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If Books Could Kill
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THE HOTTEST BOOK OF 2026! Pre-order IF BOOKS COULD KILL now ready for your summer holiday reading as the 'must have' book of the summer.
She thought she was in a romance. Fate threw her into a thriller. Will happily-ever-after still be on the cards when fiction and reality blur for Roxie?
When Roxie makes a tongue-in-cheek wish to live out the plot of her favourite author’s next novel, she has romance in mind — namely, the sweet, safe, swoon-worthy storylines Anna Matthews is known for. It should be a dream come true when her wish is granted by a mysterious busker, and she finds herself swept into a fairytale first date with a dashing stranger who seems destined to take her breath away.
Except for one little that dashing stranger tries to take her breath away. Literally. With a knife. The thing is, Roxie may be the new Anna Matthews protagonist — but this time, Anna is writing a crime thriller.
Thrown into a perilous genre she’s never read, Roxie is desperate for help. So, when her escape from a potential murderer takes her straight into the path of Grant Hoffman — an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels — she decides a little light kidnapping is a small price to pay for survival.
Together, Roxie and Grant team up to navigate a madcap story where the lines between fiction and reality blur and find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End — or maybe even Happily Ever After.
Perfect for fans of THE FLAT SHARE, IN FIVE YEARS, A NOVEL LOVE STORY and movie hits THE LOST CITY and HIT MAN
She thought she was in a romance. Fate threw her into a thriller. Will happily-ever-after still be on the cards when fiction and reality blur for Roxie?
When Roxie makes a tongue-in-cheek wish to live out the plot of her favourite author’s next novel, she has romance in mind — namely, the sweet, safe, swoon-worthy storylines Anna Matthews is known for. It should be a dream come true when her wish is granted by a mysterious busker, and she finds herself swept into a fairytale first date with a dashing stranger who seems destined to take her breath away.
Except for one little that dashing stranger tries to take her breath away. Literally. With a knife. The thing is, Roxie may be the new Anna Matthews protagonist — but this time, Anna is writing a crime thriller.
Thrown into a perilous genre she’s never read, Roxie is desperate for help. So, when her escape from a potential murderer takes her straight into the path of Grant Hoffman — an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels — she decides a little light kidnapping is a small price to pay for survival.
Together, Roxie and Grant team up to navigate a madcap story where the lines between fiction and reality blur and find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End — or maybe even Happily Ever After.
Perfect for fans of THE FLAT SHARE, IN FIVE YEARS, A NOVEL LOVE STORY and movie hits THE LOST CITY and HIT MAN
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 18, 2026
12 people are currently reading
7231 people want to read
About the author
Kate Eberle
1 book21 followersKate Eberle studied journalism at Boston University before rediscovering her love of fiction. She lives and writes in Connecticut, where she spends the rest of her time being the ultimate menace to society: a grown-up Theater Kid. If Books Could Kill is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 18, 2025
This was so so goooood!!
If Books Could Kill follows Roxie who makes a wish to be the protagonist of her favorite romance author’s next book. Her wish ends up coming true, but unknown to her, that author ends up writing a crime thriller, thrusting Roxie right into the middle of it. With the help of a stranger Roxie meets after a chance encounter, the two will find themselves trying to survive until the end of the book.
This was such a unique story, and I loved every second of it. Roxie was such a funny character who was genuinely making me laugh out loud like every page. She was tough, ready to throw herself into danger, and had the best banter. I mean this was seriously the most fun I have had reading in a while. The story was action-packed; the romance was so cute and made me giggle (I love the two main characters so much) and the plot itself had me so engaged I could not stop reading. This was the perfect mix of suspense and romance, balanced and written so well that it straight up felt like a movie coming to life in my head.
If you are looking for a unique romance book full of action and the most fun/cute scenes, then definitely pick this book up. You will have an amazing time reading it! Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC.
If Books Could Kill follows Roxie who makes a wish to be the protagonist of her favorite romance author’s next book. Her wish ends up coming true, but unknown to her, that author ends up writing a crime thriller, thrusting Roxie right into the middle of it. With the help of a stranger Roxie meets after a chance encounter, the two will find themselves trying to survive until the end of the book.
This was such a unique story, and I loved every second of it. Roxie was such a funny character who was genuinely making me laugh out loud like every page. She was tough, ready to throw herself into danger, and had the best banter. I mean this was seriously the most fun I have had reading in a while. The story was action-packed; the romance was so cute and made me giggle (I love the two main characters so much) and the plot itself had me so engaged I could not stop reading. This was the perfect mix of suspense and romance, balanced and written so well that it straight up felt like a movie coming to life in my head.
If you are looking for a unique romance book full of action and the most fun/cute scenes, then definitely pick this book up. You will have an amazing time reading it! Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC.
January 7, 2026
I haven’t laughed this hard and as much while reading for a good while.
Want to read
November 8, 2025Should i start this one?
November 23, 2025
This book has it all comedy, romance, suspense, thrills. It will keep you wondering what is going to happen next. I found it easy to read and I was always wondering what is going to happen next with Roxie and Grant.
This book comes out July 21, 2026, mark your calendars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin and Kate Eberle for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for an honest review.
This book comes out July 21, 2026, mark your calendars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin and Kate Eberle for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin and Kate Eberle for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
If Books Could Kill is everything amazing. When I say everything I mean...It's cozy/comfy, suspense/mystery, humor, charm, romance and spice. Grant and Roxy's chemistry is absolutely perfect. I just love everything about this book.
I highly recommend that y'all read this book.
If Books Could Kill is everything amazing. When I say everything I mean...It's cozy/comfy, suspense/mystery, humor, charm, romance and spice. Grant and Roxy's chemistry is absolutely perfect. I just love everything about this book.
