Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart

by Emma Simmerman

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Tell Me Lies in this binge-worthy debut murder mystery about a college student whose senior year takes a dark turn when her exes start turning up dead…

Every time a guy breaks my heart, I write him a eulogy in my journal. It’s kind of my thing—closure through creative mourning. They don't actually die... or, at least, they didn't.

Now? These guys aren’t just dead to me, they’re dead to everyone. And I’m the prime suspect.

With my senior year at Pembroke College—and my entire future—on the line, I’ve got no choice but to play detective. Unfortunately, that means teaming up with my long-standing frenemy, Asher, who is insufferable and somehow always there when I need him the least. We bicker, we banter, we occasionally almost hook up, but with the body count rising and my name all over the suspect board, there’s no time to get distracted.

Between college parties, messy exes, suspicious deaths, and a murder investigation I never asked to be a part of—one thing’s for this is not how I thought my last year would go.

Here’s to hoping I can find out who the real killer is... before someone ends up writing my eulogy.

“As bingeable as your favorite Netflix series, Emma Simmerman has managed to spin a story that is both spicy and suspenseful, mixed with humor and heart. Chock-full of witty banter, a messy protagonist you can’t help but root for, and an intriguing mystery at the center of it all, HERE LIE ALL THE BOYS WHO BROKE MY HEART is one seriously entertaining debut.” — Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of Forget Me Not

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction

Audible Audio

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Emma Simmerman is a debut author with an advertising degree from Kent State University. She is a Youngstown, Ohio, native who now resides in Cleveland with her husband Nick, and her two cats Kitty and Cleo. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and drinking overpriced cocktails with her friends.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME💗!!!!!!!


⊱ ──────ஓ๑∗๑ஓ ────── ⊰ 💔🥺Every time a guy breaks my heart, I write him a eulogy⊱ ──────ஓ๑∗๑ஓ ────── ⊰🥺💔!!!!!!!

[_blondebooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 rounded up to 5!)

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Emma Simmerman, and the Avon & Harper Voyager publishing team for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman

🩷 IM SORRY… THIS WAS A DEBUT NOVEL?! 🩷

Listen. I was obsessed.
Up reading my Kindle until 2am obsessed.
And ladies & gentlemen… there was spice, banter, and murder. 😮‍💨🔥



Can we have more thriller authors try this combo please?! Because this book delivered everything I didn’t know I needed. 👏🏼

🖤 The Premise:
Sloane has a coping mechanism for heartbreak — she writes a eulogy for every breakup in her journal.
Because let’s be honest… after someone breaks your heart, they’re kinda “dead to me.” 💀
Only Sloane takes it a step further with her private “burn book” of breakup eulogies.


Except… her journal goes missing.
And then her exes start turning up dead. 😳

Now Sloane — the ultimate hot mess express 🚂 — is suddenly suspect number one. She teams up with Asher (the infuriatingly charming cousin of her long-time crush Wes 😏) to find the real killer before the murderer crosses off the final name on the list… Wes.

🔥 The Vibes:
💋 Spice & slow-burn tension
💀 Murder mystery meets romantic chaos
💬 Banter for days
👯‍♀️ Strong ride-or-die best friends
😂 A little “we were on a break” energy straight from Ross Geller himself

Sloane is messy, lovable, and completely relatable — hitting rock bottom and clawing her way back up with humor, heartbreak, and a wild murder trail in her wake. I absolutely adored her.

As for Asher? Total love-to-hate-to-love energy. Smartass. Jerk. Chaos king. And exactly what this story needed. 😏

🖤 My Thoughts:
I took off half a star because the ending felt a little rushed after such a strong buildup — I just wanted more aftermath! But honestly? That’s only because I didn’t want it to end.
I was never bored. I laughed, gasped, and grinned like a fool at my Kindle. 🤭

Emma Simmerman is one to watch, y’all. For a debut, this was sharp, emotional, funny, and just the right amount of unhinged. 🖤

🗓️ Publication Date: February 3, 2026
Mark your calendars, set your reminders — this one’s going to be a bestseller. 💅🏼✨

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I binged this in a single sitting.

