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A Killer Kind of Romance
In this new romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Letizia Lorini, a crime podcast host must solve a chilling serial killer case while navigating an unexpected romance with her mysterious next-door neighbor.
Scarlett Moore doesn’t do romance.
She’s made a name for herself narrating gritty crime fiction on a local podcast. But when her boss hands her the reins to the network’s romance show, Scarlett finds herself neck-deep in swoony love stories on top of her usual murder plots.
Then someone begins reenacting the chilling crimes she discusses on air, down to the last twisted detail.
Determined to protect her small town, Scarlett launches her own investigation. But the line between reality and fiction blurs even more when Rafael Gray—the brooding bad boy who disappeared five years ago—unexpectedly returns. Suddenly, her life reads like a romance novel filled with every trope she used to mock, with Rafael playing the dangerously irresistible lead.
He's perfect in every way...except last time, he broke her heart, and now he’s the prime suspect in the string of brutal murders.
Will this be the love story she never saw coming, or is it a killer kind of romance?
Scarlett Moore doesn’t do romance.
She’s made a name for herself narrating gritty crime fiction on a local podcast. But when her boss hands her the reins to the network’s romance show, Scarlett finds herself neck-deep in swoony love stories on top of her usual murder plots.
Then someone begins reenacting the chilling crimes she discusses on air, down to the last twisted detail.
Determined to protect her small town, Scarlett launches her own investigation. But the line between reality and fiction blurs even more when Rafael Gray—the brooding bad boy who disappeared five years ago—unexpectedly returns. Suddenly, her life reads like a romance novel filled with every trope she used to mock, with Rafael playing the dangerously irresistible lead.
He's perfect in every way...except last time, he broke her heart, and now he’s the prime suspect in the string of brutal murders.
Will this be the love story she never saw coming, or is it a killer kind of romance?
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2026
246 people are currently reading
35730 people want to read
About the author
Letizia Lorini
5 books815 followersLetizia Lorini is the USA Today bestselling author of the Love & Other Recipes series. She’s an Italian writer who’s passionate about heart-warming books with high cackling potential.
Based in Sweden, she lives with her partner and their fluffy pup.
She also has a degree in sociology and one in criminology, speaks three languages, and drinks the daily recommended dose of coffee before breakfast.
Instagram: letizialorini.writes
Tiktok: letizialorini.author
Pinterest: letizialoriniauthor
Website: www.letizialorini.com
Based in Sweden, she lives with her partner and their fluffy pup.
She also has a degree in sociology and one in criminology, speaks three languages, and drinks the daily recommended dose of coffee before breakfast.
Instagram: letizialorini.writes
Tiktok: letizialorini.author
Pinterest: letizialoriniauthor
Website: www.letizialorini.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
January 11, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Little Brown Book Group UK for providing this book for review purposes all opinions are my own.
I loved this book so much, the romance was completely swoon worthy and Rafael was just the perfect book boyfriend. I felt for Scarlett as she pretty much walled herself off after her parents died and her grandparents pushed her out of their lives so her younger brother thought she’d abandoned him. Her grandparents deserve a good dose of karma served by the shovel, as their behaviour toward Scarlett’s brother Ethan was disgusting. Rafael was so patient, kind and caring towards Scarlett, the way he gently knocked down all her walls and worked his way into her heart just blew me away and their first date was just beautiful. I was really hoping she’d let him in, despite his faults he was perfect for her. I really liked Scarlett, she was fragile, vulnerable and I can complexly relate to her love of books, her cat Sherlock was just adorable. When the murders started I was really hoping it was not Rafael as his arrival in town when they started, couldn’t just be a coincidence could it? I really enjoy a romance with a good dose of murder mystery thrown in and I enjoyed this one so much that I devoured this book in one sitting, it was romantic, sad, funny, full of suspense and sexual tension. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book, it was just a lovely book and I really enjoyed the authors writing. I really enjoyed Scarlett and Rafael’s story.
I loved this book so much, the romance was completely swoon worthy and Rafael was just the perfect book boyfriend. I felt for Scarlett as she pretty much walled herself off after her parents died and her grandparents pushed her out of their lives so her younger brother thought she’d abandoned him. Her grandparents deserve a good dose of karma served by the shovel, as their behaviour toward Scarlett’s brother Ethan was disgusting. Rafael was so patient, kind and caring towards Scarlett, the way he gently knocked down all her walls and worked his way into her heart just blew me away and their first date was just beautiful. I was really hoping she’d let him in, despite his faults he was perfect for her. I really liked Scarlett, she was fragile, vulnerable and I can complexly relate to her love of books, her cat Sherlock was just adorable. When the murders started I was really hoping it was not Rafael as his arrival in town when they started, couldn’t just be a coincidence could it? I really enjoy a romance with a good dose of murder mystery thrown in and I enjoyed this one so much that I devoured this book in one sitting, it was romantic, sad, funny, full of suspense and sexual tension. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book, it was just a lovely book and I really enjoyed the authors writing. I really enjoyed Scarlett and Rafael’s story.
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November 19, 2025fun lil murder mystery romcom 🥰
November 3, 2025
This book sounded so amazing and was even better than I could have imagined. Scarlett has a podcast discussing mystery novels, describing the fictional murder the same way a true crime podcaster would. Suddenly, someone begins killing people in the town exactly as described on her podcast on the same day it is aired. Of course, it wouldn't be a cozy if the police didn't ignore her when she came forward with the information.
Even though there were tons of side characters, they were written so perfectly that there was no issue keeping them straight. Love this book so much and will be looking into more by this author.
Not many scenes, but the ones that are there are very spicy.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Content warning: homophobia
Even though there were tons of side characters, they were written so perfectly that there was no issue keeping them straight. Love this book so much and will be looking into more by this author.
Not many scenes, but the ones that are there are very spicy.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Content warning: homophobia
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Want to read
September 1, 2025
Pre-Read
Recently, I have not been liking Romance books, but I think I know that this is going to me one of my most favourite books!
Recently, I have not been liking Romance books, but I think I know that this is going to me one of my most favourite books!