I highly recommend that y'all read this book.
February 4, 2026
3.75 stars! This was a really cute read! One of those where I could automatically see this being adapted into a Netflix movie. And there were a lot of moments I laughed out loud. However the ability to create a solid romance, comedy, and thriller is a *very* difficult thing to balance. Unfortunately the romance suffered for me where I was almost convinced the male hero was someone else until 50% into the book. Regardless, I’d recommend this for fans of Ally Carter or magical realism!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC. If books could kill is out June 18, 2026!
Favorite quote:
“Absolutely,” I say. “If we ever meet a serial killer who will chop off our heads unless we can answer his riddles three, you are the only one I’d want there with me.” 🤣 I can’t give context until you read it!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC. If books could kill is out June 18, 2026!
Favorite quote:
“Absolutely,” I say. “If we ever meet a serial killer who will chop off our heads unless we can answer his riddles three, you are the only one I’d want there with me.” 🤣 I can’t give context until you read it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I couldn't love this book more! *ARC Review*
Roxie, like so many of us, loves romance novels. Her favorite author is Anna Matthews and Roxie is not so patiently waiting for her next book. Roxie's love life is NOT like a romance book, and she wishes that she could be Anna's next FMC. She happens to make that wish in front of a "magic" Grifter on a street. Suddenly, she meets a handsome man who takes her on a date to a LIBRARY! It's like her wish is coming true. But there is a catch.....and maybe this isn't Anna's next romance novel after all. Maybe it's her first thriller!
A wild ride and a fabulous mash up of thriller & romance, with Roxie as one of the funniest main characters I have read in a long time. This is a great book, and it's going to be the perfect summer read!
Roxie, like so many of us, loves romance novels. Her favorite author is Anna Matthews and Roxie is not so patiently waiting for her next book. Roxie's love life is NOT like a romance book, and she wishes that she could be Anna's next FMC. She happens to make that wish in front of a "magic" Grifter on a street. Suddenly, she meets a handsome man who takes her on a date to a LIBRARY! It's like her wish is coming true. But there is a catch.....and maybe this isn't Anna's next romance novel after all. Maybe it's her first thriller!
A wild ride and a fabulous mash up of thriller & romance, with Roxie as one of the funniest main characters I have read in a long time. This is a great book, and it's going to be the perfect summer read!
January 4, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Eberle for trusting me to be an ARC for this debut novel. I struggled with this at first but the further I got into it, the more fun I had reading it. I throughly enjoyed the ride that this novel offers. I was intrigued based on the synopsis how this would turn into a romance mystery book and it did not disappoint. The mystery build up, the expected but also unexpected romance, the two twists at the end.. The twist at the very end was placed so beautifully and I audibly gasped out loud. Be sure to check this out when it hits the market!!
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Eberle for trusting me to be an ARC for this debut novel. I struggled with this at first but the further I got into it, the more fun I had reading it. I throughly enjoyed the ride that this novel offers. I was intrigued based on the synopsis how this would turn into a romance mystery book and it did not disappoint. The mystery build up, the expected but also unexpected romance, the two twists at the end.. The twist at the very end was placed so beautifully and I audibly gasped out loud. Be sure to check this out when it hits the market!!
November 9, 2025
This book is hilarious 🤣 I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time while reading a book. This book also has so much heart, the chemistry between Roxie & Grant is beautiful.
Roxie makes a wish, to be in a romance novel of one of her favorite authors. This is a wish made while talking to her best friend, on the phone, in the middle of a sidewalk. Who hadn’t said “I wish for …” while in a casual conversation?
What happens next is a series of unfortunate events, filled with chaos, confusion, and murder?
In order to escape a homicidal date, Roxi must commit some felonies. All manner of chaos ensues.
This book has twists and turns, a romantic interest that might not be real. It’s a book within a book within reality??? I enjoyed it so much and I think it might be the most popular book of 2026.
This book comes out on July 21, 2026!! Mark your calendars!!
I read this advanced copy from @netgalley. Thank you so much.
#book #books #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bookreader #booknerd #bookworm #bookreviews #bookstagram #read #readersgonnaread #readmorebooks #ifbookscouldkill
Roxie makes a wish, to be in a romance novel of one of her favorite authors. This is a wish made while talking to her best friend, on the phone, in the middle of a sidewalk. Who hadn’t said “I wish for …” while in a casual conversation?
What happens next is a series of unfortunate events, filled with chaos, confusion, and murder?
In order to escape a homicidal date, Roxi must commit some felonies. All manner of chaos ensues.
This book has twists and turns, a romantic interest that might not be real. It’s a book within a book within reality??? I enjoyed it so much and I think it might be the most popular book of 2026.
This book comes out on July 21, 2026!! Mark your calendars!!
I read this advanced copy from @netgalley. Thank you so much.
#book #books #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bookreader #booknerd #bookworm #bookreviews #bookstagram #read #readersgonnaread #readmorebooks #ifbookscouldkill
November 24, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! The humor was so funny to me, and I loved how self aware the book was— there were several times where my internal monologue made a comment and then the characters made the same comment. I loved the twist at the end! Very funny thriller romance, would love to read more by this author!
December 30, 2025
This was such an entertaining book, every other sentence will make you laugh out loud. It is a fusion of a thriller and a rom com with a little dash of mystery/suspense. A story of two characters(Roxie & Grant) trapped inside a story(a murderous one) is something new and different. The author really managed to blend in all the elements of mystery, romance and comedy in this single book. There were so many moments where I had to stop reading and just laugh/giggle. Grant’s secret hobby was a delightful surprise and I loved how the story transitioned from a bizarre wish to chaotic thriller comedy, then to a chaotic romantic comedy and finally to a heartfelt romance. Both FMC and MMC went through a character development in the very small window of events in the story and it was refreshing. Minor characters were outrageously unique and stood out adding their own humor/essence into the story. The plot twist in the end was is a killer(pun intended).