I’m not a huge thriller reader but I’ve been wanting to dip my toes in and this was the perfect choice for that!

I loved the romantic element, it was giving enemies to lovers & perfectly toxic and yet… I ATE IT UP! I was rooting for them big time.

The mystery/thriller element was engaging and I definitely did NOT guess the plot twist!

I loved that everyone was such a mess. These are a bunch of college kids making ridiculous college aged mistakes (as well as some purely psychotic mistakes), and it was such a fun time to watch it unfold!

Whats to love…
- everyone is toxic (complementary)
- “you came?” “you called.”
- MESSY
- hate to love
- “good girl”
- TWISTY
- easy to binge

What might not work for some…
- I would probably say this is romance with a lowercase r not a capital R. The ending is a bit ambiguous so if thats not your thing, this isn’t going to work for you. Also if you’re looking for a healthy romantic element, this is not it.


Audio Narration: 5/5 Perfect performance. The female narrator did a great job with voice variation, including the male voices. Pacing, pausing, inflection were all perfect. The overall pace was a bit slow — but because the pacing is very consistent it’s easy to bump the speed a little. Definitely recommend the audiobook.

4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

I was so thrilled to receive an ARC of this book, as it sounded so amazing. Writing a eulogy every time someone breaks your heart and now every single one of those men are getting murdered? A copy of the eulogy being left at every crime scene? Someone really is doing their best to frame this girl for murder, but that journal made it so easy. This book was so amazing. I had no idea who the murderer was. I had an idea but was so shocked 😲

Those people who really enjoy toxic romances will especially enjoy this. It was my only problem with the book. Why show her getting into such a horrible relationship. Why not show healthy relationships? Let people see what they should be expecting from their partners.

There is several scenes in the book containing smut, but you could easily skip those pages if you wanted. While the smut content is a bit graphic, there aren't very many scenes.

Definitely would recommend this! Loved it so much!

[joni ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.25 stars
guess who stayed up until 5 to finish !! 🫢 totally not me

rtc! im happy with the ending 🙂‍↕️



𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
have been in my thriller era lately & this looks SO good!! i adore romance and mystery 🤭

↪ started jan 24
↪ finished jan 24

thank you avon for sending me an advanced copy

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I would describe this as “Death Note” meets “I Know What You Did Last Summer”.
Which I think are two very odd things to pair together, but hear me out.

This story focuses on Sloane. A college girl who writes “eulogies” for her Exs, to help herself move on from them.
Suddenly, those exs start dropping dead.
Someone is killing everyone she wrote about, and leaving copies of her eulogies at the scene of the crime to frame her.
Now, she needs to find out who the killer is, before any of her friends (or her) turn up dead next.

We get the whole “Write a name down, and then that person dies” thing, like Death Note. Along with the "big college friend group, working together to catch a killer, before the killer catches them" thing from I Know What You Did Last Summer.
For that, I feel like I should love this.
And I did actually think this was good, but I would have changed a few things.

I’m not a huge murder mystery “whodunit” kind of girl. I knew this going in, but the premise really intrigued me- so i went for it anyway.
I can be impressed by these! But, considering my small indifference toward solving the puzzle- I am always looking for good, well-developed characters to make it worth while.

I found it difficult to root for Sloane. Her personality is “Party girl, always drunk, does drugs, can’t commit to anyone, hurts the people around her”. and while I do think that characters like this can make a story interesting and bring some “wildness” and fun in- I am not sure that I think that they are the best choice for a main character that the reader is supposed to be connecting with and feeling guilty for.

What I did like about this though,
The plot itself is pretty great.
I mean come on! People die as a result of her writing fake eulogies for them? That is fun, in a twisted way.
Also, the killer framing someone else is always a win in my book. Because, yes! Confuse me
Make sure I have no idea who to trust. I think it brings a psychological aspect into it, which I enjoy.

I also love a plot twist. And I was pretty happy with this one.
Obviously, I can’t say much, because spoiling a murder mystery would be criminal- but I actually wasn’t expecting the killer to be that person. So good on that.