September 23, 2025
a killer kind of romance review
you might recognize my name if you’re a letizia fan, i’m a long time fan of letizia’s turned PA. i’ve been reading her books since the arc for desserts for stressed people (subtle flex), but i made it to her inner circle of friends and for that i am grateful.
that being said - im her friend who will loudly (and correctly) tell her when a name she’s chosen sucks, or when i don’t like a plot line she’s come up with, but she only listens to me like .5% of the time. and i also don’t recommend trying it lol. all of THAT to say, i want to establish credibility as a reviewer. as she is my friend, i know my reviews can seem like a brush off of, “oh they’re friends of course she’s going to say good things.” i’m honest, even to a point of being her own personal annoying woke gen z nightmare sometimes.
i want you to listen to the above when i say: this is letizia’s best book yet. i don’t say that as her friend, or her PA, or the girl who’s been reading her since the start. i say this so honestly and truthfully that i really *need* yall to believe me when i say it.
her writing has transformed from baby author to “this is my FIFTH novel and i just get better and better with each one”.
the story is FANTASTIC. her first story outside of the love & other recipes world and she hit it out. of. the. park. i was honestly nervous to leave the L&OR world, as i’ve grown comfortable there, with shane and heaven and ian and amelie and all the other lovely characters we’ve come to know and love. but rafael and scarlett came in absolutely slamming the doors open for THEIR turn. and they were NOT going to be ignored.
scarlett is *that* girl. she gets caught up in the whirlwind of her murder podcast being the inspiration for a small-town serial killer, as one does. i mean come on. plot? HELLO. and rafael is her sexy as SIN next door neighbor who might just be the serial killer she’s looking for.
again, honest, i didn’t know if letizia would be able to pull off that suspense of the “whodunnit”. i feel like because i am her friend i know her brain. apparently im a terrible friend because i didn’t have a gosh darn clue and i was just at the mercy of each twist and turn she threw my way. and the end? my jaw was on the FLOOR.
this woman managed to pull off a spicy, sexy romance with the guy of most of our dreams at the same time as a murder plot PLUS a subplot to take care of scarlett’s brother, ethan, who honestly stole my heart.
i’ll always be a shane girl. i don’t think that’ll ever change (im almost always partial to the first man in the lineup), but rafael had shane on a run for his goddamn cupcakes.
before i head out (with another plead for you to know i mean every word of this review) i’ll share a few quotes that i think should convince anyone and everyone to pick up what will likely be my favorite book of 2025, and possibly my new favorite book of letizia’s.
“He’s here, and all I want is to kiss him for the rest of my life. To kiss him until my lips are raw, until time stops, until the world forgets to spin.”
“You undo me, Scarlett,” he says, so softly I almost miss it.
“Really?” I rub my thumb on his nape. “Sometimes it feels like you hold me together.”
“You look pretty when you’re offended.”
“I’m not offended.”
“Then I guess you’re just pretty.”
- 09/22/2025
i was right. i loved it. - 09/16/25
if mommy writes it, i’m gonna love it. - 07/02/25
you might recognize my name if you’re a letizia fan, i’m a long time fan of letizia’s turned PA. i’ve been reading her books since the arc for desserts for stressed people (subtle flex), but i made it to her inner circle of friends and for that i am grateful.
that being said - im her friend who will loudly (and correctly) tell her when a name she’s chosen sucks, or when i don’t like a plot line she’s come up with, but she only listens to me like .5% of the time. and i also don’t recommend trying it lol. all of THAT to say, i want to establish credibility as a reviewer. as she is my friend, i know my reviews can seem like a brush off of, “oh they’re friends of course she’s going to say good things.” i’m honest, even to a point of being her own personal annoying woke gen z nightmare sometimes.
i want you to listen to the above when i say: this is letizia’s best book yet. i don’t say that as her friend, or her PA, or the girl who’s been reading her since the start. i say this so honestly and truthfully that i really *need* yall to believe me when i say it.
her writing has transformed from baby author to “this is my FIFTH novel and i just get better and better with each one”.
the story is FANTASTIC. her first story outside of the love & other recipes world and she hit it out. of. the. park. i was honestly nervous to leave the L&OR world, as i’ve grown comfortable there, with shane and heaven and ian and amelie and all the other lovely characters we’ve come to know and love. but rafael and scarlett came in absolutely slamming the doors open for THEIR turn. and they were NOT going to be ignored.
scarlett is *that* girl. she gets caught up in the whirlwind of her murder podcast being the inspiration for a small-town serial killer, as one does. i mean come on. plot? HELLO. and rafael is her sexy as SIN next door neighbor who might just be the serial killer she’s looking for.
again, honest, i didn’t know if letizia would be able to pull off that suspense of the “whodunnit”. i feel like because i am her friend i know her brain. apparently im a terrible friend because i didn’t have a gosh darn clue and i was just at the mercy of each twist and turn she threw my way. and the end? my jaw was on the FLOOR.
this woman managed to pull off a spicy, sexy romance with the guy of most of our dreams at the same time as a murder plot PLUS a subplot to take care of scarlett’s brother, ethan, who honestly stole my heart.
i’ll always be a shane girl. i don’t think that’ll ever change (im almost always partial to the first man in the lineup), but rafael had shane on a run for his goddamn cupcakes.
before i head out (with another plead for you to know i mean every word of this review) i’ll share a few quotes that i think should convince anyone and everyone to pick up what will likely be my favorite book of 2025, and possibly my new favorite book of letizia’s.
“He’s here, and all I want is to kiss him for the rest of my life. To kiss him until my lips are raw, until time stops, until the world forgets to spin.”
“You undo me, Scarlett,” he says, so softly I almost miss it.
“Really?” I rub my thumb on his nape. “Sometimes it feels like you hold me together.”
“You look pretty when you’re offended.”
“I’m not offended.”
“Then I guess you’re just pretty.”
- 09/22/2025
i was right. i loved it. - 09/16/25
if mommy writes it, i’m gonna love it. - 07/02/25
January 26, 2026
new auto buy author??? i think so!!! i’m giving this ♾️ stars (goodreads you need to add this option!!!)