Thank you Viking Penguin and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Viking Penguin and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2025
Thank you net-galley and Katie Eberle for this ARC! I was so blown away by how much I enjoyed this book. There’s a little bit of everything in here, and who doesn’t wish to be a main character of some of our favorite books! Roxie is fierce and incredible and I love her relationship with her leading man!
February 2, 2026
Loved this unique book within a book rom-com thriller! What a great debut! I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a long time.
Thank you Edelweiss.
Thank you Edelweiss.
November 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book!
I thought this concept was really fun and interesting! The main characters had good banter and the situations they were put in were thrilling and funny. A fun read and good pallet cleanser book!
I thought this concept was really fun and interesting! The main characters had good banter and the situations they were put in were thrilling and funny. A fun read and good pallet cleanser book!
November 13, 2025
6/5 🌟
I can't say how much I loved this book. The reveal and the ending. Omg... definitely need to reread this.
I can't say how much I loved this book. The reveal and the ending. Omg... definitely need to reread this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a unique and fun book! Especially for a debut, this was fantastic. I was engaged the entire time, the pacing was great, and the characters were loveable.
I was pleasantly surprised with how well done this book was. Any time there's a story-within-a-story type of plot, there is a larger chance that details and characters will become confusing. That didn't happen here though!
If I had to pick something that didn't necessarily work for me, it would be Roxie's best friend. She was mentioned quite a bit at the beginning of the book, but then never really was brought back into the story past the 50% mark. I would have loved to have her included more, at least in the epilogue.
What a great way to start my reading this year, though! Highly recommend this one.
I was pleasantly surprised with how well done this book was. Any time there's a story-within-a-story type of plot, there is a larger chance that details and characters will become confusing. That didn't happen here though!
If I had to pick something that didn't necessarily work for me, it would be Roxie's best friend. She was mentioned quite a bit at the beginning of the book, but then never really was brought back into the story past the 50% mark. I would have loved to have her included more, at least in the epilogue.
What a great way to start my reading this year, though! Highly recommend this one.
December 15, 2025
Thank you to Kate Eberle, Viking Penguin, & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this story. This book really was so fun! I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into it, and ended up pleasantly surprised. The entire storyline was so creative and I really enjoyed the dynamic of the FMC and MMC. Their relationship progression unfolded so well, and I loved the ending!
I love the author’s writing style and can’t wait to read more of her books in the future!
I love the author’s writing style and can’t wait to read more of her books in the future!
December 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Books publishing and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was SOO much fun omg. I cannot believe this is the authors debut book. The premise itself is very intriguing: girl wishes she was in her favorite romance authors next book…wish is granted but surprise it’s actually a murder mystery NOT a romance and the girl is fighting for her life now 😭🤣
This book is funny. I lost track of how many times I snorted or actually laughed out loud while reading. The FMC and MMC have terrific banter and chemistry. I highly enjoyed them getting to know each other and be partners in crime.
There is a small part at the halfway mark where I was a bit confused as to where it was going but once the action picked back up again I stayed hooked.
I love how the author played into romance tropes and let the FMC be aware of them as she loves the romance tropes as well.
As a thriller and mystery it kept me on my toes! I was never able to guess the killer and the author pleasantly surprised me more than once with where she took things.
Love the epilogue too! I’ve told all my friends about this book and really hope it does well when it comes out next June!
#netgalley #ifbookscouldkill #kateeberle #netgalleybooks
This book was SOO much fun omg. I cannot believe this is the authors debut book. The premise itself is very intriguing: girl wishes she was in her favorite romance authors next book…wish is granted but surprise it’s actually a murder mystery NOT a romance and the girl is fighting for her life now 😭🤣
This book is funny. I lost track of how many times I snorted or actually laughed out loud while reading. The FMC and MMC have terrific banter and chemistry. I highly enjoyed them getting to know each other and be partners in crime.
There is a small part at the halfway mark where I was a bit confused as to where it was going but once the action picked back up again I stayed hooked.
I love how the author played into romance tropes and let the FMC be aware of them as she loves the romance tropes as well.
As a thriller and mystery it kept me on my toes! I was never able to guess the killer and the author pleasantly surprised me more than once with where she took things.
Love the epilogue too! I’ve told all my friends about this book and really hope it does well when it comes out next June!
#netgalley #ifbookscouldkill #kateeberle #netgalleybooks
December 8, 2025
I was shocked when I learned that this is a debut. It doesn't have any of the usual first book pacing problems, and I was invested in the characters from the jump. It's a quick and satisfying read. The twists are great- nothing was too predictable, and in some cases, I was legit surprised.
There's a moment in the first half where the main character says, "I have to be honest: if I were reading this book I'm trapped in, I imagine I'd be skimming this part." In that moment, I knew I was in good hands. Eberle treats romance and thrillers with the respect they deserve. This is so obviously a book by someone who loves books, who gets tropes and conventions and isn't too cool to use them, and who really loves her characters. I'm excited about whatever comes next.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for this ARC. Review is my own.)
There's a moment in the first half where the main character says, "I have to be honest: if I were reading this book I'm trapped in, I imagine I'd be skimming this part." In that moment, I knew I was in good hands. Eberle treats romance and thrillers with the respect they deserve. This is so obviously a book by someone who loves books, who gets tropes and conventions and isn't too cool to use them, and who really loves her characters. I'm excited about whatever comes next.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for this ARC. Review is my own.)
November 26, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Viking Penguin, and Kate Eberle for providing an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 1/2🌶️
"fiction and reality are night and day—not opposites, but the same world in different colors."
