-Stalker trope
-Clever twists

Murder Your Darlings comes out 1/13.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight this was for me! It’s been awhile since a book grabbed me like this both for the building tension, but also all the humor. I absolutely love a revenge story, and this definitely kept me guessing. I also loved being immersed into the world or being an author and all the tea spilled about the literary world. Is there anything better than a book with books?

Rabbit was a fun addition to the story, and I adored the audio as much as the print. I knew it was going to be a five star read for me when I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters, and needed to know more, and couldn’t wait until I could pick it back up to read again.

*many thanks to Harper Books, Harper audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This bookish thriller featuring a struggling author and a killer intent on murdering members of his fan group just didn't hit for me like I wanted it to. The narrator did a great job with the multi-pov perspectives but even their talents weren't able to help me get invested. Overall just an okay read and not a fav for me by the author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio. This was an OK way to pass the time…but it was so blaringly obvious what was going on, from VERY early in the book, that I struggled to maintain interest. Was it supposed to be THAT obvious? I thought maybe there would be another twist I didn’t see coming (nope), and at about the halfway point we start to get narration from William that makes it even more obvious, if it wasn’t already, that the guy is a Grade A asshole who isn’t who he sells himself to be. Absolutely baffled by how Sam sticks with this guy despite the abusive, egomaniac behavior and attempts to exert control over her writing. I just can’t quite figure out what the author intended the reading experience to be with the choices she made around POV particularly. (Like, “the rabbit” is clearly made out to be a nut through the whole book but AGAIN, it is so obvious who the murderer is here that I was just annoyed by the constant blatant attempts at misdirection.)

[Shazzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy to lose interest in the second quarter. Pacing is wild.

I received a review copy from the publisher.

[Priyanka Champaneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, swift, razor sharp, and on-the-nose funny. The writing insider asides are so spot-on (the dread! The imposter syndrome!), the characters both real and ridiculous, every sentence a pleasure to read as things barrel along. Great fun!

[Jennifer]

DNF

[Leomie Schweitzer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish the book with how odd the beginning was

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, atmospheric, and ominous!

Murder Your Darlings is an unpredictable, fast-paced thriller that follows Sam, a young writer paralyzed by writer’s block, whose life is upended when she becomes entangled with the charming and highly successful author William Corwyn who, although seemingly generous and supportive, soon reveals a darker aura that includes an unsettling number of stalkers and an alarming trail of dead acquaintances.

The prose is sharp and relentless. The characters are devious, obsessive, unscrupulous, and vulnerable. And the plot, told through alternating perspectives, builds nicely to create tension and suspense as it exposes layers of manipulation, questionable motives, duplicitous personalities, and parasitic relationships.

Overall, Murder Your Darlings is a cleverly plotted, eerie, compelling page turner by Blum that chillingly illustrates just how easily people can be psychologically and emotionally exploited.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Harper Audio & NetGalley for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book rather more than I'd expected. My low expectations stemmed from the fact that this author is a historical novelist, meta books are not usually very good, and ... maybe I've just read too many novels like this recently? It is definitely well-trodden ground.

We have 3 major components in this book: Simone "Sam" Vetiver, a historical novelist with a side braid (huh?) and writer's block; William Corwyn, a highly-regarded, but very paternalistic and creepy literary powerhouse; and The Rabbit, Williams' stalker. We also have a few supporting characters who give the reader their POV.

This was an enjoyable read, with some niggling details that irked me. The name Simone Vetiver is patently ridiculous, and Blum should be struck off just for using it, but points for admitting as much in the text. As is often the case in books like this, the smart, interesting female characters are STUPID when it comes to romance (this one has a friend who tells her that maybe she's so used to seeing red flags in men that she's looking too hard for them. She should ditch that friend IMO). The premise here is that (some) women are so desperate for love and validation (and help getting their book published, or finessed, or whatever) that they will overlook being called "Milady," or "Dear" incessantly, and will somehow not realize when an old coot is using Viagra. William Corwyn's shtick is purely Old Lech 101, but apparently his literary titanhood is enough to make everyone ignore all the alarm bells he's setting off.