this was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it did not disappoint!!! like good girl x bad boy??? say less. it was sooooo good and i really enjoyed the writing and the unique chapter titles. i could not put it down!! rafael, the man that you are 😮💨 charming, kind, and he falls first!!! scarlett has a lot of walls up from her past, but he is so gentle and patient with her. also scarlett being a bookish girly made me love her even more. she goes through alot of growth as the story progresses and can i just say their moments together >>> 🙂↕️🙂↕️
scarlett doesn’t do romance and currently narrates crime fiction on a local podcast, but her boss assigns her to a romance show as well. once someone begins reenacting the chilling crimes she discusses on air, she is determined to solve the case. unexpectedly rafael, the bad boy who disappeared five years ago shows back up. last time, he broke her heart, and now he’s the prime suspect in the string of brutal murders 🤯
tropes: small town, murder romcom, he falls first, found family, bad boy x good girl, only one bed, bisexual characters, slow burn, bookish fmc, childhood crush
content warnings: grief, custody battles, physical and mental abuse (in the past and off the page), threats, violence (on page), gore
🔪🎧🌌🐈⬛🔎
this was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it did not disappoint!!! like good girl x bad boy??? say less. it was sooooo good and i really enjoyed the writing and the unique chapter titles. i could not put it down!! rafael, the man that you are 😮💨 charming, kind, and he falls first!!! scarlett has a lot of walls up from her past, but he is so gentle and patient with her. also scarlett being a bookish girly made me love her even more. she goes through alot of growth as the story progresses and can i just say their moments together >>> 🙂↕️🙂↕️
scarlett doesn’t do romance and currently narrates crime fiction on a local podcast, but her boss assigns her to a romance show as well. once someone begins reenacting the chilling crimes she discusses on air, she is determined to solve the case. unexpectedly rafael, the bad boy who disappeared five years ago shows back up. last time, he broke her heart, and now he’s the prime suspect in the string of brutal murders 🤯
tropes: small town, murder romcom, he falls first, found family, bad boy x good girl, only one bed, bisexual characters, slow burn, bookish fmc, childhood crush
content warnings: grief, custody battles, physical and mental abuse (in the past and off the page), threats, violence (on page), gore
🔪🎧🌌🐈⬛🔎
November 30, 2025
letizia is genuinely one of my favorite authors, she has been since i read desserts for stressed people on jan 1 & 2nd of 2024 and declared right then it would be my favorite read of the year (spoiler alert: it wasn’t but only because the wedding menu was). ever since then every single book of hers i have read and obsessed over and im SO happy to say that this was no different for me. letizia is probably one of the only authors i have read where every single book of theirs was a 5 star read for me.
i had SO much fun following scarlett and rafael around, trying to figure out with them what in the actual hell was going on in their small town and swooning over their relationship IMMEDIATELY. as i sit here trying to scrounge together any coherent thoughts about how much i loved this book im just having the HARDEST time because there genuinely wasnt a single thing i disliked in this book other than the fact that i had to put it down to go to sleep multiple nights this week lol. i audibly laughed multiple times, i cried A LOT towards the end, i felt a renewed energy towards my love of reading because of this book (ya girls been in a rough slump this year).
im almost hesitant to go into too much detail through out this review bc so much of the fun of it for me was not knowing what in the hell to expect from literally any character at any moment in the story. SO i think at least maybe for now, im gonna leave my gushing where it is and just reiterate how fucking phenomenal, fun/exciting AND SWOONY this book was. i promise at no point are you going to want to put it down, even at the danger of being a grumpy mess for work in the morning. like im already contemplating restarting it right this second and i finished it only a few minutes ago thats how obsessed i am rn 😂
i had SO much fun following scarlett and rafael around, trying to figure out with them what in the actual hell was going on in their small town and swooning over their relationship IMMEDIATELY. as i sit here trying to scrounge together any coherent thoughts about how much i loved this book im just having the HARDEST time because there genuinely wasnt a single thing i disliked in this book other than the fact that i had to put it down to go to sleep multiple nights this week lol. i audibly laughed multiple times, i cried A LOT towards the end, i felt a renewed energy towards my love of reading because of this book (ya girls been in a rough slump this year).
im almost hesitant to go into too much detail through out this review bc so much of the fun of it for me was not knowing what in the hell to expect from literally any character at any moment in the story. SO i think at least maybe for now, im gonna leave my gushing where it is and just reiterate how fucking phenomenal, fun/exciting AND SWOONY this book was. i promise at no point are you going to want to put it down, even at the danger of being a grumpy mess for work in the morning. like im already contemplating restarting it right this second and i finished it only a few minutes ago thats how obsessed i am rn 😂
November 13, 2025
ARC READ FROM NG
Spoiler Free Summary:
A killer is using a podcaster's book choices as a guide to murder women.
Vibes:
I’ll skip straight to it: the author did a wonderful job intertwining the love story with the MMC’s personal arc. The way he recalls memories to show he’s always loved her was genuinely sweet — a thoughtful and emotional touch.
When it comes to the murder mystery aspect, the setup was solid. The author scattered clues cleverly, making it feel like anyone could be the culprit before slowly narrowing things down. Unfortunately, the pacing really started to drag midway through. The story got bogged down in unnecessary details and repetitive situations, and the tension that once hooked me started to fizzle.
Now, let’s talk about the FMC. Around the 48–50% mark, she takes a hard turn into childish and overly dramatic behavior. It completely pulled me out of the story and killed the chemistry that had been building. The library tantrum scene (you’ll know it when you get there) was the breaking point for me — there’s a murderer on the loose, and she’s putting her foot down because she wants to “walk by herself”? Girl, please. Another example, is the cringy scene where she hides behind the door (GROW UP), or the "breakup" later in.
By the final stretch, finishing the book started to feel like a chore. It kept adding subplots, random tangents, and too many POVs. There’s a fine line between a slow burn and just doing too much — and this one crossed it.
Romance scenes:
Pretty standard overall, except for the first one… which was confusing at best. The “PG-14” moment felt chaotic, and the timeline around whether they had or hadn’t actually done the heathen tango... it didn’t add up. You only figure it out later in the book when the FMC has a conversation with her friend. The writing during those scenes leaned cringy instead of steamy, which was a letdown.
Court scenes:
This part completely lost me. The FMC came off like a nightmare client — yelling, interrupting, and throwing fits in a courtroom. The drama felt unrealistic and over the top. I ended up skimming most of it because it read like filler rather than meaningful conflict.
In short: a story with great potential, heartfelt moments, and a clever mystery setup — but weighed down by dragged pacing, frustrating character choices, and scenes that went on far too long.
Cover:
Cover is like Mallory Marlowe's. I like the art and the character theme. The only thing is that the description of the MMC does not fit the cover character.
Spoiler Free Summary:
A killer is using a podcaster's book choices as a guide to murder women.
Vibes:
I’ll skip straight to it: the author did a wonderful job intertwining the love story with the MMC’s personal arc. The way he recalls memories to show he’s always loved her was genuinely sweet — a thoughtful and emotional touch.
When it comes to the murder mystery aspect, the setup was solid. The author scattered clues cleverly, making it feel like anyone could be the culprit before slowly narrowing things down. Unfortunately, the pacing really started to drag midway through. The story got bogged down in unnecessary details and repetitive situations, and the tension that once hooked me started to fizzle.
Now, let’s talk about the FMC. Around the 48–50% mark, she takes a hard turn into childish and overly dramatic behavior. It completely pulled me out of the story and killed the chemistry that had been building. The library tantrum scene (you’ll know it when you get there) was the breaking point for me — there’s a murderer on the loose, and she’s putting her foot down because she wants to “walk by herself”? Girl, please. Another example, is the cringy scene where she hides behind the door (GROW UP), or the "breakup" later in.
By the final stretch, finishing the book started to feel like a chore. It kept adding subplots, random tangents, and too many POVs. There’s a fine line between a slow burn and just doing too much — and this one crossed it.