Overall Thoughts:
What a charming read! I was enamored from start to finish. The pacing felt natural, and I really appreciated the balance between slower, heartfelt moments and fast-paced action. Going into this book, I really didn't know what to expect. I was intrigued by the blurb, although it's pretty different than my usual cozy romance. I'm so glad that I gave it a chance, it exceeded my expectations in every way!
Brief Summary:
Roxie's world turns upside-down when she makes a wish to become the next heroine of her favorite author's book, only to discover that Anna Matthews, the renown romance author, has started her first crime-thriller venture.
Best Qualities:
One of the best things about this book in my opinion is the voice. Eberle describes herself as an avid audio-book listener, and it shows. This book is like a love letter to reading itself. Humorous, witty, romantic— If Books Could Kill has it all. I was giggling one moment and clutching the edge of my seat the next. As someone who can typically predict plot twists pretty far in advance, at the end of the book, I truly did not see them coming. The final chapters in this book were some of my favorites.
As far as the romance goes, I figured it was going to happen eventually, but when it did, it felt so natural. If you've watched The Good Place, Roxie and Grant give major Eleanor and Chidi vibes. The banter was top-tier, and I loved watching their dynamic progress throughout the story. I could see myself in both characters— Roxie with her love of romance books and fear of pursuing her dreams, Grant with his anxious personality and realistic outlook on life. They are both loveable characters, and they felt genuine. But the romance didn't distract from the plot at all, if anything it pushed everything forward. I think that it was balanced perfectly with the comedy and suspense. This was truly a multi-genre masterpiece.
Personal Gripes:
My only gripe with this book is that sometimes the humor was laid on too thick. While not a glaring issue, I found it distracting at times. I feel there could be more balance between when to shift focus to let the jokes shine and when to keep flowing with the story. However, this issue was minor, and it only tripped me up a few times.
Tropes:
I truly don't believe that I can list any of the typical tropes here— there are some present for sure, but they're also used as plot devices in a way that ties in with the synopsis of the book. If you're curious, give it a read!
Who Should Read This Book?
I would highly recommend this book to avid romance readers looking for a change of pace. I hope it will surprise you like it did for me! For thriller fans, this book has some dark moments for sure, but none of them are dwelled on for too long. Overall the thrill aspect seems more toned down to make this palatable for romance readers, so I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for something gritty and ultra-suspenseful. However, the plot will keep you immersed, so give this book a try if you're wanting to laugh, swoon, and fall head-first into the story.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 1/2🌶️
"fiction and reality are night and day—not opposites, but the same world in different colors."
Overall Thoughts:
What a charming read! I was enamored from start to finish. The pacing felt natural, and I really appreciated the balance between slower, heartfelt moments and fast-paced action. Going into this book, I really didn't know what to expect. I was intrigued by the blurb, although it's pretty different than my usual cozy romance. I'm so glad that I gave it a chance, it exceeded my expectations in every way!
Brief Summary:
Roxie's world turns upside-down when she makes a wish to become the next heroine of her favorite author's book, only to discover that Anna Matthews, the renown romance author, has started her first crime-thriller venture.
Best Qualities:
One of the best things about this book in my opinion is the voice. Eberle describes herself as an avid audio-book listener, and it shows. This book is like a love letter to reading itself. Humorous, witty, romantic— If Books Could Kill has it all. I was giggling one moment and clutching the edge of my seat the next. As someone who can typically predict plot twists pretty far in advance, at the end of the book, I truly did not see them coming. The final chapters in this book were some of my favorites.
As far as the romance goes, I figured it was going to happen eventually, but when it did, it felt so natural. If you've watched The Good Place, Roxie and Grant give major Eleanor and Chidi vibes. The banter was top-tier, and I loved watching their dynamic progress throughout the story. I could see myself in both characters— Roxie with her love of romance books and fear of pursuing her dreams, Grant with his anxious personality and realistic outlook on life. They are both loveable characters, and they felt genuine. But the romance didn't distract from the plot at all, if anything it pushed everything forward. I think that it was balanced perfectly with the comedy and suspense. This was truly a multi-genre masterpiece.
Personal Gripes:
My only gripe with this book is that sometimes the humor was laid on too thick. While not a glaring issue, I found it distracting at times. I feel there could be more balance between when to shift focus to let the jokes shine and when to keep flowing with the story. However, this issue was minor, and it only tripped me up a few times.
Tropes:
I truly don't believe that I can list any of the typical tropes here— there are some present for sure, but they're also used as plot devices in a way that ties in with the synopsis of the book. If you're curious, give it a read!
Who Should Read This Book?
I would highly recommend this book to avid romance readers looking for a change of pace. I hope it will surprise you like it did for me! For thriller fans, this book has some dark moments for sure, but none of them are dwelled on for too long. Overall the thrill aspect seems more toned down to make this palatable for romance readers, so I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for something gritty and ultra-suspenseful. However, the plot will keep you immersed, so give this book a try if you're wanting to laugh, swoon, and fall head-first into the story.