Simone isn't a bad character, exactly, but she is a bit annoying (why a side braid?) and I'm assuming, since she is a historical fiction writer, that she is the stand-in for Blum herself. Other characters are rendered a bit cartoonishly, such as the aforementioned friend, a mainstay of Sam's co-dependency support group (the '90s called, time to go to the church basement!); The Rabbit, in her initial description, is a central casting special: fat, buck-toothed, etc. and her POV doesn't improve things much, although it's by design. The self=declared witch/writer is someone we've all seen before, right down to the voice acting (and cat obsession).

Not to say the book wasn't entertaining - it definitely held my interest, if there were times I wished it would hurry up. We know from what feels like miles away that Sam going to live on an island in Maine is a bad idea, and were I an editor, I'd've cut a lot of that out, but ultimately, it was fine (even with a blizzard in the denouement).

One last quibble: if The Rabbit was *really* there to help/warn all these previous unsuspecting women, WHY was she planning on killing Sam? It wasn't a fleeting thought, either, it was several botched attempts. This made it feel like Blum needed to wrap it up and DO something with The Rabbit, but she wasn't arsed to go back and tailor the action to The Rabbit's new role.

All in all, enjoyable enough, if not groundbreaking material. The voice acting was pretty great, and Braden Wright, in particular, brings just the right amount of smarm to Corwyn's character.

3.5 stars rounded up

[Marte Haga · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 rounded up to a four simply for the reason that I enjoyed it so much that it doesn't need to be "perfect" earn its stars.

I was sceptical to the whole book because - authors, publishing, stealing ideas, stalkers, possibly unreliable narrators/characters - how many times before have I seen this? A lot. How many times does it actually work well? Very very rarely. Usually for one of two reasons: 1) the story goes off on too many tangents, the author not being able to keep their story on track and including too many side stories or rambling on and on about "life as an author" or 2) the characters feel underdeveloped, clichéd og lacking in some way, taking a back seat to the plot and simply doing/saying what the author needs them to in order to get the story where they want it to go. Or a third: so many twists are thrown in that the whole thing either becomes confusing rather than intriguing, or it looses all credibility and feels too unrealistic.

This book is quite long and perhaps does wander a bit off track, but I enjoyed it the whole time so that didn't bother me. I did also find it to be a bit too predictable, suspecting the twist very early on. And still, despite these two things, I really enjoyed it!

The main character got to me, and the author did a great job of "showing" her person: her caring come across through her relationship with her ex husband and her students, her dedication to being an author and the frustration of being stuck felt believable and real. Her naivety also felt beleiveable - I felt for her even when I felt that "I would have known better in her shoes".

The inclusion of two more POVs/narrators also worked well, it added to the story, gave some interesting insights that wouldn't have been able to be told through the main character alone, and it also gave me a sense of keeping the pace up.

This is NOT a perfect book, there are probably some points that can be made about how realistic the plot is as a whole, I'm sure that if I went into this looking for plot holes, I'd find some - but as I was reading, I didn't feel the need to do so (this coming from someone who tends to be critical and looking for such things, some sort of bad habit/hang up I wish I didn't have but hey that's me, the book lover who loves to find mistakes to be annoyed about. I don't get me either!). I was able to just go with the story and enjoy the very twisty ride.

I would recommend this for someone...
- in the mood fora thriller-ish book
- wanting a book set in the publishing industry
- who likes books with characters that are writers/authors
- wanting a juicy thriller
- who enjoys multiple POVs (three in this one, and they're not put together in the typical way with one chapter each, there is one main character and the narration style does reflect that)
- who wants to have fun!
- wanting a thriller that's entertaining without being very demanding me
- looking for a quick and easy to read book that feels addictive in the best possible (that is, literal!) way

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book because Karin Slaughter posted a brief review that ended up in my inbox (thank you, Good Reads!). I love when women build each other up and her comment compelled me to buy it immediately. I would have finished in two days, but I made myself save some for a third.

