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Vivian Dies Again
'Sharp, funny and well observed. Vivian Dies Again made me properly laugh' - LAURA MARSHALL
'Devilishly dark. I fell head over heels for this hapless herione' - HEATHER CRITCHLOW
'Hilariously quirky. A clever twist on the classic murder mystery' - GUY MORPUSS
Time heals all wounds. Except blunt force trauma.
Vivian Slade is a cautionary tale. The wrong side of thirty, she's no longer the life and soul of the party - she's a party of one. But she's determined to turn over a new leaf, even if that means going to a family gathering where everyone hates her.
Turns out, someone really hates her - enough to push her off a balcony to a very messy end. But then Vivian wakes up! Only to be murdered again. And again. Stuck in a baffling time loop, Vivian's only ally is a sleep-deprived waiter who just wants to finish his shift. Will Vivian be able to solve her own murder? Only time will tell...
'Devilishly dark. I fell head over heels for this hapless herione' - HEATHER CRITCHLOW
'Hilariously quirky. A clever twist on the classic murder mystery' - GUY MORPUSS
Time heals all wounds. Except blunt force trauma.
Vivian Slade is a cautionary tale. The wrong side of thirty, she's no longer the life and soul of the party - she's a party of one. But she's determined to turn over a new leaf, even if that means going to a family gathering where everyone hates her.
Turns out, someone really hates her - enough to push her off a balcony to a very messy end. But then Vivian wakes up! Only to be murdered again. And again. Stuck in a baffling time loop, Vivian's only ally is a sleep-deprived waiter who just wants to finish his shift. Will Vivian be able to solve her own murder? Only time will tell...
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2026
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Did not finish
August 18, 2025Not for me.
Dark comedy, centering on how much of an awful person Vivian is, entirely through her own choices. She's a deeply inconsiderate flatmate (at the age of 36), is having an affair with a married man (which doesn't stop her, or even apparently slow her down, from sleeping with anyone else who happens along), is a binge drinker and a drug abuser, leading to many absurd-but-actually-concerning misadventures, and, unsurprisingly, everyone hates her and nobody wants her at the family event.
Apparently she gets a redemption arc, involving being repeatedly killed in a time loop, which I imagine would get you thinking about your life choices. I didn't hang around for that, because I just didn't want to spend any more time with Vivian.
It's capably written, and I can see a lot of people enjoying it. But not me.
Dark comedy, centering on how much of an awful person Vivian is, entirely through her own choices. She's a deeply inconsiderate flatmate (at the age of 36), is having an affair with a married man (which doesn't stop her, or even apparently slow her down, from sleeping with anyone else who happens along), is a binge drinker and a drug abuser, leading to many absurd-but-actually-concerning misadventures, and, unsurprisingly, everyone hates her and nobody wants her at the family event.
Apparently she gets a redemption arc, involving being repeatedly killed in a time loop, which I imagine would get you thinking about your life choices. I didn't hang around for that, because I just didn't want to spend any more time with Vivian.
It's capably written, and I can see a lot of people enjoying it. But not me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this is a fun take on a doomsday style, time-looped murder mystery where the victim is the black sheep in the family. this isn't as repetitive as I worried it might be, and its also not a revenge story (in case you also thought it would be).
Vivian the main character is supposed to be unlikable, and the intro chapters and the flashbacks throughout the story gives you an insight into why. and yet, I found her to be quite candid and funny, and more just surrounded by the wrong bunch of people...although she WAS quite awful to her roommate, who gave her plenty of chances to be a decent human being.
the narrative was well paced, with the aforementioned flashbacks as a device to further the murder mystery and to introduce different aspects of characters and their potential motives. however the conclusion to murder mystery itself fell a little flat and was lost on me clearly. Despite this, I liked how the ending played out in general so I'm feeling quite satisfied.
an aside, but I really liked that the family tree was pasted within the narrative every now and again to remind me of the messy dynamics of Vivian's family. that was very helpful, thank you very much for saving me from having to scroll all the way to the top of my PDF again.
overall good fun if you like murder mysteries where the information is drip fed to you throughout the story, family drama, time loops, or characters like fleabag,
finally thank you to NetGalley, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books | Viper, and C. E. Hulse for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.
Vivian the main character is supposed to be unlikable, and the intro chapters and the flashbacks throughout the story gives you an insight into why. and yet, I found her to be quite candid and funny, and more just surrounded by the wrong bunch of people...although she WAS quite awful to her roommate, who gave her plenty of chances to be a decent human being.
the narrative was well paced, with the aforementioned flashbacks as a device to further the murder mystery and to introduce different aspects of characters and their potential motives. however the conclusion to murder mystery itself fell a little flat and was lost on me clearly. Despite this, I liked how the ending played out in general so I'm feeling quite satisfied.
an aside, but I really liked that the family tree was pasted within the narrative every now and again to remind me of the messy dynamics of Vivian's family. that was very helpful, thank you very much for saving me from having to scroll all the way to the top of my PDF again.
overall good fun if you like murder mysteries where the information is drip fed to you throughout the story, family drama, time loops, or characters like fleabag,
finally thank you to NetGalley, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books | Viper, and C. E. Hulse for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.
August 28, 2025
I absolutely loved this book and read it in one sitting unable to physically put it down! It’s been a long time since I was so invested in a characters life (lives?!) but Viv and her family were just so fascinating! The use of the family tree was a tool I’ve seen to help you determine who’s who but I guarantee you’ve never seen it used like this before! This book is darkly humorous with a cast of mainly unlikeable characters but I blooming well loved them all!
Funny with a unique narrative and plenty of twists to hold your attention I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Not out till 2026 but definitely worth keeping an eye out for!
Funny with a unique narrative and plenty of twists to hold your attention I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Not out till 2026 but definitely worth keeping an eye out for!
August 16, 2025
I was very excited to receive an advanced copy of Vivian Dies Again by C.E. Hulse, I’m a huge fan of dark comedy. Give me something macabre to laugh about, and I’m all in.
Without giving too much away, this book wasn’t quite what I expected. I went in, hoping for some funny, maybe slightly gory, creative death scenes on repeat. I was worried the premise might get repetitive, but I needn’t have been as we only follow Viv through two deaths, and the details are brushed over the others fairly quickly.
That said, I really liked Viv as a character. She gave off real Fleabag energy, flawed, sharp, a little messy, and while I’m not sure I was meant to like her, I found her surprisingly relatable. (Also, did I just realise I’ve been mispronouncing “mischievous” all my life . . .).
The story relies less on death and comedy as a plot and is more a complex unravelling of family dynamics and how seemingly small choices ripple out into major consequences we might not even be aware of. Once I settled into the rhythm of the flashbacks and shifting perspectives, I appreciated the writing style and found some genuine laugh out loud moments along the way.
Ultimately, though, I was hoping for something a little darker given the theme, which would have made it a five-star read for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Serpents Tail/ Viper/ Profile Books for the ARC.
Without giving too much away, this book wasn’t quite what I expected. I went in, hoping for some funny, maybe slightly gory, creative death scenes on repeat. I was worried the premise might get repetitive, but I needn’t have been as we only follow Viv through two deaths, and the details are brushed over the others fairly quickly.
That said, I really liked Viv as a character. She gave off real Fleabag energy, flawed, sharp, a little messy, and while I’m not sure I was meant to like her, I found her surprisingly relatable. (Also, did I just realise I’ve been mispronouncing “mischievous” all my life . . .).
The story relies less on death and comedy as a plot and is more a complex unravelling of family dynamics and how seemingly small choices ripple out into major consequences we might not even be aware of. Once I settled into the rhythm of the flashbacks and shifting perspectives, I appreciated the writing style and found some genuine laugh out loud moments along the way.
Ultimately, though, I was hoping for something a little darker given the theme, which would have made it a five-star read for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Serpents Tail/ Viper/ Profile Books for the ARC.
January 29, 2026
Entering a room where everyone is side eyeing you is nothing new to Viv. What is new is dying over 80 times in a row. To say Viv is the black sheep of the family is the understatement of the year…but does anyone actually hate Viv enough to kill her? Because Viv is stuck in a time loop, unwelcome at a memorial service and falling to her death over and over again. Who is doing this to her and why? How can she make of stop?