January 16, 2026
This book felt like an absolute 𝙛𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 in the best way like 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑭𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 collided with 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, and 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆. I had the time of my life reading it! 💕🙃
This story is 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤, and 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚 of its own 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. It plays with romcom and thriller tropes in such a clever way, constantly keeping you on your toes. There is 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 something happening on the page, and it made me spiral right alongside Roxie, which felt extremely intentional and fun. 😵💫🎢
This book is not here to be deep or serious, it is here for the 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲-𝘂𝗽-𝗮𝗻𝗱-𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, and it absolutely nails that 🔨. The structure alone was a blast, with fun nods to both romance and suspense storytelling that made the whole thing feel fresh and playful. 🤪☺️
And 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗺𝗮𝗻?? 𝘐𝘤𝘰𝘯. His introduction was top-tier and hands down my favorite part of the book 🤭. The anxious English professor energy paired with his crime-novel brain and dry one-liners? 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Some of his lines genuinely made me laugh out loud, and his dynamic with Roxie was 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, and surprisingly 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵. 😍❤️
There were a few twists and turns that I genuinely enjoyed, and I loved how the characters helped each other step into 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴, and choosing to act even when terrified. Beneath all the madness, there’s a sweet thread about 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 and connection that totally works. ✨
Also… I cannot believe this is a 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡. The writing is 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵, and 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. Toss in the subtle millennial references, and I felt very seen. 💅🏼🦋
Bottom line: this book is a 𝙧𝙤𝙢-𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡-𝙘𝙤𝙢 (𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵) that doesn’t take itself too seriously and knows exactly what it’s doing. The tropes alone will have you either 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, or 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝙊𝙍 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲! 😂💕
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 ✨
📖 Meta fiction / story-within-a-story
🔪 Meet-cute but make it attempted murder
🚗 Accidental kidnapping (oops?)
🛏️ Only one bed
💍 Fake dating / fake marriage
🎭 Fiction vs. reality blur
🤝🏻 Forced partnership / reluctant allies
💞 Slow-burn romance under pressure
🪤 Cat-and-mouse thriller energy
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀, & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗲-𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.💕✨
This story is 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤, and 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚 of its own 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. It plays with romcom and thriller tropes in such a clever way, constantly keeping you on your toes. There is 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 something happening on the page, and it made me spiral right alongside Roxie, which felt extremely intentional and fun. 😵💫🎢
This book is not here to be deep or serious, it is here for the 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲-𝘂𝗽-𝗮𝗻𝗱-𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, and it absolutely nails that 🔨. The structure alone was a blast, with fun nods to both romance and suspense storytelling that made the whole thing feel fresh and playful. 🤪☺️
And 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗺𝗮𝗻?? 𝘐𝘤𝘰𝘯. His introduction was top-tier and hands down my favorite part of the book 🤭. The anxious English professor energy paired with his crime-novel brain and dry one-liners? 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Some of his lines genuinely made me laugh out loud, and his dynamic with Roxie was 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, and surprisingly 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵. 😍❤️
There were a few twists and turns that I genuinely enjoyed, and I loved how the characters helped each other step into 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴, and choosing to act even when terrified. Beneath all the madness, there’s a sweet thread about 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 and connection that totally works. ✨
Also… I cannot believe this is a 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡. The writing is 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵, and 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. Toss in the subtle millennial references, and I felt very seen. 💅🏼🦋
Bottom line: this book is a 𝙧𝙤𝙢-𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡-𝙘𝙤𝙢 (𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵) that doesn’t take itself too seriously and knows exactly what it’s doing. The tropes alone will have you either 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, or 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝙊𝙍 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲! 😂💕
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 ✨
📖 Meta fiction / story-within-a-story
🔪 Meet-cute but make it attempted murder
🚗 Accidental kidnapping (oops?)
🛏️ Only one bed
💍 Fake dating / fake marriage
🎭 Fiction vs. reality blur
🤝🏻 Forced partnership / reluctant allies
💞 Slow-burn romance under pressure
🪤 Cat-and-mouse thriller energy
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀, & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗲-𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.💕✨
January 16, 2026
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Viking Penguin publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
This is an amazing start for a debut author and perfect for anyone who loves romance, thriller, and comedy all in one. Normally it’s really difficult to find books that genuinely make me laugh but this is one of them. Also, who can deny a bad ass female protagonist that can seriously kick ass?
The initial concept of the plot immediately was the first thing to get me hooked onto the book because let’s be honest Roxie is living every reader dream with the chance to jump into a book until she finds out it’s a thriller. Despite that, her perseverance through challenging moments really defined her character. She was mentally strong while being able to physically hold her own fights! But I’ll definitely say that my favorite character in this book is the gift maker, they are so witty easily especially in the coffee shop. I love the character growth in these characters especially Grant who is initially shaken to his bones with anxiety every part of the way until he’s transformed into someone with courage and strength.
The romance part of this book didn’t really capture my attention though, it felt more thriller than anything. I enjoyed reading the way the thriller parts were laid out and how the plot twist was so unexpected, I was actually shocked. However, the things that I didn’t really enjoy about the book was that I couldn’t really feel Roxie and Grant’s relationship, it felt more so like they connected because of the intensity of the situation. And the antagonist of the story had a good backstory but it felt a little unrealistic on the amount of times they had killed a bunch of people close to them and still not be caught. But overall, it’s a good book and I don’t see really genuinely good humor in thriller books so that was a huge bonus.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Viking Penguin publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
This is an amazing start for a debut author and perfect for anyone who loves romance, thriller, and comedy all in one. Normally it’s really difficult to find books that genuinely make me laugh but this is one of them. Also, who can deny a bad ass female protagonist that can seriously kick ass?
The initial concept of the plot immediately was the first thing to get me hooked onto the book because let’s be honest Roxie is living every reader dream with the chance to jump into a book until she finds out it’s a thriller. Despite that, her perseverance through challenging moments really defined her character. She was mentally strong while being able to physically hold her own fights! But I’ll definitely say that my favorite character in this book is the gift maker, they are so witty easily especially in the coffee shop. I love the character growth in these characters especially Grant who is initially shaken to his bones with anxiety every part of the way until he’s transformed into someone with courage and strength.
