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Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies
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Expected 20 Jan 26Hobnobbing with Seattle's elite on a super-yacht, Juliette Winters is about to land the deal of the century - if she doesn't get arrested first. She Doesn't Have A Clue author Jenny Elder Moke returns with another riotous mystery rom-com that delights in rich people behaving badly.
Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She's too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.
Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.
Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can't afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn't uncover Warren's killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it.
Jenny Elder Moke's twisty mystery rom-com blend will delight listeners with its outrageous characters, laugh-out-loud jokes, and opposites-attract romance.
"Mollo-Christensen's expressive performance captures every nuance as she varies her voice and cadence for each quirky character." —AudioFile on She Doesn't Have a Clue
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She's too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.
Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.
Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can't afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn't uncover Warren's killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it.
Jenny Elder Moke's twisty mystery rom-com blend will delight listeners with its outrageous characters, laugh-out-loud jokes, and opposites-attract romance.
"Mollo-Christensen's expressive performance captures every nuance as she varies her voice and cadence for each quirky character." —AudioFile on She Doesn't Have a Clue
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
Audible Audio
Expected publication January 20, 2026
59 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jenny Elder Moke
8 books546 followersJenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children's and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way. CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE HE DIES, a mystery rom-com mash-up, available January 20, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
November 25, 2025
I can honestly say this cozy mystery series just keeps getting better with every book—and I loved this installment even more than She Doesn’t Have a Clue. Juliette Winters is still an intimidating fireball of a heroine: prickly, impulsive, hyper-focused, gloriously messy, and emotionally repressed thanks to her psychologist parents, who somehow managed to analyze everyone except their own daughter. They practically sabotaged her entire childhood and teenagerhood, and the residual chaos shows in every hilarious, chaotic decision she makes.
This book is ridiculously entertaining. The jokes are sharp, the cultural references land perfectly, and the snarky humor had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt. While there is a romantic thread featuring Dr. Dud—the sweetest Australian man alive, also known as Charlie Hawkins—the romance definitely takes a backseat this time. Instead, girl-power teamwork, dysfunctional family drama, and, most importantly, the cleverly woven mystery take center stage.
Charlie and his ex-girlfriend storyline are more of a soft subplot, because the spotlight belongs to Kate, Veeta, and (sometimes) Kennedy, who jump in as Juliette’s unofficial partners-in-crime-solving. Their chaotic energy practically steals the show as they scramble to uncover what really happened to Warren Ellingham—a powerful business mogul who drops dead of an apparent heart attack during a major announcement.
But nothing is as simple as it seems.
Where did the manuscript go—the one that could rescue Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and elevate Juliette to marketing-director stardom?
And who had the strongest motive to silence Warren?
• June Piedmont, desperate to get her hands on the manuscript—did its contents hold something explosive enough to destroy her reputation?
• Brad Ellingham, Warren’s alcoholic son, incapable of running a lemonade stand, let alone a publishing company—did he decide to clear the path to power?
• Chipper Lloyd, who had a violent argument with Warren moments before he collapsed—was it rage or revenge?
• Or is there someone else lurking in the shadows, the true puppet master pulling all the strings?
The mystery is wonderfully executed—fast-paced, witty, and full of addictive armchair-detective sequences that made me fly through the pages. And while Juliette can be a hard nut to like at first, by the end I found myself fully invested in her chaos, her growth, and her sharp, messy brilliance.
This was a delightfully quick, engaging cozy mystery that I devoured in a single sitting, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this highly entertaining cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This book is ridiculously entertaining. The jokes are sharp, the cultural references land perfectly, and the snarky humor had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt. While there is a romantic thread featuring Dr. Dud—the sweetest Australian man alive, also known as Charlie Hawkins—the romance definitely takes a backseat this time. Instead, girl-power teamwork, dysfunctional family drama, and, most importantly, the cleverly woven mystery take center stage.
Charlie and his ex-girlfriend storyline are more of a soft subplot, because the spotlight belongs to Kate, Veeta, and (sometimes) Kennedy, who jump in as Juliette’s unofficial partners-in-crime-solving. Their chaotic energy practically steals the show as they scramble to uncover what really happened to Warren Ellingham—a powerful business mogul who drops dead of an apparent heart attack during a major announcement.
But nothing is as simple as it seems.
Where did the manuscript go—the one that could rescue Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and elevate Juliette to marketing-director stardom?
And who had the strongest motive to silence Warren?
• June Piedmont, desperate to get her hands on the manuscript—did its contents hold something explosive enough to destroy her reputation?
• Brad Ellingham, Warren’s alcoholic son, incapable of running a lemonade stand, let alone a publishing company—did he decide to clear the path to power?
• Chipper Lloyd, who had a violent argument with Warren moments before he collapsed—was it rage or revenge?
• Or is there someone else lurking in the shadows, the true puppet master pulling all the strings?
The mystery is wonderfully executed—fast-paced, witty, and full of addictive armchair-detective sequences that made me fly through the pages. And while Juliette can be a hard nut to like at first, by the end I found myself fully invested in her chaos, her growth, and her sharp, messy brilliance.
This was a delightfully quick, engaging cozy mystery that I devoured in a single sitting, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this highly entertaining cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
December 15, 2025
Witty and a bit wild with some high strung characters and a fun love story.
~~~~~~~
If you enjoy a fun murder-mystery with a splash of romance, this book is for you.
I love a great rom-com type of murder mystery, and this one fits the bill. The author manages to develop characters who are interesting and a bit unlikable at the same time. It took me a bit to warm up to our Female lead. She is headstrong and a tad annoying, but she was tenacious and has a tender heart in there, especially when it comes to Charlie.
The cast works well together, with banter that is entertaining throughout, even if some of the characters were not fully fleshed out. The author published “She Doesn’t Have a Clue,” which could help with getting to know some of the other characters, but it did not hinder my understanding of this storyline, and it is certainly not required to read first.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is punchy, witty, and a bit wild with some high-strung characters. Plus, it is a fun love story to boot. I enjoyed this one and had a chuckle over the title, too. Hardcore…
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/cross-your-h...
~~~~~~~
If you enjoy a fun murder-mystery with a splash of romance, this book is for you.
I love a great rom-com type of murder mystery, and this one fits the bill. The author manages to develop characters who are interesting and a bit unlikable at the same time. It took me a bit to warm up to our Female lead. She is headstrong and a tad annoying, but she was tenacious and has a tender heart in there, especially when it comes to Charlie.
The cast works well together, with banter that is entertaining throughout, even if some of the characters were not fully fleshed out. The author published “She Doesn’t Have a Clue,” which could help with getting to know some of the other characters, but it did not hinder my understanding of this storyline, and it is certainly not required to read first.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is punchy, witty, and a bit wild with some high-strung characters. Plus, it is a fun love story to boot. I enjoyed this one and had a chuckle over the title, too. Hardcore…
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/cross-your-h...