Overall, I think the story itself was good! I like the mystery, and I like the way things played out. But Sloane makes me not know how to feel. It’s almost like… I don’t even really care if she proves her innocence or not.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and author Emma Simmerman for providing me with the eARC of “Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: February 03, 2026

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

that was fun affffffff

When I saw this was pitched as a cross over between tell me lies and a good girls guide to murder I was so there. And I had a blast.

Someone’s killing off sloane’s ex’s and she’s on the hunt to find out who with her nemesis of the friend group, Asher, who sucks, but I couldn’t help but rooting for him tbh.

This was a twisty time! I had no idea what was going to happen next. Sloane is hard to root for in the best way. She sucks as much as Asher does lowk.

I love messy characters and everyone in the friend group is.

If you’re looking for a thriller with a messed up love triangle look no further!!!!!

Thank you Avon for the gifted copy ❤️‍🔥

4.25/5

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmeman is one of those audiobooks that grabs you immediately and refuses to let go. Narrated by Andi Arndt and Aaron Shedlock, this was an instant binge for me. Andi Arndt is a true comfort narrator—her voice is soothing, grounded, and somehow calming even when she’s describing murder, toxic relationships, and spiraling college chaos. She brings so much depth and emotional clarity to Sloane, a protagonist who is messy, flawed, and deeply cathartic to follow.

Sloane’s coping mechanism (writing eulogies for her exes as a form of closure) is morbid, creative, and surprisingly relatable. Many of these relationships were unhealthy and toxic, and the story doesn’t shy away from portraying that reality. When those exes start turning up actually dead, the book leans hard into suspense territory, with a smart, compelling mystery at its core. If you like college kids behaving badly, poor decisions stacking on top of each other, and consequences lurking around every corner you’ll like this and I can easily see why it’s being compared to Tell Me Lies and A Good Girls Guide to Murder.

The enemies to lovers dynamic between Sloane and Archer adds another delicious layer of tension that is banter filled, sharp, and just toxic enough to fit the overall vibe. These characters aren’t trying to be good people, and that’s what makes the story so fun. The energy is campy, juicy, and chaotic in the best way, with a solid mystery threading it all together. This audiobook fully embraced the mess, the drama, and the suspense, and I had a blast listening from start to finish.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

| ARC Review |

This book had a great start. I was hooked! I found the concept of this book to be really interesting, so I was excited when starting this book. It was slow, but as I got more into it I was enjoying it. I liked Asher at first, I thought he was going to be this emotional complex character that was going to go through some character development towards the end, but I was sadly disappointed. Every time I started to warm up to him, he just pulled an asshole move that pushed me away. I was really rooting for him to be better. He had potential—especially with his history with his father—but the ending just shattered any possible development. He was just a jerk with so manyy red flags. The love triangle with Wes and Asher also felt dull. Wes never stood a chance from the beginning—that was evident. But in retrospect he was the better guy.

Sloane was a hard character to root for, but by the end I started growing on her. She is definitely a flawed character, but her heart was in the right place. I think she deserved so much better than Asher. Dani and Charlie were probably the only green flag relationship, and they weren’t even officially together.

The mystery portion also felt overshadowed by the romance, which I typically don’t mind but in this case it kept the stakes low. The plot twist was alright; it just didn’t leave that much of an impact. I also had issues with the pacing, especially in the beginning, where abrupt transitions made me question where I was in the story

Overall, I’d rate this book 3 stars, because even with its flaws, I still found myself enjoying it at times. The story wasn’t hard to get through, and the friend group often made me laugh with how relatable they were. Their dynamics were messy, but cute here and there, which made them entertaining to read about.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[°.*• Evangeline •*.° · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. Even from the beginning, I could tell Emma Simmerman knew exactly what kind of story she wanted to tell. Her writing has this soft, honest feel to it that made the emotions land in a really real way. I loved the way she captured that mix of heartbreak, growth, and figuring yourself out—it felt relatable without trying too hard.

The characters felt genuinely human, and I liked how she balanced heavier moments with enough warmth to keep the story hopeful. It’s one of those books that’s easy to read but still leaves you thinking about certain lines afterward.

Overall, a heartfelt and well-written YA contemporary that I think a lot of readers are going to connect with.

[Maren’s Reads]

Thank you Avon Books and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.

[LiteraryJenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic debut! I could not put it down! A combination of a murder mystery in an academic setting with a love triangle, enemies to lovers (the banter!!) AND some spice? I was hooked from start to finish and I truly think I will have a book hangover after this one.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book, it had everything from messy characters, quick banter, mystery, and more. 🔥(
did i read this slowly on purpose bc i didn’t want it to end, YES🙂‍↕️)

sloane is a messy character in a good way. she is impulsive, fierce, sarcastic, and that what makes her her.

asher is the frenemy/partner in crime to help sloane figure out who is the murderer. he is misunderstood, witty, and there for you in times of need.

there are a lot of moments where i was giddy, on my toes, or laughing out loud. i kept turning the pages to find out what happened.

this is your sign to add it on your TBR👏🏻

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the digital ARC.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book via ARC through NetGalley.

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart delivers an unexpectedly wild ride that mixes murder mystery with messy college drama in a way that kept me glued to the pages. The story follows Sloane Sawyer, a senior in college whose strange coping mechanism for heartbreak is to write eulogies for every guy who dumps her. That seems like a joke at first, but then her exes start turning up dead in real life with her journal pages left at the crimes scenes and suddenly what was once symbolic starts feeling dangerously real. 

From that point on you are pulled into an unpredictable twist of investigation, suspicion, and chaos as Sloane becomes the prime suspect and finds herself teaming up with Asher. Someone she has a complicated history with to try to figure out who is killing her exes before she’s the next on the list. 

The premise was genuinely gripping and hooked me early. The tension of trying to solve the murders kept the pace moving, even if some parts felt a bit chaotic. In places, the scenes shift quickly, Sloane makes repeated bad decisions, and a lot of moments feel like sudden jumps. 

Sloane herself is a hot mess in the best and worst ways. She drinks a lot, gets into trouble, and rarely learns from her mistakes, which made her hard to root for sometimes but also strangely compelling. The dynamic between her and Asher adds tension and slow burn energy, though not every romantic beat lands perfectly. 

The mystery itself is creative and full of misdirection with body count rising in inventive ways. Some twists are satisfying and unpredictable, others feel like they rush to tie things up, but overall the unpredictability kept me reading fast. 

In short, this book is messy, fun, and surprising with a darkly funny concept at its core. If you enjoy character driven thrillers with college town energy, quirky behavior, messy relationships, and a killer premise that actually delivers on suspense, this one is worth your time.

[Lex ✿]

3.5⭐

if pretty little liars and shonda's "how to get away with murder" had a baby, this would be that book. i had such a fun time with this thriler, it was quick and easy to feel invested in the events, while also rooting for sloane. the drama was messy, the mystery was addictive and i just could not get enough!

full RTC!

[psiedoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potevi essere una bomba.. invece eri troppo ubriaca per capire 🥲

[Megan Reads-a-lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a debut novel, I did not expect Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart to be so good! The premise of the book was intriguing and how the author wove a murder mystery into it was genius. Also, the slow-burn spicy tension with the frenemy and cousin of the boy she likes had me reminiscing about my college days…. Anyway, it has been a long time since I pulled an all-nighter to read a novel but I just could not wait to see what happened next!

The only issue I had with the novel was that I knew who the killer was from the beginning. I felt it was obvious because I got *SPOILER* SWF (that’s Single White Female for those of you too young to remember the novel) vibes from Annica. Plus Sloane brought her to almost every murder scene. I also thought the ending was a little rushed. I would have liked to have heard Asher out and to see what Sloane chose to do after college. Maybe another book is on the horizon?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Simmerman and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just coming to write my review and I’m shocked to see this is a debut author! Kudos!! What a terrific start!!!

Sloane is a Senior at Pembroke College. Over the years she’s had a broken heart many times…so, to honor the loss and to heal her heart, she starts writing eulogies for each boy that hurts her.
They’re not ACTUALLY dead, just dead to her. In her own way.

Over the summer she had a hookup with Wes, the guy she’s had her eye on for a while. She’s hoping 🤞🏼 that maybe things can continue when school starts up again. But, first day back, she sees he’s with another girl. 😕

However, Wes’ cousin Archer seems to be following Sloane around… why?