The romance part of this book didn’t really capture my attention though, it felt more thriller than anything. I enjoyed reading the way the thriller parts were laid out and how the plot twist was so unexpected, I was actually shocked. However, the things that I didn’t really enjoy about the book was that I couldn’t really feel Roxie and Grant’s relationship, it felt more so like they connected because of the intensity of the situation. And the antagonist of the story had a good backstory but it felt a little unrealistic on the amount of times they had killed a bunch of people close to them and still not be caught. But overall, it’s a good book and I don’t see really genuinely good humor in thriller books so that was a huge bonus.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was one of the funniest books I've read in a long time.
I loved:
>the slow-burn chemistry between plucky Roxy and nerdy Grant. But they were so much more than >that- each of them was nuanced and had surprises in them. (Grant was the perfect book boyfriend!)
>the hilarious characters
>the endless and endlessly entertaining banter!
>the dual Boston and London settings
>the originality of the story
>the ultimate bookish theme
OK- so to get to the plot:
This is a very post-modern kind of self referential bookish read.
Roxie loves romance novels but doesn't believe in love in real life. She has a fave author who hasn't written a book for a while and has been teasing a new book on her socials. Roxie makes an off-handed comment about wishing she was in one of her fave author's books. But what she doesn't know is that there's a magical creature nearby who hears her and grants the wish. But even bigger twist is that her fave new author's book is a *crime thriller* so now Roxie is starring in a literary themed thriller with romantic elements. The rules are as follows: (1) if she dies in the story, she'll die for real. (2) Once she resolves the lot, she can go back to her real life and everything will go back to normal (no consequences), and (3) that all the characters she meets in this 'story' will cease to exist once it's over.
So being wacky and fearless, she just goes for it, barely escaping a serial killer and inadvertently kidnapping a local cute professor named Grant in the process. Together they go through harrowing adventures, fall in love, but she gets scared to truly let herself go because she's not sure if he'll exist once the story is over.
This was an impressive read from debut author Eberle. I'm looking forward to her future offerings.
Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Penguin, Penguin Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved:
>the slow-burn chemistry between plucky Roxy and nerdy Grant. But they were so much more than >that- each of them was nuanced and had surprises in them. (Grant was the perfect book boyfriend!)
>the hilarious characters
>the endless and endlessly entertaining banter!
>the dual Boston and London settings
>the originality of the story
>the ultimate bookish theme
OK- so to get to the plot:
This is a very post-modern kind of self referential bookish read.
Roxie loves romance novels but doesn't believe in love in real life. She has a fave author who hasn't written a book for a while and has been teasing a new book on her socials. Roxie makes an off-handed comment about wishing she was in one of her fave author's books. But what she doesn't know is that there's a magical creature nearby who hears her and grants the wish. But even bigger twist is that her fave new author's book is a *crime thriller* so now Roxie is starring in a literary themed thriller with romantic elements. The rules are as follows: (1) if she dies in the story, she'll die for real. (2) Once she resolves the lot, she can go back to her real life and everything will go back to normal (no consequences), and (3) that all the characters she meets in this 'story' will cease to exist once it's over.
So being wacky and fearless, she just goes for it, barely escaping a serial killer and inadvertently kidnapping a local cute professor named Grant in the process. Together they go through harrowing adventures, fall in love, but she gets scared to truly let herself go because she's not sure if he'll exist once the story is over.
This was an impressive read from debut author Eberle. I'm looking forward to her future offerings.
Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Penguin, Penguin Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2025
📚 Book Review --- If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle📚
Genre: romcom
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
*****
Thank you to Kate Eberle, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of If Books Books Kill! All thoughts expressed in this review reflect only my own opinion.
What bookworm hasn't wished at some point that their life could mimic the plotline of a beloved book? That's exactly what happens to Roxie when a modern day Genie/Fairy Godmother called the Gifter grants her wish to live out the plot of her favorite romance author's next book - except, things don't exactly go as she hoped when it turns out that Anna Matthews' next book is not another romcom, but a crime thriller!
This romcom/thriller mashup has such an original premise and Eberle's delivery is fabulous. She successfully delivers many favorite tropes of both genres in a tone that is both mockingly self-aware and genuine. There are aspects that are comfortably predictable as well as blindsiding plot twists. The result is a novel that feels impossible to put down.
The characters are every bit as enjoyable as the story itself. They're each so vibrant, even those who are only in the story briefly. I loved getting to know them and I hope that this book will turn into a series so the adventures don't have to end with this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am floored that it's a debut because it was just such a fun, well-crafted novel. I'm very much looking forward to reading more by Kate Eberle!
Content warning - readers should be aware that this book contains a decent amount of profanity, violence, and one fade-to-black sex scene. If this were a movie, it would likely get an R rating.
Genre: romcom
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
*****
Thank you to Kate Eberle, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of If Books Books Kill! All thoughts expressed in this review reflect only my own opinion.
What bookworm hasn't wished at some point that their life could mimic the plotline of a beloved book? That's exactly what happens to Roxie when a modern day Genie/Fairy Godmother called the Gifter grants her wish to live out the plot of her favorite romance author's next book - except, things don't exactly go as she hoped when it turns out that Anna Matthews' next book is not another romcom, but a crime thriller!
This romcom/thriller mashup has such an original premise and Eberle's delivery is fabulous. She successfully delivers many favorite tropes of both genres in a tone that is both mockingly self-aware and genuine. There are aspects that are comfortably predictable as well as blindsiding plot twists. The result is a novel that feels impossible to put down.
The characters are every bit as enjoyable as the story itself. They're each so vibrant, even those who are only in the story briefly. I loved getting to know them and I hope that this book will turn into a series so the adventures don't have to end with this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am floored that it's a debut because it was just such a fun, well-crafted novel. I'm very much looking forward to reading more by Kate Eberle!
Content warning - readers should be aware that this book contains a decent amount of profanity, violence, and one fade-to-black sex scene. If this were a movie, it would likely get an R rating.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I gave this book a 3.50.