November 26, 2025
A fun cozy mystery for 2026- Juliette is a heroine for the modern woman, she is confident and capable. She is missing that insecurity that so many of our FMCs share. Later in the book we learn her origin story, which explained a lot for me about her character. She works in publishing and is lucky to have landed the memoir rights to magnate Warren Ellingham. At a party he drops dead of an apparent heart attack although his doctor praised his heart healthiness just a day earlier. The memoir is stolen and Juliet finds herself a suspect, although her gaze turns towards Warren's son who is heir to his fortune and has a bit of a gambling habit. Now Juliet must solve the mystery herself while trying to find out what happened to the memoir, which is key to her career trajectory.
This is the kind of story that is made for audio- it was an excellent performance by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, who used voices for the characters and had a melodious voice for inner dialogue that captured Juliette's character perfectly. A true cozy mystery, there is a bit of spice and some twists. I found it to be a really fun, campy story- with mustache twirling villains and characters that, while one-dimensional, were vibrant enough to tell apart and to follow on audio. This doesn't take a ton of brain cells to follow and although I might forget the storyline soon, I definitely was in the mood for something light and fun, this definitely fit the bill.
3.5/5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published January 20, 2026.
This is the kind of story that is made for audio- it was an excellent performance by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, who used voices for the characters and had a melodious voice for inner dialogue that captured Juliette's character perfectly. A true cozy mystery, there is a bit of spice and some twists. I found it to be a really fun, campy story- with mustache twirling villains and characters that, while one-dimensional, were vibrant enough to tell apart and to follow on audio. This doesn't take a ton of brain cells to follow and although I might forget the storyline soon, I definitely was in the mood for something light and fun, this definitely fit the bill.
3.5/5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published January 20, 2026.
January 12, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is the witty, comical, cozy mystery, standalone follow-up to She Doesn't Have A Clue. Set in the same world and with characters from the same publishing house, Juliette Winters is trying to save the failing publishing house from going under and she will with the new book she has purchased, a tell all with some salacious stories of some of the high rollers in society. There are just a few problems. The man writing it just died under some unusual circumstances and the manuscript, Juliette hasn't read yet, has vanished.
Juliette Winters is the star of this book and she was so much fun for me to read. She isn't the nice girl, she doesn't say pretty things (normally) and she can do it ALL on her own. When Warren Ellingham drops dead right in the middle of the announcement Juliette has cultivated for months, the one that will save Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and get her the promotion she wants, Juliette is going to do everything to prove it was murder and find the missing Manuscript. She is a force of nature and will find a way to get it done.
Juliette is a hot mess is so many ways and has some pretty significant, well earned, trust issues from her parents. But the girl squad from Simon Says are not ones to let her protection persona deter them. They are going to help her solve the murder and get the man (Kate picked out for her) whether she wants it to or not. I loved Kate, Veeta and Kennedy's aggressive friendship tactics when it comes to Juliette. She needed a crew of girls willing to stand up to her, for her and help in some of me funniest ways ever.
There is also a fun side romance happening as Charlie (Jake's hot doctor brother) recently out of a bad relationship is enlisted to assist in assessing the cause of death in Juliette's investigation. They have chemistry, they have a crime to investigate and Charlie keeps being the perfect cover for Juliette. He is also so...nice. Charlie is a great compliment to Juliette's demeaner and I loved how he sometimes brought out the softer side of her and she stood up for him in ways he never thought to stand up for himself.
There are plenty of suspects who might want Warren dead. He seemed to have made a lot of enemies in his life from his business partners, family and few employees at the country club he owned. Juliette has her work cut out for her if she is not only going to find out who killed Warren, but also what they did with his Tell-All book.
This was such a fun cozy mystery. I loved the girl squad that was always in the middle of some crazy shenanigans the always added to the comic relief of the story. Juliette was just broken enough that while sometimes the reader is frustrated by her need to do it all alone, the reader is also so happy when her plans are thwarted and either Charlie or the girl squad jump in to help. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed the who dun it part even if I was pretty sure I knew the who earlier on the why was a surprise to me.
Overall another really fun entertaining read read from Jenny Elder Moke that I couldn't put down once I started.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is the witty, comical, cozy mystery, standalone follow-up to She Doesn't Have A Clue. Set in the same world and with characters from the same publishing house, Juliette Winters is trying to save the failing publishing house from going under and she will with the new book she has purchased, a tell all with some salacious stories of some of the high rollers in society. There are just a few problems. The man writing it just died under some unusual circumstances and the manuscript, Juliette hasn't read yet, has vanished.
Juliette Winters is the star of this book and she was so much fun for me to read. She isn't the nice girl, she doesn't say pretty things (normally) and she can do it ALL on her own. When Warren Ellingham drops dead right in the middle of the announcement Juliette has cultivated for months, the one that will save Simon Says Publishing from bankruptcy and get her the promotion she wants, Juliette is going to do everything to prove it was murder and find the missing Manuscript. She is a force of nature and will find a way to get it done.
“So you are going to try and stop me? Because I should warn you, I’m pretty unstoppable. I was voted ‘Most Likely to Orchestrate a Dictatorial Takeover of a Small European Nation’ by my high school model United Nations.”
Juliette is a hot mess is so many ways and has some pretty significant, well earned, trust issues from her parents. But the girl squad from Simon Says are not ones to let her protection persona deter them. They are going to help her solve the murder and get the man (Kate picked out for her) whether she wants it to or not. I loved Kate, Veeta and Kennedy's aggressive friendship tactics when it comes to Juliette. She needed a crew of girls willing to stand up to her, for her and help in some of me funniest ways ever.
There is also a fun side romance happening as Charlie (Jake's hot doctor brother) recently out of a bad relationship is enlisted to assist in assessing the cause of death in Juliette's investigation. They have chemistry, they have a crime to investigate and Charlie keeps being the perfect cover for Juliette. He is also so...nice. Charlie is a great compliment to Juliette's demeaner and I loved how he sometimes brought out the softer side of her and she stood up for him in ways he never thought to stand up for himself.
“My relationship with Katarina was complicated.”
“You mean because she triggered your people-pleasing tendencies created by an overly demanding father who constantly projected his own insecurities onto you?”
Charlie blinked. “I more meant that it was difficult to divide our things after we broke up, but I suppose you might have a point. A very specific, sharp-edged point.”
There are plenty of suspects who might want Warren dead. He seemed to have made a lot of enemies in his life from his business partners, family and few employees at the country club he owned. Juliette has her work cut out for her if she is not only going to find out who killed Warren, but also what they did with his Tell-All book.
This was such a fun cozy mystery. I loved the girl squad that was always in the middle of some crazy shenanigans the always added to the comic relief of the story. Juliette was just broken enough that while sometimes the reader is frustrated by her need to do it all alone, the reader is also so happy when her plans are thwarted and either Charlie or the girl squad jump in to help. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed the who dun it part even if I was pretty sure I knew the who earlier on the why was a surprise to me.