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I didn’t find Viv as awful as she is made out to be (with one note able exception!) I liked the element of her having a sidekick in Jamie though that could have been explored further at the end. I liked the vignettes showing how each family member feels wronged by Viv.. I was invested in finding out who was determined to kill her. I didn’t love the ending. I feel there were a few loose ends and a couple of elements left unanswered. I would still recommend the book if you love a murder mystery with an edge. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I didn’t find Viv as awful as she is made out to be (with one note able exception!) I liked the element of her having a sidekick in Jamie though that could have been explored further at the end. I liked the vignettes showing how each family member feels wronged by Viv.. I was invested in finding out who was determined to kill her. I didn’t love the ending. I feel there were a few loose ends and a couple of elements left unanswered. I would still recommend the book if you love a murder mystery with an edge. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A darkly funny, fast-paced read with a wonderfully flawed protagonist. The writing is sharp, the humor lands beautifully and the emotional undercurrent gives the story surprising depth.
The time-loop concept is handled with wit and energy, with the character dynamics adding a lot of charm. Strong pacing and meaningful character growth keep the story engaging throughout. A clever, entertaining novel that balances quirkiness, heart and dark comedy.
The time-loop concept is handled with wit and energy, with the character dynamics adding a lot of charm. Strong pacing and meaningful character growth keep the story engaging throughout. A clever, entertaining novel that balances quirkiness, heart and dark comedy.
January 28, 2026
Just such an irritating character. I had had enough after chapter 4.
November 28, 2025
Ugh I just loved everything about this book!!
I was worried initially thinking it was going to be repetitive but it really wasn’t!
Viv is honestly the biggest vibe I think I’ve read about this year! I just want to be mates with her 😩
Jamie is also such a great character!!
It’s just a no thought fun owl time!!!
I was worried initially thinking it was going to be repetitive but it really wasn’t!
Viv is honestly the biggest vibe I think I’ve read about this year! I just want to be mates with her 😩
Jamie is also such a great character!!
It’s just a no thought fun owl time!!!
November 24, 2025
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Viper for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This was the first of her books I've read and I had high hopes.
I was a little concerned to begin with because there's a lot of characters floating about and I am notoriously bad with names. Overall I think I managed it but I think it might get a little confusing for some readers.
I do like a bit of dark humour, macabre humour, and this had a lot of that.
I had HUGE expectations for this book. I hadn't seen a bad word said about it and I really hoped it would live up to that, but I don't think it did.
It is quite slow to begin with. Obviously scene setting is important, introducing the characters, building up a backstory, I get that, but it felt a bit stretched out.
I did like Viv overall. She reminded me slightly of Fleabag (a programme I didn't like). She feels real, clumsy, immature, a wild child, but it all felt very natural and recognisable. She did grate on me at times as I felt her issues were all of her doing and it was hard to feel sorry for her, but I did think overall she was a good protagonist.
I think I had the plot wrong. I was expecting a good 3/4 of the book to be a sort of Groundhog Day (which I also didn't like) story, and it would really focus on the fantastical elements, the deaths, the reincarnations etc. but that's hardly in it. We get a handful of those and that's it. It's more about family dynamics and relationships and growth, and about how the smallest of choices can have the biggest impact. And that's fine, nothing wrong with that, because it is well written and it was enjoyable to read, but it's not what I was expecting to read.
I do wonder if the things I mentioned above - Fleabag, and Groundhog Day - that I didn't like explains why I didn't think much of this? Maybe it's just not my kind of story, which is fine. But I would still recommend it, especially if you like slightly different, fantasy, macabre novels with a heavy character presence.
I did find the beginning of the book slow, as I've already mentioned, and some bits are quick, so overall I think there's a nice balance.
I can see this being a book that splits the room. This is completely my opinion. I've seen reviews giving it 5 stars and I've seen reviews giving it 2. And that's fine. We can't all like every book in the world.
It's not perfect. It was slower than I hoped and completely different to what I was expecting. But it is still an enjoyable read with well-written, if not overly likeable, characters. Great storytelling and scene setting. It's clear she has a talent for writing gripping novels, which I will not argue about.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viper for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This was the first of her books I've read and I had high hopes.
I was a little concerned to begin with because there's a lot of characters floating about and I am notoriously bad with names. Overall I think I managed it but I think it might get a little confusing for some readers.
I do like a bit of dark humour, macabre humour, and this had a lot of that.
I had HUGE expectations for this book. I hadn't seen a bad word said about it and I really hoped it would live up to that, but I don't think it did.
It is quite slow to begin with. Obviously scene setting is important, introducing the characters, building up a backstory, I get that, but it felt a bit stretched out.
I did like Viv overall. She reminded me slightly of Fleabag (a programme I didn't like). She feels real, clumsy, immature, a wild child, but it all felt very natural and recognisable. She did grate on me at times as I felt her issues were all of her doing and it was hard to feel sorry for her, but I did think overall she was a good protagonist.
I think I had the plot wrong. I was expecting a good 3/4 of the book to be a sort of Groundhog Day (which I also didn't like) story, and it would really focus on the fantastical elements, the deaths, the reincarnations etc. but that's hardly in it. We get a handful of those and that's it. It's more about family dynamics and relationships and growth, and about how the smallest of choices can have the biggest impact. And that's fine, nothing wrong with that, because it is well written and it was enjoyable to read, but it's not what I was expecting to read.
I do wonder if the things I mentioned above - Fleabag, and Groundhog Day - that I didn't like explains why I didn't think much of this? Maybe it's just not my kind of story, which is fine. But I would still recommend it, especially if you like slightly different, fantasy, macabre novels with a heavy character presence.
I did find the beginning of the book slow, as I've already mentioned, and some bits are quick, so overall I think there's a nice balance.
I can see this being a book that splits the room. This is completely my opinion. I've seen reviews giving it 5 stars and I've seen reviews giving it 2. And that's fine. We can't all like every book in the world.
It's not perfect. It was slower than I hoped and completely different to what I was expecting. But it is still an enjoyable read with well-written, if not overly likeable, characters. Great storytelling and scene setting. It's clear she has a talent for writing gripping novels, which I will not argue about.
January 12, 2026
Viv is having a bad day – again.
I have one tiny criticism to get out of the way before my review proper of Vivian Dies Again and that is that I could have done with slightly fewer expletives throughout. That said, they absolutely fit Viv’s life! Indeed, they do add to the humour and despite having murder at its heart, Vivian Dies Again is incredibly funny. Viv’s insight into the world around her is brilliant and her pithy statements frequently summed up my own opinions so that I laughed aloud on several occasions.
I thought Viv was a magnificent creation. She’s truly dreadful, so it’s no wonder people might want to murder her, and yet I loved her unreservedly. Her attempts to be a better person are thwarted at every turn and she still manages personal change and growth. She drinks to excess, takes illegal substances, steals and offends as if all these vices are all going out of fashion but she is the perfect anti-hero. She may not follow societal rules but she has a strong sense of morality, knows she is often in the wrong and, actually, is emotionally appealing because all Viv really wants is to be loved and accepted. I may have laughed at her as well as with her, but I was rooting for Viv throughout. Beneath her loud partygoing exterior is a vulnerability that balances her character perfectly.
And my goodness does Viv experience a torrid time in this refreshingly different type of groundhog day. The plot is so entertaining and engaging. I loved the Shakespearean Touchstone nature of Jamie who helps lead both Viv and reader through the events of Vivian Dies Again, ensuring that Viv is able to change, murder is solved – though not necessarily the murder the reader is expecting – and solutions of many kinds are reached – though to say more would spoil the read.
The themes are just fantastic too. Certainly Vivian Dies Again can be read as a witty, entertaining story, but underpinning the narrative are thought-provoking and interesting considerations. Morality is questioned, but so too are concepts of family, friendship and marriage, making the reader think. I thought the exploration of chance and possibility was brilliant and, although I approached Vivian Dies Again expecting an easy, diverting read, it actually made me question aspects of my own life in a rather surprising manner so that it had depth as well as entertainment value.