Also, last year, Sloane was with a professor. 😮. He was fired, and his wife left him. This, unfortunately, is common knowledge on campus… and some of the girls, and guys, berate her for this… over and over….

But, when the first guy she eulogized ends up dead. Really dead. She starts to worry…
And then the next…etc…

What is going on? And why????

This one had me hooked from the get-go!
And each time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong!
And when the clues start adding up…well, case is solved. Right??
Not really….

Wasn’t sure I was going to like this one…and I was correct. I didn’t like it, I LOVED it!!
And if this is her first…well, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for more!

#HereLieAllTheBoysWhoBrokeMyHeart by @EmmaSimmerman. Narrated beautifully by @AndiArndt; with the epilogue narrated by @AaronShedlock.

4 1/2 psychotic, sweet, sappy, mysterious, gruesome stars for me, happily rounded up to 5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET! But, it’s coming out soon… on 2/3/26! So, look 👀 for it then!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HarperAudioAdult and @AvonPublishing for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart is exactly the kind of chaotic, bingeable mystery I fly through in one sitting. It’s part campus thriller, part messy coming-of-age story, and it fully leans into the drama and unbelievability—in a good way. Most of the time.

The premise sounds absolutely insane, and it had me requesting this on NetGalley immediately. I’m really glad I did! This was a quick, funny, ludicrous read that I fully enjoyed. I mean c’mon… a girl who copes with breakups by writing eulogies for her exes and then those exes actually start to die? And then, obviously, she becomes the main suspect? Sign me up! I also loved how the mystery of the story unfolded alongside the pressure of senior year and everything that comes with that- the future, your plans, your reputation, your identity. It was all hanging in the balance right alongside a growing pile of dead exes.

Our main character is realistically flawed, impulsive, emotionally messy, all of which made her feel real. And her dynamic with Asher? Peak almost-enemies-to-lovers energy. The banter is sharp and funny, the tension is entertaining, and their relationship adds just enough heat and heart without overpowering the mystery.

While I guessed parts of the plot earlier than I expected, the ride was still incredibly entertaining. The tone balances humor and suspense well, and the story genuinely feels like a Netflix series waiting to happen—short chapters and constant twists.

Overall, this was a super fun debut: witty, dramatic, and compulsively readable. If you like messy protagonists, campus mysteries, and a little romantic tension mixed with murder, this one is absolutely worth the read.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this eARC!

[Liz ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for the e-ARC of Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman.

When I read the premise of this book: a girl who writes eulogies for the guys who broke her heart, only for them to start turning up dead??? I knew immediately I had to request it. It sounded unhinged in the best way and promised a fun, chaotic ride.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. There was truly never a dull moment, every chapter felt like BAM, BAM, BAM, something was always happening. The pacing was fast, the concept was clever, and the story kept me entertained from start to finish. I also appreciated the humor woven throughout; it balanced the darker elements really well and kept things from feeling too heavy.

Also, I think I’m just dumb because I never guessed anything lol.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!!

This is my first ARC and I am so excited to write this review.

First off, this was Emma Simmermans debut novel. I actually enjoyed Here Lies All the Boys Who Broke My Heart quite a bit!

The main character, Sloane, wrote a eulogy for every relationship that went poorly just for the guys she wrote about to actually start ending up dead. It all started with Jonah, her first relationship and first name in the journal. This event did not alert her until the second name ended up dead next. Alarms immediately started going off in Sloanes head especially after realizing her journal was missing.

This book kept me on my toes. We have a pretty messy group of friends in this story and a lot of messy relationships. One guy knows about Sloanes night with Wes, her best friends cousin. Asher gives Sloane an ultimatum in order to keep her secret safe but more is going on now and she starts questioning what's more important. Getting close to Wes again for Ashers deal or removing herself since she is now a suspect in multiple murders she is tied into.

I can't say I saw the end coming. I did have a feeling that a certain person was the culprit but then a twist occurred and it wasn't exactly the person I had in mind. But they did play a part.