Overall another really fun entertaining read read from Jenny Elder Moke that I couldn't put down once I started.
November 19, 2025
Juliette + Charlie
We remember them both from the previous book. SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE!
Charlie is Jake's brother and Juliette works at the dying Simon Says publishing house. And she needs this manuscript to save the company! But unfortunately the billionaire memoir writer just kinda died in front of her at his birthday party on a yacht. Plus the book has been stolen and no one will tell her anything about anything. So obviously she now needs to solve a murder and find a manuscript by her lonesome. Because that's how she does things. She doesn't have time for friends and relationships. Unfortunately her co-workers want to be her friends and they want to help playing detectives and they also want to set her up with Kate's brother-in-law. LOL.
Enter Charlie. Heart surgeon. Australian. He could help her with the 'case' - if he just weren't so boring - and so super hot and nice! Ugh!
Let the fun times begin...
════════════════
Adorable!
The first few pages I thought - hm.. I don't think I like Juliette. But she grows on you. She's amazing. She's her own person. She knows what she wants and she gets it.
It's how she survived growing up with her psychologist parents.
Which is also the reason she's lonely a lot. Only she never really thought about it like that. But now that she has her girl detective crew - against her will - she's slowly opening up a bit. Especially to Charlie. Who isn't as boring as she thought he was.
And he's pretty helpful too in this murder case thingy.
I really enjoyed reading this - it was so adorable and funny and mysterious and even a bit heartbreaking - I so need to see this as a movie or TV show one day!
CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE HE DIES was a super funny and adorable Seattle Country Club Murder Mystery Rom Com Love Story and
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
January 11, 2026
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was such an entertaining, cute, and cozy mystery. This felt very much like a “curl up and just enjoy the ride” kind of read campy, fast-paced, and full of messy rich people, secrets, and twisty little reveals.
I really enjoyed following Juliette as a heroine. She’s confident, driven, and a little prickly, which made her fun to read, and I liked slowly learning more about what shaped her. The mystery itself kept things moving with plenty of suspects, drama, and over the top moments, while still staying light and approachable. The romance is there, but it doesn’t overpower the story it adds charm and balance without taking over the mystery.
Overall, this was a fun, cozy mystery with humor, banter, and just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. If you’re in the mood for something light, entertaining, and perfect for when you don’t want anything too heavy, this one definitely fits the bill.
I really enjoyed following Juliette as a heroine. She’s confident, driven, and a little prickly, which made her fun to read, and I liked slowly learning more about what shaped her. The mystery itself kept things moving with plenty of suspects, drama, and over the top moments, while still staying light and approachable. The romance is there, but it doesn’t overpower the story it adds charm and balance without taking over the mystery.
Overall, this was a fun, cozy mystery with humor, banter, and just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. If you’re in the mood for something light, entertaining, and perfect for when you don’t want anything too heavy, this one definitely fits the bill.
September 24, 2025
Thank you to Minotar books for the advance copy
Really fun murder mystery with a ton of fun zingers and banter. I had a ton of fun reading this one. The pacing seemed slightly off and I wish I knew there was a previous book that introduced the side characters. Although it didn’t fully take away from the story.
Really fun murder mystery with a ton of fun zingers and banter. I had a ton of fun reading this one. The pacing seemed slightly off and I wish I knew there was a previous book that introduced the side characters. Although it didn’t fully take away from the story.
January 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🎧Song Pairing: Him & I - Halsey (I had to just for the intro, it kept playing in my mind)
💭What I thought would happen:
Raise your hand if you’re surprised I read this one…😂 I’m guessing whoever died probably deserved it (ook he actually didn’t, at least not the first death…)
📖What actually happens:
⚰️Murder mystery
📖Missing manuscript
🔥Hot doctor
🩷Fiery fmc
🚢One too many boat rides
😈Rich people being dinks
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
My favourite line? “You will not fuck this up for me! I refuse to be defeated by a vicious toilet!” She has motion sickness on a boat scolding the ocean. I peed a little 🤣🤣🤣
I did not expect to a) like this as much as I did b) laugh out loud from page 1 onward. So I think I’d recommend 😂
This book is a standalone but it refers back to She Doesn’t Have a Clue several times (not necessary but if you wanted more murder mystery)
This is probably the best book energy I can think of to start 2026 with. No regrets with this baddie being my first 🤪 I have decided it’s my villain era, who’s with me?!
🎧Song Pairing: Him & I - Halsey (I had to just for the intro, it kept playing in my mind)
💭What I thought would happen:
Raise your hand if you’re surprised I read this one…😂 I’m guessing whoever died probably deserved it (ook he actually didn’t, at least not the first death…)
📖What actually happens:
⚰️Murder mystery
📖Missing manuscript
🔥Hot doctor
🩷Fiery fmc
🚢One too many boat rides
😈Rich people being dinks
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
My favourite line? “You will not fuck this up for me! I refuse to be defeated by a vicious toilet!” She has motion sickness on a boat scolding the ocean. I peed a little 🤣🤣🤣
I did not expect to a) like this as much as I did b) laugh out loud from page 1 onward. So I think I’d recommend 😂
This book is a standalone but it refers back to She Doesn’t Have a Clue several times (not necessary but if you wanted more murder mystery)
This is probably the best book energy I can think of to start 2026 with. No regrets with this baddie being my first 🤪 I have decided it’s my villain era, who’s with me?!
August 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in return for an honest review.
I liked the dynamic of the more assertive female lead and the more reserved/nerdy male lead, though I thought her confidence tilted all the way into arrogance somewhat frequently. At one point she says she can run a mile in under 4 minutes, which if true, she would be the world record holder. Believable if she were an Olympian, but not so much for a head of marketing.
As far as the romance, the transition from her thinking he's boring and uptight to being attracted to him felt natural and not forced. They had some good banter especially when it came to her standing up for him against people that were pushing him around.
The mystery aspect of it did keep you turning the pages, though it felt like a lot of the clues she was getting by doing something brashly illegal instead of being clever, and a lot of the suspects gave up big confessions to her just because she's 'intimidating.' I wish the suspects had a little more depth to them, they all were kind of cartoonishly bad people.
This isn't indicated as part of a series, but it does tie into the previous book (She Doesn't Have a Clue). It can certainly be read as a standalone but there are references and characters that will have more context if you've read the previous book (I hadn't and had to go look up if there was a previous book because it seemed like I was supposed to already know who some people were). Overall this book would be a good fit for someone looking for a lighthearted mystery with an ambitious, ball busting sort of female lead.
I liked the dynamic of the more assertive female lead and the more reserved/nerdy male lead, though I thought her confidence tilted all the way into arrogance somewhat frequently. At one point she says she can run a mile in under 4 minutes, which if true, she would be the world record holder. Believable if she were an Olympian, but not so much for a head of marketing.