It’s quite hard to categorise Vivian Dies Again. It is quite mad, huge fun and I thought it was fabulous. I really recommend it.
I have one tiny criticism to get out of the way before my review proper of Vivian Dies Again and that is that I could have done with slightly fewer expletives throughout. That said, they absolutely fit Viv’s life! Indeed, they do add to the humour and despite having murder at its heart, Vivian Dies Again is incredibly funny. Viv’s insight into the world around her is brilliant and her pithy statements frequently summed up my own opinions so that I laughed aloud on several occasions.
I thought Viv was a magnificent creation. She’s truly dreadful, so it’s no wonder people might want to murder her, and yet I loved her unreservedly. Her attempts to be a better person are thwarted at every turn and she still manages personal change and growth. She drinks to excess, takes illegal substances, steals and offends as if all these vices are all going out of fashion but she is the perfect anti-hero. She may not follow societal rules but she has a strong sense of morality, knows she is often in the wrong and, actually, is emotionally appealing because all Viv really wants is to be loved and accepted. I may have laughed at her as well as with her, but I was rooting for Viv throughout. Beneath her loud partygoing exterior is a vulnerability that balances her character perfectly.
And my goodness does Viv experience a torrid time in this refreshingly different type of groundhog day. The plot is so entertaining and engaging. I loved the Shakespearean Touchstone nature of Jamie who helps lead both Viv and reader through the events of Vivian Dies Again, ensuring that Viv is able to change, murder is solved – though not necessarily the murder the reader is expecting – and solutions of many kinds are reached – though to say more would spoil the read.
The themes are just fantastic too. Certainly Vivian Dies Again can be read as a witty, entertaining story, but underpinning the narrative are thought-provoking and interesting considerations. Morality is questioned, but so too are concepts of family, friendship and marriage, making the reader think. I thought the exploration of chance and possibility was brilliant and, although I approached Vivian Dies Again expecting an easy, diverting read, it actually made me question aspects of my own life in a rather surprising manner so that it had depth as well as entertainment value.
It’s quite hard to categorise Vivian Dies Again. It is quite mad, huge fun and I thought it was fabulous. I really recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 3.3/5
With "Vivian Dies Again" author, Caroline Hulse, has adopted the revised moniker of C.E. Hulse and switched from her usual general fiction with offbeat humour to time-bending crime fiction with dark humour. Lead character, Vivian Slade, finds herself stuck in a time loop that always ends with somebody murdering her. With the aid of Jamie the waiter, Vivian tries to figure out who amongst her acquaintances has got it in for her. Given that she has already died more than eighty times, this task is clearly proving to be something of a challenge.
Time-bending fiction is obviously nothing new and nor, for that matter, is time-bending fiction that involves the protagonist trying to solve their own murder, but there is enough of a variation on the theme to justify this latest offering from Caroline Hulse. Vivian Slade is not a particularly likeable character. The author invests quite a bit of time introducing the reader to her in the early sections of the book and I was left with a vision of Vivian as being something akin to a far more debauched version of Bridget Jones, who has all of her shortcomings, plus several more and none of her redeeming traits.
Given her persona, it is hardly surprising that pretty much anyone from her circle of family and associates could feel the desire to end Vivian's time on the planet. The novel really clicks into gear when we first witness Vivian's death - although, as it transpires, this has already happened many, many times prior to the occasion that the reading audience is privy to. The mystery being investigated by Vivian and Jamie is fun, engaging and there are ample amounts of dark humour along the way. However, rather than being an out and out darkly comic murder mystery, "Vivian Dies Again" is every bit as much a domestic drama. The writer makes use of frequent flashbacks, which not only offer up clues as to who may be responsible for killing Vivian, but also serve as means to delivering background information into the relationship dynamics of the key characters.
Overall, I enjoyed "Vivian Dies Again", but I was also left with the impression that it could have been even more satisfying and I found the culmination of the novel particularly underwhelming, though others may disagree.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
With "Vivian Dies Again" author, Caroline Hulse, has adopted the revised moniker of C.E. Hulse and switched from her usual general fiction with offbeat humour to time-bending crime fiction with dark humour. Lead character, Vivian Slade, finds herself stuck in a time loop that always ends with somebody murdering her. With the aid of Jamie the waiter, Vivian tries to figure out who amongst her acquaintances has got it in for her. Given that she has already died more than eighty times, this task is clearly proving to be something of a challenge.
Time-bending fiction is obviously nothing new and nor, for that matter, is time-bending fiction that involves the protagonist trying to solve their own murder, but there is enough of a variation on the theme to justify this latest offering from Caroline Hulse. Vivian Slade is not a particularly likeable character. The author invests quite a bit of time introducing the reader to her in the early sections of the book and I was left with a vision of Vivian as being something akin to a far more debauched version of Bridget Jones, who has all of her shortcomings, plus several more and none of her redeeming traits.
Given her persona, it is hardly surprising that pretty much anyone from her circle of family and associates could feel the desire to end Vivian's time on the planet. The novel really clicks into gear when we first witness Vivian's death - although, as it transpires, this has already happened many, many times prior to the occasion that the reading audience is privy to. The mystery being investigated by Vivian and Jamie is fun, engaging and there are ample amounts of dark humour along the way. However, rather than being an out and out darkly comic murder mystery, "Vivian Dies Again" is every bit as much a domestic drama. The writer makes use of frequent flashbacks, which not only offer up clues as to who may be responsible for killing Vivian, but also serve as means to delivering background information into the relationship dynamics of the key characters.
Overall, I enjoyed "Vivian Dies Again", but I was also left with the impression that it could have been even more satisfying and I found the culmination of the novel particularly underwhelming, though others may disagree.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
30-something Vivian is a bit of a black sheep in her family. She's sleeping in a friend's spare room, she'd rather slip a few cheeky pills than spend time with her mum, and the fact she works in a school is a cause for alarm: "should she even be around kids?" her relatives exclaim.
Viv already knows she isn't liked, and that's fine. Whatever. She's used to it. What she doesn't expect, however, is the fact that someone in her family wants her dead. How does she know? Because they succeed. 84 times. And each time she dies, she wakes up a few hours before, at the same family gathering, with no idea what's about to happen.
Oh yes, we have a timeloop! Vivian Dies Again is perhaps not my usual type of book - sitting somewhere between crime, comedy, general fiction and, I suppose, sci-fi - but I've absolutely lapped up this rollercoaster ride with Viv. She's not the most likeable character - I can't help but picture her as Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag - and yet somehow I couldn't help but be charmed by her.
She's not solving her own murder alone, either; she's accompanied by poor Jamie, a bartender who just so happens to be also stuck in a loop with Viv. The trouble is, while Viv is reset each time, Jamie remembers all 84 deaths. He's been awake for, presumably, days, and he's slowly but surely losing his mind. Jamie is very much secondary to the outrageousness of Viv, but he's a key character, the guide and guardian to help Viv work her way out of her, er, "predicament".
Despite the timeloop element, Vivian Dies Again never feels repetitive. We aren't privy to all 84 deaths; only the few loops that matter, where Viv discovers something important or does something particularly unhinged (a dead goldfish being placed in her handbag is, unfortunately, something she'll do every loop - and far from the most bizarre thing of the afternoon).
Rather, the events of Vivian's death day are punctuated with flashbacks to other events in Viv's life - and her family. They all come together to paint a picture about Viv's life so far, how she's ended up being the outcast, and all the silly mistakes she's made along the way. Viv isn't the only messy character we meet; most of her family members have their own issues, painting a picture of a messy yet believable extended family dynamic.
I expected a little more from the ending, perhaps - though that may have simply been the result of wanting to spend more time in the company of Viv and Jamie. Overall, Hulse has crafted a very strong debut that is both laugh out loud funny and, at times, particularly sad. It's refreshing to have a protagonist who doesn't have their sh*t together and, for all her problems, I couldn't help but root for Viv.