If Books Could Kill is a magical realism romcom set in a crime thriller story. Roxie makes an offhanded wish to be the protagonist in her favorite authors next book and a homeless person just happens to overhear and grant her wish. Roxie soon realizes what type of book she is in when her date tries to kill her. In her attempt to escape, she unintentionally kidnaps a passenger from an Uber, Grant. Grant and Roxie team up to solve the mystery and make sure everyone survives, because if you die in the book, you die in real life. However, the people in the book will disappear after the 'book' finishes.
The plot of this book is fun with some genuinely funny moments. It recognized and actively called out some of the craziness that was happening but it also drew attention to some of the issues the book had. Where this lost some points for me the pacing. The middle was a bit of a struggle to get through and something that should have taken a day or two to get through, was dragged out for a week because I just kept finding myself getting bored. It does eventually pick up but because the characters are calling out the distraction or plot device that is being used, you as a reader become more aware of the moments in between major plot points.
Overall, I did enjoy this and I think this is a book that a lot of people would love. Grant and Roxie have a lot of great banter. I always love a grumpy man and their slow burn romance was fun. I think if you are looking for something different, a little meta, and fun, this is a great next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If Books Could Kill is a magical realism romcom set in a crime thriller story. Roxie makes an offhanded wish to be the protagonist in her favorite authors next book and a homeless person just happens to overhear and grant her wish. Roxie soon realizes what type of book she is in when her date tries to kill her. In her attempt to escape, she unintentionally kidnaps a passenger from an Uber, Grant. Grant and Roxie team up to solve the mystery and make sure everyone survives, because if you die in the book, you die in real life. However, the people in the book will disappear after the 'book' finishes.
The plot of this book is fun with some genuinely funny moments. It recognized and actively called out some of the craziness that was happening but it also drew attention to some of the issues the book had. Where this lost some points for me the pacing. The middle was a bit of a struggle to get through and something that should have taken a day or two to get through, was dragged out for a week because I just kept finding myself getting bored. It does eventually pick up but because the characters are calling out the distraction or plot device that is being used, you as a reader become more aware of the moments in between major plot points.
Overall, I did enjoy this and I think this is a book that a lot of people would love. Grant and Roxie have a lot of great banter. I always love a grumpy man and their slow burn romance was fun. I think if you are looking for something different, a little meta, and fun, this is a great next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2025
Thank you PenguinBooks/Random House and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
3.25⭐️ It feels like this book is what happens when an author lets loose and writes what they would want to read. The premise for it is clever, and it’s just bizarre enough that it works. This is a contemporary telling of a djinn wishing tale turned on its head as an adventurous crime/comedy/romance inside a crime/comedy/romance novel. (Really, it’ll make more sense when you read the book).
You know from the first few paragraphs that this FMC is going to be feisty with a capital “F”. Roxie is a great character. She’s brash, adventurous, and unapologetic. Grant as the MMC is the complete opposite. In the beginning he sort of gets pushed and pulled along for the ride (kinda literally), but has major development as the book progresses.
I appreciated that it got into the meaty part of the story early. The cliche tropes are here aplenty, especially for anyone that’s a fan of romance or fictional crime novels.
Overall, Eberle’s execution of this debut is mostly successful. The banter is not always witty per se, but inevitable with the situations that Roxie and Grant are thrown into. While I did outright guffaw occasionally, sometimes it’s too much of a farce and ventures into eye roll territory. Overall not a bad outing and looking forward to what this author does in the future.
3.25⭐️ It feels like this book is what happens when an author lets loose and writes what they would want to read. The premise for it is clever, and it’s just bizarre enough that it works. This is a contemporary telling of a djinn wishing tale turned on its head as an adventurous crime/comedy/romance inside a crime/comedy/romance novel. (Really, it’ll make more sense when you read the book).
You know from the first few paragraphs that this FMC is going to be feisty with a capital “F”. Roxie is a great character. She’s brash, adventurous, and unapologetic. Grant as the MMC is the complete opposite. In the beginning he sort of gets pushed and pulled along for the ride (kinda literally), but has major development as the book progresses.
I appreciated that it got into the meaty part of the story early. The cliche tropes are here aplenty, especially for anyone that’s a fan of romance or fictional crime novels.
Overall, Eberle’s execution of this debut is mostly successful. The banter is not always witty per se, but inevitable with the situations that Roxie and Grant are thrown into. While I did outright guffaw occasionally, sometimes it’s too much of a farce and ventures into eye roll territory. Overall not a bad outing and looking forward to what this author does in the future.
December 31, 2025
Thank you Net Galley and Viking Penguin for the ARC! If Books Could Kill by debut author Kate Eberle is the kind of book that makes every reader whisper, “Okay but… what if?” 😅📚 I absolutely LOVED the concept of this book!
Roxie gets her ultimate reader fantasy: a little magic à la The Gifter launches her straight into the pages of one of her favorite romance authors’ novels. Dream scenario, right? Except—plot twist—the author decides to pivot genres and suddenly Roxie is no longer sipping wine in a love story… she’s running for her life in a crime/thriller.
Enter the chaotic and lovable gang of four—Roxie, Grant (hello, love interest 👀), Lesley, and Lissa—who team up to solve a string of mysterious killings. The tension builds fast, the stakes stay high, and the ending? Climactic in the best way, swinging the story back into romance territory just when you need it most.
One of my favorite parts: Roxie knows she’s living inside a book. She clocks the tropes, side-eyes the plot twists, and fully acknowledges when Anna Matthews (the author within the story) is messing with her life. Meta, clever, and wildly entertaining.