As far as the romance, the transition from her thinking he's boring and uptight to being attracted to him felt natural and not forced. They had some good banter especially when it came to her standing up for him against people that were pushing him around.
The mystery aspect of it did keep you turning the pages, though it felt like a lot of the clues she was getting by doing something brashly illegal instead of being clever, and a lot of the suspects gave up big confessions to her just because she's 'intimidating.' I wish the suspects had a little more depth to them, they all were kind of cartoonishly bad people.
This isn't indicated as part of a series, but it does tie into the previous book (She Doesn't Have a Clue). It can certainly be read as a standalone but there are references and characters that will have more context if you've read the previous book (I hadn't and had to go look up if there was a previous book because it seemed like I was supposed to already know who some people were). Overall this book would be a good fit for someone looking for a lighthearted mystery with an ambitious, ball busting sort of female lead.
December 4, 2025
[3.75⭐️] This murder mystery romcom is a first for me, but hopefully not my last.
I was excited to start this book and work my way through it throughout the week, and the next thing I knew I was up late two nights in a row to devour this book!
While I haven’t read Elder Moke’s previous book, She Doesn’t Have a Clue , I instantly felt like I knew these characters. From the cute and charming Dr. Charlie to the exhaustingly entertaining (if not somewhat relatable) Juliette, I lapped up every ounce of chemistry and each conversation.
The whodunnit of it all was also a fun addition to a romcom (or the romcom was a fun addition to the whodunnit?) as it kept things moving and exciting, and added to the overall buildup of the book. Also, we love a man who will interfere with police business for his lady!
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was the fun, charming, entertaining read I was hoping for and I really hope that Veeta gets their time in the spotlight in any possible future books 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for trusting me with an ARC of this exciting read!
I was excited to start this book and work my way through it throughout the week, and the next thing I knew I was up late two nights in a row to devour this book!
While I haven’t read Elder Moke’s previous book, She Doesn’t Have a Clue , I instantly felt like I knew these characters. From the cute and charming Dr. Charlie to the exhaustingly entertaining (if not somewhat relatable) Juliette, I lapped up every ounce of chemistry and each conversation.
The whodunnit of it all was also a fun addition to a romcom (or the romcom was a fun addition to the whodunnit?) as it kept things moving and exciting, and added to the overall buildup of the book. Also, we love a man who will interfere with police business for his lady!
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was the fun, charming, entertaining read I was hoping for and I really hope that Veeta gets their time in the spotlight in any possible future books 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for trusting me with an ARC of this exciting read!
November 30, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own!
Cross Your Heart And Hope He Dies is a fun and quirky murder-mystery rom-com. This was a really quick and easy read that I finished in one sitting. I felt the murder-mystery plot line in this story was much more engaging than the romance, which felt a bit rushed and ingenuine to me. That being said, it was still a fun read that I would recommend to others.
Cross Your Heart And Hope He Dies is a fun and quirky murder-mystery rom-com. This was a really quick and easy read that I finished in one sitting. I felt the murder-mystery plot line in this story was much more engaging than the romance, which felt a bit rushed and ingenuine to me. That being said, it was still a fun read that I would recommend to others.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Funny, Fast, Fatal
I really enjoyed reading this whodunit. Great mix of rom com and murder mystery. Twisty and laugh out loud, what else could you want. I found myself wondering who I could trust.
Revenge is a dish best served Successful!!
I really enjoyed reading this whodunit. Great mix of rom com and murder mystery. Twisty and laugh out loud, what else could you want. I found myself wondering who I could trust.
Revenge is a dish best served Successful!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke (2026)
Unnamed Series #2 [or]
follow-up to She Doesn't Have a Clue
9h 41m narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Romance
Rating as a movie: R for adult language and content
Featuring: Seattle, Washington; Yacht, Book Publishing House, Elliott Bay, Washington; Assistant Marketer, Book Deal, Murder Investigation, Country Club, Social Media, Personal Assistant, Doctor Physician - Cardiologist; References to - Characters from - and Spoilers for She Doesn't Have a Clue; Sexual Innuendos, British Guy, Australian Guys, Sex - On Camera, Mystery Author, Detective, Affluent People, Money Troubles, Self-Actualization
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Frank Sinatra, "Father Of Mine" by Everclear, "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees, "Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams, "Wannabe" by Spice Girls, "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" by Taylor Swift
Books and Authors mentioned: She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Big by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, Kissinger: A Biography by Walter Isaacson, Roman Holiday by Dalton Trumbo
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🛥⛳️🎾👟
My thoughts: 📱31% 6h 38m left Chapter 16 - This story is pretty good so far. I like that there are 2 mysteries to solve. I've lost track of the love interests.
📱59% 3h 57m left Chapter 29 - I'm a little upset to learn that this book is a follow-up to another book and they totally gave me spoilers. Even so, I'm going to have to read that book as well, hopefully soon.
Throughout this story, they kept referencing what happened before at a wedding an author (later co-star) attended. At first, I thought maybe it was just a related book but as the story went on this felt more like a series than a follow-up. A little more than halfway through the story I got third-book vibes, so we'll see. I now need to read the first book [She Doesn't Have a Clue] although this book gave me plenty of spoilers about the main events and even how it ends, but it sounds like a better version of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, so I'm very curious. Anyway, I really enjoyed Cross Your Heart... This is my first experience with this author, she is witty and fun, the story had good pacing, and it was almost a 5-star read for me, it still is technically, but it was missing that little bit that takes it over the top. I feel like maybe if I had read the first book and been more connected with the side characters, I would have had a better experience. If I had known this was part of a series or a follow-up, I would have read the first book before starting this one, thus enhancing my adventure. This story checks all of the boxes of a classic cozy mystery but it does have the adult content that the more contemporary variety are starting to feature so this may not be one for grandma, unless she's sassy. Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Recommend to others: Absolutely and I strongly recommend you read She Doesn't Have a Clue before Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies.
Unnamed Series
1. She Doesn't Have a Clue (2025)
2. Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies (2026)
Unnamed Series #2 [or]
follow-up to She Doesn't Have a Clue
9h 41m narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Romance
Rating as a movie: R for adult language and content
Featuring: Seattle, Washington; Yacht, Book Publishing House, Elliott Bay, Washington; Assistant Marketer, Book Deal, Murder Investigation, Country Club, Social Media, Personal Assistant, Doctor Physician - Cardiologist; References to - Characters from - and Spoilers for She Doesn't Have a Clue; Sexual Innuendos, British Guy, Australian Guys, Sex - On Camera, Mystery Author, Detective, Affluent People, Money Troubles, Self-Actualization
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Frank Sinatra, "Father Of Mine" by Everclear, "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees, "Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams, "Wannabe" by Spice Girls, "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" by Taylor Swift
Books and Authors mentioned: She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Big by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, Kissinger: A Biography by Walter Isaacson, Roman Holiday by Dalton Trumbo
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🛥⛳️🎾👟
My thoughts: 📱31% 6h 38m left Chapter 16 - This story is pretty good so far. I like that there are 2 mysteries to solve. I've lost track of the love interests.