Viv already knows she isn't liked, and that's fine. Whatever. She's used to it. What she doesn't expect, however, is the fact that someone in her family wants her dead. How does she know? Because they succeed. 84 times. And each time she dies, she wakes up a few hours before, at the same family gathering, with no idea what's about to happen.
Oh yes, we have a timeloop! Vivian Dies Again is perhaps not my usual type of book - sitting somewhere between crime, comedy, general fiction and, I suppose, sci-fi - but I've absolutely lapped up this rollercoaster ride with Viv. She's not the most likeable character - I can't help but picture her as Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag - and yet somehow I couldn't help but be charmed by her.
She's not solving her own murder alone, either; she's accompanied by poor Jamie, a bartender who just so happens to be also stuck in a loop with Viv. The trouble is, while Viv is reset each time, Jamie remembers all 84 deaths. He's been awake for, presumably, days, and he's slowly but surely losing his mind. Jamie is very much secondary to the outrageousness of Viv, but he's a key character, the guide and guardian to help Viv work her way out of her, er, "predicament".
Despite the timeloop element, Vivian Dies Again never feels repetitive. We aren't privy to all 84 deaths; only the few loops that matter, where Viv discovers something important or does something particularly unhinged (a dead goldfish being placed in her handbag is, unfortunately, something she'll do every loop - and far from the most bizarre thing of the afternoon).
Rather, the events of Vivian's death day are punctuated with flashbacks to other events in Viv's life - and her family. They all come together to paint a picture about Viv's life so far, how she's ended up being the outcast, and all the silly mistakes she's made along the way. Viv isn't the only messy character we meet; most of her family members have their own issues, painting a picture of a messy yet believable extended family dynamic.
I expected a little more from the ending, perhaps - though that may have simply been the result of wanting to spend more time in the company of Viv and Jamie. Overall, Hulse has crafted a very strong debut that is both laugh out loud funny and, at times, particularly sad. It's refreshing to have a protagonist who doesn't have their sh*t together and, for all her problems, I couldn't help but root for Viv.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Vivian is stuck in a loop. Someone keeps murdering her. After each murder, her life resets to the start of the same family event she was attending when the murder took place. Who's behind the murder, and how can she stop the same thing from happening over and over again?
I just loved the synopsis for Vivian Dies Again by C. E. Hulse. The idea of a murder mystery, combined with the sci-fi element of a time loop, fascinated me.
There is a slow buildup to the event in which the murder takes place, this is to give us a very clear picture of Vivian. Although she's thirty-six, her lifestyle is anything but stable. She's bounced around from job to job, rents a room from her closest "friend", and is considered to be the black sheep of the family. As far as her family is concerned, she's a failure. Once the life and soul of the party, she's now just an embarrassment; her actions are completely unpredictable, and she refuses to take responsibility when things go wrong.
Vivian knows she can't go on in this way and is hoping that attending a family memorial will give her the chance to mend some bridges. What she doesn't expect is for another attendee to murder her. It's only after the eighty-fourth attempt that she begins to understand what is happening.
The concept of the time loop is clever. Imagine Groundhog Day, but you have no memory every time the loop restarts. The only person who has any idea is Jamie, a waiter at the event. By the eighty-fourth reset, Jamie is quickly able to persuade Vivian about what is happening and convinces her to find out who is set on killing her, hoping that this will be the only way to prevent the endless cycle.
The introduction of Jamie is what makes this story ingenious. While everyone else could keep repeating the same few hours, Jamie is living things in real-time and is exhausted. This poses many questions, mainly what will happen if he's not around when Vivian is killed? Will the loop end? The investigation becomes very much a race against time.
I really liked the concept, and the mystery elements kept me guessing right to the end. Unfortunately, the pace, particularly at the beginning, stopped me from loving the story.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
I just loved the synopsis for Vivian Dies Again by C. E. Hulse. The idea of a murder mystery, combined with the sci-fi element of a time loop, fascinated me.
There is a slow buildup to the event in which the murder takes place, this is to give us a very clear picture of Vivian. Although she's thirty-six, her lifestyle is anything but stable. She's bounced around from job to job, rents a room from her closest "friend", and is considered to be the black sheep of the family. As far as her family is concerned, she's a failure. Once the life and soul of the party, she's now just an embarrassment; her actions are completely unpredictable, and she refuses to take responsibility when things go wrong.
Vivian knows she can't go on in this way and is hoping that attending a family memorial will give her the chance to mend some bridges. What she doesn't expect is for another attendee to murder her. It's only after the eighty-fourth attempt that she begins to understand what is happening.
The concept of the time loop is clever. Imagine Groundhog Day, but you have no memory every time the loop restarts. The only person who has any idea is Jamie, a waiter at the event. By the eighty-fourth reset, Jamie is quickly able to persuade Vivian about what is happening and convinces her to find out who is set on killing her, hoping that this will be the only way to prevent the endless cycle.
The introduction of Jamie is what makes this story ingenious. While everyone else could keep repeating the same few hours, Jamie is living things in real-time and is exhausted. This poses many questions, mainly what will happen if he's not around when Vivian is killed? Will the loop end? The investigation becomes very much a race against time.
I really liked the concept, and the mystery elements kept me guessing right to the end. Unfortunately, the pace, particularly at the beginning, stopped me from loving the story.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well... this was something rather different, and also quite intriguing... We follow Black Sheep Vivian Slade, as she attends a family get together memorial party thing. To say she is not really of good character would be an understatement but, even on first meeting, there is something about her... Well, I thought so anyway.
Long story short and she dies. Someone throws her over a balcony. Well... I say she dies. She does, but it's not the end. She appears to be in a time loop. Aided by a waiter, Jamie, who informs her that this is not their first rodeo, that she has already "died" many times before and, to prove it, he tells her the next few things that will happen to and around her. Longer story short and it further appears that she and Jamie are trying, between them, to solver her murder. Where she is in a time loop, and all the other characters reset on her "death", his timeline is continuous and so he can fill her in on what she has already gleaned...
Now, where Viv is concerned, she's not a nice person and her Black Sheep moniker is well deserved, even though her family are also a bit dysfunctional. But that didn't stop me connected with and indeed rooting for her all the way through. Obviously, given that she is stuck in a time loop and repeating things over and over, the book never felt over repetitive. Another thing I loved was the addition of the "family tree" which was inserted at the beginning and then posted several more times with additional "comments" as the narrative progressed. That was a nice touch and added to the humour of the book which kept it all on an even keel.
Characters were all well drawn and payed their parts very well indeed. I loved that, as well as playing his part helping her, Jamie's backstory was included, which illustrated maybe why he was "chosen" to help Vivian.
And the ending, when it eventually came, the who and why, was well delivered and left me satisfied. Not as shocked as maybe I'd liked, given all the build up, but it ticked all the boxes for me.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Long story short and she dies. Someone throws her over a balcony. Well... I say she dies. She does, but it's not the end. She appears to be in a time loop. Aided by a waiter, Jamie, who informs her that this is not their first rodeo, that she has already "died" many times before and, to prove it, he tells her the next few things that will happen to and around her. Longer story short and it further appears that she and Jamie are trying, between them, to solver her murder. Where she is in a time loop, and all the other characters reset on her "death", his timeline is continuous and so he can fill her in on what she has already gleaned...
Now, where Viv is concerned, she's not a nice person and her Black Sheep moniker is well deserved, even though her family are also a bit dysfunctional. But that didn't stop me connected with and indeed rooting for her all the way through. Obviously, given that she is stuck in a time loop and repeating things over and over, the book never felt over repetitive. Another thing I loved was the addition of the "family tree" which was inserted at the beginning and then posted several more times with additional "comments" as the narrative progressed. That was a nice touch and added to the humour of the book which kept it all on an even keel.
Characters were all well drawn and payed their parts very well indeed. I loved that, as well as playing his part helping her, Jamie's backstory was included, which illustrated maybe why he was "chosen" to help Vivian.
And the ending, when it eventually came, the who and why, was well delivered and left me satisfied. Not as shocked as maybe I'd liked, given all the build up, but it ticked all the boxes for me.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
November 30, 2025
What a wild and fun read this was! I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher. I was gripped by this book, I couldn’t put it down.