I've not read Jenna Blum before, and I understand it's her first thriller. It's definitely a great read with a compelling story that has a fast pace. I also loved the meta references, with the book within this book, also called Murder Your Darlings. And, true Bostonian that I am, I loved that it's set in New England, from Beacon Hill to Salem to a remote island in Maine. Another bonus is Blum's insightful glimpses -- both mortifying and hilarious -- into the world of creative writing, MFA programs, and publishing. Honestly, there were a number of places where I laughed out loud.

As the story opens, we meet Rabbit, the seemingly deranged stalker of renowned writer, William Corwin. The narrative intertwines both of their perspectives, along with that of Sam (Simone) Vetiver, also an author who's suffering from writer's block, and our predominate yet unreliable narrator. When William and Sam meet sparks ignite and each believes they may have met "the one." When Sam has inklings about whether William is too good to be true, that is, perhaps, the reader's first clue that he may not be all that he seems! Told from the three alternating points of view, Murder Your Darlings raises questions about how far we'd go for love and for literary fame / career, as well as learning to trust our own inner voices.

I was totally absorbed in Blum's story, which tosses breadcrumbs to the reader throughout. It was only when I got to the final episodes of the novel that the twist (which I had predicted) didn't work for me. With that said, I'm thinking I'll re-listen to select sections to see if my false assumptions prevented me from believing the likelihood of the ending -- or if, in fact, Blum did an about face.
In any event, I rate this 4 stars and definitely recommend.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's snowing in my part of North Carolina right now but I don't care -- I am so wrapped up in MURDER YOUR DARLINGS that I can't put it down. This is a book about the creative process that author's go through writing a book. It's about the actual writing plus the book events and press functions, it's about the book editors and the book companies who are always looking for that next great book. It's also a suspense novel and a romance novel with lots of scary actions and a few good laughs and lots of romance.

Simone “Sam” Vetiver is a novelist who is finishing up a so-so book tour. Her first novel was a big seller but her books since then have been pretty mediocre and she needs to write a great book next -- but she is totally blocked and can't come up with a good idea and her deadline is getting closer. When she receives fan mail from William Corwyn, a very successful novelist, she is intrigued and goes to one of his book events. The sparks quickly fly between them and they both feel that they've finally met the perfect person. But are they really meant for a happily ever after or are there red flags in their relationship? William has stalkers and one stalker who he calls the Rabbit is very persistent. Soon the Rabbit is also stalking Sam. Despite falling in love with him, Sam begins to have questions about who he really is and how real his feelings are for her.

The story is told from three points of view: Sam, William and the Rabbit from very different perspectives. They are all obsessive in their own way and my opinion on who was the 'bad guy' changed several times during the story. I really didn't see the ending coming until I was almost there and the conclusion perfectly wrapped up the story lines.

This was a fantastic story - a lot of suspense, a lot of romance (and sex), a few laughs and a look at authors as they try to write that next best seller.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum is a recommended romantic suspense drama, perhaps highly recommended for the right reader.

Simone “Sam” Vetiver is a writer who just finished a publicity tour for her latest novel and now faces both writer's block and a deadline for her next book. She receives an fan email from successful author William Corwyn and attends one of his publicity events where the two the two meet and go out for dinner. This is the start of a steamy affair. During this time William is being stalked by a woman he calls The Rabbit, who also begins to follow Sam. However, everything isn't as it seems to be.

The plot unfolds through the point-of-view of Sam, William, and the Rabbit. The glimpse into the publishing world was interesting and when the plot finally becomes interesting toward the end of the novel it did make up somewhat for the bulk of it. Sam is a well developed character, which is part of what made it hard to believe she'd fall for William who is more of a caricature of a type of man. Rabbit is an interesting character who is introduced into the narrative as an antagonist.