📱59% 3h 57m left Chapter 29 - I'm a little upset to learn that this book is a follow-up to another book and they totally gave me spoilers. Even so, I'm going to have to read that book as well, hopefully soon.
Throughout this story, they kept referencing what happened before at a wedding an author (later co-star) attended. At first, I thought maybe it was just a related book but as the story went on this felt more like a series than a follow-up. A little more than halfway through the story I got third-book vibes, so we'll see. I now need to read the first book [She Doesn't Have a Clue] although this book gave me plenty of spoilers about the main events and even how it ends, but it sounds like a better version of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, so I'm very curious. Anyway, I really enjoyed Cross Your Heart... This is my first experience with this author, she is witty and fun, the story had good pacing, and it was almost a 5-star read for me, it still is technically, but it was missing that little bit that takes it over the top. I feel like maybe if I had read the first book and been more connected with the side characters, I would have had a better experience. If I had known this was part of a series or a follow-up, I would have read the first book before starting this one, thus enhancing my adventure. This story checks all of the boxes of a classic cozy mystery but it does have the adult content that the more contemporary variety are starting to feature so this may not be one for grandma, unless she's sassy. Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Recommend to others: Absolutely and I strongly recommend you read She Doesn't Have a Clue before Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies.
Unnamed Series
1. She Doesn't Have a Clue (2025)
2. Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies (2026)
January 9, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC & Audio for my honest opinion.
In this story, we meet Juliette Winters, who is fighting to save her publishing company and is determined to do whatever it takes to keep it afloat. Her potential saving grace is a highly anticipated memoir by Warren Ellingham, one that promises to expose the secrets of the rich and famous. But before the finished manuscript can be delivered, Warren dies under suspicious circumstances, and the memoir vanishes. With both her career and the truth on the line, Juliette knows she must uncover what really happened and recover the missing manuscript.
I absolutely loved She Doesn’t Have a Clue, and this book did not disappoint. Jenny Elder Moke once again delivers a perfect blend of rom-com charm and murder mystery intrigue. The plot is well developed, and the writing style makes the story easy and engaging to follow. I especially appreciated the attention to detail when it came to the mystery piecing together clues alongside Juliette was genuinely fun. The pacing is steady throughout; while there are quieter moments, they serve an important purpose by allowing readers to connect more deeply with the characters.
Juliette is a fantastic main character, tough, intelligent, and witty, yet deeply human. Her insecurities, especially those tied to her parents and expectations placed on her, make her relatable and layered. She’s convinced she isn’t cut out for a serious relationship… until Charlie enters the picture. As she starts to let her guard down around him, that vulnerability both excites and terrifies her. Watching her navigate those feelings added emotional depth to the story. Charlie is her perfect counterpart; thoughtful, patient, and cautious in contrast to Juliette’s impulsive nature. He brings a sense of calm and care that helps Juliette open up and realize that it’s okay to lean on someone.
The side characters were another highlight for me. I loved seeing familiar faces from Moke’s previous book and especially enjoyed the “all-girls detective crew” vibe. Their bond, support, and unwavering loyalty added warmth and heart to the story, reinforcing the idea that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away as long as you’re not facing things alone.
I also listened to the audiobook and thought Sarah Mollo-Christensen did an excellent job bringing the story to life. Her narration made the scenes incredibly vivid, especially the tense moments like the boat scene with all the girls, where I could truly feel their fear and urgency.
I want to thank NetGalley, SMP and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an eARC & Audio for my honest opinion.
In this story, we meet Juliette Winters, who is fighting to save her publishing company and is determined to do whatever it takes to keep it afloat. Her potential saving grace is a highly anticipated memoir by Warren Ellingham, one that promises to expose the secrets of the rich and famous. But before the finished manuscript can be delivered, Warren dies under suspicious circumstances, and the memoir vanishes. With both her career and the truth on the line, Juliette knows she must uncover what really happened and recover the missing manuscript.
I absolutely loved She Doesn’t Have a Clue, and this book did not disappoint. Jenny Elder Moke once again delivers a perfect blend of rom-com charm and murder mystery intrigue. The plot is well developed, and the writing style makes the story easy and engaging to follow. I especially appreciated the attention to detail when it came to the mystery piecing together clues alongside Juliette was genuinely fun. The pacing is steady throughout; while there are quieter moments, they serve an important purpose by allowing readers to connect more deeply with the characters.
Juliette is a fantastic main character, tough, intelligent, and witty, yet deeply human. Her insecurities, especially those tied to her parents and expectations placed on her, make her relatable and layered. She’s convinced she isn’t cut out for a serious relationship… until Charlie enters the picture. As she starts to let her guard down around him, that vulnerability both excites and terrifies her. Watching her navigate those feelings added emotional depth to the story. Charlie is her perfect counterpart; thoughtful, patient, and cautious in contrast to Juliette’s impulsive nature. He brings a sense of calm and care that helps Juliette open up and realize that it’s okay to lean on someone.
The side characters were another highlight for me. I loved seeing familiar faces from Moke’s previous book and especially enjoyed the “all-girls detective crew” vibe. Their bond, support, and unwavering loyalty added warmth and heart to the story, reinforcing the idea that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away as long as you’re not facing things alone.
I also listened to the audiobook and thought Sarah Mollo-Christensen did an excellent job bringing the story to life. Her narration made the scenes incredibly vivid, especially the tense moments like the boat scene with all the girls, where I could truly feel their fear and urgency.
I want to thank NetGalley, SMP and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.
August 19, 2025
(ARC - out 01/20/26 via St. Martin's Press) (2.5 rounded up) This is a cozyish murder mystery/rom-com with a take no shit, kind of rude female lead and a hottie, mildly nerdy male love interest. The story revolves around Juliette Winters, trying to keep her publishing company afloat with the news that a local business magnate is going to publish his explosive memoir with Juliette’s company. Said magnate is quickly murdered, and not long after, bodies continue to drop. Juliette’s love interest, Charlie, is a doctor and their romance feels pretty mildly enemies-to-lovers. I didn’t read the first book in this series, which followed a different main character and love interest, but a lot of the characters from the first make reappearances in this one, and the characterization isn’t always there to make it clear who these people are. I think it’d probably be wiser to read the first book before moving on to this one. I thought this was fine. I didn’t really connect with the characters and way preferred the mystery plot to the romance plot. But I do think the author develops the relationship in a believable way, even if I didn’t love that plot line. The romance girlies might be more into this than I was!