Viv is a bit of a train wreck. She’s selfish, she is callous, she is hedonistic. She doesn’t mean to hurt people around her but she’s a bit oblivious to the impact she has and accountability. Somethings are small like continually ignoring her housemate’s requests, others are more serious like having an affair with a married man. None of it should be enough that someone wants to kill her right? Except someone does. At a memorial she finds herself stuck in a time loop after dying eighty four times. She needs to work out who keeps killing her and how to make it stop. Except each time she resets, she comes back with no memory of what has happened past the glitch in time. She’s helped by Jamie. Jamie is a waiter at the memorial and he does remember everything that’s happened. Jamie is also troublesome, a bit selfish and it’s causing problems in his life. What I loved was how these two managed to really help each other. They’re both quite unwanted by their loved ones, they’re outsiders, they don’t fit in, people judge them. But they’re able to support each other and hold a mirror up to each other during this deeply challenging time.
I thought this was absolutely fascinating. The backdrop of the science museum for the setting, the nods to popular sci-fi culture all provided a wonderful frame for this story. The way it was told through the present, looping narrative with glimpses into the past to help us understand motivations of the attendees too worked so well.
There was a real undercurrent here of who is good and who is bad and who is misunderstood? Viv is judged so harshly by certain characters but they are incredibly gossipy, judgmental and exclusionary and they can’t even see how poor their behaviour is through the smog of their own self-righteousness.
An exciting, gripping and throroughly enjoyable read!
Viv is a bit of a train wreck. She’s selfish, she is callous, she is hedonistic. She doesn’t mean to hurt people around her but she’s a bit oblivious to the impact she has and accountability. Somethings are small like continually ignoring her housemate’s requests, others are more serious like having an affair with a married man. None of it should be enough that someone wants to kill her right? Except someone does. At a memorial she finds herself stuck in a time loop after dying eighty four times. She needs to work out who keeps killing her and how to make it stop. Except each time she resets, she comes back with no memory of what has happened past the glitch in time. She’s helped by Jamie. Jamie is a waiter at the memorial and he does remember everything that’s happened. Jamie is also troublesome, a bit selfish and it’s causing problems in his life. What I loved was how these two managed to really help each other. They’re both quite unwanted by their loved ones, they’re outsiders, they don’t fit in, people judge them. But they’re able to support each other and hold a mirror up to each other during this deeply challenging time.
I thought this was absolutely fascinating. The backdrop of the science museum for the setting, the nods to popular sci-fi culture all provided a wonderful frame for this story. The way it was told through the present, looping narrative with glimpses into the past to help us understand motivations of the attendees too worked so well.
There was a real undercurrent here of who is good and who is bad and who is misunderstood? Viv is judged so harshly by certain characters but they are incredibly gossipy, judgmental and exclusionary and they can’t even see how poor their behaviour is through the smog of their own self-righteousness.
An exciting, gripping and throroughly enjoyable read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Vivian Slade is aware that most of her friends & family merely tolerate her. All her friends have settled down whilst Vivian still likes to party, she's dating a married man, & lodging with a friend who is rapidly becoming frostier with each interaction, & yet she can't stop being irresponsible.
Still, she receives a pity invite to the one year memorial party for her deceased uncle & his wife & Vivian decides to attend. New dress, new shoes, new bag (OK she's going to return them all afterwards, but it's the thought that counts right?), this will also be a new leaf. Vivian doesn't really get the chance though as it seems someone at the memorial hates her enough to kill her.
Vivian is pushed off the balcony - only to wake up back at the start of the party. This happens again & again, with Vivian stuck in a deadly time loop, & her only ally is a waiter at the party. He is the only person who doesn't reset & he really wants to just finish his shift & go home. Can Vivian work out who wants her dead?
I wasn't sure I was going to finish reading this one first off. Vivian is not an easy character to like & you can understand why all her friends & relatives are tired of her behaviour, but as the plot develops, the reader does develop a little bit of empathy for her. The time loop plot was entertaining with the added character of the very tired & exasperated waiter, & Vivian's past is slowly revealed through her memories of previous episodes of her life. In the end, it turned out to be well worth sticking with, although if you dislike strong language then be warned that it is frequently used.
REVIEW SUMMARY:
Plot: Flawed MC + time loop = great entertainment (just ask Groundhog Day).
Writing Style: Good. Even though Viv is irritating at times, the author manages to elicit some empathy from the reader for her by the end.
Enjoyment Level: High. The MC is like Marmite (you’ll either love or hate her), but the story kept me glued to the pages to find out what happened.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Serpent's Tail/Viper/ Profile Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Still, she receives a pity invite to the one year memorial party for her deceased uncle & his wife & Vivian decides to attend. New dress, new shoes, new bag (OK she's going to return them all afterwards, but it's the thought that counts right?), this will also be a new leaf. Vivian doesn't really get the chance though as it seems someone at the memorial hates her enough to kill her.
Vivian is pushed off the balcony - only to wake up back at the start of the party. This happens again & again, with Vivian stuck in a deadly time loop, & her only ally is a waiter at the party. He is the only person who doesn't reset & he really wants to just finish his shift & go home. Can Vivian work out who wants her dead?
I wasn't sure I was going to finish reading this one first off. Vivian is not an easy character to like & you can understand why all her friends & relatives are tired of her behaviour, but as the plot develops, the reader does develop a little bit of empathy for her. The time loop plot was entertaining with the added character of the very tired & exasperated waiter, & Vivian's past is slowly revealed through her memories of previous episodes of her life. In the end, it turned out to be well worth sticking with, although if you dislike strong language then be warned that it is frequently used.
REVIEW SUMMARY:
Plot: Flawed MC + time loop = great entertainment (just ask Groundhog Day).
Writing Style: Good. Even though Viv is irritating at times, the author manages to elicit some empathy from the reader for her by the end.
Enjoyment Level: High. The MC is like Marmite (you’ll either love or hate her), but the story kept me glued to the pages to find out what happened.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Serpent's Tail/Viper/ Profile Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Truth be told, Vivian Dies Again and I got off on the wrong foot. 70 or so pages in, I had to turn back to the synopsis and remind myself why I’d wanted to read it so badly. If I were that person, I might have thrown in the towel there and then. But I’m not, so I kept at it and before long, I was actually glad I’d been too stubborn to quit.
What went wrong? For starters, I didn’t like Viv. Like, at all. I’m not sure whether we’re supposed to? But in any case, I found it very difficult to spend all this time with this person I came to dislike more the more I knew about her. (Acting like a brat and getting wasted at every turn was bad enough, but an affair with a married man, really? Ugh. No offence, but at 36, one should probably know better.) I just wanted to shout at her to get her head and her life sorted, and then walk away.
Moreover, while I get that the scene needed to be set, and that we need to get a feel for the family dynamics, that first quarter of the story was all about how dysfunctional Viv and her extended family are and it was just too much family drama for me. I love me a bit of bookish family drama but there has to be more to the plot than that.
Fortunately, my reading experience did a full one-eighty when Viv finally died! On-page, that is, cos apparently, she did die 80-something times before, but we never even knew. The mystery of what was happening and who would want to kill her (cos no, I didn’t like her either, but murder seemed like overkill – bad pun intended) well and truly got to me and I was hooked for the remainder of the book.
Once I got over that first hurdle, I had a really great time with Vivian Dies Again. I didn’t find it as dark or as funny as the quotes on the blurb suggest (I didn’t expect laugh-out-loud funny, but a few grins and a snort would have been nice), but the mystery saved the day for me, and by the end, I had really come to appreciate Viv’s character arc, and her mum’s as well.
Massive thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.
What went wrong? For starters, I didn’t like Viv. Like, at all. I’m not sure whether we’re supposed to? But in any case, I found it very difficult to spend all this time with this person I came to dislike more the more I knew about her. (Acting like a brat and getting wasted at every turn was bad enough, but an affair with a married man, really? Ugh. No offence, but at 36, one should probably know better.) I just wanted to shout at her to get her head and her life sorted, and then walk away.