Romance scenes:
Pretty standard overall, except for the first one… which was confusing at best. The “PG-14” moment felt chaotic, and the timeline around whether they had or hadn’t actually done the heathen tango... it didn’t add up. You only figure it out later in the book when the FMC has a conversation with her friend. The writing during those scenes leaned cringy instead of steamy, which was a letdown.
Court scenes:
This part completely lost me. The FMC came off like a nightmare client — yelling, interrupting, and throwing fits in a courtroom. The drama felt unrealistic and over the top. I ended up skimming most of it because it read like filler rather than meaningful conflict.
In short: a story with great potential, heartfelt moments, and a clever mystery setup — but weighed down by dragged pacing, frustrating character choices, and scenes that went on far too long.
Cover:
Cover is like Mallory Marlowe's. I like the art and the character theme. The only thing is that the description of the MMC does not fit the cover character.
January 23, 2026
This book was 463 pages and that’s 463 pages too long because quite honestly this was very bad.
The plot was all over the place, this had the ability to be something really good and then the author just failed at every turn
I thought going into this that the murders and their connection to the podcast would be the focal point of the story but it honestly all felt like an afterthought to the romance and to the FMCs relationship with her brother… it felt like the author threw a bunch of shit at the wall and then crammed everything that stuck into this book so none of it ended up working
like there are these gruesome murders happening and no one cares, theres a private investigator and two cops working the job. This is a small town of 5000 people and no one is freaked out about what’s happening … or maybe they are but I wouldn’t know because a giant chunk of this book was spent with the FMC worrying about getting custody of her brother from her grandparents because he’s gay and they don’t support him… it literally felt like the author was writing two different books and just copied and pasted them together. There was no connection or flow whatsoever
The dialogue also felt forced and didn’t flow naturally at all and the main characters had ZERO chemistry. The “tension” didn’t exist even though we were told there was tension and it was obvious that was the point but it felt so so so so so forced - I still have no idea why Raphael liked Scarlett she was completely insufferable
Also Raphael, a grown ass man of 26 ish yrs of age, assaulting a 16 year old, vandalizing his car, and finding dick pics in the kids phone and then making fun of his penis was so fucking weird - then basically implying the reason why this kid is bullying Scarlets brother is because he has a big gay crush on him felt sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo off putting ! Like yes the kid was an asshole but idk a grown adult shouldn’t comment on a child’s genitalia and then out the kid and assault him ??? Freaking weird and creepy and gross
I gave this 2 instead of 1 star because I forced myself to skim read until the end to see if my suspicion of who the murder is was correct and I was right because it was so obvious
I HATED EVERY CHARACTER. The end.
The plot was all over the place, this had the ability to be something really good and then the author just failed at every turn
I thought going into this that the murders and their connection to the podcast would be the focal point of the story but it honestly all felt like an afterthought to the romance and to the FMCs relationship with her brother… it felt like the author threw a bunch of shit at the wall and then crammed everything that stuck into this book so none of it ended up working
like there are these gruesome murders happening and no one cares, theres a private investigator and two cops working the job. This is a small town of 5000 people and no one is freaked out about what’s happening … or maybe they are but I wouldn’t know because a giant chunk of this book was spent with the FMC worrying about getting custody of her brother from her grandparents because he’s gay and they don’t support him… it literally felt like the author was writing two different books and just copied and pasted them together. There was no connection or flow whatsoever
The dialogue also felt forced and didn’t flow naturally at all and the main characters had ZERO chemistry. The “tension” didn’t exist even though we were told there was tension and it was obvious that was the point but it felt so so so so so forced - I still have no idea why Raphael liked Scarlett she was completely insufferable
Also Raphael, a grown ass man of 26 ish yrs of age, assaulting a 16 year old, vandalizing his car, and finding dick pics in the kids phone and then making fun of his penis was so fucking weird - then basically implying the reason why this kid is bullying Scarlets brother is because he has a big gay crush on him felt sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo off putting ! Like yes the kid was an asshole but idk a grown adult shouldn’t comment on a child’s genitalia and then out the kid and assault him ??? Freaking weird and creepy and gross
I gave this 2 instead of 1 star because I forced myself to skim read until the end to see if my suspicion of who the murder is was correct and I was right because it was so obvious
I HATED EVERY CHARACTER. The end.
January 15, 2026
4.75/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️
Really really enjoyed this one a lot!!! Romcom with murder mystery thriller vibes. Highly recommend you add it to your TBR.
1.5/5 🌶️
Really really enjoyed this one a lot!!! Romcom with murder mystery thriller vibes. Highly recommend you add it to your TBR.
December 14, 2025
In a very real way this is one of the best books I’ve ever read!!! It was witty and silly and serious and sexy and sweet…just SO beautifully crafted! I have loved Letizia’s writing for a long time but this is her best book yet. I LOVED the way the chapters were set up! It was like a procedural TV show, romance book, and a murder mystery podcast all wrapped up into one PERFECT thing! Everything about the WAY she wrote it was JUST SO GOOD! And that’s all before I even mentions Scarlett!! And Rafael!! And them together! And Ethan!! EVERYTHING WAS SO GOOD!!
I love love love Scarlett!! I love a grumpy girl who is so convinced she isn’t made for love!!! When she’s just been WAITING for the one that got away!!! And seeing her Rafael come back together!! And seamlessly build a life together?! They were literally SO PERFECT! He IS SO DOWN BAD FOR HIS GIRL!!!! He annotates books for her?? HE gets HER into romance books!!!? He listened to his podcast for YEARS?! He built her a bookshelf!!
Everything else was SO GOOD! I love the small town and the gossipy neighbors! And the found family that Scarlett created for herself. And hiw they all banded together FOR Scarlett and Rafael and Ethan! I really appreciated how delicately Letizia wrote Rafael’s backstory and how important that was to his story but also how he worked SO HARD to move past it and not let it define him. She also wrote Ethan’s story so carefully and it was beautiful. Seeing him find himself and find a place to be happy and be himself was SO beautiful.
I am a FAN of Letizia and I will be for life! I cannot wait for literally everything and anything else she has to write 🥹
Thank you so so much to Gallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! And THANK YOU to Letizia for making this possible 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I love love love Scarlett!! I love a grumpy girl who is so convinced she isn’t made for love!!! When she’s just been WAITING for the one that got away!!! And seeing her Rafael come back together!! And seamlessly build a life together?! They were literally SO PERFECT! He IS SO DOWN BAD FOR HIS GIRL!!!! He annotates books for her?? HE gets HER into romance books!!!? He listened to his podcast for YEARS?! He built her a bookshelf!!