*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be a member of the SMP Early Readers Program*
*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be a member of the SMP Early Readers Program*
December 15, 2025
4.25 Stars
Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is a fun, zany murder mystery with a mix of unlikable characters and a strong-willed, tell it like it is FMC. I loved Juliette's character and I thought Moke did an excellent job of blending her driven personality with some past childhood and high school trauma.
The whodunnit aspect of the story was entertaining, and kept me guessing, especially with a double murder. The cast of characters was great for the storyline, with nepo loser relations and narcissistic rich socialites. And I had some fond feelings for the Detective that had to deal with all of these people, and his humorous remarks.
The opposite attracts vibes between Juliette and Charlie really worked for me, and I enjoyed seeing their attraction grow throughout the story. The spice is light, but I absolutely loved the tension and flirting between the two of them.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Publishing World
* Missing Manuscript
* Opposites Attract
* Secrets & Scandal
* Exclusive Country Club
* Female Friendships
𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
😉 (Mild)
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies can be read as a stand alone, but there is a prior book in this world, She Doesn't Have a Clue. It does have carry over characters into this book, so I did feel like I was missing out on some references in the book with what previously happened with these characters and their established relationships. But, overall I did enjoy this book a lot and plan to go back and read the first one.
Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is a fun, zany murder mystery with a mix of unlikable characters and a strong-willed, tell it like it is FMC. I loved Juliette's character and I thought Moke did an excellent job of blending her driven personality with some past childhood and high school trauma.
The whodunnit aspect of the story was entertaining, and kept me guessing, especially with a double murder. The cast of characters was great for the storyline, with nepo loser relations and narcissistic rich socialites. And I had some fond feelings for the Detective that had to deal with all of these people, and his humorous remarks.
The opposite attracts vibes between Juliette and Charlie really worked for me, and I enjoyed seeing their attraction grow throughout the story. The spice is light, but I absolutely loved the tension and flirting between the two of them.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Publishing World
* Missing Manuscript
* Opposites Attract
* Secrets & Scandal
* Exclusive Country Club
* Female Friendships
𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
😉 (Mild)
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies can be read as a stand alone, but there is a prior book in this world, She Doesn't Have a Clue. It does have carry over characters into this book, so I did feel like I was missing out on some references in the book with what previously happened with these characters and their established relationships. But, overall I did enjoy this book a lot and plan to go back and read the first one.
December 6, 2025
Sharp tongued Juliette and sweet Charlie don't appear to be a reader's ideal match.
On paper, they appear wildly different. He's a gifted surgeon, a bit straight laced with a mean, manipulative ex-girlfriend. She's a competitive book industry mover and shaker desperately trying to prove herself to others but, more importantly, to her childhood self.
Her childhood? Toxic, to say the least and from the very individuals who should have had her best interest at heart.
Her snark is what will win readers' hearts. She possesses a (if you can forgive the expression) 'balls to the wall' personality. Her dogged determination is fully on display as well as sense of humor (book is rife with pop culture references like t "Miami Vice" -if you've lived while they were in the heyday you'll get a kick out of the book).
Downloaded this on a whim after seeing it featured on a NetGalley email featuring "Newest in Crime Fiction". Author balances the humor with the hijinks well. The plot naturally unfolds and the reader easily follows the mystery to satisfying conclusion.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
On paper, they appear wildly different. He's a gifted surgeon, a bit straight laced with a mean, manipulative ex-girlfriend. She's a competitive book industry mover and shaker desperately trying to prove herself to others but, more importantly, to her childhood self.
Her childhood? Toxic, to say the least and from the very individuals who should have had her best interest at heart.
Her snark is what will win readers' hearts. She possesses a (if you can forgive the expression) 'balls to the wall' personality. Her dogged determination is fully on display as well as sense of humor (book is rife with pop culture references like t "Miami Vice" -if you've lived while they were in the heyday you'll get a kick out of the book).
Downloaded this on a whim after seeing it featured on a NetGalley email featuring "Newest in Crime Fiction". Author balances the humor with the hijinks well. The plot naturally unfolds and the reader easily follows the mystery to satisfying conclusion.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
I loved this book so much! It was hilarious, and I couldn’t stop listening. This is my first book by this author, and it won’t be my last.
Jenny Elder Moke has written an amazing mystery/romance that you will want to binge!
Juliette Winters is trying to save her publishing company. She has secured the ultimate memoir from Warren Ellingham. It has the potential to be explosive - exposing the secrets of the rich and famous. But before he can hand it off to Juliette, Warren dies. The manuscript disappears, and there are suspicions about Warren’s death. Juliette decides to get the manuscript - no matter what it takes.
I cannot express just how much I love Juliette. She is tough, smart, and witty - she is a true badass. Charlie is absolutely perfect as the love interest in this story. My only complaint is that I wanted more scenes between them.
There is an amazing supporting cast of characters, including multiple suspects. I lost track of how many times I laughed through this one. This was a terrific mystery, with an equally terrific romance. It will keep you guessing.
Sarah Mollo-Christensen does a phenomenal job narrating this one - she is Juliette! She gives all of the supporting characters terrific voices as well. I also loved her Charlie. This is an incredible audiobook!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for sending this one my way! It releases on January 20th. Preorder it today!
Jenny Elder Moke has written an amazing mystery/romance that you will want to binge!
Juliette Winters is trying to save her publishing company. She has secured the ultimate memoir from Warren Ellingham. It has the potential to be explosive - exposing the secrets of the rich and famous. But before he can hand it off to Juliette, Warren dies. The manuscript disappears, and there are suspicions about Warren’s death. Juliette decides to get the manuscript - no matter what it takes.
I cannot express just how much I love Juliette. She is tough, smart, and witty - she is a true badass. Charlie is absolutely perfect as the love interest in this story. My only complaint is that I wanted more scenes between them.
There is an amazing supporting cast of characters, including multiple suspects. I lost track of how many times I laughed through this one. This was a terrific mystery, with an equally terrific romance. It will keep you guessing.
Sarah Mollo-Christensen does a phenomenal job narrating this one - she is Juliette! She gives all of the supporting characters terrific voices as well. I also loved her Charlie. This is an incredible audiobook!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for sending this one my way! It releases on January 20th. Preorder it today!
January 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur books for this ARC!
This is the second instalment of a cozy mystery series set in Seattle, with plenty of witty dialogue and crimes which will keep you guessing whodunnit - but I just don’t think this series is for me.
As with the first one, this book didn’t entirely hit the mark for me but I did certainly enjoy it much more than the first! The mystery was more detailed and the pacing was good. Unfortunately the dealbreaker for me was the main character, Juliette. Talk about a walking red flag!
Overall, Juliette is not a likeable person. She’s mean, selfish and a lone wolf. She also has issues trusting women, which even she admits is misogynistic, but all of these traits combined make her a walking, talking red flag. I don’t think she was very fair to any of her friends or to Charlie. Someone else described her as someone who would say she "isn’t like other girls" and I absolutely agree (and hate that).