Moreover, while I get that the scene needed to be set, and that we need to get a feel for the family dynamics, that first quarter of the story was all about how dysfunctional Viv and her extended family are and it was just too much family drama for me. I love me a bit of bookish family drama but there has to be more to the plot than that.
Fortunately, my reading experience did a full one-eighty when Viv finally died! On-page, that is, cos apparently, she did die 80-something times before, but we never even knew. The mystery of what was happening and who would want to kill her (cos no, I didn’t like her either, but murder seemed like overkill – bad pun intended) well and truly got to me and I was hooked for the remainder of the book.
Once I got over that first hurdle, I had a really great time with Vivian Dies Again. I didn’t find it as dark or as funny as the quotes on the blurb suggest (I didn’t expect laugh-out-loud funny, but a few grins and a snort would have been nice), but the mystery saved the day for me, and by the end, I had really come to appreciate Viv’s character arc, and her mum’s as well.
Massive thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.
October 6, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up!
What drew me into this book, was the premise. I love me a "happy death day" / 'groundhog day" kind of situation, and this seemed right up my ally. Time loops? Murder? A disaster of a main character? Some humour sprinkled in? I am *game*.
The story took a while to get going though. Some other books put me in a reading slump, and usually I like a quick and easy read to pull me through it again. I had hoped 'Vivian Dies Again' would be the one, but unfortunately, it wasn't. Part one was simply too slow. Endless exposé, after endless exposé, while I was waiting for the murder to happen, and the story to unfold.
Once that started though, the book picked up pace and it got me hooked. I read through the rest in 3 days, while I was busy, which is a pretty impressive feat!
First of all, I am not entirely too sure how I feel about Viv. She is a disaster of a woman, but not necessarily an unlikable one. Yet, I felt like she was a little bit too much of a caricature, as were a lot of the other characters.
Secondly, I am still not entirely sold on Jamie as a character. I mean, I know he's there to drive the story forward, and in the end i did like the way he and Viv turned out. But he felt a little... out of place, for lack of a better words.
The red herrings and mystery were interesting enough and the flipping through timelines made sense. The short chapters made it easy to get through the book fast!
Still unsure on the ending though. I didn't dislike it, but it felt almost a little... cheap? I dont know how else to describe it.
Still, I had an enjoyable time reading this book, and definitely would recommend it to someone looking for a more low-stakes thriller!
**SPECIAL THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE DIGITAL ARC**
What drew me into this book, was the premise. I love me a "happy death day" / 'groundhog day" kind of situation, and this seemed right up my ally. Time loops? Murder? A disaster of a main character? Some humour sprinkled in? I am *game*.
The story took a while to get going though. Some other books put me in a reading slump, and usually I like a quick and easy read to pull me through it again. I had hoped 'Vivian Dies Again' would be the one, but unfortunately, it wasn't. Part one was simply too slow. Endless exposé, after endless exposé, while I was waiting for the murder to happen, and the story to unfold.
Once that started though, the book picked up pace and it got me hooked. I read through the rest in 3 days, while I was busy, which is a pretty impressive feat!
First of all, I am not entirely too sure how I feel about Viv. She is a disaster of a woman, but not necessarily an unlikable one. Yet, I felt like she was a little bit too much of a caricature, as were a lot of the other characters.
Secondly, I am still not entirely sold on Jamie as a character. I mean, I know he's there to drive the story forward, and in the end i did like the way he and Viv turned out. But he felt a little... out of place, for lack of a better words.
The red herrings and mystery were interesting enough and the flipping through timelines made sense. The short chapters made it easy to get through the book fast!
Still unsure on the ending though. I didn't dislike it, but it felt almost a little... cheap? I dont know how else to describe it.
Still, I had an enjoyable time reading this book, and definitely would recommend it to someone looking for a more low-stakes thriller!
**SPECIAL THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE DIGITAL ARC**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Vivian is in her mid-thirties when she realises she has done nothing with her life. Her friends are not answering her messages anymore, her mother avoids her, she is only invited to parties as someone to laugh at and her flatmate wants her out of the house. So, when an invitation to her uncles memorial arrives, she decides that will be the first day of her new life. New day, new Viv. And then she dies. Or maybe she doesn't?
I loved Vivian but what I loved most was how we progressively get to know her: At first you may think she is horrible, which is nice because you can understand her family and friends opinions; but also, when you see how she is treated, you feel compassion and start rooting for her. This change of heart comes also constructed cleaverly in the way the different scenes are presented and the order they appear, together with her development through the book.
I enjoyed how unlikable all the characters were (which helped a lot in making Viv likeable), the only one I felt lacking was Jamie. I felt like a character as important as he should have had more scenes. We only have one related to his life, like a little setting, and that was it. I would have loved to see some chapters about how Viv's death affected him (aside from being tired) and maybe gave him more weight or more stakes. Getting to know about his relationship would have helped, too.
Overall, a fast read with an interesting plot, really easy to read and not as gore as one would have expected (a lot of the deaths are off page or mencioned briefly). It is written in present tense, which I don't usually like, but I didn't mind it in this case.
Finally, I want to thank to Netgalley, C E Hulse and the publisher, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, for giving me the opportunity to read this digital Arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Vivian but what I loved most was how we progressively get to know her: At first you may think she is horrible, which is nice because you can understand her family and friends opinions; but also, when you see how she is treated, you feel compassion and start rooting for her. This change of heart comes also constructed cleaverly in the way the different scenes are presented and the order they appear, together with her development through the book.
I enjoyed how unlikable all the characters were (which helped a lot in making Viv likeable), the only one I felt lacking was Jamie. I felt like a character as important as he should have had more scenes. We only have one related to his life, like a little setting, and that was it. I would have loved to see some chapters about how Viv's death affected him (aside from being tired) and maybe gave him more weight or more stakes. Getting to know about his relationship would have helped, too.
Overall, a fast read with an interesting plot, really easy to read and not as gore as one would have expected (a lot of the deaths are off page or mencioned briefly). It is written in present tense, which I don't usually like, but I didn't mind it in this case.
Finally, I want to thank to Netgalley, C E Hulse and the publisher, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, for giving me the opportunity to read this digital Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Vivian is determined to turn over a new leaf, even if it means going to a gathering where everyone hates her. It turns out someone hates her more than she thought when she is pushed off a balcony, but she then wakes up - only to be murdered again and again. Stuck in a time loop, will she manage to solve her own murder?
I heard a lot of hype around this one and although I have read my fair share of Groundhog Day thrillers, it is usually a concept that I find entertaining. After finishing I am in two minds about my overall enjoyment. This ended up having an original spin on the time loop thriller, which helped keep it fresh and interesting amongst the others in the market. Saying that, I found that there was less focus on this aspect as I went in believing there would be and instead the development of the main character herself, was overly long and drawn out, which made the story feel very slow paced. I also struggled to connect with her on a personal level, which did not help my engagement.
I enjoyed the humour dotted around the story, this helped keep it feeling fun and quirky, however I found the way the story was executed to be disjointed and confusing, finding conversations hard to follow at times. Even though this wasn’t my favourite book within this genre, it was still a decent read and I can see plenty of other readers getting a lot from this, especially those who are looking for a comedic, character driven story, with time loop elements. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I heard a lot of hype around this one and although I have read my fair share of Groundhog Day thrillers, it is usually a concept that I find entertaining. After finishing I am in two minds about my overall enjoyment. This ended up having an original spin on the time loop thriller, which helped keep it fresh and interesting amongst the others in the market. Saying that, I found that there was less focus on this aspect as I went in believing there would be and instead the development of the main character herself, was overly long and drawn out, which made the story feel very slow paced. I also struggled to connect with her on a personal level, which did not help my engagement.
I enjoyed the humour dotted around the story, this helped keep it feeling fun and quirky, however I found the way the story was executed to be disjointed and confusing, finding conversations hard to follow at times. Even though this wasn’t my favourite book within this genre, it was still a decent read and I can see plenty of other readers getting a lot from this, especially those who are looking for a comedic, character driven story, with time loop elements. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
March 15, 2026
Vivian Dies Again is exactly the kind of chaotic, darkly funny mystery I didn’t know I needed until I picked it up.