Everything else was SO GOOD! I love the small town and the gossipy neighbors! And the found family that Scarlett created for herself. And hiw they all banded together FOR Scarlett and Rafael and Ethan! I really appreciated how delicately Letizia wrote Rafael’s backstory and how important that was to his story but also how he worked SO HARD to move past it and not let it define him. She also wrote Ethan’s story so carefully and it was beautiful. Seeing him find himself and find a place to be happy and be himself was SO beautiful.
I am a FAN of Letizia and I will be for life! I cannot wait for literally everything and anything else she has to write 🥹
Thank you so so much to Gallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! And THANK YOU to Letizia for making this possible 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
November 23, 2025
We have no sense of a real timeline because each chapter seems to orient itself, outside the structure of time, completely unconnected to what just happened before. For someone who wants to eradicate this man from her life, the main character sure is soap-opera-arguing with him in public every chance she gets. Yes, he lied to her and that’s bad, but he also held her a gunpoint?!? And it’s not a big deal?!? Also, this man attacks a minor and they’re FINE with it. As if that wasn’t enough, the ultimate struggle for this book is that it builds momentum and then immediately lose it. Moments of tension are instantaneously solved, giving readers whiplash. Each chapter starts off by identifying a romance trope (that sometimes has nothing to do with the chapter) and detracts from the several plot lines in development. The plot wasn’t fluid and felt more like the author had tropes she wanted to use, pushing them forward inorganically. The main character wants custody of her brother, but is seemingly a flaky guardian with a very troubling relationship with her brother. This book was too long for the content, the entire second half could have been sped up.
Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 3, 2025
Not going to lie—I spent the first half of this book cringing. But once the mystery kicked in and the romance hit its stride, I was all in. A Killer Kind of Romance takes your typical fluffy love story and twists it into something darker and more compelling, complete with murder, secrets, and even a custody battle that had me rooting for the FMC and her brother. It ended up being so much more engaging than I expected, and by the second half I genuinely couldn’t put it down
January 19, 2026
I’ve been a fan of Letizia Lorini since her debut. I’m so excited for more people to read her work and I can’t wait to see this book in bookstores 🤩
My two favorite (and most-read) genres are romance and mystery/thriller. A KILLER ROMANCE perfectly blends the two 🙌
Scarlett Moore narrates a crime fiction podcast. When someone starts reenacting the crimes she discusses on air, Scarlett starts investigating.
Rafael Gray returns to town and is as mysterious as ever. Scarlett isn’t sure if she can trust him, but also can’t resist being in his orbit.
I loved how Scarlett and Rafael couldn’t deny the pull towards one another 💜
Each chapter begins with a popular trope and breaks down its meaning, which was so much fun 👏
Letizia’s writing, the characters she creates, and the banter always have me coming back for more! This book is much different from her others, but I loved how it played on the popular romance tropes—with a dash of murder 🔪
💜 small town romance
💜 slow burn
💜 found family
💜 bookish FMC
My two favorite (and most-read) genres are romance and mystery/thriller. A KILLER ROMANCE perfectly blends the two 🙌
Scarlett Moore narrates a crime fiction podcast. When someone starts reenacting the crimes she discusses on air, Scarlett starts investigating.
Rafael Gray returns to town and is as mysterious as ever. Scarlett isn’t sure if she can trust him, but also can’t resist being in his orbit.
I loved how Scarlett and Rafael couldn’t deny the pull towards one another 💜
Each chapter begins with a popular trope and breaks down its meaning, which was so much fun 👏
Letizia’s writing, the characters she creates, and the banter always have me coming back for more! This book is much different from her others, but I loved how it played on the popular romance tropes—with a dash of murder 🔪
💜 small town romance
💜 slow burn
💜 found family
💜 bookish FMC
January 27, 2026
Enjoyment:⭐⭐
Writing:⭐⭐⭐
Characters:⭐⭐.5
Plot:⭐⭐⭐
Romance:⭐⭐⭐
New rule for me, starting this year: once it takes me more than a week to read a book, and I put it down and don't really want to pick it back up, it's a maximum three-star book.
I basically only finished this because I wanted to know who did it. I did guess it, but the reason was so stupid.
Every chapter starts with a breakdown of romance tropes, which is unique, I'll give it that, but it was kind of quirky, and after a few chapters, it became annoying and took me out of the story. The slander of romance books from the beginning rubbed me the wrong way.
The brother subplot was so irrelevant, it just painted the MCs in a bad light because of how they handled it. The FMC was insufferable for most of the book, and the MMC had too many red flags for a rom-com.
Writing:⭐⭐⭐
Characters:⭐⭐.5
Plot:⭐⭐⭐
Romance:⭐⭐⭐
New rule for me, starting this year: once it takes me more than a week to read a book, and I put it down and don't really want to pick it back up, it's a maximum three-star book.
I basically only finished this because I wanted to know who did it. I did guess it, but the reason was so stupid.
Every chapter starts with a breakdown of romance tropes, which is unique, I'll give it that, but it was kind of quirky, and after a few chapters, it became annoying and took me out of the story. The slander of romance books from the beginning rubbed me the wrong way.
The brother subplot was so irrelevant, it just painted the MCs in a bad light because of how they handled it. The FMC was insufferable for most of the book, and the MMC had too many red flags for a rom-com.
February 1, 2026
I fkn loved this. It was emotional, fun, murdery, sexy and bookish. Oh, and there was a cat. So, perfection? Yeah, let's go with that.
January 8, 2026
The writing in this book was so clunky and messy it made it really hard to enjoy this book.
The premise was so good but it just missed all the marks for me. It seemed like it wanted to be a rom com but it just wasn’t funny.
This book wasn’t for me and that’s okay - I hope it’s enjoyable for someone else
The premise was so good but it just missed all the marks for me. It seemed like it wanted to be a rom com but it just wasn’t funny.
This book wasn’t for me and that’s okay - I hope it’s enjoyable for someone else
November 18, 2025
5+ stars
This book is genuinely perfect? When I say I want a good romance book, THIS is what I mean. Rafael and Scarlett’s chemistry and dynamic is absolutely everything🥹
I’ve never been much into mystery/crime fiction but I did not mind that part of the book at all and totally see how it actually adds to the story.
I loved it and wanted to start over again as soon as I’d finished.
This book is genuinely perfect? When I say I want a good romance book, THIS is what I mean. Rafael and Scarlett’s chemistry and dynamic is absolutely everything🥹
I’ve never been much into mystery/crime fiction but I did not mind that part of the book at all and totally see how it actually adds to the story.
I loved it and wanted to start over again as soon as I’d finished.