This book grabbed my attention and refused to let go. The storyline is fresh, fun, and smart—though fair warning: this is a romance with zero spice 🌶️❌. Still, the concept and execution more than made up for it.
Roxie gets her ultimate reader fantasy: a little magic à la The Gifter launches her straight into the pages of one of her favorite romance authors’ novels. Dream scenario, right? Except—plot twist—the author decides to pivot genres and suddenly Roxie is no longer sipping wine in a love story… she’s running for her life in a crime/thriller.
Enter the chaotic and lovable gang of four—Roxie, Grant (hello, love interest 👀), Lesley, and Lissa—who team up to solve a string of mysterious killings. The tension builds fast, the stakes stay high, and the ending? Climactic in the best way, swinging the story back into romance territory just when you need it most.
One of my favorite parts: Roxie knows she’s living inside a book. She clocks the tropes, side-eyes the plot twists, and fully acknowledges when Anna Matthews (the author within the story) is messing with her life. Meta, clever, and wildly entertaining.
This book grabbed my attention and refused to let go. The storyline is fresh, fun, and smart—though fair warning: this is a romance with zero spice 🌶️❌. Still, the concept and execution more than made up for it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Eberle 's team for letting me read and review an advanced readers copy 😊
Chronically single Roxie wants nothing more than to be the lead in one of her favorite romance books. After a wish gone wrong, she does end up the lead of a book written by her favorite author, unfortunately her favorite romance writer has chosen to try to write outside of the romance-box she's made for herself and try her hand at a crime thriller. With the help of a crime book enthusiast and would-be writer, a millionaire who seeks justice, and a manic-pixie assistant, Roxie must figure out who's running a murder contest before she becomes the next victim. She also has to figure out what kind of book she's actually in: a crime thriller, a murder mystery whodunit, or maybe --actually-- a romance.
In a way, this book serves as a meta analysis of romance, crime novels, and novel writing in general. It pokes fun at commonly used troupes throughout genres as well as the three act structure itself. As a writer, I loved to see plot structure and story beats referenced and turned on their head.
Super enjoyable and fun read throughout. There were a number of moments when I had to pause reading because I was laughing so hard.
Finding out this was a debut novel is exciting! Can't wait to see what comes next for Kate Eberle.
Chronically single Roxie wants nothing more than to be the lead in one of her favorite romance books. After a wish gone wrong, she does end up the lead of a book written by her favorite author, unfortunately her favorite romance writer has chosen to try to write outside of the romance-box she's made for herself and try her hand at a crime thriller. With the help of a crime book enthusiast and would-be writer, a millionaire who seeks justice, and a manic-pixie assistant, Roxie must figure out who's running a murder contest before she becomes the next victim. She also has to figure out what kind of book she's actually in: a crime thriller, a murder mystery whodunit, or maybe --actually-- a romance.
In a way, this book serves as a meta analysis of romance, crime novels, and novel writing in general. It pokes fun at commonly used troupes throughout genres as well as the three act structure itself. As a writer, I loved to see plot structure and story beats referenced and turned on their head.
Super enjoyable and fun read throughout. There were a number of moments when I had to pause reading because I was laughing so hard.
Finding out this was a debut novel is exciting! Can't wait to see what comes next for Kate Eberle.
December 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - What a fun debut! The premise alone had me cracking up, so I was very giddy when I got the approval for this ARC. Imagine wishing to be the main character in your favorite romance author’s next story, only for her to switch genre on you. Instead of running towards love, you are now running for your life from cartoony villains! This is the predicament Roxie finds herself in, in this book. She has to blindly navigate an unfamiliar genre and do her best to survive until the end, otherwise… DOOM DOOM DOOM! The blending of fiction and reality may just nip her in the arse if she doesn’t figure out her own story.
I love a story that pokes fun of its own tropes and plot devices. We were whisked from one trope to the next, while Roxie and Grant verbally analyzed the structure of their own story to work out the mystery; how very meta! After awhile I was a bit troped out though, and the story did felt a bit meandering so my interest waned a notch or so.
Although the plot could’ve been tightened up a bit, this was still such a cute read and fun genre fusion as a romcom thriller. Who knew murder and mayhem could still lead to an adorable meet-cute?!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.
I love a story that pokes fun of its own tropes and plot devices. We were whisked from one trope to the next, while Roxie and Grant verbally analyzed the structure of their own story to work out the mystery; how very meta! After awhile I was a bit troped out though, and the story did felt a bit meandering so my interest waned a notch or so.
Although the plot could’ve been tightened up a bit, this was still such a cute read and fun genre fusion as a romcom thriller. Who knew murder and mayhem could still lead to an adorable meet-cute?!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Like many romance readers, Roxie wishes she could be a protagonist in her favorite author's next book. Unlike many romance readers, this wish becomes a reality when she meets the perfect man at the library... Until he tries to kill her. After the successful Grant Theft Auto of an Uber with an unsuspecting passenger leads to a death, Roxie realizes that she is in a novel, but that the author has decided now was a good time to change genres. Together Roxie and the passenger, Grant, join forces with Lesley and Lissa to help solve one of the biggest online murder rings through a Book Club group on Facebook. This puts them both in the face of danger, going up against major murderers to get information on who the mastermind behind this group, Mr. Page, is. All of while Roxie tries her hardest to not fall in love with Grant despite every trope they're put into, recognizing that he’s just a character in Anna Matthew's next novel.
I read this as an ARC thanks to NetGalley, and I can’t wait for release day on June 18th to see what others think. I liked the concept of this book, and the banter between the main characters kept me entertained throughout. This was a great debut book, and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!
I read this as an ARC thanks to NetGalley, and I can’t wait for release day on June 18th to see what others think. I liked the concept of this book, and the banter between the main characters kept me entertained throughout. This was a great debut book, and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!
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