Imagine a murder mystery, throw in a time loop, add a deeply messy protagonist, and suddenly you’ve got a story that’s equal parts hilarious and slightly unhinged.
Vivian Slade is… not exactly thriving. She’s on the wrong side of thirty, her life is a bit of a disaster, and somehow she’s managed to alienate pretty much everyone around her. Determined to start fresh (questionable timing, honestly), she goes to a family gathering where the vibes are already terrible. And then someone pushes her off a balcony.
End of story? Nope.
Vivian wakes up again… only to be murdered again. And again. And again. At this point I was both laughing and thinking wow, this woman is having the worst day of her life on repeat.
What makes this book so fun is Vivian herself. She’s messy, sarcastic, and painfully self aware in that way that makes you root for her even when she’s making terrible decisions.
Watching her try to figure out who’s killing her while reliving the same events over and over was chaotic in the best way. Her only real ally is a very tired waiter who just wants to finish his shift, which honestly made the whole thing even funnier.
The mystery keeps you guessing, but the humour and character moments are what really carried it for me. It’s clever, dark, and just the right amount of ridiculous.
If you like murder mysteries with a twist, flawed FMCs and stories that don’t take themselves too seriously, this one is definitely worth the ride.
Imagine a murder mystery, throw in a time loop, add a deeply messy protagonist, and suddenly you’ve got a story that’s equal parts hilarious and slightly unhinged.
Vivian Slade is… not exactly thriving. She’s on the wrong side of thirty, her life is a bit of a disaster, and somehow she’s managed to alienate pretty much everyone around her. Determined to start fresh (questionable timing, honestly), she goes to a family gathering where the vibes are already terrible. And then someone pushes her off a balcony.
End of story? Nope.
Vivian wakes up again… only to be murdered again. And again. And again. At this point I was both laughing and thinking wow, this woman is having the worst day of her life on repeat.
What makes this book so fun is Vivian herself. She’s messy, sarcastic, and painfully self aware in that way that makes you root for her even when she’s making terrible decisions.
Watching her try to figure out who’s killing her while reliving the same events over and over was chaotic in the best way. Her only real ally is a very tired waiter who just wants to finish his shift, which honestly made the whole thing even funnier.
The mystery keeps you guessing, but the humour and character moments are what really carried it for me. It’s clever, dark, and just the right amount of ridiculous.
If you like murder mysteries with a twist, flawed FMCs and stories that don’t take themselves too seriously, this one is definitely worth the ride.
December 7, 2025
Vivian, the black sheep of her family, goes to a memorial determined to turn over a new leaf, only to be murdered. However, that's not the end of the story, as she suddenly comes to, earlier the same evening. She doesn't remember her death, or having lived the experience already, she just has sort of a sense of vertigo or discombobulation. Jamie, a waiter at the party, is the only one who does remember, and he tries to help Vivian solve her own murder.
A creative idea, and it's the first time loop story I can remember reading/watching where the person inside the loop doesn't know they're in it. It was also quite funny, and at times exciting, though the ending fell a little flat for me.
I think the problem is that this book can't quite decide what it wants to be. Is it primarily a dark comedy, is it primarily a murder mystery or is it a family drama? Mixing the three meant that neither strand was really strong enough, IMO. When it started to get exciting it more or less stopped being funny, but the mystery itself was not deep/clever enough and relied too heavily on the time loop gimmick (I had expected some kind of twist or another layer at the end), and the characters were not developed enough for the family dynamics to really become interesting.
Still, it was an entertaining read and a novel concept. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
A creative idea, and it's the first time loop story I can remember reading/watching where the person inside the loop doesn't know they're in it. It was also quite funny, and at times exciting, though the ending fell a little flat for me.
I think the problem is that this book can't quite decide what it wants to be. Is it primarily a dark comedy, is it primarily a murder mystery or is it a family drama? Mixing the three meant that neither strand was really strong enough, IMO. When it started to get exciting it more or less stopped being funny, but the mystery itself was not deep/clever enough and relied too heavily on the time loop gimmick (I had expected some kind of twist or another layer at the end), and the characters were not developed enough for the family dynamics to really become interesting.
Still, it was an entertaining read and a novel concept. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
February 26, 2026
Vivian isn’t the most likeable of people, in fact I don’t think anyone likes her! She is self centered and is far from having her life sorted out. The story flicks between past events as well as present day where she finds herself reliving the day that someone kills her. The chapters in the past make it quite clear why no one in her family likes her. She certainly wasn’t the easiest of children growing up and as an adult, she isn’t mush better.
The story reminded me a bit of the film Groundhog Day. It’s obvious there is a reason she keeps returning to the fateful day and you are left wondering why. You would think a story that keeps retelling the same day would be uneventful but it is anything but. We get to know Viv better as well as her family members and to be honest, none of them are a likeable bunch yet they kept me captivated. There isn’t one person that probably doesn’t want her dead as she has no filter and chaos seems to follow her everywhere.
Vivian Dies Again is so much more than a murder mystery, it is also a story of self discovery. There is a lot of fun to be had in this book along with working out who the killer is. It’s a dark and humorous read that kept me glued to the pages. This looks to be the first book in this genre by the author and I look forward to seeing more by her. A witty whodunnit!
The story reminded me a bit of the film Groundhog Day. It’s obvious there is a reason she keeps returning to the fateful day and you are left wondering why. You would think a story that keeps retelling the same day would be uneventful but it is anything but. We get to know Viv better as well as her family members and to be honest, none of them are a likeable bunch yet they kept me captivated. There isn’t one person that probably doesn’t want her dead as she has no filter and chaos seems to follow her everywhere.
Vivian Dies Again is so much more than a murder mystery, it is also a story of self discovery. There is a lot of fun to be had in this book along with working out who the killer is. It’s a dark and humorous read that kept me glued to the pages. This looks to be the first book in this genre by the author and I look forward to seeing more by her. A witty whodunnit!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 rounded down to 3 for Goodreads and Netgalley.
In this book, we follow Vivian Slade who is thirty-six and widely regarded as the family embarrassment. Determined to make a fresh start, she attends a family memorial… only to be pushed off a balcony and murdered. Then she wakes up and it happens again. And again.
I picked this up for the concept more than anything else as I liked the idea of the blend of murder mystery and time-loop. I quickly realised this was not a fast-paced time-loop story, but something more character-focused and reflective. The book takes its time setting the scene, and the build-up is quite slow. A large portion of the story is devoted to Vivian’s family dynamics and her past mistakes, and the time loop is not the dominant feature. I enjoyed watching Vivian gradually piece things together with the help of Jamie, the exhausted waiter who remembers every single loop, but would have preferred more of a focus on this than on her Fleabag lifestyle.
A recommended read for fans of Groundhog Day and The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
Thank you to NeGalley and Viper for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this book, we follow Vivian Slade who is thirty-six and widely regarded as the family embarrassment. Determined to make a fresh start, she attends a family memorial… only to be pushed off a balcony and murdered. Then she wakes up and it happens again. And again.
I picked this up for the concept more than anything else as I liked the idea of the blend of murder mystery and time-loop. I quickly realised this was not a fast-paced time-loop story, but something more character-focused and reflective. The book takes its time setting the scene, and the build-up is quite slow. A large portion of the story is devoted to Vivian’s family dynamics and her past mistakes, and the time loop is not the dominant feature. I enjoyed watching Vivian gradually piece things together with the help of Jamie, the exhausted waiter who remembers every single loop, but would have preferred more of a focus on this than on her Fleabag lifestyle.
A recommended read for fans of Groundhog Day and The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
Thank you to NeGalley and Viper for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review!
Thing is, Vivian is hard to like. She's also hard to dislike. Her thoughtlessness and selfishness are completely unconcious, which is both good and bad.
Helpfully, although the time-loop device often leaves to exhausted repetitiveness, this is not an issue in this book. Although we're going through the same/similar events, it doesn't get boring. Vivian is a fascinating character, if not a "good" one, and her humour and confusion are very readable.