October 4, 2025
get outta here!!! just finished this and YALL. Y A L L. this is by far my favorite Letizia book. honest to the gods, this is my #1 read of the year and im so serious. I loved all aspects of this book, the tension, mystery, crime, twists, romance, all of it. I especially loved how the chapters are set up calling out different tropes. you can tell a lot went into this book and as a reader im so appreciative to Letizia for letting us inside her brain yet again with this gem
November 9, 2025
4.25 ⭐️ this was my first letizia lorini read and it most definitely will not be my last.
this was so goooood. the plot felt fresh and was interesting — i was hooked from the prologue til the epilogue (which is rare for me). a well-paced story with the perfect mix of romance and murder mystery. engaging, humorous, spicy, emotional, and thrilling. the writing style was also super easy to read, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
the romance between rafael and scarlett was so well executed with swoony banter, delicious tension, and sizzling chemistry. rafael was so 🤭 that man had me giggling, hair-twirling, and kicking my feet (no seriously, i had to rein it in and chill a few times bc it was a lil absurd.). i also loved the subplot with scarlett and her brother ethan; it added depth and heart without ever slowing things down.
this book had so many of your classic tropes — fake dating, only one bed, slow burn, small town, and found family. even the third-act breakup (which i normally despise) actually made sense and worked!
overall, i highly recommend!!
thank you so much to netgalley and gallery books (simon & schuster) for providing me with this arc!
this was so goooood. the plot felt fresh and was interesting — i was hooked from the prologue til the epilogue (which is rare for me). a well-paced story with the perfect mix of romance and murder mystery. engaging, humorous, spicy, emotional, and thrilling. the writing style was also super easy to read, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
the romance between rafael and scarlett was so well executed with swoony banter, delicious tension, and sizzling chemistry. rafael was so 🤭 that man had me giggling, hair-twirling, and kicking my feet (no seriously, i had to rein it in and chill a few times bc it was a lil absurd.). i also loved the subplot with scarlett and her brother ethan; it added depth and heart without ever slowing things down.
this book had so many of your classic tropes — fake dating, only one bed, slow burn, small town, and found family. even the third-act breakup (which i normally despise) actually made sense and worked!
overall, i highly recommend!!
thank you so much to netgalley and gallery books (simon & schuster) for providing me with this arc!
February 2, 2026
What a lovely book! Loved all of its blunders and mysteries! The title of each chapter was a genius idea! Made you wanna inhale the book. Rafael is the book boyfriend of dreams and Scarlett is so so lucky to have gained and kept him! ;)
October 5, 2025
Holy PERFECTION!!!!
Did I just devour this in less than 24hrs? Yes.
Friends, listen closely, this book was pure PERFECTION!
I will toot my own horn and say I have read all of Letizia’s books and this one takes the cake. It is a perfect blend of romance and murder mystery. If you want a little slashing with smut, look no further!
Where do I even begin with Rafael?? That man, ooh what a man, is the book boyfriend king. I am a diehard Ian super fan from The Wedding Menu but I think the scales have just tipped…Rafael is the new book daddy is town! Thigh tattoos and a nose ring? Call me Spongebob because I’M REEEEEADDDYY!
Thigh tattoos and a nose ring? Call me Spongebob because I’M REEEEEADDDYY!
The banter and chemistry between Scarlett and Rafael is top tier.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I’m stubborn. I’ve been told I could argue with a brick wall and come out convinced I won.”
“God bless filthy smut”
In the famous words of Rafael…
““My feelings for you aren’t a side effect. They’re the illness and the cure.”
“If there’s a hundred versions of me, I want every single one to find you”
I know practically every other review I say you need to read this book, but if you take any of my advice please take this one. You need this book in your life!
Did I just devour this in less than 24hrs? Yes.
Friends, listen closely, this book was pure PERFECTION!
I will toot my own horn and say I have read all of Letizia’s books and this one takes the cake. It is a perfect blend of romance and murder mystery. If you want a little slashing with smut, look no further!
Where do I even begin with Rafael?? That man, ooh what a man, is the book boyfriend king. I am a diehard Ian super fan from The Wedding Menu but I think the scales have just tipped…Rafael is the new book daddy is town! Thigh tattoos and a nose ring? Call me Spongebob because I’M REEEEEADDDYY!
Thigh tattoos and a nose ring? Call me Spongebob because I’M REEEEEADDDYY!
The banter and chemistry between Scarlett and Rafael is top tier.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I’m stubborn. I’ve been told I could argue with a brick wall and come out convinced I won.”
“God bless filthy smut”
In the famous words of Rafael…
““My feelings for you aren’t a side effect. They’re the illness and the cure.”
“If there’s a hundred versions of me, I want every single one to find you”
I know practically every other review I say you need to read this book, but if you take any of my advice please take this one. You need this book in your life!
February 3, 2026
2.5 Stars
The romance wasn't very interesting. I didn't really get them as a couple. The mystery was better, and the main reason I kept reading.
September 25, 2025
I won an ARC of this book and went into it blind, having never read any of Letizia Lorini's previous works. I will now seek out anything she writes.
The banter? Perfect.
The build up? Perfect.
The slow burn? Painfully perfect.
The use of side characters? Perfect in a way that I've never experienced from other writers.
I laughed. I cried. I even yelled at the book once or twice.
If you are a fan of second, and always, chances with a good helping of 'who done it', this book is a must read.
The banter? Perfect.
The build up? Perfect.
The slow burn? Painfully perfect.
The use of side characters? Perfect in a way that I've never experienced from other writers.
I laughed. I cried. I even yelled at the book once or twice.
If you are a fan of second, and always, chances with a good helping of 'who done it', this book is a must read.
November 19, 2025
Recieved an ARC of this book from the giveaway (thanks to Gallery Books). Did not know what to expect as this was my first Letizia Lorini book. And I have to say, I loved it.
The banter was perfect between all the characters. Love every character in the book and the side story between the FMC and her brother. not to mention her cat, Sherlock (I am a cat lover).
The banter was perfect between all the characters. Love every character in the book and the side story between the FMC and her brother. not to mention her cat, Sherlock (I am a cat lover).
December 14, 2025
This book was honestly a bit of drag. I didn’t enjoy either of the characters. They felt so 2D and there was literally not chemistry between the two. Rafael and Scarlett come back together after five years apart, and we learn she’s been in love with him since she was a kid.
Scarlett comes across as childish throughout the whole book and it really took me out of the story. Rafael was lovely but then his ‘dirty talk’ came into play and I was literally cringing and laughing.
He shows back up and then bam, he’s in love and they’re together. But no, he won’t display that to her and we’re left guessing why. Also, there are random murders happening in their small town and of course, Rafael is the main suspect because he was a big naughty when he was a kid.
Jesus, this whole book a yawn. I disliked the characters and oh yeah, everyone is obsessed with a 23 year old girl who hates romance because she can’t fall in love.