For me, the majority of the novel was glacially slow paced. Honestly, I almost gave up on this novel early on and struggled to keep an interest in it until the last quarter, when it does become much, much better. I'm not a fan of romance novels, so all the steamy encounters were just time wasters, especially when it was made clear from the start that William is an arrogant narcissistic player. It was impossible to believe Sam was foolish enough to fall for his drivel.

Murder Your Darlings would best be appreciated by those who enjoy romance novels. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/1...

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Your Darlings is a smart, unsettling literary thriller that digs into power, ambition, and the darker side of creative mentorship. It’s a book about writing, but even more so about who gets access, who gets believed, and what people are willing to overlook in the presence of talent and charisma.

What really worked for me is how psychologically grounded the story feels. The tension doesn’t come from flashy twists so much as from discomfort that slowly builds. The novel understands how loneliness, insecurity, and the desire to belong can cloud judgment, even for capable, intelligent people. That makes the characters feel painfully real.

The use of multiple points of view is especially effective. Each perspective adds a different angle on the same events, and together they create a growing sense that something is off, even when everything looks fine on the surface. It’s the kind of book where small moments and seemingly generous gestures take on more weight the longer you sit with them.

I also appreciated how meta the book is about storytelling itself. Writing, editing, and creative collaboration are woven directly into the narrative, raising interesting questions about ownership, influence, and the ethics of turning lived experience into art. The title phrase, “murder your darlings,” takes on layered meaning without ever feeling heavy-handed.

This isn’t a light or cozy read, and it’s not a fast-paced thriller in the traditional sense. It asks the reader to pay attention, sit with discomfort, and read between the lines. If you enjoy literary thrillers that focus on character, power dynamics, and the messier sides of creativity, this one is well worth picking up.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hotshot author William Corwyn is being stalked by someone only known as The Rabbit, but who is clearly female. Sam/Simone Vetiver is also a successful author but she’s suffering from a serious case of writer’s block. As she comes into William’s orbit, he offers to help her out and they begin a sizzling affair which Sam hopes will turn out to be something more serious.

From the outset, it is clear that William is arrogant and unpleasant, even a touch creepy. He’s sexist, manipulative and exploitative, so it’s puzzling why so many smart, educated women seem to fall under his spell. But those who do all have a common weakness – they are desperately lonely, often lacking in self-esteem but have dreams of being recognised as published authors, so when William takes an unexpected intense interest in them, they are flattered and fail to realise he has ulterior motives that sets them on a fatal path.

The three points of view are all well-written, the pace never falters and the conclusion is satisfying, if not unexpected. But, for any reader who has now read far too many novels in which gullible young women are the victims of older, unscrupulous men, this tends towards cliché, and the salacious descriptions of incessant bedroom acrobatics are just yawn-inducing rather than titillating.

Many thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simone “Sam” Vetiver is an author who has achieved some success writing historical fiction. As the deadline for her fifth book approaches, she is having a tough time writing it. After her book tour, Sam is surprised to receive a letter from the very popular bestselling author William Corwyn, who praises her work and invites her to his bookstore appearance in Boston. Although he is very popular with women readers, he has also attracted stalkers. One of them is a woman William has dubbed The Rabbit. She spends all her free time following William, who also leads an all-female writers' group called the Darlings. As the relationship between the two writers intensifies, Sam soon realizes that her biggest problem is not writer's block. 

Murder Your Darlings is such a clever and suspenseful book. Jenna Blum, best known for her historical fiction, has written her first psychological thriller, bringing us into the world of writers and their constant need to come up with exciting new ideas. It is also about 50-something Sam's quest to find love after her divorce. Could William be "the one"? The setting is perfect. William takes Sam to his home on an island in Maine. Though isolated, it has one other person on it: The Rabbit. Get ready for a twisty ride.

Many thanks to Harper for the advance.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking the link below. It is also posted in full.

https://novelsalive.com/2026/01/13/4-...