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me and I think I am hanging my hat for this series.
This is the second instalment of a cozy mystery series set in Seattle, with plenty of witty dialogue and crimes which will keep you guessing whodunnit - but I just don’t think this series is for me.
As with the first one, this book didn’t entirely hit the mark for me but I did certainly enjoy it much more than the first! The mystery was more detailed and the pacing was good. Unfortunately the dealbreaker for me was the main character, Juliette. Talk about a walking red flag!
Overall, Juliette is not a likeable person. She’s mean, selfish and a lone wolf. She also has issues trusting women, which even she admits is misogynistic, but all of these traits combined make her a walking, talking red flag. I don’t think she was very fair to any of her friends or to Charlie. Someone else described her as someone who would say she "isn’t like other girls" and I absolutely agree (and hate that).
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me and I think I am hanging my hat for this series.
January 4, 2026
This was the perfect blend of cozy mystery and rom-com, and it was insanely entertaining. I absolutely flew through the audiobook. Macmillan crushed the production as always, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen did such an incredible job with the narration. She completely brought this story to life.
I laughed out loud so many times. The dry sarcasm is top tier, and the humor landed for me again and again. Juliette is such a refreshing FMC. She’s direct, sometimes almost too blunt, but that honesty made me love her even more. And her friends? Kate, Kennedy, and Veeta absolutely stole the show. I would read an entire series just about them.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously, has great banter, and keeps you entertained from start to finish, Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is such a fun time.
This is book two in an interconnected series, which I didn’t know before listening to this one and I will definitely go back and read book 1!!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
I laughed out loud so many times. The dry sarcasm is top tier, and the humor landed for me again and again. Juliette is such a refreshing FMC. She’s direct, sometimes almost too blunt, but that honesty made me love her even more. And her friends? Kate, Kennedy, and Veeta absolutely stole the show. I would read an entire series just about them.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously, has great banter, and keeps you entertained from start to finish, Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is such a fun time.
This is book two in an interconnected series, which I didn’t know before listening to this one and I will definitely go back and read book 1!!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies follows Juliette, who is trying to save her publishing company by publishing a new tell all memoir of Warren. Everything comes crashing down when Warren dies at his birthday party shortly followed after by his son. As Juliette inserts herself into the investigation, she becomes the prime suspect. Can she figure out the real culprit before it’s too late?
Things I enjoyed about this story: the plot - it was fun trying to figure out who the actual culprit was with many different people being introduced with various motives.
Things I didn’t enjoy as much: the romance (which is shocking to me!). As someone who loves romance this one fell a little flat. The romance felt forced and I would have much preferred more focus on the murder mystery and Juliette’s band of friends.
This book was a 3⭐️ read for me. I would recommend if you’re looking for a fun murder mystery type novel.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies follows Juliette, who is trying to save her publishing company by publishing a new tell all memoir of Warren. Everything comes crashing down when Warren dies at his birthday party shortly followed after by his son. As Juliette inserts herself into the investigation, she becomes the prime suspect. Can she figure out the real culprit before it’s too late?
Things I enjoyed about this story: the plot - it was fun trying to figure out who the actual culprit was with many different people being introduced with various motives.
Things I didn’t enjoy as much: the romance (which is shocking to me!). As someone who loves romance this one fell a little flat. The romance felt forced and I would have much preferred more focus on the murder mystery and Juliette’s band of friends.
This book was a 3⭐️ read for me. I would recommend if you’re looking for a fun murder mystery type novel.
November 17, 2025
This one’s a mystery rom-com built around an FMC who is… intense. Juliette basically strong-arms her way through the investigation, convinced she can do anything. She even claims she runs a mile in under four minutes. Considering that would break the actual world record, it made me wonder the whole time: is she a reliable narrator, or just confidently wrong about everything? Either way, it was fun to watch her bulldoze through clues with her equally chaotic friends.
Her dynamic with Charlie felt believable steady pacing, good chemistry, and a touch of open door spice.
It seems to be a standalone but there are several mentions about a previous book. I wasn’t confused but I can see the experience being better if you read the earlier book
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this arc.
Her dynamic with Charlie felt believable steady pacing, good chemistry, and a touch of open door spice.
It seems to be a standalone but there are several mentions about a previous book. I wasn’t confused but I can see the experience being better if you read the earlier book
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this arc.
November 29, 2025
Thank you, @macmillan.audio for the #gifted advanced listening copy! #macaudio2025
Publishing exec Juliette Winters doesn’t have time for love or friendships. She’s too busy trying to keep the publishing company afloat and if she can finally get her hands on the tell-all memoir of wealthy businessmen Warren Ellingham, she’ll have a bestseller. But then Warren drops dead on his super yacht and and memoir disappears. Juliette suspects foul play and enlists the begrudging help of Dr. Charlie Hawkins to investigate the underbelly of Pacific Pines Country Club, where it seems like all the rich people are behaving badly and almost everyone has a motive.
The first book in this connected series, She Doesn’t Have a Clue, was one of my favorite books of January 2025 - I was so excited to jump back in with these quirky characters and Jenny’s uniquely charming sense of humor. It is a swoon-worthy opposites attract romance, a story about friendship, and a murder mystery all wrapped in the country club world of rich people behaving very badly. It was a ton of fun!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Sarah Mollo-Christensen is back narrating this second book in the series and I’ll say exactly what I did with the last book - I could swear this is a duet narration, that’s how good she is at creating voices, which is saying something because although set in Seattle, both Charlie and his brother Jake (Jake is the MMC in book one) come with heavy Australian accents. A perfect mystery-romance audio romp! (10 hrs and 24 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Publishing exec Juliette Winters doesn’t have time for love or friendships. She’s too busy trying to keep the publishing company afloat and if she can finally get her hands on the tell-all memoir of wealthy businessmen Warren Ellingham, she’ll have a bestseller. But then Warren drops dead on his super yacht and and memoir disappears. Juliette suspects foul play and enlists the begrudging help of Dr. Charlie Hawkins to investigate the underbelly of Pacific Pines Country Club, where it seems like all the rich people are behaving badly and almost everyone has a motive.
The first book in this connected series, She Doesn’t Have a Clue, was one of my favorite books of January 2025 - I was so excited to jump back in with these quirky characters and Jenny’s uniquely charming sense of humor. It is a swoon-worthy opposites attract romance, a story about friendship, and a murder mystery all wrapped in the country club world of rich people behaving very badly. It was a ton of fun!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Sarah Mollo-Christensen is back narrating this second book in the series and I’ll say exactly what I did with the last book - I could swear this is a duet narration, that’s how good she is at creating voices, which is saying something because although set in Seattle, both Charlie and his brother Jake (Jake is the MMC in book one) come with heavy Australian accents. A perfect mystery-romance audio romp! (10 hrs and 24 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This honestly felt like the perfect book for this mood reader who has been in a thriller mood. It had a touch of romance and comedy, but also focused on the solving of a murder...or two.