I’ve read on of the author’s book in the past, and this will be my last one.
Scarlett comes across as childish throughout the whole book and it really took me out of the story. Rafael was lovely but then his ‘dirty talk’ came into play and I was literally cringing and laughing.
He shows back up and then bam, he’s in love and they’re together. But no, he won’t display that to her and we’re left guessing why. Also, there are random murders happening in their small town and of course, Rafael is the main suspect because he was a big naughty when he was a kid.
Jesus, this whole book a yawn. I disliked the characters and oh yeah, everyone is obsessed with a 23 year old girl who hates romance because she can’t fall in love.
I’ve read on of the author’s book in the past, and this will be my last one.
January 30, 2026
3.5⭐️ gladly rounding up for Rafael!
I think the most important thing I want to say about A Killer Kind of Romance is this: this is not a dark rom-com, neither mainly a romantic suspense. It is a swoon-worthy contemporary romance that happens to take place alongside a murder investigation. The murder mystery is not the focal point, it's the romance! If you approach it with that mindset, you are much more likely to enjoy it.
There is a murder mystery, yes, but it is never the core of the book. It functions almost exclusively as a narrative tool to move the romance forward. It is not particularly intricate, not especially complex, and not designed to be the main attraction. And while the title A Killer Kind of Romance is technically accurate, it also creates expectations that the book itself does not fully meet. This is, first and foremost, a romance novel. The mystery exists to serve that romance, not the other way around.
The premise itself is charming: Scarlett Moore hosts a true-crime podcast, but when the romance podcast host at her company quits, her boss pushes her into taking over that format—despite Scarlett’s deep scepticism about love. She doesn’t believe in happy endings. She doesn’t believe in romance. And she definitely doesn’t believe that those stories are meant for her. Watching someone so rooted in rationality and emotional self-protection being slowly pulled into a romantic narrative is one of the book’s central pleasures.
What makes this even more interesting is the book’s meta-structure. Each chapter is framed around classic romance tropes and narrative beats, almost like an analytical roadmap of how romance stories are built. On a conceptual level, this is genuinely smart. It reflects an awareness of genre conventions and invites the reader to think about how love stories function. In that sense, the book feels self-aware without being cynical, and that is something I really appreciated.
At the same time, this structural choice becomes a double-edged sword, because those chapter prompts often act as foreshadowing to such a degree that they remove suspense or any sort of surprise. More than once, I found myself knowing exactly what would happen in the next chapter before it happened. So, instead of heightening anticipation, it sometimes flattened it. Especially in a story that wants you to question characters and motives, that predictability works against the emotional tension.
Scarlett herself is a very likeable protagonist. She is intelligent, loyal, and shaped by loss and disappointment. Her long-standing feelings for her childhood neighbour, Rafael, and her decision to emotionally move on from him after he leaves, are central to how she views love. By the time he returns, she has built her entire identity around being someone who does not need romance. There is something quietly sad about that, and I think the book handles this aspect of her character with sensitivity.
However, there were moments when her naivety surprised me, especially given her profession in true crime. At times, she feels more trusting than her background would suggest, and that created some dissonance for me. I never disliked her, but I occasionally wanted her to be sharper, more suspicious, more actively engaged with the mystery surrounding her.
Rafael, on the other hand, is written to be adored…and he succeeds. He is, quite simply, a perfect book boyfriend. Library dates. Bookshop dates. Carrying her stacks of books. Reading romance novels to understand her world. Annotating them with comparisons between fictional love and Scarlett herself. He is gentle, emotionally attentive, supportive, and openly devoted. The story makes you fall in love with him alongside Scarlett, and it does so very effectively.
Everything about Rafael is designed to be swoon-worthy, and it works. The romance is the emotional backbone of this book, and it is where Lorini’s writing shines the most. Their connection grows through shared moments, routines, conversations, and quiet care rather than dramatic gestures. It feels safe, warm, and intentionally tender. If you are reading this primarily for romance, you will probably be very satisfied.
Where I struggled more was with the subplot involving Scarlett’s younger brother Ethan and the associated custody issues. I understand the intention here: to create a parallel between Rafael and Ethan, to explore responsibility, protection, and emotional vulnerability. But for me, this storyline never fully reached its potential. The trauma and emotional weight behind it are present, but they are not explored deeply enough. Instead, they are often used to generate short-term conflict rather than long-term emotional growth. It felt like a heavy topic that deserved more space and more care than it was given.
The murder mystery itself was another weak point for me. I found it fairly obvious early on, and it never developed into something that genuinely surprised or challenged me as a reader. Because the narrative focus is so firmly on the romance, the investigation remains relatively surface-level. If you enjoy puzzling through mysteries, this will probably feel underwhelming. The answers come too easily, and the stakes never feel truly high. But then again, I think this was never the main focal point.
Despite these issues, I genuinely had fun reading this book. It is charming. It is cosy. It understands how to make readers root for a couple. It delivers warmth, safety, and affection. It was the right amount of fluff for me right now.
I think the most important thing I want to say about A Killer Kind of Romance is this: this is not a dark rom-com, neither mainly a romantic suspense. It is a swoon-worthy contemporary romance that happens to take place alongside a murder investigation. The murder mystery is not the focal point, it's the romance! If you approach it with that mindset, you are much more likely to enjoy it.
There is a murder mystery, yes, but it is never the core of the book. It functions almost exclusively as a narrative tool to move the romance forward. It is not particularly intricate, not especially complex, and not designed to be the main attraction. And while the title A Killer Kind of Romance is technically accurate, it also creates expectations that the book itself does not fully meet. This is, first and foremost, a romance novel. The mystery exists to serve that romance, not the other way around.
The premise itself is charming: Scarlett Moore hosts a true-crime podcast, but when the romance podcast host at her company quits, her boss pushes her into taking over that format—despite Scarlett’s deep scepticism about love. She doesn’t believe in happy endings. She doesn’t believe in romance. And she definitely doesn’t believe that those stories are meant for her. Watching someone so rooted in rationality and emotional self-protection being slowly pulled into a romantic narrative is one of the book’s central pleasures.
What makes this even more interesting is the book’s meta-structure. Each chapter is framed around classic romance tropes and narrative beats, almost like an analytical roadmap of how romance stories are built. On a conceptual level, this is genuinely smart. It reflects an awareness of genre conventions and invites the reader to think about how love stories function. In that sense, the book feels self-aware without being cynical, and that is something I really appreciated.
At the same time, this structural choice becomes a double-edged sword, because those chapter prompts often act as foreshadowing to such a degree that they remove suspense or any sort of surprise. More than once, I found myself knowing exactly what would happen in the next chapter before it happened. So, instead of heightening anticipation, it sometimes flattened it. Especially in a story that wants you to question characters and motives, that predictability works against the emotional tension.