I am definitely looking forward to another book by this author. I was sucked in from the beginning.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good mix of mystery with a love triangle and some spurts of comic relief. Sloane at some parts comes off as a hot mess express, but shows many different characteristics that I believe readers will relate to (not necessarily the drinking problem) The realness of having a FMC that is not perfect and shows her flaws drew me in more as a reader. Did not fall into the category of cliché, female leads where everyone else around her is the problem and she is just there to tell the story.

Gives off pretty little liar vibes with multiple moving parts that keeps the reader intrigued and wondering what is going to happen next. Genuinely does keep things building all the way from the beginning to the end when the final climax has reached its peak. Throughout the entire story, there are twists where you think you have figured it out, but then something else happens and you realize there is a bigger picture and there is more going on.

Personally found as a breath of fresh air, where the FMC does not end up forced in ending up with someone. Would not have made sense with the situations and accounts that took place. Forcing there to be a love happy ending would have missed the opportunity for the personal growth of Sloane on her own.
However, leaving it open ended does provide the chance for there to be a redemption arc for Asher and not leave him completely dismissed. With him knowing what he’s done and with him mentally knowing that he needs to make an amends to somebody that he loves will allow the character development to reach different stages that would not have happened if the truth hadn’t come to light.

Definitely a read that I enjoyed and played around with trying to guess the ending but did not get it correct.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ready for a sequel: yes,absolutely
Would I recommend this book: 10/10 yes

[Brandee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC to read and review before publishing.

Unfortunately, Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart was not for me.

I knew very early on, around chapter 5 or 6, that if I didn't like the FMC by then I had no hope of liking her throughout the book. I feel as though she had no redeeming qualities, and I theorized that she wasn't going to change. I also theorized who was the villain and why by that time. I decided to skip ahead to the last 5 chapters, and it turns out I was right on both theories.

I cannot confidently recommend this book to readers.

[Mariam˚｡౨ৎ˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman is a really unique read

our main character is Sloane wrote in her journal her exes deaths, and one day her ex really dies, one after another, so this must not be a coincidence right? so we follow her investigation about how killed her exes and why?

the love interest is Asher and they literally bicker all the damn time and their banter is REALLY funny and cute at the same time

the plot twist was insane, I tried to solve but my face was like 😨😲🧐 through the whole book

and thanks to the very talented author and to netgalley for the opportunity to read this really amazing book

[Andreea Ispas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart is a murder mystery in an academic setting and it was one of those books that I couldn't put down.

The story was easy to follow and filled with banter. The questionable choices of the characters added to the plot and love triangle was a nice touch.

I totally recommend this book and I definitely keep my eye on Emma Simmerman!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Emma Simmerman is an author to watch! Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart reads like watching a limited-series show on television. It combines murder, mystery, and romance in a way that keeps you engaged and entertained, all while exploring the pressures of having your life and career path figured out that final year of college.

The premise of the plot had me hooked from the very beginning! I loved the way the story played out during Sloane’s final year of college where everything feels heightened, like there’s just one last chance to get it right. Sloane is flawed and messy, which for me is what made her such a dynamic main character. You can root for her while still cringing at some of her choices. There’s also a bit of mystery around her where you’re not sure if she’s a reliable narrator or not — great characterization on Simmerman’s part!

The banter and tension between Sloane and Asher was extremely well-written. For me, it was really a toss up between wishing Sloane would be with someone who treated her with tenderness, like Wesley, and knowing Asher understood her in more fundamental ways. I loved their unwillingness partnership and seeing them grow closer as the plot progressed.

The uniqueness of each murder meant you were never sure when another was coming. I loved the edge-of-the-seat feeling this plot gave me as the suspect pool kept growing. The dynamics between Sloane’s and Asher’s friend group also played into the drama, making it hard to know their level of involvement in helping or hindering Sloane’s investigation. I thought the pacing of the story was superb, enough to keep the plot moving forward all while laying enough groundwork and hints for the final showdown.

Overall, this was an incredible debut story sure to engage lovers of thrillers and romance novels alike! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[reading with rylanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time one of her relationships falls apart, Sloane writes a fake eulogy for the boy in a secret journal, killing them off in her mind to help get over them. But when her journal disappears and her exes actually start dying, she must figure out what's going on before it's too late and she gets in trouble for murders she didn't commit.