It was a fun easy read that kept me invested in the story. Juliette Winters is a strong independent woman who don't need no man, except Warren Ellingham to give her the rights to his memoir. Only, Warren dies on his birthday and the memoir goes missing. In order to make a name for herself, Juliette needs this memoir. So what else can she do besides sleuthing to find out who stole the memoir? In this hunt, she peels back the layers of the murder of Warren, while also finding her own layers being peeled back by a very attractive Australian heart surgeon and her friends.
This book was the perfect combo of a romcom and a mystery.
It was a fun easy read that kept me invested in the story. Juliette Winters is a strong independent woman who don't need no man, except Warren Ellingham to give her the rights to his memoir. Only, Warren dies on his birthday and the memoir goes missing. In order to make a name for herself, Juliette needs this memoir. So what else can she do besides sleuthing to find out who stole the memoir? In this hunt, she peels back the layers of the murder of Warren, while also finding her own layers being peeled back by a very attractive Australian heart surgeon and her friends.
This book was the perfect combo of a romcom and a mystery.
January 11, 2026
I really enjoyed this audio book! I don’t know if it’s considered a series but there is definitely a book before this one that can help helpful to read first. I didn’t know that so I read this as a stand alone and it works.
Juliette is working for a publishing company that is tanking. She has secured the rights to a memoir for a rich guy who plans to spill the tea. However, the night he is supposed to announce the book he ends up dead and now Juliette needs to find the manuscript so she can save the company and everyone’s jobs.
There is a MMC in this book but he isn’t the main focus. And I kind of liked that. Like Charlie is a cute, lovable character and I love the added spice but it was just an added bonus if that makes sense. I’m really proud of myself for figuring out who done it either though I didn’t really know how until they told me.
This was also laugh out loud funny!
Juliette is working for a publishing company that is tanking. She has secured the rights to a memoir for a rich guy who plans to spill the tea. However, the night he is supposed to announce the book he ends up dead and now Juliette needs to find the manuscript so she can save the company and everyone’s jobs.
There is a MMC in this book but he isn’t the main focus. And I kind of liked that. Like Charlie is a cute, lovable character and I love the added spice but it was just an added bonus if that makes sense. I’m really proud of myself for figuring out who done it either though I didn’t really know how until they told me.
This was also laugh out loud funny!
September 30, 2025
I am SO excited about this book! Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was hilarious, full of (actually) witty quips, with plenty of introspection that us self-diagnosed perfectionists need, and a sexy surgeon love interest never hurts. Juliette Winters might be one of my favourite amateur investigators ever!
A few (no-spoiler) quotes to give you a hint of what you’re in for - warning I had to stop myself from highlighting most of the book ⚠️
“Could she take Brad hostage? No, that would involve spending more time with him.”
“Apparently, the sound of your voice ‘triggers his sciatica’”.
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC - I can’t wait to get my copy on January 20, 2026! 🛥️
A few (no-spoiler) quotes to give you a hint of what you’re in for - warning I had to stop myself from highlighting most of the book ⚠️
“Could she take Brad hostage? No, that would involve spending more time with him.”
“Apparently, the sound of your voice ‘triggers his sciatica’”.
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC - I can’t wait to get my copy on January 20, 2026! 🛥️
November 25, 2025
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies was everything I needed it to be. The murder and mystery part of the book was great. Genuinely kept you guessing and interested in the story. I liked all the characters as well, no one was super intriguing, but I did enjoy them. What was lacking the most was the romance. I felt pretty much nothing for Juliette and Charlie as a couple and there was no real buildup up of their relationship. Regardless of that, the search for the killer and the memoir kept me interested and made for a quick and enjoyable read.
If you’re looking for a fun murder mystery book with a hint of romance this is perfect.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
If you’re looking for a fun murder mystery book with a hint of romance this is perfect.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
November 26, 2025
Thank you so very much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Jenny Elder smoke for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest opinions and thoughts.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is pure perfection. A great combination of hilarious Ed's and mysterious Ed's with romance as the frosting. I truly couldn't put this book down. I found alot of myself in Juliet. The character development and world building is excellent. The flow is great. Also also, the turns and twists had me shook. The MMC is totally swoonworthy. This book is so delicious, I devoured this book, and it was totally worth it. Nothing bad can be said about this book.
I wholeheartedly recommend that y'all get this book, trust me, y'all are going to love it.
Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is pure perfection. A great combination of hilarious Ed's and mysterious Ed's with romance as the frosting. I truly couldn't put this book down. I found alot of myself in Juliet. The character development and world building is excellent. The flow is great. Also also, the turns and twists had me shook. The MMC is totally swoonworthy. This book is so delicious, I devoured this book, and it was totally worth it. Nothing bad can be said about this book.
I wholeheartedly recommend that y'all get this book, trust me, y'all are going to love it.
January 13, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the gifted physical and digital ARCs.
This one was described as a mystery rom-com and that peaked my interest. Two of my favorite things wrapped up into one! I did see that this was part of an interconnected series but that they could be read as standalones. I decided to go ahead and read the She Doesn't Have a Clue first and I'm glad I did. I got to know the cast of characters better from their beginnings and it gave a decent bit of context to the characters relationship. This was a cozy and fun read, and I enjoyed both the murder mystery and the romance.
Juliette works for a publishing company that is struggling and she just so happens to have the book deal that might save the company. Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir ends up missing, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed. This was drama-filled, full of rich people behaving badly, and then you have Charlie and Juliette working together to figure out if Warren really was murdered and where his missing manuscript ended up, all while falling for each other.
This one was described as a mystery rom-com and that peaked my interest. Two of my favorite things wrapped up into one! I did see that this was part of an interconnected series but that they could be read as standalones. I decided to go ahead and read the She Doesn't Have a Clue first and I'm glad I did. I got to know the cast of characters better from their beginnings and it gave a decent bit of context to the characters relationship. This was a cozy and fun read, and I enjoyed both the murder mystery and the romance.
Juliette works for a publishing company that is struggling and she just so happens to have the book deal that might save the company. Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir ends up missing, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed. This was drama-filled, full of rich people behaving badly, and then you have Charlie and Juliette working together to figure out if Warren really was murdered and where his missing manuscript ended up, all while falling for each other.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely loved this book!..Great character development and a storyline that kept me engaged on every page. Juliette is a force to be wreconked with, but also vulnerable, as she tries to solve the mystery of what happened to Warren on the boat. Enter love interest Charlie, who slowly breaks down her walls. With help from him and her friends, she solves the case and breaks down the walls she had. Built and let's love in! The right amount of mystery, romance and comedy! Publishes: Jan. 20
(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Jenny Elder Moke.)
(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Jenny Elder Moke.)
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