Scarlett herself is a very likeable protagonist. She is intelligent, loyal, and shaped by loss and disappointment. Her long-standing feelings for her childhood neighbour, Rafael, and her decision to emotionally move on from him after he leaves, are central to how she views love. By the time he returns, she has built her entire identity around being someone who does not need romance. There is something quietly sad about that, and I think the book handles this aspect of her character with sensitivity.
However, there were moments when her naivety surprised me, especially given her profession in true crime. At times, she feels more trusting than her background would suggest, and that created some dissonance for me. I never disliked her, but I occasionally wanted her to be sharper, more suspicious, more actively engaged with the mystery surrounding her.
Rafael, on the other hand, is written to be adored…and he succeeds. He is, quite simply, a perfect book boyfriend. Library dates. Bookshop dates. Carrying her stacks of books. Reading romance novels to understand her world. Annotating them with comparisons between fictional love and Scarlett herself. He is gentle, emotionally attentive, supportive, and openly devoted. The story makes you fall in love with him alongside Scarlett, and it does so very effectively.
Everything about Rafael is designed to be swoon-worthy, and it works. The romance is the emotional backbone of this book, and it is where Lorini’s writing shines the most. Their connection grows through shared moments, routines, conversations, and quiet care rather than dramatic gestures. It feels safe, warm, and intentionally tender. If you are reading this primarily for romance, you will probably be very satisfied.
Where I struggled more was with the subplot involving Scarlett’s younger brother Ethan and the associated custody issues. I understand the intention here: to create a parallel between Rafael and Ethan, to explore responsibility, protection, and emotional vulnerability. But for me, this storyline never fully reached its potential. The trauma and emotional weight behind it are present, but they are not explored deeply enough. Instead, they are often used to generate short-term conflict rather than long-term emotional growth. It felt like a heavy topic that deserved more space and more care than it was given.
The murder mystery itself was another weak point for me. I found it fairly obvious early on, and it never developed into something that genuinely surprised or challenged me as a reader. Because the narrative focus is so firmly on the romance, the investigation remains relatively surface-level. If you enjoy puzzling through mysteries, this will probably feel underwhelming. The answers come too easily, and the stakes never feel truly high. But then again, I think this was never the main focal point.
Despite these issues, I genuinely had fun reading this book. It is charming. It is cosy. It understands how to make readers root for a couple. It delivers warmth, safety, and affection. It was the right amount of fluff for me right now.
December 29, 2025
Spoiler free book review :
5 ⭐️
Oh my… how can I express myself after reading this amazing book ?
So the romance ? PERFECTION. Swoony. Mouth watering. Full of yearning !!!
The whodunit murder mystery ? Super fun & mysterious, you work for it !
Granted I don’t usually read much murder mysteries but I’ve watched plenty of movies, and I didn’t know who did do it until pretty much the ending ! I enjoyed it a lot !! Looking for the clues, motives everything !
I picked up this ARC not knowing the author, only appealed by the synopsis and I now I think I need to pick up her other books, because if all the romances in her books are this good ? I need more in my life !
The FMC is so jaded about love and romance, her journey is extremely fun to watch and endeering at the same time. I wished we would have had a little more interactions with her best friend because I loved their dynamics.
The MMC ? Excuse me but I found a new ultimate book boyfriend. I need one JUST like him please thank you.
He’s so attentive to her, he lets her read in peace ??! The dream 😂
He’s the perfect mix between the golden retriever and the cinnamon roll boyfriend we all want.
The slow burn nearly ended me !! It was so gooood !
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC !
5 ⭐️
Oh my… how can I express myself after reading this amazing book ?
So the romance ? PERFECTION. Swoony. Mouth watering. Full of yearning !!!
The whodunit murder mystery ? Super fun & mysterious, you work for it !
Granted I don’t usually read much murder mysteries but I’ve watched plenty of movies, and I didn’t know who did do it until pretty much the ending ! I enjoyed it a lot !! Looking for the clues, motives everything !
I picked up this ARC not knowing the author, only appealed by the synopsis and I now I think I need to pick up her other books, because if all the romances in her books are this good ? I need more in my life !
The FMC is so jaded about love and romance, her journey is extremely fun to watch and endeering at the same time. I wished we would have had a little more interactions with her best friend because I loved their dynamics.
The MMC ? Excuse me but I found a new ultimate book boyfriend. I need one JUST like him please thank you.
He’s so attentive to her, he lets her read in peace ??! The dream 😂
He’s the perfect mix between the golden retriever and the cinnamon roll boyfriend we all want.
The slow burn nearly ended me !! It was so gooood !
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC !
January 16, 2026
When I first saw the cover (hello Tourist Season vibes) and read the blurb: crime podcast, murders inspired by fiction and a brooding childhood crush returning to town... I was so,so,sooo ready.
And the beginning? Awesome. The setup was strong, the mystery intriguing and the pacing promised a perfect mix of tension and romance.
But somewhere around the halfway point… it kinda went kaboom, kaboom, and not in the fun, twisty way.
Each chapter started with a labeled “plot device” (like The Betrayal, The Subplot, The Whodunit, etc.), complete with a little explanation. At first it felt clever and meta, but after a while… it started killing the vibe. It broke the tension and made the story feel more self-aware than immersive.
As for the characters, Rafael was billed as a brooding bad boy, but turned out to be more of a golden retriever boyfriend, which tbh, wasn't bad, just surprised me. Honestly, I liked him more than I liked the FMC (if I delete the library scene...I think?!?). Now, Scarlett… she started off quite strong but slowly slid into drama queen territory.
Still, I’ll give credit where it’s due; I liked the murder subplot and the overall idea really had potential.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5–3.75*)
Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC!
And the beginning? Awesome. The setup was strong, the mystery intriguing and the pacing promised a perfect mix of tension and romance.
But somewhere around the halfway point… it kinda went kaboom, kaboom, and not in the fun, twisty way.
Each chapter started with a labeled “plot device” (like The Betrayal, The Subplot, The Whodunit, etc.), complete with a little explanation. At first it felt clever and meta, but after a while… it started killing the vibe. It broke the tension and made the story feel more self-aware than immersive.
As for the characters, Rafael was billed as a brooding bad boy, but turned out to be more of a golden retriever boyfriend, which tbh, wasn't bad, just surprised me. Honestly, I liked him more than I liked the FMC (if I delete the library scene...I think?!?). Now, Scarlett… she started off quite strong but slowly slid into drama queen territory.
Still, I’ll give credit where it’s due; I liked the murder subplot and the overall idea really had potential.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5–3.75*)
Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC!
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