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum is a romantic thriller full of twists and turns.

There are multiple storylines with Simone (Sam) and William, the main characters who are both successful novelists, so why does he offer his help to assist her in getting over her writer’s block? Rabbit, a woman who first stalks William and then includes Sam in her focus, really ratchets up the thrill factor.

There are underlying currents throughout, and plenty of secrets and lies from some. Several characters are not who they seem, and William was a character I couldn’t connect with or like. He was a ladies’ man and always seemed to go after vulnerable women. He had a pattern that he tried to hide from others.

There are several steamy scenes, and it was how William seemed to exert control. There are hints and clues about what was currently going on and what might have happened in the past, but not to the extent of what was revealed. I knew there wouldn’t or couldn’t be a happy ending, but it unfolded much differently than I expected.

Murder Your Darlings as a title has several meanings, and the actions throughout had me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

[Rachel Sides · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many things to say about Murder Your Darlings. First, I will say I am a huge Jenna Blum fan and consider Those Who Save Us one of the most significant novels of our time because of its historical significance.

Murder Your Darlings is entertaining on so many levels. On one level it is an authentic look at the publishing industry from a writer's perspective. On another level it is a romance/dysfunctional relationship with co-dependence and controlling issues. On another level, the page-turner level, is a suspense thriller.

Blum has said that she prefers to put out a quality novel every five years than drop a novel annually that isn't as well researched or finely edited. She has definitely produced quality. This novel which deviates from previous works sounds most authentically like Jenna. She even used her own apartment to describe Sam's apartment. The novel is told from three points of view: Simone "Sam" Vetiver, a moderately successful bestselling author of historical fiction; William Corwyn, a renowned author known for his female-centric novels which jump genres: and the Rabbit, William's stalker.

What a great conclusion!

In an interview Jenna said that Sam was the character most like her. I listened to the audiobook and I honestly thought that Jenna was the narrator for the Rabbit. It sounded just like her.

[Melissa (Vacation Mode) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars--interesting story but really drags in parts. Overall I enjoyed it.

The Rabbit is watching bestselling author William Corwyn. Stalking him is probably a better word. Sam Vetiver is also a writer, just coming off of her publicity tour for her second novel. William writes her an e-mail praising her writing, which is great because Sam has a serious case of writer's block for her third novel, William offers to help her brainstorm, and they begin a steamy love affair. Some people end up dead. What is The Rabbit's endgame?

There were many parts of this book that I really liked, but other parts I wasn't the biggest fan. I saw where part of this was going from a mile away and was kind of astounded that Sam couldn't see it too. She was way too "dickmatized" (as her friends put it so bluntly) to see what was right in front of her face and this annoyed me a lot. I did love how everything came together in the end, so I forgave a bit of the annoyance after all was said and done.

One other thing I didn't love were all of the numerous sex scenes. I wanted more mystery, more thriller, less spicy romance. I thought those were unnecessary (except to show Sam was totally entranced by William, almost to her own detriment) and made the book really drag for me.

As a whole, this is a unique tale with some wild twists and turns, I just wish it took a little less time and filler to get there.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blum’s tongue in cheek look at authors,book publishing, and MFA programs is a master class in satire and a departure from her historical novels. Successful author Sam, finishes her latest book tour when she receives a fan letter from the best selling author William. William has a stalker, Rabbit, and the novel is told from these 3 main character’s POV. Sam is a well developed character, and her attraction for William takes off quickly. However when William narrates the next section the reader quickly realizes that Sam has no idea who she is falling in love with. A common flaw that will endear Sam to many female readers who only visualize the man they “wish”to see.This is a twisty, cleverly plotted mystery told with humor and suspense. Warning: the sex is fairly graphic and may be off- putting for some readers.

The audio edition is read by Ann Marie Gideon; Stacy Gonzalez; Braden Wright; Megan Tusing and opens with a fairly frantic tone and some sexual content that is not appropriate for any children in earshot.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.