I really enjoyed the complex family dynamics and the race to figure out who was murdering her. However, the ending did feel like a bit of a let-down to me. It wasn't as interesting or engrossing as I think the book could have built to with a different reveal.
Jamie is an interesting sidekick, with his own troubles and issues going on, although I feel like we don't really explore him and why he's in the loop as much as we could have.
Overall, if you're looking for an easy time-loop read with some wacky characters, this one will definitely fill that need. I don't know if there's a lot of reread or long-term love potential, but while you're in it, you'll probably enjoy. Three stars.
Thing is, Vivian is hard to like. She's also hard to dislike. Her thoughtlessness and selfishness are completely unconcious, which is both good and bad.
Helpfully, although the time-loop device often leaves to exhausted repetitiveness, this is not an issue in this book. Although we're going through the same/similar events, it doesn't get boring. Vivian is a fascinating character, if not a "good" one, and her humour and confusion are very readable.
I really enjoyed the complex family dynamics and the race to figure out who was murdering her. However, the ending did feel like a bit of a let-down to me. It wasn't as interesting or engrossing as I think the book could have built to with a different reveal.
Jamie is an interesting sidekick, with his own troubles and issues going on, although I feel like we don't really explore him and why he's in the loop as much as we could have.
Overall, if you're looking for an easy time-loop read with some wacky characters, this one will definitely fill that need. I don't know if there's a lot of reread or long-term love potential, but while you're in it, you'll probably enjoy. Three stars.
September 16, 2025
***Advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Vivian Slade, well past her party-girl days, turns up at a family gathering everyone seems to hate her for. Before long, someone pushes her off a balcony. Then she wakes up. Then someone pushes her off a balcony again. And again. Trapped in a baffling time loop, Vivian must figure out who wants her dead and why, help from a sleep-deprived waiter who just wants to finish his shift, her only hope for escaping the loop. 
I thought this was fun and original. The voice is sharp and self-aware, and the repeated murder premise is handled with a mix of humour and dark observation that made me both laugh and squirm. Vivian isn’t perfect; she’s deeply flawed, which makes her more interesting, and the mystery pieces fall into place satisfyingly as her world unravels. Occasionally I wanted more surprises, but overall it keeps you on your toes.
If you like stories with time loops and mystery (think The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle), or enjoy protagonists who are messy, witty, and forced to reckon with their pasts (a bit like Russian Doll), this will be a very good pick.
Vivian Slade, well past her party-girl days, turns up at a family gathering everyone seems to hate her for. Before long, someone pushes her off a balcony. Then she wakes up. Then someone pushes her off a balcony again. And again. Trapped in a baffling time loop, Vivian must figure out who wants her dead and why, help from a sleep-deprived waiter who just wants to finish his shift, her only hope for escaping the loop. 
I thought this was fun and original. The voice is sharp and self-aware, and the repeated murder premise is handled with a mix of humour and dark observation that made me both laugh and squirm. Vivian isn’t perfect; she’s deeply flawed, which makes her more interesting, and the mystery pieces fall into place satisfyingly as her world unravels. Occasionally I wanted more surprises, but overall it keeps you on your toes.
If you like stories with time loops and mystery (think The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle), or enjoy protagonists who are messy, witty, and forced to reckon with their pasts (a bit like Russian Doll), this will be a very good pick.
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August 8, 2025Vivian Dies Again is a unique take on a doomsday style storyline, blending mystery with lit fic.
Vivian, whose characters continually dies before becoming alive again, is a messy and chaotic fmc. i loved the way her characterisation was written, especially through the dialogue. it was also really clever how Viv was forced to confront different aspects of her life through each death, giving her space to not just solve her murder, but learn and grow into a better person.
at points i did feel that the pacing was a little off, especially within the beginning set up of the book. however i think a lot of the writing and it’s at times disjointed style, plays into the themes and overall feeling of the novel.
would be an ideal book for those who enjoy a mystery style novel, or a quick palette cleanser between more dense genres.
thank u to Viper (and netgally) for the arc :))
Vivian, whose characters continually dies before becoming alive again, is a messy and chaotic fmc. i loved the way her characterisation was written, especially through the dialogue. it was also really clever how Viv was forced to confront different aspects of her life through each death, giving her space to not just solve her murder, but learn and grow into a better person.
at points i did feel that the pacing was a little off, especially within the beginning set up of the book. however i think a lot of the writing and it’s at times disjointed style, plays into the themes and overall feeling of the novel.
would be an ideal book for those who enjoy a mystery style novel, or a quick palette cleanser between more dense genres.
thank u to Viper (and netgally) for the arc :))
November 6, 2025
A hilarious, caustic, heart-warming, murder mystery, timey-wimey novel.
Viv is a no-nonsense, plain-speaking, fast-living mess of a 36 year old. Disliked and misunderstood by most around her particularly by her extended family. She has the misfortune to be murdered at her own Uncle’s memorial service. Viv becomes stuck in a continuous time-loop trying to solve her own murder before she can carry on with her life. Only one random waiter is aware of what is happening and is fated to help every time she reanimates as he is living through all of her deaths without getting a wink of sleep in between, the poor man is exhausted.
I absolutely loved it and could not put it down once I’d started reading. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.
Viv is a no-nonsense, plain-speaking, fast-living mess of a 36 year old. Disliked and misunderstood by most around her particularly by her extended family. She has the misfortune to be murdered at her own Uncle’s memorial service. Viv becomes stuck in a continuous time-loop trying to solve her own murder before she can carry on with her life. Only one random waiter is aware of what is happening and is fated to help every time she reanimates as he is living through all of her deaths without getting a wink of sleep in between, the poor man is exhausted.
I absolutely loved it and could not put it down once I’d started reading. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.
January 14, 2026
I adore the time loop mechanic in this story. We start somewhere in the fourties’ of the time loops and I was hooked once we did as there’s a lot of detail at play; people’s movements and interactions, and the fact that the only one who remembers isn’t Vivian, our MC, but Jamie, a waiter at the event.
She’s newly introduced to the time loop everytime and he’s exhausted after so many repetitions and, to make everything more complicated, he’s on the clock.
There’s a masterful interplay of people’s relationships with each other, their interactions, and how things change as the pair work to try and uncover the murderer. It’s a fast-paced mystery and Vivian is fundamentally Awful and Misunderstood and such a wonderful POV character all at the same time.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
She’s newly introduced to the time loop everytime and he’s exhausted after so many repetitions and, to make everything more complicated, he’s on the clock.
There’s a masterful interplay of people’s relationships with each other, their interactions, and how things change as the pair work to try and uncover the murderer. It’s a fast-paced mystery and Vivian is fundamentally Awful and Misunderstood and such a wonderful POV character all at the same time.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
February 10, 2026
Vivian Dies Again and honestly she deserves it, cause she’s a bitch.
I found Vivian incredibly annoying both as a person and as a character and until the last couple pages I couldn’t find a single redeeming quality that would make me root for her. And it wasn’t helped by the fact that majority of the side characters were similarly unpleasant.
I did enjoy the concept of someone else being stuck in the time loop rather than the pov character, however it made for a weird dynamic where the reader knows what happened in previous iterations but has to read through pov of vivian who doesn’t. I thought it helped the płot not feel repetitive though.
The ending was the best part, if a bit too sweet for my tastes. The last 50 pages where unfortunately the only pages I was enjoying reading.
Sad this was a huge miss for me…
I found Vivian incredibly annoying both as a person and as a character and until the last couple pages I couldn’t find a single redeeming quality that would make me root for her. And it wasn’t helped by the fact that majority of the side characters were similarly unpleasant.
I did enjoy the concept of someone else being stuck in the time loop rather than the pov character, however it made for a weird dynamic where the reader knows what happened in previous iterations but has to read through pov of vivian who doesn’t. I thought it helped the płot not feel repetitive though.
The ending was the best part, if a bit too sweet for my tastes. The last 50 pages where unfortunately the only pages I was enjoying reading.
Sad this was a huge miss for me…
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