I was at an event for Stacy Willingham last fall, and she mentioned that she had just read and really enjoyed Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart. While she was still talking about it, I immediately jumped onto NetGalley and requested it as well because it sounded good. I am so glad I got approved for an ARC of it and was able to read it before its release date, because wow! There were a few sections where the writing was clunky and awkward, but I really had a great time with it. I very much enjoyed my time soaking in the drama, toxic relationships, and murders that happened over the course of the book. I did actually end up guessing the big plot twist a little earlier than anticipated, but it was a shock nonetheless to find out the truth about who was behind killing the boys from Sloane's past.

If you love books that are dramatic with hints of spicy romance, I would highly recommend this one! I almost wish we had just one more chapter to see what ends up happening with *you know who,* but a girl can dream. And keep dreaming I will!

Overall, I genuinely had a great time with Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart and think I'll be buying myself a physical copy upon release day. Congrats to Emma Simmerman on the debut!

CW for sexual content, murder, grief, blood, alcohol and drugs, fire/fire injury, car accident, mentions of cancer.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC of Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman. All thoughts are my own.

[Sharon Olding-Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who Will Be Next?

If you love Pretty Little Liars, this college thriller is one you’ll want to pick up. It’s fast, suspenseful, and filled with lots of twists and turns among a group of friends who party hard and seem to always be intertwined in one way or another.

Sloane deals with heartbreak in a strange but memorable way. She writes eulogies for the “boys” who hurt her. It seems harmless until those same boys start turning up dead with her eulogies beside them. Suddenly, Sloane is thrown into a scary mystery where everyone around her looks a little suspicious, including herself.

The friend group is complicated and messy in all the best ways. At times I rooted for certain characters, and other times I honestly hoped they’d be the next victim. And really, I kept wondering why none of them were more freaked out that people were dying around Sloane. If I were one of those friends, I would’ve packed my bags, left town and never looked back.

Emma Simmerman did a great job keeping me guessing about who the guilty person was. The storyline never felt too predictable, which made the book even more enjoyable. And just when you think it’s over, the author throws in another twist at the end that keeps the tension going.

If you love morally gray characters, messy found family, whodunit mysteries, and everyone is a suspect then you will enjoy this book.

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart is a quick mystery packed thriller with twists. It is great for fans of moody, campus-set thrillers.

Keep an eye out for this one in February 2026. Your TBR shelf won't regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Shannon H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart is an entertaining, messy blend of campus drama and murder mystery. Sloane comes back to Pembroke for her senior year after a chaotic end of junior year and a taboo summer one night stand. Instead of the goal-oriented, drama free year she wanted, her ex-boyfriends start turning up dead. To make matters worse, she’s written fake eulogies about them in her journal, which is now missing. Suddenly she’s under suspicion, and the only way forward is untangling the mystery before it swallows her whole.

I loved how twisty the plot was, with red herrings and reveals that kept me guessing until the end. The college atmosphere is a big part of the story too, from the constant parties to the social politics and the way friendships can be both grounding and destructive. It captures that messy, heightened energy of senior year while layering in a genuine mystery.

The romance adds some tension, but what stood out most for me was Sloane navigating the minefield of college life while trying to catch a killer and prevent any more exes from dying. It’s chaotic in the best way, and I read it in only a day.

Thank you for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an absolute trip. It’s kind of like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. The characters are awful, but they’re awful together and it somehow works. Sloane is a complete mess especially when it comes to her love life. What then could go wrong by teaming up with your frenemy who also happens to be the cousin of your actual crush. You can all see where this is going and so could I, yet, I couldn’t turn away. The banter and spice were on point. The mystery, though, was a whole vibe. Having your ex boyfriends end up murdered one by one would certainly mess with anyone’s head, especially if you’re way of achieving closure after the end of a relationship is to write a eulogy for those exes. As with any good mystery, there are plenty of misdirections and twists. However, the final twists at the end were absolutely unhinged. I’m still processing what I read. The audiobook narration leaned into the chaotic mess (in a good way) that was this story and fit the vibes perfectly. It’s an easy binge listen if you just want to be entertained.
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ARC courtesy of Avon Books
ALC courtesy of Harper Audio